So...I was getting the shower ready for one of my post-surgical patients recently and I failed to notice that someone had pointed the shower head toward the shower entrance. You probably see where this it going. I was trying to be all nice and get the water the right temperature before my patient got in. You can probably guess what happened next...yes...I turned the water on full-force and got it right in the face! ;-)...What one can learn from this...always check to make sure the shower head isn't pointed toward you when you turn it on. If I ever f
0 Comments
I've been working a lot lately...feels like I'm just now coming up for air! This past weekend was such a nice break because I got three whole days off where I wasn't even on call! I spent the first night with friends and watching "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton" which is kind of a ridiculous movie, but fun nonetheless! ;-) After that, I spent a large part of Saturday outside since it seems like I am almost never outside anymore--what with working night shifts. I went to Chick's Beach...a locally known spot near the Chesapeake-Bay-Bridge-Tunnel...super nice spot and I think I know where I will be hanging out this summer! Beyond that, I loaded up my bike and went down to the boarder of NC and VA to the Great Dismal Swamp Canal Trail where I road 11-12 miles. It was such a nice day and there were quite a number of other bikers and runners out. I enjoyed my ride and fully intend on going back when I have the chance. Beyond that, I got a chance to go to church this weekend...which was a welcome change...since I haven't been able to go for four weeks in a row. I love my church and am hoping to get more involved. Also, I am in the editing stages of my fitrep writing...can't wait till that is done. It's not particularly hard...there is just a certain way you have to do it and since I'm new...I find that part a little difficult. That's my update for now :-) It’s PRT season! That's Physical Readiness Test for those of you who may be wondering what PRT means. The military loves her acronyms. Anyway, I've been practicing my curl-ups (basically sit-ups) and push-ups. I've been running, but I'm planning on swimming since we have that option and I'm always better at it! Anyway...my goal is to the get the maximum score...we'll see ;-)! I have to turn in my Fitness Report (fitrep) this coming week. I think it is very strange that I write my own evaluation. My chain of command will look at it and decide if anything needs to be changed, but it is very unusual I think. At any rate...the thing looks rather confusing at first. I posted a picture of it, but it is kind of hard to see. It is short, but there is a very specific way it must be done. I was required to attend a training session in writing fitreps and brag sheets. The training was led by a retired Master Chief. He was super helpful and said that we could email our fitreps to him and he would help critique them. I emailed mine to him and it came back looking perfect! He was so helpful and I think I have a much better idea of how to write them! I'm going to keep a copy for my Navy binder...so that I will know what I am doing next year! What else...well...I'm tentatively going to the upcoming Nurses Ball in May! Should be fun because I get to wear something fancy...who knew being grown up could be so fun! I've never been to a ball before...kind of feel like Cinderella ;-)! Other than that...I am ready for a few days off...not quite sure why I am so tired, but I foresee some sleeping in this week...and perhaps a massage! This week has been really good...I again took the ferry over to Norfolk and went shopping. I really needed some jeans...my least favorite item of clothing to shop for. I actually had some success...a cause for celebration! I also saw Frozen and thought that it was so cute! I thoroughly enjoyed it! I've now had that song stuck in my head ("Let it go") and find myself singing it around my apartment! The weather is lovely here...blue skies most days and it's even warm enough to leave my windows open. I don't even have the AC or heat on in my apartment! Cool! Other than that, I had Bible study this week...always a highlight! And...I've been doing some reading in my spare time. My new goal is to read a book each week. I think I'm currently reading about a book every two weeks. I have this habit of buying books because I find that there are so many fascinating things to learn/know/understand...and have a whole bunch sitting in my room that I want to read. If I read one per week, they should get me through about half a year or more! Below are some pictures from this year that I didn't get around to posting until now...it's been busy! Good Morning...I'm writing this from work and it is about 0125 on Sunday morning. Tonight was unusual since I was floated to postpartum. I know you may be thinking that I do postpartum and that is mostly correct. Normally, I work with complicated OB (whether before or after birth). The one thing I don't ever work with...except tonight...are babies. I love babies, but we don't even touch them on my home unit. Every postpartum patient I get has her baby in NICU for some reason or another or lost her baby (rare). Anyway, when I heard that I was floating...I was instantly nervous, but the night went surprisingly well. I think it made a huge difference being a float after two months of nursing (off of orientation) versus two weeks of nursing like last time. All in all...it was a decent night and since I'll probably end up coming back here again, it's not such a bad thing. Many of you have probably seen military personnel observe colors (the raising or lowering of the flag...aka the national Ensign). During these ceremonies, military personnel in uniform are required to stop what they are doing and salute the flag until the raising or lowering is complete. If the Star Spangled Banner is played, you are to maintain the salute until the last note is played. If military personnel are not in uniform, they are still allowed to salute if outside, however, you are required to stop, (remove your hat), look in the direction of the flag (or music if you cannot see the flag) and put your hand over your heart. The same protocol (except the salute) is encouraged for civilians to follow as well. If in a vehicle during the same time, you are suppose to pull your vehicle to a stop, turn down or off any music, and they say "sit at attention" which I infer to mean...be respectful until the ceremony is complete. If there is no flag being lowered or raised during reveille (the morning) or retreat (the evening), you are not required to take any action. Sometimes, reveille or retreat is simply signaled by a bugle call. Hope that's not too confusing, but it is important to know how to respond when the time comes...whether you are in the military or not :-)! This has only happened once while I've been at the hospital, but
there is a specific protocol. When I see the Admiral (and it's hard to miss her since her picture is up on walls all over the facility), I am supposed to stop walking/talking/etc, step to the side of the passageway (aka hallway), facing the inside, stand at attention, and say "Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening Admiral." She then says something to the effect of "carry on." I'm really glad that someone told me that when I got here because a few days later, it was just myself and another Ensign in the passageway when the Admiral came walking through. Thank God I knew what to do! By the way, if you see flags on a car at your command...that is probably someone very important...there's a protocol for that too! Whenever you are going to see someone senior to yourself, you are supposed to knock on the door and say "permission to enter?" You do not enter unless given the permission. Also, you are not supposed to sit down unless invited to do so. I learned that shortly after arriving here.
Tonight was interesting...never actually had to use interpreter services before! The House Supervisor (called the NOD or Nurse of the Day at my command), is in charge of making sure the hospital is running smoothly, ensuring staffing is adequate, dealing with any big issues that arise, etc. Anyway...I talked with the NOD and she helped me get set up with the translator/interpreter services. I had to interview my admit and it went surprisingly well...kind of fun because I think French sounds so pretty! "Very Respectfully" is how you are supposed to end correspondance with other
military personnel or in any communication associated with your military work. Sometimes, this is abbreviated V/R. At my command, most people spell it out, but it is just something that one shouldn't neglect to include |
Prayer Requests...
That I grow in my role as a nurse and always do my best. That I would follow the Lord wholeheartedly. Friendships AuthorI'm Carolyn...am so excited to be starting my nursing career in the Navy. Who knows where this all will take me?! Archives
July 2015
|