Some things never change!

I think you'll all appreciate some interesting things that have happened over the past couple of days.

On Thursday, I was at the clinic, waiting to get a "Periodic Health Assessment."  This is known as a PHA and is one of the biggest wastes of time.  Basically, you sit in an office with a physician or PA, they review your health records (which have already been done by at least 4 other people prior to getting to your PHA), ask if you have any questions or concerns, and then send you on your merry way.  Silly me, I thought it was going to be a physical exam.  Anyway, I was sitting in the waiting room, reading a book, when I see a Specialist running towards the waiting area, saying, "Who's our code team?  We've had a code in Lab!"  Most clinics, of course, don't deal with codes on a regular basis, so mayhem ensued.  I turned around and said to a Private First Class (PFC), "Private, I'm an ICU nurse.  Do you need help at the code?"  He looked at me and said, "Ma'am, I'm a student here, I can't make that call."  I told him to go ask someone who could.  He came out a few moments later and told me that I could go over the lab to help.  I went running after a few other people, assuming they were heading in the same direction I needed to go.  By the time we got there, the guy was awake, talking, etc.  He looked like crap, though.  He had passed out while they were drawing his labs (he had to fast and that's not the easiest thing to do when you're in the desert and don't have labs scheduled until 1030 in the morning).  So, I walked back to the waiting area and got back to my book!  It was the closest thing to "touching a patient" I've experienced since the middle of March!

On Friday, during orientation, we were going through a program called "Team STEPPS."  It's a program designed by AHRQ and John Kotter, one of the world's leading authorities on change implementation.  It was very interesting training (reminiscent of a lot of the stuff I've already learned).  The lead instructor (Major Carr) came up to me during one of the presentations and said, "So, I'm looking for people who would be good instructors.  Would you be interested in helping when we're ready to roll this out to the ICU?"  I told her I would love to help, that I have a passion for education, and that I was an educator and manager in education.   She then said, "I should just take you into my department!"  I graciously turned down her offer and told her that I haven't touched a patient in 3 months!

MAJ Carr asked if I would like to join her for lunch.  That was nice.  While in the cafeteria, I had to walk around a man in a wheelchair.  I excused myself and explained that I was going to walk behind him to get to the drinks.  He made some comment about making sure he didn't roll over my feet, then offered to rub my feet for me if he did roll over them.  He also offered to take me home with him.  Flattering, except that he had 5 teeth in his mouth!  Why is it that guys with no teeth like to flirt with me?  I'm sure LJ will remember the carnie who was hitting on me.  I think he might've had 3 teeth in his mouth.  UGH!

I had planned on going for a run and a swim yesterday after dropping my car off for an oil change.  I ran over to the pool and, of course, it was closed.  It as so stinking hot, my run back was brutal.  I walked more than half of the way.  I'm just not acclimated yet.

When my car was ready, I gave them a rebate coupon I had received.  It was worth $50, but the work on my car only cost $41.  The manager put it in as $50 and I got the change.  Pretty cool, huh?  I had a synthetic oil change, got my tires balanced and rotated, and they paid me $9 to do it!  (-:  Finally, things are going in my direction.

Today is supposed to be in the low hundreds.  I'm going to take it easy today.  I've worked out every single day this week, so I think I deserve a rest day. 

I hope you are all having a nice weekend.

--DV