Take this job and shove it! I ain't workin here no more!

My two year contract for my first job out of school is up next Wednesday. I managed to weasel my way into having my last week of work off with PTO and flex days. I'm DONE!

I'm tired of not getting respect. That's what it all comes down to. I didn't go to school for 7 years to get two degrees and $80,000 (before interest) of loans to be disrespected. I think the worst part of it all is being told things like "you are too compassionate."

Are you kidding?

This is health care for crying out loud. What would I be doing here if it weren't for my compassion? I sure am not in it for the money.

My older co-workers tell me "it's like this every where."

If that's the case I will change my job every year until I find people that do not accept the unacceptable.

What it comes down to is this: If you allow people to walk all over you they will time and time again. I refuse to be a doormat.

I will continue to stand up for my patients and what is right. That's the kind of clinician I am.

In closing, I'd like to sing another song:

Kiss. Kiss this. And I don't mean on my rosy red lips!

Aaaand, on that note, I'll be having dental surgery tomorrow and then moving to the beach on Sunday! Whoop whooop!

Bittersweet silence

The past two days I've gotten to work in the units. As in intensive care and cardiac care. Read: really sick people. In these two days, I've felt more useful treating those 3 patients than I have in a long, long time.

I've decided I like treating non verbal patients. I make them laugh. Really, it's a stitch. They can't tell me I'm being corny, silly or dumb, so I talk and talk. There really is no stopping me when I get going. Then they laugh and I like to pretend it's because they think I'm funny. In reality, it's just because it takes too much effort to mouth "you're ridiculous."

The best is when I'm co-treating with Shorty, a COTA, and we banter back and forth until we make the patient smile. Now, that's some funny stuff. The best is when I make fun of how short she is. That gets 'em every time.

Bring on the lines, leads, and vents! It's on, I'm bringing back purpose to my job and knocking out debility one treatment (and smile) at a time!

In other news, I'm not drinking soda. I normally don't drink a lot of the stuff anyway, but sometimes I get on a roll and then crave the sticky, sweet stuff. I haven't had a Coke or another soda at all this month. All 5 days of it. Pretty good, huh? Now, the hard part is going to be not having a rum and coke the next time I go out. I don't like beer...so I guess I'll be drinking a lot o' wine!

The things they say

As I'm standing up with a patient the first time, her gown flaps in the breeze showing her backside while I'm trying to tie it shut.

"I'm shining you. You can look or not look, its your choice."

I pick not.

I think patients say more interesing things than kids. . .

Patient: "The last time I was in the hospital I was so sick they almost signed me up for hostages."

Projectile

Projectile vomit is not as cool as it sounds. Especially, when you have a weak stomach yourself. This why I wear scrubs and retired my crocs with the holes in them. YUCK!

Tired.

This week I'm tired of taking care of people who yell, curse, or at the very nicest frown as soon as they catch sight of me. I'm also tired of helping people who aren't receptive. That's enough complaining for the day. . . I'm off to watch the last two episodes of Grey's Season 4 before Season 5 starts tomorrow...although I still need to figure out exactly how I'll be watching it tomorrow without a cable.

I saved 3 lives today, what did you do?

I traded my blood for oil today. The owner of several Midas of Richmond shops has blood drives every two months. When you give blood you get a free oil change. What could be better than saving 3 lives AND getting a FREE oil change? Not much folks! Especially with how much I have been driving my car recently. Just in time for an oil change. The bad news is the lady didn't get my vein at first. She had to root around in my arm a few times before she got it. I got a little queasy at that point. No fun. Also, the guy who took my history was the most ridiculous flirt ever. He didn't say anything too crazy or racy, but there was moderate flirting being sent my way the whole time. It was to the point where I couldn't look at him and was fidgeting. This was in a blood mobile, so we were in close quarters! He had several tattoos- only one worth mentioning...It looked a little something like this:


"Just keep swimming"

Location: Left triceps

Man, that's hot!

Also of note: my iron was 14.0! That's major for me! I've been turned down a couple of times due to low iron.

Mr. Flirt with Dori Tattoo: What did you eat today? Rusty nails? Your iron is 14.0. That's high for a petite girl. Normally petite girls like you have sucky iron.

Man, was he eloquent!