Molasses Enema

Enema Kit

Never had to give a Molasses enema before...it is definitely different. My dear pal L asks me to help her. She definitely pulled out the friend card. She mixed molasses, milk of mag, salt, and warm water. She mixed it all into a bag, but somehow missed the closure at the top. Remember that for later.

We take this big brown bag of goodness and hang it on an IV pole, with some lube in hand I start reaching for the moon. Once in place, we notice the bag of goodies isn't moving. So I say give it a squeeze, which I ended up squeezing molasses right onto the floor (the top not closed that went un-noticed until that point). I did a tiny splash onto my new t-shirt that I designed. We threw some towels onto the floor and tried again. This time I held the top closed with both hands while L did the squeezing. We won't go into the details that followed, lets just say that was an experience, I am not looking forward to anytime soon.

Then tonight L tries to pull the same trick and say she may need help inserting a nasal trumpet into the rectum. I said I don't think so!!! haha!

This reminds me of a joke: There were 3 baby moles in a tunnel underground. The oldest brother was in front and starts sniffing the air. He says, "Smells like mamma is fixin' bacon." The 2nd brother in line starts sniffing and says, "Mmm smells like she is fixin' pancakes." The baby brother was last in line and starts sniffing, and keeps sniffing. Finally he says, "Man I only smell molasses."

Lose Weight

Can you say brainfart?

Sorry I have not written anything really funny for awhile. I haven't felt "funny". Work has been challenging lately. Anywho.... I think I must be stressed about getting my wisdom teeth out in the morning. I did two stupid things tonight.

Firstly: I was starting an IV because the current one was leaking fluids. Tried to save it, but no good. I inserted the IV no problem, put on the extension and was flushing the IV, when all of a sudden to extension popped off. Oops! Well blood started to go everywhere, it took my brain about 3 secs to react...then I applied pressure. I was able to save the IV, reattach the extension, and tape it all up. Told the patient not to move while I finished getting it all together. Well in the process of me walking to get the line for the IV fluids that were running, she moved her arm which had the syringe still attached (so I didn't have to clean off the hub again). Out comes the iv.

I figure it popped off due to the site not being totally dry. When the IV came out, once again blood went everywhere. I had to apply pressure while the daughter when to ask the nurse sitting in the hall to get my some 2x2. Didn't help that the pt was on coumadin. Can ya say we have a bleeder??? I apologized and said, "I usually do not spill a drop of blood but that IV extension just popped out". I cleaned up the floor, the patient, and myself.

That would be nice if that was all. I was changing the bag of fluids over, and I think my mind went completely blank when I un-spiked the current bag of fluids and spiked the new one. In that few seconds the old one started pouring saline onto me, the floor, and the pt's bed rail. Thankfully the patient was spared except a tiny bit onto their arm. Once again I said sorry. I think my head must be in the clouds because of nerves due to the wisdom teeth extraction. The pt was really nice, and said it was okay... mercy!

The stupid things we do. My shirt finally dried after about an hour!

Vacation

Sorry I have not been posting in awhile. I was gone on vacation for a couple of weeks. I am back in action.

The only thing that has happened to me that was remotely weird or gross: My little patient decided to chew tobacco which isn't that bad. Except the fact that they decided to spit it on the floor all night long, and I ended up cleaning up a big pile of tobacco juice. Pretty gross at 4 am.

The perks of nursing!

CorPak & Rectal Trumpet

CorPak

Goes in your nose for tube feeding, etc

(different sizes)

I was checking on my patient to make sure they were doing okay. The funny thing is I didn't notice anything wrong at first. The tube feeder was beeping and I was trying to silence it due to the roommate in the next bed. I loaded more juice into the bag and turned on the tube feed. I kept hearing this high pitch squeal. I asked the pt what that was and they said they lost their hearing aid. I went on a bed search for the hearing aid when I noticed there was something on the floor. Lo and behold I notice stool on the floor. I follow the trail and see it on the bed, and the end of the yellow brick road was the rectal trumpet. I called for help and sheets. No one came. I went out into the hall and yelled for my pal L. Asked her to come help me.

We get in there and are cleaning them up, when all of a sudden L holds this tube up and says, "Um, did they pull this out?" There in her hands she held the corpak that use to be in the pt nose. With of course the tube feed still running! ha! The pt said that they didn't like it, and please don't put that tube back in me (meaning the rectal one).

What is even funnier still it didn't dawn on me until we were talking about what happened that I had actually started the tube feed back up and didn't even notice it wasn't in the pt's nose. *Shaking my head*

Nurses call the shots

Blood

I had to hang blood last week for the 1st time since RN B. and I had to during orientation. I think the 1st 4-5 days of working we had already given 6 units of PRBC & FFP. I haven't given any since then. Which is my excuse for what happens next.

Well I remembered how to do everything, except one minor detail! Opps!

When you set up blood you always have a bag of saline hanging as well to use to flush the blood through, after is is done. I started the blood was monitoring my patients vitals and stuff for a reaction. RN G comes rolling through and asked if I was doing okay, I said yes at the same time as looking up at my blood. I realized at that moment that my bag of saline was red. I was like um.....what happened! G. says to me well you might want to clamp the bag next time! Duh! haha! Oh the stupid things we forget about. Can't really flush blood with diluted blood can you?

ABG's

Tonight I got a chance to do my 1st ABG. I really thought I would get it. You feel bad when you have to stick a needle straight down into someone's artery. It hurts! I stuck it in and got a flash back of bright red blood, which is what you want. Then it stopped. So RN J. told me to pull back a little so I did. Got a little bit more but not enough to fill the tube. I lost the artery, which sucks for the patient!

Smoking Patient

Tonight my patient was smoking in the bathroom. I didn't physically see him but the smoke rolling out the bathroom door, tells the tell. They told me on days he was doing the same thing. One of my patient's complained they could smell smoke.