Reflections of a nurse

For more than half of my life I've been a nurse.

Being a Mom has always been a priority for me....being a nurse is something I do on the side.

I really do like helping people,caring for them, holding their hands but I've always rather be home.

So....when the kids were born, I went 1/2 time (only worked a couple days a week), and I'm still 1/2 time. I work 1/2 time cuz I still have a child at home,(yes he's 17 but still at home, so that qualifies me being around for him).

I will continue to be part time as long as Rick will let me (cuz I love being home) or until I find the PERFECT job, and I dont think that happens.

I thought I would share a few of my nursing experiences with you. Here are only a few that stickout over the last 27 years.

1. First and foremost, I went to college to play volleyball & softball , then I studied Nursing on the side.

2. I've worked in 5 different area as a nurse

(Cardiac surgical ICU for 2.5 yrs, Neuro surgical ICU for 2.5 years, ER for 16 yrs, Recovery room 4 yrs and my present job, Interventional vascular radiology 2 yrs.)

3. My mom inspired me to be a nurse when I was very young, she was a Nursing assistant and always knew how to fix us.

4. Saddest experiance as a nurse, ( too many to list so I'll just do two).

*Watching an 8 year old die from an asthma attack. There were many more sad moments working in the ER but this one will haunt me forever.

* A little boy I had taken care of in the Cardiac ICU, asked his cardiologist 2 yrs later if I could be his nurse again. This cardiologist called me up with little Matthew in his office and told me Matthews request. I was sad that I couldn't care for him cuz I no longer worked in that ICU. I told him I would come see him after his surgery. The next day when I got to the ICU I was told he died in surgery...that hurt. His mom gave me the letter he wrote me before surgery.

5. Funnest Job: No contest....the ER

6. The job I couldn't stand: Neuro ICU

7. Scariest moment: The time I was taking a man to the ICU, we were going down a long vacant hallway, just the patient (on a cart) his wife and I. Somewhere between the ER and the ICU his heart decided to stop, whoops, Nothing a little thump on the chest couldn't fix.

8. Special times: When I've taken care of people that I actually know and they are so happy that I'm their nurse.

9. Shocking moment: Psychiatric Nursing 101, never let the patient be between you and the door.

Once in the ER and aggitated man stood up...yelled, and punched a hole in the wall. (guess what HE was between me and the door) I used my smooth talking capability to settle him down, yikes.

10. Funniest moment: The time I called the housekeeper to the front desk in the ER to clean up some vomit, when she got there and assessed the situation she responded to my request with, " We dont do chunks".

11. Then and now: In the early 80's Nurses could smoke in the break room, now they have to be off Mayo property to smoke. (they've come a long way)

12. Bust out laughing moment: Unconscious man in the ER dressed in a full suit. He had been in a car accident and we always undressed the patient to check for injuries. As we cut his clothes off we discovered he was wearing womens panties and camisole.

13. Miracle patient: We'll call him Joe. ATV vs car (bad news) he was one of those that you looked at and said, "He will not live the night". I took care of him for months in the Neuro ICU. He did live, and made a full recovery. To this day his family remembers me. Joe doesnt remember a thing about the ICU experiance...which is a good thing for him.

14. Prideful moments: When a patient states that they need the "expert" to put their IV in and my response is.... "that would be me" ( it's in good fun..I dont want them to be nervous) I also love it when they tell me, "the last nurse stuck me 5 times", then I get it in on the first try! I usually just say to the patient, "well....let just take a look here and see if I can get one for you" hee hee. I love the feeling of popping it in and hearing the patient say, "what...It's in"?

15. Most adrenaline moment: Car honking in the ER garage, I was the triage nurse and the first to arrive. I opened the passenger door to find a blue, non-breathing woman( with a panicing relative). I pushed the emergency button, grabbed a cart and picked the patient up out of the car and got her on the cart all by myself (this was an adult woman). Now all the help arrives and rushes her into the critical area leaving me standing breathless and wondering what just happened.

16. Coolest experience: Taking care of some of Mayo's 1st heart transplants (Cardiac surgical ICU)

17. Greatest feeling ever: Saving a life (ER)

18. Worst feeling ever: Not being able to take away someones pain and still have them keep breathing at the same time. Potent narcotics and breathing is a fine balance. (recovery room)

19. Joyful moments: When a patient FINALLY gets a tube removed, that they've had for months ( vacular radiology)

20. Neuro ICU: Cant think of anything good to say about it, except i was there way too long.

21. Most fullfilling job in my career: Emergency Nursing

I will always be a ER nurse :)