The Perianesthesia Nurse

You may wonder what I have been up to lately.
(seeing that my last blog was Mother's Day)

Well, as you probably know, I truly enjoy my job!
I am a registered nurse at Children's Hospital Colorado.
I work in the PACU, or Post Anesthesia Care Unit.

We have taken on the task of creating a quarterly newsletter for our staff.
Everyone submitted names and voted...
the result "Emerging Press"
(for those of you who did not know, we care for the
patients as they 'emerge' from anesthesia)

Here is a small look at our premier issue!

Each RN on the newsletter team submitted an
article of their choosing.
A balance of fun and professionalism.

I chose to submit a certification review!

I loved using MSPublisher and Photoshop
to create the
end result!

Thanks to the newsletter staff who helped to make it look so good!

Then, I must tell you about something that has

happened to me in the recent weeks.
Little did I know, my friend Kristen,
nominated me for the 'Daisy Award'...
something that I have known about and only
dreamed of winning. (I only know one RN who has
received it...shout out to Regina)

Well, yes, they surprised me and made me tear up when the
entire nursing admin team showed up with
Cinnabons for everyone, a huge banner, statue and award.

This is my new pin.
(Nurses love pins)

This is my beautiful statue from Africa!

This is the banner that is hanging in the unit.

And my award....that someday I might place in
my very own office.
(or home office)

Thank you to Kristen, and all the nurses I work with
for helping this to be the most memorable
summer ever!
So, as you can see, yes, I have been a little busy.
Not to mention, we are currently in the
process of buying a beautiful home!
Happy Fourth of July!

PANAW

February 7-11, 2011 was Perianesthesia
Nurses Awareness Week!
It was my privilege to organize the
events this year!
Each of the RN's received a
lunchbox stuffed with goodies!

Everyday of the week was full of donations and drawings!
Each RN walked away with something!

This is my boss, Regina!
What an honor to work with such an
amazing person!

The doctors brought us this cake on Friday!

There were also five large gift baskets
raffled off, this is the 'Steamboat Ski' basket.

One of my favorites was the bundt cakes from
"Nothing Bundt Cakes".
They were delicious and each individually wrapped!

More donations!
Thank you Nordstroms and Solace!

The gifts just kept coming!

What a fun week!

Here is the sample of the flyer I made for the week!
Thank you to all of the sponsors!
And thank you to the awesome group of nurses I work with!
I love my job!

I can't wait til next year!!
Let the planning begin!

Relishing Children's

I am now on a new journey to becoming a weekend blogger.

This is a picture of my new office, Denver Children's Hospital.

I have now been there 3 weeks, with approx. 40 hours a week.

I am working in the PACU.

The Post Anesthesia Care Unit is also known

as the recovery room for all children coming out of anesthesia.

Children' has 15 operating rooms and 50-60 surgeries a day.

We keep each child from 30 min to 90 min in the recovery room,

depending on their breathing issues.

It is a fast moving place!

I have much to learn, but I like the department

and enjoy the art of 'waking a child up'...

Because I love the hospital so much,

I thought I would share a few pictures with all of you!

This is the main lobby of Children's and Atrium!

Isn't it beautiful?




All of flooring's are scenes from nature.





This is the amazing chapel for all to use.




The cafeteria.






Another view of the cafe,
where my boys come and visit me!






The surgery waiting room.


So I thank the Lord for my job!
I thank the Lord for helping me to
build new friendships.



And thank you to Kim, one of the RN's who is orienting me,
for introducing me to the website



relishrelish.com

Gourmet recipes for a busy mom!

What I do.

Remind me again...why do I do what I do??

Let's see...last night, I took care of....

• 55yo m; non-responsive, craniotomy, trached, hypotensive 70/30 (I spent all night correcting)

• 78yo f; gi bleed, hemoglobin 6; transfused 3 units of blood and started pressors for pressure.

• 68yo m; noncompliant diabetic, all toes amputated yesterday, gangrene bilateral lower extremities, first dressing change, my responsibility (that was fun)

• 82yo f; paraplegic from spinal cord tumor; constipated, enemas til clear (more fun)

• 85yo m; severe dementia, rectal bleed, end stage renal failure, pulled ng tube out twice, had to replace, run of vtach 14 beats, started drip, uses strong curse words.
  
  
  

Yes, I work an 8 hour shift that soon turns into ten. And charting???? What is that...that seems to start around 11pm.

Okay, YES i am Called to be a nurse. And YES, some days are better than others. Overall, it still remains to be the true definition of 'work'...

And I continue because deep, deep, deep down I would miss it, and deep down, a part of me enjoys helping people (I think)...sometimes I just need to remind myself of that. And someday, God forbid, I am hospitalized, the sweet nurse who takes care of me will look into my eyes like she/he is looking into the eyes of someone they genuinely care about.