Nurse on the Run

I feel like I should be recapping 2012.  But I kind of did in my last post, and I assume that if you’re really interested in what I’m doing (or at least how/if I’m running…), then you read along.  So, if you’re really interested in a recap (maybe I’ll do one later, maybe I won’t), scroll back a few pages.  Otherwise, to the future!

New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day isn’t really my favorite holiday…it’s just another night, isn’t it?  You go out with your friends, yell happy new year, and expect all these great things to happen because, omg, it’s the new year.  Really, it’s just another tomorrow.  I’ve never done anything terribly exciting on NYE and I’m kind of okay with that.

Which is why I am perfectly fine with working NYE this year.  The way our holidays pair is that you either have you work Christmas Eve/Christmas or NYE/New Year’s Day.  I found someone who wanted to work Christmas for me, so I was guaranteed off for Christmas and therefore agreed to work NYE.  This actually works out quite well since the people I’d most likely go out with tonight are some of the nurses, and they’re working with me.  Party at the hospital!!  But really…it will be.  One nurse is bringing hats and noisemakers, we all have some food to bring, and I’ve got some sparkling cider so we can cheers at midnight.

And we get paid (time and a half!) for it.  I think I win over all of you.

The best part is that I don’t even have to worry about my outfit, as it will be blue scrubs (high fives for drawstring pants)…hopefully in my size because last night I wore larges and any one of you could have fit in my pants with me.  True story.  So while some of you agonize over which sparkly shirt to wear, I will be dressed something like this:

So fashionable.

That is how you dress for burn care on patients with big burns.  It’s more or like you’re going into battle.  A definitely wet, possibly smelly experience.  I kind of like it.

As you can see, I don’t necessarily have to worry about how to style my hair because we bouffants alllllll the time.  However, I feel like New Year’s Eve is the appropriate night to wear my red Sparkly Soul headband, so no worries, I will be shiny tonight.

Apologizes for the mirror picture.

The holiday spirit lives on.  Now the fun begins:  I’m taking a poll on what you think will be my activity of the night when 2013 strikes.  Possible options include:

• Taking vital signs
• Blood glucose check
• NG tube placement auscultation
• Bedpan and related activities
• Burn care (will maybe plan around this one?)
• Chest compressions (thought it would happen last night, hope it doesn’t tonight!)
• Saying, “No no, stop desatting…” to my patient (it worked last night…)

Feel free to improvise and let me know what you think will be happening at midnight!  Or tell me what you’ll be doing at midnight so I can live vicariously.    I don’t even get a midnight kiss…I have a hot date with my patient and those ET tubes always get in the way.  (Hope you know I’m kidding…)

Happy New Year, see you in 2013!  Or earlier if you’re having a really bad night.