June, 2008 Archive

two months from now, our unit will undergo some management changes.

i know that sounds trivial and common, but this past week, it’s the only thing that had been buzzing over the nurses’ and everybody’s lips, (except of course the fact that O and T are obviously dating, just when we all thought T has a girlfriend in another city) but this is not a post about gossips, so let’s move on…

anyway, a little background: in our floor, there are three units. basic medicine, cardiac telemetry (CCU step down), and our unit, intermediate telemetry. at present, each unit has each own nurse manager, and an educator.

in august, the whole floor will have one nurse manager, one administrative assistant, and one educator. one big happy family, or one big headache?

as you can see, the very thing that bothers us about this whole change thing is the fact that our present nurse manager is not that interested in interviewing for the job. although most, if not all of us want her to stay, we totally understand why the prospect of managing the whole floor with about 200 employees is not that appealing to her.

since it is happening throughout most of the floors in this big hospital, the logic of this change is pretty straightforward. less people to pay, more money to save. not our own business, but we are worried sick about the nurse managers and educators who will eventually move out. where will they go?

i’m sure we will eventually embrace this change because that’s what nurses are: flexible. but what are the repercussions? to those who will be displaced, and to those of us who will be left behind.

ridiculous gas prices. cost cutting. drastic measures to cope financially. these things affect households. and now, even work. i hate to sound political, but is it wrong to actually blame president Bush for this?

i don’t know. it’s not a good thing to point a finger, but just like everybody else, i want to blame somebody. or something. somehow, the president and his relentless support and approval of the never ending war in iraq seem to be the perfect explanation. i’ll stop here, because i don’t really know what i’m talking about.

let’s just focus on what we know for sure.
okay, spill it: what has your administration done in the name of cost cutting?

YES.

because people at work, mostly nurses, who, in general are tactful, upon seeing you after a haircut, say things like:

“you cut your hair…” (like i didn’t know it)

“it’s really short…”  (like i haven’t noticed)

“it’s okay May, it WILL grow.” (like i am not aware of THAT)

“WHY did you cut your hair?” (like i have not asked myself that)

WHO cut your hair? (like i am supposed to take legal action)

and my favorite….

“do YOU like it?” (like DUH!)

to which i respond:

i don’t. i asked her to shave it off, but she was concerned it wouldn’t suit me, so she LEFT some hair on.

to which they all say:

“oooohhhhhh…….”

with lips dramatically pouted so i can feel a sense of empathy.

i should have suffered.
so what if there was a heatwave? and summer is not even halfway?

i’m tired.
of chasing after the wind.

don’t be alarmed. this is not a suicide note or something.

seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, and feeling
pain, suffering, and death
day in and day out
has its repercussions.

i’m sure you know days like this.

____________________

*who knew exactly how to be cynical and get depressed
over real and imagined things.

it’s time to bring the debate to a broader audience.

okay. here’s the whole deal: my father in law’s PSA (prostate specific antigen) level is elevated. not alarmingly elevated (intermediate), but elevated nonetheless. his doctor suggested a biopsy, just to be on the safe side. the possible risks after the procedure were explained to him, and he was told that it is highly recommended that he gets the biopsy done as soon as he can, even if his prostate, upon examination is not enlarged.

the possibility of bleeding and informations from the internet scared the living daylights out of him. he is more likely going to say no to the biopsy. his wife’s and children’s opinions, and the stories from their fellow seniors (he is in his mid 70s) have a lot of weight in his decision making. they said the risk is so small, that it will be worse for him to create an imbalance in his system by having the procedure done, and it is better just to leave the mighty prostate alone. don’t even touch the thing, you know. leave it alone in peace.

the other strong contender in the list of suggestions is to take herbal based medicines proven to lower PSA levels because “most of the times, doctors just suggest invasive procedures without trying natural ways to solve the elevated levels first. they never think outside the box, before subjecting the human body to foreign invasion”, as pointed out by those who didn’t have any biopsy and are still alive today. and also by my husband, who happened to lean towards natural way of handling anything, who also happened to be his son.

anyway, although my opinion doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, i was still asked to chime in. i told them i have taken care of a lot of patients post biopsy, and so far, i have not seen somebody bleed. for the most part, when the biospy turned out to be negative, it gave the patient that much needed relief. if it turned out to be positive and treatable, it is a better thing. if it turns out to be beyond treatment, at least, the patient is psyched to prepare. my point is: the earlier, the better.

i believe in mind body connection and totally agree that he should not do it if he is scared. thing is, i think, the only reason why he is afraid is that he lacks knowledge about the whole thing. i suggested he gather more information. from his doctor, from other doctors, from reading materials, from people who already went through the same thing, those who did the biopsy, and those who didn’t, listen to both sides. then, if he has all the informations he needs and he still does not want to do it, he has every right to make that decision, and it should be respected.

let’s hear it from you guys. what do you think about this whole elevated-PSA-level-to-biopsy-or-not-to-biopsy-issue?