Why can't every patient be a STAR PATIENT?

I've worked in the medical field for a little over a 2 yrs and have been an RN for less than 6months and my question is.....Why can't every patient be a STAR patient? I have worked the last 3 nights, my nights have been descent as far as workload goes; I've been busy, but not completely overwhelmed to where I want to quit my job after the night is over (this thought frequents my head after many tough nights at Union Hospital). The thing is with the exception of one patient with drug seeking habits who wanted morphine IV every 2hrs on the 2hrs, I had 4 awesome patients, who listened to everything I said, not because they wanted to, but because they wanted to feel better and they trusted me because I was their nurse. If I said turn, cough, deep breath, walk, do your incentive spirometer, and take this medicaiton, thats exactly what they would do. I had one patient, in particular who was drinking go litely in preparation for a colonscopy. For those of you who arent familar with this drink, it is a 1 gallon jug of nasty, salty fluid which flushes your system as a means of clearing your stool and making you poop all night long. AKA a diaster waiting to happen. Anyways, this patient who had been ordered this "go litely" grimiced while drinking and/or even thinking about drinking this drink. About 2 oclock this patient was soooo bloated and sick that I was afraid it was all going come back up, and unfortunately stool was still not clear enough. I just kept on telling this patient, do the best that you can, thats all we can do. This patient kept on a drinking and by the end of the night it was ALMOST gone. The next obstacle I had was an IV stick on this same patient. This patient was an awful stick, had been stuck several times, and had 2 successful IV's that went bad within only a couple of days, so I KNEW that when I went to look (for a vein) it wasn't goin be pretty, but this patient was so positive and comforting. This patient kept saying, Megan you can get it, i have faith in you, i am fine don't worry about me, ohhh i hate being such a nusense to you, thank you so much for your care, etc.........THIS IS WHAT KEEPS A NURSE in business. Hate to toot my own horn, but I did get this patient an IV, not a butterfly, but a whopping 2o gauge needle, woooot woooo! This patient was precious as can be, a matter a fact when I left this morning I asked myself, why can't all my patients be like this one? Besides being an angel, I learned a lot from this patient both medically and about life. Thank you star patient! Also thank you co-workers. I work with such a great group of people. I could not do it without them and I count my lucky stars everyday because of the people I work with; my co-workers and of course my star patients are what get me through the night.

Shop-a-thon Mishap

As some of you may know, I went shopping with a couple girls from work on Wed. after work. To maintain confidentialty (AKA - so boyfriends and husbands don't find out) I will not disclose their names. Anyways, we had a great day. We ate at Cheddars, which was delicious! We shopped at Target, Hobby Lobby, Old Navy, Charolette Russe, Forever 21, American Eagle, and ended our day at GORDMANS. We purchased a couple things here and there, but no huge purchases. We reached our last store of the day, Gordmans. I had picked up a couple birthday presents, a picture frame for myself, and a couple tanks, but this one friend I was shopping with bought lots of stuff, a whole cart-ful a matter a factly. In her defense, it wasnt all for her. Long story (kinda) short, we went to the register to purchase our goods. She went ahead of me, the guy rang up alllllll her stuff, she gave him the credit card, DECLINED. Oh no no, that can't be right, go ahead try it again, my friend said, again it was DECLINED. She then got her debit card out and ran it once as debit, DECLINED, once as credit, DECLINED. By this time, theres like 10 people behind us looking rather put out and whispering secrets to each other (likely about us...."stupid girls", "how irresponsible", "I bet her husband doesnt even know she has a problem"). I said to my friend, we can just put it on my debit card and u can pay me back later, at this point I would have done anything to get us out of this situation, we were both pretty mortified. Sooo I whipped my debit card out. All be damned if my card didn't get DECLINED! I said okay okay, nooo way. theres got to be something wrong with your computer system, we've not shopped that much today. The cashier, who may I note acted as if he had just got done smoking a dooby, called his manager to the front desk. She typed in a couple buttons, and tried each of our credit cards, debit cards, etc....and once again we were DECLINED. At this point, I would have liked to put a bag over our heads and walk out of the store, never to return. Thankfully, our obviously more responsible friend came to the rescue and her card worked. We packed up our stuff and rannnn out of the store. I was running on fumes d/t working the night before, therefore I laughed for a good 20 minutes after leaving the store. How funnnnyyyy......In our defense we did NOT spend that much money, but I think it was because we had used our cards so many times or went over a pre-determined limit set by our card companies. Even though it was very embarressing, it gave us a good laugh and it made for a great ending to an even greater day with the girls. I had a blast, girls. We've got to do that more!

Home Sweet Home

Above is the first thing I saw when I pullled into my driveway at home, my mothers tulips. How beautiful they are! She worked very hard to plant all her tulips. They are all over the yard, along with a wonderful garden and other various plants. It looks like a spring wonderland. Job well done, Mama.

I've been house sitting at my cousin eddie and chrissy's house since friday of last week. It's always nice to get away from the same ole thing, but its also always nice coming back home. Although their bed is verrry comfortable and their dogs are verrrry cuddly, I CANNOT wait to sleep in my own bed tonight and take a shower in my own shower, etc. Nice break, but very glad to be home. I was tired of eatting frozen dinners and PB & J's, ready for mamas home cooking. I have house sitted for them a couple times in the past and I do this for them for 2 reasons. (1) to help them out, so that way they can go on vacation and not have to worry about their dogs or house and (2) to get away from home and see what life is like on my own. Long story short, I don't expect them to do anything in return for me, but to my surprise they brought me home a Coach purse and matching wallet. Not just any Coach purse, but the cutest one you'd ever saw. Its bright yellow and sooo nice and springy. I absolutely LOVE IT, a matter a fact ive already chgd over. Needless to say, I was verrrryyyy appreciative!

When I got home today, I also had some surprises in my stairwell. As you well know, I have a stash in my closet of stuff for my "make believe house". It started out as a hope chest, but now its a hope closet (ps i also have a hope pole barn, u'll have to ask my dad about that one, haha). Anyways mom had gotten me a set of 4 colorful mixing bowls, a set of 3 plastic mixing bowls with lids, anddddd a pack of easter cookie cutters. I've hit the motherload, people! :-)

I've worked the last 3 nights and they haven't been too awful bad. I am off tonight and I plan on going out to celebrate Austin's sister, kensey's bday. I cannot wait. It has been awhile since I've been out and about and saw all of my wonderful friends. Then unfortunately I am back tommorow for 3 more nights of work. The good thing is after that, I am off for 8 days, wooot woo. I cannot wait. I have a couple days planned already; massage, shopping with Jess, playing with my little hooligan friends (my niece and nephews) and going down to H'ville for Kentucky Thunder and to visit with my little man.

Thats enough of me, but I wanted to share a prayer that was sent to me via e-mail. It's a goodin'!

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day,I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.I'm blessed because You are forgiving an understanding God.You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.Forgive me this day for everythingI have done, said or thoughtthat was not pleasing to you.I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safefrom all danger and harm....Help me to start this daywith a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.Let me make the best of each and every dayto clear my mind so that I can hear from You..Please broaden my mindthat I can accept all things.Let me not whine and whimperover things I have no control over.And give me the best responsewhen I'm pushed beyond my limits.I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.Continue to use me to do Your will.Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.Keep me uplifted that I may havewords of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lostand can't find their way.I pray for those that are misjudgedand misunderstood.I pray for those whodon't know You intimately.I pray for those that will delete thiswithout sharing it with othersI pray for those that don't believe.But I thank You that I believethat God changes people andGod changes things.I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family memberin their households.I pray for peace, love and joyin their homes; that they are out ofdebtand all their needs are met.I pray that every eye that reads thisknows there is no problem, circumstance,or situation greater than God.Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be receivedinto the hearts of every eye that sees it in Jesus' name. Amen!

Hope everyone has a good day! :-)

Grumpy Grandma / Day at Chuckie Cheese

Hope everyone had a great Easter. I had a blast! Started my day out by picking up my grumpy granny at the old folks home. We walked out the door of her room and she sits down on her walker, I said, "Grandmother, were not going to get anywhere with you sitting on your walker." (Take note: I had only slept for maybe 3hrs, so I could've been a little testy) She responds, "I thought you would push me out to the car." As I tell many of patients whom are lazy, "Grandmother you are completely capable of trotting your hiney out the door." With a very ugly look and a grunt, we made it out to the Nitro. Needless to say, she was grumpy with me all day. Didn't bother me much though, shes always grumpy, and besides that how silly would I have looked pushing her out on a walker. Hence the name W-a-l-k-e-r, not p-u-s-h-e-r.
Anyways, the rest of the day was great. Mom and Aunt Kim made a great dinner including ham, scalloped potatoes, corn pudding, deviled eggs, yeast rolls, several desserts including my favorite Robert Redford (RR), take note: I only got one piece because most of my family are very selfish and don't care about me receiving my hard earned RR. The kids really enjoyed the Easter egg hunt and riding their four wheelers around the yard, and I enjoyed watching. I've got lots of pics I'd like to post, but I am house sitting and don't have the equipment to share.
Today, my sister, mom, coy (my nephew), Brooklyn (my niece), and myself loaded up and headed to Indy for some Chuckie Cheese action. It was a great time had by all. Brooklyn is 4 yo and she got 3 jackpots on the games they had there in like a matter of 30 minutes. I never got jackpots when I was little. She was pretty proud. I txted Austin to inform him of her luck and he said, "how much money did she win?" My response went something like this, "Aus, we took them to Chuckie Cheese, not casino aztar." He didn't appear to get the humor, but it sure gave me a chuckle. Coy on the other hand is 2, therefore couldn't focus much on one game for more than a couple seconds, but boy did he have a fun time putting tokens in the machine!
Tonight is going be pretty boring, but tommorow morning, bright and early Austin will be flying in. Cannot wait to see the little turkey. I am very proud of Austin and all his accomplishements with flying (it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get where he is with aviation), but boy oh boy its hard on girl not to see her friend very often. :-) But it sure is fun when I do see him!

I've Entered the Magnificant World of Blogging per my co-worker Jessica Schulte.

After many months of hearing my co-workers request my blogging, I have finally given in! I am officially a blogger. Stand by for more of Megan's Madness.