VDay Recap
This'll be a long one folks...
After The Day From Hell aka Yesterday, today started off on a good note with my doctor telling me he was going home sick and to cancel all the afternoon appointments. Not good that he's sick, but absolutely wonderful that I would have time to get caught up.
I work with four doctors, two other nurse/CMAs and four reception/billing/referralist people. One of the other doctor's patients--a dear, sweet old man with an eye patch bought each and every one of us an $8 box of chocolate. He was just diagnosed with a brain tumor, and out of the pure goodness of his heart he brings us chocolate.
Another patient, one of mine, who's 82 brought me a Valentine just for me. One of those ones like you pass out in school. It had Snoopy and said I was special and it rhymed. *wibbles* And I think I nearly started crying right there.
This is why I do what I do.
Why I stay at a job where there's no opportunity for professional growth and I don't make more than $13/hr. For every day I want to tear my hair out and beat people with a jesus stick, there are days where I'm amazed by the simple goodness in people. I'm humbled to know that what I do and how I treat them makes a difference in their lives.
You can't measure that.
And it's not just on an emotional level either. I had a patient call me today at 1:00, after the doctor had left for the day, complaining of severe vertigo and dizziness for the last hour. He had surgery two weeks ago on his left carotid artery.
Dizziness is a very common ailment, there were any number of things I could have told him: Go lay down, see if it goes away, take some anti-vertigo medicine, I'll fit you in in tomorrow, let me ask the other doctor and I'll call you back, go to the ER...
I decided that he should call his surgeon first, as there was a chance that this dizziness was connected to the surgery two weeks ago. If they can't see him ASAP he should call me back and I'll find a way to get him seen.
The doctor's office called me back within two hours to let me know that the patient will be having surgery tomorrow morning, on the right cartoid artery.
I always joke with my friends that I should be making more money than them, because my decision making can literally kill people. It's never been this true. If I had told him to go lay down and call me if it wasn't better in the morning, he would have woken up paralyzed on one side from a stroke...if not worse.
I'm still a little in shock.
Now... on to lighter subjects.
I'm feeling much love from aelora for the virtual chocolates. *Snuggles her* And ishie for the icon of Adam-love! You both are full of sweets and I wish I had something of my own to give to you! I just joined LJ a few months ago, and already I'm overwhelmed by the awesomeness of people like you.
After The Day From Hell aka Yesterday, today started off on a good note with my doctor telling me he was going home sick and to cancel all the afternoon appointments. Not good that he's sick, but absolutely wonderful that I would have time to get caught up.
I work with four doctors, two other nurse/CMAs and four reception/billing/referralist people. One of the other doctor's patients--a dear, sweet old man with an eye patch bought each and every one of us an $8 box of chocolate. He was just diagnosed with a brain tumor, and out of the pure goodness of his heart he brings us chocolate.
Another patient, one of mine, who's 82 brought me a Valentine just for me. One of those ones like you pass out in school. It had Snoopy and said I was special and it rhymed. *wibbles* And I think I nearly started crying right there.
This is why I do what I do.
Why I stay at a job where there's no opportunity for professional growth and I don't make more than $13/hr. For every day I want to tear my hair out and beat people with a jesus stick, there are days where I'm amazed by the simple goodness in people. I'm humbled to know that what I do and how I treat them makes a difference in their lives.
You can't measure that.
And it's not just on an emotional level either. I had a patient call me today at 1:00, after the doctor had left for the day, complaining of severe vertigo and dizziness for the last hour. He had surgery two weeks ago on his left carotid artery.
Dizziness is a very common ailment, there were any number of things I could have told him: Go lay down, see if it goes away, take some anti-vertigo medicine, I'll fit you in in tomorrow, let me ask the other doctor and I'll call you back, go to the ER...
I decided that he should call his surgeon first, as there was a chance that this dizziness was connected to the surgery two weeks ago. If they can't see him ASAP he should call me back and I'll find a way to get him seen.
The doctor's office called me back within two hours to let me know that the patient will be having surgery tomorrow morning, on the right cartoid artery.
I always joke with my friends that I should be making more money than them, because my decision making can literally kill people. It's never been this true. If I had told him to go lay down and call me if it wasn't better in the morning, he would have woken up paralyzed on one side from a stroke...if not worse.
I'm still a little in shock.
Now... on to lighter subjects.
I'm feeling much love from aelora for the virtual chocolates. *Snuggles her* And ishie for the icon of Adam-love! You both are full of sweets and I wish I had something of my own to give to you! I just joined LJ a few months ago, and already I'm overwhelmed by the awesomeness of people like you.