Non-stop ringing

Each day when I get to work I am assigned a cell phone with my own extension (all the nurses and care partners are).  I have the phone with me for all 12 hours of my shift.  Everyone has my number.  Everyone.

Sometimes, it’s a bit much.  Case in point…

• Radiology: Is patient X able to come down for his PA/LAT now?  Does he need oxygen?  Any isolation?
• Patient room: Can I get pain meds?
• Lab: Critical value for patient Y, their PTT is 121 [yikes!]
• Pharmacy: The medication order for patient Z needs clarification, can you page the MD and sort it out?
• Care partner: Patient X wants to order breakfast, but the kitchen won’t let him.  [he’s NPO]
• MD: Can you change the diet order for patient X, he’s not getting his procedure so he can eat.
• Food services: We need an MD order for patient X’s diet.
• Unit secretary: Transport is here for patient X to go to radiology.
• Patient Y room: Can I shave while my heparin drip is disconnected?
• Patient Z room: I’m feeling nauseas.
• Telemetry tech: Patient Z is having PVCs.
• MD: Yes, you can take a verbal order to replete patient Z’s mag.  And I still have to talk to my attending about the previous med order you paged me about.
• Unit secretary: Patient X is back from radiology.
• Patient room: Can I talk to my MD about why I’m not getting this test?
• Unit secretary: Patient X’s family wants to talk to you, are you free?
• Family member of patient X: Why isn’t patient X getting this test?
• Phlebotomy: There’s a req for patient Z, but he’s a nurse draw so we are cancelling the order.
• Patient room: I’m eating breakfast if you want to come give me my insulin.
• Respiratory therapy: Your patient is refusing treatment because he’s eating.
• Patient room: I’m feeling like I have phlegm.  Oh, and can you help me to the bathroom.

You get the idea…

And this is all within 30 minutes of getting report.  Before I’ve even taken vitals, assessed anyone, looked at charts, checked labs, etc.  Who would have thought I’d need call waiting at my work cell phone?!?

That’s why I wake up at 4:20 am.  Between then and 5 am I wake up with either stretching, yoga & meditation or some kind of Jillian, cardio, strength training combo.

Followed by java and a small breakfast… all to get my mind and body alert so I hit the ground running.

[bread and butter]

Sometimes I make two breakfasts (#1 at home, #2 at work), but other times I just make a really massive breakfast that I eat in two parts.

This was a two breakfast kind of day.  After my phone’s endless ringing, I was so so ready for this tupp of oats.  And after morning rounds, I dug in.

Whole rolled oats, bananas, almonds.  Simple enough.

Lunch was a fantastic blend of leftovers including quinoa, spinach, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, and leftover tofu ricotta.

You know what I have to say about this tofu ricotta?

AMORE!

Make this now.

The rest of the lunchbox love: home-made fruit & nut oat bar, Iced Gingerbread (seasonal!!) Clif bar, Ghirardelli’s sea salt soiree chocolate, & candied ginger.

I try and stick to more pure packaged snacks (Larabars, etc.), but when it comes to Clif bar’s seasonal flavors, all bests are off.  Hoarder alert!!  I’m a gingerbread fiend, so if you live in the Santa Monica area, don’t be surprised if all the local WFs are out of stock of these delicious Clifs.

And because I’m all about treating myself to good eats after long any shifts, I found myself at the Whole Foods’ hot bar on the way home from the hospital.

Who would have thought Gardein’s faux chicken could be so delightful!  I topped raw kale and red quinoa with heaps of fajita seasoned veggies and chick’n.  I filled my box to the brim, too, thinking I could enjoy the leftovers the next day for lunch.  But the meal was so friggin’ tasty I finished off the entire thing.

I’m not exaggerating when I say I had the equivalent of 3 breasts of mock-meat.  I’m pretty embarrassed by this (both the obscene quantity and the fake nature of the food are not usually my style), but this blog is not a place where I shy away from the truth.  What you see is what you get.  Yes, I try and stick to real foods, but everything in moderation, right?  Man oh man, I cannot deny it was tasty.

I was so full and content I didn’t even have dessert.  Straight to bed for me!

A healthy lifestyle with a clean, healthy diet helps to improve and maintain your Body Mass Index (BMI). You can calculate your body mass index using this nifty calculator found on the official BMI Private Health Care site.