I think I am a nurse

I love being a nurse. It is a huge part of who I identify myself as. These last weeks I have not gotten to be a nurse. I have been in the teacher role. I like teaching but I love being a nurse. The emergency dept that I am working in is going computerized. I know, I know.....we are the last ones in the country to go computerized! As part of being the ED staff educator I have taken on helping to train the staff. I have been doing this all week. There is understandably a high level of anxiety for the staff with this HUGE change. I am having open "play time" where staff can come in to practice using the new charting program. I do think what I am doing is helpful for most of the staff so that is rewarding and makes it worth it. I have personally also learned the computerize system great and feel totally comfortable with it but I sure miss being a nurse! Hats off to my parents and all other teachers out there! Its a hard job!

Pretty Please let me get in a good trauma or a super sick complicated septic patient with lots of IV drips and tubes in all orifices or (wait for it.....) the delivery of a baby (GASP!!!!this is usually my least favorite type of patient!!!) I have had about all I can stand of looking at the same computer screens for hours and hours! I am so sick of teaching the same example patients over and over and over. I am sure my fatigue has a lot to do with me working 70+ hours this week and working the last 7 days straight (only 5 more to go and I have a weekend off with my little sister and a country music festival in palm springs!! YEHAW!!) 2 more days of training then we go live with the computers on real patients!!! I cant wait! Lets rip that band-aid off. I am excited maintly because I think it is going to be a great thing for the ED but mostly cause I get to take care of a patient or two. I might even get to put someone on a bed pan, quickly wrap up a stinky homeless patient's feet before the whole department is reeking of foot rot or starts an impossible IV in a dialysis patient! I am an Emergency Nurse, Damn it!!! Bring it on, I can take it!