It's that time again, when I and everyone else is asking where the wind will blow this traveler next. I currently have three weeks left in my contract here in northern Virginia. I looked at Boston, Vermont, New Hampshire, Cape Cod, Delaware, South Carolina, and the possibility of extending here in Virginia. I love the area that I am in here in Arlington, VA. I love all the bike paths, the close vicinity to Washington D.C., the diversity of culture, and the welcoming nature of the people here. So.............I extended here in Virginia and the mighty wind will merely be blowing me to another apartment here in the complex, away from the pool, so that when I am sleeping during the day from working night shift, the summer sun worshippers will not wake me.
I am working with a great group of nurses, doctors, and nurse practitioners. The diversity is something that I have always spoke of here. I am simply amazed how many people we get here that speak zero English. That has to be terrifying. With diversity though, you learn a lot about yourself and that as humans we are all similar but different.
I have plans to make it down to Monticello, Williamsburg, and up to the Catoctin mountains while I am here over the summer. Those are all lofty, though I am also going to Ireland in July for a bicycle trip. Looks to be a very good summer here in northern Virginia. I hope it is one of laughter, love, and exciting adventures. I hope that for you as well. I promise to be better about getting out and enjoying new adventures to tell you about. I have been on night shift almost this entire three month assignment, so I have been a bit lazy and playing a bit much, which has been fun, though not exciting for you.
Enjoy the new found Spring everyone. Winter is over! Get out, be active. Enjoy the sunshine, but don't forget your sunscreen. Take care.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Sometimes you just have to be a kid again!
I have seen a lot of sad situations at work as of late that really make me thankful for my health and make me want to maintain it. It just really makes me think back to when I was a kid and all I had to worry about was the next five minutes and how that would affect me.
I have no children but I do see the joy in having children in that you get to experience things through a child's eyes again as an adult. That has to be really cool! Just with my niece and nephew, Christmas time as of late has been a lot of fun. I have had the opportunity to be there on Christmas morning the last two years. Those are memories that I will cherish forever.
So the other day on a very nice day here in Virginia, it was quite windy and I headed out to Target to get a kite. I can remember flying cheap kites and box kites as a kid. I distinctly remember as a child, someone other than me running around a field trying to catch the kite in the wind to get it up in the air and once it was about 15-20 feet up, I then was handed the string and I got to enjoy the tug and pull necessary to keep the kite up there. I loved flying kites.
A couple key points that I should point out. Running in a field with unmarked holes, without stretching first, and having to zig and zag is downright dangerous as an adult. I enjoy running about three miles for exercise, on a flat treadmill with an occasional incline. I find that to be much easier on my knees and my confidence. It keeps the pounds off and elevates my heart rate, so it serves its purpose. It's also important to note that I grew up in the country and I was trying to fly a kite in the city in a soccer field. I really thought there was plenty of wind, til I had been running around for 7 minutes (yes only 7 minutes) and I was completely out of breath, nearly had a broken leg, and I had said a few choice curse words that the small children watching may have heard. So I decided to call the 7-10 feet of air that my kite got that day a successful failure. It was a dismal display. I had a lot of fun trying though. So after my successful failure and nearly tripping on my bottom lip, I headed over to the swings and remembered why swing sets are really just for kids. I crushed my hips into that rubber seat and I swung for about 15-20 minutes as high as I could go. That is such a freeing feeling!
So do yourself a favor and let yourself be a kid from time to time. It takes the seriousness of life away for a moment and just makes you feel better.
I have no children but I do see the joy in having children in that you get to experience things through a child's eyes again as an adult. That has to be really cool! Just with my niece and nephew, Christmas time as of late has been a lot of fun. I have had the opportunity to be there on Christmas morning the last two years. Those are memories that I will cherish forever.
So the other day on a very nice day here in Virginia, it was quite windy and I headed out to Target to get a kite. I can remember flying cheap kites and box kites as a kid. I distinctly remember as a child, someone other than me running around a field trying to catch the kite in the wind to get it up in the air and once it was about 15-20 feet up, I then was handed the string and I got to enjoy the tug and pull necessary to keep the kite up there. I loved flying kites.
A couple key points that I should point out. Running in a field with unmarked holes, without stretching first, and having to zig and zag is downright dangerous as an adult. I enjoy running about three miles for exercise, on a flat treadmill with an occasional incline. I find that to be much easier on my knees and my confidence. It keeps the pounds off and elevates my heart rate, so it serves its purpose. It's also important to note that I grew up in the country and I was trying to fly a kite in the city in a soccer field. I really thought there was plenty of wind, til I had been running around for 7 minutes (yes only 7 minutes) and I was completely out of breath, nearly had a broken leg, and I had said a few choice curse words that the small children watching may have heard. So I decided to call the 7-10 feet of air that my kite got that day a successful failure. It was a dismal display. I had a lot of fun trying though. So after my successful failure and nearly tripping on my bottom lip, I headed over to the swings and remembered why swing sets are really just for kids. I crushed my hips into that rubber seat and I swung for about 15-20 minutes as high as I could go. That is such a freeing feeling!
So do yourself a favor and let yourself be a kid from time to time. It takes the seriousness of life away for a moment and just makes you feel better.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Family defined
How do you define family? I looked up the definition of family and most traditional definitions included the necessity of ancestral heritage involving parents and children of the same lineage living in a group. I did find this definition though, "Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place." Notice this definition yielded no ancestral heritage. I say all of this because I met the most amazing family this past week at work.
I was introduced to such the family when an 86 yr old woman whom lived the life that we all wish we could live, came into the hospital after showing signs of a stroke. She married young, lived a great life, unfortunately couldn't have children but was blessed with great friends and family that she created. A young lady that sat vigilantly at her bedside was her medical power of attorney, whom was not her daughter. Monica was a Columbian lady that got to know Betty through Betty's best friend whom was Monica's American mother. When that lady passed, Monica became very close to Betty and they have been inseparable ever since. The love of Betty's life, Norman, passed away 5 years ago and it was said that it broke Betty's spirit when he passed. While she was still a vibrant interactive lady, she was never the same. Three years ago, Betty needed some assistance and with the urging of her friends and siblings, she moved into an assisted living facility and thrived from day one. She kept a busy schedule. Monica moved into Betty's empty house and got a housemate named Peter, whom was also one of Betty's good friends. Monica is probably in her late thirties-early forties and Peter is in his early sixties with a steady girlfriend. Monica and Peter live on separate floors and live separate lives, but came together on the one issue that they absolutely adored Betty. Monica would pick up Betty every Friday and bring her home for the weekend and would return her to the facility on Sunday. Peter would pick Betty and another lady up from the facility up every Wednesday and would go to lunch and a movie. Every Thursday Betty would play cards with a group of ladies. Betty was a vibrant 86 yr old.
Betty was found on a Sunday morning by an aid with a facial droop, right sided weakness, and the inability to speak. Strokes are scary because they can happen without warning for a multitude of reasons. While strokes are terrible to see, the amazing thing about them is that with early intervention, usually within the first 24-48 hrs function that was lost with the stroke, will show signs of returning, if it is going to. Not to be a Debbie downer, but Betty regained decent function of her right leg, some function in her right arm but did not regain the ability to speak or swallow again. So this was a moment where this random collection of "family" but not blood related members were forced to delve into what Betty had requested in her healthcare papers should this moment ever arise. The love, laughter, and unyielding support that every nurse, doctor, tech, and social worker felt in that room when they walked in was overpowering! It was a joy to see. Peter and Monica were both always at her side, comforting and encouraging her to get better. They brought in pictures to make her smile and there was always a roomful of visitors laughing and cutting up.
So while not everyone has children or blood related relatives close by, one can only hope that we will have a "family" like Betty's that will be there for us. I know that back home in KY, I very much have "family" that will always be there for me! For that I am incredibly grateful!
Sent from my iPhone
Friday, March 7, 2014
Some Patient's Just Hit Closer to Home
When I started nursing, I was young and very lucky in that I had experienced very little loss in my life. This was advantageous in that I was easily able to distance myself from the personal loss that the families of the patients that I was caring for, were experiencing. I saw then that it was advantageous. I now see that perhaps I was lacking a level of compassion that I possibly could have provided. I have said before that there are situations in nursing and patients that sort of hit you harder than others for one reason or another.
This past week I cared for a physician that was an amazingly nice man. I tend to level the playing field when I care for my patients. While I agree that MD's deserve respect for the hard work that they endured to achieve their doctorate status, as a patient, they can sometimes be turds and sometimes don't deem the respect that they feel that they deserve. So, wrong or right, until they earn my respect, they are Mr. or Mrs. so and so. Regardless of their status, I will give them the same level of care that I am providing for the gentleman next door that just happens to be homeless. This gentleman reminded me a lot of my father, as he worked relentless hours meeting the needs of others up until the day that his health jolted him into paying it some much needed attention. This gentleman had open heart surgery, had a pretty bumpy post op course, and needed some pretty extensive rehab post op. So he left our unit and went to an inpatient rehab facility. Took me back to my dad's two stints in rehab where he became everyone's favorite. This all makes me think of a quote that I recently saw, I believe on facebook, that "Inside every old person, is a young person that is wondering what the hell happened." I love that quote, because I do often see individuals in very poor condition and wonder if when they were my age, if they ever considered the consequences of their actions further down the road. This all makes me want to increase my exercise regimen and eat even healthier.
Another patient that I cared for was a gentleman that spoke no English at all. Luckily his children spoke English. I had this gentleman post op OH and I was trying to get the breathing tube out of him, but every time we woke him up to see if he would breathe with the breathing tube out, he completely wigged out and would drop his pressure into the toilet. This was with his two daughters at the bedside speaking his language trying to calm him down and soothe him. Usually, when we are doing this with patient's, the family is not in the room, as it is extremely difficult for families to see their loved one with the breathing tube in and very uncomfortable. This gentleman hit me because, much like my father, he was a man that never really had any surgery and was always self sufficient. This gentleman's daughters were so good with him and extremely implemental in helping this gentleman understand what was going on. I could see though, that seeing their father in this condition was tearing at the heartstrings of these women. I was trying to reassure them that their father was doing fine, that he was just waking up out of anesthesia a little rougher than some. Then I found myself, trying to put myself in their shoes and wondering how I would have handled seeing my father in that shape. I know that if I had been in my nursing mode, I could have totally handled it, but the second I slipped into the daughter mode, I would have lost it. For the record, we were able to get this gentleman off of the ventilator eventually using the Dr. Brueggemann, a pulmonologist that I worked with in Cincinnati, OH, "pull and pray" method. This method is pretty much, wake them up and once they are thrashing around enough that they could pull the tube themselves, you pull the tube out and pray that you don't have to put it back in. He is doing just fine after surgery now. How scary it must be though, to have a major surgery such as open heart surgery and not be able to communicate with those taking care of you.
I continue to say that the losses that I have had since I started nursing, the loss of two of the most amazing grandparents I could have ever had and the loss of my father, continue to help me be a better nurse each and every day. While it was easier to distance myself from the loss that families were feeling, the importance of understanding the level of the loss and emotions that they are enduring is vital.
This past week I cared for a physician that was an amazingly nice man. I tend to level the playing field when I care for my patients. While I agree that MD's deserve respect for the hard work that they endured to achieve their doctorate status, as a patient, they can sometimes be turds and sometimes don't deem the respect that they feel that they deserve. So, wrong or right, until they earn my respect, they are Mr. or Mrs. so and so. Regardless of their status, I will give them the same level of care that I am providing for the gentleman next door that just happens to be homeless. This gentleman reminded me a lot of my father, as he worked relentless hours meeting the needs of others up until the day that his health jolted him into paying it some much needed attention. This gentleman had open heart surgery, had a pretty bumpy post op course, and needed some pretty extensive rehab post op. So he left our unit and went to an inpatient rehab facility. Took me back to my dad's two stints in rehab where he became everyone's favorite. This all makes me think of a quote that I recently saw, I believe on facebook, that "Inside every old person, is a young person that is wondering what the hell happened." I love that quote, because I do often see individuals in very poor condition and wonder if when they were my age, if they ever considered the consequences of their actions further down the road. This all makes me want to increase my exercise regimen and eat even healthier.
Another patient that I cared for was a gentleman that spoke no English at all. Luckily his children spoke English. I had this gentleman post op OH and I was trying to get the breathing tube out of him, but every time we woke him up to see if he would breathe with the breathing tube out, he completely wigged out and would drop his pressure into the toilet. This was with his two daughters at the bedside speaking his language trying to calm him down and soothe him. Usually, when we are doing this with patient's, the family is not in the room, as it is extremely difficult for families to see their loved one with the breathing tube in and very uncomfortable. This gentleman hit me because, much like my father, he was a man that never really had any surgery and was always self sufficient. This gentleman's daughters were so good with him and extremely implemental in helping this gentleman understand what was going on. I could see though, that seeing their father in this condition was tearing at the heartstrings of these women. I was trying to reassure them that their father was doing fine, that he was just waking up out of anesthesia a little rougher than some. Then I found myself, trying to put myself in their shoes and wondering how I would have handled seeing my father in that shape. I know that if I had been in my nursing mode, I could have totally handled it, but the second I slipped into the daughter mode, I would have lost it. For the record, we were able to get this gentleman off of the ventilator eventually using the Dr. Brueggemann, a pulmonologist that I worked with in Cincinnati, OH, "pull and pray" method. This method is pretty much, wake them up and once they are thrashing around enough that they could pull the tube themselves, you pull the tube out and pray that you don't have to put it back in. He is doing just fine after surgery now. How scary it must be though, to have a major surgery such as open heart surgery and not be able to communicate with those taking care of you.
I continue to say that the losses that I have had since I started nursing, the loss of two of the most amazing grandparents I could have ever had and the loss of my father, continue to help me be a better nurse each and every day. While it was easier to distance myself from the loss that families were feeling, the importance of understanding the level of the loss and emotions that they are enduring is vital.
Friday, February 28, 2014
The Energy Club
Last night I had the pleasure of getting a guest pass to a spinning class at the Energy Club; which is the gym that I checked out yesterday.
As I mentioned before, it is still quite chilly here, so cycling outside would be quite miserable. So I have decided that I need to start spinning and cross training. When I got the tour yesterday, Karmina spoke very highly of Matt T. He apparently is an Ironman and does a lot of triathlons each year. So there is Matt T. whom is a killer in the spinning room, two Russians that teach the kettle ball class, and then the GM whom is also fit to the T who teaches a class with a step and a barbell on your shoulders. Pretty much is all looks miserable but I can only get stronger from it all. Just observing two minutes of the kettle ball class, made my legs hurt all over. Then can you imagine crying on the inside and having a Russian lady yelling at you? When I think of Russians and exercise, for some reason I think of pain.
I arrived at the spinning class about 10 minutes early, met Matt T., who by the way looks like every other serious triathlete I know, and started setting up my bike. Now I was told that Matt's class is the most demanding and he is the best instructor, so naturally the class was full. The room was 50/50 men and women. I was noticing though that everyone had not one but two water bottles and 3-4 towels, to my one water bottle and one towel. I turned to the lady next to me and asked, "Should I go get more water and just bring the rest of the towels in here, because I tend to work up a healthy sweat?" She just looked at me and giggled. A few minutes later, Matt welcomed the two French women that joined the class for the night. Of course, it would be me that says something smart-aleck to one of the two French women in the room. So I took that as a compliment that she didn't not think my humor was funny, she didn't understand me. :-)
If you have never been to a spinning class you really should go. It is an awesome workout and your butt hurts for weeks after the first class. The pain is what keeps you going back. Because it is only the repeated exposure that helps the pain dissipate. I like spinning because it really helps me hone my form which only helps me on the road. My hope for my Ireland trip is to beat Leslie, a social worker from IN that I met in Utah, up just one hill. She is an absolute beast on hills on the bicycle. She is an amazing woman!
Well, I am off to join the gym today. I enjoyed last night that I need to see what other pain they can offer me! Have a great day everyone.
As I mentioned before, it is still quite chilly here, so cycling outside would be quite miserable. So I have decided that I need to start spinning and cross training. When I got the tour yesterday, Karmina spoke very highly of Matt T. He apparently is an Ironman and does a lot of triathlons each year. So there is Matt T. whom is a killer in the spinning room, two Russians that teach the kettle ball class, and then the GM whom is also fit to the T who teaches a class with a step and a barbell on your shoulders. Pretty much is all looks miserable but I can only get stronger from it all. Just observing two minutes of the kettle ball class, made my legs hurt all over. Then can you imagine crying on the inside and having a Russian lady yelling at you? When I think of Russians and exercise, for some reason I think of pain.
I arrived at the spinning class about 10 minutes early, met Matt T., who by the way looks like every other serious triathlete I know, and started setting up my bike. Now I was told that Matt's class is the most demanding and he is the best instructor, so naturally the class was full. The room was 50/50 men and women. I was noticing though that everyone had not one but two water bottles and 3-4 towels, to my one water bottle and one towel. I turned to the lady next to me and asked, "Should I go get more water and just bring the rest of the towels in here, because I tend to work up a healthy sweat?" She just looked at me and giggled. A few minutes later, Matt welcomed the two French women that joined the class for the night. Of course, it would be me that says something smart-aleck to one of the two French women in the room. So I took that as a compliment that she didn't not think my humor was funny, she didn't understand me. :-)
If you have never been to a spinning class you really should go. It is an awesome workout and your butt hurts for weeks after the first class. The pain is what keeps you going back. Because it is only the repeated exposure that helps the pain dissipate. I like spinning because it really helps me hone my form which only helps me on the road. My hope for my Ireland trip is to beat Leslie, a social worker from IN that I met in Utah, up just one hill. She is an absolute beast on hills on the bicycle. She is an amazing woman!
Well, I am off to join the gym today. I enjoyed last night that I need to see what other pain they can offer me! Have a great day everyone.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Slow to get started
Okay, I have settled in here in Virginia and I am wrapping up my second week. I have admittedly been a bit lazy in getting started on my adventures. I think I am still recouping my energy from an eventful three weeks.
Today I visited my neighborhood gym and got some information on some spinning classes and some other cross training activities; as I cannot wait for it to warm up so that I can hit the bike trails around here. I have hit several of my favorite restaurants that I enjoy so much here in Shirlington. There is the Greek chipotle-like restaurant that is yummy. Guapo's mexican that has amazing out of this world guacamole. Then, I don't want to forget the yummy Thai restaurant that I frequent as well.
I can't really complain about it being cold here, as I know that I have readers from all over and everyone is having an unprecedented cold winter. I had the opportunity to go hiking this past weekend, as it was really nice, and I think everyone could agree with me, that Spring can begin anytime. Some of the things that drew me back to this area are not only the nice people, but the numerous bike trails sprawling the DC/VA area, and the many awesome hiking trails. I plan to go back to Great Falls park and hike the Billy Goat trail that I mentioned in a previous post.
I mentioned the zoo in my previous post and just heard today that not only is there a baby panda, but there are two baby lion cubs at the National Zoo. What, what? I can't wait. I just need a day maybe in the forties to head that way. Forty degrees is just warm enough that I won't freeze; yet cold enough that hopefully many of the stay at home moms won't be out in masses with their strollers. :-)
So I need to go mentally prepare for my spinning class tonight. I haven't been spinning in a couple of years. I will let you know if I can move tomorrow or Saturday. This weekend I head back to the dark side and will be back on night shift. It has been nice to be on days for 6 weeks.
Today I visited my neighborhood gym and got some information on some spinning classes and some other cross training activities; as I cannot wait for it to warm up so that I can hit the bike trails around here. I have hit several of my favorite restaurants that I enjoy so much here in Shirlington. There is the Greek chipotle-like restaurant that is yummy. Guapo's mexican that has amazing out of this world guacamole. Then, I don't want to forget the yummy Thai restaurant that I frequent as well.
I can't really complain about it being cold here, as I know that I have readers from all over and everyone is having an unprecedented cold winter. I had the opportunity to go hiking this past weekend, as it was really nice, and I think everyone could agree with me, that Spring can begin anytime. Some of the things that drew me back to this area are not only the nice people, but the numerous bike trails sprawling the DC/VA area, and the many awesome hiking trails. I plan to go back to Great Falls park and hike the Billy Goat trail that I mentioned in a previous post.
I mentioned the zoo in my previous post and just heard today that not only is there a baby panda, but there are two baby lion cubs at the National Zoo. What, what? I can't wait. I just need a day maybe in the forties to head that way. Forty degrees is just warm enough that I won't freeze; yet cold enough that hopefully many of the stay at home moms won't be out in masses with their strollers. :-)
So I need to go mentally prepare for my spinning class tonight. I haven't been spinning in a couple of years. I will let you know if I can move tomorrow or Saturday. This weekend I head back to the dark side and will be back on night shift. It has been nice to be on days for 6 weeks.
Friday, February 21, 2014
The Blur of Three Weeks
Well, in the last three weeks I've moved from Baltimore, visited northern Kentucky and settled in here in Arlington, VA. My final week in Baltimore was busy with a couple of going away dinners and a going away party thrown by my good friends Renata and Emily. Some of my closest friends there in Baltimore were in attendance. What a great group of people!
It has only taken me a couple of visits back home in northern Kentucky to realize that I need to be there longer than a week to see and do all that I would like. Visiting NKY truly does give me a warm fuzzy feeling. It is a place that I know I am accepted no matter what and full of people I don't have to explain my background to. I love meeting all the new people that have the opportunity to meet, but it does get exhausting at times that no one knows whom my friends back home are, whom my family members are, what all of my favorites are etc...... It is the burden that I must bear though moving around so frequently. :-)
So now I am back in Arlington, VA! What a great area to live in! I really do enjoy this area. I am close to work, close to a number of great restaurants, and close to access to the metro. Next week I will start my adventures on the metro to destinations that I want to repeat or unseen adventures. I am uber excited! I mean, I need to get to the zoo and see the new panda baby. That is an obvious must.
I was a bit disillusioned that I would get a day or two of orientation upon my return. Yep, nope that didn't happen. I got there early and ready to go and was given a big welcome back with zero orientation and the sickest patient on the unit. That wasn't cool! I made do and my patient made it as well. That is the most important thing. :-) Day two was much improved and I settled into a rhythm with the charting system. So I am all good and ready to have fun now.
Today I had my cable and internet installed so now I don't have to live like it is the 1980's anymore. It was a rough couple of days! Luckily, I was still able to watch a couple of movies on my iphone. What's a girl to do. Toodles for now and I will keep you abreast on my adventures.
It has only taken me a couple of visits back home in northern Kentucky to realize that I need to be there longer than a week to see and do all that I would like. Visiting NKY truly does give me a warm fuzzy feeling. It is a place that I know I am accepted no matter what and full of people I don't have to explain my background to. I love meeting all the new people that have the opportunity to meet, but it does get exhausting at times that no one knows whom my friends back home are, whom my family members are, what all of my favorites are etc...... It is the burden that I must bear though moving around so frequently. :-)
So now I am back in Arlington, VA! What a great area to live in! I really do enjoy this area. I am close to work, close to a number of great restaurants, and close to access to the metro. Next week I will start my adventures on the metro to destinations that I want to repeat or unseen adventures. I am uber excited! I mean, I need to get to the zoo and see the new panda baby. That is an obvious must.
I was a bit disillusioned that I would get a day or two of orientation upon my return. Yep, nope that didn't happen. I got there early and ready to go and was given a big welcome back with zero orientation and the sickest patient on the unit. That wasn't cool! I made do and my patient made it as well. That is the most important thing. :-) Day two was much improved and I settled into a rhythm with the charting system. So I am all good and ready to have fun now.
Today I had my cable and internet installed so now I don't have to live like it is the 1980's anymore. It was a rough couple of days! Luckily, I was still able to watch a couple of movies on my iphone. What's a girl to do. Toodles for now and I will keep you abreast on my adventures.
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