WTF Friday - Ghosttowns

I never thought I would hear that word used to refer to our hospitals units. Is anyone else seeing this phenomenon? At one of our largest hospitals in our system several units are just empty. At first, we thought it was just that our CEO couldn't wheel and deal with the docs to get them admit. Many had abandoned ship for xyz hospital up the row. But I heard from several other facilities who are seeing the same thing.

Where are the patients? Are we just playing fruit basket turnover with the same docs? Are people just not going to their docs due to the economy? I know our patient demographics have changed for sure. Lots of non-payers now. Doesn't help that the commuter train has a stop right next to the ER.

Also, it was a first. Revenues are down so much, just about every major hospital has had layoffs. Our system even laid off nurses! In education and other departments. But who ever thought they would see that????? Sheessh. With healthcare reform on the horizon. . who knows what we will see next. I keep hearing that whipporwill call of the lone West. Ghosttown indeed.

I would love to hear some other opinions about this.

Long time no see!

Hard to believe it has been a month since I posted. But in Sept I had the opportunity to embark on a magical trip to South Africa courtesy of Make=a-Wish. My son was granted his wish from them, which was to go on animal safari...the photographic kind...no guns!

What a amazing trip. It was heartwreching in knowing why it was granted. . but none the less, it was truly AMAZING. It takes removing ones self from the drone of daily existance to re-focus onto what is important in life. -watching his face as he saw a lioness up close and personal. -seeing the joy as he caressed an elephant's trunk. -just taking in the glory observing him interacting with the South African guide. -clapping along as he "danced" in his wheelchair to the rhythms of the native drummers of Limpopo.

For that brief fortnight. . .my emotional trauma was arrested; sequestered to some place far, far away. I held tight to my moments with my older daughter and my little son. They are memories that now no one can take away. I will treasure them always.

And then? Touchdown into reality. His medicals in Cincinnati. Dealing with ex and the Ms.Ex, the barracuda. But this time, oh heavens, this time it was different. For every time they made me cringe. . . .at each and every test and doc visit. . . I inwardly smiled to myself. For my son. . . my dear son. . had chosen me to go to Africa with him. Not the ex. Ah. . .sometimes life is indeed sweet.

WTF Friday Classic

This entry reads like so many other drunk driving incidents. . but this one just got my GOAT! A hispanic male of our community, father of a two year old lost his life this week to someone driving drunk. The drunk, hit him driving even though he had been arrested 19 times for DWI! WTF????

Here is the story:

A family from McKinney is hoping a man's 19th arrest will keep him behind bars following a fatal hit-and-run accident this weekend.
24 year-old Kevin Riddle was released after his arrest for a fatal hit and run accident last Saturday. The family later found out that was his 18th arrest, and after expressing their outrage, Riddle was arrested again late last night at his apartment complex on Virginia Parkway in McKinney.
He was most recently released on 50 thousand dollars bond, so the family of the man he's accused of hitting and killing hope 100 thousand dollars bond this time will keep him in jail.

What the story doesn't say was that he was arrested on drug charges the weekend afer the DWI incident. He shows absolutely no remorse. And what is worse? Keep reading!

Some judge in Collin County Texas allowed Kevin Riddle out . . not once. . .but 19 times. . .knowing he was a repeat offender!!! I am just flabberghasted by this. I was angrily beating my dashboard as I listened to the story. It is a public outrage that our courts just can't take driving while under the influence as seriously as the UK, Australia, the Netherlands and a host of other more responsible countries. UGGGHHHH!!!!!!

What is going to take? Another high profile Kennedy incident? Another Chappaquiddick before some politician, or better yet US. . the public who are at risk to be maimed, paralyzed, disfigured or killed by one of the intoxicated drivers out on our roads before someone takes action. No, it will have to be one of judicial system. Some high profile person before someone cares. This bloke was just some Mexican. GRRR. . .that irks me even further.

Hmmmmph!!!! Okay. . .so now that I have vented. . .I will sign off.

WTF Friday - Truck Nutz

WTF Friday published late on Saturday. Had a hot date with hubby. Sorry.

This view caused me major trauma when I first confronted it on the highway in front of me. Guys and their nutz. . .geesh!!!! These are supposed to be bull's testicles. As in, "wow . . .I am such a hunka, hunka burnin lurve." NOT!!! BTW they can be ordered in a rainbow of colors. The latest set plugs into your hitch and lights up. Oh brother. . .

Freaking Fabulous Award

Okay so this is a little self endulgent (really?) but. . . one of my readers awarded the Freakin Fabulous Award to my blog. I am very honored to have been selected by a reader. This reader was LivingDeadNurse.

As a part of this award, I am to list five obsessions of the moment and then five blogs which I rate as Freakin Fabulous! Dame Edna is shuddering with excitement just reading the name of this award. God love her.

So here we go. . .

Current Obsessions:

1. Watching "healthcare reform" attempt to formulate; speculating who the power players are going to be; and wondering just how spectacular the screw up will materialize head on. Cash for clunkers anyone? My resources for this topic are Mother Jones and George Stephanpolous. I feel I will get a pretty rounded view from those people.

2. Getting ready for the ice skating season to begin with Skate America.

3. Finding alternative activities for the bewitching hours (between the time I leave work and 8 PM) to do besides destress in a bottle of Australian Cab Shiraz. Hey. .. at least I am trying to cut down, for which my liver thanks me.

4. Getting ready for the trip of a lifetime, a trip to Africa. Not just to see animals; but see for real - people of the world.

5. Trying to keep my head above water with my 70 mile commute and the beginning of a new semeseter of lovely students.

And then. . . the awards go to. . . my top five FREAKIN FABULOUS

1. Nurse Ratched's Place The one stop shop for politically relevant discussions on today's nursing world. Thanks Mother Jones. I know this is just one in a litany of awards and recognitions for you.

2. The Noble Pig My favorite place to find wonderful and beautifully laid out recipes. Check it out. . you will be salivating.

3. Cake Wrecks I go here because I love cakes. Making them. Eating them. Salivating over the butter cream. So for me. . .this blog takes the cake and makes me roar with laughter at the screwups. Just hilarious.

4. Cosmoguy The one stop shop for updated info on Sex and the City movie happenings. Thank goodness for him. He keeps my SATC obesssion in check by constantly keeping me informed. Thanks Cosmo for keeping me up with my girls!!

5. Front Porches, Sweet Tea and Old Aprons If only my house looked like this. When I want to chill and escape the harsh realities of life, I head over to Shanda's. I know she will have a lovely bunch of flowers and a glass of Southern Sweet Tea ready for me.
She is an angel.

So congratulations to all my top five FREAKIN FABULOUS blogs. Now you guys need to carry the award forth and nominate your top five FREAKIN FABULOUS blogs. And thanks to my readers who keep coming back!

Texting While Driving- Nuff said!

Wow. . this video says it all!!!! I watched this and the trauma management is so accurate. Also check out the injury sustained from the impact of the trauma and then the t-boning effect of the second impact. You can even hear the girl's neck crack as it would have in that position with that sustained speed. Who cares if it is graphic. . .it is accurate!!!

These types of PSA's are played regulary in the UK and Australia. Why won't the USA and the FCC get real and start educating our peeps like this????

Newbies in the ER? WTF

Second in the installment of WTF Friday. Do you think newbie nurses should work in the ER? I have a strong opinion on this. My answer is NO!

Now, keep in mind I worked as a tech (nurse extern) in the ICU and then entered the ICU as a graduate nurse. So I don't buy into the philosophy that all new grads should work Med/Surg units for a year before they specialize.

However, literature suggests that the graduate nurse just doesn't have the full range and breadth of general med/surg type knowledge to differentiate when someone is slightly ill or critically presenting. We know triage requires significant experience with ER presentations. Not even the seasoned nurse is allowed to work triage unless they have had at least one to two years ER/trauma experience.

Why would we expect a graduate nurse to be ablt to take on literally a myriad of various illness presentations and be able to function? One article (Stephany, Nursing and Healthcare 12:9)suggests that graduate nurses not be allowed to even work the hospital! In essence, they should preceptor on a unit together with a lead nurse to learn. Now, I admit, that is extreme.

One RN's dissertation (ISBN 978-0-494-23071) demonstrated that often preceptors of new graduates are confronted with newbie nurses that have unsafe practices. New nurses need time and gain that experience. Although many ER patients present as walking wounded, there is always the potential for an urgent or emergent situation to develop.

I do believe we are all life long learners. I just don't think we should eat our young by throwing them to the dogs as new grads. They should be supported, educated, precepted and then be sent into battle. As always, I am interested in what you think? Please post your comments!