Influenza...

As a healthcare worker, I myself am a bit concerned over the recent "concern" regarding the "Swine Flu."

People don't understand the difference between H2N2 and H3N2; the Hong-Kong Flu, the Asian Flu, the Spanish Flu, or the Asiatic Flu.

Influenza is a common viral infection! In fact, the flu is not truly seasonal... it can be seen, caught, suffered from, and detected year round. We have a "flu season" were there is a sharp rise in the reported number of cases, where we (as healthcare workers) see the "wave" of cases... but the flu is still the flu!

In the past decades, the flu has been demystified! It is a viral infection, spread through airborne droplets from the respiratory tract.

Want to guard yourself from the flu?

1) Wash your hands... frequently!
2) Use instant hand sanitizers when you can't actually wash your hands.
3) Cover your mouth/nose when you cough and/or sneeze. Best is to cough/sneeze into the crook of your elbow, not your hands. But your hands are better than open air! Afterwards, see #1 & 2 above!

Wearing a mask really doesn't help! You can wear a mask all you want, bottom line is you are touching things all the time with your hands. These things potentially have influenza virus all over them! If you don't wash your hands... well...

Think about rubbing your eyes, eating, picking your nose, etc! Unwashed hands may contain the influenza virus! And you just introduced it into your body!

I have not had a flu-shot in over 10 years! Nor have I had the flu in those years either... 3 to 7 days of wondering, but not really the flu... why? Because in my line of work I probably wash my hands 15 times or more a day and when I'm not washing my hands outright at the sink with soap and water, I'm using an instant hand sanitizer!

BTW...

Growing up, we coined a phrase, "Ping-Pong Flu." One person would get sick, then someone else in the family would. By the time the first person felt better, someone else was sick. Eventually, it went back around again! Passed back and forth, like a ping-pong ball across the net!

Hmmm... maybe I should try to get the next strain of influenza named "Ping-Pong!"


WASH YOUR HANDS!

Mind Boggling!

Over the past week and a half, I have spent in excess of $7,000.00! By the end of this week, the amount will be well in excess of $10,000.00!!!!

Luckily, I am spending my employer's money and not my own!

I have been covering/working in Materials Management. I have been responsible for the inventory of supplies and equipment, reviewing the upcoming surgery schedule, the ordering of supplies, arranging the acquisiton of necessary instruments, and trying to balance between what we truly need, to do what we need to do, versus; what do we need to do, and what do we need to do it!

In orthopedic surgery... there is a lot of 'hardware' used... screws, plates, etc... A screw that costs $ 0.03 at a hardware store... the medical equivalent... costs $ 130.00+

It is truly mind boggling!

Although my current responsibilities are more of a "behind the scenes" kind of position... being the nurse that I am, I can not help but be drawn into the fray of things! So I have been helping out, getting patients ready, recovering them from anesthesia, relieving for breaks/lunches, and otherwise being available to do the odd little things that nurses do!

All the while, I have been amazed at the 'Grand Dance' that is going on around me! Being a half a step or so removed... it is truly amazing to see everything that goes on in order for a patient to have surgery! From the front desk/check-in, the Pre-op, the float nurses the day before, the circulators and scrubs, SPD, the docs, the PACU, the housekeepers... everyone working independently, yet together!

It is truly mind boggling!

The next time you have surgery, at least in an outpatient setting... know this!

There are at least 15 people that are involved in your procedure/surgery!

Complete strangers. They do it every day Monday thru Friday, yet... they are still committed to doing the very best that they can do in order that your experience goes well!

True dedication!

TGIF!

Today is Friday! The end of a fairly arduous workweek, the beginning of the weekend, finally a couple of days to rest, relax, and unwind!

This past week has been a busy one for me. I have also observed, that it has been busy for many of my friends. So to all of my friends, coworkers, and others... enjoy your weekend! You deserve it!

So Tax Day (April 15th) has come and gone... I am happy and proud to say, that I owed taxes this year! Why? Because when I overpay my taxes, I get a refund. My refund is nothing more than the amount of money that I paid to the government, above and beyond what they have determined that I owe them. In effect, I have given the government an interest free loan! I don't earn interest on any overpayment! That money would have been better spent sitting in a saving account, earning a 0.5 to 1% interest rate!

Yet, if I owe taxes... as long as the amount is not too great that I incur "penalties" for underpayment... I end up paying just the right amount... no interest free loans!

I digress...

Today is Friday! I am looking forward to this weekend as I have a few unfinished projects that I need to get done!

Isn't it sorta funny? One is so busy during the workweek that they can't get anything done, yet when the weekend comes, a time to rest and relax, it seems that they are even busier and work harder to get a week's worth of work around the home accomplished in two days...

Luckily, I am almost caught up. A few more weekends and I will be to the point where I can just "maintain." Once I maintain for a few weekends, I will be able to "get ahead!" Once I get ahead, I will be able to "excell!"

Won't that be nice!?

So to all of my fellow hard working friends, I wish you well on your weekend! Even if it might be delayed by a day or two, three...

Cheese Whiz!

Tonight I was invited over to a friend's house for dinner. She is also a co-worker and my neighbor. Another friend/co-worker/neighbor and her daughter joined us.

It was the first, official, Spring barbeque! Well, mini-barbeque, actually, hot dogs on the grill... However! It was a momentous occasion here in Flagstaff, as we had 1-2 inches of snowfall over the Easter Weekend!

There are about 6 of us that live up here on the hill. We are all friends, all work together, and are neighbors. Although there is not, what I would define as, a lot of neighborly interaction, we do see each other around... walking the dogs, at the park, the occasional dinner, house-sitting, etc.

Tonight brought back some memories... I knew my hot dogs were done. Growing up, I can remember my family grilling hot dogs. I once commented on the blackened state once, and I remember being told, "At least you know they are done." Ever since then, I like my dogs "Cajun style!" Not burnt, not well-done, but slightly charred! Blackened!

The reason for this feast? Tomorrow I will begin house/dog sitting for this friend till Friday. It was a way to get the latest scoop on what needed to be done, reacquaint myself with the dog, etc. It was also an early thank you gesture on her part.

I'm actually a pretty cheap house/dog sitter! All I need is a couch, access to laundry, and free reign in the kitchen/pantry/fridge!

So where is my rambling going...

I am honored that a friend has asked me to help them, to be responsible for their pet, and has trusted me to be in their house. Now, I am sure that they are thankful that they have found someone to house/dog sit; but I truly consider it an honor to help them and, more importantly, that they even asked me.

Some will say, "That's what friends are for." I say not! Friends aren't obliged to do anything except be a friend: someone to talk to, hang out with, support, stand-up/defend, etc. To ask someone to be responsible for your house, to care for a pet... that is something more important than friendship, a deeper trust.

So, I have had cheese dogs, hot dogs with cheese, dogs on cheezy buns... but I have never had hot dogs with Cheeze Whiz! Tonight was a first for me! Standard hot dogs, grilled (that is blackened). Standard buns.

The difference...

Cheese Whiz! From a jar, spread on the bun prior to the placement of the dog!

Surprisingly tasty! So much so that at my next get together barbeque where I grill hot dogs, not only will there be ketchup, mustard, and relish... there will be Cheese Whiz!!!

Awareness...

I often think that I am very aware of what is going on around me. Many times, I seem to be 'acutely' aware! Which often scares me, not for or in the situation itself, but, why no one else can see or comprehend what is going on! My voice is often a lone voice, pointing out circumstances that to me are obvious, yet unfortunately to others, are somewhat hidden!

Luckily, when I do find myself in these situations, most will take pause and listen. I think that it is because I very rarely speak out/up, unless of course, something very seriously is about to go wrong! Then I don't hesitate one bit!

I am well respected in my profession and in my current employment. I do not abuse this respect, as I said before, I speak up only when needed. I choose to educate and inform before I stomp my feet. If my inquiries don't get people to think and realize the actual circumstances of the situation... I will say "Stop!"

So, that got me thinking this evening about other things that I am aware of!

How much do I see, how much am I aware of, how much do I know, that others are not aware of? How many things am I 'acutely' aware of, that others are not?

I am not going to stomp my feet here... but, I will let others know when there is something wrong!

So I am aware of some basic, fundamental things, that are wrong. Am I acutely aware of them, and no one else can see them? It seems that according to the news (depending on which news you watch) 42 to 48% of Americans know about them. So where are these Americans? Why are they afraid to speak up, why am I not hearing their voices?

I'll get off my political soapbox now. I'm sorry if you expected something else! But I will reserve my right to say, "I told you so!"

Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday, a day that celebrates the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, as he prepared to celebrate Passover.

As a Christian, I am drawn to the connections to the Jewish faith. As a simple matter, Jesus was a Jew... plain and simple! So our faith's are connected at this most basic level!

However, this is the beginning of one of the most Holy weeks in the Christian faith. Today celebrates the entrance of the Messiah. His last week on earth... as next Sunday, we celebrate his Resurection, his return to the Heavens!

I find a strange dichotomy, as I am to acknowledge and allow the observance of other "holy" weeks, yet when I try to observe or ask for acknowledgement of mine... I am often chastised, scorned, or looked upon in a disparaging way!

I guess that is not really mine to question, not mine to own, and therefore I will let it go!

Today, I went to Church to celebrate this day. The service was nothing short of pure worship! Song, praise, prayer! I am still humming and singing "How Great Though Art!" I hope that this hymn will be sung at my funeral!

So if you are wondering what I am talking about, go get yourself a Bible, and read the Book of John; about today, read John, Chapter 12...

Hossana!

Trying week!

This past week has been fairly trying for me!

A few late nights at work, difficult days, and an annoying problem!

This week I have been the "Float Circulating" Nurse... which means that I come in later in the day, and stay till the end! Although it is fairly simple, it sounds complicated... I come in to work in the late morning, around 8:30am. I relieve for morning breaks, and then lunches, I have to pull supplies for the next days cases, I have to pull instruments as the day progresses, I help turn over the OR's, clean/sterilize instruments. At 2pm, I help to restock the OR's, etc, etc...

There is a 6:30am (early), and a 6:30am (late nurse) that works with me. I need to relieve the 6:30am (E) nurse by 3pm. If my OR then finishes, I then clean, restock, and prepare for the next days surgeries, then relieve the 6:30am (L) nurse. When that OR is done I repeat the process all over again. Basically, I am one of the last people to leave... Which, given the uncertainty of surgery, means I can have some very long days!

Along with the long days, there have been some very difficult surigical cases this week! Not only long cases, but things that have come up, that have caused me to be a "tad" busy as times, as suddenly we go from an arthroscopic procedure, to an open procedure... that means a whole lot of opening of sterile instruments and trays, a lot of running into the sub-sterile area, out into the Pre-Op/PACU area, a lot of phone calls, pulling up xrays, MRIs, running to and fro, etc.

All in a days work! Perhaps even in a weeks work! Don't get me wrong, I love it! I love the challenge! Because there is always something new! In fact today, we had a difficult airway! The anesthesiologist had some difficulty arousing and extubating a patient in the OR following the surgery. There I was, helping him, Propofol and Zemuron at the ready, as he attempted to extubate the patient. If there was a problem, I was to assist him by re-inducting the patient so he could manage the airway!

To top this week off, I have had a bit of an eye problem! It seems that the early Spring, caused me to have an allergy problem, which resulted in a blocked tear duct! So... I have basically been crying all week! Even with nightly warm compresses, it wasn't until today (Friday) that it finally cleared! Talk about an inconvienence, especially in an OR!!!

Somehow, I wonder if it was today's Winter storm that finally broke it! You see, we got a late Winter/early Spring storm tonight! Spring, as it called for a 30% chance of rain (snow above 8K feet), Winter, as it was near blizzard conditions for about an hour tonight (at 7K feet)!

So all in all, I am ready for my weekend! At least two days off that I can just rest and relax, sleep in if I want, goof off, be lazy, do what I want! Oh... wait... I have laundry to do... darn!

This week, although trying, has been very fulfulling! Next week, will be better, as I am the 6:30am(L)... meaning I will be the second to the last person to go home! :)

The Tattoo...

Today while at work, I had the opportunity to intercede in a situation with a patient. This is one of those moments that I was where I needed to be, when I needed to be there...

A patient came in and was a difficult IV start. A very experienced and exceptional nurse was having some difficulty getting an IV started on a patient. The patient needed it, in order for their procedure. The patient was distraught, sobbing, almost to the point of cancelling her procedure, as she had been "stuck" several times and was in pain.

As I walked by, I was asked if I could take a look and try to get an IV. As the patient was sobbing, I sat down next to the patient, dabbed her tears with a tissue, and just started talking to her. I took her hand into mine and placed my other hand on her arm. We talked, I reassured her that everything was going to be OK, and that we would be able to help her. As she began to calm down, she noticed one of my tattoos (yes, I have two... one on each arm...), and asked me why I had "that" tattoo on my arm. The tattoo she was looking at and referring to was the one on my left arm. It is the ICTHUS. I asked her a question in response to her question, "Why do you think I would have "that" tattoo on my arm?" She responded, "Because you are a believer!" And I replied, "Yes, I am."

We connected on an even deeper level almost instantly. I could see an immediate relaxation and sense of calm come over her. We talked about a lot of things, our shared faith, her recent loss of her husband, her life as an artist, her experience as a member of the Coast Guard, her current living situation. She did most of the talking, I did most of the listening. You see, this is what my patient needed the most at that particular time! She needed someone who had a common interest, who was willing to take the time to just sit and listen, to connect, to care, to be a friend, a person, a fellow human being.

Now I will admit, I was a bit stealthy as I held her hand and was patting her upper arm... you see, as I was patting her upper arm as a distraction, I was looking at her hand and forearm - even turning it to and fro, looking for a vein to start an IV in. I kept right on listening and talking to her as I slipped the tourniquet around her arm and swabbed at a vein in her hand with the alcohol prep. I replied to her question and told her she would feel a bit of discomfort in her hand as I injected a bit of lidocaine to help numb the skin. She kept right on talking as if nothing happened.

To make a long story short, I got her IV started. She was almost amazed that I had been able to accomplish the task without any effort, or pain on her part! We sat there and talked for another 10 minutes before she went off to have her procedure.

Most would say this is a minor occurrence, a trivial thing in the day of a nurse. I would have to agree with them for the most part. But, (which is really an abbreviation for "Behold the Underlying Truth!") this was a major thing in the day of my patient! I would argue that this is a major thing in anyone's day!

How often would a complete stranger, walk up to you, come into and take an interest in your situation, spend over 15 or 20 minutes with you, completely engaged, only concerned for your welfare, disregarding everything else that they were doing or needed to do, because you need them to be right there, right then, for that reason?

If you have experienced this, consider yourself lucky! I would love for you to leave me a comment with your story!

So that was my day! Of course there was a lot of other things that happened... however, this event is what will define my day in my memory! For that I am grateful!