Have Already Been Invited

Let's see if I can remember how to do all this...

Happy New Year!

It's been quite a while... but since I'm now working my dream job... thought I might take up blogging a little more... we'll see how well I do.  I've been going over past blogs reading the mom stories in preparation for an Emmaus talk and remember how much I always enjoyed keeping the blog.  So... we'll see... 

My dream job started on Monday...the hospital 10 minutes from my home - after commuting over an hour each way for almost 2 years.  So good to be back to where I filled in 2 years ago. And a lot of the ICU staff were still and have already been invited to an engagement get together after being there just 2 days.  And as I sat with a patient, held her hand and listened to her story... I knew I was back in the right place.

God is Good... All the Time!

At Least 6 Flights

Been a bit of a tough week and it's only Tuesday.  Hard to see some of the tragic injuries that happen especially to those so young, but a blessing to be able to walk alongside those that are hurting.

A couple of more upbeat stories...

How can I have a post without a story about the stairs... Didn't have my friend Kathy to walk up the stairs with the other day, so I went out on my own - hoping to make it at least 6 flights.  Made it to the 4th floor and decided it was enough for the day.  Got on the elevator and when it opened on floor 8 - just automatically got off not realizing that it wasn't 10.  So ended up walking up the next 2 floors - so it turns out I did get my 6 floors in.  Goodness, that seemed like a convoluted story!  It amused me at the time and that's what matters! :-)

I've also been trying to put my old employee number into the hospital computer to sign on!  Guess old habits die hard... especially after 21 years!  Wouldn't trade my life now for anything.  Thank you, God!

That's Sweet

So Kathy and I made it up the stairs 7 floors today... of course we stopped on 4 and took a tour of CVICU/CCU before we completed the last 3 flights!  I then took the elevator from 7 to 10... maybe one day I will actually walk up all 10 flights... or not.  I did walk down all 10 and then another flight to get to the cafeteria... had to get a soda after all that!

Yesterday I went to see a patient who was admitted after attempting suicide which I knew that when I walked in to talk to  her.  I noticed when I got into the room that there was a patient sitter there.  Of course I thought... isn't that nice that they provide someone to keep her company since she is grieving the loss of her husband... yeah... that's it!  I later realized that the sitter is there to keep her from hurting herself!  I had dinner with Lynne last night and told her the story and why I originally thought the sitter was there and she patted my arm and said... That's sweet that you thought she was there for company!!  :-)  Oh my goodness - it makes me laugh... I apparently have a lot to learn about life in the hospital.

I'm getting there though... every day is easier to walk in assert my pastoral identity.   I've even missed praying the board in the ICU which used to scare me!  Yeah God!

CVICU/CCU

A few funnies from the last several days...

I was shocked on Friday to find out what the Cobra payment was to keep my Auto Club health insurance...  over $500 a month!  yikes!  Luckily I received on the same day my Benefits Identification Card from the State of California because I qualify for Medi-Cal!! Yeah for state aid!  No cobra for me.

So today Kathy (another chaplain) and I decided to take the stairs up to our floors... at least part of the way - she was going to floor 7 and I was on my way to floor 10.  We got up to floor 4 and decided to take the elevator... so as we are standing by the elevators waiting, huffing and puffing... when we realize we are on the floor for the Cardiovascular ICU and Coronary Care Unit... we got quite the chuckle about being on the right floor if we suddenly had a heart attack from walking up the stairs!

There was one more funny but I can't quite remember it and I really should be going to bed... will save it for later.

Meditative Bathrooms

End of the week!  And I think the end of orientation.  It ended better than the week was going last time I blogged.  The prayer and strategizing helped.  I've been struggling with the ICU... tough folks to crack... but I felt like I made progress today when the charge nurse smiled and told me she was taking a couple of days off.  It's the little things that really make me feel good!

The CDU is another place that was such a blessing this morning... went over on my own for the devotional - had two repeaters from Wednesday and someone new... and after reading the devotional and opening it up to what it meant to all of them, they took it and ran with it.  Such a blessing to just sit and be silent as they helped and supported each other.

And two more thoughts from orientation... things I've learned...
1. Gel In and Gel Out...  all about the hand sanitizer in the hospital... always gel before going into a room and gel as you are coming out... although I also learned that they don't have gel in the CDU... makes sense even if I had to think about it for a moment when I first entered the unit!
2. Meditative Bathrooms...  I also learned where the best bathrooms are in the hospital... in the south building... they play meditative music in that part of the building... even in the bathrooms!  It is always a stop I make before going into the ICU!

Feeling good about it all so far... have so much more to learn though!

Gold Stars

I should be sleeping... it's 10:57pm and I need to get up early tomorrow to go to the hospital.  I'm filled with both excitement and apprehension.  Today wasn't one of my best days... of course I'm only 6 days in!  I ended my day with self doubt... not a good place to be.  So as I've been laying here in bed... trying to sleep... I've been doing a bit of strategizing... easier said than done - but we will see tomorrow.

There were a couple of things though that were rather amusing and that is what I would like to highlight now.  I ended up this afternoon on my own since the resident I've been working with wasn't there.  When we were first told that we should go "hangout" on our floors this afternoon, the other introvert intern and I knew it would take everything we had... we even had a nice chuckle about it over text messages!

So I took my introvert butt over to the hospital and started on the 1st floor - tough group to crack - ICU...  got a lead on a patient and spoke briefly to the family.  Then headed up to the 10th floor and got another lead... again spoke briefly to the family... not too bad but not quite as exciting a day as the other interns were having.

When I get back to chart, I spent all sorts of time filling out the form and answering all the questions to add the document to the patient's chart... only to add it to the wrong patient!!!  Really?!?!  I told my boss about it and he told me he gives Gold Stars for messing up... he would rather have us show up and screw up than not show up at all. Amen to that - and here is to a better day tomorrow.

Interns Are Odd

Second day as Chaplain Ebe... although still in training.  Don't feel as overwhelmed as yesterday... feeling a little more like I can do this.  A few funnies for today...

We were getting ready to do the on call schedule and the admin all of a sudden says Interns are Odd...  I wasn't sure if she was speaking of the process or about us in general... although it's good to have a bit of oddity in your life.

And at lunch today, I walked down to the South Entrance where I know there are some tables and chairs for lunch with a view of the marina.

As I was walking back through the hospital, someone asked me for directions... I found that rather amusing as I'm new myself - luckily she was asking about how to get to the cafeteria... that one I know! And in the process of helping her... I realized that I had missed a turn and was walking down the wrong hallway!  And then as I was on the sidewalk, someone drove up and asked about the Emergency entrance... which they had just passed.  I knew that one also!  Maybe there is hope for me!