Your job is neverending

So yesterday started out to be a regular day...but ended in a day of sadness..At work I had to break the news to a patient that he had metastatic ca and he was a poor surgical canidate and would likely only benefit from palliative care chemo....I hate this part of my job....I try to put myself in the patient's position knowing what it would be like to get news like this...the patient took it very well and basically asked me if he was dying...I said yes....this patient has no one ....he is by himself has no one but himself....I tried to stay with the patient as long as I could to help answer any questions he may have about this awful news...he just wanted to be by himself...I offer palliative care and psychology to help him through this...He graciously accepts this offer ....
So it is one thing when this is your job to deliver such news...it is another when such news affects a family member...Ironically I got a call from my sister as I was leaving work yesterday to tell me she was just diagnosed with breast ca...She asks me what she should expect and what does it all mean...my mind and self go back into the role of an NP but has more emotions attached to it now...this is my younger sister..how can this be...I go into my sister-NP mode and try to explain what she has to look forward to in simple but not drastic words that may scare her even more than she already is...then to make things worse...after I get off the phone with my sister and calming her down...I must return a call to my Mother to answer her questions and calm her of her fears of the news regarding my sister....however despite the C word mentioned to my mother it seems all she is worried about is....can she tell my brothers about this news....I kindly tell my Mom....please put things in perspective and think about your daughter right now...this decision is up to her....if my brothers can't understand that then they need a reality check...everyone deals with this news differently...please don't burden my sister with anymore trivial things than what she is dealing with now!!!
So after these two phone calls...I go to my friends restaurant and meet my husband for dinner and glass of wine....I come home hoping to unwind the days damage to now get a phone call from my sister's husband asking me what he can expect with the C diagnosis...surprisingly I go back into the NP role and camly explain to him in simple and kind words that things will be fine...she was diagnosed at stage0 noninvasive microcalcification ca DICS.....despite the C word....she is going to have a good prognosis....I was too exhausted to write this last night....so I am here today...you never know what the day has in store for you.....face each day anew with little expectation...and go through each day knowing minutes turn into hours....know that as an NP you are someones provider, sister, wife, daughter and friend...you are looked upon as one who can answer unanswer questions about health issues and expect to give answers that will satisfy their fears and satisfaction and provide them comfort at the sametime...take time in doing this ..handle with care...but remember who you are and be good to yourself on the downtimes....find comfort in the comfort you give to others...seek solice in the care you provide whether it is a patient or a friend or family member...you are cherished by all and should cherish yourself...You have a special gift that doesn't stop giving....be thankful and blessed ....and thank God everyday for who you are and that you can always give to those who need you ...at any time any minute

Disappointed

Well I am disappointment that no one is reading my blog...I guess I have to spice it up a bit...I must admit I am new at this..so I still have a learing curve...no frets to my one and only follower...I will try to keep you entertain..or not...but feel free to pass it along to others...I am also disappointed I lost 3 posts....all that lead up to this moment....In brief...the 3 posts lost in summary
1. How I decided I wanted to be a nurse...there was no decision...I was concieved,born and decided to be a nurse...I even volunteered during my weekends and summers when I was a teenager
2. Schooling...no brainer there...had to go to college....back in the 70's this was a new way of educating nurses....not so popular....3 year diploma programs were still around...now they aren't... who was the smart one?
3. Nursing in the stone ages...believe me you would have love this one especially if you are a new nurse now...in summary...no compueterized medication record, nurses mixed IV's and hyperalimentation, no gloves, no gowns, no microwavable washclothes, no diapers, (plastic drawsheets instead), and we wore white uniforms, with are caps and nursing pins,called doctors for abormal labs..stood up for the doctors when they entered the nurses station ...say no more
I did go into more detail but in my previous blog...you get my drift...
so my promise is to make my blogs more interesting...then maybe I will get more followers