New job and cats update
So, I've survived my first week at my new dayshift Admissions nurse job. I started out orienting for two days in ortho/neuro, where my manager's office is located, so we could work out some more details of my schedule. I learned a lot about how to care for a patient after a total joint replacement, and some of the differences in admitting someone prior to a scheduled surgery (I didn't do a lot of that in the critical care unit). Today, I went to the surgical staging unit, where people are admitted with (to my eyes) blazing speed by those who have worked there on a regular basis. I THOUGHT I knew how to admit a patient, before I went there (HEAVY sigh, and shake of head). Nope. Admitting people in the middle of the night in the critical care unit does not involve as many steps and things to check and do as prior to surgery in the daytime (or in this case 5am-5:30pm, I had to wake up at 3:30am...groannnn). I hope I remember all the things I learned, because I'm going back to SSU again Monday. Then I'll be heading over to medical/surgical for the next couple of days, then the emergency department after Christmas. This hopping around to unfamiliar territory and dealing with unfamiliar procedures is not real good for my ego. I want to make a good impression, but I feel like an idiot because I don't know very simple things, like how to lower the transport cart that's used to take patients to surgery (I'm used to a bed where you just push a button to lower a bed down...I didn't know which foot pedal to press for the cart), or that when the unit secretary leaves, I'm the one who needs to remember to notify anesthesia that a patient is about ready (I've never needed to page an anesthesiologist before, and didn't even know the number to call), and a host of other things. Needless to say, it took me forever to admit a patient. I'm trying to remind myself to be patient and give myself time to adjust. When you do something enough times, you can't help but remember things and get faster.
I'm soooo looking forward to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert tomorrow night. Then there's the Baile Christmas party Saturday, at the usual time and place (though I'll miss Aileen, who will not be able to be there due to attending a funeral). Also, after my three days of work early next week, I have a week of vacation (my first since I started my RN position a year and a half ago). Basically, I'll spend one night recovering after three consecutive 12+ hours days of work, then I'm heading to Michigan to visit some of my family for a few days, which will be much nicer than I originally expected because I will have a dayshift sleep schedule. Then I have to come back in time to work Christmas day. The week after that, I'll orient in the emergency department. Then I'll start the 9am-9:30pm admissions nurse schedule, working where ever the nurse house supervisor thinks I'm needed.
One of my cats, Tien (the gray tabby), is sick. Some sort of upper respiratory thing, as he keeps sneezing (all over me, of course. : ) ). I may call the vet and ask if they think it's just a virus, or something I should bring him in to check out.