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! :)