LIFE IS GOOD BECAUSE:
Summer is here which means no school for 2.5 months, no hour-long drives up to class in traffic, no papers to write, and the weather is finally getting WARM!
Our puppy is finally learning what "potty" means and there are less middle-of-the-night pee-pee interruptions and accidents. He can also fetch about 50% of the time and is starting to walk on a leash. In essence, he's becomming a doggy!
I got a J-O-B as an RN!!! In the best hospital (in my opinion) in the Bay Area. On one of the coolest units (Telemetry). And I get a salary again for the first time in over 2 years. And I get health benefits. And I can finally start my career which I've worked so hard for these past few years.
There is something to be said for putting out positive energy in the world- it comes back to you eventually!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Homer
We got our new puppy on Saturday. His name is Homer Nabas. He's about 15 inches long and weighs about 4 lbs. He's the most lovable, sweet-natured dog BUT we are exhausted. We set our alarm every 3 hours to take him outside to go "potty". He loves to chew, gets scared of unfamiliar noises and sights, and jumps around in the grass like a bunny. Last night at 4am he successfully went potty (number 2) outside then stepped in it while running towards us to celebrate, then he got it all over my sweatshirt. Good thing I shop excusively at Target these days! He's a lot of work, but so worth it. He is our baby.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
My first serious post...dun, dun dun!
This semester is all about research for me.
I've been working at El Camino Hospital on 2 research projects.
One of the research projects is with the palliative care team. I'm working with the nurses in the ICU to eventually improve the palliative care we give patients with life-limiting illnesses/conditions.(Palliative care isn't hospice; these people have a life limiting illness but may continue active treatment while they are receiving palliative care vs. hospice which focuses on patients with less than 6 months to live and have stopped all treatment. It's like having someone who specializes in pain help with your care even if you haven't decided to throw in the towel and die.)
Basically, I go through the patient database and look up the patient charts on all of these patients who've been identified as candidates for the study. These people are very sick. It is my job to document and interpret the type of care they received (or in many cases, didn't receive). Although I love this and find it super interesting, it does get depressing...
The other day amidst my research I came across the medical record of this poor woman. She was under 35 yrs old, married, and had a baby at home. She also had extremely aggressive cancer that was diagnosed less than 6 months ago. Unfortunately, this patient expired.
I have gone through dozens and dozens of patient records and many of them die, but this particular patient's story just really hit me. It reinforced how vulnerable we are and how quickly life can change. It also made me so appreciative for the many blessings I have in my life. Not only do I have a wonderful family and husband, but I have a career that allows me to be there to help people during some of the most exciting, emotional, and tragic moments of their lives.
A professor once said "It is a gift to have a career that allows you to be with patients as they welcome new life into the world and when they leave this world"
I couldn't agree more.
I've been working at El Camino Hospital on 2 research projects.
One of the research projects is with the palliative care team. I'm working with the nurses in the ICU to eventually improve the palliative care we give patients with life-limiting illnesses/conditions.(Palliative care isn't hospice; these people have a life limiting illness but may continue active treatment while they are receiving palliative care vs. hospice which focuses on patients with less than 6 months to live and have stopped all treatment. It's like having someone who specializes in pain help with your care even if you haven't decided to throw in the towel and die.)
Basically, I go through the patient database and look up the patient charts on all of these patients who've been identified as candidates for the study. These people are very sick. It is my job to document and interpret the type of care they received (or in many cases, didn't receive). Although I love this and find it super interesting, it does get depressing...
The other day amidst my research I came across the medical record of this poor woman. She was under 35 yrs old, married, and had a baby at home. She also had extremely aggressive cancer that was diagnosed less than 6 months ago. Unfortunately, this patient expired.
I have gone through dozens and dozens of patient records and many of them die, but this particular patient's story just really hit me. It reinforced how vulnerable we are and how quickly life can change. It also made me so appreciative for the many blessings I have in my life. Not only do I have a wonderful family and husband, but I have a career that allows me to be there to help people during some of the most exciting, emotional, and tragic moments of their lives.
A professor once said "It is a gift to have a career that allows you to be with patients as they welcome new life into the world and when they leave this world"
I couldn't agree more.
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