ST elevation

Hey, not all ST elevation is indicative of acute MI. Who knew? Well, I guess I knew it could also be pericarditis, but still... If the ST segment is in the shape of a frown, then your patient should be sad because they are probably having an MI. If it is in the shape of a smile, then be happy! It could be either pericarditis or benign repolarization. Trust me. I am a very trusty source.

I worked 16 hours today and I feel more entitled to complain than ever. I will make it short: I am tired and my feet hurt.

I was in Neuro ICU again today! Woot. Good times for all! I was managing ICP though, which is usually a busy process. Fortunately no Mannitol today (way too many labs with that one), but I was pushing sedation hourly. Oh the tedium. Not really, I like managing ICP, it is a good chance for a nurse to use discretion and make a real difference.

A few random goals for my work days:
-Patient has better sounding lungs when I leave than when I came
-Bond with the family
-Finish report before 1530
-Leave the patient and the room cleaner than I found them
-Lots of other groovy things


Fact: When I see commercials on TV encouraging people to pursue careers in healthcare, I shout at them, "Noooo". I actually think healthcare is very swell. Swell like edema. I wonder how swell ever came to be an adjective that means "great". I am sleepy. Hypnotoxins!

yeah, i pretty much forgot about this thing...

Okay, I haven't written here in a reeeaaallly long time. Basically, I've had a very busy summer.

May

6th- Anika was born! Off work for a couple weeks.
9th- Finished the semester w/ A's and B's after some rescheduled finals
20th- back to work...

June

First two weeks- BLC Camp Nurse! Good times. Scrapes, sprains, and a suprising amount of Otitis Media. Also earned my Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification.

14th- 1 year anniversary of my RN licensure

20th- officially off of orientation @ work! I became an independent ICU nurse (oxymoron... no ICU nurse is independent; it is a team effort. that sounds retarded, but it's true!).


July

10th- went with Angie to Indy for the weekend; left Anika with mom and dad. I gained seven pounds in four days! proud to say, it's all off (it was all water and *ahem* 'bowel' weight, i guess).

14th- back to guitar lessons after missing approximately one whole month of them!


so I'm back. i hope i remember to write more. i'll give you a brief run down of where I am with my life right now.

WORK

yeah, it's nice not to have to work with a preceptor any more. i get my own assignments now. i've been almost exclusively assigned to the neuro section of the STICU, which is fine with me because I love neurology and because it's intentionally quiet back there for our SAH (subarachnoid hemorrhage) patients. i'm not really antisocial, but perhaps a little schizoid/paranoid in some social situations (namely school and work; in four years at IPFW, I haven't made a single close friend!). I do fine with patients and their families, but with my co-workers I just am really shy. anyway, the nursing in 'the unit' is cool and complex; i have learned a ton! I'm working on my Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Certification now. Good times. I'll then take my Trauma Nursing Core Class next week. Good times x 2. I had to save my patient's life from some family practice residents the other day. They were literally writing the order to withdraw all care from this individual until I dragged his family in there and explained to them exactly what was going on. They had been completely misinformed. It was a disaster. Anyway, work is quite good.

SCHOOL

starts in August.......

MUSIC

I finished my first book of classical guitar technique (shearer's book). I'm now on a book of novice/intermediate arrangements of classic guitar pieces (royal conservatory of music's guitar series 2). It's first/second position stuff in the keys of C, G, and D for the most part. I love it!


ETC.

sis is still in Yellowstone! hurry up and get back here...

I love being a dad. It rules my world.