First full paycheck!

So now I'm not just an RN in theory, somebody PAYS me to be an RN!  It is official, I AM a nurse!  I work at a local nursing home, and have been there for about a month.  I got my first full paycheck this week, and it was awesome to see a comma in my paycheck.  Never had that before.  I even got to buy Chris something pretty for his birthday.

I have been pretty busy at work.  I usually have 13 rooms, and they are fully booked at the moment with 27 patients.  Most of the patients are pretty stable, so they don't require a lot of care from me, just checking in occasionally and giving them their medications as needed.  The CNAs do more of the hands on stuff.  But I  still have a lot of work.  I do two medication passes, at 5 pm and 9 pm.  It takes me a long time to do each pass, but I am getting faster at it with more practice and more familiarity with the patients and their medications.  The patients also have PRN medications, which means medications that aren't scheduled, and they can have whenever they need it, such as pain medicine.  These are at least 1/3 of the medications I give.  I get interrupted frequently by questions from patients and family members, calls from drs and pharmacies, CNAs needing things, and just the general chaos of caring for 27 patients at the same time.  It takes a lot of energy to stay focused and get everything done.  Once all the medications have been passed, then I respond to orders from drs, refill meds, and finally do all the charting.  I am exhausted by the time I get home.  Luckily I can go back to sleep after the girls get off to school.  I have lost 10 lbs. in the last month just by all the running around I do, not to mention sleeping through breakfast.  I'm going to have to wear a pedometer to see how many miles I walk at work.  I'm guessing at least 5.

I usually work 5 days a week, and the days rotate.  I work from 3-11:30, which is difficult to do with the girls' schedule.  Luckily they are old enough that they can stay by themselves for a while until Chris gets home from work, which is usually about 3 hours.  Figuring out the schedule has been difficult, as my schedule changes each week.  It will get even more complicated next week as the girls are starting up swim team again.  Fortunately I have my sister and my "wife" Diane to help out and save my sanity, which is dwindling rapidly.

I have been working for a month now, and am in awe of how quickly the other nurses can get things done.  They say I will get there with time, they say about 3-6 more months.  I can't imagine that.  I am exhausted.  I definitely have gotten a lot of practice with G-Tube feedings, hanging IV meds, insulin shots, flushing PICC lines, and endless pills.  I am glad for the experience I am getting.  Talking to the patients has been my favorite part.  I like being able to help.  I like seeing the relief and comfort I bring to my patients.  I like knowing that for those few minutes I was able to spend with them, I made a difference.  I got a smile or a thank you from them, and sometimes a prayer or a "bless you."  I have even won over some more difficult ones.  Sometimes I feel like my patients have more confidence in me than I have in myself.  They are very encouraging and sweet.  I want to keep earning their trust and respect.  I have discovered that nursing is not for sissies.  I'm going to have to step it up and be tough if I am going to survive.