There's something about putting on my favorite pair of heels and going out for date night that makes me feel like a woman. Not a mommy, not a nurse, not just a wife who runs the house, but a full fledged, warm blooded, fun, attractive, sexy and down right hot woman. Maybe it's the way my husband is able to totally get away mentally, too, and we remind ourselves why we started down this road to begin with. Maybe it's that I don't get to wear heals to work, and they're really impractical when standing hunched over a changing table. Maybe it's the rarity of the event all together these days, and I can just appreciate date nights more now that I cherish every minute we can get out together. Actually, it's mostly because I feel most confident in this role. I've met women who say after their kids all grew up they had no idea what to do with themselves, well I know exactly what I plan to do with my time again. Not that I would change anything about being a mom, it's just that I was 'just a woman' for so long before I had kids that having moments where I can feel that again is refreshing. Except now I feel even better at it because being a mom has created a level of maturity I never understood before. I can smile to my husband as we eat while hearing a parent struggle to maintain order at their table on the other side of the restaurant, being thankful it's not us tonight, and sympathizing with the parent...where before I had kids I would always sympathize with the kid, and be annoyed that someone brought their kids to eat out. So funny how quickly that perspective changes.
So maybe it's that I like feeling confident, maybe it's familiar, or just plain fun, but in a world filled with people who's lives are 50 shades of messed up, I'm glad there's still something (and someone) in my life that makes me feel that way.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
My Nurse Point of View
I've contemplated since starting this blog site how to write about what I do for a living. The biggest obstacle being that I can't write about any specific patients for obvious reasons. Also I would not bash my coworkers or the company I work for no matter how frustrated at the moment I might be...again for obvious reasons...I like to keep getting paychecks.
So with that disclaimer noted please read on knowing I have to be a little vague about things. This post is mostly to get a few things off my chest.
Background check: I am a cardiac nurse, and I absolutely love what I do. I love the part of my job that allows me to teach people about their specific heart issues. I also (usually) enjoy finding creative ways to help patients with diet/exercise/and medications issues as these are the foundations for treating heart disease.
The reality of dealing with potentially life threatening issues is that it is difficult for a non-medical person to know sometimes if their issue is really an emergency or not. So they call the office to speak with the nurse.
I'm ok with that, that's part of what I'm there for, to answer questions over the phone and give advice if I can, or offer an appointment if I can't or deem the situation too unstable to treat over the phone.
So #1 frustration for me: Do not argue with me about the plan I recommend. It is a thought out plan specific for you. If I tell you to go to the ER, I am not kidding or just trying to put you off. There is something about what you have just told me that triggers a red flag in my brain that says "this patient must seek immediate treatment" and that means going to the ER.
You'd be surprised how many people refuse to go to the ER after their cardiac nurse who has their history and vital information right in front of her tells them to go.
#2 frustration: Self diagnosing by the internet. Come on people, I'm not going to elaborate as there are a thousand scenarios with this. Bottom line, if you do it, fine, but if the doctor you see disagrees with what the internet says, please don't tell him or his nurse that you think he is wrong because what you read on the internet is different. It's not going to change his knowledge that came from years of medical school and treating thousands of patients every year with your exact same problem. If you disagree strongly and feel he totally missed the ball then get a second opinion. There's nothing wrong with that.
#3 frustration: Stopping medicines (that we started) without telling us. If you think you had a side effect we need to know! If you read or heard something bad about it, I want to give you more information before you make the decision to stop taking something. Often I can help people work through medication issues (even cost issues) but they have to call me!
Ok, I feel much better now.
So with that disclaimer noted please read on knowing I have to be a little vague about things. This post is mostly to get a few things off my chest.
Background check: I am a cardiac nurse, and I absolutely love what I do. I love the part of my job that allows me to teach people about their specific heart issues. I also (usually) enjoy finding creative ways to help patients with diet/exercise/and medications issues as these are the foundations for treating heart disease.
The reality of dealing with potentially life threatening issues is that it is difficult for a non-medical person to know sometimes if their issue is really an emergency or not. So they call the office to speak with the nurse.
I'm ok with that, that's part of what I'm there for, to answer questions over the phone and give advice if I can, or offer an appointment if I can't or deem the situation too unstable to treat over the phone.
So #1 frustration for me: Do not argue with me about the plan I recommend. It is a thought out plan specific for you. If I tell you to go to the ER, I am not kidding or just trying to put you off. There is something about what you have just told me that triggers a red flag in my brain that says "this patient must seek immediate treatment" and that means going to the ER.
You'd be surprised how many people refuse to go to the ER after their cardiac nurse who has their history and vital information right in front of her tells them to go.
#2 frustration: Self diagnosing by the internet. Come on people, I'm not going to elaborate as there are a thousand scenarios with this. Bottom line, if you do it, fine, but if the doctor you see disagrees with what the internet says, please don't tell him or his nurse that you think he is wrong because what you read on the internet is different. It's not going to change his knowledge that came from years of medical school and treating thousands of patients every year with your exact same problem. If you disagree strongly and feel he totally missed the ball then get a second opinion. There's nothing wrong with that.
#3 frustration: Stopping medicines (that we started) without telling us. If you think you had a side effect we need to know! If you read or heard something bad about it, I want to give you more information before you make the decision to stop taking something. Often I can help people work through medication issues (even cost issues) but they have to call me!
Ok, I feel much better now.
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