I have experienced many things in my life. In fact, most people are amazed when I tell them some of my experiences and stories!
As a side note, to help illustrate my point, an anesthesiologist I work with, recently had a difficult intubation. I could sense his anxiety, and after several failed attempts, I began to see his panic. You see, it was a day that we only had one OR running. That means there was only one anesthesiologist there that day... him! He had no "back-up," no other anesthesiologist to call upon. I asked him if he would like me (a nurse), to take a look and/or try the intubation.
His response was typical of what I have often dealt with... He asked, "And how many people have you intubated?!?!"
Now, to put this into perspective, this Physician is the one that is ultimately responsible for the patient during surgery. He is in trouble, he is having difficulty. Someone offers to help and he takes a stance that I still, to this day, have difficulty comprehending.
I digress. I answered his question as concisely as I could...
"Well, let me think. I became an IEMT (Intermediate Emergency Medical Technician) in 1988 and a Paramedic in 1989. So, since 1988, in the past 20+ years, I have probably intubated a few thousand patients."
This physician had a blank stare on his face! His response was, "You were doing this before I even started medical school!"
Needless to say, I offered some advice and talked him through what I would do... he listened, followed my advice, and ultimately secured this patient's airway and the surgery continued.
Did I save a life that day? Probably not. As the surgery would not have happened and the patient would have been awakened. However, I did at least two things that day!
First and foremost, I improved the life of my patient, by affecting the outcome of the surgery. Secondly, I humbled someone and made them realize that there are others that have more experience than them. I hope that this made him a better physician!
So the purpose of this story?
I have experienced many things in my life. In each and every case/situation, I can truly say that I am thankful!
One of these days... I will sit down and write a book!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Close Call!
So...
Yesterday, Wednesday, July 22, 2009... I experienced something, that I have not for many years! In fact I was a teenager, away at summer camp, up around Payson...
So, I was outside, on a front porch/deck, enjoying a rainstorm (under shelter of course)... talking on my cellphone, when...
I saw a flash, both somehow heard and saw it, a crack in both the audible/visual/physical sense...
There was a blue haze...
My hairs (plural! Just about all of them!), stood on end...
Almost instantaneously, as all this was occurring, felt and heard the crack/bang/boom of thunder!
There was a lighting strike, very, very close by...
Two dogs that were outside with me, jumped up and were inside the house within milliseconds... just a few milliseconds before me!
I was still on my phone, and as the party I was talking to will attest... it took me a few moments to compose myself!
It was one of those "wrap around" storms! The Arizona monsoon in Flagstaff, typically comes in from the West. This one came in from the East, and seemed to pack a particularly heavy punch, as the hail and heavy rain started a few minutes after my "close call!"
I was able to finish the conversation, despite my accelerated heart rate!
A close call, but one I wonder about...
Yesterday, Wednesday, July 22, 2009... I experienced something, that I have not for many years! In fact I was a teenager, away at summer camp, up around Payson...
So, I was outside, on a front porch/deck, enjoying a rainstorm (under shelter of course)... talking on my cellphone, when...
I saw a flash, both somehow heard and saw it, a crack in both the audible/visual/physical sense...
There was a blue haze...
My hairs (plural! Just about all of them!), stood on end...
Almost instantaneously, as all this was occurring, felt and heard the crack/bang/boom of thunder!
There was a lighting strike, very, very close by...
Two dogs that were outside with me, jumped up and were inside the house within milliseconds... just a few milliseconds before me!
I was still on my phone, and as the party I was talking to will attest... it took me a few moments to compose myself!
It was one of those "wrap around" storms! The Arizona monsoon in Flagstaff, typically comes in from the West. This one came in from the East, and seemed to pack a particularly heavy punch, as the hail and heavy rain started a few minutes after my "close call!"
I was able to finish the conversation, despite my accelerated heart rate!
A close call, but one I wonder about...
Where are we heading?
I watched and listened to a speech tonight, that inflamed me, and made me angry! Luckily I had a friend that I could call, talk to, and vent to!
I am a health care provider... as such, I have be somewhat recession proof. However now, I fear that my job is now in jeopardy, as I work for a private company. My employer rarely provides services to a certain group of patients, as their primary insurer does not pay for services provided... even though we are more efficient, have less complications, and otherwise do a better job than other providers!
So here I am, not only looking at the cost of me retaining Health Insurance, I am looking at the stark reality that my employer may actually go out of business! Therefore, I will become not only uninsured, but unemployed!
Want to solve the Health Care crisis in America? Get the government out of the business completely!
I am a health care provider... as such, I have be somewhat recession proof. However now, I fear that my job is now in jeopardy, as I work for a private company. My employer rarely provides services to a certain group of patients, as their primary insurer does not pay for services provided... even though we are more efficient, have less complications, and otherwise do a better job than other providers!
So here I am, not only looking at the cost of me retaining Health Insurance, I am looking at the stark reality that my employer may actually go out of business! Therefore, I will become not only uninsured, but unemployed!
Want to solve the Health Care crisis in America? Get the government out of the business completely!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Sex, politics, and religion...
The three things one should never talk about at work!
However, today I was an observer/infrequent commentator to a heated discussion that involved all three!
Although the actual topics of sex and religion were not brought up, and one could argue nor was politics... the discussion relied upon, was based on, and ultimately was influenced by all three!
You see, of the two primary participants:
One was female and one was male...
One was liberal and one was conservative...
One was non-christian and one was christian...
So... sex, politics, and religion influenced this discourse!
The discussion was about Constitutional Rights.
I remained silent for most of the discussion, listening, learning and observing. I only made one comment, which was really insignificant and didn't add anything too or change the conversation in any way...
DOGS...
When I left work, I went to my friends house where I am staying. I am house/dog sitting for them, with my dog Sadie, and another mutual friend's dog Sassy. So I have three dogs in my charge: Marley, Sadie, and Sassy!
They all get along, which is the most important thing! I have had to work with and 'correct' a few behaviors here and there; however, I have learned that dogs are some of the best listeners in this world!
They appear to be attentive when you talk to them, they never talk back or interrupt (unless the door bell rings), and they truly are able to sense your mood! Offering up a lick/kiss, a paw, a snuggle, the tilting of the head, the ear going back/up...
It is an amazing thing that one can have a stressful day... only to come home and be humbled by a dog!
Which I am convinced now! Dog is an anagram for God!
Peace!
However, today I was an observer/infrequent commentator to a heated discussion that involved all three!
Although the actual topics of sex and religion were not brought up, and one could argue nor was politics... the discussion relied upon, was based on, and ultimately was influenced by all three!
You see, of the two primary participants:
One was female and one was male...
One was liberal and one was conservative...
One was non-christian and one was christian...
So... sex, politics, and religion influenced this discourse!
The discussion was about Constitutional Rights.
I remained silent for most of the discussion, listening, learning and observing. I only made one comment, which was really insignificant and didn't add anything too or change the conversation in any way...
DOGS...
When I left work, I went to my friends house where I am staying. I am house/dog sitting for them, with my dog Sadie, and another mutual friend's dog Sassy. So I have three dogs in my charge: Marley, Sadie, and Sassy!
They all get along, which is the most important thing! I have had to work with and 'correct' a few behaviors here and there; however, I have learned that dogs are some of the best listeners in this world!
They appear to be attentive when you talk to them, they never talk back or interrupt (unless the door bell rings), and they truly are able to sense your mood! Offering up a lick/kiss, a paw, a snuggle, the tilting of the head, the ear going back/up...
It is an amazing thing that one can have a stressful day... only to come home and be humbled by a dog!
Which I am convinced now! Dog is an anagram for God!
Peace!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Hard Tack & Jerky
Earlier tonight, practically yesterday now, I took a drive a few miles North of Flagstaff with a friend from work. My friend needed a ride out to an area to look for a plant.
You see, my friend is a full-blooded Hopi Indian, and he was looking for a specific plant, an herb really, that grows wild in only certain areas. The closest english equivalent is "nanakofsi."
This is the second time I went out looking for it with him. The first time was a few months ago, and he found two or three plants, I found none... This second time, I was able to spot them very easily, and found more of them than he did! This herb is used by the Hopi for some traditional dishes, and it is a great honor to find it, especially in a quantity to be able to store it through the winter months.
As we were walking back to my Jeep, the conversation strayed to the "old times." Here I was, a midwest transplant, the epitomy of the kind of person who were the early "white" settlers in the area, walking with and helping a Native American, who could trace his lineage and recount stories back for hundreds if not thousands of years...
He taught me about another plant, something akin to "wild spinich," but will require at least three boiling/straining cycles before it is palatable...
I told him about Hard Tack. Hard Tack is nothing more than a cracker on steroids! Hard Tack was something the Calvery (in the 1800's) and the early settlers relied upon for food. It is easily made: flour, salt, & water... once baked, it lasts forever! Grind up some jerky, add it to boiling water, a few herbs, vegetables if you got 'em... drop in some Hard Tack... and you got yourself a very hearty stew!
Hard Tack is just that... HARD! Once it has been baked and totally dehydrated, it is like a brick! Pratically unbreakable and will last for a long time! Jerky, is similiar! Once dried/dehydrated completely... it too will last for a long time! But, both are easily reconstituted in the presence of water (especially if it is boiling)!
So we both learned somethings tonight:
Two peoples, Native American and White, who once considered themselves enemies, can truly become friends, even brothers...
There is knowledge and experiences that can be learned from each other! I learned about two plants that are edible, and he learned about Hard Tack and Timber Rattlesnakes! (That is a whole other blog!)
Needless to say, we are planning an outing together, sort of a camping trip, we'll invite friends, a "back to basics" kind of thing...
He'll bring the nanakofsi, I got the hard tack and jerky... if we are lucky, we might catch a rabbit...
Cowboy and Indian!
You see, my friend is a full-blooded Hopi Indian, and he was looking for a specific plant, an herb really, that grows wild in only certain areas. The closest english equivalent is "nanakofsi."
This is the second time I went out looking for it with him. The first time was a few months ago, and he found two or three plants, I found none... This second time, I was able to spot them very easily, and found more of them than he did! This herb is used by the Hopi for some traditional dishes, and it is a great honor to find it, especially in a quantity to be able to store it through the winter months.
As we were walking back to my Jeep, the conversation strayed to the "old times." Here I was, a midwest transplant, the epitomy of the kind of person who were the early "white" settlers in the area, walking with and helping a Native American, who could trace his lineage and recount stories back for hundreds if not thousands of years...
He taught me about another plant, something akin to "wild spinich," but will require at least three boiling/straining cycles before it is palatable...
I told him about Hard Tack. Hard Tack is nothing more than a cracker on steroids! Hard Tack was something the Calvery (in the 1800's) and the early settlers relied upon for food. It is easily made: flour, salt, & water... once baked, it lasts forever! Grind up some jerky, add it to boiling water, a few herbs, vegetables if you got 'em... drop in some Hard Tack... and you got yourself a very hearty stew!
Hard Tack is just that... HARD! Once it has been baked and totally dehydrated, it is like a brick! Pratically unbreakable and will last for a long time! Jerky, is similiar! Once dried/dehydrated completely... it too will last for a long time! But, both are easily reconstituted in the presence of water (especially if it is boiling)!
So we both learned somethings tonight:
Two peoples, Native American and White, who once considered themselves enemies, can truly become friends, even brothers...
There is knowledge and experiences that can be learned from each other! I learned about two plants that are edible, and he learned about Hard Tack and Timber Rattlesnakes! (That is a whole other blog!)
Needless to say, we are planning an outing together, sort of a camping trip, we'll invite friends, a "back to basics" kind of thing...
He'll bring the nanakofsi, I got the hard tack and jerky... if we are lucky, we might catch a rabbit...
Cowboy and Indian!
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