No Heavy Lifting

No lifting more than ten pounds, no squatting, stair climbing and definitely, no ladders. Sounds sensible, doesn't it? Look, it is well known that I don't want to do discharge phone calls. Instead, here's how the day panned out.

A. Prep 3 patients for procedures. (1 to 1.5 hours each)
B. Receive 2 transfers, and prepare them for procedures. (1 to 1.5 hours each)
C. Handle 2 Recoveries (2-3 hours each)
D. Find time for Lunch + 2 breaks
E. Participate in a Mini Code Blue.
D. Document at least an hour on the day.
F. Start 2 IV's (patient reporting, "you better be good"...), do 3 EKG's, Assess Transfer IV sites, wounds, skin, communicate with families, provide an hour of in-depth Cardiac teaching during the shift. Answer 20 phone calls, Page 5 Doctors, and cover other Nurses for their breaks.

Actually, I didn't do the break-relief very well, as I was too flippin' busy. That meant I forgot to give Betty Lou an aspirin for a headache, and forgot to call Mr. Fonebone's daughter to come pick him up. When those Nurses returned from break, I just had to give my lame excuse of failure.

The Elephant in the Corner?; We are perpetually understaffed.
(Two lucky staff members were allowed the day off)..........however, our work load did not suggest that to be a sensible choice.

It is only the true depth of experience and moral fortitude that our team contains, that keeps our patient's safe and alive.