L & D Concierge

I know I have said it before, but, it takes an amazing person to be a nurse in general, and an L&D nurse in particular. This week, as I sat at the computer behind the nurse's station, back to the counter, signing off charts and awaiting an epidural to be placed in one of my labor patients, I got a small glimpse into what ridiculous requests the nurses (trained and skilled professional people) had to stop their work and fulfill with a smile.

This day was fairly busy, 3/4 of the rooms on the floor were full (LDRP and post surg beds). There were 3 in labor, several postpartum ladies with babies, and a few post-op patients, triage was steady in and out, oh, and there were only 4 RNs. The deluge started with about 4 family members standing shoulder to shoulder at the front counter, not saying a word, but not moving, either. After about a minute of silent staring at the back of my head, I turned and asked if I could help them. They replied that they needed a nurse in room 10 (laboring patient). I checked the board, found the nurse hanging medications in another room, and let her know that the patient needed something. I went back to signing charts. Moments later, room 10's nurse came back out of the room, obviously flustered. When I asked what had happened, she sighed and said the patient was fine, but room 10's family needed some cokes. She handled it far more gracefully than I would have, because I would have been inclined to tell them where to stick their drink order. From there it just got better. As I sat/observed for that hour or so I heard requests of the nurses for:

~ socks for a postpartum patient (who had a scheduled induction and should have packed her own fragging socks)
~ cups of ice for kids to *play* with
~ pieces of paper and pens
~ putty to hang up a sign (um, WTF?)
~ a request from a visitor to a different floor for a *free* binky, since they forgot to bring their own for their child
~ extra diapers and a *case* of formula *to take home*
~ for the nurse to launder some one's own personal baby blanket that got a teeny bit of spit up on it
~ directions to the hospital from another state
~ a phone book
~ 7 cokes and 4 cups of coffee
~ a toothbrush
~ for the nurse to "re-do" a baby girl's hair because mom didn't like the *bow* color
~ for a nurse to take out a patient's garbage
~ and (the kicker) the snide comment to a nurse sitting to feed a "boarder baby" whose parents were sleeping, "Oh, I'd love to do what you do! Sit and hold babies all day!" GAH!

Not to mention beeping IVs, meds, labor checks, and other, more legit responsibilities. It was like I was observing a full service concierge desk at the Hilton instead of a hospital. As if being a responsible medical professional was not enough, they must be the waitress, janitor, Wal.Mart, Goog.le maps, Off.ice Depot, hairdresser, and babysitter. The worst thing, though, was that I don't think that I heard, in any of the above requests, a "please" or a "thank you." Unbelievable. So, remember to thank your nurses, people, and maybe, just maybe, go get your own damn coke.

Musical Musings

Hello again! No, I've not fallen from the face of the planet. Just running like crazy. You see, once you take time off you *must be punished* for your time away! I think I blinked and missed the whole month of May. We had a fabulous time at the wedding. Everything was beautiful, and it was so fun to see everyone. The meeting of the other woman was completely bland and uneventful (as we had planned, there's been enough drama). I was cordial, but did not engage either she nor Cheater any more than I had to in polite conversation. It went as well as could be expected. This person is no dummy, so I am certain she could feel the chill from Mr. Whoo's and my shoulders, but no awkwardness was made...I think. At any rate it is over, so that makes me happy.

Bean and CindyLou were superstars on the car trip. Such amazing kids! We are truly blessed. As is often the case on road trips, Mr. Whoo and I resorted to music to keep our trip interesting and fun. This time, we busted out an artist we haven't listened to in a little while, John Mayer. Don't get me wrong, I know he is so 2001, and has gotten uber weird and into himself, and dates flaky arm candy that doesn't mesh with his "I am an artiste!" persona, and he does weird things with his mouth when he plays guitar, but he can turn a hell of a lyric! Anyway, I got to revisit some of my favorite lines, and am posting them here, as well. Have a great holiday weekend, all!

When Autumn comes, it doesn't ask,
it just walks in, where it left you last.
You never know when it starts,
until there's fog inside the glass around your summer heart. - Something's Missing

You asked to kiss me once goodbye, but you already did,
on somebody else's lips. - Why Did You Mess with Forever? (No videos, bummer...great song.)

Today I finally overcame trying to fit the world inside a picture frame. - 3x5

And I will go to my grave with the life that I gave
Not just some melody line on a radio wave
It dissipates, and soon evaporates, but a home life doesn't change. - Home Life (weird little video, but the song is unmarred)

Oh, another social casualty. Score one more for me.
How could I forget? Mama said "think before speaking."
No filter in my head. Oh, what's a boy to do?
I guess he better find one soon. - My Stupid Mouth

Numb is the new deep. Done with the old me.
I'm over the analyzing, tonight. - New Deep

I can't wait to figure out what's wrong with me,
so I can say this is the way that I used to be.
There's no substitute for time. - Split Screen Sadness

So what, so I've got a smile on. It's hiding the quiet superstitions in my head.
Don't believe me when I say I've got it down. - Why Georgia

Check your pulse, it's proof that you're not listening to the call your life's been issuing you.
The rhythm of a line of idle days.
Scared of a world outside you should go explore,
pull all the shades and wander the great indoors. - The Great Indoors

Oh, if only my life was more like1983.
All these things would be more like they were at the start of me . - 83

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Mothers, would-be-mothers, and glad-you-aren't-mothers, We had a great active weekend here. CindyLou had her 4th birthday party (dinosaur theme, of course, every girl's dream), and the Bean was baptized this weekend. I also was on call, but so far the call gods have been kind to us! May has been a crazy month, with lots of travel, and busy-ness in general. I am hopeful for the summer. I am looking to interview with other practices in the coming weeks. I am also going to meet "the other woman" this weekend at a mutual friend's wedding. Give me the strength to be civil and polite to this person with whom I regard with contempt. Apparently they are going to become engaged soon. It blows my mind how my friends can call her a "nice person" when I know and she knows that she is a home wrecker. Hopefully I won't get drunk enough to tell her what I really think of her! Today I am thankful for my perfect babies. They are truly the best Mother's Day presents of all!