Both Sides of the Mask

It's been over a year since I posted anything on this blog. There have been a variety of reasons for this. In the year since my last blog post I have: moved from NW Ohio to Eastern NC, started a new job in a community where I didn't know anyone, lived alone in an apartment awaiting the arrival of my husband who was trying to sell our house, and have worked on completing Grad School.

The "end" is in sight at last. The house is sold, I know plenty of people in this community, I've learned to survive breathing forest fire smoke, my husband has moved here permanently, and I'm working on completing my Thesis. 

Soon I'll start blogging again. Consider this an early warning!

Note: image used without permission. I borrowed it from a friend, who doesn't remember where she got it. If it is yours, if I have violated your rights in any way, please contact me and I'll remove it. It just seems to fit my situation so perfectly!

Situation: The latest edition of Change of Shift is here, hosted by the Muse, RN. 

Background: Change of Shift is the brainchild of Kim, nurse blogger supreme at Emergiblog. It features the very best blog posts by nurse bloggers for your reading pleasure!

Assessment: the Muse, RN,  has filled this edition with some wonderful posts. Among the varied topics are: "Nursing Dose"; diaper changes; items found in patients' esophaguses (esophagii?); insertion of feeding tubes; grumpy doctors who "get it"; and the cardiac impact of working overtime.

Recommendation: Click the link now to visit Change of Shift and see for yourself all that nurse blogging has to offer. Thanks again to the Muse, RN, for this delightful collection!

Let's talk about snexting. (NOT sexting....something else altogether.) Snexting is a term that was coined by my nurse friend, Ruth, as a contraction referring to "sneaky texting". You know, the kind of texting that occurs when someone isn't supposed to be carrying a cell phone during work hours but they do it anyway, and they find a moment or two or twelve where they just HAVE to text something to someone?

If it's in a hospital setting, do you think it can have an impact on patient care? How about at a restaurant, or the BMV, or at the department store when you need help finding just the right pair of slacks? What is it about texting that causes people to struggle with being present to others with whom they work, or for whom they are expected to provide a service?

With so many smartphones running applications that are valuable sources of professional information, the issue can get even cloudier. Of course there are also exceptions, such as pending family issues (such as a daughter in labor in another part of the country) where someone is awaiting specific news. Clarification with a supervisor can render this situation non-problematic. 

So, what are your thoughts about Snexting?  And, just how many question marks can I use in one small blog post?   (Answer = 6)

I moved my blog "Both Sides of the Mask" over here from Blogger. I thought I should make sure this disclaimer is out there for anyone new who might come upon this and wonder if I am speaking about specifically identifiable patients, or if I am representing my hospital or a vendor, or if I can tell you why you have that nasty rash. The answer is NO!

This is what would be said by a really fast talking person if this were a TV or Radio commercial: I uphold HIPAA, ergo any situations related to patients, physicians, or co-workers are based on a variety of my experiences over 35 years as a nurse, not any one individual or incident. Any opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone. I do not represent any healthcare facilities, vendors, or organizations. Do not take anything that I write as medical advice by any stretch of the imagination. Sick? Call your doctor!

Note: Image obtained at http://pablochiste.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/moving-day-blues/

How convenient that, one day after I promise to do a better job of providing blog carnival information, there's a new Change of Shift up at RehabRN's place. There's a plethora (I love this word) of interesting posts from some of the best nurse bloggers - don't miss out on what they have to say.