So I have always had a phobia of the eye or anyone coming near my eyes. There is a reason that I will explain. When I was very young, maybe around 7 or 8 years old, my family and I went to a family reunion. As I played with cousins and family members outside, a… Continue reading The Eye
Author: thatnursepatty
I have been a nurse since 2006, my children are older, my youngest just went off to college. I have many hobbies. I love to sew, paint, blog, and journal. I have 3 girls and a son.
Healing, Part 3
Me taking a job seven or so hours from my home town was hard and doing it by myself was another thing. So the last month in my home town was really difficult, but I set my mind on leaving and wasn’t going to back down. It’s probably the Aries in me but once I… Continue reading Healing, Part 3
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Healing Part 2
Well starting to heal myself I needed to realize that some of the things that happened to me were my fault. I didn’t want to project my wounds onto anyone else. So, I started meditating and going within to figure out why I had self sabotage so much in my life. I starting reading books,… Continue reading Healing Part 2
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Healing Part 1
A friend told me that they wished I would express more about my healing journey. I haven’t felt that I have healed completely, but I thought I would share the start of my healing journey. So healing for me started around four years ago. To give you a little bit about my history with healing,… Continue reading Healing Part 1
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Love
Reading a book someone gave me some time ago called, A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson. It talks about love. It also puts into perspective how religion works in her perspective. I agree with most of what this author writes about. “God is love and anything that isn’t love is an illusion.” She says… Continue reading Love
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Thanks To Everyone
I just wanted to thank everyone for the prayers and support while I have been under the weather. Every like and comment has been a blessing. I am back at work now, but still fighting some lingering symptoms. I think the everlasting headache is the most annoying. Someone told me that that never goes away.… Continue reading Thanks To Everyone
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Covid
So I have contracted Covid. It may be a minute before a post. I probably got if from a patient as the facility I’m working has an out break. I’m not feeling good at all. Be safe and keep me in your prayers. Thank you. Like
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Change In The Air
I have been on a healing journey for probably around a year or maybe a bit longer. I realized that a lot of the things that has happened to me in my past was mostly of my own doing. Probably karma. I have learned that because I was hanging on to all the trauma that… Continue reading Change In The Air
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Maintenance
So before Covid I worked on an Alzheimer’s unit that was a locked. I took care of a man that apparently worked as a maintenance man at an apartment complex. He had Alzheimer’s and he was probably in the later stages of the disease. He could walk , talk and looked what is concerned “normal”… Continue reading Maintenance
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Abandoned
After the first couple patients had contracted Covid and the upper management decided to play ring around the building with every patient. Everyone that was working there was scared shitless. (to put it bluntly). Most of us knew it was coming and we still got up. Day after day, put on our scrubs, and went… Continue reading Abandoned
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Confession
Confession. I really started this blog for I guess selfish reasons. I started it to really let my personal situations get out of my head. More like a journal to my life experiences. After all the people I have lost over the last four years I needed a release from all the sadness that I… Continue reading Confession
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Sunrise
o, So I had a pretty rough night at work last night. I mean I have had some pretty crappy nights as a nurse, but last night I had three different patients fall all in the span of six hours. In the geriatric community, a fall is sometimes a death sentence. It is actually one… Continue reading Sunrise
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Not Giving a Fuck
Is the skill of not caring an art? It must be. To lay next to someone crying and know you’re the reason why they are crying and fall asleep peacefully it must be an art. I can’t do it. I sometimes wish I could. It sometimes sucks to feel every emotion of a person when… Continue reading Not Giving a Fuck
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Energy Field
Sorry I haven’t written a story in a few weeks. We have Covid in our building I’m working in and really my energy has been off. So I have been working a lot on my energy field and trying to get the right energy around me. That includes the people around me that I interact… Continue reading Energy Field
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Summer Vacation
So a friend of mine,who is also a nurse, had a procedure done many years prior when her kids were smaller. I guess her kids were old enough to know better but still young enough to get into trouble. Anyway the doctor had given her some pain medication, which made her somewhat loopy. While she… Continue reading Summer Vacation
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Anniversary
Today my blog is celebrating its first anniversary. Thanks for tuning in, reading up, and listening. It’s been a quite a ride, I know. This blog has been a way to vent, exchange, and get awareness out about health care workers, patients that aren’t seen, and families that weren’t heard before and after Covid. We’re… Continue reading Anniversary
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The Odd Pair
They were an odd pair being roommates, and they hated each other.
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Eating What She Wants!
If you did not know, but some people can not eat just anything. I don’t just mean you can have that favorite ice cream because you're on some diet. Some can’t eat solid foods at all and live for years with a tube in their stomachs. The only thing they can have is a liquid… Continue reading Eating What She Wants!
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Dialysis Day
On a regular dialysis day, things were suppose to go this bad, but they did.
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Break
The building that I was working in was probably 40 years old, hanging on by a thread and with duct tape and some superglue. A stiff wind would have blown it over, I’m sure my relationships were also hanging on by a thread by the end of the first year after covid started. I was… Continue reading Break
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Gun Control
So I was working in long term care after covid started and received a patient that was almost the same age as myself. She had no kids but was married to a much older man. I did not care too much for her husband. He was an older southern white man. And let everyone know… Continue reading Gun Control
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The EYE
I have almost a phobia of the eye. There is a reason. As a young child during one summer family reunion picnic I had a small bug zoom into my eye and embed into the white of my eye. Also throughout my life I have had bugs make a bee line straight to my eyes.… Continue reading The EYE
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What Is This, Please?
What is this? Not a star or a star? I posted this video because it shows how far away the object is and the gate is a back gate if the hospital. This video it looks like it is moving but it’s just my hand shacking. I’m outside on my break at work and notice… Continue reading What Is This, Please?
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Long Rant
Okay this post maybe just a long rant but here it goes. Is dating like a boxing match? I’m starting to think so. When you first meet you kinda shake hands, then you put your defenses up. Who can outplay the other. I mean I don’t want to play games, I just want someone to… Continue reading Long Rant
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A Normal Clinic Day
It was a busy but normal clinic day, until a patient walked in threading to kill him mother if he didn’t get what he wanted.
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Bad Energy
Working for six months on a cardiac floor and it was my first time working in a hospital. Being a newbie hospital nurse and having a charge that refused to help and she slept most of the time. The unit was on the fourth floor and we only used the front part of that floor… Continue reading Bad Energy
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I CANNOT Do My Job Without CNAs
I have lost 3 CNAs in the past 4 months. It’s been a hard few months. Bailey has been a CNA as long as I have been a nurse. As you may know CNA’s don’t make a lot of money, this one is a work horse and such a sweet person. She is only in… Continue reading I CANNOT Do My Job Without CNAs
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When You Become The Patient
Roles Reversed By Patty D. Someone asked me this week, “why are you so positive and have good vibes all the time?” I said, “maybe it’s because nothing is promised and it can be all taken away.” I’m not sure if I have shared this before and I can only tell you how it was… Continue reading When You Become The Patient
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Pictures
I just wanted to share some pictures that I have taken over the last month. Just some sunsets and scenes that I captured. Hope you will enjoy. Lunch Breaks Dinner at Dusk Dusk Drifting Breaks Post Night time snack Windmills ALL NAMED ON THIS PAGE OR ANY PAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT-NURSE-PATTY.COM OR CALLMENURSEPATTY.HOM.BLOG HAVE… Continue reading Pictures
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The Morgue
This isn’t really a Covid story to say the least. I was working at a hospItal many years before covid. The house supervisor had pulled me off the regular floor that I had been working on and put me down in ER to help out during “rush hour”. I was in triage most of that night… Continue reading The Morgue
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The School Picture
I had a patient tell me about her husband some time ago. They were married over 50 years before he passed. Her name was Sarah and her husband name was Bill. I walked into her room she said, “Patty, come here I want to show you something.” She handed me a picture of Bill, “this… Continue reading The School Picture
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New Endeavor
I haven’t blogged in over a week. It’s because I have been writing a book. Not a novel or memoir. Just a short book on How to document as a long term care nurse. I’m not even sure what I’ll call this how to book. Maybe how to power chart as a long-term care nurse.… Continue reading New Endeavor
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Gadgets You Got To Get For Your Car
Ok guys keeping it real, I got to pay the bills. So I’m a huge fan of Amazon and even if I didn’t do affiliate links I still would shop there weekly. I have not gotten as many packages as I use to so I’m getting better at management of my funds. That being… Continue reading Gadgets You Got To Get For Your Car
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Last Days
Someone that I work with made me remember a patient I once had. She wasn’t very old, she had breast cancer, and was a nurse. This patient apparently took care of everyone but herself. The cancer was so bad that it was growing on the outside of her body. Then she fell a few… Continue reading Last Days
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Forgiveness
I forgive you. I forgive you for all the hurt that you have caused. I forgive you for not being there. I forgive you for me. I forgive you for not helping when you should have. I forgive you for all the hurtful crap you spoke about Me. I forgive you for not supporting or… Continue reading Forgiveness
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Arriving At A New Location
My first new location was around six hours from my house. I drove my car and decided to take my time. I would make a pit stop more than half way there and camp for the night in my car. The drive was scenic and peaceful. I came over a hill and seen these huge… Continue reading Arriving At A New Location
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Birthday!!
The start of my birthday wasn’t to bad. I’m trying to get everything together and packed, I’m also trying to get my car road ready. While I did get three new tires. I stopped into a hospital to say goodbye (and to see how she was doing) to one of my long term patients… Continue reading Birthday!!
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Travel Nursing
My First Contract My first contract as a travel nurse is for thirteen weeks. It’s for twelve hours shifts at a hospital. It’s over six hours from my house which I really don’t think that’s too bad. I have decided to go a day early and stop to see an attraction before I do my… Continue reading Travel Nursing
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It’s Official, I’m A Travel Nurse
Ladies and gentlemen it’s official, I’m a travel nurse. Starting April 19, one day after my birthday, I’ll be on the road headed to my first destination as a travel nurse. Kinda of nervous, scared, and a whole lot of other emotions. The strangest is sadness, I feel sorta sad, I know I shouldn’t… Continue reading It’s Official, I’m A Travel Nurse
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How I Transformed My SUV Into A Mini Camper
When I was younger we would go camping for entire summers. Me and my brother knew every bike trail in the state parks that we would visit. I have very fond memories of those summers. So I decided that one of my goals is to visit every state park in Texas. Texas has 89… Continue reading How I Transformed My SUV Into A Mini Camper
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Many Hobbies
So I have many hobbies. Probably too many hobbies. I try to keep my time occupied but I’m not to much of a tv person. I can sew, paint, (I have done watercolors, oil, and acrylic), collect coins, make books, and design journals. I’m a girl of many hats. One of the hobbies is acrylics.… Continue reading Many Hobbies
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Crowds Are Not an Option
. So I don’t do crowd. Crowds are not an option for me. I’ll explain why this is, I have witnessed some strange things while being in a large crowd. Let me give an example. Myself, my daughter, who was 11 at that time, and a friend went to a Major League Baseball game and… Continue reading Crowds Are Not an Option
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Has Spring Sprung?
I’m writing this blog and it’s so beautiful outside. I just want to spend the day by a river reading a book or fishing by a lake. Has spring really sprung? In Texas we may get two weeks of this weather in spring before the heat sets in like a wall of flames choking you… Continue reading Has Spring Sprung?
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Nurse Abuse
**this post "Nurse Abuse" has adult content that may not be suitable for younger audience’s*** So this story is true and this has happened to me more than once in my nursing career. I had a couple that I took care of for around a year. The husband, Mr, Dove, I’ll call him, He… Continue reading Nurse Abuse
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The Ice Storm
About a week ago we had an ice storm. And if you read my post it was really hard trying to get from my door to my car. What I didn’t tell you was the morning after my dance with my pine tree in my front yard I was getting ready to leave. Getting… Continue reading The Ice Storm
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To Loss
Some of us become adults, within our closest relationships. It’s soft tension bent our attitudes, they framed our values. No one knows the weight of our love, until it’s release. Then tomorrow the sun rises and then sets, and then tomorrow and then tomorrow. Day by day you still go on, but it’s a different… Continue reading To Loss
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Slipping and Slidding
Slipping and Sliding: I was scheduled to work today and the roads due to sleeting rain were bad. As a nurse you don’t get snow days. You can’t just call in because you can’t get to your car without falling due to the ice rink that is below your feet. Oh no they would just… Continue reading Slipping and Slidding
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Lazy Day
Well I got up today ready to get some errands done. But I open my front door and it is sleeting outside. If you have ever been to Texas in the winter you’d know that most of the time it doesn’t snow it just rains ice, called sleet. Another thing you may not realize is… Continue reading Lazy Day
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Update: Harassment
An update on my last "Harassment" post. So after my altercation with said supervisor the higher management decided to look closer at the issue and suspended the supervisor until their investigation was completed. She then yelled and screamed at the higher manager and threaten to sue him. She also stated she would not be back.… Continue reading Update: Harassment
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The Elderly
I always thought I would grow old with someone, but I‘m guessing I was wrong. I always wanted to take care of my partner the way she took care of me. We would laugh at our bodies falling apart and spend holidays fixing things around the house. I guess that would be a dream that… Continue reading The Elderly
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Life Lessons
You know at my age you would think I would have some things figured out, but you would be wrong. I feel I was so much smarter in high school than I am now. I mean my trust level was even higher than it is right now. Sometimes I can’t figure out relationships to save… Continue reading Life Lessons
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Loss
Loss is something that nurses deal with on a weekly, monthly, and sometimes daily occurrence. It’s part of our job. We have to some how detach ourself from the hard situations that we are forced to deal with so we don’t loose ourselves along our own paths. It’s something that you learn over the years.… Continue reading Loss
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Harassment Part 1
I just decided that I wasn’t going to engage with this person. I would answer her but just answer her questions. It just made things worse, she was going to control every aspect of my day one way or another. She would walk by my desk over 50 times during my shift saying sly comments… Continue reading Harassment Part 1
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Monday Grind
So tomorrow I going to look for a camper van/camper trailer. I need something that I can either pull with my SUV or a class B motor home. Those are my preferred choices. I’m nervous due to the fact that I have never lived outside of Texas and the unknown of travel nursing. If anyone… Continue reading Monday Grind
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Should I?
Should I leave my home town and go on the road? It's so scary
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Part Of Round One
Part of round one. If you weren't aware, all of our patients were put under strick orders to not leave their rooms. If they did leave the room they had to have a mask. We, the employees, were under strick orders too. We had to wear Goggle's, a mask, a face shield, and a gown… Continue reading Part Of Round One
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Lost And Confused
Lost And Confused When did we as a people lose compassion and empathy for our fellow man? When did it turn too we are all in it for one: me, myself, and I? You know I went into nursing because I wanted to make a difference in someone's life, not for money or glam. I… Continue reading Lost And Confused
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Late Night Call
One night I get off work from a sixteen hour covid hall work day. I finally arrive home and I climb into my bed. I almost get my eyes closed, then my phone starts to ring. It was a late night call. The girl at the end of the line, 'Hey I'm sorry to bother… Continue reading Late Night Call
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Choosing To Be A Nurse
Choosing To Be A Nurse: Why Do You Want to Be A Nurse? Everyone that becomes a nurse has their reasons for choosing to become a nurse. I can only give you the reasons I became a nurse. I had a few... Before I was a nurse I worked in a small office where they… Continue reading Choosing To Be A Nurse
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Mrs. Page On The Dementia Unit
Mrs. Page was also on a Dementia unit. She thought because it look like a hospital that she was there to deliver one of her children. I mean she had seven children. She is what I called pleasantly confused patient. For the most part smiled most of the time didn't give anyone a hard time.… Continue reading Mrs. Page On The Dementia Unit
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Quotes That Get Me Through Tough Times
100 Best Books Quotes that help me get through tough times: "Be the change you want to see in this world" - Gandi. "You should be picky with your clothes, your friends, and your time."- unknown. "Happiness is holding someone in your arms and knowing you hold the whole world." - Orhan Parnuk "The happiness… Continue reading Quotes That Get Me Through Tough Times
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Be Kind
Please everyone can we be kind to one another? I work 16 hours on Saturday and Sunday. Every nurse I speak with is short staffed at their place of business. Everywhere. That's not just long-term care facilities but hospitals clinics home health. We are doing the best we can with what we have. Please be… Continue reading Be Kind
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3 Ways to Organize Your Craft Room
Three Ways to Organize Your Craft Room. If your craft area/room is anything like mine it's always a mess. Any time I complete a project I have to put it back together again. It doesn't matter which area I'm working in I have everything out and brought around the room. I have some tips on… Continue reading 3 Ways to Organize Your Craft Room
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Hot Summer Day
When a fire breaks out and you're the nurse.
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How To Choose A Long-term Facility Or Rehab Center
Photo by Max Vakhtbovych on Pexels.com How To Choose A Long-term Facility Or Rehab Center It's a big decision to move a family member into a long-term care/rehab facility. and figuring our how to choose a long-term facility or rehab center can be complicated. There are a few things that you need to decide when… Continue reading How To Choose A Long-term Facility Or Rehab Center
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My Hero
My Hero My hero is a story from when I was working on the lock down unit/dementia unit. I took care of an elderly man who was small in stator. He didn't speak any English and when you spoke to him he just looked at you and smiled. Although he was a small man he… Continue reading My Hero
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Mr. Classical
Mr. Classical: Best Nursing Stories. I worked on a Dementia unit for around a year. Those that don't know what that is, it's a unit or hallway that is locked down 24 hours a day. Anyone that is on the unit would have to have a code to get onto the floor and off the… Continue reading Mr. Classical
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Watercolors And My Journal
I started watercolors when Covid started because I needed to get some of what I was feeling out. It helped me get through some pretty dark days. I'm not a great artist but it made my emotions more manageable. I have posted just a few pages from a few journals. Hope you enjoy and have… Continue reading Watercolors And My Journal
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Him and Her: Part 2
Best nursing stories: Him and Her: Part 2. To view Him and Her: Part 1, please click here. Mrs. Snow just wasn't herself after Mr. Tegg passed away. She didn't leave her room. She refused to eat. Then she refused to get out of her bed. A month rolled but she was so weak that… Continue reading Him and Her: Part 2
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The Building-A Mary-Go-Around
Another Nursing Story: The Building-A Mary-Go-Around The Merry-Go-Around. Covid showed itself by giving our patients diarrhea then nausea and vomiting. Our dehydrated patients were easy prey. That first patient was deceased in two hours after she started showing symptoms. I was unable to obtain labs in less than four on a good day, X-rays takes… Continue reading The Building-A Mary-Go-Around
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Him and Her Part 1
Another Best Nursing Story: Him and Her Now Mr. Tegg and Mrs. Snow were not married but they did spend every minute they could together under lock down. Mrs. Snow was very quiet and soft spoken, she has had a hard life. She lost her daughter to suicide not six months before covid hit. Her diagnosis'… Continue reading Him and Her Part 1
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The Best Is Yet To Come
The Worst Isn't Over Yet, But The Best Is Yet To Come Don't waste a single day on trivial drama. Life is too short for unnecessary hurt. Be kind to one another. The Best Is Yet To Come. SUBSCRIBE
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Santa Claus
Santa Claus: A crazy nursing story. So, I had a patient I'll call him John. He was a big guy, probably 6'2 and maybe around 260, but he was the sweetest man. Just like a big grizzly bear. He had gray balding hair and a white beard and could pass for Santa Claus for sure.… Continue reading Santa Claus
