Jane's Journal

By JanesOpinion - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Journal

Sunday, December 26, 2004

Cold Feet and Litigious Americans

As I begin to search for a new Nurse Practitioner job, I have found myself questioning this line of work. I guess you could call it "cold feet" or "having second thoughts" or even "buyer's remorse." On Christmas Day we had dinner with some acquaintances of my sister. They live nearby and my sister... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, December 13, 2004

He Shall Feed His Flock Like A Shepherd and Gather The Lambs. . .

My evening shift was made all the better the other day when, as I ambled down the hall to a patient's room, what did I hear flowing forth but the majestic sounds of Handel's Messiah. Sometimes it pays for my patients to be hard of hearing. My patient, this elderly Dutch woman hospitalized with her... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, December 9, 2004

THE White Elephant Christmas Gift Exchange!

A few nights ago our unit celebrated its annual Christmas Party in a local restaurant. It’s usually a delightfully fun affair with cheerful decorations, delicious food and friendly conversations. I did not attend this year because I took my turn working on the unit. Part of the annual fun of the... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, December 7, 2004

It's Official -- And I'm Scared!

Today in the mail I received my FNP certification number, along with official notice of my newly minted status as a family nurse practitioner, from American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Behind my name were these initials: APRN, BC. I knew what the APRN stood for (advanced practice registered... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, December 3, 2004

Sleep Deprived and Cranky . . . but Trying to Count My Blessings

I did not have the best night last night, and considering how dependent I am on my eight hours of sleep, I'm a bit moody, not to mention lacking in energy. Makes me think of patients and how it would seem we do everything to keep them from sleeping well while in hospital. At a point in life when a... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, December 2, 2004

A Blonde in a Sea of Gray and White

I attended Clair's memorial service yesterday. I was the only person there, I think, who was under 40. For the last few years of her life she lived in a large retirement village, and her memorial service was held there. She had only one family member, but lots of friends -- all elderly appearing... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, November 29, 2004

WE MADE IT! -- Priority One with Lights, Sirens and High Speeds

My nerves are still a-buzzin' thanks to a high speed drive to a tertiary medical facility offering emergency coronary interventions. I was the lucky one to accompany this fellow, whose heart was infarcting away part of its muscle and who was complaining of crushing chest pain. Besides the blood... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, November 27, 2004

Good news and BitterSweet news. . . .

Well, the bittersweet news is that my friend, Clair, passed away yesterday. I don't know any details, because I did not know any of her family, and had only met one friend of hers so I'm somewhat out of the loop. For her sake, though, I'm so thankful she's no longer suffering, no longer struggling... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

I went to visit a friend today at Hospice House. . . .

I met "Clair" a few months ago when I was working on the cardiac unit. She had been admitted to our unit for exacerbation of COPD and heart failure. We connected and given my druthers, I'd have spent my entire shift in her room just talking. She was a single woman in her 80s, never married, no kids... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, November 21, 2004

THE EXAM.

This email to my friend (see below) just about sums up my experience yesterday with THE EXAM. I really question whether or not I passed it. Of course, I've had similar feelings leaving other exams, and ended up doing well. But this one was so awful... I just don't have a good feeling. So anyway,... Sign in to see full entry.

Headlines (What is this?)