This area has a lot of diversity. West Indian, Hispanic, Indian, African, Korean, Filipino and an array of Middle Eastern culture. I met a patient from Afghanistan. The patient was older and spoke no English. I could tell she was nervous. She asked her daughter to apologize for not speaking-she was so sweet to be thinking about manners when she was about to undergo surgery. One of her children tried to review a few important words in English, things like 'take a deep breath' and of course 'pain'. I tried to recall something concerning cultural diversity from nursing school. She wore the traditional head covering and I remembered that it was important so I didn't want it to be stained by the Betadine prep or anything else, yet I wasn't sure if I could remove it, so I finally had to ask about removing it and why. I assured her daughter that it would remain in place until after she was asleep and I made it my business to replace it as best I could before she awoke.
The adventures continued as I prepped a patient for a hernia repair, a common surgery that I have prepped for many times before. It was a pretty significant bulge in the groin which had pushed the penis away from midline already, but as I performed the scrub and paint I noticed that things were getting firmer. Oh OK harder! There I said it! Just then the surgeon walks in and says "what's going on in here." I couldn't even say anything. One of the surgical assistants chimed in "I shaved him and he didn't do that for me!" Later the other surgical assistant told me that the surgeon stated I had actually made his job easier...
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Adventures with Doctors!
So it takes 3 weeks to finally gain computer access so that I can work on my own. Before and after that time I endure the looks of 'who is this new nurse & I don't want her in my room', which is quite funny to me, but I endure. Sooner or later they will have to come through me. I am a traveler. It's what I do ;)
So I am finally on my own and I am awaiting the arrival of my surgeon, who I have no idea what he looks like. On top of that I am not wearing my contacts so I can't read the name tags! I am depending on the pre-op staff to give me a description. My surgeon walks in and the description was right on so I knew who he was immediately. My eyes go straight to the Dallas Cowboys lanyard around his neck. I proceed to blurt out not an introduction but "I like you already", to which I get a sideways look as he walks away. Oops!
A few days later, one of the surgeons is sitting on a cord. I figure its a thin cord, I should be able to pull it out without him noticing. Well he does - only he thought it was my hand. I say, "Dr. we just met!". He says, "I know, I was thinking I may come here more often!"
So I am finally on my own and I am awaiting the arrival of my surgeon, who I have no idea what he looks like. On top of that I am not wearing my contacts so I can't read the name tags! I am depending on the pre-op staff to give me a description. My surgeon walks in and the description was right on so I knew who he was immediately. My eyes go straight to the Dallas Cowboys lanyard around his neck. I proceed to blurt out not an introduction but "I like you already", to which I get a sideways look as he walks away. Oops!
A few days later, one of the surgeons is sitting on a cord. I figure its a thin cord, I should be able to pull it out without him noticing. Well he does - only he thought it was my hand. I say, "Dr. we just met!". He says, "I know, I was thinking I may come here more often!"
Sunday, March 31, 2013
The DMV!!
So now I am in the DMV, which stands for D.C., Maryland and Virginia, a larger and busier metropolitan area. This time I had to make the 13 hour trip back home all by myself. I packed up ALL my stuff, packed my truck and drove home for the weekend.
I arrived here Sunday evening to stay in a hotel because my apartment had no furniture until the next day. The hotel was nice except the business area as they called it consisted of an e-computer without Microsoft Office or its own printer - NOT COOL!.
The first couple of days at work was spent as usual in orientation of all kinds and tons of computer based training. Talk about sleepy days. Thankfully week one went by and I was finally into orientation and actually in a room. This was my opportunity to learn the computer charting system - EPIC. That was really important because I had not previously worked with it anywhere else.
On day two after my arrival I was finally able to unpack my truck and move all my junk in on the second floor. Thank God my apartment is on the front - closest apartment to the stairs. Very modern appliances - all stainless steel, beautiful countertops and cabinets. The furniture is so so, with possibly the world's most uncomfortable sofa EVA! But get this - what do realty properties have against overhead lighting? Other than the kitchen and dining room this joint has no overhead lighting! I had to request a floor lamp from my travel company, otherwise I would have been living in a dungeon for 3 months!
Again, I had mapped out a couple of churches in the area - so I was excited for my first week to attend. Extremely large congregation. AWESOME WORD!. Enough said!
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| Crossing the Mississippi River again on my way HOME! |
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| Welcome to VA!! |
I arrived here Sunday evening to stay in a hotel because my apartment had no furniture until the next day. The hotel was nice except the business area as they called it consisted of an e-computer without Microsoft Office or its own printer - NOT COOL!.
The first couple of days at work was spent as usual in orientation of all kinds and tons of computer based training. Talk about sleepy days. Thankfully week one went by and I was finally into orientation and actually in a room. This was my opportunity to learn the computer charting system - EPIC. That was really important because I had not previously worked with it anywhere else.
On day two after my arrival I was finally able to unpack my truck and move all my junk in on the second floor. Thank God my apartment is on the front - closest apartment to the stairs. Very modern appliances - all stainless steel, beautiful countertops and cabinets. The furniture is so so, with possibly the world's most uncomfortable sofa EVA! But get this - what do realty properties have against overhead lighting? Other than the kitchen and dining room this joint has no overhead lighting! I had to request a floor lamp from my travel company, otherwise I would have been living in a dungeon for 3 months!
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| LOVE the kitchen! |
Last Days
Well my ArkLaTex assignment was a pretty descent one. My last days were spent getting drug tested (again) for the new assignment I accepted, and of course packing. My last weekend a member of the church I was attending invited me over for dinner after church which was nice.
My assignment ended on a Tuesday and I was out of there on Wednesday for my long journey home - alone this time.
Kinda weird, but I met more people on my move out day than I think I met outside of work the entire time I was here. One of the maintenance men actually helped me tote some things down to my truck. Then a cleaning crew came to clean the apartment next to me, (which would explain why I never saw anyone there) and one of the crew also assisted me.
I tried to do the trip in one day but I couldn't make it. Stopped on the other side of ATL in Conyers for the night. Next stop, HOME SWEET HOME (for the weekend) by way of my SWEETIE 1st!!!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Hurricane Isaac
Hurricane Isaac decides to make itself known - considering the history of the area I was concerned. Before accepting the contract I was sure to investigate this whole hurricane/weather situation, but I was wrong. Thankfully I had a few days to prepare in the event of the storm really coming down the line.
What I discovered is that my city is a lot like my home - far enough inland that it is usually the evacuation destination. Forecasts were coming in about 5 days before landing. I did the usual prep - buying some non-perishable food items and bottled water, prayed and prayed more.
My family and friends were highly excited by the prospect of me being caught in the hurricane especially by myself, so I decided to start a hurricane update - periodically I would send a mass text message to everyone reporting the progress and projection of the storm. This method seemed to calm their concerns and nerves.
Thankfully the storm moved exactly as expected. Many residents of the low lying areas were evacuated to my city and I think we only experienced a little rain. So Thankful!!!
What I discovered is that my city is a lot like my home - far enough inland that it is usually the evacuation destination. Forecasts were coming in about 5 days before landing. I did the usual prep - buying some non-perishable food items and bottled water, prayed and prayed more.
My family and friends were highly excited by the prospect of me being caught in the hurricane especially by myself, so I decided to start a hurricane update - periodically I would send a mass text message to everyone reporting the progress and projection of the storm. This method seemed to calm their concerns and nerves.
Thankfully the storm moved exactly as expected. Many residents of the low lying areas were evacuated to my city and I think we only experienced a little rain. So Thankful!!!
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Big Storm!!
So on a random morning I am preparing for work as usual and I can tell that it is raining pretty hard, but no big deal right? Boy was I wrong. This rain is unlike anything weather wise I have ever experienced, and I survived HUGO!! Water was coming down sideways and it hurt-literally as it hit me in the face, but you run to the car and it's over.
Next comes the lightening with booms so loud my SUV shook-not to mention the paths seemed so close and frequent that it was blinding-my eyes didn't have the chance to adjust-it was like the paparazzi!
As I try and make my way to work, the car in front of me is slowing for no apparent reason, then he stops and makes a U-turn. Then I see why-another car has attempted to drive through a significant amount of water on the street and is now flooded in water above the doors! It was hard to see. Perhaps if he wasn't there I might not have seen it either!?
I only know one route to work so now I have to navigate the city to find my way to work. The weather report on the radio tells me not to go under the interstate as it is also flooded. Of course I call the hospital and make them aware of the situation but that I am making my way. I'm doing pretty good figuring it all out. I have to make a couple of U-turns due to the water levels at various street. In the midst of it all I forget that I drive a SUV (Thank God!) so I was finally able to make it through some water that other cars had to turn around for. I made it safely!
By mid afternoon you could never tell anything at all had happened that morning...
Next comes the lightening with booms so loud my SUV shook-not to mention the paths seemed so close and frequent that it was blinding-my eyes didn't have the chance to adjust-it was like the paparazzi!
As I try and make my way to work, the car in front of me is slowing for no apparent reason, then he stops and makes a U-turn. Then I see why-another car has attempted to drive through a significant amount of water on the street and is now flooded in water above the doors! It was hard to see. Perhaps if he wasn't there I might not have seen it either!?
I only know one route to work so now I have to navigate the city to find my way to work. The weather report on the radio tells me not to go under the interstate as it is also flooded. Of course I call the hospital and make them aware of the situation but that I am making my way. I'm doing pretty good figuring it all out. I have to make a couple of U-turns due to the water levels at various street. In the midst of it all I forget that I drive a SUV (Thank God!) so I was finally able to make it through some water that other cars had to turn around for. I made it safely!
By mid afternoon you could never tell anything at all had happened that morning...
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
'Tha Boys'
An old friend that lives in Texas told me about a gospel concert going on in Alexandria-it was nice to just get away and hear some great music!
A couple of weeks later I hit Dallas for the weekend of a lifetime - A DALLAS COWBOYS pre-season football game!!! 3 hour drive, but there was noooooooo way I was going to be that close and not at least try to get there! I decided to go for church and spend the night just in case I could swing a tour of the stadium the next day.
So, if you are a Cowboys' fan and have yet to experience a game, let me share some info I wasn't privy to. You have to have a parking permit to park in addition to your ticket. Without the mercy of a parking attendant I would have NEVER gotten in. I had to walk around one half of the stadium before getting to my entrance, but it was all worth it when I sat in that seat without hassle or disruption from anyone around. The jumbo monitor-Heck, just being there was a dream come true!
The next day I took a tour of the stadium@ half price too! Didn't get to go on the STAR but the end zone was a satisfactory substitute :)
Another one of those things I WILL NEVER FORGET and despite having to go alone, it ranks high with one of the few coolest things I have done!!!
Part of my NO WOULDA, COULDA, SHOULDA TOUR!!!
A couple of weeks later I hit Dallas for the weekend of a lifetime - A DALLAS COWBOYS pre-season football game!!! 3 hour drive, but there was noooooooo way I was going to be that close and not at least try to get there! I decided to go for church and spend the night just in case I could swing a tour of the stadium the next day.
So, if you are a Cowboys' fan and have yet to experience a game, let me share some info I wasn't privy to. You have to have a parking permit to park in addition to your ticket. Without the mercy of a parking attendant I would have NEVER gotten in. I had to walk around one half of the stadium before getting to my entrance, but it was all worth it when I sat in that seat without hassle or disruption from anyone around. The jumbo monitor-Heck, just being there was a dream come true!
The next day I took a tour of the stadium@ half price too! Didn't get to go on the STAR but the end zone was a satisfactory substitute :)
Another one of those things I WILL NEVER FORGET and despite having to go alone, it ranks high with one of the few coolest things I have done!!!
Part of my NO WOULDA, COULDA, SHOULDA TOUR!!!
The End Zone!
Sharp Dressed Man! - R.I.P.
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