Sucks to be Me (work version)

2 weeks ago they told me they'd be cutting the nursing hours at the ALF where I am employed.

AWESOME!

Down to 32 hours a week.  No more popping pills.  Just diabetic management and paperwork.  Our own little office.  Sounds ok to some.  I, myself, really enjoy patient contact.

I prefer people to paper, silly me.

Just as I am adjusting to this change, today happened.

The administrator/DNS was "laterally" moved to DNS only plus 3 days a week in my position.  Other nurse out the door.

I saw much of this coming so not totally surprised.

The big surprise?

DNS moved all her stuff into "my new office".  She'll be doing 3 days as a nurse and two days as DNS.  She decided she did not want to share big office with "new" administrator (former med tech with degree in healthcare admin who took advantage of some oversights and events.).

Today was wasted by moving all her crap into "my"(HA!) office.  I was just trying to get my work done.

I heard her cell phone calls.  I heard all her calls.  I felt her stress and how upset she was.  Ramped up my stress level.

I'm back on a rickety table with a printer shoved into my knees, if I ever get the chance to sit down.

I'm also on a split shift.  7-12:30 and 3:30-6:30.  I live 24 miles north of job....so not worth the drive home.  What do I do with three hours???

Now I've been an ALF nurse for a year, I feel kinda stuck in that role.

Any ideas on how to broaden my horizons?

I need to be sedated ala the Ramones.....

(moan, moan, moan, bitch, bitch, bitch..)

Dreams And Desires

Some night I wake up in a cold sweat.  My son is a soldier.  He has not yet deployed but I live in fear of the time when he will be deployed.

I love my son.

I'm sure even the Taliban's mothers love them.

I have a dream that no mother will ever have to worry herself about her children being harmed in a war.

Peace is my desire and my dream.

~November 4, 2011~

Attempting to Order Chaos

Today was a LONG day.

The big switch to all pills being given by med-techs began today.

The residents resist change and they were quite discombobulated.  And irritated.  And cranky.

Now the nurse's job is just treatments, diabetic management with insulin, and paperwork.  Lots and lots of paperwork.

Due to the ever changing nursing staff and how busy we've been popping pills, we've gotten behind in paperwork.

Alert charting.

My boss is getting pressured by her boss so I feel as if I am bruised and battered from the day.

I thought nursing was about caring for patients.

Guess I was wrong.