What a great day!

I almost had the day off today... until 9pm last night when I was asked to cover someone who couldn't go in today due to an injury. I didn't mind, I'd rather go to work and earn PTO than not work and take PTO! Besides, it was a way for me to help a fellow employee and friend!

While at work I had the opportunity to impact the lives of two patients! They were in our overnight stay, or Recovery Care, unit. One of the patients had a sub-talar fusion (big screw put through the calcaneous). He was in a lot of pain when I got there this morning. It took about 30 minutes for me to figure out the problem, and once I did, his pain level dropped from a "5" to a "1!" Needless to say he and his wife were very grateful! The other patient had a total hip arthroplasty (hip replacement). He was a bit depressed and feeling a bit claustrophobic, being inside for the past 3 days... I got him to step outside and walk a bit in the fresh air and added him to the "lunch list!" He got a catered lunch take-out from La Fonda, a local mexican restaurant! It made his day and he let all of his friends and family know what a great facility we were for taking such good care of him, especially ordering him mexican food for lunch! (Next time you're in the hospital... ask your nurse to order you some food from an outside restaurant, AND, ask them to pay for it! See what kind of response you get....)

But what really made this day a great day, was I worked with an awesome person! Brooke is an old friend, from my ED days! She is now a EMT/Tech at the facility where I work. She is a down to earth, no nonsense, kind of person! We work well together, especially when we are both racing each other to get something done, knowing that the other will probably get it done first, if we both don't jump on it!

Back to the lunch-list...

I also bought lunch for everyone today at work. In full disclosure, it was a skeleton crew... so I spent a lot less than our doc's do when they normally splurge for lunch on a Friday. However, it was an honor and a joy to do something for my fellow employees.

Adding one of my patient's to the lunch-list, and buying his lunch too, only added to it! You see, as a nurse, my job first and foremost, is to provide for the safety and security of my patients. That is a very broad statement, as the safety I provide is not only physical, but emotional, mental, spiritual, etc.

I made my patient's day, by providing a special lunch treat! What made it even better and more satisfying... he had absolutely no idea that it was me that bought him his lunch! I added to his mental and emotional well being. It was well worth the $7.00 I spent on his lunch...

So...

Here I am, winding down from a great day at work. The dogs are fed, I am fed, watching TV, reflecting on my day...

It was a great day!