I suppose that sooner or later it would dawn on me that I've been out of touch with the "real" world for some time now.  I just found out last night that John McCain is not running against anyone, that's why the focus is on Hillary and Obama right now.  Not that I'm one to follow politics, I sway neither Republican nor Democrat, I vote the person who has a better platform.  Now, this all hit me last night while watching the 11pm news following CSI:Miami, which I apparently have not caught up on lately as one of the characters left the show and I knew nothing about it. 

My dad said, "Yeah, it was on the previews from last week."

I replied, "When did the writer's strike end?"

I guess that's what happens when you essentially live, eat, and breathe hospital.  Most people assume that on a day off one would kick back and watch TV, catch up on their soap opera, be a couch potato.  Not me.  I get out of the house.  I drive to different places around northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan and I enjoy the fantastic weather.  And I try to get some sleep.  I am caught up in things other than what is really going on this world.  Except gas prices.  You can't ignore that no matter how hard you try. 

So I came up with a plan: 

1.  Read the newspaper.  Even though the Blade's proofreading leaves little to be desired, I vow to partake in it long enough to get in touch with the goings on around here.

2.  Utilize my DVR more often.  That way I really can spend a day being a couch potato.  I can't tell you the last time I watched Top Chef or Hell's Kitchen the same week they aired. 

3.  Click on the top stories on the AOL homepage when I check my email.  That way I can get in touch with some of the more tabloid aspects of life. 

Whether or not these will work, I don't know.  But maybe I should focus a little less on the fact that I live, eat, and breathe hospital. 

Tuesday, May 06, 2008 6:19:59 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

Dear Campus Community,

The 2008 TAU has been posted on current students/student life. Now that the semester is drawing to a rapid close, I hope you will take the time to read it. It contains some stories, some essays, and some poems. All have been written by Lourdes students, staff, or faculty. There is a great diversity of theme, so there should be something satisfying for everyone.

The TAU is published every spring by the Language and Literature Department. We accept manuscripts at the beginning of second semester, and we publish during National Poetry Month (April). If you like to write, think about submitting next year.

If you would like to discuss any of the readings, add your comments here. We can have a kind of on-line book club going.

Enjoy,

Nancy

Monday, May 05, 2008 12:05:10 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

My question today is....

Do you believe that the officals had the right to remove over 400 children from their homes? What should now happen to all those children that have been placed into foster care?

Please give me your feed back on this issue that is happening in the news now.

Thanks!

Dawn Marie

Saturday, May 03, 2008 3:07:50 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

I am so tired right now!  I've been on nights now for two weeks and it's been a difficult transition so far.  It's 11:45am right now and I got off work at 3:30am.  I was up at 9am.  And I haven't been back to sleep.  So here I am, staring bleary-eyed at a computer monitor in an almost catatonic state.  I was on the day shift for four months and detested getting up before the sun came out.  I never really got used to that at all.  I had the opportunity to switch to nights at the end of April and I jumped at it.  I'm used to late nights in a hospital.  There is a different atmosphere on nights, I guess.  For instance, the lights are turned down low, patients are bathed and readied for bed, and it's quieter.  Most nights. 

For me, nights are the best time to learn as a new nurse because you have time to sit with your preceptor and pick their brains.  You can gain so much knowledge from your preceptors and co-workers because nights are so much more relaxed (for the most part)and you don't have to worry about catching the doctors or dealing with visitors or the regular hustle and bustle that exists during the day.  At night you can sit back (if your patients are stable) and discuss your patient with your preceptor and really get a grip on the whole critical thinking aspect of nursing. 

In two weeks on nights I have learned how to view brain hemorrhages on a CT scan, how to draw blood off of an arterial line, how check a cardiac index on a Swan, what a proper CVP waveform looks like and how to troubleshoot a bad waveform, how to recognize an aortic aneurysm on a CT, what a procedure called a Whipple is, and how to call doctors on the phone and not make them upset because I'm calling about something little.  I've also perfected the art of giving a bed bath in under 15 minutes while completing my midnight assessment.  What accomplishments!

I also like nights because that's when I think a lot of excitement happens.  New admits come in who aren't stable, and the unit I'm on now gets the traumas, surgeries, and just about anything else that is critical.  The patients could potentially crash at any given moment and to me it's all very exciting--I like the adrenaline rush of having someone's life in your hands.  It's very fast-paced when a new admit comes.  There are about 10 people helping out, with someone documenting, someone else is getting supplies, several people are getting the patient moved onto the bed, and various people are hooking the patient up to the monitor, changing the linens, running the ventilator, cleaning up messes, hooking up IV lines and drips, and so on.  There's a lot going on in a limited amount of space and it's all exciting to me.

There are other nights when nothing is going on and it's all I can do to stay awake.  I've developed a caffeine habit that consists of Red Bull and coffee.  I hate coffee.  But it keeps me up as long as I put in a boat load of cream and sugar.  I get the yawns around 3am.  Between 3 and 5 I am a zombie.  I caught myself nodding off while charting my assessment last week.  In order to stay awake, I take a brisk walk down the hall or I do a few jumping jacks (not in front of everyone, but I go to the bathroom or the supply room and do them).  Then there are some nights that, regardless of what I do, I am either wired or exhausted and there's no way around it.  Nurses have it rough at night because we are constantly fighting our own bodies' response to Circadian rhythms.  Most people's bodies are not used to staying up through the night, and mine is certainly no exception. 

So while I love nights I hate the fact that I am not sleeping a lot during the day.  It'll take some time to get used to, but I can deal with it.  I'll have to regardless because almost all new nurses get put on the night shift after orientation anyway. 

Time to get back to bed.

Saturday, May 03, 2008 12:05:06 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Alice T. Parisi, Lourdes College Director of Grants & Research, recently earned a nationally recognized credential in the grants field.  The recognition is conferred by the Grant Professionals Certification Institute, Inc. (GPCI), an affiliate of the American Association of Grant Professionals (AAGP). 

Alice was one of 170 certified grant designers and managers who were awarded the Grant Professional Certified (GPC) title after passing the inaugural GPC examination. The credential recognizes proficiency in standards that include tenure in the profession, education, demonstrated achievement and a commitment to service for public and private philanthropy.

“This certification recognizes the diverse skills and knowledge that grant professionals possess,” says Alice. “It is very fulfilling to have passed this examination and to be recognized for my professional achievements.”

Friday, May 02, 2008 1:35:21 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

I have been working in restaurants since the day I turned 16.  With my recent job change, I’ve had quite a number of people asking me questions about waiting on tables.  I have compiled a list of things everyone who goes out to eat should know.

1. CHILDREN :
If you have children, do not let them open and dump anything on the table (salt, sugar, ketchup, etc). If they do, compensate the server – he or she will have to clean up the mess. We are neither their babysitter nor their parent. Also make sure you control your kids and don't let them scream or run around the restaurant. It's very distracting to other guests.  It’s also very dangerous – servers constantly carry hot food and breakable plates and glassware.

2. "THE CAMPERS":
 We make our money from the tables. If you are in one and we can't seat it, we don't make money.  Please be considerate.  Leave extra money if you sit longer than one “turning” for a meal.  During lunch, a table can be turned every 30 minutes.  During dinner, a table can be turned every hour.  If during lunch, you sit for 3 hours, leave 6 times as much tip.  I’m not kidding here.

3. "THE VERBAL TIP":
Telling a server they are the best server they've ever had is not a tip. If we are good, let us know by leaving us more money. We can’t pay our bills on compliments. It’s not that we don't appreciate the praise.  It’s great to let a server know that they are doing a fantastic job.  If you say that and then leave a crappy tip, it's an insult to the server.

4. THE SALVATION PAMPHLETS:
Prayer cards and any other religious pamphlets are not considered a tip. Jesus doesn't pay the bills!! It is insulting that you assume servers are without religion and must save us.  We'd go to church on Sundays if it wasn't mandatory to work on Sundays because everyone who goes to church follows it by eating out.  It is also insulting to assume that everyone is a Christian – every heard of freedom from religion?

5. TIPPING:
It's not 1960. 20% is the new 15%.  20% is the MINIMUM amount of what you should be tipping your servers.  A real simple way to figure out the tip is to take the total of the check and move the decimal point one place to the left and multiply that number by 2.  A $45.00 check = 4.5 x 2 = $9.00 tip. Remember, our companies pay us minimum wage ($3.50 an hour in the state of Ohio).  Most companies automatically charge tax on 10% of a tab.  If you have never served, you have no idea.  Let me break it down for you.

If your bill is $100, the company that I work for will automatically assume that I made at least $10 off of your table (10%).  I will pay taxes on this $10 whether you actually left me money or not. 

Servers do not keep all of their money.  If you ordered alcoholic beverages, throw in a couple extra dollars.  It’s usually mandatory for servers to pay bartenders 5% of their alcohol sales for their tables.  Servers also have to tip out other people – bussers, food runners, etc.

6. THE COMPLAINERS:
If you get a discount because of your food was prepared wrong, don't take it out of our tip. We didn't cook it. The cooks get paid hourly regardless if the food sucks. However, we only make what you give us.  Now – If your server got an attitude with you because you complained, you have every right to deduct form the tip.  Servers are to be courteous no matter what.

8. THE GREET:
When we come up to the table to greet you and we ask how you are doing please let us know. If you are in a good or bad mood, we want to know – it helps us to give you better service.  If you are in a hurry or want to lounge – let us know.  It helps us pace your meal to your liking. A confused stare or complete silence does not count as an answer.  Please, let us know if you need accommodation with anything – we are not mind readers.

9. THOSE CELL PHONES:
Seriously! Get off your phone...This is probably the rudest thing to do. If you must be on your cell, at least keep your voice down in respect for other customers. If you are on your cell phone when we walk up to greet your table we will walk away and not return until you get off your phone. We are trained to do this.  We are not going to interrupt your call.  So get off your phone. If you want to be rude to the guest with you, by all means, go right ahead.  Please be aware of the other guests at other tables.  You would be surprised at the complaints we have of people that overhear inappropriate phone conversations.

10. THE IMPATIENT ONES:
Ahh yes... If a server comes to bring out your drinks and she/he is juggling about 5 things don't ask "Are we going to get some bread???". Do you not see their hands are full, does it look like you are going to get some bread at that moment. Clearly you will get bread, but unless the server can magically make bread appear, your question is ridiculous. Some people at your table might want their drink first, so that’s what I'm bringing right now.  If you want something brought out right away, tell your server when they get your drink order.  Now, if your server is standing around gossiping with other servers instead of getting you the things you need, you have every right to complain.

11. THE ONES WHO RUN YOUR BUTT OFF:
If a server comes to your table and asks "is there anything else I can get for you?" I want you to tell me everything you need. Don't ask for one item, have me go and get it and on returning ask me for something else...and then keep doing it. Think of everything you will need to make you happy and tell me ALL AT ONE TIME. We do have brains and can remember things... and last time we checked you aren't the only people in the restaurant, we have other tables that need us, and can't spend all night running back and forth.  Yes – people forget things, and that’s fine.  But try to have us consolidate our steps – you will get better service that way.

12. SELF-SEATING:
Once again...it is not 1960, and most restaurants are not on a "seat yourself" policy. Don't just assume that the area near the bar is a place where you can sit yourself down wherever you want. There is actually a reason hosts put you where they do. Hosts try to rotate tables, ensuring that each server gets the same amount of tables, and also so that servers do not get three tables all at once. This helps guarantee you get the best service possible. If you are unsure about the restaurant's policy and there is someone standing at the door staring at you when you walk in, you can bet that's a host and they will inform you.

13. ORDER TAKING:
When the server comes by to take your order, don't say that you are ready if you really aren't. Although it may seem fun to keep your server standing at your table for endless amounts of time while you actually decide what you want, there are once again other tables and other things that need to be done.

14. ASKING TO SEE THE MANAGER:
If your food sucks and you ask to see the manager don't make us sound like incompetent jerks. We really do want to make you happy.  If there is something wrong, as your server to fix it first.  If they are unable to, or do not fix the situation to your standards, then ask to see a manager.  Now – if the server was rude, feel free to complain.  They are obviously not doing their job.

Thursday, May 01, 2008 9:37:16 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [6] | 

Honorary Chairs Mike and Carol Anderson

Timothy Shew with Linda and Dr. Robert Helmer

Todd Matteson, Assistant Professor of Art and his wife Leah

Wednesday, April 30, 2008 10:33:15 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

It is absolutely beautiful outside and I am stuck in a basement computer room at the hospital working on my ECCO (Essentials of Critical Care Orientation).  Yes, I should be paying attention, but it's a web-based program that has a voice with a speech impediment.  Not that I am knocking anyone who has one, but to listen to a woman with a weird New England-type accent mispronounce words for roughly four hours at a time--I mean, really, come on now.

I am counting down the hours--it's been about 2 1/2 and I have another 1 1/2 to go, but there are so many better things I could be doing right now.  Like being outside.  And going for a cruise.  And getting some ice cream from some little hole in the wall roadside place.  And walking through a park.  And feeding some ducks/geese.  And I could go on and on, but alas I will not as this blog could easily become a list of the things I would do right now if I were not stuck in this room the size of a broom closet. 

And I digress...

I just finished my rotation on another unit this week and on Monday I start anew yet again.  Only now I'm on nights.  Yippee ki ay.  And yes, there is a lot of sarcastic enthusiasm there.  But I guess it's not that bad.  It's really the issue of working on the unit from 7p-3a and then sitting in front of a computer from 3a-7a to work on ECCO.  I tried it for an hour yesterday morning and I was ready to curl up in an empty hospital bed somewhere.  So I left and have to make up my hours on my day off.  Sure, I was off yesterday, but my plans to be here were thwarted by the fact that I had to drive to Findlay to pick up my brother from the hospital (nothing serious).  So that took up a few minutes of my time.  Then, he was hungry, had to return something to Best Buy, yadda yadda, and I'm like, seriously dude, you got a shot of morphine so let's get you home.  When all was said and done, I had no time left to come here. 

But here I am today.  And I'm so over it already.  Being alone in this room with nothing but a computer (cell phones don't work down here) really makes a person's thoughts wander. 

I have to make a hair appointment. 

Will the hospital track me down if they find out I'm surfing bored.com?  

Why doesn't environmental services come and clean up this room more often? 

I can't believe that I missed Top Chef this week. 

Did I set my DVR for Degrassi tonight? 

I'm hungry. 

I think I will bring in some pictures to hang on these stark white walls.  Maybe one of a kitten and one of the Care Bears. 

I wonder how old the printer in here is? 

I miss my dude.  

Oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh, the right stuff... 

Why is it that you can't get a fabulous cell phone signal in the Franklin Park Mall? 

I think I have to use the restroom.  Maybe not.

We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind...

It's nonstop random thoughts.  How does one deal?  Maybe I should just go back to listening so I can get it done.  There's a thought!

Friday, April 25, 2008 3:37:09 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [2] | 

 This semester is kicking my butt! I'm a good student - solid g.p.a., minimum absences, prepared and organized... but this semester has been rough right out of the box. I am hoping that my g.p.a. won't nose-dive too badly, but man, I feel like I am on shaky ground in all but one class (thank, Jim, for not killing me in Interviewing, LOL).  I don't know why. Well, OK, the absences were because of the flu. But that doesn't explain why I wasn't prepared and organized in classes. Why I tended to doodle rather than take notes. Why I barely glanced at my text books.

 So I am facing next semester classes, and I am hoping that my current antipathy can be cured by a long summer. I'm taking Lit, which I should enjoy, since I love to read more than almost anything else. I am taking an Ethics class, which I find interesting. I am taking Nutrition, which I know I enjoy the instructor, so I'll be fine - a good instructor can hold my interest in any class, no matter how boring I find the material. And then I a taking something else, I don't remember what right off-hand. Yeah, I'm pretty apathetic!

 If I can survive and stay on task the next 2 weeks, I'll be fine (I hope). But man, 2 weeks has never looked so long before! I need a break. We are moving this summer, and renting out our current home, so I am not sure how much of a break I will actually have. Hopefully the move will go smoothly, we'll find great tenants, and everything will be perfect! Otherwise, I may come into next semester with my current level of burn-out, which doesn't bode well for those classes either.

 I have papers to write. I better get to it. Sigh.

Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:48:52 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] |