Taking work to Heart

Do I take my work too much to heart? I woke up this morning worrying about my patients that I had a work yesterday. I know that their care has been passed on to very competent nurses so why am I so worried? Who knows?! I guess it's in my blood to care and worry about others.

I consider myself a caring person, one of the reasons why I decided to become a nurse. Now that I'm in the nursing career I wonder whether it's helping of hindering my care for the patient. Well actually I don't think that it hinders the care of the patient in any way, no patient would ever complain about a nurse who cares. It does however hinder my health.

A caring nurse definitely experiences a much higher stress level than an uncaring nurse. Then again an uncaring nurse would make a bad nurse. It is the caring side of the nurse that makes them a good advocate for the patient. An important part of nursing is advocating for the patient, being sure that their needs and wishes are met.

My caring for my patients definitely does have a huge effect on my stress level, sleep and I'm sure that it affects my general health. How am I going to be able to separate the work stress so that it does not cross over to my daily stress? I know that every job has it's stress level, and every employee goes home with that stress at home too, it's not just nurses. It is however important that every worker learns how to deal with their stress and to learn to leave it at the work place.

What is the best solution? I have no clue. I can only think of one, just take a early retirement and move to Hawaii. Is retiring after one year in the work force too early?

Sports...who needs them?!

How is it that someone can find it so interesting to watch all those many sports out there? Football, Hockey, Baseball and Soccer (man, I had forgotten about soccer, when does that season start?!) I totally understand wanting to watch your favorite team play. Cheer for them, okay, that's alright by me. I could definately see myself getting excited about a game if I had a favorite team playing. Watching any game that's on, that's definately not for me. I'm just glad that golf hasn't come into the list of sports to watch. But what some people don't realize is that to me watching football, hockey or any other sport is just as boring as watching golf! At least golf is calm and can sleep through it.

I'm going to make an effort to understand all these different games, maybe pick a team to cheer for. It might then be able to hold my interest to some extent. I hate being the typical girl, complaining about wanting to changing the channel whenever any game is on. I'm not a sissy girl, I want to like watching sports. I drink beer, did some beer training to start enjoying the taste. Maybe I'll have to go to sports watching bootcamp or something to enjoy watching sports. Yikes, sounds like some cruel type of toture!

How is it that I can watch all the olympic sports and find them interesting. I can't get enough of the olympics when they're on TV. I watch everything, from bobsledding, boxing, cycling and even hockey. How are Olympic hockey games any different than NHL games? Team Canada. I think it comes back to the having a team to cheer for. I'm patriotic, I always cheer for Canada. If Canada is not in the competition I don't find it nearly as exciting.

I'm going to keep working on my sports phobia...maybe some day I'll be able to kick back and watch the game like any other normal Canadian.

Work work work...Not too bad tonight

I'm taking a moment from work right now. I can't believe how quiet it is here at the hospital tonight. I've been working here for four months and I've never seen it as quiet as it has been for the past three days. Not that I'm complaining, it's great to be able feel my feet and legs again. Usually after a shift (running around like a chicken with my head cut off) all I can think about is sitting/lying down.

I'm actually starting to like my job. Or maybe it's just it a slow time, and so I'm not quite as stressed as other days. I'm think back to everything that I've learned since I started work here. It's amazing how much I've picked up without realizing it. The tasks that just a month ago felt difficult and time consuming are quick and simple. I was working with a student nurse the other day, and I could actually answer a large number of her questions. It's nice to realize how far I have come along. I still hate paper work, but I'm getting faster and more efficient at it.

I've been told that it takes about a year in one area to eeally become comfortable working with orthopedic and trauma patients. Then again is probably takes a year to get comfortable in any job, no matter what it is you're doing.

I'm finally starting to get to know the other nurses. It's nice to come to work and actually know the other nurses on a different level than just work. Maybe I've gotten to know them better because it has been quieter lately, or maybe I'm working with the more calm, relaxed people(my kind of crowd). Thank goodness the other workers are helpful, nice and supportive. One of the biggest worries I had with moving across the country to a new job where I really didn't know anyone, was that my coworkers would be terrible and miserable to work with. Thank goodness that didn't happen!

One more night of work tomorrow, then I'm off for another 5 days. I'll have to find something fun to do on my days off. I've definitely got to get back to the gym. I've just got to make it part of my weekly routine, then I'll get back into shape. I miss the good old rowing years.

Welcome and Happy Thankgiving

I'd like to start this off by saying...I'm against blogging. It's for computer geeks and people who have nothing better to do with their time. But, as it's been pointed out to me I spend too much time just sitting around watching TV, so I may as well spend my time doing something a bit more...useful? I'm not ready to admit that bloggin is useful in anyway. Especially since no one really knows about this blog yet, so it doesn't even keep my friends back home updated on what I've been up to since I've moved across the country.

Moving across the country, now that's a big change in my life. It happened 4 months ago, but it still feels like a really new change. Especially when holidays, such as this weekend (Thanksgiving) come along and I'm not at home with my family. It's the first Thanksgiving that I haven't been home, and it feels stange. I had ribs for supper last night, not turkey, good but just not the same. Tonight I'm having a makeshift Thanksgiving dinner with my boyfriend, my room mate and her siblings, but I don't think there will be turkey there either. Not that it's the turkey I miss, it's the big huge family get together. I called my Grandma's house last night, and everyone was there, they passed the phone around so I could talk to my cousins and uncles and aunts, but it's just the same as being there. This is already the second big family get-together that I've missed since moving out here, it sucks!

Next time I go home is Christmas. Well, actually after Christmas because I work Christmas and boxing day, I guess that's what I get for taking on the nursing career.

One more thing, it rains way too much here in Vancouver. I'll have to get used to it and buy a good pair of stylish rubber boots and one of those big yellow rain suits.