Still safely wrapped around my left wrist

haha, so yesterday my co-worker came up to me with a present (this after my bemoaning [with a smile] that I was dying - especially after a respiratory MRSA patient came in). It's a bright red wrist band we put on patients to indicate their allergies. Scribbled in pencil on mine is "WORK." :o)

my history of present illness

HPI text: This is a usually healthy 23-year-old female who presents to the ED for evaluation of 2-day hx of productive cough that has been constant and increasing in severity since onset. She also complains of low-grade fever, rhinorrhea, mild sore throat secondary to rhinorrhea, cold sweats, sinus congestion, diffuse body aches, and nausea that has resolved. She denies any headache, vomiting, dysuria, abdominal pain, chest/neck/ear pain, or any other acute concerns. Patient reports that she has been working everyday for the past 9 days and has not been sleeping well. She has no other complaints at this time.

And I once wished to be Laura Ingalls.

I sit here, comfy in my sweatshirt, fleece pants and poofy socks. My tummy is delighted with the toast and egg I ate for breakfast and I am in the midst of a most enjoyable book, The Hiding Place, listening to Nickel Creek, while the rains continue their downpour. My muscles ache and groan inconsolably as yesterday mum, brother and I pulled as many hay bales off the field as we could before the storm arrived. Truly, it was a magnificent one - dark and thick clouds overhead, roaring thunder, intermittent lightning and an amazing torrent of rain that left my brother and father soaked after only a few minutes spent unhitching the trailer and safely stowing the truck for protection from the assumed impending hail. The hail never arrived but today the skies remain gray and the rain continues.


And I have been delegated to the feeding and the milking of the animals. Outside.

brownies, blurry vision and whining.

it's 3:56am and I'm at work. Yes, I'm enjoying the fast-paced environment of the Emergency Department at 3:56am. This morning, when I awoke at 9:20am after sleeping for nearly 11 hours after working my rear off this week and living in desperate need of sleep, I said to myself, "I'm not going to sleep until, at earliest, 7am SUNDAY morning." That's a looooong time not to sleep. But not as long as other people go without sleep. Such as residents. Or Brian, the scribe I'm shadowing. He's here with me now and he'll start another 8hour shift at 6am tomorrow morning, right about when I am heading off to my sweet, sweet bed. Poor sleepless people.

By the way, I'm not sure when the NY info will be up. Kristi and I are ridiculously busy. We've actually started a club in celebration of busy people. The Busy People Club. There are two members already.

But I LOVE MY JOB! It's excellent. I've seen so much [trauma, drama and whining] and am getting to know many doctors, nurses, CNAs, medics, administrative people, security guards and fellow scribes. And I feel like a nerd. We've had a scribe party and, well, have you ever heard comments about doctors at parties? You know, about how they talk about work...for fun? Scribes do the same thing. We talk about patients, doctors, and all of the interaction involved. It's pretty cool. And tonight I've seen staples placed in a scalp laceration, eaten a 2 brownies and ice cream, have been enjoying the consequent palpitations, and have also been enjoying rather hysterical conversation with my doctor and Brian. All in all, it's been a pretty rad first night shift.