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March 30, 2006
Ah For Pete's Sake
(who is this Pete anyway?) I guess if Kim can make a post, then I can too.
Not much going on and that is just ducky with me. Of course Spring is sproinging and I have daffodils in the most bizarre, random pattern in my yard. I guess those things travel by themselves (and in packs).
My dad and stepmom just got back in town, which I might note, it is pathetic to figure out how much we missed having them here.
Eli and Jake have been playing basketball at school - baseball (or swimming, haven't decided) will be starting next month.
Everyone is remarkably healthy.
Remarkably I say because it seems the world around us is just so sick, healthwise (and maybe otherwise too, *shrug*). I am constantly reminded at work how lucky I am to have a healthy family. At the clinic I often work as a "triage nurse" - that is the nurse you get to do battle with when you think you are sick. I say do battle with because there are a shocking amount of people who go to the doctor for a runny nose and cough. It's a COLD people. It seems that along with the fastfood nation comes the notion that you are never ever supposed to feel bad. They make a medicine for every little symptom according to the television. I can't tell you how many people call to discuss a medicine they saw on TV. Last week, one lady even brought in a free coupon for a blood sugar machine (cool huh?) - except that she doesn't HAVE diabetes! Gords, we sent that note back to the doctor just to brighten his day. The flip side of this are the folks that have serious health issues that don't take them seriously. I had two patients this week, within fifteen minutes of each other (TRUE!) with blood pressures of 200/100 - the first guy told me - oh, I have been out of my meds, could that be causing that? The other one told me that she "took herself off her bloodpressure meds a month ago" because she wanted to see if that was causing her leg pain. I drew smiley faces on the note to the doctor for those two. :) I like smiley faces, they are good.
I tell ya, I am so very happy with the job I chose. Really, no smartassedness about it. I got a bag of my very favorite Easter candy today (Robin's Eggs) from a patient who thanked me for giving up my lunch hour for her. Sad to say, I couldn't remember exactly what I had done for her. I went and looked her up and she was this sweet, sweet lady that came in because her fingers were blue. Turned out that on top of being a chronic smoker, she was also very dehydrated and all that was making her arms ache/blue. She and I talked all about the town that I live in now and the weather and that she could not count two biscuits and gravy as a full day's meal (this came as a shock to her). I poked a hole in her arm for some blood and we went on our merry way. To me, this is my job as the triage nurse and nothing more. To her, it was some sort of above and beyond kindness. The above and beyond kindness actually came from HER to me. So there. I guess we are even.
I could go on and on about each of these people - they are so interesting to me. I hope that doesn't ever grow old. Working at this community health clinic is like being part of a giant extended family. I got chastised on the phone last month after a patient called and left a message that consisted of "this is Alice, please call me" along with her number. I called her and then asked her to tell me her name. She said "honey, you KNOW who this is, I am Alice ...." I instantly flashed on who she was because I have seen her ONCE to draw her blood. Fast forward to last week when I had another nurse answering messages. She turned to me and said, there is a message here that just says "please call me" nothing else. I listened to it and told her that is Alice blankety blank and she needs something for her husband. I felt so smart. And I was totally right.
My biggest fear with retiring from the military was that I wouldn't know how to stay put for more than three years in one place. It has totally turned out to be the best part of retiring. I can't imagine living or working anywhere else.
Hey and guess what - I dropped a stack of charts on the ground today and said "gosh dang it". Now anyone who knows me will be floored to hear that. My usage of four letter words has dropped dramatically. I have replaced them with way more interesting ones that I won't get in trouble for saying. I save the good ones for in my car though.
Posted by DebC at 11:33 PM | Comments (6)