Skills Test

The powers that be in our CON have decided that we'll be subject to a skills evaluation before we're allowed to graduate. I have no problem with this, it seems only fair. But someone has decided that we are to remain in the dark about exactly which skills we'll be tested over. This is annoying to me, but I feel pretty comfortable as I've been working all along and have routinely done most of the skills I can think of. However, on the other hand, I think it's a pretty stupid policy.

Turns out I wasn't the only one. A few days ago during a class break, I had an instructor I didn't know pull me aside.

"I hear you are the outspoken student of the class," she stated.

"Uh, yeah, I seem to have garnered that reputation," I replied.

"I see. Well, I need you to create a ruckus for me."

She went on to detail how half the faculty completely disagrees with the no disclosure policy. They think it's absolutely wrong, and unfair. Many students may not have performed these skills since Junior I semester, and then only in lab.

So, in an effort to be helpful, I did indeed create a ruckus. I posted the following on WebCT, our official class e-bulletin board:

To Whom It May Concern:

As the skills evaluation draws ever nearer, I find myself
more and more concerned about the manner in which we
are being tested.

Why are the skills we are being tested over shrouded in
such secrecy? I'm finding this to be a serious impediment
to my preparation.

If the goal of nursing school is to prepare us for the real
world, then we should be given the means to adequately
prepare for this evaluation. In real life we would never be
expected to enter a patient room to blindly perform an
unknown procedure. Such a practice would surely
compromise patient safety and put our hard-won licenses
at great risk.

In fact, I believe this attitude of secrecy fosters a climate of
"fake it until you make it" that is both dangerous and could
potentially become an embarrassment to the ***CON.

***CON actively cultivates a reputation of turning out
supremely prepared students. This policy seems in direct
contradiction to the circumstances of this practical exam.

I respectfully request that a full list of the skills in question
be released so that my classmates and I are able to
adequately prepare.

Regards,

NurseXY

And create a ruckus it did. 79 responses later, the thread is still going on.

Have they revealed the skills?

No, they haven't.

Yet.

Don't you just love a good ruckus?

Rubbing Elbows

I just got home from the recruiting event for the major hospital where I've applied for the TICU internship.

It was held at a local old-school hacienda type Mexican restaurant known for their food, but my preparation started much earlier in the day. I first scoured over my resume for the 39th time, and then printed off 15 copies onto 32# almond colored paper. Next, I went and got a professional haircut. Normally I just take the clippers and buzz it as close as possible to avoid having to deal with it for at least 3 weeks, but I figured this occasion called for the professional touch. I went over my wardrobe choices 27.6 times, and settled on a charcoal gray pinstripe suit, with a baby blue shirt and green and blue paisley tie. Of course at the last minute I changed my mind and ended up in gray slacks, a dark blue shirt and a dark green and blue tie. The invitation said casual dress, so I thought the suit might be a little over the top--a concern that played out once I arrived. I was definitely one of the better dressed guys there--a major plus--but the suit might just have come off as arrogant or kiss-assish.

The weather here is beautiful, so I had a lovely 25 minute drive with the top off the Jeep, and that turned out to be the best decision all day. The sunshine and cool breeze totally relaxed me and put me in a great mood for the event.

I arrived 15 minutes early, and there was already a line out the door. I would estimate there were at least 150 people there, and it was an RSVP only event. They opened the doors at 1700 on the dot (awesome!), we got signed in, and were directed to the recruiting area. Each unit or specialty area had a table set up with actual hiring managers manning the post. By the time I got inside there was already a crowd around the critical care tables. I waited my turn with the TICU first, and got several minutes alone with them as the managers were some serious tough cookies to talk with. I just kept at it though, asking questions, talking about the hospitals goals and visions, and I was rewarded with a genuine interested conversation. Most of my classmates I spoke with didn't even leave resumes at the TICU table because of the stonewall act. I waited until I was about to walk away to drop my ace-in-the-hole. I have a good friend that works in the TICU and he's been whispering my name in their ears for the last month or two. It was great to see the recognition in their faces when I made the connection for them, but also to know that I held my own and possibly impressed them on my own merits first. I left my resume and expressed my interest.

Next I slid over to the CVICU table and waited in a much longer line. I took the same tact, asking questions, making conversation. I then relayed the fact that I'd done my critical care rotation on that particular unit, and the manager totally remembered me. I again left a resume and expressed my interest of working on that particular unit.

At that point, there were no other units that I was interested in, so I headed to the food area. The food was excellent of course. I saved 1000 calories for my dinner, and I only hope that was enough. Two mini shredded beef chimichangas, two potato flautas, and beans and queso. Yummy.

The night started winding down about 1830, and the recruiting room was really slow. I took the opportunity to let them see my face one more time, being sure to thank them for taking the recruiting funds and time out of their schedules to put on the event.

All and all I would definitely call the event a success for me. I was very relaxed, and the units I made contact with I had a personal connection to each manager. I didn't feel intimidated by the number of people attending, despite the stacks of resumes on the tables. I felt good with only talking to the two units. I feel like I'll definitely get an interview, and then the game starts all over again.

Feel free to send good thoughts and prayers my way!

Opening Salvo

I finally got to apply for one of the internships I'm interested in yesterday. I expect the other two to be posted by Friday. I left class yesterday to fill out my application--there was no way I'd be able to sit still and listen knowing it had been posted. I've spent the time since then securing letters of recommendation and ordering transcripts.

I also took the psychological battery of testing they require. Those tests always creep me out. The majority of the questions I can see what they're driving at, but sometimes I'm at a loss as to how to answer.

This particular internship is on a Trauma ICU in a major hospital. They are only a Level II center, but it's only because of a lack of research. They are in the process of obtaining their Level I status.

There are many good things about this particular internship. The name is an excellent resume padding name. Many instructors and faculty from the two CRNA schools in town actually work at this hospital. The facility is directly across the street from my wife's hospital, which means we could commute together, even eat meals together.

Also, a good friend of mine that graduated a year ahead of me works on this unit, and he's been awesome at dropping my name in management laps. We have very similar career goals. We are both in the same phase of life--second career, wife kids, etc. We live right around to corner from each other.

Tomorrow night the hospital is hosting a meet and greet type event at a local restaurant. The hiring managers and supervisors from each unit with an active internship will be present, so it will be great way to rub elbows.

I'll be there with bells on.

80 Days

80 days until graduation.

Not that I'm counting....

Date Night

NurseXX works weekend plan, which means two of the three shifts she works are Friday and Saturday nights. She gets paid a substantial differential for those shifts, but it also means we rarely get a weekend evening out. She signs a 6 month contract, and is allowed 2 weekends off per contract. She usually takes off the weekends nearest our birthdays. Well, LittleXX turns 4 on Tuesday, so my wife took this weekend off. And since she was off work, we got a babysitter and had q date night.

We go out an a fairly regular basis, but on weeknights, so it was interesting being out on the weekend--a different atmosphere.

We started off with dinner at Romano's Macaroni Grill, one of my favorite restaurants. I love the food. They offer the mainstream Italian choices for the unimaginative diner, but also have some truly inspired choices as well. I had the grilled salmon, with cous-cous and spinach with an awesome lemon zest zing. My wife had grilled halibut with steamed vegetables. We topped off our meals with seasonal berries drizzled in acacia honey. I also had a beer for the first time since starting on Lexapro. I took it slow, and just had one and it seemed to go ok. The best part of the meal was the fact we both stayed in our calories for the day. We also had a really nice server, and got good service too.

After dinner we headed to the movie theater. The debit cards we use are reward cards, and we'd earned some AMC gift cards--so nice not having to "pay" for the movie. We saw The Town with Ben Affleck. It was really good, definitely worth seeing if you are looking for a decent flick. And it's set in Boston, one of my favorite cities right now.

It was a really nice evening--we had good fun.

My Boy, Kanye

I can't believe I'm actually going to admit this in writing, but I'm a big Taylor Swift fan. I think she's the real deal, talented and genuine. I also think she's adorably socially awkward--a trait that I can identify with in a major way. So, clearly this means I think Kanye is a scumbag, particularly for the way he treated Taylor Swift when he jumped up on stage and...well you know that story.

But, this song is totally what came to mind when I finished my workout today. I ran for 32 minutes today at 5.5 mph, faster and longer than I have to date. I felt pretty good while I was on the treadmill too.

When I got home and cooled off and got on the scale. 257.2. I almost got emotional when I saw that number come up. I honestly can't remember the last time I was that weight. It's been years.

Sonic, the Hedgehog

Every boy deserves a chance to wear a mohawk at some point in their lives. Probably earlier rather than sooner is the better choice. And so a few weeks ago, because it was time for a haircut anyway, I cut my son's hair into that familiar racing stripe down the middle. With my wife's full blessing I might add. His 3 year old sister refers to it not as a mohawk, but as a hedgehog. Which I find delightfully cute, and strangely accurate at the same time.

The reactions to his haircut have been interesting. It seems to bring a smile to most people's face. And those that know my boy realize just how well the haircut suits him. But strangely, there's been some people who have been oddly disapproving. I never expected that. I mean, what's cuter than a little tank of a boy with a mohawk?! Grandma for one was distressed.

"What did you do to his hair!?" she cried in consternation.

I imagine the next time he's shaggy enough for a trim, I'll buzz it away.

Until next summer.

Pressure Cooker

I've been open and up front with my boss about putting applications in at other hospitals. He's cool with it, and just wants me to end up somewhere I can be happy. Which I guess is much better than the alternative.

However, I went into work to write my schedule in, and he called me into his office. He let me know he would be posting the internship position soon, and should he decide to extend me a job offer, I'll have a hard deadline to give him a decision.

I can certainly understand his position, he needs to get a candidate tied into the internship. My fear is simply this, if his deadline falls before I hear back from the other hospitals, what do I do?

Do I take the job? Because an ICU job of any kind is nothing to throw away lightly, especially given my CRNA school plans.

Do I pass on the job? Wand just hope and pray the other, better positions come through? What if I pass and then I don't get hired into my dream job?

Even thinking about this quandary has me throwing a string of PVCs. The pressure is mounting, and he hasn't even given me a deadline yet.

Thoughts anyone?

260.2

Next stop, the 250s.

I have to say, every time I step on the scale these days, I have a small period of panic before the number pops up. I keep waiting for the rebound...

Ran an extra 30 seconds above my workout today...

Finish Line

Late last night, after the kids were in bed I got the hiccups for the first time in what must be several years. Like everything else my body does, my hiccups arrived with wild abandon, each one a violently painful event. They hung around well into my efforts to fall asleep until frustrated, I held my breath, determined to either pass out cold, or end my hiccuping. I woke up this morning hiccup-less, so I'm not sure which happened.

But this post isn't about my hiccups.

They aren't that significant aside from the fact that kept me from enjoying what would have ordinarily a rather pleasurable event. Last night I booked a post-graduation trip for my wife and me.

I've done quite a bit of traveling around the States, and have become much more confident in finding my way around somewhere new. I originally started looking at hotels on the Mexican coast, flying in for several days of beach relaxation. But the hotels in our price range had some questionable reviews. And I don't just mean things like rude staff, far from the beach, or run down rooms. Things like fleas. Yes, FLEAS. Or worse, mandatory timeshare sales presentations. Even the famous all-inclusive resorts had reports of crappy food and watery drinks.

So, because we're on a budget, we ended up on a cruise. We know the food is excellent and the quarters are adequate. The price is unbeatable given the nearest port is just a few hundred miles drive, so no airfare. Five nights with two ports of call is costing 2/3 what a 3 night stay at a resort, plus food included.

I know it's the "safe" option, but frankly I don't really care. It's about getting away and celebrating. Incidentally, it's the same boat we honeymooned on 5 years ago this summer.

Cheesy? Maybe a little.

Poetic? Maybe a little.

They Like Me, They Really Like Me

I found out recently that my classmates have elected me as the student speaker at our pinning ceremony. Fill in the blank nomination forms were handed out to the class in an effort to put together a list of names to vote on. Apparently my name came up on nearly every page, so they didn't bother with a vote.

It's all very flattering. I mean who doesn't love being loved? I was floating high when I found out.

But then it dawned on me, this means I actually have to get up in front of friends and family and sound intelligent.

Eek!

I've got some ideas, mostly revolving around some cleverly written nursing diagnoses. I'll post my speech for feedback here once it's written.

Good for the Sole

I haven't mentioned running in detail lately, but it's still the major portion of my workouts. I've increased to running 4 times a week which is huge because it means that I'm running 2 days back to back to make it all fit. In the past there simply was no way that could happen. I needed that day in between to recover, and I was almost always sore or ankles and knees hurting. I have always just attributed that to the fact that I am so overweight. But a veteran runner friend of mine at church mentioned that the research all says that if you want to steadily improve, you really need to be running 4 times a week. 3 times a week maintains, and slowly improves, but 4 times a week makes the difference. I think it's no coincidence that my slow and steady weight loss coincides with my increased frequency of working out.

I still hurt some days, but not every day, and that's an improvement. After completing the C25K program (actually at the end of week 6 we just started running 30 min rather than dragging it out) we were extremely pleased with the progress we'd made. We went from being winded after running the 1 minute intervals in the first week workout to running 20-30 minutes at a time. My only disappointment was the pace at which we ended up--12 minute miles. 5 miles an hour is definitely faster than a brisk walk, but it also wasn't exactly burning up the treadmill either. In fact, I hated glancing over at the mirrors on the wall at the gym while we were running because it revealed exactly how slow a 12 minute mile is. I was dripping sweat, but from the looks of things in the mirror, I was loping along at a light jog.

So I started over.

I am now in Week 2 of the workout plan, except at an 8 minute mile pace. 7.5 miles per hour is actually a comfortable pace for me biomechanically, although I feel pretty much back at square one fitness-wise--dripping in sweat and ragged out at the end of every workout. But it's stretching me, and I can feel myself improving with each workout.

My new workout plan calls for 3 days of the C25K interval training at an 8 minute mile pace, and the fourth day I run a constant pace for 30 minutes. I'm already feeling an improvement 3 weeks in. Today I ran 30 minutes at 5.3 mph, rather than 5.0 mph. It's the fastest I've run 30 minutes. It may not sound like much, but around here we celebrate small gains (and losses!!). More than that, at about 12 minutes in, I think I caught a runner's high. I had a wave of calm and well-being wash over me. My breathing relaxed, and my stride loosened. I haven't felt that sensation since I was running in high school. What a beautiful thing.

I can already tell I'm going to need new shoes in a few months--in fact it's my wife's and my planned Christmas gift to each other. Imagine that, wearing out a pair of running shoes by running.

I never thought I'd be the one to do that...

Quiz, My Ass!

Today we had a quiz in Community Health. We knew it was a quiz because the instructor told us it was a quiz, not an exam. She told us she didn't want to stress us out, and that it really wasn't a big deal. Admirable sentiments.

Except that it was a big deal. A full 400 pages of text were testable quizable. This grade alone is worth 20% of our overall grade. I've been playing this game way too long to take what an instructor says at face value. Especially when it directly involves my grade. Some of my classmates weren't so situationally aware.

As we entered the room we were met by an instructor with a game face. "Books, bags, and papers to the edge of the room. Hat bills turned backwards. Sit every other seat. Don't even think of looking at your neighbor's paper, there are two versions of the TEST."

There were some shell-shocked nursing students coming out of the classroom at the end of the quiz. Some people hadn't studied at all. It was 33 questions long, just short enough to make every question high value. It was thorough, touching on every bit of the reading. It wasn't particularly difficult, but then I studied.

Quiz, my ass!

264.8

264.8.

That is all.

Community Health Clinical

One of the awesome classes they've saved for Senior II is Community Health. It's not that I don't think community health isn't terribly important, because frankly I really do. My sarcasm is rooted in two main ideas.

First, there is no way on God's green earth I'll ever do community nursing. It's just NOT for me. Trying to educate stupid people who don't even know they're stupid, and don't want to be educated anyway? My idea of personal hell.

Second, my all-knowing college of nursing's idea of community health clinical is to ship us off to the nurse's office at every elementary school in a 50 mile radius. Don't get me wrong, school nursing has a pretty sweet schedule--I mean, summers off? Sweet. But it's about the perfect antithesis to the kind of nursing I want to do, and the thought of sitting on my ass for the required 64 hours makes my legs go numb in anticipation. So, when an alternative was offered, I jumped at the chance. And that is how I came to be assigned to an investigative unit of Child Protective Services.

My very first day I went on 5 visits, from a hospital, to schools, to a home visit in a residential hotel. The cases ranged from a mom who admitted to using marijuana before she realized she was pregnant, to a kid that was so dirty I had to hold my breath that claimed to have been beaten with a dog leash.

It's been interesting watching the dynamics in all these situations, and so far I haven't personally seen anything just gut-wrenchingly sad.

So much better than sitting in a nurse's office.

Clarity

As previously stated, I've been trying to decide how energetically to pursue jobs at other hospitals since I've been all but guaranteed a position on the ICU where I'm externing. Like I've said before, it's the safe and familiar versus the new, exciting, and prestigious. It's an admittedly prodigious conundrum, especially granted the current job market that many graduate nurses are currently facing. Like any major decision though, I've been obsessing and over-thinking it nonstop since, well, last October when I secured my externship.

Over the past month though, we've had a series of patients that have helped show me the way. I wish I could say it's been a positive process, but it hasn't.

Patient #1: A late 30s male with a long psych history decided to take himself off his meds. The resulting psychotic break landed him in our hospital, (which was frustrating in itself since we're not a psych facility,) for what may, or may not have been a suicide attempt by alcohol. At first we were keeping him sedated because he ended up intubated. But when he was extubated, the beast was awakened. He became violent, combative, and generally uncooperative. At one point he assaulted a new grad nurse, and if I hadn't been there to physically intervene (as in bodily lifting him off the ground and body-slamming him back into the bed,) he might have actually hurt her. Needless to say, and rightfully so, he end up in 4 point restraints in the bed. But then we did nothing else for him for the next 72 hours while we went through the court system to get an OPC. Nothing. No psych meds, no sedation, no Ativan, no diet, no PT. Nothing. NOTHING.

Patient #2: This mid-50s woman was brought into the ED by EMS because her husband thought she had a mental status change. The only thing longer than the list of organs she'd had removed because of cancer, was the number of pain medications she was on. The ED gave her Narcan, and holy smokes did she wake up. She was 82 lbs on a bloated day, but she had the super-human strength of a junkie whose buzz had just been killed. It took 4 of us to hold her down long enough to get her in 4 point restraints. And there she stayed for the next 2 days. Completely in pain, and withdrawing from her pain meds. She was given no pain meds, no diet, no IV. No physician would help her.

Patient #3: This poor woman ended up on our unit for a suspected stomach mass, so the docs ordered her PEG tube clamped while they figured it out. Never mind that's how she was getting her meds for her Huntington's disease. We all watched as she slowly descended into Huntington's hell. She ended up restrained as her EPS symptoms accelerated. And. Nobody. Would. Advocate. For. Her.

I don't think I can last long on a unit where the culture allows for patients to just languish with no clear treatment goals, and tied to the bed. Maybe I don't have a clear idea as to what the realities of nursing truly are, but it disturbs me that this still happens.

I know for a fact this would never, ever, ever happen on my wife's unit at her hospital. Maybe it's because she works with kids. Or maybe it's because they have specialists on the unit 24-7. Maybe it's just that good of a hospital.

Regardless, these patients have pushed me to actively look elsewhere, and at hospitals with stellar reputations. My hope is that that translates into physicians and staff that actually care.

A little clarity is a good thing.

Any experienced nurses care to comment?

Live Your Duty

Nine years ago this morning I was trudging across the pedestrian bridge at my university on my way to class at 0746 CST. It was an early morning like many before it, but many in America remember with me why that particular morning was significant.

I'm struck by the similarities in my life. It was just yesterday that I trudged over that very same pedestrian bridge on my way to yet another morning of class. Depressing really, to realize I've not really moved forward. I suppose I could make some trite reference to how many life's lessons I've learned; how much wiser I am.

But I don't think I will.

It's true that I have so many blessings over the last nine years to be thankful for. Freedom from a toxic relationship. Marrying the woman I even now so deeply love. Two more wonderfully gorgeous children.

But I'm not celebrating that today. It doesn't fit the sense of melancholy that accompanies this particular date each year. Besides--living, counting blessings, earning, yearning, feeling, breathing life in until my lungs are bursting with the fullness of it--it's my duty.

It's ALL of our duty.

It's our duty as a manner in which to honor those who gave their lives on that day and every day since.

I owe it, WE owe it to those who have forfeited their blessings. We owe it to them to live full and happy lives.

Never forget.

That Hermine, What a B&%#@

Orientation for my Management & Leadership clinical was this past Wednesday. I've been looking forward to this particular clinical because somehow I managed to score a Level I trauma center, the ONLY Level I center offered as a clinical site for this class (of the 3 Level I centers in my metro area). Now that doesn't seem terribly important for a management clinical, except for the fact it's also the site for our Capstone--basically a 96 hour clinical that is supposed to transition us into the real world of nursing. This particular hospital is known to hire people directly out of Capstone. So, if I manage to maneuver myself onto an ICU for Capstone, and then manage to impress someone important, it could lead to yet another great job option. I know, that's a whole truckload of "ifs", but such is the life of a near new grad nursing student.

Regardless, I've been looking forward to this clinical since I found out I was assigned there.

Until that b##%& Hermine showed up.

It all started off with a beautiful Labor Day weekend, so nice in fact that I had the top off the Jeep for nearly a week. The kids love it, and having the balmy Fall breeze in your face makes the rough ride, the wind noise, and the crappy fuel mileage all worth it.

I was aware that Hermine was lurking in the Gulf, and that she'd probably end up in our area after she made landfall, so I was keeping an eye on the radars on Monday. All the forecasts clearly said she wouldn't arrive in my area until Tuesday night. So in my Labor Day induced lazy stupor on Monday evening, I elected to wait until the next morning to put the top up.

Guess who wakes me up at 5 am drooling all over my eaves, splattering all over the back patio and driveway, and slobbering all over the interior of my Jeep.

That's right, the b*(@# was early.

By the time I yanked on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and got outside to get the top up, it was clear it had been raining for a couple of hours. The Jeep was soaked. Which is not a big deal, it dries out.

Eventually.

My wife was kind enough to shuttle me to school that day, which turned out to be a blessing since it rained all day. Not hard, just steady. Enough to saturate the ground.

Enter Wednesday morning. The morning of my orientation for Management Clinical, at the hospital, 31 miles away in downtown big city. I get up at 7 to wake up my oldest daughter for school, and look out the window. It's pouring.

POURING.

Now, I've been in this area long enough to know that when it rains, traffic does not pass Go, does not collect $200, it goes directly to hell. So even though my orientation doesn't start until 9, I immediately got dressed in my trusty blue scrubs with iron-on nursing school patch, grabbed my umbrella and hit the door.

It normally takes me about 10 minutes to get from my house to the nearest highway. This morning it took 35. The water was above the curbs on the left and the right, effectively turning a 4 lane boulevard into 2. In places the water was above the door sills on the smaller cars, in the middle of the road!

Once I got on the highway, it wasn't any better. Traffic was stop and go the entire way. Water was ponding out over the highway. Exit ramps led into lakes. Overpasses became bridges over rivers.

An hour and 50 minutes after I left, I was pulling into the remote parking lot on the campus of the hospital. Oh yeah, Level I trauma center also means really big campus, and don't think that students don't get the shaft with remote parking about 1/2 a mile from the actual hospital. Luckily there's a shuttle service. Too bad it only runs every 20 minutes, the first one didn't wait for me to get out of the Jeep, and I was already 5 minutes late.

So I decided to walk. Within minutes of being outside, it was clear that my umbrella was only going to be useful enough to keep my forehead dry. My trusty blue scrubs were soaked through, clinging to me like a 3 year old being dropped off at daycare. From about T-4 down, (that's nipple line folks), I was completely drenched. Water was up to my ankles on the sidewalks. I was making good progress though trudging onward.

Until I turned the corner of a building and discovered that there's a commuter train that runs through the middle of the hospital campus. With a 8 foot high, wrought iron fencing on both sides of the tracks.

When I turned around to back track to the remote parking lot, don't think I didn't consider just getting back in the Jeep and driving the hour and 50 minutes home. Lucky for me I got back to the remote lot in time to stand in the rain another 10 minutes before the next shuttle showed up.

I was about 30 minutes late to my clinical orientation. I was completely drenched, even my underwear was wet. Water squished out of my shoes when I walked. And I sat there like that, learning yet again that you R.A.C.E in response to a fire, you P.A.S.S. to use a fire extinguisher, and code pink means someone's trying to steal a baby.

What a miserable day.

All told, the weather station near my house measured over 11 inches of rain in about 6 hours. For contrast, where I grew up receives an average of 8.39" of rain...a year.

And Hermine wasn't done either, she later spawned 4 tornadoes on top of all the flooding.

What a b#*&^.

A Whisper in the Night

I scarcely even dare utter this aloud, for fear of reversing the trend. Heaviest at 284 lbs, after we started running regularly I settled maddeningly at 276-278. I couldn't break below that no matter how hard I ran.

This evening, before I got in the shower, I stepped on the scale, and ladies & gentleman, I am currently 265.4.

The slow and steady decline started about the same time I started my prescription. Coincidence? Maybe. It also started about the time I stepped up my workouts.

If I had to guess, I'd probably say it's the meds taking an edge off my compulsive emotional eating, combined with the more intense workouts.

Whatever it is, I'm praying it continues. If I rebound again, I'm going to be devastated.

Thoughts From the Treadmill

While I run, my mind tends to wander, which can be a good thing most days. Sometimes though, I find myself thinking about the oddest things.

For example, I recently found myself wondering how many calories I expend per day growing body hair. I mean, I'm a pretty hairy guy, and though I work hard to keep myself manscaped, I am at that age where the back hair has started sprouting up. And I hate it. I imagine I'll probably have laser hair removal at some point.

But then I stopped to think, if I kill off my back hair, am I going to gain a bunch of weight? Will those back-hair calories be then diverted to my growing mid-section? Is body hair actually a calorie blow-off valve?

T&A

Last night I attended the local district meeting of the Texas Nurses Association. (TNA, *snicker*). It was held at Really Awesome Children's Hospital where I would really like to work--an added bonus. I'm required to attend one professional organization meeting as partial fulfillment of the requirements of my Professional Nursing Trends class.

Surprisingly enough, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The speakers for the evening included a Really Awesome Children's Hospital employee and the mother of ex-26-weeker triplets. Their combined story was absolutely spellbinding. The over-arching theme was patient-family centered care. Not as a trendy catch-phrase, but in true practice. Things like parents and patients being included in rounds. Things like setting plan-of-care goals together with the patient and parents. Trusting parents to be the expert on their children. And absolutely non-judgmental care. Maybe these are all things you or your hospital does all or in part, but as a unified, intentional concept, I think it could truly change the face of healthcare.

Then the parent got up and spoke about her sons and made it all personal. And completely relevant. One of her sons has just battled so hard over the last 7 years. He's fought through being 14 weeks early, RSV, drug resistant H1N1, a lung transplant, air embolism and the subsequent loss of one of the transplanted lungs, paralysis, legal blindness, and many other hardships. This year he started kindergarten in a public school, and not in a special ed class either. It's an amazing story, and it was told so eloquently and passionately.

After it was over, I spoke with the mom and thanked her. I truly believe we don't get enough of the human element in nursing school, I think it gets lost. I think the profession is only lucky that the vast majority of those that aspire to become nurses harbor a well-developed sense of altruism. As a result, most of us quickly regain that human factor, if we've lost it at all. Probably it's the poop that weeds out most of the posers.

After talking with the speakers I managed to corner the chief nursing recruiter and chat her up. I've come to sense that there's a palpable difference in the atmosphere when you can tell that the people who work for an organization believe they work somewhere special. I so want to work someplace like that.

Do you hear me, Really Awesome Children's Hospital!?!