As I sit here on Polk Street in San Francisco, I am reminded of why my life is so beautiful. For one thing, the guy behind me agrees completely. I can hear his camera as he is photographing people as they walk by and the sights and sounds (actually he's moved and now he is taking pictures of me as I blog... Is this out of a movie or what??!!)
Since the day I've quit PwC, I've dreamed of what I am doing right now... sitting in Starbucks, sipping my fruffy mocha latte watching as the individuals of the world pass me by and blogging (I am sure Brett's gonna be happy too that I spend 3.99 on a internet connection when we have internet at home not to mention the $5 cup of java I just picked up). If you are wondering where Hurley the pomeranian is at, he is busy getting groomed at Bow Wow Meow right accross the street (another expense, or if you know your debits and credits, a credit for which Brett, my endearing Husband reaps no benefit, but a happy wife is a happy family, right girls?). Life is grand! I truely CANNOT believe that I am living the dream!
Today, I have no school, only volunteering for a few hours. I am starting to train new volunteers which is really cool. They shadow me around, and it makes you realize how much you DO know, although I am aware that within the nursing profession, there is still a lot I DON'T know. So, today I am completing my application to Samuel Merritt. I have to write a couple more samples regarding my volunteer experience and community service, so I am planning on over caffinating myself in order to talk about myself and what a wonderful impact I have on the community through the Every 15 mintues program/motivational speaking and about how wonderful my volunteer experience is. Maybe I should just send them the link to my blog ;)
Volunteering has been INSANE lately. I've seen a woman dying, lips turning blue and doctors dicussing how they are going to "let her go." A drunk man screaming to an old insane man in the bed next to him for being too loud - well actually, let me share that story in full.
I am sitting with the old man, lets call him Bob. Bob doesn't know where he is. He keeps asking me what he is watching, but infact, he is not watching anything, he is reading the newspaper and you know how when you read a newspaper, sometimes the story is continued on to page A3 or A5 or something, well he can't find page A3. So I show him page A3, mind you, this entire time he is YELLING when he is asking me questions. The drunk in the bed next to us, is seperated only by a curtain. Lets call him Dick. Dick is quick to point out to Bob that Bob doesn't have a door on his room, that there is only a curtain, and therefore EVERYONE can hear Bob yelling. I calmly leave Bob, as my 20th time explaining to Bob that the story is continued on to page A3 seems to have no impact on his emotional state. Additionally, I have a hard time explaining to Bob when he asked what it means to follow "Inglorious Bastards on Twitter" and what Twitter is (it was hysterical, but I did not laugh). As I am passing by Dick's bed, I hear "excuse me Miss..." I think to myself, Oh dear God , here it comes....
Dick explains to me that he is detoxing (as if I could not tell from the smell emminating from his bedside) and that he is very thirsty and emotional (as you will see in a second). I explain to him that I am a volunteer and I'd love to provide him with some water but I'll need to check with his nurse first. Here it comes... are you ready? Dicks asks me, "Why are you whispering." I quickly and politely explain that I was in a car accident and this is my voice. Dick starts crying. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry... I am just so emotional right now, I am detoxing ectera ectera." For those of you that know me, I say ectera ectera not because I don't have any sympathy for this man who is in a very uncomfortable state, I just have no doubt that he is probably wasted again at this very moment as we speak, tis the life of an alcoholic. But it did make me question our ability as emotionally stable human beings to supress those severely empathetic feelings we have towards other peoples life's tradegy's to avoid the emotional trauma Dick was undergoing. It was really an emotional whirlwind and pure comedy for the volunteer who was shadowing me and the other two patients in this section of the ER.
Catherine got married in San Diego over the weekend and we had a wonderful time. Lots of laughter and Brett and Romy got lots of man time with Reagan. A lady in the elevator, when it was just Romy, Brett and Reagan said "Oh I think it's so great what you two are doing," implying that they were homosexual life partners.... hysterical (again out of a movie... if you are a movie producer and looking to make a movie, comment on my blog, I've got PLENTY of material....)
That's it for now, I know I haven't blogged in sometime a few weeks but I promise to be better about it... Thanks for reading friends!
October 27, 2009
October 6, 2009
Wow, ok - in the order that it happened - today was crazy...
1. I showed up and immediately was asked by one of the nurses to help an old blind man eat his dinner. Apparently he hadn't eaten in two days, lives at home alone and fell this morning so he came in by ambulance. One of the doctors came in and asked him a few questions, one being if he lived alone, and his response was yes, and the doctor asked him how he got around and he told her he uses his vacuum to bump into things to get around. Sad. He was so sweet, he was a little old Mexican man, which a beautiful thick accent, he was so thankful for me to sit with him and help him eat. Lots of "god bless yous" and "what's your name again..."
2. One of the nurses informed me that a man had walked in earlier in the day complaining of chest pain, he was sweating and out of breath. He had a heart attack and coded. They tried to bring him back for an hour, pushing drugs through him and attempting CPR. She told me I could go look at him if I wanted. If I wanted?!?!? She said, yes, he is still in room 5. I never actually walked in, by walking by I could see his body laying there. The idea of living (being born) and dying is crazy, and being there, really makes you realize that you REALLY just need to be happy right where you are when you are there and not to regret any decision you are able to make. Needless to say, the nurses were exhausted. It turned out that the man who passed away was a producer of the new SF show Trauma.
** I wasn't sure if I was going to put this in my blog, but here it goes... in between event #2 & #3 one of the nurses started confiding in me that her and another nurse are not getting along. You know how it goes - they were really close, did everything together, and now one is pulling attitude with the other. I felt bad for both, but just told her that the problem is just that we're girls, and girls are drama and maybe she did something a long time ago that they never talked about so now she's mad at her - aren't we (girls) confusing. Boys are so different, they'd kick eachother in the family jewels, kiss and make up **
3. I was busy doing a patients belongings list in room 9A. Patient was a middle aged obese man who was VERY out of it. I said my spheel, "Hi, My name is Gina Cummings I am a volunteer here at CPMC, I didn't lose my voice, I just talk soft." The man interrupted me, and says in soft whisper, me too! He lost his voice too. I couldn't keep his attention too long, because he kept dosing in and out. Normally, I'd say it was from the drugs, but he was sitting upright in a chair. So I have to repeat each questions about 2 or 3 times before he will answer it. I started to walk around the other side of his bed to get a clothing bag and out of no where get comes to life and says "You look exactly like Kelly Ripa." I told him he made my day.
4. A nurse asked me to do a patient checklist in room 4. I ended up speaking with this beautiful elderly woman, who has had 4 - 6 bouts with cancer. She was truly and inspiration. She talked so much about life and her experiences, and I just enjoyed our conversation. She was admitted, and I am going to visit her tomorrow up in the cancer ward.
2. One of the nurses informed me that a man had walked in earlier in the day complaining of chest pain, he was sweating and out of breath. He had a heart attack and coded. They tried to bring him back for an hour, pushing drugs through him and attempting CPR. She told me I could go look at him if I wanted. If I wanted?!?!? She said, yes, he is still in room 5. I never actually walked in, by walking by I could see his body laying there. The idea of living (being born) and dying is crazy, and being there, really makes you realize that you REALLY just need to be happy right where you are when you are there and not to regret any decision you are able to make. Needless to say, the nurses were exhausted. It turned out that the man who passed away was a producer of the new SF show Trauma.
** I wasn't sure if I was going to put this in my blog, but here it goes... in between event #2 & #3 one of the nurses started confiding in me that her and another nurse are not getting along. You know how it goes - they were really close, did everything together, and now one is pulling attitude with the other. I felt bad for both, but just told her that the problem is just that we're girls, and girls are drama and maybe she did something a long time ago that they never talked about so now she's mad at her - aren't we (girls) confusing. Boys are so different, they'd kick eachother in the family jewels, kiss and make up **
3. I was busy doing a patients belongings list in room 9A. Patient was a middle aged obese man who was VERY out of it. I said my spheel, "Hi, My name is Gina Cummings I am a volunteer here at CPMC, I didn't lose my voice, I just talk soft." The man interrupted me, and says in soft whisper, me too! He lost his voice too. I couldn't keep his attention too long, because he kept dosing in and out. Normally, I'd say it was from the drugs, but he was sitting upright in a chair. So I have to repeat each questions about 2 or 3 times before he will answer it. I started to walk around the other side of his bed to get a clothing bag and out of no where get comes to life and says "You look exactly like Kelly Ripa." I told him he made my day.
4. A nurse asked me to do a patient checklist in room 4. I ended up speaking with this beautiful elderly woman, who has had 4 - 6 bouts with cancer. She was truly and inspiration. She talked so much about life and her experiences, and I just enjoyed our conversation. She was admitted, and I am going to visit her tomorrow up in the cancer ward.
September 30, 2009
Decompression
I am coming to you live, never before have I done this until this evening, BLOGGED right after I volunteer ... I've come to realized that my blog is a mode for decompressing.
I am starting to see some mind changing things, wives sitting by a husbands side as he is being diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer, old men with dementia, screaming not knowing where they are, spit that looks like chewed peanuts, old women with their life savings in their wallet - seriously - cash people (no wonder robbers steal old women's handbags). It's REALLLY a lot to process and I've come to realize that this blog serves as a mode of decompressing. Some nurses do yoga, some get massages once a week, some nurses even go to the local massage parlor and get a massage during their break (this is good news for me, next time I want a massage, I'll just tell Brett that all the nurses are getting them, and did I mention ONCE A WEEK!).
Another surprising thing, is nurses sense of urgency. I would expect them to have a greater sense of this, but I guess, after all the years, I think they just come to be really good at telling who needs urgent immediate care and who doesn't - plain and simple. And what a double edge sword that is... you want care, but really don't need it or you need care and really don't want it. Also, I think that they tend to start seeing the same 20 problems and things really end up being task based. I'll tell you one thing, whatever the case maybe, it's exhausting - I am exhausted, and I was only there today for 4 hours, they run 10-12 hour shifts!
Something funny did happen today though. One of the nurses asked me to do a belongs list for a patient, so I eagerly grabbed a belongs list, stamped it with the patient card and grabbed my handy dandy clipboard and pen and waltz right into the patients room. Well - I guess when they are standing in their robed with their back to you, bare bum showing it means that they are having a private moment (he was taking a leak). He felt bad, I felt bad, we all felt bad but then we had a good laugh about it, or maybe they were all just laughing at me, the ever eager volunteer.
I am starting to see some mind changing things, wives sitting by a husbands side as he is being diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer, old men with dementia, screaming not knowing where they are, spit that looks like chewed peanuts, old women with their life savings in their wallet - seriously - cash people (no wonder robbers steal old women's handbags). It's REALLLY a lot to process and I've come to realize that this blog serves as a mode of decompressing. Some nurses do yoga, some get massages once a week, some nurses even go to the local massage parlor and get a massage during their break (this is good news for me, next time I want a massage, I'll just tell Brett that all the nurses are getting them, and did I mention ONCE A WEEK!).
Another surprising thing, is nurses sense of urgency. I would expect them to have a greater sense of this, but I guess, after all the years, I think they just come to be really good at telling who needs urgent immediate care and who doesn't - plain and simple. And what a double edge sword that is... you want care, but really don't need it or you need care and really don't want it. Also, I think that they tend to start seeing the same 20 problems and things really end up being task based. I'll tell you one thing, whatever the case maybe, it's exhausting - I am exhausted, and I was only there today for 4 hours, they run 10-12 hour shifts!
Something funny did happen today though. One of the nurses asked me to do a belongs list for a patient, so I eagerly grabbed a belongs list, stamped it with the patient card and grabbed my handy dandy clipboard and pen and waltz right into the patients room. Well - I guess when they are standing in their robed with their back to you, bare bum showing it means that they are having a private moment (he was taking a leak). He felt bad, I felt bad, we all felt bad but then we had a good laugh about it, or maybe they were all just laughing at me, the ever eager volunteer.
September 29, 2009
My first heart attack
Today voluteering in the emergency deparment I witnessed my first heart attack. A man was brought in by ambulance after he was playing tennis with a friend and just dropped to the ground. One of the nurses came up to me and said if you are interested, there is a man on his way who has just coded. I watched in the corner of the room while the nurses and doctors all did their thing. It was pretty controlled for what it was, and it immediately made me realized that you really have to make a conscious effort to live each day like it is your last, for you never know what tomorrow will bring. He still had tennis balls in his pockets, this I noticed as I was taking off his shoes. It just makes you think - I mean he double knotted his shoes, well actually only the one on his right foot, and that could have been the last time he tied his shoes. I could really go on forever here...
One of the nurses, she's from the Davies Campus, so I've never worked with her before, she was like "Oh, you're new, what's your name." And you know how that goes...
Nurse: "Oh you're a lil' bit hoarse today..." (she was British)
Gina: No I was in a car accident 6 years ago.
Nurse: "Oh my gosh - and you volunteer now!"
Gina: Ya, well I -
Nurse: "You back in school for nursing now?"
Gina: Yes, I was a CPA and now I am going back to school to become an RN."
Nurse: "Wow, you are amazing, my hats off to you, you are truly an incredible girl - you are lucky to be alive - you had a trache didn't you? I feel so lucky to be in your presence, you are truly amazing girl. It's great to meet you.
Gina: Thank you? ;)
Nurse: "Oh, you are going to make a great nurse, you are so beautiful and have such a beatiful smile."
Gina: Thank you very much.
I could barely get a work in edge wise. Later during the day, she kept asking me questions about my accident and when I told her what had happened her response was ...
"Well, just when you think you've heard it all..."
One of the nurses, she's from the Davies Campus, so I've never worked with her before, she was like "Oh, you're new, what's your name." And you know how that goes...
Nurse: "Oh you're a lil' bit hoarse today..." (she was British)
Gina: No I was in a car accident 6 years ago.
Nurse: "Oh my gosh - and you volunteer now!"
Gina: Ya, well I -
Nurse: "You back in school for nursing now?"
Gina: Yes, I was a CPA and now I am going back to school to become an RN."
Nurse: "Wow, you are amazing, my hats off to you, you are truly an incredible girl - you are lucky to be alive - you had a trache didn't you? I feel so lucky to be in your presence, you are truly amazing girl. It's great to meet you.
Gina: Thank you? ;)
Nurse: "Oh, you are going to make a great nurse, you are so beautiful and have such a beatiful smile."
Gina: Thank you very much.
I could barely get a work in edge wise. Later during the day, she kept asking me questions about my accident and when I told her what had happened her response was ...
"Well, just when you think you've heard it all..."
September 27, 2009
September 22, 2009
Sick as a DOG!
Apparently, I've hit what we call a little speed bump in my serendipitous quest. While I am aware that there are worse things out there, the painful swallowing and constant taste of cough drops in my mouth is getting quite old. The idea of where I received this awful contaimination of strep throat from gives me the heebie jeebies due to my current understanding of microbes from my microbiology course - say it with me, YUCK!!
The worst part about being sick, is Brett is not home and I had to call in sick for volunteering today and tomorrow. I just got moved to the Emergency department full time, so that is very exciting for me! And Brett flew down to Scottsdale for work with his CFO, literally flew down, they flew his personal jet (I guess that's next on Brett's "To Do's"), which is exciting and scary at the same time, and if you are wondering, this is what a run one sentance look like.
I'm really, truthfully, the LAST person to complain about being sick (because I hate it when people do that) but I must indulge myself. I just feel like a horses you - know - what! Our coffee table looks like a Rite-Aid and I feel like a giant spore, so much so I'm even afraid I'll get Hurley sick. So I'll leave myself to a day of movies and rest (and painful swallowing). Sidenote: Girls, for those of you with babies - you should watch the National Geographic movie "In the Womb." I got it off netflix :) So amazing how precious life is and your little ones and to remember we have all been there too.
The worst part about being sick, is Brett is not home and I had to call in sick for volunteering today and tomorrow. I just got moved to the Emergency department full time, so that is very exciting for me! And Brett flew down to Scottsdale for work with his CFO, literally flew down, they flew his personal jet (I guess that's next on Brett's "To Do's"), which is exciting and scary at the same time, and if you are wondering, this is what a run one sentance look like.
I'm really, truthfully, the LAST person to complain about being sick (because I hate it when people do that) but I must indulge myself. I just feel like a horses you - know - what! Our coffee table looks like a Rite-Aid and I feel like a giant spore, so much so I'm even afraid I'll get Hurley sick. So I'll leave myself to a day of movies and rest (and painful swallowing). Sidenote: Girls, for those of you with babies - you should watch the National Geographic movie "In the Womb." I got it off netflix :) So amazing how precious life is and your little ones and to remember we have all been there too.
September 15, 2009
"You, Inc"
'Most people work 40 plus hours a week at jobs they don't like to buy things they don't need." - Madeline Nelson
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