Motivation

This morning after work I drove to the gym with every intention of working out.  Once I got there I just sat in my car until I finally just drove home.  I literally couldn't think of much I wanted to do less than go in that gym...except maybe go back to work ; )  Why can't motivation be a continuous, easy concept?  I HATE exercising.  I don't mind some weight lifting I guess, but I would literally rather sit in a hole in the ground staring at one spot for an hour in the mud than go to the gym.  I wish I was one of those people that "love" working out.  Gross.

Uninvited Visitors

Last night I had a patient who was probably legitimately crazy, but then went and did meth on top of that.  She was completely irrational by the time I took over, hallucinating, talking to imaginary people, mumbling to herself, wandering around. She told us numerous times there were people in her room when there were not, and she told us she didn't want them in her room.  After three doses of a sedative, she finally fell asleep for a few hours.  No one went in or out of her room, I was seeing other patients and happy to have a break from her.  A little before change of shift she poked her head out of the room, looked at me like I was the biggest idiot and said "I TOLD you not to let any visitors in!"  I said "No one went in or out of your room" and again she looked at me like I was an idiot.  Sensing this rational explanation wasn't going to cut it, I quickly said "but I will tell everyone in there to leave now."  She was happy with that.  I yelled from the nursing desk "All visitors leave her room!".  The patient looked satisfied and then went in and laid back down.  Sometimes you just have to join the crazies to make things work.

ps - they could make a sweet Twilight Zone episode out of that...like if I had gone in and there had been remnants of a party or people or something in the room after she had been telling me there were people in there all night and I told her there weren't ;)

Cirque de ER

Last night was weird.  Little people, big people, crazy people, drugged people, drunk people, foreign people...but that is what it is like every night, I don't know why last night seemed weirder.  Maybe the drug addict that walked into triage and promptly pooped her pants (I about lost it...Me: "Are you pooping!?!?"  Pt nods  Me: "Well STOP!!" then I dry heaved in her face a few times trying to get a blood pressure and then ran out of the triage room), was the straw that broke the camel's back.  Or the ex-prison convict with cigarette burns up and down his arms that was suicidal but just more creepy and tried to undress in the lobby...or the drunk little person on the motorized wheelchair that kept zipping up and down the halls ramming into doors and supply cabinets...or the lady who kept walking around naked, that wasn't even there for psych reasons...all of it combined made for a weird night (and that was all after midnight).  Tonight, the 4th, will probably be even weirder.  Last night on the 4th of July a patient blew their hand off with fireworks.  I skipped my workout post-work to come home and get some extra sleep this morning so I am ready for it.  Overtime and holiday pay - let's see if you are worth it.

Immunity

Last night at work, as one patient was brawling with two security guards, one patient was laying on the floor screaming and crying, and the police were bringing in another in only his whitey tighties and some sunglasses, one of the new techs said to me. "After awhile with all the over-stimulation you just kind of get immune to everything.".  I agreed and told her it would eventually carry over into daily life outside of work, say if she saw someone get shanked walking down the street or if someone pooped in  the produce aisle at wal-mart, she probably wouldn't bat an eye.

My smoke alarm battery is chirping, those stupid bleepity bleep bleepers keep chirping AFTER the battery is removed.  I am trying to decide whether or not my fans will drown it out as I sleep or if I should just go buy another battery now...but I am so tired...but the chirping is so shrill....and I wanted to get all my laundry folded before I went to bed...but I need to put clean sheets on my bed...omg.