Good to be home

Well, we made it out and back...what a wonderful trip! Georgia, Tennesse, N Carolina, Alabama and then back to Mississippi, all in 8 days. Lots of falls, caverns, hiking and sights along the way.

Before I left for vacation, a friend of a friend asked me about the job I do and if I thought her daughter would be suited for it. Explained I ws unable to determine suitability but that I could explain a typical day to her. After I did, she decided to not even bring it up to her daughter.

Most people think I have a cushy job because I only work (in a typical week) 3 days a week. Even though those 3 days garner me anywhere from 34-39 hours, they still think "Oh, still only 40 hours... and 4 days off...great deal!" So, I told my corkers about the chat and they, too, rolled their eyes. It was mentioned I should line out just what a day in dialysis looks like... so I did!
Here it is.. good luck deciphering it

515-545am Build, prime, test & recirculate 4 to 6 machines
545am Doors open to first on (6am) patients
545-558am get pre-vitals on Patient A, stick patient and start treatment
6-613am get pre-vitals on Patient B, stick patient and start
615-625am get pre-vitals on Patient C, stick patient and start treatment
630am All patients already on machine must have vitals entered into chairside system
630-641 get pre-vitals on Patient D, stick patient and start treatment
7am All patients must have vitals entered into chairside system
705-720am 15 minute breakfast break
730am All patients must have vitals entered into chairside system
737-825am get everything set up for changeover (when first set gets off and second gets on)
829- ??? take Patient A off AND build, prime, test & recirculate that machine for Patient E
830am while taking off Pt A also have to enter other 3 patient’s vitals into chairside system
843-??? take Patient B off AND build, prime, test & recirculate that machine for Patient F
900am while taking off Pt B also have to enter other 2 patient’s vitals into chairside system
905-916 put on Patient E (pre-vitals, stick patient and start treatment) (whose treatment I started 10 mins early per patient schedule)
910am-??? take off Pt C while putting Pt E on (pre-vitals, stick patient and start treatment) AND build, prime, test & recirculate that machine for Patient G
920-934 put on Patient F (pre-vitals, stick patient and start treatment) (whose treatment I started 10 mins late per patient schedule)
930am while putting Pt F on (pre-vitals, stick patient and start treatment) I also have to enter other 3 patient’s vitals into chairside system
941-??? take Patient D off AND build, prime, test & recirculate that machine for Patient H
945-1001 get pre-vitals on Patient G, stick patient and start treatment (on time)
1000am while putting Pt G on (pre-vitals, stick patient and start treatment) I also have to enter other patient’s vitals into chairside system
1015-1033am get pre-vitals on Patient H, stick patient and start treatment (on time)
1030am while putting Pt H on (pre-vitals, stick patient and start treatment) I also have to enter other patient’s vitals into chairside system
1033-11am get everything set up for changeover (when second set gets off and third gets on)
11am All patients must have vitals entered into chairside system
1109-1139am Lunch break
Noon All patients must have vitals entered into chairside system
1206-??? take Patient E off AND build, prime, test & recirculate that machine for Patient I
1220-1234pm get pre-vitals on Patient I, stick patient and start treatment (whose treatment I started 11 mins early)
1230pm while putting Pt I on (pre-vitals, stick patient and start treatment) I also have to enter other patient’s vitals into chairside system
1247-??? take Patient G off AND build, prime, test & recirculate that machine for Patient J
1300pm while taking off Pt G also have to enter other patient’s vitals into chairside system
1325-??? take Patient F off AND build, prime, test & recirculate that machine for Patient K
1330pm while taking off Pt F also have to enter other patient’s vitals into chairside system
1335-1341 get pre-vitals on Patient J, stick patient and start treatment (whose treatment I started 4 mins early)
1348-??? take Patient H off AND build, prime, test & recirculate that machine for Patient L
1400pm while taking off Pt H also have to enter other patient’s vitals into chairside system
1403-1418 get pre-vitals on Patient K, stick patient and start treatment (whose treatment I started 3 mins late)
1430pm All patients must have vitals entered into chairside system
1450-1503 get pre-vitals on Patient L, stick patient and start treatment (whose treatment I started 3 mins late)
1500pm All patients must have vitals entered into chairside system
1505-1525pm Restock cart of all stuff used for the day and get it ready for tomorrow
1530pm All patients must have vitals entered into chairside system
1535-1555pm Make citric acid in jugs (used to clean machines at end of night) for the whole floor
1600pm All patients must have vitals entered into chairside system
1619-??? take Patient I off then disinfect machine for the evening
1630pm All patients must have vitals entered into chairside system
1700pm All patients must have vitals entered into chairside system
1711-??? take Patient J off then disinfect machine for the evening
1730pm All patients must have vitals entered into chairside system
1800pm All patients must have vitals entered into chairside system
1818pm take Patient K off then disinfect machine for the evening
1821pm take Patient L off then disinfect machine for the evening
1840pm Leave for the day after working 13hours and 25 mins