I have a resident with c-diff. This anaerobic bacteria causes profuse diarrhea. She's a new resident and is supposedly on the down side of the infection. She's on vanco....doesn't sound like the down side.
Another resident has active MRSA all over her trunk, her legs, her arms. I sent to her out to ER (we have little choice on weekends). They did a culture, wrote her 3 scripts, and sent her back! ACKKK!
Nooooooooooooooo. I have no ability to isolate this person. She shares a bathroom with another resident. We don't even have gowns to wear over our scrubs for infection control.
I was on my break when the ER called. The med tech, unwisely, chose not to let me know the ER was on the phone. Med techs are CNAs with two days training popping pills.
I think that particular med tech should be the one swabbing the resident's oozing pustules with bacitracin instead of me. I will find a suitable way to get even.
On the weekends, it's me and two med techs for 85 people. I am in charge. Last weekend the resident I ended up doing CPR on was having chest pains. No one informed me. FAIL. (He's doing quite well by the way.)
Today, a resident apparently had a TIA. Did they call me? NO.
Effective communication about residents is more critical than the drama you may be having with your baby daddy.
DUHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Overworked
Once again I'll be going into work on my day off.
When they made the big change and cut my hours, I actually expected 3 consecutive days off every week.
Bwahahahaha. I must have been delusional.
Every day off my phone rings. It's the DNS. She's very cheerful when she asks me to come in and cover for some important reason. (There's always an important reason...)
Same thing today.
My phone rings at 9:30 a.m..
"State surveyors just walked in. Can you work tomorrow?"
Fuuuuuuuh-reeeeeeeeeak!
After 6 days of waking up at oh dark thirty, I'd been longing for several days of sleeping in.
After 6 days of med tech drama, I'd been looking forward to drama free days with Pupples.
On the other hand, it's overtime and the last day of the pay period before Christmas.
Sigh.
Hi ho.
Hi ho.
It's off to work I go.........
When they made the big change and cut my hours, I actually expected 3 consecutive days off every week.
Bwahahahaha. I must have been delusional.
Every day off my phone rings. It's the DNS. She's very cheerful when she asks me to come in and cover for some important reason. (There's always an important reason...)
Same thing today.
My phone rings at 9:30 a.m..
"State surveyors just walked in. Can you work tomorrow?"
Fuuuuuuuh-reeeeeeeeeak!
After 6 days of waking up at oh dark thirty, I'd been longing for several days of sleeping in.
After 6 days of med tech drama, I'd been looking forward to drama free days with Pupples.
On the other hand, it's overtime and the last day of the pay period before Christmas.
Sigh.
Hi ho.
Hi ho.
It's off to work I go.........
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
My First Code
I was at my low acuity job yesterday when I was told a resident was having trouble talking. Off I went with my blood pressure cuff, my 'scope, my thermometer, my oximeter, and a pad/pen.
When I get to the resident's room I see he's "off". He's still cognizant but his breathing was raspy to where I could hear it from the hallway.
I took his vitals~all WNL. I was asking questions when---------he slumped over to the side of his chair.
I did the sternal rub saying his name.
Absolutely no pain response.
Holy.
Freakin.
Crap.
Adrenaline rushed through me.
I grabbed him under the arms and got him on the floor in about 20 seconds.
No heartbeat. No breathing.
Called 911 and commenced CPR.
I heard some crackles as I began compressions. (Yikes.)
The DNS called on the intercom, "Janice?' ........."JANICE!"
I yelled back, "He's not breathing and I'm starting CPR. I've already called 911!"
I kept doing compressions. I was counting to 30 over and over (at around 100 compressions a minute).
The administrator and DNS came through the door and began asking me questions. (Really? I was slightly busy.)
The paramedics came in.
"Great compressions Janice." Yes, they know me by name.
They started bagging and after setting up, took over compressions.
They hooked up all the machines. Started spouting numbers I vaguely remember from nursing school.
Right then the phone in the room rang. It was the guy's sister, who just happened to be calling. No need to notify the family. Less paperwork for me later.
Guy happens to have a port so they give him epi and bicarb and yes! we have a rhythm! He was intubated and then taken away to the hospital 2 blocks away.
Back to taking blood sugars and insulin.
I heard today the guy was responding to commands, breathing over the vent, and following with his eyes. I think this means his brain got enough oxygen.
SAVE!
When I get to the resident's room I see he's "off". He's still cognizant but his breathing was raspy to where I could hear it from the hallway.
I took his vitals~all WNL. I was asking questions when---------he slumped over to the side of his chair.
I did the sternal rub saying his name.
Absolutely no pain response.
Holy.
Freakin.
Crap.
Adrenaline rushed through me.
I grabbed him under the arms and got him on the floor in about 20 seconds.
No heartbeat. No breathing.
Called 911 and commenced CPR.
I heard some crackles as I began compressions. (Yikes.)
The DNS called on the intercom, "Janice?' ........."JANICE!"
I yelled back, "He's not breathing and I'm starting CPR. I've already called 911!"
I kept doing compressions. I was counting to 30 over and over (at around 100 compressions a minute).
The administrator and DNS came through the door and began asking me questions. (Really? I was slightly busy.)
The paramedics came in.
"Great compressions Janice." Yes, they know me by name.
They started bagging and after setting up, took over compressions.
They hooked up all the machines. Started spouting numbers I vaguely remember from nursing school.
Right then the phone in the room rang. It was the guy's sister, who just happened to be calling. No need to notify the family. Less paperwork for me later.
Guy happens to have a port so they give him epi and bicarb and yes! we have a rhythm! He was intubated and then taken away to the hospital 2 blocks away.
Back to taking blood sugars and insulin.
I heard today the guy was responding to commands, breathing over the vent, and following with his eyes. I think this means his brain got enough oxygen.
SAVE!
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