Great Weather

I just wanted to say that today was 85 degrees and sunny here in Dallas, TX! Yesterday, it also got up to about 80 degrees. Of course, this weekend, it is supposed to be in the 50s, but at least it was nice for a couple of days. Plus, I'm sure this means that nicer and warmer weather is around the corner!

No patients were hurt in the writing of this blog...

Interesting day at work today! I learned an interesting fact today, it takes one 120 lb. PT to lift a pt. that 3 people cannot lift. The patient in question is not a large patient, he is just suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome and does not have full function or coordination of his limbs. Also, it comes down to training and technique. The poor patient cannot figure out why I can move him by myself and it took 3 other people to try and they had difficulties, as he knows that I am not Super-Woman with super strengths. I, not wanting to bash the strengths/or should I say weaknesses, of others point out that I am trained to perform such tasks, and told him that I ate my Spinach this morning and have been avoiding Kyrptonite. I then provided the other individuals with some training in the area of easier transfers.

Then, I was working on another floor, and had the "pleasure" of getting called into being the "Third Responder" for a Code Blue (Cardiac Arrest...meaning the patient doesn't have a pulse and isn't breathing). Now, normally, when a code is called, I avoid the room and stay out of the way...as I know that the nursing staff have it handled and would rather me not be present. Also, as I'm a contract staff, I do not know their roles for who is to do what. Basically, I stood there not knowing what to do (as the other two were doing CPR, the only thing I would have known how to do). Finally, the guy stopped the fake code and went over how to do it better. Then, he stopped to take time to explain the crash cart, and explain the different "roles." We then ran a second "mock code" and things ran much more smoothly. I was able to properly perform my role of "third responder" and delegated out the tasks that I couldn't perform (such as starting the IV line) and assist in the CPR. I did learn a lot, but I still prefer my strategy of just staying out of the way and let the nurses and respiratory therapist do what they do best. Of course, this isn't to say that I won't and can't do CPR, I would gladly do that to help save a person's life, I just hope that I don't have to. It is nice to know how the "code" is supposed to officially run just in case I were to ever be in the situation.

Lazy Sunday

I spent today having a nice and relaxing day! I returned a movie that I had rented using RedBox and then did a little light shopping, for some things (sadly, most of the items were for Toby). I think I'm going to play the Wii a bit later and enjoy some Shaunda and Toby time as I have to work on Saturday (yuck).

Oh yeah, the picture above is of the infamous Texas Longhorn steer that I saw at the zoo last weekend. I am planning to go to Fort Worth sometime before I leave here, as they have a twice daily cattle drive through the streets! I really must see this while in Texas.

Tax Time

Well, it is that time of year again, so I went today to get my taxes filled out. Since I changed jobs this year, and I now have the tax-free stipends and all of that, I wanted a professional to file my taxes. Thankfully, I saved all of my receipts from getting my various licenses, gas receipts, bus receipts, and all of that. I was able to get a refund from the Federal and the state of Illinois, but I have to pay for the state of NC (as most of my income was in NC last year), blech! Apparently, my income went just over the next tax bracket, so I'm having to pay. I'm just looking at the plus side that overall, I am getting money back.

Good luck on your taxes!

Couch Party

Toby gets to roam in the apartment while I'm gone to work (although the bedroom is off limits), and he normally just sleeps on the couch. I keep a blanket on the couch for me to curl up on, and for Toby to snuggle with during the day so he doesn't get cold. Usually, I come home to see a few toys on the couch. Yesterday, I came home and he had piled 6 of his toys on the couch! He seemed to be proud of himself and his little party.

Orangutan Video

Here is a little video that I took of the Orangutan playing with the sheet as well as the pictures that I took of it. He/she was soooo cute and probably my favorite animal at the zoo. The music playing in the background is David Cook "Leave a Light On."

Fort Worth Zoo

I went to the Fort Worth Zoo today. On the way there, I drove by the old Texas Stadium (where the Cowboys played), the new Cowboys stadium, the Ranger's Stadium, and Six Flags...very cool! The zoo was a lot of fun and had some cute animals, including lion cubs, orangutans, and many other animals!

By the way, Happy Valentine's Day!

Excuses!

Since I am working in a hospital again, I am remembering again the funny reasons that people refuse therapy. One thing to remember is that the patient always has the right to refuse treatment, even if the doctor sometimes thinks otherwise. Usually, you can get the person to agree to something, it is just all in the wording. There are, however, those cases where you just know the person is going to refuse, and you just move on to the next person.

Here are some funny attempted refusals that I have heard lately:
"I can't get up, I have a diaper on" (trust me, if it doesn't stop babies from walking with a diaper, it won't stop an adult)
"I have a catheter in, I'm not supposed to be out of bed" (who doesn't have a catheter in the hospital????)
"They double-crossed me, I know it wasn't you, but the head honcho double crossed me, and I'm not getting up" (lets just say, this lady was a little confused)
"The doctor told me not to get out of bed" (after just explaining to the patient that the doctor ordered PT to get him/her out of bed)
"I'm constipated, I can't get up" (they really don't like it when I tell them that PT and movement is one of the cures for that)

There are of course many different reasons, I'm too sore, I just had surgery, I'm too tired, and several other things. I do of course have sympathy for those who truly do just need an easier day of therapy, but I do still find it funny some of the stranger reasons that I hear.

Please Vote

I am now using my blog to ask for votes for Medical City Dallas. Colgate is partnering with the Starlight Foundation to donate a 2nd Starlight Fun Center to the 3 hospitals with the most votes. All of the hospitals are going to get one Fun Center, but the 3 receiving the most votes will get TWO Fun Centers! These are entertainment centers that hold a LCD TV, a DVD player, and a Wii for the children who are hospitalized to play with. As all of you know, being in the hospital is no fun, and being a child in the hospital is even worse, so having an extra Fun Center would really help the children at Medical City Dallas Children's Hospital pass the time and calm some nerves. So, please vote!

How to vote:

Go to www.colgate.com/showthelove
Click on the blue words under "Vote Now"
Go down to Dallas, TX for Medical City Dallas Children's Hospital and click on the bubble
Finally, scroll to the bottom of the page and type in the letters/numbers in the gray box to the white box and click submit.

You can vote every day, so please vote and help the children at the hospital I'm now working at to get an extra Fun Center!

Pretty Building

Here is a building in Dallas that I think it really pretty, I had a great view of it yesterday when I was at the Aquarium. I'm not sure what the building is, I just like the lines and reflectiveness of it.

Dallas World Aquarium

I went to the Dallas World Aquarium today, it was fun. The place is not in a huge building, but the trail snakes around and has lots of interesting things. They had a neat rainforest type design with several things around. The downstairs portion held some of the aquariums, and there was a shark tank too. They allowed you to feed the Tucans blueberries, which was a funny sensaion, the beaks feel funny as they try to get the berry. It was a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Weather

I just thought I would share that the temperature here went up to 75 degrees today! It is also supposed to be in the 70s again tomorrow, yes! I am liking this warmer weather.

Medical City Dallas

As I was sitting at a red light, I decided to snap this picture of the hospital. While it does not show the entire hospital, it does show a large portion of it. Today, I got to learn how to work with LVAD machines. This is a Left Ventricular Assist Device, which basically acts to help pump the heart to pump the blood through the body. These devices are used in cases of heart failure where a person may need a heart transplant. In some cases, they are used until a heart becomes available and in others, they are used because the person is not a candidate for a heart transplant. LVADs can also be used after some surgeries when the heart is weak (like open heart surgery) where the heart needs a chance to rest and recover. I learned how change the device from the electrical/plugged-in main unit to the portable battery powered unit. I also learned how to test the unit and how to check the battery charge. It is a strange thing knowing that if you literally have someone's life in your hands when you are changing the wires over; remembering to only change one at a time, not both wires at the same time, etc. Such a great experience though!

New Book

A friend included this book in a "Welcome to Texas" basket, and the book is hilarious. It includes all of the information that you need to know about living in Texas. The book is called "Fixin' to be Texan" by Helen Bryant who is a columnist for the Dallas Morning News. One of the things that I found funny was talking about inclement weather, because it was so true! The day that the rain began, several schools canceled in anticipation of the freezing rain that was not to occur until that night. Then, the next morning, when there was ice on the road, instead of putting salt on the road to melt the ice, they put sand. Also, it speaks of how to get big hair in Texas, what kind of dogs are accepted, and all other things to "poke gentle fun at the Texas mystique." Very funny book, and I highly recommend it to anyone prior to moving to Texas, and quickly learn the phrase "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as quick as I could."

Downtown Dallas

Here is a picture of part of the Downtown Dallas as seen from the road. Definitely a different skyline than Chicago, that's for sure, but still pretty. Today, it's Super Bowl Sunday, so I'll be watching the game/commercials. While I like Kurt Warner, I'm pulling for the Steelers tonight.