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Aug 9, 2008
I'm back...

Well after not being able to go in world for approx 3 mos this time last year, I went elsewhere to "play", although checking back from time to time has paid off! I don't know what Kaneva did, but I can now go inworld, to the mall and all over without freezing or crashing! Thanks Kaneva! I've really missed it here! :)


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Jul 1, 2007
About My Real Life

I'm not much for blogging, I am much better at the creative stuff. but on my long, 1 hour, drive home from

work I had an idea that if I wrote on a subject very important to me other people may just read it and learn
from it. So here goes.

I am a Nurse. No, I don't work in the ER with my gown flapping and goggles on (with perfect makeup)
like on the TV show. I am an LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) and I work in a SNF (Skilled Nursing
Facility...aka a Nursing Home). First off, let me dispel 2 common myths.

#1 "LVNs are not real Nurses".
Yes, we are. We go to nursing school and have just as much clinical training as RNs. RNs have additional
training in management as well as having to complete a general AA degree before Nursing school. LVNs
attend a 1 year, 8 hour day, 5 day week program. In a SNF, an LVN can do everything an RN can do except push IV
meds, which is rarely done anyway because we do not have Physicians on staff in the building. We also can not
hold certain positions, like Director of Nursing.

#2 Nursing homes are where old people go to die. OK, some do. However over the years Medicare has changed alot. SNFs have Medicare Units for people who have hip or knee replacements and need Physical Therapy before going home. We also take Patients following coronary bypass or those with serious infections requiring long term IV therapy. It is a very diverse population.

So now you may be thinking (because I get this alot) well she must be working there because she can't get a job in a hospital.
Wrong!

I choose to work in this field for a number of reasons. First of all, the pay is better than Med Surg for example.
Nursing Homes are called "Nursing Homes" for a reason. we do not have doctors there. They do come in periodically, but for
the most part we call them for orders. Which means we have to know how to asses a patient properly and convey this to the
physician in a way that allows him/her to order the best course of treatment. We have to be able to carry a heavy pt. load (30
for long term and 20 for the medicare unit.

But I'm really getting off the topic I wanted to write about. Last night I was watching TV and saw one of "those" commercials.
You know the one, where the little old lady in lying in bed calling for help, then you see 2 nurses, strolling slowly down the
hall, laughing and ignoring their pt (patient). The you see the Lawyer advertising about Nursing home Abuse. First of all, I started as a
CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) 31 years ago, did that for 6 years before getting my license. I have worked in a few facilities
during my career and can honestly say I have NEVER witness, heard of, knew of abuse or anyone who had committed abuse.
Does it happen? Yes, but most of it occurs in the home. More on that in another blog.

Why am I a Nurse? I ask myself that question at times, like on my drive home tonight. This is how my night went at work, and it is very typical.
I worked a Long Term wing 60 Pt's (30 for me and 30 for the other LVN). We were full staffed with 8 CNA's. I work 2nd shift, so when I
get to the Nursing station it's pretty much controlled chaos. I made out the assignments for the CNA's, took report from the day nurse
(who is nice, but young and a new Nurse and only works part-time). During report I learn one of the long term Pt's is actively dying (She is
on Hos[pice and this is expected), 3have respiratory infections and are on antibiotics and 2 refused to take their meds and threw things at her (we do have psych pt's as well).

OK, this is starting out as a fairly typical shift. I go to check on my pt who is dying and she is not comfortable. I give her meds to ease her breathing and for her fever, sponge her down to cool her off as well. Now she's looking a little better. As I start my first med pass the CNAs are getting their pt's ready for dinner. Many of these people are confused and have to be fed. They also do not like taking their meds. This med pass usually takes 2 hours. I get through it OK, although one lady threw her meds and her water at me, the took a swipe at my head while swearing (she has psych issues and can't help it..so I got a little wet no big deal).

After a 20 minute dinner, time for dressing changes. Easy for the people who can cooperate, I can't tell you how many times I've been hit in the head with slippers, Teddy Bears and those nifty reacher gadgets. But tonight I get through unscathed. In between all this, I help the CNAs get pt's into bed, answer the phone, take a complaint from a family member about a broken call light. Time to squeeze in a little charting (more and more paperwork..less time with my pt's).

Time for 9pm meds. This can take about an hour to an hour and a half depending. Same lady threw her meds at me, missed with the water. One confused little pt became combative while taking her meds, so I spend some time with her, she thinks her mother is missing. I sit with her a bit and pat her and reassure her that her Mom is OK (we don't try to re-orient when they are that confused, telling her that her mother could not possibly be alive would just freak her out). I have been checking on my Hospice pt every few minutes and she is not looking comfortable, so I medicate her and rub her back.

Just enough time to finish my charting, order meds from the pharmacy and stock the med cart as the next shift arrives. We count the narcotics and I give report to the oncoming Nurse. On my way out, I stop by my Hospice pt's room to say a silent prayer and goodbye as she may not be there tomorrow.

It could have been much harder if we had admissions or had to send a pt out to the acute facility, so this was not an especially hard night, but as I drove home feeling a bit overworked, I thought about all the reasons I choose to do this job.

Because when I came into work my fellow Nurse told me how happy she was to be working with me tonight (I was happy to see her as well). Because after the 2nd time the lady threw her meds at me she started crying and said "I'm sorry, I really like you" and I responded "I really like you too". Then she smiled. Because after taking the complaint from the family member about the call light, she said "I'm really not worried, I know you guys take such good care of my mom". Because after the lady looking for her mother calmed down she said "I don't know who you are, but I love you" I said "I love you to". Because after helping my CNAs they thanked me and told me how much they appreciated my help. I told them how much I appreciate all they do for our pt's. And because when I went to say my silent goodbye to my Hospice pt, she touched my hand and looked up at me saying "thank you" with her eyes.

This is why I do what I do. It's a calling, it's a job but in some ways it's an honor. Tonight I feel happy to have helped a few people in little ways. But that can really add up, so it's all worth the rest! God Willing, I'll be at it for another 20 years.


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Jun 28, 2007
So much to do here!

OK so now I have my apt decorated, partly lol. I also started a community, Catneva! If you have kitties this is the place for you..come check it out and join!


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Interests


	My Title:		Hmmm..I'm not crazy about these things as I don't like to be put in a "box" lol



	About me:		Always looking for new places on the web to learn and create, and hopefully meet some nice people along the way.



	Hobbies:		Art..painting, computer graphics, 3D. Anything and anywhere new I can explore and create! I used to design and sell clothing on Second Life but lag to much there now. Hmm, wonder if I will be able to here at some point :)



	Associations/Clubs:		California Licensed Vocational Nurses Association



	Favorite Movies:		Nothing scarier than this



	Favorite Shows:		Law and Order, CSI, House, Monk, Meerkat Manor, HGTV



	Favorite Music:		Led Zepplin, Cat Stevens, Chicago, Eagles, ZZ Top, Beethoven



	Favorite Sports:		Oakland Raiders.



	Favorite Games:		Make Your Own Glitter Graphics Playing with "Art Toys"



	Favorite Books:		Mysteries, Nursing Journals



	Favorite Artists:		Grandma Moses, all primitive



	Favorite Cars:		Add Glitter to your Photos Mine :) gets me to work and back.



	Favorite Gadgets:		My computer..about as high tech as I get.



	Favorite Fashion:		Casual.



	Favorite Brands:		Of what? LOL



	Role Model(s):



	I'd like to meet:



	Favorite Quotes:		You can never be loved by too many cats Girly glitter comments from www.GirlyTags.com



	Relationship:		Single



	Orientation:		Straight



	Religion:		Christian (Other)



	Ethnicity:		White



	Education:		Some college



	Income:		Between $30,000 and $40,000



	Height:		5 feet, 0 inches



	Smoking:		Yes



	Drinking:		No

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