Dec. 24, 2021
A New Year Awaits
Sometime in November 2020 I turned in my resignation to my manager, Shelly Malone while at the behavioral health unit. I honestly don't think she cared - or was glad to get rid of me. There became an influx of people leaving the unit, almost as fast as they were coming in. Something was wrong there. I didn't really have a big problem with her - except when I voiced my concerns for my safety, she told me to "get over it". Reminded me too much of conversations I'd had with family members. Then when I told her I was seeking to transfer, her words were, "might be the best thing for you." Damn was she spot on there.
I did not want to leave the UNC hospital system. They are a great organization, and cannot be judged by one bad manager or a few creepy coworkers that offered nothing but grief (just as jailers often get "institutionalized" in their jobs, I really think the long term employees that were still there were just as disturbed as the patients, thus becoming institutionalized themselves. The UNC system offers alot for those that want it. Many different departments, locations to choose from. They offer benefits that are affordable, at least for me. They offer educational opportunities for those that want them. Some of them free, some are reimbursed. They also push for happy, healthy employees and do so by various programs, incentives and offerings.
If you respond to a mass email from the President and CEO, he promptly replies. When I spoke to HR about transferring to a medical unit, they actually said, "thank you for chosing to stay". The pay is competitive, if not well over, the norm for the town. I'd interviewed for other positions as well, and no one could beat the pay and opportunity. The rest of the hospital system is cordial and kind, happy and hardworking. Yes, there are some that are exhausted and burnt out, but they are easy to spot, and easier to avoid. I can be my happy-go-lucky and positive self, and it seems to be appreciated.
At the end of November I was offered a lateral move to a medical floor, one that allows me to use my real nursing skills and keep myself busy for most of the 12 hours. I grabbed it, although I was made to wait 30 days. Why, so they could replace me? Since then, a handful of other nurses have turned in their badges as well. Dunno.
So here I am, having just completed my 12th shift on the 2nd Floor medical unit called 2nd Brightleaf. There aren't many patient beds, but there are "outpatient" patients needing care, for instance those coming in for daily infusions. There are cardiac recovery patients, and those who have opted for receiving monoclonal antibody injections for immunity against Covid 19. Enough to keep me as busy as I want, with some downtime to play with a craft, clean out by nursing bag, make a shopping list or even update my blog. I love that. I also love that I am familiar with the work, the computer system, and the compassion each patient deserves. And if I want to sneak them a stick of gum, I can. Remember milkshakes (that reminds me I have one in the freezer here!)?
This morning is Christmas Eve, 2021. It came a day earlier than I thought - funny thing is on the night shift it's often hard to keep track of dates. Tonight when I came to work, it felt like 6am and not 6pm. I pulled two weeks of dayshift when I started, and it was exhausting in it's own right.
Hallelujah (come on, typo queens...this program doesn't offer spell check. is that correct?) that I get Christmas eve and Christmas day, AND the day after OFF! I said OFF! Yay! Been a while. See? They're awfully nice. I picked my own schedule before I came here, and they stuck with my consistency. That will soon change, as my new "Night Alternative Schedule" that I was offered, kicks in and will be Monday thru Thursday each week. Every week. I cannot and will not complain. I think. This schedule adds an additional $20 per hour, plus my shift differential bonus. The dogs and I will get used to the consistent schedule. And we will make it work.
A few minutes ago I had to make my "every two hour rounding" of my whopping two patients. We not only check their needs, safety, etc. but we also check - did you read the "nurses duties of 1887?" their comfort levels. I use the last rounding of the shift to disinfect their surfaces, clean up where needed, get rid of old drinks, old linens, and add new stuff as needed. It's now 5am. Time to wake up. Anyway, one of my two patients is supposed to go home to his family today. A few days ago, a week ago, he looked as if he was dying. His going "home" was somewhere else. Anyway, he has had a drastic improvement (don't believe it's the last hurrah) and instead of pooping in his brief (he's 55) as he has been doing almost since he got here over a week ago, he got up, WALKED to the bathroom by himself, and left me a great Christmas gift. I wouldn't have known, wouldn't have believed it, had I not seen it. He is a very sick man; Has now been able to use a urinal instead of having a catheter, but this time his brief was saturated. Who cares? He got up on his own, and made it to the bathroom! What improvement!
I must end here, for now, with a Merry Christmas. Tonight I will write about the history of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and my take (of course, I always offer "my take"). I have nibs to whittle, coal to deliver, and window sills to dust.