Doubles, after care & fingerpainters
Aug. 6th, 2004 03:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
raffaellasworldI have dropped off the radar for a while, but I'm back; at least for the moment.
I've compleated most of my first step to nursing school. I finished training to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (most of the really physical stuff, moving people, watching for changes in condition, wiping bottoms, etc.). I just have to take the state test (I'm waiting to be assigned a date). On my second day of clinicals I was told I doing great and should apply for a job. I did, and I've been working since the week after I finished my clinicals.
I think working as an NAC has been a good experience for me on several levels. I see what it's like on the other side, and I'm really motivated to get my ass in gear with nursing school, as I have n o intention of changing adult diapers the rest of my life.
Last night I got to clean up a finger painter for the first time. Fingerpainter= Pt. or resident who gets their feces all over their hands, and often clothes and surroundings. When I finally was able to go take my lunch break all I could smell was BM even though I knew there wasn't any on me. Yay! at least I got to sit for 1/2 hour.
In the past 3 days I worked 2 double shifts. The last one wasn't so bad, but the one I worked on Tuesday was hell. I got the hardest part of the the hardest wing. To make it even more joyous, I got to do after care again.
For those not familiar with the term after care is a euphemism for cleaning and preparing the dead. This was the second time I've performed the duty, and it was strange to me that I was actually a little more detached and clinical the first time I did it. Then again, the second pt. was a lady who looked a little too much like my favorite grandmother for comfort. The first one was a gentleman, and the family was in with him when he passed away and we wern't able to get in to handle him until about 1 & 1/2 hours after he had passed away. I found myself making very dry clinical observations like, he's really warm, I would have thought he'd be cold; and how flexible he still was.
I'm actually fine with handling the dead, I'm not unnaturally thrilled about it either, it just doesn't bother me. A friend once asked me my thoughts on mortality for a paper he was writing. I replied that I think of death as an inevitable part of the process of life, and that fearing death makes as much sense as loving food and being afraid to shit. You can't have one part of the process with out the other.
Life has been good, if occasionally extremely odd. I've had other experiences lately that I might try to get out in type as well, I'm just not sure if I've gotten enough distance/ perspective yet.
Life is life. My paternal grandmother dug up a family coat of arms from the 1500's, our family motto was "Live while you live". I like that, I think I'll adopt it for myself.
It's all good.
I've compleated most of my first step to nursing school. I finished training to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (most of the really physical stuff, moving people, watching for changes in condition, wiping bottoms, etc.). I just have to take the state test (I'm waiting to be assigned a date). On my second day of clinicals I was told I doing great and should apply for a job. I did, and I've been working since the week after I finished my clinicals.
I think working as an NAC has been a good experience for me on several levels. I see what it's like on the other side, and I'm really motivated to get my ass in gear with nursing school, as I have n o intention of changing adult diapers the rest of my life.
Last night I got to clean up a finger painter for the first time. Fingerpainter= Pt. or resident who gets their feces all over their hands, and often clothes and surroundings. When I finally was able to go take my lunch break all I could smell was BM even though I knew there wasn't any on me. Yay! at least I got to sit for 1/2 hour.
In the past 3 days I worked 2 double shifts. The last one wasn't so bad, but the one I worked on Tuesday was hell. I got the hardest part of the the hardest wing. To make it even more joyous, I got to do after care again.
For those not familiar with the term after care is a euphemism for cleaning and preparing the dead. This was the second time I've performed the duty, and it was strange to me that I was actually a little more detached and clinical the first time I did it. Then again, the second pt. was a lady who looked a little too much like my favorite grandmother for comfort. The first one was a gentleman, and the family was in with him when he passed away and we wern't able to get in to handle him until about 1 & 1/2 hours after he had passed away. I found myself making very dry clinical observations like, he's really warm, I would have thought he'd be cold; and how flexible he still was.
I'm actually fine with handling the dead, I'm not unnaturally thrilled about it either, it just doesn't bother me. A friend once asked me my thoughts on mortality for a paper he was writing. I replied that I think of death as an inevitable part of the process of life, and that fearing death makes as much sense as loving food and being afraid to shit. You can't have one part of the process with out the other.
Life has been good, if occasionally extremely odd. I've had other experiences lately that I might try to get out in type as well, I'm just not sure if I've gotten enough distance/ perspective yet.
Life is life. My paternal grandmother dug up a family coat of arms from the 1500's, our family motto was "Live while you live". I like that, I think I'll adopt it for myself.
It's all good.
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no subject
Date: 2004-08-07 01:33 am (UTC)I used to work in a nursing home and loved it, though it was incredibly difficult for me to work in 'God's waiting room'. I didn't have to clean up after painters, but I did have to make beds sometimes that were pretty....well, you know.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-07 04:01 am (UTC)ring us up sometime and we'll get together. :)
Miss you!
no subject
Date: 2004-08-09 05:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-10 06:56 pm (UTC)I'm biased. I was a CNA for 5 years, and an LPN for 1.
Ask me my story about my first after care sometime. It was very very memorable. That and a chronic finger painter at the same building...
So when do you start nursing school? Looking forward to working with you! And Highline will be having at least one opening for a CNA on the surgical floor soon.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-10 07:50 pm (UTC)Let me know when that comes open. I'm currently only commuting about 5 minutes each way, but I think I'd be happy to commute for the chance to switch from nursing home to surgical floor experience.
I'm also thinking about getting certified as a chiurgion, if I can find the time. I think that would be another great way for me to volunteer my time, not to mention the experience.
You take care beautiful mama :)
hello
Date: 2004-08-12 05:54 am (UTC)This is Ailsabeth. I'm kind of on a friend-adding spree, found your LJ through Sylverstone's. How's life? I've missed you.
hugs,
Ailsabeth