Pause of a Saga

Greetings folks, I know it has been a while since my last post but I really had nothing to rant about these past three months! Lol, which was a great THING!

So I started on the burn unit back in October and I thought to acuity was low in the CT ICU, these fools are staffed lavishly with these cake patients! Some of the burns are really severe and can take up to 2 hours for burn care...its just a different state of mind there.

In normal ICUs they would staff based on the patients, how many are on pressors and drips...this unit it staffed on some imaginary grid made up in nursing heaven...THE ICU SIDE OF THE UNIT ANYWAY. They have a total of 40 beds which include 20 ICU beds and 20 step down beds, and pediatrics are included in the step down unit. At any point in time you are assigned patients on the "ICU" side or on the step down side. One the the great/horrible things about this unit its usually not full of burn patients. Granted when the ICU side has non burn patients its great because its in my comfort zone BUT when the step down side has non burn patients ITS LIKE WORKING ON MED/SURG. The worse night I had in the past 3 months I was assigned to 6 patients with a LPN taking vitals and handing out pills. Your probably thinking, hmmm thats not so bad, however, I had never had to take care of 6 patients even in my career including nursing school! Its hell remembering and charting on 6 dang patients! I'll finish up the night which shall remain in infamy a little later...

After about a month, I was able to stomach doing burn care and making the spandage "garments". Burn care can basically be broken down into 4 different (if not less) categories. IT IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE AT ALL LOL! I'm pretty sure a nurse coming from burn ICU into a cardiac ICU the transition might not be so simple...(I can hear burn nurses scuffing now...) Most of the patients were vital signs every 4 hours, with out any prior medical histories! IT WAS CAKE! Thats why I haven't anything to complain about!!! LMAO! I would have extended on this contract but I haven't been home since September/October and among other things.

I did everything anyone who had never previously lived in New York City would do during the holiday season! Visited all of the holiday windows, went to the Thanksgiving parade, statue of liberty, broadway shows, the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas tree, went on a dinner cruise for new years etc etc. My time in New York City has been invaluable! Native New Yorkers gave me the "are you serious, ewww" look when I would tell them of my exploits during the holiday season. BUT HEY! It was nothing like I have ever experienced before in my life!

BS RN