Nurse notes: Ep. 1

Things I learned while being a nurse:

1.  Chew your pepto bismol tablets people!  Unless you want to end up in the emergency room having to have a scope rammed down your throat because a mysterious quarter sized "metal" item has shown up on your abdominal xray after it gets lodged in the lining of your stomach.  I've got to tell you there were quite a few fun rumors flying around as to how this patient ended up with a 'battery' in his stomach.

2.  If you are a doctor/nurse/physician assistant/phlebotomist/CEO or whatever and you are in with a relatively minor ailment please don't act like I should drop everything and run just because you asked for some maalox or a new box of tissues.  You know better.  I have a million things to take care of and the priority is not always you. 

3.  Do NOT go to the nurse and tell them they are providing poor care to your loved one because they've been made of fast for a series of tests and are hungry or because the surgeon hasn't answered your questions yet or because your spouses test has been postponed (again!) or you've been waiting to be discharged all day.   I try to do my best to deal with people's venting because I know it's a frustrating situation to be in, when you are sitting by and watching your loved one wait for a test or an answer.  But please try to understand, in a hospital everything is triaged.  If your stable and breathing and someone comes in to the emergency room after a car accident your test is going to be postponed, your doctor is going to be in the operating room trying to save someones life, your questions will go unanswered for a few more hours.  And no amounts of belittling the nurse at the bedside is going to change that.  All that you accomplish here is pissing off the person who is going to be providing the most DIRECT care to your loved one.  I certainly don't piss off the people who come at me with needles!     *Especially with discharges people, I'm sorry, I know your stoked to go home, but that means that you are the most healthy person in that doctors responsibility right now which also puts you at the very bottom of his to do list.  And please don't get dressed and stand at the door just because the doctor said you are ready to go.  Chances are they will leave your room and proceed to visit their other 15 patients before getting anywhere NEAR a computer to put in your discharge.  And that's IF they don't go directly to surgery and leave the discharge to their intern.  Believe me, when everything is ready your nurse will let you know.  Until then, relax.

4.  Pain.  If your blood pressure is 90/50 and heart rate is only 56 and your are barely conscious and haven't moved in 4 hours I'm not going to buy that you are a 10/10 for pain.  Also if you are requesting IV pain medication when you are in with a simple ailment don't be surprised when we offer you percocet.  If you can eat solid food and you are not writhing in agony we're going to give you pills first.  Then, and ONLY then, will we advance to iv narcotics when it's been proven that the pills don't work.  If you promptly fall asleep after the pills don't call me in three hours later and tell me the pills never worked and your a 10/10 again.  Plus please don't tell me "it only hurts when I move like this."  We expect you to move after surgery, we do not expect you to do situps in bed. 

Renovation / Work List (updated)

As a new homeowner I'm always thinking of things that we need or want to do around the house.  I thought it would be a good idea to make a list here that we could look back on when we need to figure out our next step or see what we've accomplished.  This includes long term dreams for us so I don't think this list will be completed for MANY years.  I'll try to remember to come back and cross off projects as we finish them.
 
Garage 

• Repair roof and siding issue along doorway and address roof runoff issues
• Insulate walls, doors, ceiling.
• Repair/finish of interior walls of garage
• Ceiling lighting? 
• Install some kind of ceiling with attic storage or leave open/create storage loft?
• Insulate garage door
• Install weatherstripping around doors.
• Replace non-functional exterior garage light (motion sensor?)
• Install stairs to exterior garage door
• Seal off floor 
• Install grate over floor drain
• New garage door opener with keypad for exterior access.
• Patch/prime/paint walls
• Rearrange storage shelves -move some to basement
• Modify work bench / pegboard for our needs
• Create trash/recycle area
• Create mudroom area- coat hooks, shoe/boot storage 
• Pet zone

Front Entrance/Deck/Parking Area

• Replace AC units with 1 unit and move it around back of house (The house came with 2 units that are over 30 years old.  They're just next to the front door and still working but who knows how long they have and I'm sure they're not energy efficient at all.  If we can't move the unit then we'll have to build up a cover to hide them from sight.)
• Remove half dead evergreen trees along front of house.
• Strip old paint from deck
• Repair deck and railings.
• Buy new porch light.
• Replace broken entrance lighting
• Remove one of old broken porch lights and rewire it to create exterior outlet source. 
• Replace front door and storm doors - we love this door are saving for it
• Replace doorbell.
• Build raised planter box 
• Create seating area on porch
• Mulch/plant garden bed along front and side of house.

 Guest Room

• repair trim
• caulk / prime windows and trim
• prime doors
• remove and spray old brass hardware (doorknobs/hinges)
• paint windows and doors
• paint ceiling
• paint walls
• reinstall doors
• prime and paint closet doors
• repaint closet
• build closet system
• rip up old carpet
• replace carpet.
• install window coverings
• furnish room and decorate!

Jack & Jill Bathroom

• remove giant frame-less bathroom mirror
• prime trim and doors
• remove old vanity (it's very short and way too narrow for the space)
• demo weird wall between vanity and toilet area
• patch wall
• paint walls
• remove shower tub enclosure
• install tub
• tile shower surround
• install glass tub door/wall
• demo floor tiles (damaged beyond repair)
• install new floor 
• renovate vanity- we'd like to either build it up taller and customize it to fit the space or replace it with something bigger
• Install double sinks? or large trough sink with two faucets?
• build linen / storage area next to toilet on guest room wall
• Install sliding barn door between vanity and toilet area

Office

• prime trim
• prime windows and doors
• prime closet door
• paint windows
• paint doors
• paint closet doors
• paint ceiling
• paint walls
• remove old carpet
• replace flooring
• closet system
• window coverings
• built in bookcases?

Loft Area

• paint ceiling and walls in linen closet
• install shelves in linen closet
• prime and paint closet door
• paint ceiling and attic door WHITE 
• prime and paint trim 
• prime and paint windows
• finish ripping up blue carpets!
• new flooring
• strip/sand/refinish stairs
• demo loft railing (good bye fish scales!)
• install new cable railing
• replace ceiling fan
• replace eyeball track lights
• install industrial shelving unit on loft wall

Foyer

• New Front door
• prime and paint windows 
• prime and paint trim
• complete stairs (strip/sand/re-stain)
• paint walls
• replace foyer chandelier
• evaluate entry tile
• foyer seating area
• replace coat closet doors