The last night at work, at the change of shift from days into nights, we screwed up and were short a nurse. Since it was sort of my fault, I decided to take that nurse's assignment. So I was charge, and had five patients. It was VERY hectic, but in a way, it was exactly what I needed. The nurses on duty were strong and experienced, and the night went by fairly uneventfully. We did have a patient that had to be transferred to the ICU but the nurse assigned was a relief charge nurse and was able to transfer to the unit without any problems. I just hope I remembered to do everything. Clinically, I'm sure everything was fine, but there's all that weird paperwork that changes every month or so, all of which has nothing to do with the clinical situation. It was a good experience, just to be a regular nurse again.

Remember I mentioned earlier the first time I tried the elipse, I got this crazy idea that I could keep up with this young girl, but totally couldn't and had to stop? This morning, we were, once again, side by side on adjacent machines. And I was amazed at how easily I could keep up with her. My heart rate was higher than normal -- about 150-155 -- but that girl was sweating like some sort of farm animal, panting through her mouth, and having to use a towel to wipe off her face and arms every few minutes. I was breathing normally through my nose, and sweating minimally. We both were on the elipse for 30 minutes, and she started a few minutes after I did, so it wasn't like she was at it for long before I was. Amazing considering what kind of shape she was in.

We went to see The Island a few days ago. It hasn't been doing that well, but the concept sounded good so we went anyway. I thought it was pretty good. It was sold as a sci-fi flick, but it was all action, and plenty of it. Pretty much once the running started, it was all action, and I liked it. Guns. Demolition of cars. Helicopters crashing into buidlings. People surviving 80-story falls. The whole bit. Yes, the story is simplistic and very predictable. But it was still entertaining. The bio-ethical discussion of cloning, and our search for the definition of Humanity? Yeah, whatever. We're talking Bombs, Butt-kicking, Bullets, and Boobs.

Comments

[Eric]

I usually work as a floor nurse, oh, about twice a month. But these have been extra shifts, and the other night shift charge nurse is on duty. Saturday night was the first time I've done both with a full load of patients. I think it's important to do bedside care, just so you know what you're talking about when you have an opinion, or need to make a judgement call. Also, I had been experiencing these weird feelings of late, that I have allowed myself to be too distanced from my patients, so it probably was something that needed to happen. The reason I say this is that, due to our summer period of lower census, my extra shifts have been canceled, so I might not get a chance to do bedside nursing until the end of the summer.

[shrimplate]

My hat is off to you for doing that. I am sure your staff nurses really appreciated it. If someone did that for me, I think I would consider reciprocating by taking an extra patient or two. Not the one that got the ride out to ICU, though!

[may]

whoa! charge nurse with five patients? you almost sound like a superman to me:) our charge nurses will never be able to pull that off. one patient on top of being the charge always freaks them out, you think it is the end of the world! i know it is hard though, so i'm glad everything went well.