Since most of my friends are on this forum...

[BeachMomma]

I won't repeat everything that I said to Drinkz in PM (but couldn't send him), but there were a couple of paragraphs that bear repeating here. Just cause I love y'all.
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That thread has been magic for me. I don't know if you went back to read any of the beginning, but it started because I was having heart problems at the ripe old age of 48. I had a couple of life-threatening episodes, and the guys in the thread kept my sanity for me. When I wanted to cry, they made me laugh till I cried. It's beautiful proof that people will try to help whenever and however they can.

Don't get me wrong. I'm your stereotypical hot-tempered redhead. It takes a little work to get the ginger to rear her ugly temper, but when she does, oh boy. I just deal with enough of life's ugliness in real life that I don't like dealing with it in my escape too.
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I do love y'all, and I'm forever grateful that you took the time and energy to make a scared old woman laugh till I cried.

 

[Saucyminx]

I won't repeat everything that I said to Drinkz in PM (but couldn't send him), but there were a couple of paragraphs that bear repeating here. Just cause I love y'all.
___________

That thread has been magic for me. I don't know if you went back to read any of the beginning, but it started because I was having heart problems at the ripe old age of 48. I had a couple of life-threatening episodes, and the guys in the thread kept my sanity for me. When I wanted to cry, they made me laugh till I cried. It's beautiful proof that people will try to help whenever and however they can.

Don't get me wrong. I'm your stereotypical hot-tempered redhead. It takes a little work to get the ginger to rear her ugly temper, but when she does, oh boy. I just deal with enough of life's ugliness in real life that I don't like dealing with it in my escape too.
_____________

I do love y'all, and I'm forever grateful that you took the time and energy to make a scared old woman laugh till I cried.

*gives you big air hug* You are a class act sister. And I dispute that you are old, since I'm only 3 steps behind ya.

 

[BeachMomma]

*gives you big air hug* You are a class act sister. And I dispute that you are old, since I'm only 3 steps behind ya.

Awww, thank you doll. Please do me a favor and don't spread that around. I have a bad reputation to maintain.

*hugs*

 

[perkyT]

Oh, I've seen a couple of teen volunteers, but not many. We had one in pre-op a few years ago. She, her mom, and I all had the same name. We called her by her given name, shortened her mom's name to a standard nickname, and created an even shorter nickname for me. If you wanted one of us in particular, you had to use the correct name. Of course, if somebody stuck their head out of a door and yelled in *that* tone of voice, we all three came running - with one of us dragging the crash cart behind us. lol

Do you know the universal nurses' code for "Bring the crash cart?" It's AH SHIT!

OMG. Lil CNA trying to get the cart to the code, yelling out, "It's too heavy, it's too heavy!"

It helps if you unlock the wheels.

We all had to have "re-credentialing" of Code Protocols after that one.




*kissyfaces BeachyBaby*

 

[BeachMomma]

OMG. Lil CNA trying to get the cart to the code, yelling out, "It's too heavy, it's too heavy!"

It helps if you unlock the wheels.

We all had to have "re-credentialing" of Code Protocols after that one.




*kissyfaces BeachyBaby*

*snort*. How long did it take her to live that one down?

 

[perkyT]

*snort*. How long did it take her to live that one down?

Heh. A mere 6 or 7 months. She suffered the most during the re-credentialing...all in good fun, of course.

Oh...then new carts that required opening the bottom drawer to open the top drawer...

*smh*

How ya feeling today, gurrrl?

 

[Que]

Interesting result from an unsent letter.

Always a great psychic exercise.

I think your initial response was quite good. Not just that you didn't push back or jump into the fray on a 'side' (silly, that) or on your own behalf. You validated his right to feel angry, whatever the cause, regardless of how he was manifesting it. Deft.

On the other hand, I think there is power in thought with feeling whether it be a prayer to one's heavens or energy sent to a vast, anonymous universe. Either can absorb anything we can throw at it.

 

[BeachMomma]

Heh. A mere 6 or 7 months. She suffered the most during the re-credentialing...all in good fun, of course.

Oh...then new carts that required opening the bottom drawer to open the top drawer...

*smh*

How ya feeling today, gurrrl?

Oh good grief. Are they trying to make codes more difficult? With all the adrenaline flowing, who the hell is gonna remember to open the bottom drawer just to open the others?

I don't use the crash cart enough to learn where everything is. Luckily, my patients don't usually circle the drain enough for a crash cart. Knock on wood and pray to the full moon gods!

 

[BeachMomma]

Interesting result from an unsent letter.

Always a great psychic exercise.

I think your initial response was quite good. Not just that you didn't push back or jump into the fray on a 'side' (silly, that) or on your own behalf. You validated his right to feel angry, whatever the cause, regardless of how he was manifesting it. Deft.

On the other hand, I think there is power in thought with feeling whether it be a prayer to one's heavens or energy sent to a vast, anonymous universe. Either can absorb anything we can throw at it.

I believe that everyone has the right to their feelings and perceptions. I might not agree with them, but that doesn't make them any less valid. I also believe that the need to be heard and understood may be a more basic human need than Mr. Maslow identified. When that need is fulfilled, anger frequently loses its power.

I'm not sure where I stand on the spiritual front. I consider myself spiritual but in no way religious. I am convinced that something helps - whether it's prayers, energy, or just fulfilling that need to be heard and understood. Empathy is a great healer.

 

[BeachMomma]

I'm so happy! Three good days running! Woot!

It's kinda sad to be excited about having 3 good days in a row, but I'll take whatever I can get!

 

[silverwhisper]

take 'em when you can get 'em!

ed

 

[BeachMomma]

It's a beautiful day. Spent some time in the pool and hot tub. The pool is still a tad chilly, but it feels great once ya get in.

 

[Que]

Hope you got some rest!

 

[BeachMomma]

I did, thank you! Yesterday at work was pretty rough. The highlight of my day [/sarcasm] was when I caught a 300+ lb man before he hit the floor. Needless to say, I paid for it last night. I definitely plan to go for more pool/hot tub therapy today!

How's your weekend?

 

[Que]

Mine so far, fat lazy and minimally productive.... I salvaged the best 5 of 20 about to be discarded herb plants....and fibally fixed the hot water pressure to the kitchen sink.

A little cooking...a lot of napping...and some sardonic Anthony Bourdain.

 

[BeachMomma]

That sounds like a pretty good weekend! We spent some time in the pool and hot tub, got a bunch of stuff done around the apartment and did some shopping. I have to go for a mani/pedi today because I'm back at work torrid. By torrid, I mean tomorrow. Damn autocorrect! Speaking of autocorrect, I caught one of my nursing professors in a funny mistake yesterday. She posted on FB about a kayak trip that turned into a wet tee-shit contest. So many jokes came to mind that I couldn't choose just one. Decisions, decisions!

Blech. I just can't get moving today!

 

[Emerson40]

I do love y'all, and I'm forever grateful that you took the time and energy to make a scared old woman laugh till I cried.

 

[BeachMomma]

Awww, Em! You say the sweetest things!

 

[BeachMomma]

Most of you probably know that BradBigBrain and his wife Gracie are dear real life friends of mine. They lost a close friend today who fought a valiant fight against pancreatic cancer. I'd appreciate it if y'all would say a prayer or send good thoughts their way - whatever your belief system allows.

Whoever says this is just a sex message board doesn't know what they're talking about. I found two of my closest friends through this board, and I love them dearly.

 

[BeachMomma]

Happy Mother's Day to all of you amazing moms.

 

[Que]

Candy Strippers!

....I mean Candy Stripers.

My daughters (19, 17 and 7) love Pretty Little Liars. The older two had the baby singing the theme song a couple of years ago...

So I was bored and found it on Net-flix and found I don't hate it...

Two of the girls are changing into Striper outfits. Cute.

As if anyone still has those outfits. In this fictitious hospital since they don;t want to look like my Mom in the 1960s two nurses just walked through the scene. In ugly scrubs of course.

 

[BeachMomma]

I had to wear the old nurses' uniform when I was an LPN back in the mid-80s. Let me tell ya - those caps are hazardous to your health. I damn near ripped my head off a couple of times when the cap got caught on curtains, but the cap didn't budge.

Scrubs are more comfortable, and it's easier to do the gritty part of the job in them. I have to climb up on a bed occasionally, and I get down on my knees on the floor more than my old back and legs would like. I joke that I wear pajamas to work, but to be honest, I almost wish we would go back to the old school nurses' uniforms. Almost.

When we wore all white, we got more respect from patients and visitors. If a nurse in all white told you to leave because visiting hours were over, you didn't argue. You left. The patients and family members tell us when they're going to leave now. And don't even get me started about diabetic patients' family members bringing them junk food.

Nurses definitely got more respect back then. Was it the uniform? Or was it the fact that hospitals weren't considered to be The Dilaudid Hilton?

 

[Que]

interesting...it is possible.

Uniforms a thing for a reason.

The reasons vary..

some connote authority..

some like say a red cross emblem of a collar suggest, "hey Im a non-combatant.

 

[BeachMomma]

The uniform gives the wearer a sense of authority at times as well. I've worn both types, and trust me, it's more difficult to command respect in scrubs. I can be authoritative and assertive when I need to be, and I can get downright aggressive when the situation calls for it. In tense situations, I tend to be more assertive/aggressive than my younger counterparts. I blame that on old school training and a few years in the emergency room.

But when things get out of control, I'm usually the one who can regain some semblance of order most efficiently. I want to be the nice nurse that everyone remembers fondly, but I also have a very low tolerance for bullshit. Thanks to that, I tend to get assigned to the tougher patients - the prisoners, sundowners, and combatives. And if the attitude doesn't convince them to see it my way...let's just say I'm not too shabby with 4 point restraints either.

The last emergency situation I got to handle was an ETOH withdrawal who went into DT's. (I mean alcohol withdrawal. Lol). I was in complete control - directing several aides and even the charge nurse and doctor. I got it under control and stabilized and transferred the patient to ICU in a matter of minutes. Later both the doc and charge RN came to me to congratulate me on a job well done. The doc admitted a newfound respect for me. He hadn't seen me in an emergent case before. Since then, he respects my judgment as a nurse more readily. I guess I proved myself. Neither of them realize that at my old hospital, a pt in active DT's is just another day at the office.

 

[Que]

The uniform gives the wearer a sense of authority at times as well. I've worn both types, and trust me, it's more difficult to command respect in scrubs. I can be authoritative and assertive when I need to be, and I can get downright aggressive when the situation calls for it. In tense situations, I tend to be more assertive/aggressive than my younger counterparts. I blame that on old school training and a few years in the emergency room.

But when things get out of control, I'm usually the one who can regain some semblance of order most efficiently. I want to be the nice nurse that everyone remembers fondly, but I also have a very low tolerance for bullshit. Thanks to that, I tend to get assigned to the tougher patients - the prisoners, sundowners, and combatives. And if the attitude doesn't convince them to see it my way...let's just say I'm not too shabby with 4 point restraints either.

The last emergency situation I got to handle was an ETOH withdrawal who went into DT's. (I mean alcohol withdrawal. Lol). I was in complete control - directing several aides and even the charge nurse and doctor. I got it under control and stabilized and transferred the patient to ICU in a matter of minutes. Later both the doc and charge RN came to me to congratulate me on a job well done. The doc admitted a newfound respect for me. He hadn't seen me in an emergent case before. Since then, he respects my judgment as a nurse more readily. I guess I proved myself. Neither of them realize that at my old hospital, a pt in active DT's is just another day at the office.

Oh stop! You are exciting me....


I get what you mean. The clothes DO make the man. Unless she has bewbs, then it makes the woman...assuming a CIS normative sort of gender expression....

In my youth I had a job that involved me convincing people 20 years (and 100-150 lbs) my better that they ought to take care of their seriously delinquent obligations today. I donned a suit and grew a beard after a guy showed up to meet me in person and hand me the check. He fortunately shook my hand while shaking his head. "I had no idea I was talking to a kid."

I felt more competent in a suit even over the phone.

On the other side of the spectrum I feel muy macho in steel-toes, a hardhat and winter-lined Carhardts.

How are your nerve endings as of late? Found any better therapies?