It's Medical Monday ~ CNA's Brighten Days

Today is the first Monday of July, which means it is Medical Monday around these parts!

I am happy to be co-hosting this month's Medical Mondays Blog Hop.

For those of you who are new here, I am a CNA, and for anyone who doesn't know what that is, I thought I would explain.

CNA stands for Certified Nursing Assistant.  Our duties vary depending on what job we take.  I used to do home health care, which I love.  Many CNA's work in nursing homes.  I currently work in a hospital on the neuro med/surg floor.  If you've ever spent time in a hospital, you've encountered a CNA, although different facilities use different job titles.

At my hospital, we are called Nurse Techs.  We take vitals, assist patients with various needs, answer your call light, bring you food and drinks (other than your actual meals).  I often feel like a waitress, counselor, and medical professional all rolled into one.  I could never list every one of my duties because there are so many and they vary greatly from day to day, week to week.  I run my butt off, I will say that!  I work hard for 12 hours, 3 days a week and it wears me out.  But I love it - most days!

We appreciate all our Medical Monday participants! You all have helped us develop a fantastic community of friendship and support! Next month we will be celebrating MM one year anniversary! Be sure to mark it on your calendar. Along with our regular link up party, we will have a giveaway which is sure to please! 

On to this month's party!!!.....

Are you confused if you qualify for the party?

If you have a pager interrupting your life... you DEFINITELY qualify!
Do you work in healthcare?

Doctor? Nurse? EMT? Chiropractor? Vet? Dentist? Therapist?

MA? NA? PA? DA?

Are you the spouse or SO of a healthcare worker/student?

Are you a nursing student? Medical student?

Intern? Resident? Fellow?

You get the picture, right? Come on, now... don't be shy! Let's keep growing and meeting new bloggers, so we can build a community of support and friendship, learn from one another, and share our stories.

LINK UP YOUR POST!

Here are the rules:

1. Follow your co-hosts via Bloglovin (since GFC will soon be defunct), FB, email or Twitter.
2. Link up you medical/med life blog. If your blog name does not clearly state how you fit in to the med/med life world, please write a little intro or link up a specific post which clearly demonstrates your connection.
3. Visit at least 3 other link ups, comment, introduce yourself, and tell the your stopping by or following from MM!
4. Help spread the word by using our button on your post or sidebar, tweet about Medical Monday, or spread the word on Facebook! The more the merrier for all of us.

Complete step one by following your co-hosts:

• Emma at Your Doctor's Wife
• Jane at From A Doctor's Wife
• Heather at Army Wife, Army Life
• Cyndy at Putting the Fun in Dysfunctional

Want to be awesome?
Post our button on you post or sidebar and help spread the word:

<a href="http://www.yourdoctorswife.com/p/medical-mondays.html" target="blank"> <img src="http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r494/fromadoctorswife/MedicalMonday-001edit125x125.jpg"/> </a>

Want to co-host next month? Shoot Emma an email at yourdoctorswife@gmail.com and be sure to write "Medical Monday Co-host Request" in the subject field.

Now, link up below and have fun! The link up is open through Friday, so be sure to come back during the week to check some great reads!

Uniformed Scrubs - Scrub Top Review and Discount Code!

I was contacted not long ago by a company called Uniformed Scrubs and asked if I would like to try out one of their medical scrub tops.
I was happy to do so!

see? that's my happy face.

I received a black scrub top.  I told them I wear a size medium, and that is what they sent.  I've worn a medium for a long time.  I did notice this Size Medium seemed to be a little bigger than usual.
Too big is better than too small, of course, but if you're ordering, you may want to order a size smaller than normal.

Other than that, it's pretty perfect!  I love the big deep pockets located in the front, with the opening on TOP.  After nearly seven years in health care, I have developed a strong preference for those types of pockets on my nurse scrubs.  Side-opening pockets = lost stuff.  And pockets = vitally important.



For my readers, Uniformed Scrubs is offering a discount code!  Just use the code "trueblue" and you will get a 15% discount until July 31st, 2013!

And you can connect with Uniformed Scrubs via social media for more info :

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uniformedscrubs
Blog: http://uniformedscrubs.wordpress.com/
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/102649430487593258176/about

Twitter: @UniformedScrubs
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/uniformedscrubs/

Right Where I Need to Be

I fed a sweet old man lunch and dinner today.

He's not able to feed himself. So I fed him.
When I left my home care job, I was so afraid that I was leaving my calling.
The work that I feel led to do.  The work for which I feel passion.
As I rushed around from room to room today, taking care of the needs of a dozen patients, I didn't feel that way.
I scurried back and forth, trying to make sure each patient was being taken care of, answering call lights, taking vitals, among what seemed like a million other things, and hoping I was doing well on my second day at this job.
When we finally had a moment to breathe, the senior tech who is training me said, "I want to tell you something.  We have had a TOUGH group [of patients] today.  This has been a very busy and hard day.  And you have done an excellent job.  These patients have received far better care than they would have if you were not with me today.  And if you can handle this group on this day - you can handle anything."

I fed a sweet old man lunch and dinner today.

Big Changes a'Coming

A few Mondays ago, I wrote a blog post all about my job.  I told you what I do for a living, how much I love it, and how rewarding it is.
What I did not - could not - tell you, is that I am leaving this job.

I couldn't tell you because it wasn't certain yet.  I was waiting on the official offer from the new job - I had to pass a background check, health screening, drug test, etc...........

I am, obviously, not leaving because I am dissatisfied with the work itself in any way.  I love my client and her family.  I also adore my employers and they have been wonderful to me for the past year.  They've went above and beyond for me, and I appreciate them greatly.
However.

The pay is very, very low.  And because of the current economy, it's not going to get much better.  I did just get my annual raise - but it's still nowhere near enough.


I was looking for another job in addition to my home care job to supplement my income, and I applied as a Nurse Tech at a local hospital - essentially the same thing I did for four years at another local hospital.  The position I applied for was PRN - as needed.  They would just call me when they were short-handed.
But when I got there and interviewed, they ended up asking if I would consider working for them full time.
(seriously the best interview I EVER had. It was a blast.)

The pay is better and the benefits are great - health insurance, retirement, the whole bit.  I literally CAN'T pass up this opportunity - it's just not an option.

I will stay on at my current job on PRN status, and hopefully they will use me often; I really want to keep in contact with my client and her wonderful family.
I have already told my employers, but I haven't yet told my client nor her family; I haven't worked for her since officially being hired at the hospital.  I'll tell her on Monday.  I am SO not looking forward to that conversation.  Additionally, one of the long-term night shifters recently left (for a higher paying job - of course) so it's yet another loss for her.  It sucks.  I know she'll understand, but I still feel badly for leaving her. Quality care is so hard to come by.

I'm VERY excited, don't get me wrong.  When I toured the unit after my interview, I couldn't help but get excited about being back in the hospital atmosphere.  I do miss it.  I also miss wearing CUTE scrubs - right now I only wear company scrubs in blue & khaki.  Boring! LOL

And best of all, I have a plan.  This job will, eventually, take me back to doing home care, but in a different setting.  For a long time, I have felt a calling to do Hospice care.  My plan is to go back to school for nursing (this job offers 100% TUITION REIMBURSEMENT - HELLOOO!!!!!) and eventually be a Hospice Nurse.  Now, I have had some false starts on this path before, but current life circumstances make this more of a possibility now than ever before.  So, hopefully, this time I will achieve my goals.

But - I have never, ever left a job that I LOVED.  So, there's a sense of loss, a sadness, a bittersweet feeling.

So.  One more week with my sweet client, then it's on to bigger and better things as of Monday October 29th.  Thank you all for coming along with me on this journey!

Medical Monday Blog Hop

I'm not usually much of a hopper, but I just couldn't resist this one.
I recently started reading Your Doctor's Wife.  It's a great blog and her header is one of the coolest I have EVER seen.  For real.

Anyway, I couldn't resist this blog hop because it's a Medical Monday hop.  Not only I am in the health care profession, but today makes one year that I've been caring for my main client.
I absolutely love what I do.  If you're new here, I do home health care. I'm a CNA - Certified Nursing Assistant.  I work for an agency but since I started, have had one main client.

The type of work I do is very hands on.  Very personal.  I help my clients with any aspect of their daily lives that they need help with.  Some of the things I help with are dressing, taking medications, and going to appointments.  I cook their meals.  I see them at their worst and their best.
My main client gets 24 hour care.  She can do very little for herself.  I help her with any and everything.  I have met all of her children and most of her grandchildren.  I have bonded with my client and her family.  I spend so much time at her home, it's like a second home to me.

Sidenote: All of my clients thus far have been continent (meaning they need little to no help using the restroom).  This has been a blessing.  I can and will do whatever I need to do, but I won't lie and say I'm not glad that I don't have to deal with a lot of....ummmm....waste products!

My philosophy is that I treat my clients the way I would want my parents to be treated.  I am respectful and caring and warm.  I do my best to help them maintain their dignity in a time where that can be a challenge.  I speak to them with kindness, never talking down to them.  I don't give orders, I make requests.  I ask their opinion instead of making choices for them regarding things like meals and clothing.  I wouldn't work in an environment where other caregivers did not treat their clients respectfully; I simply couldn't tolerate it.

I have loved senior citizens for as long as I can remember.  I first felt called to do this type of work several years ago.  Two years ago I finally took the plunge and did it.  And I love it.  I've never had a job that I loved this much, that was this rewarding and fulfilling.  I feel appreciated and valued.  I don't dread going to work.  I think I've only missed work once this entire year and it was totally inevitable (and with the insanity I've been through this year, that's saying a LOT).  This agency has been good to me and I appreciate them.  When I first started, along with my main client I also cared for the company owner's grandmother until she passed away.  I adored her and every time I left, she told me she loved me and gave me a hug.  I miss her dearly.

It's a unique job.  It has its challenges but the rewards are great.
I've worked in health care for over six years now and I can't imagine doing anything else, although I do plan to advance in this field.  (I worked as a tech in a hospital for four years and did home health care independently for a year after that.)
I am not certain what the future holds; I have goals, hopes and dreams. But I know the health care field is where my heart is, and where I'll always be!