Spring in Iowa

       Last week we had some beautiful weather.  My flowers are starting to come up, the crocus had bloomed.   Then this week happened.   Snow again.  Actually first rain, then ice, then snow for the last 3 days.  I had put my winter coat away,  put my spring blankets on my bed.  Got my spring clothes out and put away my winter clothes.  darn.  Snow

      We have branches broke and all over the ground to clean up.  We were starting to see green on the ground, now back to white.  And Mud!  Trying to take Hoss out without getting mud all over.  I try to walk him on the white stuff.

   Oh well, it won't last long.   At least now you know the end is right around the corner.   I am so ready.

   We had a thunderstorm the other day.  Hoss was scared and climbed on Ricks lap, shaking and panting.  80 pounds of terrified dog.  Poor thing.  I suppose he spent many a night out in that type of weather.   We decided the next thunderstorm I am going to bring out a new toy I will be getting him today and let him play with it plus get him some treats.  Hopefully he will start thinking of thunderstorms as something fun instead of something fearful.

    Work has gone well.  It is so different then what I had been doing.   8 hours seem so much easier.  I will be working lots of extra because for now our staff is small since it is a new unit and we have to grow our practice so if someone is on vacation or ill we have to cover their needs.  But we can do that because we aren't working as physically as I was on the old floor.  The lifting is minimal, the charting is minimal.  The patients aren't as sick.

   I do miss my old floor.  I loved cardiac patients and actually loved the really sick ones you could work you tush off on getting better.  But, time to think about taking care of myself.

   Well, time to rush to the store and get things ready for work.  

I love my new job

   My first night went great.  What a difference it was.  The charting was so much nicer.   The pace was manageable and I work with some great nurses that I knew already.   I didn't have to take a tylenol half way through my shift and I got off work on time.  ON TIME.  This is one happy old nurse.  I may survive to retirement after all.  HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY.

Starting new job tonight

 I worked my last 12 hour shift and last overnight this weekend.   We were so busy but I had some great patients.

  One of my patients had been very critical on one of the nights I took care of her and kept me busy checking her vitals, hanging meds and trying to pull her back from the brink.  Right before I left for the last time on my last night she took my hand and thanked me.  She said she knows she would not be here today if not for me.  She told me I was a great nurse.  I got all teary eyed and told her that was the best gift I could have gotten on my last night on my floor.

   Today at 3 I start a new chapter in my life.  I suppose I won't have the critical patients I had on the heart floor and they will be a lot more stable.  I will miss it, I loved taking care of cardiac patients.  But,  I will still get to take care of patients who need care, and I will have time to visit with them.   Not lifting as much is going to be great.  Instead of getting off work and reaching for the motrin I am hoping I won't be in as much pain.  It is always nerve wracking to start a new job but I know all the people I will be working with and like them all.  It will be a good change for me.  You're never to old to learn new tricks.g

  A new Chapter in my book of nursing care.