So tomorrow I am going to be getting started with a new company (confidential) where I will be helping people out from my home office exclusively. No more working in the hospital where my idea of being a nurse and caring for people, and their idea of what patient #239023 should get, are complete opposites. I will be sure to blog about it at some other time. I just want to help people. Seriously. When you've worked in any position where you have made a positive change in someone's life, it really adds to your own personal positivity. And it's like a drug. You want to help more and more.
When I was first starting my nursing career I volunteered at a free clinic run by a church here in town. It was for people who did not have insurance, and therefore lacked proper health care. Doctors and nurses from the area volunteered their time to keep this clinic running. The Solid Rock Baptist church provided the space for us to set up stations where we could do a basic assessment on patients before they went on to see the physician. There were phlebotomists who would draw blood. To be honest, I don't know which company the blood was sent off to. But everything was free to the patients. Local grocery stores even donated over the counter products that were nearing their expiration date, like Tylenol, lotion, contact lens solution, etc And people who came in were allowed to choose maybe 3 items for free. I mean, how cool is that? And think about it. Doctors and nurses work very long and stressful hours. Well I know nurses do ;-) And to agree to give even more time with no pay whatsoever. Why would anyone do it?
I suppose if someone is truly good at heart and really loves taking care of people, it IS a drug to them. Before I passed my state boards (and therefore couldn't legally do nursing work) a chart would be placed at the front desk that the administrative people would get together (patients chart, current information, etc). I would take that chart and call the person back. I mean, there were all kinds of people. Young, old, healthy, ill, black, white, English-speaking, non-English speaking, ex-Mill workers, ex-Farmers... I LOVED all of it. I liked to smile at people and greet them. Get to know a little about them. Things people tell you about their past or how they are living currently will give you a hint on what is important to them and what needs to be addressed. And talking to each person is like reading a new short story.
I would get their blood pressure, pulse, temp, blood sugar, and ask them a series of questions that the doctor would need to know, or I would need to know. If a woman was over a certain age, or had certain risk factors, I would give them a card with information on how to get a free mammogram through the county. Whatever was going on with that person I would do everything I could to hook them up with a free program that many didn't know about.
See? I don't believe in big government and having them control each point in our lives. If people rally together, like this clinic, we can help people get the care they need. Without all the political wrap up and red tape. People used to care for their elderly in the community. Then they only cared for their elderly parents. Now they shuffle them off to whatever place Medicare or insurance will pay for. And unfortunately we hear of the bad instances of elderly abuse. What about the Amish? They actually build an additional "house" to their own house on the farm, called a "dawdihaus" (grandparent house). The elderly don't waste away, they are right there interacting with all of their grandchildren and children. The community. They do little things, like gardening. Life still has meaning all the way. Why can't the English world be more like that? Things are not perfect with the Amish by any means. They have their own problems. They are human like anyone else. But their committment to "the old ways" are sometimes the best. Old time wisdom. These days we want to be in control and be the best. But how often do we stop and listen to those who have already been there and have listened to their elders of their time?
Things such as this clinic remind me of how every single one of us, no exception, need to turn back to our own people. Why are we all running around stressed? I wish we could turn our world around a little at a time and set up organizations to help people in need. We all have a million issues. Look at Alcoholics Anonymous. Whether you agree with their approach, it has helped millions over the years. In nursing school, we were required to sit in on some meetings. I don't even drink alcohol, but what drives these people to drink, I can relate to. I think we all can. We all find our crutch. AA doesn't push Christianity, but it does recognize a "higher power" greater than ourselves that we can pull strength from.
Another was Narcotics Anonymous. This was harder to find a meeting I could sit in on because privacy was a huge thing for these people. They often were obtaining narcotics illegally and didn't want their name and face out there with people who could turn them in. But they were strong and seeking help. Many of them legally were using pain medication their doctor prescribed. Maybe they were in a car accident and needed Oxycontin to get by each hour of a painful day. Unfortunately, as well as these medications worked, they also led you to addiction whether you used them correctly or not. I know when I worked OB/GYN there was a very young woman who came in who was in labor. She was in a terrible accident early in her pregnancy and broke her leg. Of course, she was in terrible pain all the time. But despite being pregnant, she needed pain medication. Her baby was born addicted to narcotics. What could be done? She wasn't seeking out illegal drugs off the street. She hesitated using the pain medication, but she had no choice. I would work in the nursery and her baby would have a separate room from the other sick babies in the NICU. There was a sign on the door so people would shut the door very quietly and keep the noise down. Although this baby was in a totally separate room, any noise would set him off. He was miserable. And the cry of a drug addicted baby is heart breaking. And this poor mother. I really felt for her. She didn't ask to be in an accident. She just wanted a healthy, happy life. Of course, they both eventually did ok, but it was a rough journey. Sad.
Anyways, as you can see one topic can make me think of other topics. I have a million things I want to post about and share with all of you. If there's anything you want to ask me about, or issues you want me to discuss, either comment or shoot me an email. Love you all! Wish me luck for work tomorrow!!!
