It finally happened, I landed a job in my chosen profession as a registered nurse. I had to stand back and take a deep breath when I was still in the bathroom but handed my cup with urine in it through the crack to the person checking it for drugs said, "Congratulations, you're hired!" through the door. It wasn't like all the hoops I had to jump through after accepting an offer at a local hospital that fell through after an unannounced hiring freeze. I smiled so big, I thought my cheeks would fall off. I had to compose myself before I came back out, but not before I jumped up and down, did a few fist pumps and washed my hands. I come home every day with a sore face because I smile so much. I love my job!
I thought I'd go to work in a local hospital immediately after graduation but for some reason or another, it didn't happen for me. My job became to sit in this office chair at my kitchen table and apply for jobs in area hospitals. I did it for hours every day. It was a soul sucking job. Then, I decided to find another volunteer job that could use my skills. I've been a volunteer at Women of W.O.R.T.H. for nearly three years because I believe in their mission of providing low-cost reproductive health care for under served women in our community. Then I went to the Free Clinic of Rome to draw blood on Thursday mornings so I could keep my sticking skills up. If you can stick and draw blood out of a patient, you can place an IV and put things in.
I'm working in a long term care facility, a nursing home. It's not where I thought I'd be. Surprisingly, it's exactly the perfect job for me. I love the geriatric residents and yes, some are not geriatric but so disabled they can't be cared for at home. I love on the patients, I tell them so every day. I hug and kiss most of them. I tell them their room numbers over and over because they can't remember them for 5 minutes. I answer one patient's, "What's your name? Where are you from?" many, many times a day, always with a smile on my face.
I was asked to do a blood draw on a patient when I was recommended by one of the floor nurses. I got flash-back but couldn't get the blood. I hated to stick that old sweetheart but I was not tentative, I did what I had to do. Then I was asked to place an IV in a dear, sweet man who was dehydrated. I found the vein, not much bigger than a hair and got in, first stick. He didn't complain with how much it hurt, he said that he loved the feel of my warm hands and my tender touch. I sat with him about ten minutes and he knew I loved him but had many other patients to see too. He passed away a couple of days later. I loved him, I'll always remember him.
I learned the value of the LPN's who are the backbone of the long-term care facility. They were so patient with me. The first weeks, they pulled medications and I delivered them to the patients. They are lightening fast when they go through each patient's medications! The next few weeks, I pulled medications and they delivered them to the patients. Then one day, I was told I would run a cart by myself! Horrors! I got so far behind. There is a computer that has each patient's list of drugs and times it is to be given. I was on 9:00 AM patients at 1:30 PM. When you are late, it's almost impossible to catch up because you have to sign-off on each drug then another box pops up and wants to know why. Then another box pops up and you have to type a reason. Thankfully, it has a place in the box that reads, "Use Last Reason." Then one day, you are on time. There's no describing the feeling of accomplishment! I'm learning that the LPN's that have taken the time to train me can be my best friends and nurture me in my profession. The LPN's are darlings and we should all worship them. I am learning.
For the last few weeks, I've been working with the Treatment Nurse. They are the ones that work on cuts, skin tears, bed sores, rashes, etc...I love it. It reminds me of being in the OR years ago. I can wrap Kerlix gauze with the best of them. I've done so well, that when the Treatment Nurse went on vacation, I was the one to do all the treatments in her place. People may think this job is easy, you aren't on the floor as much as the floor nurses, but, "Oh, MY!" there's so much paperwork. So much that I didn't get off the other night until 7:20 when I usually get off at 4:00. But, I'm learning. I'm also learning that even though I'm a very good treatment nurse and I love to write, I'm not a very good charter. I will learn that better too. I am learning.
I am learning that the Certified Nursing Assistants can be your right hand. They wash, dry, dress, toilet, change briefs, put powders where ever powders are needed on the residents. They are tasked with the every day activities of daily living for their assigned patients. They also assist the nurse when she is delivering unwanted but necessary treatments to a recalcitrant resident. They have your back. It is wise to appreciate them and thank them every time they do you a favor. They are extraordinarily hard working people. They have taught me so much. I am learning.
I've learned that some patients have visitors and family that care for them deeply and come often to see them and about them. I've learned that some have out-lived all their family and they have no one and it's up to me and the other staff to give them all the love and care they receive. I've learned that some have family and for some reason or another, they never come see about them and they are the saddest of all to me. I am learning that even though you are old, you have value. I am learning.
I've learned so much and I'm sure I'll be learning more and more as time goes by. I will be working on the new ventilator patient wing when it opens. I'll work Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. That will take some getting used to. It will be a different pace than the busy day-time on the halls when all the support staff is there and patients are gone to meals, activities, and rehabilitation. When it is quiet in the hallways. It will be different, but I will learn. I am learning!
