A visiting nurse came by to see me today, she had to do an update since Missy will be using them again. She didn’t smile much and asked me questions, she never looked at me, just at her computer. She was in a hurry, I guess it’s Friday and she wants to go home. She listened to my heart, took my blood pressure, asked about meds…she never really looked me in the eye, just asked questions.

Missy came home and told her everything was the same, no changes…the lady asked me how I felt, if I ever got depressed…I didnt answer her. She asked again louder as if I didn’t hear. I looked at her and she at me, I told her, “I am too old to be depressed. I have Alzheimer’s.” I asked her, “Do you get depressed? How do you feel today?”

She looked at me, and for the first time smiled…and said, “Yes, I get depressed, and today I don’t feel well.  I am sorry.” I told her, don’t be sorry, but, please, the next time you go to see an old person, look them in the eye, talk to them, not at them, and if you don’t feel well, tell them. I hope you feel better. Have a nice weekend, get some rest and come back and visit with me when you feel better Sweetie.

I am old, I don’t get depressed, I have Alzheimer’s. If you have a job, be proud of it, do your best…have a good weekend, get some rest… Read more…

Standing in the middle of the nurse’s station, I faxed a chart to Spring Harbor for our psych patient in room 11 and I watched the patient in room 3. Her twisted body was lying on the stretcher in a semi-sitting position. She was covered in a blanket and her feet were hanging out, uncovered. I chuckled to myself because that is how I lay as well—I hate my feet covered! She was talking to her husband. He was gently rubbing her crooked hand…they noticed me watching and both smiled at me, so I smiled back.

I finished faxing the chart and then went into room 3. “So how ya doin in here?” I asked her.
“Just fine.” She answered with a smile.
“Can I get you anything, or reposition you?”
“I would like to be turned.”

I grabbed our tech Paula to help me and we gently turned and repositioned her to the left side, propping pillows behind her and under her legs and between her knees. I gave her a back rub, applied some lotion and covered her with a warm blanket. She thanked us and then said “I’m so sorry to make so much work for you girls.”

“Please don’t say that…it is our pleasure to help you.” I answered with a smile, and I meant it.

This woman has MS and it has ravaged her body…she is not old…she fully has her mind and can breathe on her own but she has no use of her body whatsoever! Read more…

I was watching the show Undercover Boss the other night and it made me a little emotional. The show has a wonderful concept, the CEO of the company goes undercover and becomes a worker in 2 or 3 different areas of the company to find out how the company is really functioning…and to see how the employees function in their positions. In this episode, 3 exceptional employees of the company, 7 eleven, were highlighted and awarded for their excellent service.

What struck me about these employees was their true love of the job…they brought their A game every day and they didn’t bitch and moan while performing their job. These people did not have cushy positions with a window overlooking the ocean!! These people had the menial jobs that make companies run smoothly…an elderly woman who works the coffee machines…She knew every customers name and served them with a smile…a night delivery man, who is an immigrant—smiling and so happy to have a job that supports his family and an ex-military man who works on a dessert assembly line…who was smiling and encouraging to the “new” guy. All of these people were given this “new” guy to train. Not one of them bemoaned their job or their employer…they were encouraging to him and didnt make him feel like he was bothering them…

This brings me to the thought…What would the CEO of my company see if he went undercover in the ER? The nurses, techs, secretaries, docs and lab techs that work in our ER do an amazing job everyday! Read more…