poop beetle: catch up blog 1.2004 I'm starting semester Two of nursing school tomorrow. Semester One went fine in a big, blurry sort of way.
There were a lot of stories I wanted to tell last semester but couldn't make the time. Here're are some highlights
1. The story about watching 5 different videos demonstrating the proper technique for various types of injections- and the patient in every single video was the same guy- a raggedy, pale, hungry looking college age kid, named Todd. Todd had both back acne and tattoos which helped when demonstrating what to avoid when choosing one's injection site. He had a skinny behind which is likely why he flinched when injected at the "gluteal" site. Also, the video nurse's "darting" technique appeared a bit too enthusiastic with that one. In unison my class all went "ohhhhh!" Todd had exactly one line in one of the videos. A nurse says "How's that Todd?" and Todd says "Much better, Thank You".
2. The story of one of my clinical patients who'd just finished a very painful surgery. The pt. had had years of painful surgeries and could look forward to more. On top of this, she'd just been diagnosed with diabetes. She had an extended family. Members came to visit in shifts/waves- all day long- every single last one of them hitting the door talking/blabbing- detailing their own health problems- in cheerfully animated voices that implied "You think YOU got it bad!". One relative brought her a box of Krispy Kreme donuts.
3. The story of my new job- the job I first applied for last July. Four interviews and six months later, I land this second shift, weekend, every other holiday, hospital admissions gig.
Highlights of hospital All-New-Hires orientation (3 days): Free Danish and coffee/ my id badge that works with hoodoo lasers to open parking gates and certain doors all over the hospital (I don't know yet which doors I'm supposed to access - but I know it works on several I tried at random)/ getting to shoot off a fire extinguisher (a first for me- and I've taken lots of "fire safety" type courses)/ The $5 coupon good for a free lunch in the cafeteria. I was touched/impressed (how cool! no wonder it took so long to get this job)/ Getting to leave earlier than everybody else, skipping the benefit lady's presentation because I don't have benefits. (yay! - probably the only time I'll feel glad for that). / Also wearing lipstick and hanging with other working adults. Sadly/weirdly/ whatever- that was no small thrill.
Highlights of hospital Computer System Training (1 week): Tracking a huge pile of dog doo into the training room, the first night and handling the situation with much more grace then I'd ever thought myself capable of. (Yay 34- you're alright in my book. And bring it on, 35! - aging brings its own gifts). I don't know what I'd have done when I was younger- tried to kick the clumps that had fallen off my shoe (I'm talkin' a HUGE pile, maybe elephant) under my desk and hope no one noticed? Sat there for four hours completely mortified, trying to figure out if the smell was really as bad as it seemed?
This I did not do. Nope. I took off my shoe, announced my discovery to the instructor, went to find paper towels- found a cleaning lady with some spray stuff- washed my shoe off in the sink- cleaned up poop. Sat back down- realized the smell was still there- found cleaning lady again and sprayed air-freshener around infected area. The timing worked out as the trainer had to make extra copies of training manual stuff and in the process the copier jammed. Throughout the clean-up my fellow trainees did not look at me. (I think they were embarrassed for me.) Once I was done, though, they moved to include me in their conversation-and we all bonded nicely which made the rest of training both easier and fun. AND I've made my mark! Already! Literally- a week later and the yellowish/brown stain remains. (Cue bad joke drum sound here).
4. The story about stories. There have been a lot this past year- layers and layers of them.
- southern gothic type stories of living near towns that are dying- the furniture factories and textile mills having shut down and seeing it, seeing the people adjust, maneuver, start over.
- The stories of the women I go to school with in the nursing program. Amazing, amazing kick-ass women with unbelievably complicated lives and the grace and energy to manage them so well- (and not even know it- think it's all just a part of regular life, you do what you have to do) so that I feel undeservedly fortunate and guilty and not-worthy and often upset because it appears to me they've been or currently are being screwed royally- and they don't seem to get that. But then if they knew it, what good would it do? If I were to tell them "Your life is really unfair, do you realize that?" What next? Who/what's going to save them- make it right? . . .it's possible the not knowing, or not characterizing themselves as being screwed over/victimized is perhaps in part, key to why they're able to deal so well; not let life and circumstance grind them to dust; take the time to comb their hair and put on lipstick and be so funny and kind.
- The stories used to teach, explain in a way the memorization of lists and techniques and theories could never hope to. "Nothing's black and white, I wish it were, it would be so much easier".
- More and more- overwhelming sometimes, funny and sweet and awful and wrong. Too beautiful to tell sometimes and too amazing not to.
5. Awais is learning to read.
6. Haaris is kicking my butt, but because he can do funny Monty Python type walks and fake sneeze and fake snore with perfect comedy timing- he's getting away with it.
