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Sunday, March 7, 2021

A Day in my Life

 I'm a little late in posting this, but here's how the first day of the month went for me.

We are once again missing 11-7 nurses.  This seems to be a chronic issue, actually in our area it's a chronic shortage of nurses everywhere.


So - on March 1 I started my day early.  I was up at 3 am, and here's the clock as I left the house at 3:40 am.  I'm lucky I live close to work.  It's a 10 minute drive and I was there, ready to take over on our long term side shortly before 4.

You may think it's all quiet during the night, but it's not.  There are several people who are awake and like to be up during the night, others that are confused and are trying to get out of bed.  There are calls for pain meds and at 5 am there is a med pass.  We have to give all thyroid meds, stomach meds... early on an empty stomach.  There are also meds that are given every 6 hours and in our building, that means 6-12-6-12.
When that's done there is charting to do, and a med cart to get cleaned off and set up for the next shift.


Here's the long term nurses station.  My replacement was there at 7 and then I headed to my office.



This is my office door.  One of the residents colored these pictures for me and wrote sweet messages on the back.



One thing I have to do every Monday morning is file a report with our county health department.  It tells how many residents we had in the building on the Saturday before, and goes through several infectious diseases, where I have to enter how many people in the building had them. I'm happy to say we had none.



Because I started so early, I hadn't had breakfast.  So, after filing the report with the health department, I had 2 boiled eggs!



Covid testing continues.  Our staff has to be tested weekly, so I have this set up in my office, and people pop in during the day to have their test.  No covid in our building!



Monday is a day when I have to do a lot of assessments.  Each resident has to have a pain and fall assessment done every 3 months, so I did several of those.  We also have online training that comes out the beginning of each month.  This is one I was working on that was on different virus/infections/bacteria's. 

Because I came in early, I got to leave a little before 2.


The sky was blue, the sun was shining!  I saw these grasses on my way home.  They were about 7 feet tall and were almost glowing in the sun.




And this little stream which had been frozen the week before is thawing!


I stopped to get groceries on my way home, put them away and started some laundry.  Then I took a nap for about an hour because I was going away in the evening.

Bob came home and had supper.  I didn't eat because we had a women's event at church.


This was on my drive to church, about 6:15 in the evening.
We had a wonderful pasta supper, the men served us and then had a speaker talking about life - unborn life and the way it had impacted her life.  It was a very moving night and we really enjoyed the evening.




I got home a little before 9 and relaxed for a while.  This is a digital photo frame our kids gave us.  They can email a photo to an address connected to the frame and pictures pop up for us.  We really enjoy seeing the pictures of the kids and grandkids!
I went to bed about 10:30.  The end of another good day.




24 comments:

Susan said...

You sure are responsible for a lot! Great that here is no Covid there. The pictures were so pretty and that photo frame so nice!

Deb J. in Utah said...

Wow - and I thought my days started early! What a busy day you had. You really make a difference for so many every single day! I love that digital photo frame. How fun that new pictures of your grandkids pop up when they are emailed. Hope your week goes well! See you again soon.

Buttercup said...

Bless you! I had major spinal surgery in 2012 and I still remember my night nurse. He was so kind and caring at 3:00 am. I've got a digital frame -- 70th birthday gift -- and love walking into my living room and seeing what picture has popped up. I share it with three close friends, so it's a wonderful treat to see all the families.

Ginny Hartzler said...

I found this so interesting! First, tht you did so much work without eating anything since the day before! not even coffee? You have many skills. And now I am tired just reading about all you did in one day!

Arlene G said...

Nancy got one of those frames for her Grandmother. I would put this on my wish list for Mother's Day! As always I do not know how you do it Mari...thank you for your service to the elderly.

Joyful said...

It sounds like a long and productive day. It looks like things are warming up a bit for you and so that's great news. You've captured a beautiful sky for us. Have a wonderful week ahead.

Laurel Wood said...

So very thankful your facility is COVID free. Sorry to hear of the nursing shortage. You captured beautiful scenes from your drive. The tall grasses almost look like candles. Have a blessed day.

Linda said...

I dont know how you do it...I get up at 3:30, out the door by 6:15 am, home by 4 (usually) and then off to bed at 7:30. You have to be dog tired, Mari. Keeping you in prayer.

Hootin Anni said...

Such a busy day. I could handle your schedule with ease,... NOT!! I think I'd call it a day at the boiled egg interval.

Love the brook and that picture frame is genius!!!!

Martha said...

It sure sounds like a busy day! I love the photo frame, such a great idea. I hope you have a great week :)

Ramblings of a Retired Lady said...

You had one long and busy day for sure. People dont realize the behind the scenes work that has to be done and I admire you for doing it all. The pictures were pretty and especially the 'little one'. Have a good week ahead.

DUTA said...

Shortage of nurses is always a serious issue, especially during a pandemic.
The splendid sunset on your way home is kind of a reward for your busy day at work.
I felt assured seeing your two boiled eggs. There are many myths about eating eggs, most of them not good ones. I like eating eggs.

Changes in the wind said...

After being in the hospital for four days I can only say how grateful I am to those that care for the sick and elderly!!I had some wonderful nurses that made all the difference and I pray they will be blessed and you even more.

Suemn said...

Thank you for all you do for the loved ones in nursing homes. It sounds like you work very hard in taking good care of them. I hope things ease up a little more during these trying times and that you are able to fill the needed nursing shifts so you don't need to cover the early morning hours.

Debi said...

I have three retired nurses in my family and they are so grateful not to be working right now. I have two nieces who are still working (one in NYC) and they have told us that nurses everywhere are just plain worn out. I pray for you all daily. So glad that your facility has no cases of COVID, that is such a blessing for both the staff and the residents and their families. Hope you have a good week.

Sparky said...

What a pretty place you live in. Thank you for being there for others. You're such a blessing and hope they know that.
I like boiled eggs too. They're a good "go to" quick snack for me many times.
Be safe. xx

Great-Granny Grandma said...

Wow, what a long and busy day you had. You must have a lot of energy.
Love those digital frames. My family pooled resources and got me one for Christmas, and it's so fun seeing new pictures pop up as they send them. Isn't technology amazing?

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

What a blessing you are to so many, dear Mari! I thank you for your gift of love and service every day to the dear souls that you look after! My Mother-in-Love is in a nursing home, and we are so thankful for the wonderful nursing team that looks out for her every day. How wonderful that you got to see such a beautiful sight on your way home from work, and then enjoy a special evening fellowshipping with other believers. I am so interested in your digital frame! That sounds like something my MIL would love! I will have to try to find one of these for her! May the blessings of the Lord be with you :)

Terri D said...

Oh my goodness, Mari. God bless you for the work you (and your staff) do for your patients. I wish I could have Helen move in with you. I wouldn't worry about her at all! I love the photo frame that can have surprise photos sent to it!! Awesome!

Michelle said...

Mari, I think you are superwoman. Wow, you have a lot on your shoulders. Nice to hear that your building is covid free. My school had been doing well, but we now have an entire classroom in quarantine and several new positive cases.

The Liberty Belle said...

You are a busy lady and what you do is so important. Thank you. I'm glad that the ladies enjoyed the pasta meal served by the men. May God bless you and keep you forever in His care.

Jean said...

That was a REALLY long day, Mari! You accomplish SO MUCH!!! I'm in awe of your responsibilities and duties at work!

I love that digital photo frame!

carrie@northwoods scrapbook said...

All I can think of when I read these posts is God bless you Mari. And all you do in your job with such love and compassion. Prayers for more nurses!!! It has been so nice to see a lot of sunshine here and feel Spring in the air. Love that frame - so cute and clever! 💕

Jenny the Pirate said...

Mari I've never known anyone like you for having such a positive attitude about gettin up in the middle of the night to go to work, haaahaha! I am in awe of your sweet spirit and your mental and physical fortitude. See, if that had been me (not likely), I would have taken a three-hour nap and then lazed around at home all evening, until bedtime! But I'm a lazy slug. I'm glad you had a good day although it started too early to be decent! Haahahaa xoxo