Yes I'm still alive!

I totally admit I am the worst blogger.  At least I own it....right?   There really isn't any reason for me not blogging...except for laziness.  Last time I blogged I was doing some wine tasting down in the "Santa GROSA"  area.  My time in Santa Grosa finished up quickly.  Before I knew it I was out of there.  

For the last month of my contract there at Santa Rosa Memorial I was thrown into the second twilight zone of Santa Rosa Memorial...a.k.a. the Palliative Care unit.  This was the unit that was stationed across the street from the main hospital.  The building was circa 1970, and trying to work in that was the challenge.  Some of the staff had been there since the building was built, and totally set in their ways.  One good thing i do have to say about that unit was that I had a great schedule.  The manager gave me a long weekend every weekend I had off, so that was a good thing.  But other than that...it was a rough last month.  This unit was where the end of life patients go to "transition into the after-life" (damn I'm good).  If they weren't "transitioning" then we got all the difficult patients that were "overstaying their welcome" in the main hospital (again...I'm good).  This building was so outdated...there wasn't even wall oxygen or wall suction.  I couldn't really chart LIWS (low intermittent wall suction), because it wasn't wall suction.  It was more accurate to chart LICS (low intermittent CART suction).  If a patient started choking I had to leave the patient and run to the end of the hall to the storage room and retrieve the suction cart!  If a patient needed oxygen, which most transitioning patients do, I had to wheel in a oxygen compressor and fire it up, which made a not so soothing low pitch humm/buzzing sound.  Nursing is always a combination of book smart, people smart, and being able to make due with what you have.  But the Palliative Care Unit took that to a whole new level.  Everyday was a new challenge.

Another challenge I faced every day I worked was with the Acute Care Manager.  She had been at her position forever, and was not a fan of me.  Most of you who know me and have worked with me know that i usually tell it like it is.  It's a little hard for me to hide how I'm feeling.  Well she didn't like that, she would hover over me and bark orders at me...which really went over well with me.  I did overhear her one time lean over to the manager (who actually liked me) and say, "I don't know why you are so sold on her."  So welcoming.  Gotta love it.  I soon found out that she just usually picks someone and rides them.  And I was her October ride.  I could not do anything right in this woman's eyes.  One time she even questioned me on how i poured coffee for my patient.   Needless to say, October was a very humbling month.  

October was a busy month for me, I was host to my mother for a weekend and my good friend Stephanie another weekend.  Both weekends were awesome, and made me miss home very much.  I was also spending a lot of time trying to hunt down a job back at home....I am now back at home....yahoo!  I will be working at Salem Hospital on the ICU step-down unit, which I am very excited about.  The only thing i am not real excited about is the fact that i will be working the night shift.  I haven't worked the night shift for a very long time so it should be interesting.  I will keep you all posted.  I am really excited to be home and starting something new.  I always like starting something new.  Which I guess is good in this area of nursing.  

I don't know if Salem Hospital will have as many funny stories as Santa Rosa, but I will try to do a better job of keeping everyone updated via the blog!  I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving today...I know I am very full and very thankful. =) 

Out and About in Wine Country!!

My first wine tasting was in the middle of September with my friend Marcea. She works on the cardiac floor where I was floated to many times. We got together one Sunday for a little wine....here are the pictures.

The view from our first vineyard. There was a little band playing on the veranda, you could buy wine by the glass and order cheese and bread. What more could I ever want?

In the small town of Healdsburg, about 20 minutes north on Hwy 101, is the La Crema Tasting Room. AKA Heaven! If you can't find me in Santa Rosa...you might try here.

They even let me behind the counter once...I took advantage of the opportunity!

I couldn't get enough pictures of the different views I was seeing. I felt like I was in the movie Sideways! Everywhere I turned there was a beautiful view.

This was our third stop. Most of the vineyards have picnic areas for you to come buy a bottle of wine, enjoy your picnic with a view.

This vineyard had a pirate theme.

More shots in an amongst the grapes. I was wanting to be one with the vine! lol.

It really is a rough place to be living...but I am really trying to make the most of it. LOL.

We were able to see the wine actually being made at one of the vineyards.

Marcea getting in on some picking.....or stealing.

I'm wanting to take a few bunches home.

They were a little difficult to get off the vine.
And we were not wanting to get caught.

I got the goods!

Too beautiful!!!

Harvest Park - and it's cast of characters.

So the apartment complex I am staying in is called the Harvest Park Apartments. I don't think you could get any more characters within a three block radius then I have already met. First there was Randy, the stressed out maintenance man of Harvest Park. Randy always walks around this place like some of the trauma surgeons do at work. He is very important to the over all function of Harvest Park. He is always in a hurry, head down, walking really fast, with some tool in his hand; or plunger a few times. Always putting out small fires. If you ask him how he is doing...he sighs, "Oh you know, it's busy around here. " The first week I was here he had to put a fresh coat of paint on my walls. He came over at like 5:30 in the evening to start the job....??? He was off work at 6. Did he really think that he was going to get it all done in 30min? Within that 30 min. he left my apartment four times...to retrieve tools or little odds and ends. Finally at 6:15, wanting a little time to myself, I suggested that he come back in the morning when I was at work to finish up the walls...."Oh that would be great! Are you sure? I can stay and finish, it's no problem." This is after he has spent the last 30 min telling me why he has been so busy today. "This old man...fell. I had to call his son. I had two toilets overflow. One girl got locked out. And my new manager has been on my ass about everything." Boy, I was really feeling for Randy. But I let him go for the evening. He came back the next day and finished the project. I wasn't home, and I guess he was going to rinse out his paint brushes in my kitchen sink and got paint on some of my pots and pans. So what did he do...he did all my dishes in the sink! When I asked him about it he just blushed..."oh well, I got some paint on your pots...and needed to clean it up." He is very nice...but a little creepy.

Then I explained Mrs. Doolittle...if you missed that entry, please re-read a few previous entries and you will know who Mrs. Doolittle is.

The next on the cast of characters is a family. This family is made up of a grandma (nana), mom (she is my age) and four children....my favorite goes by Pudgie. He is this little rolly polly three and a half year old boy. Chubby as can be. And everyone calls him Pudgie. LOL. I don't know Pudgie very well, but I do know that he is in trouble a lot, because at various hours of the day and night i hear his mother or occasionally his grandmother yell, "Pudgie! Hey Pudgie! Get back in here!!!!" This in a very thick southern accent. I was unsure of the educational status of these kids, seeming that they were at the pool during school hours. I did see them getting off a school bus yesterday. In fact, Pudgie almost got nailed by an oncoming car while waiting for his siblings to get off the bus. He is too cute! I heart Pudgie!

My final character....is my newest friend here at Harvest Park. Right after I first moved in, I was making a trip to the dumpster when I heard a loud meowing. Me being the cat lover that I am, and missing Jack, looked around for the kitty. Not seeing anything, I headed back to my apartment. The meow got louder as I got closer to my apt. Almost to my door, I looked up. There it was. A beautiful grey and white cat in the window sill of the apartment directly above me. The cat meowed again, and I began talking to the cat. "Hi buddy, aren't you pretty. What a pretty kitty." As I realized how I might look, looking up and talking to a cat in the window...I quickly stopped and headed back into my apt. About a week later, I was at the pool and started talking to these two girls about my age, both very friendly. I learned that one of the girls was a single gal, who just quite her job as a pharmaceutical rep....she had enough money to just live for a few months until she moved to Chico and start up on her pre-nursing classes. When she found out I was a nurse...it was all over. She was inquiring about what path she should take..and how she could get there. After finding out she lived directly above me, I confessed to talking to her cat. She insisted that I come up and meet Cody sometime. Thinking nothing of it, I agreed. About three weeks have gone by, and I have yet to see the woman who lives above me....until yesterday that is. Again on my way to the dumpster and then to the mall, I ran into her. She said she was just going to knock on my door and see if I wanted to come up and meet Cody. I was wishing at this point I could remember her name, I said..."Ok sure." She then launched in to, "I have a huge favor to ask of you..." I should have ran. But I didn't. "What's that?" I said. She proceeded to tell me that she was going out of town next week and was wondering if I would keep an eye on Cody. "Oh sure." I said. She then said, "I remembered that you had a cat, and if you would like, you could keep Cody down at your apartment if you want to. She is totally de-clawed, litter box trained, she really is the best cat. And she just loves to go to new places." OK...i am thinking. This is kinda weird. Is this woman trying to pawn off her cat on me? Is this woman actually moving to Chico next week, and just wants me to take her cat for good? HMMMMM. As we made our way up to her apartment I asked about her move...very nonchalantly of course. She informed me that she and her boyfriend from Chico broke up. So, no move was in her near future. WHEWW! I thought. As we entered her apartment, she began calling Cody, in a weird form of baby talk. LOL. When she saw that Cody wasn't coming...she burst out in song... "Good morning, good morning, Good morning. How are is Cody this morning? Good morning, good morning, good morning..." As she sang, I thought, "is this really happening to me? She looked so normal. But what was with the song?" I couldn't help the little chuckle that came out of me. After the second verse of the good morning song, I asked, "Do I have to sing that song to her every morning when she is with me?" LOL! I couldn't help it. I had to call her on it. LOL. That wasn't normal! LOL. She replied, "Oh no, that is something I have been doing forever with her." Oh my word. Cody finally made an appearance in the living room for a few minutes before retreating back to the bedroom. Cody wouldn't have anything to do with me. She insisted that Cody was a great cat, and when she was gone Cody would really warm up to me. We made a little small talk, exchanged numbers and I headed out to the mall....still not knowing her name. I left the mystery woman, knowing that she was going to bring the cat down sometime to meet me and see my apartment. I couldn't help but wonder if we were dealing with a cat...or an actual human. HMMMMM.

Later that night, she texted me to see if it was ok if she brought Cody down. I was very thankful when she included her name in the text....COURTNEY!!! Finally. LOL. I knew her name. She brought the cat down to check out it's temporary apartment....emphasis on temporary. LOL. Cody and Courtney came down and Cody explored the apartment while Courtney told me again how awesome of a cat Cody was. She travels by car, plane and boat with this cat. She really adapts well to new surroundings, she doesn't try to get outside....which is a good thing because she doesn't have any claws...lol. What was I getting myself into????? I was in too deep so far....I was going to have a house mate for a week, no matter what! LOL.

All kidding aside, Courtney is a very nice girl, and is very greatful for me taking her cat for the week. I really don't mind, I like cats. It not such a big deal because I really do like cats, but I just find it really weird that she asked me to keep the cat at my place...what am I a kennel? Maybe I will be able to make a little extra cash...and start a side job. I could take in animals.....keep them in my fully furnished apartments.....I could advertise a little. Each city I go to I could place ads on craigs list....I could start it off....."Need a cat sitter? I'm your gal!" I think it is a promising business!!! Who knows.

I will keep everyone posted on any new and interesting characters that I come across here at the Harvest Park Apartments....but for now....this is all I've got.

Please check back. I will make sure to include some great pictures of Cody and I enjoying our week together.

Hope you enjoyed my entry today. Thanks again for reading. I miss you all!!!

-Bev =)

My first No.Cal. beach trip pics!

Bodega Bay with a flock of pelicans (looks like a white pile of trash, but they are birds). They were fun to watch for a little while. Cool birds.

North California Coast is much like the Oregon Coast. Very green. But I noticed that most of the trees seemed to have really bad hair days.

This is the ocean overlook where I parked and was able to walk out onto the cliffs a little. I was so high up, I was a little scared to be on the edge.

It was an overcast day, but still really beautiful!

Traveling alone...you have to become one with the birds. They are great travel companions. LOL.

The waves were crashing up on these rocks...so beautiful.

This was the crazy lady who felt the need to be right on the edge of the cliff. I did tell her that I wasn't going to be able to save her if she fell. She didn't care. She still hung off the edge. I didn't tell her that I was taking her picture...lol.

But she insisted that I get a picture of myself...

which I never understand why people take pictures of themselves while traveling alone. But I just went with it. She was very persistent. And look, now I have proof that I was actually there. It looks really cold, but really it was a great day at the beach, not too cold, not too warm.

A view of Bodega Bay. Hey Wes, I spy a RV park!

This is Spud Point Crab Co. where I had lunch. The best clam chowder and crab cakes ever! Yes, even better than Jake's! Notice all the retired people. This is how I knew it was good. LOL. I think that is Carol out grilling something out front. Really cool place.

This is Spud Point Marina. All the fishing/crabbing boats here. This was the view directly across from Spud Point Crab Co. Very relaxing to sit and just chill. I even saw a seal swimming right behind these boats shown here.

Yet another friend I met. This was at Goat Rock Beach. He almost nibbled my toes. Kinda freaked me out a little. There was also a camera crew filming some movie at this beach. So lots to watch.

I sat and read my book, and watched this front move in. It was really kinda cool. I felt the David Salesky coming out in me! LOL.

I then just made my way back via Hwy 1 and back through the wine country...it was so beautiful. There wasn't any room on the shoulder for me to pull over and take pics. But it was a great drive.

This place is NUTS!

Upon my arrival into the Santa Rosa area I really didn't notice much of my surroundings. I was so focused on not getting lost, that I really didn't have a chance to take in all the scenery. Well, four weeks into it....I have been noticing the scenery. At first I didn't think much of the statue of Charlie Brown that greeted me every morning as I got off the dreaded bus at the hospital.

Here is the sight I see every morning at 0645 as I arrive to Santa Rosa Memorial. At first I just thought, "cute, they must have a great pediatric unit here." But, boy was I mistaken.

One of my next destinations that firt week was Applebees' for a little carside to go. Always necessary being single and not really wanting to cook. As I pull up into the carside to go parking I see another statue....this time it was Woodstock. Aparently he enjoys himself a little Applebees also...here he is at the entrance of Applebees.

I finally got up the courage to ask. As the waitress brought my food out to my car I asked, "What is up with all the Peanuts' statues scattered around this city?" After she looked at me like I was a total mental midget..she said, "Oh he lived and died here. They are all over the city." I felt like I was in Texas again. When I lived in Texas with Sara we took it upon ourselves to see how many things we could see that were in the shape of the ever so great state of Texas. We found rocks, bushes, soap, stepping stones, benches, etc. It was great entertainment as we traveled around Texas to find how many different things we could that were shaped like the state of Texas.

Well, here in Santa Rosa I have made it my mission to see how many Peanuts' statues I could find. Here is what I found:

Charlie playes hockey at the ice rink here in town.

Snoopy and Woodstock hang in the park all the time.

Snoopy enjoys a night out on the town.

Snoopy kickin it with Woodstock on his house....this is in front of the museum.

Charlie sells tickets to the Charles Schulz museum....don't really know what is in there. But I am going to go out on a limb and guess....more statues. I didn't want to pay money for something I could see all around town.

Linus and Woodstock at Railroad Square in downtown Santa Rosa.

Snoopy got his braces at the orthodontist's office up the street from the hospital.

There is a whole airport named after Charles Schulz...and guess what. Snoopy hangs out there too.

Snoopy is even carved into the sidewalk! I am really feeling like I am in Texas!

I am sure you are thinking...man, she has way too much time on her hands. Probably so, but I wanted to share with you all the experience of Santa Rosa. These pictures I have shared with you are only a few of the statues and drawings around the city. They are everywhere. I can't get away from them. I would have encluded more, but there have been many times when I couldn't stop to take a pic, or I just didn't have my camera on me. But I think you get the picture.....they are NUTS about the Schultzmeister!

I'm thinking of buying some sort of t-shirt with some Peanuts characters and the words..."I got this shirt in Santa Rosa!" It really is a must have.

I hope you enjoyed this blog as much as I did creating it....I miss you all!

-Bev =)

I've found a posse!

I am sorry about the late entry again. But I just haven't really been doing anything exciting down here yet. Since Wednesday...I have been going back and forth with my agency regarding some glitches in the payment category. But, as of now, it's all resolved. It only resulted in a few late bills, and a little increased stress level on my part. No biggie. No harm no foul...right. I am sure I am not the first one to be a little late on a few bills.


Last week I did return to the twilight zone...aka, the Acute Rehab Unit (ARU). This time at the ARU was still a little strange, but not as bad as my previous experience. No nurses having heart attacks, or chewing me a new one for getting a patient out of bed. This time there were a whole 8 patients. In report the nurses were just beside themselves that they had eight patients! WOW. What ever were we going to do. I had a whole four patients! And still did all the vital signs on all the patients. They were just shocked that I could get all my work done and still have time to do eight sets of vital signs! Who are these people? I thought. I worked with another older nurse who shhhhushed me twice during my eight hour shift. I felt as though I was working night shift with Bev Parscale again. I hadn't been shhhhhushed in a really long time. LOL. But she felt that I was being too loud for the middle of the day. Whatever! I also got scolded for "working in her area". Apparently in the med room there was a counter and a med cart. Since her folder was on the med cart, that deemed it her work space. When I went over to the med cart to use some scissors....she quickly and sternly said, "now are you working over here or over on the counter?" I explained my time in front of the med cart would be brief, and she could have her precious space back. It's stuff like this that isn't told to you when you get orientated to a floor....who's side of the med room to stay away from, who is sensitive to loud talking, etc. I am getting the hang of the paper charting. It's a lot of double charting....vitals on the flow sheet, and in the graphics sheet, then post it in the med room also. The charting actually is much easier then computer charting. I can see why the nurses are really angry about going to computer charting. It's because they will actually have to chart more.....because this paper charting is so vague. And leaves a ton of room for interpretation...especially if something ever goes to court. It's a little scary.


Other than the ARU unit, I have been working most of my shifts on the cardiac unit 4W. I guess it would be like the 2G of Providence. I have really enjoyed the staff there. I fit in really nice. I worked there this whole last weekend, and actually liked working the weekend. LOL. I just wish the weekdays could be like the weekends there. I spent a lot of time on the Internet, e-mailing, or checking out things to do here in Sonoma County. But I did get invited to a BBQ this coming weekend, so that will be fun to hang out with everyone outside of work. One nurse Marcea, totally reminds me of my mom in some ways. Wait, she reminds me of Janice Wiant! Yeah. I have found Santa Rosa's Janice!!!! She is really down to earth and fun. And I think we are going to go wine tasting here soon. So that should be fun.


I finally have found my posse!


Monday I went on my first adventure. I headed out to Bodega Bay, CA. It is about 30 minutes from Santa Rosa....right on the beach. I printed off some maps from google and headed out with my book, chair, and blanket determined to find a beach to hang out on. It was a little overcast, but still warm enough to only need a light sweatshirt. As I drove around the bay I passed a little crab house called Spud Point Crab Company. I definitely had to stop on my way back. I made my way down the peninsula looking for the "Ocean Overlook" winding around what seemed to be deserted two way roads. There weren't many cars on the road. I thought I was the only one to find this place. But as I got to the end of the road I found I wasn't alone out there. There were many cars in the parking lot at the end of the two way road all with varying license plates. I parked and walked out to the edge of the cliffs. At the edge, there was a group of older women....maybe 50's, all horsing around on the cliffs. Pretending to shove each other off the edge. Although the view with second to none, these women were making me very nervous, so I didn't stay out there long. I headed back to the car and made my way back to Spud Point Crab Co.


Spud Point Crab Company was a tiny little house that boasted about having the best clam chowder in Bodega Bay three years running. It was located across the street from the Spud Point Marina. Very cool with all the fishing boats docked there and an occasional seal swimming in the water. You walked in the front door of this little house and there was just a counter, a few cold drink fridges, and Carol. Carol apparently was the one responsible for the best clam chowder in Bodega Bay. She was in the back slaving over what I could only assume was more chowder. The menu was small. Crab cakes, crab sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, and chowder. I couldn't decide. I wanted one of everything. I decided with the crab cakes (2 in an order), chowder and a soda....totaling 18.00! WOW! This had better be good. I made my way out to the picnic tables that were out front of the building and chose a seat. The other patrons were obviously all retirees, seeming that it was a Monday afternoon. I definitely was the youngest one there. After one bite of the crab cakes I realized partaking of the best crab cakes on earth!!! They melted in my mouth! I had to refrain from inhaling them in one bite. The clam chowder lived up to it's reputation. It was very good, but by the time I got to the chowder I was full. Bummer...I had left overs. Going to have to take it for lunch tomorrow! I bagged up the leftovers and headed back out.


I made my way up Hwy 1, which is a two lane hwy that winds right up the coast line. It was beautiful. I found myself going only 30 mph so I could take in all the sites. The other drivers were a little perturbed with me, but I didn't care. I was enjoying my drive. I stopped at Goat Rock. It is a public beach..really nice. They were taping some movie there, so I of course had to be nosey and watch them. But I was too chicken to ask what movie they were working on. By the looks of it, it was low budget, but fun nonetheless to watch. I walked out to the beach and set up my chair and blanket and started to read. There were a ton of seagulls around. I didn't think too much of it until one was getting really friendly. It was so tame. This bird was about a foot away from me and moving closer. He totally was wanting food. He was so close i thought he was going to nibble my toes. After about a 5 minute stare down, he gave up and flew away. I stayed on the beach for about an hour just reading and enjoying the view. I then headed back up Hwy 1 and cut over some hwy...I don't remember. But the drive back to Santa Rosa was similar to the drive from Lincoln City to Salem through the VanDouzer corridor. It was beautiful. Through redwoods, and small cities with a ton of bed and breakfasts. Many of the small towns seemed to have a underwear optional attitude, seeming that I saw many large breasted women...without bras on! LOL. My kind of place.

I can't tell you how many vineyards I passed on my way to and from the beach. This place is littered with wine! Again, my kind of place! I believe I have chosen well. I found some cooking classes in Sonoma that I am going to try out. Along with some wine/food pairing sessions at various vineyards in the area. I can't wait to take advantage of this area. I will keep everyone posted on my activities.

Thanks for reading thus far. I really do miss everyone! Take care.
-Bev =)

Breakin the LAW!

I have to apologize for the late entry here. I have had a rough couple of days. I still haven't gotten out and done much exploring yet, due to fund-age issues....which sucks. But I did get to go back to work yesterday after four days off. I actually was excited to return back to work for the mere fact that I missed conversation. I was a little lonely. So Tuesday couldn't come soon enough....or so I thought. As I got ready for my first of three shifts, I decided that I would sleep a little later and push my time line on getting to work. Everything was going well, I had even found a new way to get to "The Lot". Many of you read my previous entry that explained that as a day shift employee here at Santa Rosa Memorial we have to park at the Vet's Building and be bussed in to the hospital. The original way that I had been going was a little long, and I knew that there was an easier way to "The Lot". Long about the last light before "The Lot" I was feeling so triumphant in finding a new way to my daily destination that I got lost in my thoughts. As I sat at my red light, I saw the nice police car that was adjacent from me, I thought, "man good thing I didn't just run that yellow light....I would have gotten pulled over for sure." As my light turned green I slowly made a left turn right in front of the on coming police car. "OH CRAP!, I should have yielded to oncoming traffic....and it's a cop!" What luck. Only my luck. I continued with my left turn continually peering into my rear view mirror hoping and praying that the cop somehow didn't see me....RIGHT! The squad car made a sharp right turn and quickly was on my bumper. As I pull into "The Lot", I have this squad car on my ass. The lights didn't turn on until I was completely in "The Lot". When I saw the lights, I quickly pulled over...as much as you can in a parking lot...completely empty. I was for sure getting out of this one...I would win over the cop with my charm and "new to the city" innocence. As I look in my side mirror...I see to much dismay....a...FEMALE COP! I am doomed. I am for sure getting a ticket. As she approached my window...I tried a charming grin....didn't work. I said...."I know, I didn't yield," (more charming grin). Still didn't work. I knew then I was going to get a ticket....no matter what I said. She tried to question my thought process as to why I would turn left on a solid green light with on coming traffic approaching. I had no excuse, except for ....I just didn't think. Something my father taught me as a young child when I would say..."but, Dad, I thought..." He would quickly reply, "No, that's just it Bev....you didn't think." With Deano it might have gotten me out of trouble..but with the female cop...it was a no go. I was getting the ticket. As she returned to the my car with my information and ticket she went into a lecture as to how bad this traffic infraction could have been. I could have been broadsided. I said, "Yes I know, please don't talk to me like I'm an idiot. I know what could have happened. I simply wasn't thinking. And I am very thankful that you were there to not broadside me." She clearly wasn't pleased with my sass. She said, "I'm not trying to make you have a bad day...." "Not only are you making me have a bad day, but now I am late for work. Just tell me how much the ticket is and where I pay it." I interrupted. She said she didn't have a price and that I was going to have to appear in court on November 24th to get my ticket price. I informed her that I wasn't going to be here...that my contract was up on Nov. 18th. She said I could call a certain number and take care of it before I left. I thanked her as I grabbed my paperwork and ID back...and sped off....about 100 feet to the nearest parking spot...to catch the BUS! It was a great day of fielding comments and questions...."Was that you that got pulled over in the parking lot today." Yeah, what a great way for Bev to meet new friends.

Work is the same. I am getting to be quite the little IV starter. I might just have to come back full time IV therapy....NOT! My record is currently 2 for 3. Not to shabby for a beginner! Don't tell Teri Houck.

Oh one funny thing did happen today ...I had a patient discharging. Not funny in and of itself, I know, but everyone kept saying she is discharging to a friends house. I just smiled and acted like I knew what they were talking about. I asked a few discharge planners what friend is she staying with, to which I was ignored. Finally I spoke up and asked what is the name of the friend that my patient is discharging to. And the whole nurse's station laughed. "No, the skilled nursing facility is called "A Friend's House"... HA HA HA. Again we all had a good laugh at my expense. LOL. I love that where ever I go I have people either laughing at me or with me...always a good feeling.

I hope all is well with everyone. I would love to hear from you all. Again, thanks for reading.

-Bev =)

Chillin' in the Hood!

I don't have much to write about this weekend. Not anything very exciting that is. The bad part of the weekend is that I am waiting for my paycheck to arrive.....it's in the mail. I haven't been paid since the beginning of August! So this weekend I am lying low! Low cost that is. I have enjoyed lots of time at the pool and even more time meeting my neighbors. Well I haven't exactly met most of them. But I have developed many stories in my head as to what they are all about. With me being on the ground level I can sit on my couch and see everyone walking by. As they walk by I give them names and create stories about them. One of my favorite's is Mrs. Doolittle. That's right. There is a real live Mrs. Doolittle. She is an older single woman (so i guess it's Ms. Doolittle) who has many animals. I first saw her walking her little "yippy" dog...not being good with the different breeds of dogs...I can only assume it was a Chihuahua....since it looks just like the "Yo Quiero Taco Bell Dog". She was walking him at a very slow pace, allowing him to mark and smell every last bush. Then then next time I saw her I thought that the Taco Bell Dog had taken some steroids and suddenly turned into a lab. As I looked closer...it was a whole new dog. Very cute and very friendly. He greeted me once as I got out of the car. Then yesterday I was sitting by the pool and I saw Ms. Doolittle walking by with a white parrot on her left shoulder. The parrot seemed to really be enjoying his little walk about. I was lucky I had sunglasses on...that way I could stare and not be caught. Then there is the occasional young guy, most of them look like they are from the same gang. The other morning I was going out to my car and heard a little fight going on a few cars down. As I look further, a girl was in the cab of the truck and the guy was trying to get in the cab. She was wailing on him. Hitting, kicking, and screaming, "I said get out!" Of course...I had to keep watching. The guy prevailed, and made his way into the truck. The girl then peeled out of the parking spot at about 60 miles per hour. Still punching her boyfriend. What excitement I thought. That little incident was the talk of the pool on Friday. There were a few girls asking if they heard the peel out...and I had to interject my story. I am fitting in well here....getting right in with the neighborhood gossip. I probably could have embellished the story a little...and said I knew why they were fighting...but I didn't. I just told my part of it, and the girls loved it. LOL. I have watched a lot of movies, and a lot of shows on Bravo. I think I have seen every Project Runway, Shear Genius, and Milliondollar Listing twice. So I am all caught up on my shows. I have really enjoyed having my Internet hooked up...so I can chat with people all over the world. It's how I have kept my Santity...lol. The IMing and text messaging has been my source of entertainment this weekend. I am sure I will look back on this weekend and want to have more of doing nothing.....someday. But as soon as I get out and about I am sure I will have more to update you all on. As for now...I am working on my tan, and chillin out here in the hood. No...that makes it sound terrible at my apt complex. It really is a very safe place. Just a few interesting characters here and there. What can I say, I'm easily entertained =)

Chat at you all later!
-Bev =)

The Recovery Room Experience.

Hey there, Hi there, Ho there.

My first outing here in the great Santa Rosa area was tonight. After a much better day on the stepdown unit. I felt up to getting out a little. And when I mean a little I mean a little. Heidi, from Water Valley, Mississippi...not Water Creek...(ooops, sorry heidi), and I made our way down to Cotati, California. Cotati California is the home to the Thursday night market place. Heidi had heard a band play that she wanted to hear again...so we made the long 10 mile treck down to Cotati. With Heidi's GPS system in hand, thank God for those, we eventually made it to the park in central Cotati; after re-routing once....because we were talking and didn't hear the GPS say..."Turn left you stupid girls!" We were laughing thinking that the voice coming from the GPS system is really this lady with a mic up on the sattelite getting a good laugh, "Look, they do what I tell them....lol.....TURN LEFT! HA HA!" During our re-routing we passed this great little hole in the wall called Red's Recovery Room. Being two nurses...we felt it only appropriate that we stop there after the market for a quick beer.

Upon arriving to the "market" we see children on animals, animals in cages, a big jump house, about a dozen tent shades all lined up, and the smell of kettle corn perminating the whole downtown Cotati. We quickly found a parking spot and rushed over to experience our first local market. Well, acutally Heidi had been to one before, but it being my first, I was taking in every little thing. As you can see. We sampled from fresh fruit that was to die for...I'm eating a peach as I type. We sampled about every kind of olive oil at the second tent shade we came upon. We also sampled from some really good gelato!! And of course I had to get me some Kettle Corn (look i'm already talking like Heidi). I love that stuff! Heidi talked me into trying the Indian food booth verses the BBQ food booth. A little frightening....seeming I alreaday had a little bit of an upset stomach. But she insisted I try. So there we sat, eating our Indian food...(and sweating...Did I mention it was 101 here today! Yeah. And Indian food makes you sweat already despite the weather)...and listened to the big band playing in the gazebo. They were great. And the crowd of 20 loved them also. Clapping at the end of every song, cheering for more, and getting it in return. We mosied back down the dozen tent shades they called the market....to retreive our purchases. I stuck to the fresh produce, which was half price by the time we walked back through. It pays to be late....lol. I got some great peaches, nectarines, and other various fruit. Heidi was a sucker to each and every olive oil at the oilve oil stand. After our purchases were complete we were feeling a little thirsty. So we headed to the car, which was parked right in what we were calling bar row. PERFECT! I guess there is a college located in Cotati so this particular location was called the Cotati Crawl. I was surprised to hear the Heidi didn't know what a pub crawl was! Being from Mississippi and all I totally thought that she had ridden horses, and totally knew what a pub crawl was...I found both to be not true tonight. She hadn't ridden a horse until this last year, and didn't know what a pub crawl was. Poor thing. I did share with her that I had been to horse camp as a young teen, and done a few pub crawls back in my Texas days! Anyway. We had a quick drink as we watched the fabulous people of Cotati travel to and fro.

We then decided to head to Red's Recovery Room. As we pull up at Red's Recovery Room we see some of the same people we saw at the previous establishment...always a good sign. As we make our way into Red's, I realize we are in for a treat. We meet..."Marie" I think her names was. Marie was the barmaid...not bartender...barmaid. She was wearing a stunning outfit that conisisted of grey sweatpants, and and a grey Southpark oversized T-shirt. Marie's hair looked like it had had one too many bad perms, and she parted down the middle. She reminded me of Marla Hooch from the movie A League of Their Own....remember her. Marla/Marie was serving us beer tonight. She was very kind to get us two Coors Lights in the bottle, right after she spent about 45 minutes examining our IDs. She was indeed counting the years since Heidi was born....1980 to 2008.....very hard for Marie....without using her toes. This bar was "hotter than a Texas whore house" as per Heidi's description (said completely in her thickest Mississippi acent). There was not one ounce of AC in this little building. The walls were plastered with little bumper stickers, signs with clever sayings, and various liquor signs. As we were bellied up to the bar, we noticed the Kiss t-shirt stapled to the very low ceiling. Right next to the Kiss t-shirt was a cardboard yellow submarine. Great deco. There were about four pool tables which every man in the bar was hovered around. We only could assume by the claps and hand shakes after each game that it was pool league. It was a great variety of people at this establishment. Including the day shift barmaid...Carol...who sat down next to us and was chatting about how she hoped it would cool down for her shift tomorrow. What I will never understand are the bartenders/barmaids who hang out at their place of work even on their days off. I don't get it. But Carol was a great addition. We had a little Oregon State/Stanford football game going on the TV so I was entertained. But as we sat in this bar with stagnant air, we were melting....so it was only one beer for us. As we slipped out the back door, hoping to be un-noticed, a regular said, "only one beer ladies?" We blamed it on the heat...and headed to the car. He did inform us that pool league was pretty much every night, but Sundays was also a good night to be at Red's Recovery Room. What a great place. My stay here in Santa Rosa is nearly complete...lol. All I need now is to taste some wine. LOL.

We called it a night and I am off to bed soon. I hope I painted the picture of Red's Recovery Room well. I really was trying to take in everything so I could relay the image to you all.

Hope all is well. I'll write more tomorrow. I am sure tomorrow will be filled with more exciting news from the hospital...followed up by a trip to "Friday Night Live"...in Cloverdale, CA. Just about 30 min north....live concerts in downtown Cloverdale! Too fun.

Later
-Bev=)

What a day!

Today I was on the step down unit of Santa Rosa Memorial. And it might just be my last....(just kidding Helen). Most of you don't know Helen, she is my FANTABULOUS recruiter that got me this oh so wonderful position here at Santa Rosa Memorial=), no really I do love her for it. Besides that, she also is making sure I am getting paid correctly (real reason why I love her). LOL. She was a little alarmed at my previous entries and how negative they all have been about this place they call Santa Rose (brian). I reassured her that I don't hate it her as much as it sounds. I just am trying to convey my days to my former co-workers how good they have it up at PPMC. Today started out nice. Three patients and by 9AM I realize that I have three discharges. Something a day shift nurse never wants to hear two hours into her 12 hour shift. This could only mean one thing....ADMITS! Now up until this point I have never done an admit in their system all on my own. Did this charge nurse care....NO. By 1330 I had discharged all of my patients and was getting two admits....no big deal. I finally take lunch at 1510, and head downstairs for a chocolate run, because that is the only thing that is going to save me. As I am trying to find the nearest chocolate, a patient's family member stops me in the hall with her loved one in a patient gown and in a wheelchair...she says, "Do you work here?" I almost say no as she is wheeling her mother into the public bathrooms in the lobby obviously needing me to help this women to the bathroom. I don't mind helping patients to the bathroom in the privacy of their own rooms, but the public restroom....not a place where I want to be exposing my butt wiping skills. But what does any nurse do...oh she had a gait belt on too...lol. I help her to the bathroom stall. Barley fitting in the stall with her...I help her go, get her put back together, gait belt and all, and I head out to find even more chocolate now. Evening shift comes on and I am up for the first two admits...GREAT! So when all was said and done I DC'd 3, and admitted 4. Well long about 1900, mind you I am to go home at 1930, I am told that I am doing the admits wrong. I have all this computer charting to do on top of all the paper charting and box checking that I have been doing all day on this all paper charting floor. Nice timing. I almost loose it. But I pull it back together and report off to the poor night nurse who is following me. I start out by saying sorry, gave him report and proceeded to stay 1 hour over to finish as much as I could. I was supposed to finish an admit history on my third admit of the day....when he couldn't get off the phone with his wife...so I left that one for the guy following me. WHEEW! That's not all. I don't know if I had mentioned that all day shift people have to park off at the Vets building across town, and they bus us in every day. That's right....I have to rush to catch the bus in the AM. I feel like I am a freshman in high school again. So today, with me being late...(do you see where this is going?) I missed the last shuttle.................SHIT! (sorry Helen). It was the topper to my fabulous day. I ask the security desk what I need to do now, and she looks at me and says "oh, don't worry I have a cab voucher for you." Poor lady, I lost it. I am thinking, I have to wait for a cab???? How long will that take? As tears well up in my eyes....I just want to eat, drink and go to sleep. Emphasis on the drink. LOL. The other poor security took pitty on me and went and got the "truck". It was a nice truck...NOT. But I didn't care at that point, I wanted to get to my car and get home. The young security guard, was so nice....dropped me off at my car and I got the hell home. Of course stopping for a bottle of wine and a chicken sandwich....great combo. One good thing is.....I STARTED AN IV!!!! Yes, all of my fellow PPMC employees know that they tried to train me to the IV team and I failed. Well today, when my patient pulled his IV out on accident....I was the only one around to do it. I sucked it up and got it....FIRST TRY!!! That's right 20G LFA and did I say...FIRST TRY! Someone please relay this to Terry Hauck, Jan, and Christina...all on the PPMC IV team who said I could do it, and I didn't think I could. WHEWW! That is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Hopefully all the rest of the IV that I try have as good of veins as my patient did. With my patient's permission...I took a pic of it on my phone. So if any of you want to see proof...I do have it. LOL.

I think that is it for today. Sorry for the two day lag (helen). But I had two days off and didn't really do much. I cooked dinner for my friend Heidi on Monday, we proceeded to drink too much wine while listening to my music on my i-pod. So all day Tuesday I wasn't feeling like doing much. So I just sat around in the AC and watched TV. Next week I will be out and about and have much more exciting things to write about. I plan on hitting some vineyards, and some little events here in the area. I also plan on going and visiting my aunt and uncle in San Jose....if they will have me. So I will have much more to write about other than work...I am sure you guys are getting bored with all my horrible stories.

Bottom line is I do like the challenge of working here in Santa Rosa. It is a total learning and growing experience. No matter how bad it sounds in my little stories, I really don't regret coming down here. It is just what I needed to wake me up. I love the challenge and how much I am learning. And I love my recruiter...Helen. lol.

I hope all is well with you all. Miss ya!
-Bev =)

Welcome to the Twilight Zone - A.K.A, Santa Rosa

Being Sunday and my third day of work, I had decided to sleep in a little, since I know where I am working, I could push the envelope and wake up as late as I can..but still get to work on time with a coffee in hand. I stayed up way too late finishing my book, so I was excited when I set my alarm for 0600. At 0530 my phone rings...as a PPMC this always meant that Kora was calling me off!!!!! YAHOO!! In Santa Rosa, it means something different. The voice on the other end said she was from the staffing office at Santa Rosa Memorial and that I would be going to their Acute Care Rehab at the Fulton location. In my sleepy state is say, "OK where is that?" She said on Fulton Rd. I said OK....and that was it, as if I knew right were Fulton Road was......a few minutes later I realized what this meant. I then remembered that the voice on the other end said, "It should be a good day, there are only three patients and you guys have three nurses, one is on light duty, so I have to send you there. " It is all setting in now. I realize that I am going to Santa Rosa's equivalent of 4K. For those of you who work with me, you know how much we all love floating to 4K!!!! And for only three patients?!!?!? What the heck? With three nurses? I quickly realized that this was going to be the longest day of my entire life. I then realized that I had no idea where this building was located. Thank God for the Internet and Google maps. I was on the computer at 0540, looking up the directions. Which by the way were totally different the what the voice on the other end of the phone was muttering during the sleepy conversation earlier. So I got ready and headed out to the Fulton location. PPMC nurses reading this, be thankful that 4K is in the same building as the rest of the hospital. At least you can escape and have lunch in the cafeteria and see your friends from your home floor. If you are floated to the Fulton Campus....there is nothing. Their meals get delivered from "The Big House", which I soon learned was the main hospital...not jail..contrary to my initial assumption. There isn't even a place to get a soda! Nice I thought. And three patients and three nurses...nice! Now these nurses live and die by their paper charting system. I was forced to carry my clipboard/MAR around with me all day. No computer anything. Every med...you initial beside the time. I don't think I have done that since nursing school....in 1999. These nurses also live and die by what is written on the KARDEX! If it says..."Mobility: PT" there is no way these nurses are going to get the patient up. I clearly learned that when I was giving verbal report at the end of the day and was telling the oncoming nurse that I got my patient up to the commode. She said....."WHAT? We aren't supposed to get her up." I replied, "Well I didn't know that, and she did ok with the help of two people. She was a little unsteady, but she did well with a pivot transfer with two." In a normal setting, the nurse would say, "Oh, ok. That's great! She must be improving." And move on! But not here in the Twilight Zone(TZ)/Santa Rosa Acute Care Rehab....We had to have a 30 minute dissertation on how and why it was written on the sheet of paper...numbered 2000002...that she couldn't get up without PT. Well again here in the TZ, PT doesn't work on Sunday. So that means that if the patient's mobility status is with PT....they aren't getting out of bed at all on Sundays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the heck???? I was the only one questioning this. I tried to argue that as a RN I have pretty good nursing judgement whether a patient can get out of bed to the commode or not. Or wait, I forgot where I was, when you cross into the threshold of Acute Care Rehab in Santa Rosa....all your nursing judgement is checked at the door. Again for those of you who have worked with me you all know well that I follow all the rules, and never speak my mind....NOT. At about the 31st minute of the small dissertation this RN was giving me on why I should haven't gotten her out of bed...i said, "OK. Well, please write me up then. Can we move on?" I immediately thought....oh CRAP I am going to get deported back to Oregon, loose my contract, etc. But by this time I really didn't care. I wanted to get out of that place and forget this little place even existed. I wish I could have just taped this interaction and posted it on my blog here. Because the look on her face when I said...."just write me up, can we move on?" It was priceless. She was shocked that anyone...especially a traveler would take that tone with her. Again, those of you who have worked with me know, this tone isn't new for me. I really didn't care. LOL. The patient was safe and proceeded to thank my for the rest of my shift for getting her to the commode. I may not be saving lives down here, but I sure am making patients happy and pissing off some of these regular nurses. Who by the way have been in the same job since the year I was born....1976! The other funny thing that happened today, was with another RN working at the rehab place. The charge nurse and I were talking and I was telling her that I used to spend a lot of time on a telemetry/cardiac floor. And she said, so you know what QT elevation is right? And I said yeah. Thinking this was a trick question. She said so if someone has QT elevation they should be looked at right. I again thought....where am I...what RN doesn't know that any EKG change should be looked at by a cardiologist???? Well come to find out the third RN that was on that day was having a little "heartburn" for two days. And she couldn't really get rid of the "pain in between her shoulder blades" for two days. And her "jaw was hurting now". And she just "felt funny" she "couldn't describe how she was feeling". So she had RN number 2 run an EKG on her. Well everyone can run EKGs here, but does anyone know what they say? No. Hence the QT elevation question. As I pieced this puzzle together, I told the nurse with the chest pain, shoulder blade pain, jaw pain, etc....to fricken get the hell out of there (before I was running a code on her sorry ass) and get to the Urgent Care that was luckily located in the same building! Turns out they shipped her off to the "Big House" for a complete cardiac work up...imagine that! The charge nurse, very sweet, but not all there, looked at me and said, "Man, I am glad you were here today. What whould we have done without you?" Again, where am I? The Twilight Zone?

I know this is a long entry, but the moral of my day is...if you ever have anyone needing rehab of the acute kind.....don't send them to the Santa Rosa Memorial Acute Care Rehab! Please I beg of you! It is the Twilight Zone disguised as a rehab facility.

That's all I have for you all today. Thanks for reading. Miss ya all!
-bev=)

It just keeps getting better.

LOL. lets try this again. I guess I just posted a blog with nothing on it! LOL. Please bear with me while I am still learning this blogging thing. I guess I hit the return key too much. I don't have much to report today. I did a 12 hour shift...a little tired, but all is well. I got to be on the same floor as I was on Friday, so I got some of the same patients....except the annoying one. LOL. He left and went to another floor. Thank God. I had a pretty good day. I have been meeting many different traveling nurses that are working at the same hospital. I am beginning to think that travelers are the only ones there...a little alarming. There were five nurses on today and four of us were travelers. Weird. Who the heck staffs these floors when we aren't there??? One must wonder. I have enjoyed meeting the other travelers, they are really teaching me a lot. This first contract is very much a learning experience. I am needing to get to bed so I can get up and do it all over again. One thing that is difficult is getting used to the 7a-7p shift. I was so used to staying up late and sleeping in late with the 11a-11p shift....i was spoiled. I can barely keep my eyes open and it's only 10:30. So I'm off to bed....I am sure tomorrow will provide a little more exciting experiences. peace out!

It just keeps getting better.

Same patients....different location

So today was my first day on the floor with my assignment...alone! A little scary at first, but I quickly realized....these are the same frickin patients that I was taking care of in Portland...just a different location. Today I had a the confused man near the desk (you nurses/MDs know what that means)....TROUBLE! Every five seconds....."BEV" he would shout. My shift started at 0730 and by about 0735 I wanted to tell him my name had changed....I wasn't Bev I was.....Rachel. But I thought that might not settle well as I am the newbie here. It is really interesting being on this side of nursing. Always trying to prove yourself as the new traveler. Everyone watching you, thinking that you don't know what your are doing. Well, even with the busy patients today, I felt that I did well. Those of you who have worked with me, you know I have a hard time delegating and letting others especially the CNA's do their job. Well today was no different. I am sure I could have sat down a little more if I delegated better, but it was just easier to do it myself. And the little CNA that I worked with...and I mean little, she was about 4'11'', I wasn't sure about her...so I just did most of her job too. No biggie. But it made for a busy day. But by gollie it went fast. Thank God. I am working two 12 hour shifts and two 8 hour shifts. So today was an 8 hour shift, and I was very thankful. I think I would have slit my wrists...vertically...if I had to stay another hour. Now I am home and drinking my new favorite summer drink...a Lemon Blue Ball (thank you Brian)! It's always something to look forward to at the end of the day. I am going to BBQ tonight. I thought I was being so resourceful by buying a little gas BBQ from WalMart for only 16.00. Well, the joke was on me, there were about 200 pieces to put it together. The some assembly required translated out to be total assembly required. I think it took me an hour last night to put together. So I am going to use it every night by gollie. That's it for me. I am going to bed early tonight, so I can get up and do it all again tomorrow. The beauty of floating....is I don't have to have the same patients tomorrow!!! PTL! Hope all is well with all of you. I still miss everyone! Take care, have a good weekend.
-bev =)