Thankful Thursday | I circulated!
This week, I am thankful:
that being the circulator nurse went well
On my unit, we generally have a circulator nurse. This nurse doesn't have a group of patients, and instead circulates around all day, helping all the other nurses out with random tasks.
Normally, the nurse assigned to this role is pretty experienced, but one day last week, my charge nurse assigned me to be the circulator.
I was a little bit terrified (What do I, a new grad, have to offer to my coworkers??), but I did manage to spend my day being actually helpful. Whew.
I did lots of pharmacy runs, distribution room runs, blood draws, tube feeds, insulin and morphine sign-offs, gave meds, helped with discharges, and more. I walked almost 20,000 steps that shift!
My fellow nurses were all so supportive...like, "Kristen, are you circulating today? Good for you!"
My coworkers are SO NICE! My unit is seriously a wonderful place to be a new grad and I am grateful.
for little signs of spring
Look! This tree has buds on it.
for a brief bit of warm weather
Monday was a gorgeously warm day, and I was off of work! So I got to enjoy the lovely air, with my house windows open.
Love, love, love.
for a very nice avocado
I cut it open and it was perfectly ripe, with quite a small pit. That's avocado heaven!
for the evening sunshine
It's a bit of a bummer to have dark early mornings again, but oooh, I do love that there's light outside my kitchen window while I make dinner.
for the cats
Chiquita, of course, is always entertaining.
Also, here's Shelley in the midst of a sentence:
And Piper, Lisey's cat, kicking back to watch a show:
Thankful:
- For these eggs DH cooked so now I can easily have ham/egg/cheese tortilla breakfasts without necessitating a skillet in the morning the rest of this week.
- For technology, the helpful aspects of it at least.
- For my students. So many instances of them being funny, genuine, patient, and good people.
- That my lower back seems to be moving around so my hip pain is lighter for now.
- For people and communities who can relate and really "get" me -- you all, friend groups, some coworkers, etc.
A prepped breakfast is SO wonderful on work days. How does he do the prepped eggs?
Way to go on circulating!
I showed my mum some pictures of Chiquita from a previous post and she said Chiquita is 'absolutely adorable' and 'a real poser'! I'll have to show here these as well!
Thankfuls:
1. Spring is here! I am so happy for blue skies and a gentle breeze. It's not what anyone could call warm yet but it's clementine compared to the weather last month!
2. I went to an event in a library yesterday where you could take a book to a reading room, and I enjoyed a couple of hours reading in the beautiful space with classical music playing!
3. I don't know if my body was fighting off a virus or if it was hormones, or both, but I was exceptionally exhausted last week. I finally feel awake again and have my normal energy back! I'm also thankful I didn't get sick (touch wood).
4. My gifts and cards arrived on time for Mother's Day (which is in March in the UK) and for my sister's boyfriend's birthday.
5. I've been rewatching the tv series Maid and I'm thankful for food, shelter, a support network and everything I have.
That step one of a fairly involved trip went smoothly.
That I got into a travel tour after all, after asked the organizer about a problem.
That I got my tax paperwork to my accountant before the involved trip started.
That my dog didn't instantly bark his head off at my new friend. Said dog barks at everyone who comes in, sometimes nonstop. This makes 5 people who he doesn't bark at.
That my elderly dad, who just had a birthday, is doing well.
I bet you are an excellent circulator! Some people are able to just see what needs to be done and take initiative!
Thankful for the best day- took the day off work, gave my birthday boy (4 y/o) the day off school and we went out for pancakes and then spent the day in the rec center pool. I even snuck in an evening walk with the 1 y/o and showered. Feeling so grateful for it all.
In the midst of it, learned about a great lead at work (I’m in fundraising) that may be progressing!
Thanks for this chance to reflect on all of it!
Piper has me giggling out loud in an airport. Thanks for the smile!
Wow, this is wonderful thst your hospital is willing to employ a floor circulator!
Not surprised at all that your circulation shift went well 🙂
We do not have daylight savings time until last weekend of the month.
Thankfuls - for the small circle of husband and grown kids, for our lovely cat that is so much part of the family, for friendship, and the wider circle of dear relatives, for enjoying my job, for feeling fysically fit again and resuming outdoor swimming. For the inspiration brought on by music, poetry, and upcycling projects. For spring flowers.
I also am thankful for all the buds on the trees and plants turning green. Last year was our first year at this house for planting trees/bushes/flowers. I've seen buds on my peach trees and my dogwood. Green is sprouting on my new hydrangeas and my figs have little leaves already. All of my azaleas made it, and even a beautyberry shrub I pulled up from the way back of the woods in my yard and brought to the front area of the yard is getting leaves. I thought for sure it would die.
I'm thankful for the sunshine (and hoping the 33 degree weather we are supposed to get tonight doesn't get any lower or harm all the plants). It was 88 yesterday...this weather is crazy.
I'm thankful my cats and I got a decent night sleep last night. We have a stray cat that has come around and sprayed my porch (saw it on the ring camera). It's been spraying neighbors houses/packages on their porch/etc. This cat has upset my male cat, Finn, so much that he just paces the house all night looking out windows and pacing like he's on patrol. He's stressed out and won't sleep at all until the sun comes up...starts patrol as soon as the sun goes down. We had this problem last year with another stray and eventually were able to trap it. Must be that time of year. I'm hoping this one will eventually go in the trap.
I'm thankful that my dad's surgery/recovery on a completely torn achilles tendon is coming to a close (only 2 more weeks of the total 8 weeks non-weight bearing). He's not a person that has ever sat still for long so this has been difficult. Also, he's very tall and broad. Getting him in and out of the house that has stairs in the front and back and in the vehicle for doctor's appts is not an easy task on him, my mom, or any of us helping.
So thankful for relatively no drama in life. I heard from friends the drama that is continual in some lives...I couldn't take it. I need peace, and I'm thankful that my family and extended family all are not naturally dramatic people or living in drama.
Marlena, like you I also am averse to drama. My life may seem boring to onlookers, but it is peaceful at this time and I am grateful.
I too am all for a drama-free life, especially when I read the advice columnists (Dear Abby, Asking Eric, Dear Annie, etc.), where people's lives seem to be nonstop drama). I think that if people stopped taking everything personally and throwing hissy fits, the advice columnists might go out of business. 🙂
It is that time of the year. Starting back when I lived at home and our neutered cat would attract the attention of a roving Tom, I'd tell the roving Tom you're wasting your time. While the kittens are indoor only, we did not want to risk a jail break - both kittens have been in heat since they moved in.
Neutering helps males not want to roam. The last feral we cared for had a female (I'm sure from a nearby farm) doing her best at flaunting her female "wiles". Much to my surprise, he had no interest. She gave up. He was not neutered.
Piper made me laugh this morning!
- Today is our daughter's birthday and I'm thankful that she and her family are coming over for dinner to celebrate.
- I'm thankful that my thyroid TSH level was normal upon retesting.
- I'm thankful for the extra sunlight in the evenings, even though I hate that it's dark when I get up in the morning.
- I'm thankful that we didn't have severe thunderstorms yesterday as forecast.
- I'm thankful for the daffodil and iris blooms in the yard.
Piper is one laid-back cat!
As noted on Tuesday, I'm most thankful for NDN1's continuing good adjustment to assisted living. CF and I had a meeting Tuesday morning with the facility's director, and he confirms our impressions. (He's also a really nice guy and has an Irish setter/golden retriever mix named Gracie, who's the pet of the whole place.)
I'm also very thankful that my Genworth long-term care insurance premium has stayed the same for what's now the third straight year. It's still a lot, but I was expecting a big increase this year, so I'm relieved.
And I'm thankful that I handed in NDN1's tax paperwork to her accountant yesterday, and will be picking up my own from my accountant today. I'm told that I've broken even with NY State and will actually be getting a refund from the Feds. Loud cheers!
A. Marie, way to go -- it's always such a relief to get the taxes done. I don't know why I procrastinate every.single.year.
i get my taxes to my accountant on time but it takes him months to finish. but i don't mind too much.
Likely thanks to the extra deduction for those 65 and over. I can assure you we are not getting "the biggest refund ever". Matter of fact less than last year. All I can say is don't spend it before you get the actual refund (if any).
Broke even with the state??? That’s awesome. We have paid state years and years. Rolling eye emoji
20,000 is a LOT of steps, Kristen! It's great that the challenges your job provides boost your skillset. I've never known a pet that had the attention span to watch TV!
I have so many things to be thankful for, but like the frugal things you remind us to recount each week, they are every day with me (although I don't always pay attention).
A warm cup of Yorkshire Gold tea helping me meet the day,
Mr. Book Club gaining strength after two medical procedures in February,
a walk with a new friend yesterday,
warm weather,
text and call from far flung kids yesterday,
making travel plans,
a BBQ recipe that worked well for supper last night,
learning that the colors I chose for a baby blanket I am making are just right
the list goes on...
--For the safe return of my family yesterday from their roadtrip
--For the time without them. I love my family very much, and I do miss them when they're gone, but it is such a great thing for me to have time in my house without them here, and be able to get done what I want to get done at my own pace.
--For the visit I got to have with a friend while my family was gone. It is very rare for me to ever be able to talk to friends without interruption, and this friend in particular is always busy and on the run, so it was a great blessing to be able to talk uninterrupted.
--For my parents and my husband's dad and stepmom, all of whom are getting old enough where hosting children can be a bit much, but all of whom are in great shape and can still manage it. Albeit for shorter periods of time. I think three days is about the limit now. 🙂
--For the giant apricot tree outside our front door in full bloom. It smells so good, and now the blossoms are starting to drift down like scented snow. Of course, we have cold weather coming this week that will probably kill off all the fruit, which happens every year with this tree, but the blossoms are lovely.
Piper's recline is killing me. Love it.
1) I have to drive into the office (~45 minute each way) twice this week, as opposed to my 1x normally, so I'm quite grateful this isn't a regular thing. Back in the pre-covid times, I'm sure I would have been expected to go in 5x/week. I worked elsewhere, that was a lot closer to my office, and basically every similar company went in daily. WFH flex is one of the only COVID benefits that stayed with us.
2) That I was able to give DH a hug this morning before he left for work (at 5:45 - I had just woken up myself).
3) That DS18 comes home tomorrow!
4) We are supposed to have really warm weather for the next week, and I am here for it!
5) That my boss is back on Monday. I've been covering for 5 people at work, and when she gets back, I'll be down to covering for 3 people. Her work is by far the hardest, so it will take a lot off of my plate.
This week I am thankful….
• I was able to air out the house! Fresh air is just so ….. fresh!
• My grandma was over for dinner on Sunday as we celebrated my dad’s birthday. Her memory is failing her (she doesn’t remember ever visiting my house even though she has been here many times) but her personality hasn’t changed. She’s still cheerful and a delight to be around. She’s taking her memory loss with humor, though I’m sure she’s very frustrated.
• We had the puppy fixed this week and so far he’s recovering well.
• Our temp at work was able to help me with some tasks that had me feeling overwhelmed. Once I passed the tasks off to him I could feel the stress melting away.
Our two kittens got spayed this week - not frugal by any means short term but is long term. We are hoping this also helps our established cat be more accepting.
I'm thankful for our vet clinic. Last visit with established cat I mentioned to our vet I was not opposed to taking in two cat. Whether she admits it or not, established has been lonely since we euthanized her buddy last summer. After my appointment, she had an appointment with another client who was looking to re-home two stray kittens they'd taken in - wanted to keep them together.
Also thankful for discretionary dollars in our budget as shots, microchip, spay has not been inexpensive.
Chiquita looks like she closed down the bar for the night in that photo in the chair. So cute!
I am thankful for a week of warm, rainy weather that has our muddy yard greening up with new grass and the quince bushes fill of the most glorious orange-coral blossoms.
Love the cat pictures!
Today I am thankful, first of all, that my sister sold her house, and for more than the asking price! This is good, because she has already moved into a senior living center, and the proceeds from the sale will fund her monthly rent. I am also thankful that it sold fast!
I am thankful that the storm that passed through our area, and which did so much damage south of us, just dumped a lot of rain and noise on our area.
I am thankful for my basic good health, as I watch so many people my age struggle with challenging and scary health issues.
I am thankful for the free online word games that help keep my mind sharp and are fun to do.
I am thankful that I'm going to have pancakes for breakfast! No blueberries, but I might cut up an apple and make them apple pancakes. More fiber, yay!
Two weeks ago I had a quilting accident ( don't ask) which resulted in slicing my knee. By the time I started to freak out about it, the emergency hospital was my only option. In the end, they gave me CT scans, painkiller shot and staples.
I just received a bill for $5,000 out of pocket for me. I was not grateful even if it is Thursday. Now with some time I have a list.
1. The CT showed no joint injury. I was able to ski this weekend.
2. It did not become infected even though I waited longer than recommended to have it seen ( deep cuts need to be taken care of in about 5 hours apparently.)
3. I had the money in my HSA account.
4. I made a choice in Fall to pay the smallest premium possible because I knew my husband will be maxed out going through radiation therapy this year. So at least Iwasn't paying super high monthly premiums. I am close to Out of Pocket Maximum now.
5. I have access to excellent medical despite the cost.
Hey Kristen just curious if you have watched The Pitt or if your coworkers are talking about it? I'm enjoying the show but was wondering how real life nurses/healthcare workers feel about it.
To add to that, do you have any thoughts on Scrubs? I've heard it's one of the more accurate depictions of US healthcare.
Yes! Many of us love The Pitt, and it is fairly realistic. The biggest beef I have with it (and many other medical TV shows) is that the nurse and tech roles are very tiny. The screenwriters mostly focus on the doctors; the nurses are not really seen much at all, except for the charge nurse. And I don't know if I even saw a tech at all in season one!
Some other medical shows are REALLY ridiculous with this; like the doctors are spending hours in a room with patients and I'm always like, "lol, that's a good one." Nurses are the ones who spend hours with patients. Also shows often show doctors doing way more hands-on care than is normal in a hospital. Most of that is the nurse role; for instance, on my med-surg unit, I basically only ever see physicians doing a dressing change or removing staples. They wouldn't be in there inserting an NG tube!
Have you seen Scrubs? The emphasis is still on doctors but the nurses are also shown doing procedures. There was an early episode about the lack of respect they get!
Not at all surprised that you were chosen to circulate!
This week I am incredibly grateful for the 2 1/2 months that we've been able to spend at an Airbnb in Arizona. We're heading home on Saturday and already looking forward to next year!
- We’ve had almost 5” of rain so far in March. My area has been in prolonged extreme drought, the kind where people’s wells and ponds have dried up, so the extra precipitation is very welcome!
- In this week’s storm, we got the rain, but missed out on the hail and tornadoes.
- My family has the opportunity to visit my husband’s family in Florida next week.
- I’ve been doing lots of mental/emotional work to manage my flying fears and I have some good meds to take the edge off.
- The kids are on Spring Break starting today, so I don’t have to get at 6am for a for 11 days! It’s glorious.
So ... Spring Break for you! Enjoy!
I am very thankful for the safe arrival of my first grandchild this week! My eldest daughter had her baby Olive and we are all so excited. What a joy!
Congratulations!
Congratulations! So many coincidences! I am also a Diane B, but it’s my son & his wife who are expecting my first grandbaby in May! Mine is a girl. All the best wishes!!
Congratulations on baby Olive! Beautiful name.
Congratulations on becoming a grandma!
Ah, Diane, that is wonderful! Congrats to your daughter & her family & welcome baby Olive!
Congratulations!!!
Thankful for good sleep, a sunny day after several icky weather days, not getting hit with a tornado (my heart goes out to my neighbors in the south who had a devastating tornado rip through their area), a lovely week with my future daughter-in-law visiting, and having both kids home at the same time.
An abbreviated list:
The wildflowers are at their peak
A new pencil drawing commission of a house (I love to draw architecture in pencil)
A new drawing student
A chance to visit with cousins (although a funeral isn’t the happiest time) coming on Saturday (long drive, but I have some books on CD)
Daffodils, crocus, primroses, forsythia and Daphne. Oh the beautiful smells!
Cats mousing in the grassy fields. I love all the kitty pics, I was amused at Piper.
Baby lambs. Baby goats and the first Spring calf.
We had our barn ball league finals last night and the team that won used college kids as their substitutes.
All good fun.
Piper is really into that TV show...or is it a cat video?LOL!
I had a crisis on Friday when a huge part of a giant live oak tree in my front yard got pulled down by a careless moving van driver whose nasty bosses refused to take responsibility for anything. The city is not allowed to do certain things either. The whole long mournful story is detailed over on Katy's N C A blog. Even though I had to call the police and later pay $400 to have the tree sawed up (I am not insured), I am thankful no one was hurt or killed.
Thankful for my friends/workers who helped me.
Thankful I had gone out for a quick lunch bc my (just recently paid off) car had been parked in the place where the tree fell -- and would have been totalled had I not driven away. I think my sudden hunger was God's way of taking care of me in that regard.
Thankful for my neighbor's ring camera that recorded video of the accident.
Also thankful for the few days my leg is not hurting although it still hurts a lot.
Chiquita's pose is so "yes, I'm all that" 😆 Loving her confidence.
This week I'm thankful for an afternoon spent cooking with friends in a sunny kitchen and for living in a really walkable neighborhood. Thankful Thursday is a great exercise, and I'm going to try to do more of it.
Thankful:
- that my husband will be off at 6 pm today instead of 9 pm. I'm looking forward to not being the only adult around in the evening.
- That my weekend co-worker is someone I like and who doesn't make me feel like an idiot.
- That the hubby got a job!
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I suspect you're going to be in high demand as a circulation nurse!
thanks for the hawaiian cat photo. what a treat. for a split second i thought it was shelley. so glad you are enjoying work. no one deserves it more than you. when you have nice co-workers and a job you love nothing beats that. bought snoopy pj's online at costco today with shipping included.
I am thankful for:
--getting away for a few days on the most relaxing vacation I think I've had in years. Nothing about it was extravagant or extraordinary, it was just really good all around.
--that we got only inches of rain and no tornadoes or hail from this week's big storms.
--robins, kildeer, redwing blackbirds and other migratory birds arriving back lately.
I think vacations can get too hyped up. Sometimes, we really need simplicity and real rest, not an itinerary.
Thankful to be home after a work trip.
Thankful that my flights and travel were easy, barring some minor stressors.
Thankful that I actually really enjoyed the food on this trip.
Thankful that my family followed through and I did not return to a sink full of dirty dishes.
Thankful for warm, sunny weather (always)
It makes me so happy to hear that your colleagues are so positive and supportive. I'm inspired to keep cultivating the same attitude at my own work.
Thankful for:
- A low threshold for contentment. I'm genuinely stumped when asked questions about what places I need to see before I go or what things I need to buy before I move. Panic tourism and panic buying are more stressful to me than FOMO.
- Friends who send me pictures and share their positivity.
- A discerning spouse who is willing to talk through things that are relevant to me, but not necessarily to him, just because he likes me.
- Podcasts. Because, though I do cultivate a social life, sometimes I just need to hear other humans talking when I've been alone in the house all day.
- Books. Which help to address the previously mentioned panic tourism and loneliness.
I'm thankful for/ that ...
- My husband still finds me attractive even though I'm in my 40s and feel otherwise.
- I was able to think up of two sets encouraging words as birthday wishes for a friend. Thank God for this!
- My husband replaced our old blinds and did some minor fixes to them enthusiastically and without compaint.
- I got 3 loads of laundry done and put away. I hate doing laundry. It's one of my weaknesses.
- That my husband took the lead and started devotions with the girls.
I am thankful for a freezer full of food, my stock of dry chickpeas, my pantry, my spouse, my cozy home, and my health.In these times, remaining grateful is keeping me going. I have lived through many economic times and have skills to make do as necessary.
Grateful for the ability to be happy in many different kinds of circumstances.I have acquaintances that have very narrow parameters of Joy and I am so glad I am different than that.
Thankful for sunsets,sunrises, good dinners at home, youtube shows on many topics, and for longer days.(More daylight.)
VERY happy with warmer temps comingI live in Arizona and I am in the MINORITY when I say this, but I do better in heat than I do in cold and 90 degrees feels just great to me!
This week I am grateful . . .
-That the stomach bug that hit my husband and youngest child this week, hasn't hit anyone else in the family. (Yet????) And for their quick recoveries.
-That my mom is healthy and well. We had to put my dad in memory care in 2024, and now we are at the point where he has "scare" after "scare." He falls or has another stroke. It's hard. I help my mom with some aspects of his care but mostly support her emotionally. I'm just so deeply grateful that she seems to still have lots of healthy life left in her.
-For my current job. It's a tough job market in my field and generally, and I complain about it all the time. But I am thankful to have a paycheck and health insurance at least until this summer when my contract is up.
-For your tip, Kristen, about TurboTax. I was able to save my aunt $133 before she filed. I also passed this info along to a friend who hasn't yet done her taxes and, like me, assumed TurboTax would start you at $0.
-For the fact that the sun is back out today after a freak blizzard yesterday. It felt a little like that scene in Lord of the Rings where the fellowship is trying to move through the mountain pass but Sauron is making it snow more and more. For a minute there it felt like Sauron did not want me to make it to class. But I made it. And class went well. I am grateful for that too.
Amanda, you shall not pass! But you did. 🙂
FYI (former dialysis here, and we commonly gave epogen) it has to be hand delivered because it cannot be shaken (like it would be in a tube system), as it can damage the proteins and make the medication ineffective. We always did pharmacy runs to pick up the ESAs each day. Just sharing because I know you appreciate learning new things!
I am grateful this week for the medical care I’m receiving for an unusual problem, as well as an unexpected flare of a longstanding disease. I am also grateful to be seeing improvement of my frozen shoulder, as well as my son’s company this weekend, and getting together with a good friend. It helps to be grateful when we face challenges!