We have a few "improvement" teams and, tbh, it's my goal to eventually join one. Those people don't do jack shit and make 30k more a year than I do, working in the trenches as a nurse. I can put on pageants for new hires and make silly, frivolous department changes. Most recently, they came through my floor and hung up hospital gowns everywhere, to remind the staff to be "patient focused." Bitch, we physically take care of patients wearing those gowns everyday, and y'all are wasting them by hanging them up like mistletoe. Idiots. But can't beat em, join em, lol.

So I got the actual lab results back and the nurse told me on the phone the wrong things--my white cell count is actually LOW and so are all my other cell counts. So I don't know. I'll see what the hematologist thinks. Maybe it's just some form of anemia or something fairly benign.

I lived in the U.K. for years and their healthcare was not good. One of the nurses told me by e end of the month they had to reuse supplies. This was the NHS... the US needs to be better and people going broke and dying because they can’t get care is so damn wrong, but let’s not just try to copy someone else and call it good. Esp when so many people I know, who are for it, have no clue. Also the government running anything is a joke. But I wish to god everyone could afford it and have it.

Amen! When my mom was in the hospital, one of the nurses overheard her tell me "I never liked to you anyway - [brother] has always been my favorite". The nurse took me aside to tell me that mom was sick, and she didn't mean what she said. I told the nurse my mom has been saying that and a while lot worse my entire life, just never with in earshot of someone non-family. But she was always super sweet to her friends and neighbors, so everyone thought I was the ungrateful daughter because I wouldn't put up with her abuse. Even now, with mom having been gone for years, people say "she was your mom - even though you have rough spots in your relationship, you must miss her." Nope, I really don't miss her, or the invisible abuse that was always there.

Loving the birth stories. My second I was hanging on fro dear life on the ride to the hospital, got upstairs and was told I was ready to push and soon drugs. I grabbed the nurse by the neck as she bent down. Then I cried and said I'm sorry. Then I screamed and yelled "help" (which makes me laugh now for some reason) for about an hour until he was born. It was accidental unmedicated birth and I was a yelling sweaty mess.

There are many reasons I am not a nurse or caretaker, but i think the main one is that I struggle to sympathize with anyone that can't work through pain. I do, every day, and I don't get a reprieve and I guess I feel like people who don't are mentally weak. I dont really know how to explain it. My H broke his ankle, and I've been doing both our jobs, heavy lifting, 17 hour days, coming home and being mom and wife and financial planner. All of that through intense migraines and a herniated lumbar disc. But today he was cleared to walk with a boot, and wouldn't even try because "my calf hurts and it's scary." And i just have no sympathy.

My nieces were fun when they were little, but I've really enjoyed being an aunt to them during their teen years. I'm the one who takes them on shopping dates and fun outings. We swap secrets and they come to me when they have embarrassing questions about sex and puberty (I'm a nurse and don't mince words). They're mom isn't around much, so I mother the shit out of them. I just feel closer to them, the older they get. They're turning into really cool humans and I'm so proud of them.

Lately, we've been a bit slow at work. I feel like I'm such a slacker when we aren't busy! I spend most of my day doing research on things, watching industry webinars, learning more about metrics we need to start measuring to win this stupid award, and going to meetings. I mean, I guess it's fine but I am really only busy for like 5 hours a day. I feel like most people aren't totally busy all 8 hours they're at work unless they are like, nurses. When I worked in healthcare I was busy the entire time I was at work. I kind of miss that busy-ness although I kind of like having a "cushy" desk job too.

No, she wouldn't be stuck at the office four extra hours, lol. We're 8-5 with no overtime. Part of why she goes so fast, is because she's competing with the other nurses. We take calls from patients and, for whatever reason, competition motivates her. She doesn't have to take more calls than anyone, she just enjoys "beating" everyone's call numbers, and in order to beat them, she has to work fast. Anyway, turns out, I didn't have to say anything. The boss called her in yesterday and asked her how/why her phone stats are still so high when she's training. Today was MUCH better, because she was out of the phone queue and actually teaching me. She's great at her job, and she's actually a really good teacher... when she slows the fuck down and actually teaches, lol. Also, fwiw, I love training people and plan on being a trainer, once I'm settled in. I enjoy teaching and will earn preceptor pay. Different strokes.

My dad is all moved into his apartment and my brother is handling his house going back to the reverse mortgage company. Yesterday a case manager from Visiting Nurses came to discuss getting him some housekeeping help. It was the first time I’ve been there since seeing week’s worth of dirty dishes and unpacked boxes everywhere. It looked great! Bed was made, no boxes, pictures hung and he had coffee and muffins on the table! I was impressed and told him so.