One of our patient had a massive bleeding last night. I thought he will survived because he had a lot of episode like this before.His partner and son was called. When they arrived they went straight to the patient. The patient was still conscious and was able to say goodbye to them. When he went to theatre/operating room. He said to the nurse who brought him in that; " You know what? It doesn't look good at all." The nurse replied that you had bleeding last time and you've been through a lot of operation so you will survive. But he didn't, he died during surgery. Poor man, after 7 surgeries and 2 months suffering in the hospital, he died. May his soul rest in peace.
Anyway, I need to go now. I just finished my night shift and I will still finish packing. I don't know if I can still fit my kids toys in our luggage. I will see what I can do. My son really want to bring his pool toys. I'm sure he will not be very happy if I will leave it here.
Sad...
Old or New?
We moved to a new unit last year. Everything was new and all are computerized. Before, we used to write everything on what we've done to our patient to our massive chart. It's kinda old style but I like it that way. Why? Sometimes computer fails even with state of the art hard drives. One time our computer connection failed and all patient's observation that day we're gone. Computer specialist was called but they did not managed to solved the problem. It is very dangerous especially that we deals with patient life. Oh, I miss the old way.
Why?
Our ward manager or we call here in UK Matron resigned from her job. It was a shock to everybody, now they are just waiting who will replace her. I don't really know why a lot of people are leaving from the unit (that's including me). In just a span of a year, more than 10 left. Is it because of the management? I don't really know. Our old unit was a happy place to work, I used to look forward to work everyday. But that was before. Now all are stressed and everybody complaint. We have a lot of new policies which I can say is rubbish. I just hope that the one who will run the unit will bring the unit back as what it used to be. Or else all experienced nurse will leave.
Soon...
My husband used to be a salesman in Philippines. He was connected to a large international company that pays very very good sum of money with daily allowances and incentives. But 2 years after our marriage the company terminated all of them from general manager to salesman. He received a lum sum amount of money and luckilly I was given a permanent contract in a government hospital in our place. My husband started a business which is a very good source of income but still I want more for my childrens future that is why I decided to apply abroad. I was very lucky that on my first application I was hired to work here in UK. In August 9, 2001 my contract started here in ___ Hospital and I my tender my resignation which will be on April 4, 2009. I lasted for almost 8 years. Soon we will be in Australia, I don't know how many years we are going to stay over there. Hopefully my husband will find a job soon so that we can get a house after few months. Right now he is considering going back to a job which he likes which is on sales. I just hope that sales job search online will help him find a job.
Thank You and Goodbye
5 shifts more to do and I will say goodbye to ___ Critical Care Unit. I've been here for 8 years and with that span of time I learned a lot. I did not had an ICU experience back home and I still remember looking back into my first shift I was so scared and thought that I will not handle the pressure looking after patient with critical condition. But I did with flying colors and that's because of my colleagues who are there all the time to teach me. I was promoted 2 years after starting in the unit. I was offered a lot of courses to do but I refused because I was lazy to do it. Now I regret. But anyway, I still have my experience that I can bring where ever I go and practice as an ICU nurse. Soon, I will be in Australia. It will be new environment, new colleagues, new practice and everything is new and I hope I will settle ASAP.
To my colleagues in ___ Hospital. Thank you very very much. I am sure I am going to miss everything. Before I end this I need to do my assignment about cat supplies.
Off To Australia
My starting date to work in Australia is on 18th May 2009. Hopefully my best mate at work will join me in July/August this year. We will be working in the same hospital (fingers crossed). The hospital that I am going to work is a private one and I will still be in Intensive Care Unit. By June this year the hospital that I am going to work will move to a new building I don't know if it is steel buildings. I just hope that the new lay out of the unit is good because the one that I am working now is so big and very difficult to manage because of staff shortage. It will be all new to me nursing in Australia because their practice is not the same in here. But I'm sure I can cope it.
I Need A Break
I received my visa to work in Australia few weeks ago. My starting date supposed to be will be on 20th of April but I need a break. So I cancelled it and re scheduled my starting date that will be on 18th of May. On my break me and my family are going home to Philippines. All of us are very excited especially that 3 of my friends here including their family are going home as well. We will see each other over there and planning to have a holiday with them. I am thinking of attending the wedding of my best friend in college as well. I am so happy for her. At last after waiting for the right man she finally found him. The wedding invitations that she sent is so lovely. I hope that I can make it on her big day. Congratulations Zel!
Another Day On The Ward
Obesity is rampant in this country and I have a story to share. This happened few months ago when I did an overtime on the ward.
Another nurse handed over a patient to me but the patient was behind the curtain and she said that the patient who was behind the curtain is so big and she cannot stand and walk because of her obesity. I was thinking how big because the nurse who handed over to me was about 150 kgs. already and gez I was shocked when I saw the patient because the patient was twice her size. Imagine a living human who is 300 kgs. And she is not on a diet because I fond chocolates and crisp on her table. I wonder if any company makes plus size sexy lingerie for this type of people. Then during the night she said to me if I can move her legs. How can I? Her legs was already my body size.
Private Patients or PP
Private patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit here in UK pay £700- £1,200 per day. So you will expect a lot them will be very demanding. I encountered a lot of them, the latest one that I had was a bit weird. He want me to hold his hand all the time. At first I did, to comfort him but I noticed after a while that he was a maniac. So I told him, I will call his partner and he said, "What will my partner do, that you cannot do? I said; "Of course I cannot hold your hand all the time and it is not in my job description to hold your hand!" I thought he will complained. But he didn't. If he did, I don't really care! This happened last month I just remembered because the patient came back to the unit and I need to look after him. This time he cannot request anything because he was ventilated, intubated and sedated :)
It reminds me I need to find the cheapest term life insurance quote for my family just in case whatever happen to us during our flight to Philippines.
Happy But Sad
It is really happening. I received my Australian visa on Friday. I am excited and happy but at the same time sad. I was on night shift last night and I already started missing my colleagues even the annoying ones. I only have 11 shifts (12.5 hours) to do. Even my leaving do has been arranged. We will have it on my birthday in my friend's house which will be on the 2nd of April and we are hoping to travel by 4th. I'm sure I will miss England. But it is time to move on... and it is time for me to sleep because I'm still on long day tomorrow at work.
Doctor, It Hurts!
A man went to the Doctor for check up...
Man: Doc, why is it that whenever I touch my body, it hurts!
Doctor: What do you mean?
Man: If I touch my knees, ears, nose or everywhere, it hurts!
Doctor: Oh, I know why!
Man: What is it, Doc?
Doctor: You have a broken finger!
Source UK Edition Filipino Magazine
Cerebral Palsy
Have you seen a patient with cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is a condition that cause movement problems. One disturbing experience that I had when I was a student is that a baby admitted with broken bones because his Dad accidentally stepped on him. The baby died. Baby's Dad got a cerebral palsy that is why he wasn't able to control some of his muscles in the body in the normal way. Because of his condition he cannot work so his wife was at work when it happened and he was the one looking after the baby. So sad. It's been 15 years but still I remember that awful situation.
After 8 Years It Is Time For A Change
I arrived here in UK August 9, 2001. I took the NCLEX exam in January 2006 and luckily I passed it. I was hoping to transfer to USA but there was a problem getting a green card. It took so long as what I anticipated. So middle last year me and my hubby decided to migrate to Astralia instead of transferring to USA. I wasn't so sure about it at first because it is not my first choice. But now my mind is fixed!!! Even we are still waiting for our visa which I'm hoping we will receive it next week, I hand in my resignation letter and effective April 3, 2009 I will not be a part of National Health Service. I am sad but excited what will be like in Australia. Don't you all worry because I'm still going to blog about me working there.
February Top Droppers
This blog of mine is a personal one which I write my experiences and view of any topic as a nurse. I have a lot of commentators from all over the world which I really appreciate all their comments. And to my entrecard top droppers, thank you for the never ending support. To my visitors, visit their blogs through their entrecard badges.
| Dropper | # of drops |
|---|---|
| Windmill on the Hill | 31 |
| Symphony of Love | 29 |
| Poontater | 28 |
| My Written xPressions | 27 |
| Online Games | 27 |
| Behind the Bit | 27 |
| Windmill at Today dot Com | 26 |
| Our Journey to Forever | 26 |
| Everything Under the Sun | 25 |
| My World in My Own Word | 25 |
