Turn of Events

My niece and her mom have been staying in my house for the last week.  I feel like I have two more children to deal with.  A 42 year old teenager and a 15 year old girl.

I know I have no ability to discipline either of them, one for obvious reasons and the other because she is 42 years old.

I normally get home from work around midnight.  The first night I get home from work the teenager was still watching TV (school night). She claims she always has problems sleeping.  Her mom wasn't home, apparently she had gone out to have dinner (even though she had dinner with my wife and kids).  This happened all week (except Friday, the teenager was asleep).

I would love to have a heart to heart with them, give them a curfew for starters.  Once again, can't really do that.

On a bigger turn of events, my 15 year old niece decided today she was going to try to be a vegan.  She spent the morning at the library picking out vegan cookbooks.  She made the announcement today after we had made a large bowl of spaghetti sauce (ground beef and Italian sausage swimming in red sauce).

Wow. Talk about a curve ball.

I want to be supportive.  She has a track record of the adults in her life treating her horribly, including her mom (not always, but enough that I obviously brought it up).

I'm curious to see where this goes.

Sermon Snooze

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."  - Albert Einstein

I have a problem.  I fall asleep in church often.  And by often I mean every week.

The time varies, sometimes it's for 20 minutes, more often than not it's for 45 minutes of the hour long meeting block.  The worst part is it's inevitable, regardless of how much sleep I get.

We joke about me going to hell for sleeping through church.  Friends ask what's the point in going if I'm sleeping through it.  Why not just sleep in?

I would love to sleep in and get much needed rest but there is a reason I continue to do this.

Christ taught us by example.  Even though my life is in no way comparable to His, I want to set a good example to my children.

James 2:17, a scripture in the New Testament, reads "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone".

I want them to see that even though I'm tired I still made the effort to go to church and partake of the Sacrament.  I may not remember all the messages that are taught but I can rest better knowing I am trying to set a good example.  I hope that I will be able to overcome my Sunday morning naps, until then I will continue to try.

Which is better?

I recently had a patient complain to my boss about something out of my control.

Long story very condensed:

The last four hours of my shift I got four new patients.  Two of these people were septic (systemic infection, potentially fatal, both requiring a lot of attention), one had a small bowel obstruction (extremely painful, requires a tube that goes up the nose into the stomach), and the last patient (the one who complained) had chest pain with no other clinical signs or symptoms (usually send home with recommendations to follow up with cardiologist).

Each time I entered the room of the fourth patient I would begin by apologizing for the delay and the doctor was working as fast as he could.  I would continue by updating him with everything I could. He was always pleasant with me when I spoke with him.

At the end of my shift I reported to the nurse so I could go home.  Sometime after I left the fourth patient became irritated, stood at the nurses station and exclaimed we should not be working short staffed (by this point he had been in the ER for over six hours, one hour in the lobby, the rest waiting for the doctor). Referring back to the other patients I was working with, the doctor was also helping multiple other people.  We were a little busy.

After my coworker threw me under the bus (she claimed she would not use my name when replying to boss man), I clarified the situation to my boss.

His response confuses me.

1. NEVER apologize to a patient. They come to the ER, they should expect to wait
2. NEVER tell the patient we are busy
3. Instead tell them "the doctor is spending quality time with each and every patient and he will spend quality time with you as soon as he is available".

How is this better than saying "we've been busy, the doctor will get to you as soon as possible"?  In my mind I hear the exact same thing.  My wife agrees with how my boss told me to handle future situations.  She described him as a "Spin Doctor" (all I heard was Little Miss Can't Be Wrong).  

I make it a point to be upfront with all my patients.  I understand both statements are the same.  I also understand one is more politically correct.  

If I were your nurse which would you prefer me tell you?  If anybody reads this, please let me know in the response section.

A few things to know

This blog was created by me to give me some sort of creative outlet.  This blog will be several things throughout the many posts I have, one thing for sure is that these are my opinions.  If the thoughts seem incoherent, it is probably because I am trying to get my thoughts down before I forget them.

A few things about me:

1. I am a Registered Nurse in a small town Emergency room.
2. I am a father of 2 lovely children and husband to a wonderful wife.
3. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or Mormon. The thoughts on this blog may not always represent what we are taught or what our church stands for. I love the Gospel with all my heart and I admit I struggle sometimes but I strive daily to improve myself.
4. I am American of Mexican heritage. I am not racist but I find racial stereotypes hilarious in all forms. If I post something that is racially sensitive it is in good fun. If you are offended it's on you.  
5. Horror movies and shows are some of my favorite things to watch. Zombies are the most entertaining to me with Vampires a close second (obviously excluding the sparkling ones). 
6. I consider myself to be a Chiver. Take this as you will. I know they have a lot of pictures and posts about women but those are not the reasons I enjoy them. I love what they do for the community. I admire their sense of loyalty to the Armed Forces, Police, Firemen and all people who put themselves out there on a daily basis to help others in need. Yes they have a drinking problem but they know it (admitting you have a problem is the first step, right?) but they are a great group of people from what I can see.

This blog will evolve over time as I learn more how to use it. Most of my posts will come at the end of the day for many reasons. Mostly because my wife and I have opposite working schedules. She is usually falling asleep between 10 and 11 where I'm usually awake until almost 1am.  The time spent awake is when I plan on doing the blogging (yes with something on in the background).