I've had a majority of the last several weeks off of work and while I'd love to say they were days off spent on vacation, or doing something amazing (or even productive), they weren't. They were taken off for health reasons, but now I'm back. Back to work, and back to blogging about work.
And I must say, I am glad to get back into the swing of things. I wasn't really looking forward to waking up at 5 am every morning again, or even the stress that the PICU occasionally (ok, frequently) holds, but once I went back to work last Thursday and Friday, I was reminded how much I truly love it.
How much I truly love the patients that I care for. How much I love my co-workers. How much I love the feeling of a long day of work being over...and yet how productive and gratifying that long day can be!
And now that I'm back, I've had a few questions on the blog that have gone unswered in my absence. Ironically, as I read through them today, I realized they were some of the same questions that a friend from church who is going into her 3rd year of nursing school asked this morning.
And I love answering these questions. I love watching the excitement of a nursing student, or brand new nurse. I remember back to the days that I was in undergrad, still trying to decide what it was exactly that I wanted to do. Make sure the pediatrics, and the PICU more specifically, was right for me.
So today I'm going to take a bit of time to answer a few of the questions I've missed today. If I've answered some of these in the past, you can just skip it. Or, if you've been a nurse for awhile (or a few days!) and want to chime in, feel free. I think the more nurses students can talk to, the more prepared they will feel once done with school entering into the real world!
Q: Why did you pick the PICU?
A: I think to best answer this, I have to start with why I picked pediatrics in general. In nursing school early on, I narrowed my choices down to Labor and Delivery/Mother Baby, and Pediatrics. I did an internship after my third year of nursing school and didn't get my first choice Peds, but rather my second choice Mother/Baby with a couple of weeks experience in L&D. While initially I was disappointed, I am SO glad I had this amazing experience. It was not my clinical rotation in nursing school that showed me I didn't truly love L&D, it was the internship that did that. So while I had a great time in Mother/Baby, there were many things that just made it not right for me.
So that narrowed it down to Peds for me. And then I applied for a nursing assistant job at the Children's hospital in my town and the position just happened to be in the ICU. Now let me just say, I didn't necessarily have an interest to work in an ICU setting. Although I also didn't have a disitnerest. I just didn't really know much about it.
So I took the job, liked the people (although hated the nurse assistant job b/c you don't get much hands on with the patients!), and decided, "Yeah I think I'd love this as a nurse." So once I was done with shool, it was an easy decision. Why work on a general pediatric floor, or a specialized pediatric floor when I could work in the PICU where I already worked?
I have to say looking back onto my nursing journey, I feel like while there was some decision making, there was a lot that just fell into my lap. And luckily for me, it has worked out well. Better than I could have even planned it, I suppose!
Q: What are the top 3 things that you love about the PICU?
A: 1.) The amazing patients and families that I get to work with, get to know, and spend a lot of time with. I guess this could fall into "top 3 things I dislike about working in the PICU" if the family is crazy, or the child is a total brat, but for the most part I absolutely love the relationships that are formed in the PICU that cannot compare to any other unit.
2.) The adrenaline, the stress. Don't get me wrong, there are many days where I think "Why in the world did I not just pick a desk job!?" But really, I know myself. And I know that I would be bored out of my mind if I didn't work in an environment that is as exciting, exhillarating, adrenaline filled, which can often translate to stressful, as the PICU.
3.) I love working with kids of all ages, from neonates to young 20s (and ocassionally we do see some older) with all kinds of diagnoses. I love coming into work knowing a little bit about a lot of topics (although hopefully as I get more experience, it will turn into knowing a lot about a lot of topics!). I love that my job focuses on the body as a whole, and not just focusing on one organ. I love that no two days look alike in the PICU. So I guess to sum it up, I love the diversity that the patients and diagnoses bring into the PICU.
Q: What are the top 3 things that you dislike about the PICU?
A: 1.) Death. I hate seeing kids die. Sometimes it is bittersweet because the kid has been suffering for so long. But in the end of it all, I hate watching parents watch their child die. But it's a part of working in the PICU. And if I can be a light, provide support, or just a presence to the families of these little angels, than I consider myself one lucky person to be able to have a job that has such a high calling and responsibility.
2.) Night shift. I hated working nights as a nurse, and I hate it as an APN. I would love to say, "Yeah, I kinda sorta dislike nights" but really that's an outright lie. I hate them. HATE them! I hate staying up past midnight on any given day...New Years is a stretch for me! I hate the way that I feel at 3 am after already having been up for 20 hours. I hate even more how I feel at 9 am when the bed is calling my name and I'm not yet home, after being up for 26 hours. But that too is a part of the PICU. The PICU will never close down just because it's late. Or a weekend. Or a holiday. The PICU will always need excellent nurses, regardless of the shift.
3.) The stress. Yes, I know that this also fell into my favorite things category, but I couldn't come up with another 3rd thing. And thinking about it, while stress can be very beneficial, drive people to do great things, and to overcome fears, there are also negative things that can follow stress. So it's for the negative reasons that this also is falling into my 3rd thing I dislike category.
Q: Have you ever work in, or floated to a different unit? How does it compare to the PICU?
A: No, I have never worked as a nurse in another unit. And as an APN, we don't "float" in my hospital. But, when working as a bedside nurse I did float to several other units. And they were all VERY different. I worked in the NICU most of the time that I floated, and let me tell you while the two units share 3 letters, it's the first one that truly separates them into two totally different worlds. Teeny, tiny babies, that don't look much like babies, are just not my cup of tea. But most NICU nurses absolutely love their jobs. To each their own!
I also floated to the Hematology/Oncology floor twice and highly disliked it. I can't imagine being surrounded by kids with cancer all day. Yes we see terrible things in the PICU. But we see a vast variety of terrible. Cancer all day, not my thing.
And then I floated to several other floors that specialize in various other things such as Pediatric Surgyer, Endocrine, Neurology, etc. And while I didn't mind working on these floors for the day, I just didn't like the environment that a non-ICU floor holds. I guess I like taking care of the sickest of the sick. I like being able to give all my care and attention to one or two kids and really getting to know them, rather than being spread thin and caring for 5 or 6 patients.
So how's that for a "Welcome Back" party!?!? Just a long-winded hello!
But I hope for the nursing students out there, or the nurses who are in an area that they are not completely happy with and are considering the PICU, thanks for sticking it out to the very end. And I hope that I've helped you to see that the PICU is where it's at!!
Yes, there will be bad days. But if being a part of a team that heals the sickest of the sick kids is something that excites you, the PICU is the place for you.
I know without a doubt, despite having 3 (and sometimes 33!) things that I dislike about the PICU, it truly is the right place for me!
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Funny Orders
There are some days that seem mundane, and then you just happen to stumble on orders like the following:
NURSING COMMUNICATION: "No oral fluid by mouth"
And then the rest of your day is spent laughing it up with the co-workers and poking fun at the APN that wrote it (who in her defense was febrile and throwing up...yes, shortly after we found this out we sent her home!).
Oh, and the best part was having a contest to see who could come up with the wittiest remark or finishing that sentence.
Do you think you would win??? Let's hear your best. And I may just tell you some of our funniest!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Nursing Interviews
As mentioned in my last post, today's topic is interviewing.
Now it doesn't matter if you are interviewing for your very first nursing job straight out of undergrad, your first APN job after already having been a nurse, or even your 20th interview as a medical professional, interviewing can be tough.
Without the right amount of preparation, good intentions can really go south in the interview room.
So here is a list of 5 things that I have done, or read about, or seen as I have interviewed others, in order to best prepare you for that big interview and get you that job!
1.) Know Your Stuff: Know the company that you are wanting to work for- what is their mission and vision? What are some of their values? What is the culture like? Most of this information can be found on a hospital's website and will be valuable as you go throughout your interview. When your professional mission, your vision, your values and goals align with the business, this is very attractive.
2.) Dress Professionally: This is just my personal opinion, but I think that whether you are interviewing for a nursing position or APN position, you should dress to impress. And this generally means a suit. Some people will say it's ok for nurses to wear dress pants and a "nice shirt" but I think if you really want to make an impression, the full suit will make you stand out.
For one of my interviews I wore a pencil skirt with a button down shirt, and suit jacket. Another intverview I wore the same jacket with a different shift underneath, and black dress pants. And let me further tell you, just because you have an interview and need to dress professionally, does not mean spending a ton of money before you are even making it. That pencil skirt and suit jacket that I wore above cost me $12 at a thrift store in my area. There are deals all over...you just have to find them!
3.) Make an Impression: You only get one chance to make a great first impression. That's part of my reasoning for dressing in a suit. But the other parts of making a great impression include making eye contact from the very first greeting, shaking hands with a firm handshake (really, who likes shaking a limp noodle!?), smile, breathe and relax.
The more relaxed you are, the better you will be able to listen, and since you will be so prepared for the questions (we'll get to that in a minute), you will come across as confident. Who doesn't want to hire someone who is dressed professionally, has a firm handshake, smiles a lot, makes great eye contact, and throughout the interview breathes easy, appears relaxed and attentive, and answers each question confidently??? Oh yeah, you are so getting this job!
4.) Prepare for Questioning: One of the nice things about interviewing is that many of the same, or similar questions are asked. This is not to say that a curve ball can't be thrown at you, but with preparation of common questions, if a new one does pop up, you will be prepared for it. And one of the best ways to be prepared for answering these questions is to practice. Practice by yourself out loud, practice in front of the mirror, and practice in front of family and friends who can give you some feedback.
So what are questions to be prepared for???
*"Tell me about yourself"- this is a common opener. The interviewer wants to see how you will handle a very open ended discussion. This is not the time to tell your entire life story. Rather, keep your answer concise, but include information about your education, your pertinent work experience, career goals, and a little bit about your personality. It is essentially like doing a quick run through of your CV/resume.
*"Why did you go into nursing?"- this is your time to be honest and give a good story. Certainly "for the $" is never an appropriate response, nor is that the truth...if you think you'll be a baller you may want to turn back now! Let them know why nursing is your calling, because truly this is the case for nurses.
*What would your previous boss/co-workers/peers say about you? How do people describe you?- This is a time to discuss your positive traits that will make you an asset for their team. Things like team player, hard-worker, dedicated, loyal all reflect well. But only discuss things that truly are reflective of your personality.
*Describe a difficult situation and how you handled it?- this one should be rather easy...if you've gone through nursing school you've most likely had a difficult family member, nursing mentor, preceptor, etc. Just describe the situation, but most importantly show how well you handled it using team work, honesty, great communication, etc (whatever is appropriate for the situation).
*Describe a situation in which you had conflict with a co-worker and how you handled it?- and really, who hasn't had a co-worker who hasn't given you problems. BUT- if you haven't, you can always describe a situation in which great communication was required to work things out. Employers love to hear and see an employee who knows how to handle themselves with grace, and has great communication.
*What are your biggest weaknesses?- Now is definitely not the time to pretend to be perfect...you don't want the interviewer to add "Liar" to your list after you've stated nothing! Everybody has flaws, and the interviewer is trying to understand what yours are and more importantly how you respond to them. However, you can present the flaw, or weakness, as a positive.
Eg: At times, I can be a "people-pleaser" which doesn't always translate in me standing up for myself, however it allows me to focus on providing great service to my patients. (for those of you that know me, I'm certainly not a people pleaser, but this is just an example).
Another example: I have a type A, perfectionistic personality which can come across as intimidating to peers, and I tend to hold others to the same high standard, but I get the job done excellently.
*How would you handle a parent of a patient who is not happy with the care received?
*How would you handle a patient who constantly complains of pain?
*What are your career goals?
*How do you handle stress?
*What is the most rewarding about being a nurse? The least rewarding?
*Describe your ideal job and work environment.
There are going to be a lot of questions thrown your way. Again, preparation is the key here. Just make sure to listen to each question, take a deep breath, and answer confidently.
5.) Leave a lasting impression- not only do you need to make a great first impression, but you need to make a lasting one. This includes asking great questions at the end of the interview, continuing to make eye contact, staying positive throughout the entire interview, and ending with another smile and firm handshake. Then, its a great idea to send a thank you. In today's age of technology, a simple email after the interview to thank them for their time, and remind them how you would be the perfect candidate for the job is appropriate. However, this is only the first step. A hand written note 3 or so days after the interview will make a big statement. Again, it's all about making yourself stand out from the rest, and leaving that lasting impression.
So there it is...my 5 tips on acing your nursing or APN interview. I'd love to hear from you if you've recently gone through this. What were the things that helped you the most? Anything you'd do differently??
Now it doesn't matter if you are interviewing for your very first nursing job straight out of undergrad, your first APN job after already having been a nurse, or even your 20th interview as a medical professional, interviewing can be tough.
Without the right amount of preparation, good intentions can really go south in the interview room.
So here is a list of 5 things that I have done, or read about, or seen as I have interviewed others, in order to best prepare you for that big interview and get you that job!
1.) Know Your Stuff: Know the company that you are wanting to work for- what is their mission and vision? What are some of their values? What is the culture like? Most of this information can be found on a hospital's website and will be valuable as you go throughout your interview. When your professional mission, your vision, your values and goals align with the business, this is very attractive.
2.) Dress Professionally: This is just my personal opinion, but I think that whether you are interviewing for a nursing position or APN position, you should dress to impress. And this generally means a suit. Some people will say it's ok for nurses to wear dress pants and a "nice shirt" but I think if you really want to make an impression, the full suit will make you stand out.
For one of my interviews I wore a pencil skirt with a button down shirt, and suit jacket. Another intverview I wore the same jacket with a different shift underneath, and black dress pants. And let me further tell you, just because you have an interview and need to dress professionally, does not mean spending a ton of money before you are even making it. That pencil skirt and suit jacket that I wore above cost me $12 at a thrift store in my area. There are deals all over...you just have to find them!
3.) Make an Impression: You only get one chance to make a great first impression. That's part of my reasoning for dressing in a suit. But the other parts of making a great impression include making eye contact from the very first greeting, shaking hands with a firm handshake (really, who likes shaking a limp noodle!?), smile, breathe and relax.
The more relaxed you are, the better you will be able to listen, and since you will be so prepared for the questions (we'll get to that in a minute), you will come across as confident. Who doesn't want to hire someone who is dressed professionally, has a firm handshake, smiles a lot, makes great eye contact, and throughout the interview breathes easy, appears relaxed and attentive, and answers each question confidently??? Oh yeah, you are so getting this job!
4.) Prepare for Questioning: One of the nice things about interviewing is that many of the same, or similar questions are asked. This is not to say that a curve ball can't be thrown at you, but with preparation of common questions, if a new one does pop up, you will be prepared for it. And one of the best ways to be prepared for answering these questions is to practice. Practice by yourself out loud, practice in front of the mirror, and practice in front of family and friends who can give you some feedback.
So what are questions to be prepared for???
*"Tell me about yourself"- this is a common opener. The interviewer wants to see how you will handle a very open ended discussion. This is not the time to tell your entire life story. Rather, keep your answer concise, but include information about your education, your pertinent work experience, career goals, and a little bit about your personality. It is essentially like doing a quick run through of your CV/resume.
*"Why did you go into nursing?"- this is your time to be honest and give a good story. Certainly "for the $" is never an appropriate response, nor is that the truth...if you think you'll be a baller you may want to turn back now! Let them know why nursing is your calling, because truly this is the case for nurses.
*What would your previous boss/co-workers/peers say about you? How do people describe you?- This is a time to discuss your positive traits that will make you an asset for their team. Things like team player, hard-worker, dedicated, loyal all reflect well. But only discuss things that truly are reflective of your personality.
*Describe a difficult situation and how you handled it?- this one should be rather easy...if you've gone through nursing school you've most likely had a difficult family member, nursing mentor, preceptor, etc. Just describe the situation, but most importantly show how well you handled it using team work, honesty, great communication, etc (whatever is appropriate for the situation).
*Describe a situation in which you had conflict with a co-worker and how you handled it?- and really, who hasn't had a co-worker who hasn't given you problems. BUT- if you haven't, you can always describe a situation in which great communication was required to work things out. Employers love to hear and see an employee who knows how to handle themselves with grace, and has great communication.
*What are your biggest weaknesses?- Now is definitely not the time to pretend to be perfect...you don't want the interviewer to add "Liar" to your list after you've stated nothing! Everybody has flaws, and the interviewer is trying to understand what yours are and more importantly how you respond to them. However, you can present the flaw, or weakness, as a positive.
Eg: At times, I can be a "people-pleaser" which doesn't always translate in me standing up for myself, however it allows me to focus on providing great service to my patients. (for those of you that know me, I'm certainly not a people pleaser, but this is just an example).
Another example: I have a type A, perfectionistic personality which can come across as intimidating to peers, and I tend to hold others to the same high standard, but I get the job done excellently.
*How would you handle a parent of a patient who is not happy with the care received?
*How would you handle a patient who constantly complains of pain?
*What are your career goals?
*How do you handle stress?
*What is the most rewarding about being a nurse? The least rewarding?
*Describe your ideal job and work environment.
There are going to be a lot of questions thrown your way. Again, preparation is the key here. Just make sure to listen to each question, take a deep breath, and answer confidently.
5.) Leave a lasting impression- not only do you need to make a great first impression, but you need to make a lasting one. This includes asking great questions at the end of the interview, continuing to make eye contact, staying positive throughout the entire interview, and ending with another smile and firm handshake. Then, its a great idea to send a thank you. In today's age of technology, a simple email after the interview to thank them for their time, and remind them how you would be the perfect candidate for the job is appropriate. However, this is only the first step. A hand written note 3 or so days after the interview will make a big statement. Again, it's all about making yourself stand out from the rest, and leaving that lasting impression.
So there it is...my 5 tips on acing your nursing or APN interview. I'd love to hear from you if you've recently gone through this. What were the things that helped you the most? Anything you'd do differently??
Monday, April 22, 2013
PICU Job Interview
I am going to say something that if a co-worker of mine read would make them freak out...so here's to hoping that none of my co-workers actually read this...or, rather, for the ones that do, make sure you read til the end!
Let me preface this with saying, I am not looking for a new job. I love what I do. I absolutely love the PICU. And I love my co-workers. Repeat, I am not looking for a new job!
Now that that is out of the way, I had a phone interview last week for a brand new, very exciting PICU APN position. This new position is at a brand new, state of the art facility.
The benefits package literally made my jaw drop- it not only included a $30,000 pay raise, but two round trip airline tickets to anywhere in the world per year, great medical and dental insurance, a housing stipend that would cover rent in full each month, a transportation allowance covering all monthly costs, and a small food stipend each month!
It would be a job working alongside some of the worlds greatest intensivists, researchers, and faculty out there.
At this point, I'm sure you're thinking "Why in the world is she not blogging about accepting this new, amazing position!?!?"
Oh wait, I guess I didn't mention WHERE this new job was.
Qatar.
Never heard of it? I hadn't before a couple weeks ago when I saw a House Hunters International episode on it.
But prior to that, nope, never heard of it.
Qatar is a small peninsula in western Asia, bordered to the south with Saudia Arabia. It's one of the richest areas in all of Asia, and despite what I might have pre-judged, is one of the safest areas of the world, with extremely low crime rates.
While I have always wanted to go to a third world county (although this is most definitely first world) to work for a year or so, Qatar was not what I had in mind.
If I were at a different point in my life, if we weren't where we were at in our fertility journey, then perhaps this offer would have me on a jet plane across the world in just 7 short months time.
But, I ultimately am saying no to this position...have said no!
So why the interview then, you ask?
Well, I got the initial call with some basic info that wooed me. It piqued my curiosity. And then I realized I have gone through so few interview processes in my life, that perhaps I would benefit from a few more.
I interviewed for my job at my current hospital in the PICU as a nursing assistant which was barely an interview- it was about 4 questions and they mostly consisted of "You in school for nursing?- yes; You sure you want to work here? yes."
After that, I had my foot in the PICU door, and my RN interview was just as short, and mostly spent discussing thoughts of transitioning roles. Not a real interview.
And then for my current position, I had 6 interviews with various APNs and physicians which lasted all day, but really only 1 of them actually asked me true interview questions. One interview was spent with the attending telling me stories about his four kids. Another interview was spent with the attending telling me how many mice he killed during his residency research project, and all the joys of that research.
So I really have not had an interview process in a professional manner. And not that I'm looking for a new job (just wanted to reiterate that again!), I think it was something that I should go through. Even if on the phone. Interviewing for a dream like job in a not so dream like place.
Seeing as I am going to Prague to present my research in just a few months, and will certainly be put on the spot then with tons of questions, so this would serve as a warm-up.
And it certainly did.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I started this post with the intent on discussing interviews. And look at the *long* turn that it has taken. So rather than get into the nitty gritty of the actual interview now, I'll save that for the next post.
But I am very aware of the anxiety that can be felt surrounding formal, professional interviews. There is so much unknown.
Whether you are in nursing school and looking to interview for an internship. Or you are a new graduate nurse looking for that first job. Or, you just finished grad school, and are starting all over as an APN.
Whatever the case may be, interviews are a big deal. And you should most definitely be prepared for them. There are many ways to do that, and many ways to help relieve the anxiety.
So while that was what I initially set out to discuss on this post, I clearly got side tracked. So I am leaving you in anticipation until my Interview Part II discussion (to be coming soon). But if you have specific questions regarding interview specifics, let me know and I will make sure to include them!
Let me preface this with saying, I am not looking for a new job. I love what I do. I absolutely love the PICU. And I love my co-workers. Repeat, I am not looking for a new job!
Now that that is out of the way, I had a phone interview last week for a brand new, very exciting PICU APN position. This new position is at a brand new, state of the art facility.
The benefits package literally made my jaw drop- it not only included a $30,000 pay raise, but two round trip airline tickets to anywhere in the world per year, great medical and dental insurance, a housing stipend that would cover rent in full each month, a transportation allowance covering all monthly costs, and a small food stipend each month!
It would be a job working alongside some of the worlds greatest intensivists, researchers, and faculty out there.
At this point, I'm sure you're thinking "Why in the world is she not blogging about accepting this new, amazing position!?!?"
Oh wait, I guess I didn't mention WHERE this new job was.
Qatar.
Never heard of it? I hadn't before a couple weeks ago when I saw a House Hunters International episode on it.
But prior to that, nope, never heard of it.
Qatar is a small peninsula in western Asia, bordered to the south with Saudia Arabia. It's one of the richest areas in all of Asia, and despite what I might have pre-judged, is one of the safest areas of the world, with extremely low crime rates.
While I have always wanted to go to a third world county (although this is most definitely first world) to work for a year or so, Qatar was not what I had in mind.
If I were at a different point in my life, if we weren't where we were at in our fertility journey, then perhaps this offer would have me on a jet plane across the world in just 7 short months time.
But, I ultimately am saying no to this position...have said no!
So why the interview then, you ask?
Well, I got the initial call with some basic info that wooed me. It piqued my curiosity. And then I realized I have gone through so few interview processes in my life, that perhaps I would benefit from a few more.
I interviewed for my job at my current hospital in the PICU as a nursing assistant which was barely an interview- it was about 4 questions and they mostly consisted of "You in school for nursing?- yes; You sure you want to work here? yes."
After that, I had my foot in the PICU door, and my RN interview was just as short, and mostly spent discussing thoughts of transitioning roles. Not a real interview.
And then for my current position, I had 6 interviews with various APNs and physicians which lasted all day, but really only 1 of them actually asked me true interview questions. One interview was spent with the attending telling me stories about his four kids. Another interview was spent with the attending telling me how many mice he killed during his residency research project, and all the joys of that research.
So I really have not had an interview process in a professional manner. And not that I'm looking for a new job (just wanted to reiterate that again!), I think it was something that I should go through. Even if on the phone. Interviewing for a dream like job in a not so dream like place.
Seeing as I am going to Prague to present my research in just a few months, and will certainly be put on the spot then with tons of questions, so this would serve as a warm-up.
And it certainly did.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I started this post with the intent on discussing interviews. And look at the *long* turn that it has taken. So rather than get into the nitty gritty of the actual interview now, I'll save that for the next post.
But I am very aware of the anxiety that can be felt surrounding formal, professional interviews. There is so much unknown.
Whether you are in nursing school and looking to interview for an internship. Or you are a new graduate nurse looking for that first job. Or, you just finished grad school, and are starting all over as an APN.
Whatever the case may be, interviews are a big deal. And you should most definitely be prepared for them. There are many ways to do that, and many ways to help relieve the anxiety.
So while that was what I initially set out to discuss on this post, I clearly got side tracked. So I am leaving you in anticipation until my Interview Part II discussion (to be coming soon). But if you have specific questions regarding interview specifics, let me know and I will make sure to include them!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Noise Study Presentation
As the PICU noise study is complete, and I am preparing for the big poster presentation in Prague this summer, I figured it would be a good idea to have a few practice runs in the presentation department.
If you missed the noise study stuff and Prague, you can read about it here.
So this week my co-principle investigator and I did a 20 minute power point presentation at APN grand rounds. APN grand rounds is held once a month, and is comprised of all the APNs at our hospital, and a few surrounding or partnering hospitals.
I usually love speaking to groups. While most of my friends dreaded the power point presentation part of our graduate project, I dreaded the 30 page paper that came with it. So I thought speaking to this group was actually a lot of fun.
My partner in crime however did not. She hates speaking in front of people. She doesn't even like doing bedside inservices to several nurses at a time on our unit.
But I'm proud of her, because she got up there, and despite having a slightly petrified look of seriousness on her face the entire time, she spoke clearly and eloquently. We can work on the facial expressions for the next presentation!
After it was all done, we got some great feedback via anonymous surveys. The only negative comment we received was "It was too long." Well, we were given a 20 minute time requirement, and we spoke for 20 minutes and 30 sec. So I'm not taking that one too seriously.
I thought the presentation on nutrition felt too long, but that was only 18 minutes. So I guess that comment is more representative of that person not liking our topic. Oh well!
So presentation #1 went great! Presentation #2 is in a couple of weeks. We will be presenting to the Pebbles Project group which is a nationally recognized organization that is comprised of hospital administrators, architects and anyone involved in new hospital development.
So this group is eager to hear if the new facility was built in a way that improved noise levels. Unfortunately, it was not. But we will break the news to them gently!
If you missed the noise study stuff and Prague, you can read about it here.
So this week my co-principle investigator and I did a 20 minute power point presentation at APN grand rounds. APN grand rounds is held once a month, and is comprised of all the APNs at our hospital, and a few surrounding or partnering hospitals.
I usually love speaking to groups. While most of my friends dreaded the power point presentation part of our graduate project, I dreaded the 30 page paper that came with it. So I thought speaking to this group was actually a lot of fun.
My partner in crime however did not. She hates speaking in front of people. She doesn't even like doing bedside inservices to several nurses at a time on our unit.
But I'm proud of her, because she got up there, and despite having a slightly petrified look of seriousness on her face the entire time, she spoke clearly and eloquently. We can work on the facial expressions for the next presentation!
After it was all done, we got some great feedback via anonymous surveys. The only negative comment we received was "It was too long." Well, we were given a 20 minute time requirement, and we spoke for 20 minutes and 30 sec. So I'm not taking that one too seriously.
I thought the presentation on nutrition felt too long, but that was only 18 minutes. So I guess that comment is more representative of that person not liking our topic. Oh well!
So presentation #1 went great! Presentation #2 is in a couple of weeks. We will be presenting to the Pebbles Project group which is a nationally recognized organization that is comprised of hospital administrators, architects and anyone involved in new hospital development.
So this group is eager to hear if the new facility was built in a way that improved noise levels. Unfortunately, it was not. But we will break the news to them gently!
Friday, April 12, 2013
Chief Complaint: ???
Once a week we go to Firm Rounds with all the nurse practitioners and physicians in the hospital that can attend. Each week a different "interesting case" is presented.
I don't work every Firm Rounds day, so I don't go to every single one of these. But, when I am working I almost always go. And it's usually a great learning experience.
Until yesterday.
I walked in, sat down in the back and looked up at the power point projected on the large white screen.
What!?!? Really?? We are going to talk about a teenage girl with vaginal flatulence for an entire hour?
No thanks! My first thought was to run...run out of there very fast. My second thought was to text the other APN I was working with to tell him the exciting topic.
He almost immediately text me back: "That sounds horrific. I'm definitely not coming. In fact, I threw up in my mouth just now."
Ha! And so there I sat, the lone PICU representative, through the entire hour listening to this crazy case.
And I'd love to say that I learned something incredible. Or even just something. But, really, I just came away laughing.
Mostly because the only thing that I can really remember (I must have blocked out a lot!) is the moderator...a male doctor in his upper 60s or 70s...who said, "I was told the other day by the head of surgery that everyone has vaginal flatulence. Everyone. It's very common."
Then there were snickers around the entire room. And then he turned a bright shade of pink as he realized what he said, and responded, "I mean, I don't have it. It is still very common...just common for anyone who has a vagina."
And yes, there were definitely more snickers from around the room.
So I guess vaginal flatulence made for a very interesting, if not entertaining chief complaint. At any rate, next week can only go up from here!
I don't work every Firm Rounds day, so I don't go to every single one of these. But, when I am working I almost always go. And it's usually a great learning experience.
Until yesterday.
I walked in, sat down in the back and looked up at the power point projected on the large white screen.
Chief Complaint:
Vaginal Flatulence
What!?!? Really?? We are going to talk about a teenage girl with vaginal flatulence for an entire hour?
No thanks! My first thought was to run...run out of there very fast. My second thought was to text the other APN I was working with to tell him the exciting topic.
He almost immediately text me back: "That sounds horrific. I'm definitely not coming. In fact, I threw up in my mouth just now."
Ha! And so there I sat, the lone PICU representative, through the entire hour listening to this crazy case.
And I'd love to say that I learned something incredible. Or even just something. But, really, I just came away laughing.
Mostly because the only thing that I can really remember (I must have blocked out a lot!) is the moderator...a male doctor in his upper 60s or 70s...who said, "I was told the other day by the head of surgery that everyone has vaginal flatulence. Everyone. It's very common."
Then there were snickers around the entire room. And then he turned a bright shade of pink as he realized what he said, and responded, "I mean, I don't have it. It is still very common...just common for anyone who has a vagina."
And yes, there were definitely more snickers from around the room.
So I guess vaginal flatulence made for a very interesting, if not entertaining chief complaint. At any rate, next week can only go up from here!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Eyebrows
There are some patients that I just fall in love with. There are some that steal your heart from the minute you say hello. There are the ones that make you smile, and the ones that make you laugh.
And then there are the ones that despite being quite the snarky little 3 year old, are JUST.SO.CUTE!
The latter is the case for my patient who I've taken care of the last 2 days. He was quite the sassy little three year old who when being polite was so much fun to be around. And when his dad made him mad, he said things like "Shut Up Dummy."
Yea, that takes away from the cuteness.
So on day one of taking care of him, he was admitted to the PICU after a failed sleep study. Day two he had his tonsils and adenoids removed.
Being in a lot of pain after his surgery, he was much more reserved, and really just wanted hugs and cuddles from his family. He didn't have the spunk or energy to give the sass.
But he still had the energy to give me a compliment. As I was leaving the room, he was saying something that I couldn't understand. He was changing his voice and kind of mumbling, I think because his throat hurt so bad.
So I asked him to repeat it. About 3 times. He was getting frustrated that I couldn't understand what he was saying. He said it several times, louder and louder each time.
And then finally, there it was.
"I said, I LIKE YOUR EYEBROWS!"
I couldn't help but laugh. Really hard actually! Because the truth is, I've always disliked my eyebrows.
They are about 10 shades darker than the hair on my head. They don't seem to match my skin tone. They can be a bit unruly. In high school, I (accidentally) shaved an entire half of one eyebrow right off...just when you think things can't get worse! And I can't even quote Dumb and Dumber, because no, taking half an eyebrow off does not redeem an already bad eyebrow.
And now that we've taken a turn in this post I'm sure you were very much NOT prepared for, let's reign it back in!
So here was this 3 year old, who could have given any compliment he wanted, or none at all, and "I like your eyebrows" was what he chose!
That was the highlight of my day. And that just may be the cute patient highlight for awhile.
Every time I look in the mirror and think "Ugh, those eyebrows" I know I'll smile thinking there's someone out there who genuinely, truly loves them : )
And then there are the ones that despite being quite the snarky little 3 year old, are JUST.SO.CUTE!
The latter is the case for my patient who I've taken care of the last 2 days. He was quite the sassy little three year old who when being polite was so much fun to be around. And when his dad made him mad, he said things like "Shut Up Dummy."
Yea, that takes away from the cuteness.
So on day one of taking care of him, he was admitted to the PICU after a failed sleep study. Day two he had his tonsils and adenoids removed.
Being in a lot of pain after his surgery, he was much more reserved, and really just wanted hugs and cuddles from his family. He didn't have the spunk or energy to give the sass.
But he still had the energy to give me a compliment. As I was leaving the room, he was saying something that I couldn't understand. He was changing his voice and kind of mumbling, I think because his throat hurt so bad.
So I asked him to repeat it. About 3 times. He was getting frustrated that I couldn't understand what he was saying. He said it several times, louder and louder each time.
And then finally, there it was.
"I said, I LIKE YOUR EYEBROWS!"
I couldn't help but laugh. Really hard actually! Because the truth is, I've always disliked my eyebrows.
They are about 10 shades darker than the hair on my head. They don't seem to match my skin tone. They can be a bit unruly. In high school, I (accidentally) shaved an entire half of one eyebrow right off...just when you think things can't get worse! And I can't even quote Dumb and Dumber, because no, taking half an eyebrow off does not redeem an already bad eyebrow.
And now that we've taken a turn in this post I'm sure you were very much NOT prepared for, let's reign it back in!
So here was this 3 year old, who could have given any compliment he wanted, or none at all, and "I like your eyebrows" was what he chose!
That was the highlight of my day. And that just may be the cute patient highlight for awhile.
Every time I look in the mirror and think "Ugh, those eyebrows" I know I'll smile thinking there's someone out there who genuinely, truly loves them : )
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