Tales from work!

Things at my work continue to be hectic.  We have a chronic shortage of nurses, and I hear from many others in the medical field that they are dealing with the same thing.  It seems that when it can't get worse, it does.  In the last month, we had a nurse fall and break her leg badly and she is now in our rehab unit.  Another is leaving to get married and move to Ireland, one has to have back surgery, and another suddenly got 2 small children added to her family when she thought she was done with those days, so now can only work occasionally.  It can be very draining, but then there are things that are so rewarding, there are fun times and the days that remind you of why you do what you do.
I thought I would share a few bright spots and funny stories that brought me joy this week.

I always clean my desk off before going home, but when I have a day off  I usually come back to find numerous notes and requests. This week someone left me this cheery little "welcome back" note, along with the other papers.   :)

Working with older people with dementia is a lot like working with kids.  They get into squabbles, go places they aren't supposed to, and say what they are thinking.  You can't take yourself too seriously or you will be in trouble!

This week we had two ladies wheeling down the hall. Suddenly one started yelling at the other one.  What was the problem?  "She was talking too much, and when I put my hand over her mouth to quiet her down, she bit me!"  The one that got bit hardly had a mark to show for it, but it did mean lots of paperwork for us, notification of families and reports.  The biting isn't funny, but the situation that led to it, is.

I was working with the Dr and he asked about the placement of some papers in the chart.  I went to the nurses station and was talking to our Social Worker and said something about the Dr not being able to find something.  We were talking about where would be a better place to put these reports and one of our residents, who is just a character wheeled closer and told her "shut up!"  I asked this lady what was the matter?  She said - "you are trying to help the Dr and this lady isn't listening.  Someone has to stick up for you!"  Good thing someone does, right?

One lady said to another lady - "You look so nice today."  The other one replied "What's the matter with me?  Do I look terrible every other day?"  She was mad and wheeled away.

When I get to work in the morning, I always go to each of our nurses stations to check on anything that may have happened since I left.  One nurses station is in a great room, with lots of tables, and there are always some of our early risers up and drinking coffee.  They tend to be the same few and they like to tease me - and I must admit that I tease them too.  I go around to their tables and chat with them, it's a nice morning routine.  Last week as I was doing this I came to one lady who always has a twinkle in her eye, and usually a smart comeback to anything I say.  So, I said to her "B, what do you have to say this morning?"  Her response - "I sure do love you!"   I gave her a hug and told her I loved her, and that she had left me with nothing to tease her about that morning.

These are all little spots of joy throughout the day, and the reason I love my job!