A Floor Apart

Monday - August 27, 2012

An unused communication tool, tucked in a corner

Well, perhaps flexibility and open-mindedness are always honorable characteristics but I confess that I am not incredibly impressed with the attentiveness, speed, and overall communication here on the Acute Medicine Floor and would prefer to be back on Oncology.  I am no longer feeling that flexible.  Just get me back to what I know and where the floor pulses with alacrity and focus.

This morning, I find myself "mad as a wet hen" after being roused at 5 a.m. by a care partner who turned on the fluorescents and announced herself upon entering my door.  I was irritated enough in my just-in-REM state to declare "lights off please" and after her protests (!!!!) voiced that in my 30+ nights in the hospital no other care partner has needed light (unvoiced: to put on a blood pressure cuff, pop an oximeter on my finger, and read a large, brightly lit LED monitor).  I could have gone on and on to expound on previous and amazing sleep-respectful feats from RNs and care partners: hanging and taking down chemo bags, monitoring my blood pressure for two hours the first time I was infused with Rituxan (thank you Gabrielle), and doing regular blood draws as quietly as possible in the depths of the night.  Yes, these are all disruptive but NEVER have the flourescents been tripped in the dark of the night.  NOT cool.  Closing the door (not allowed in my posted "neutropenic precautions" state due to air pressure) was the final straw.  The GOOD news is that I was so exhausted yesterday that this 5 a.m. wake-up has been made palatable by last night's 9:45 bedtime.

A negative harbinger about today's medical news is that my night RN was just in for tonight's second CBC blood panel; my levels are so low and going down (talking to YOU platelets!) that the attending wants them rechecked.  But my temperature has stabilized in the low 99s so can I please just go home?

I am basking in the sun on this beautiful day!

Aside from this egregious start to the day by an inconsiderate care partner, the general communication and attentiveness are not as sharp here on Acute Medicine.  For example, "infusion complete alarms" can take up to 30 minutes for a response; thankfully I disregard the rules and hit the "silence" button to control the shrieking but having to repeat this action every minute when the alarm resets is. a. drag!  I try to maintain my perspective and understand that more critical patients might be occupying my RNs however this delay has gone on 3 evenings in a row and I am no longer so sanguine.  Also, given the fact that my temperature is a criteria for assessment of my current health and a criteria for discharge, my vitals were not closely monitored yesterday.  Joe eventually took up the thermometer and did his own checks  :)

August 2009, Jonathan moves into West Egg    

So, how about some positive news!  I enjoyed a wonderful visit yesterday with Sally and my mother.  Sally brought some terrific Vietnamese pho - just what I needed to sate my appetite without exacerbating my mucositis.  Joseph came later for a dinner and evening visit.  Oh, I am wishing to be home -- soon!  Megan has begun her formal packing for next weekend's move into her new house and Jonathan is in full preparation for his semester which starts today!  Is he really beginning senior year?  It's been such a full and happy experience for him at Virginia Tech. The memory of driving down to Blacksburg in the pre-dawn darkness remains strong: Jonathan snoring open-mouthed in the passenger seat, me listening tearily to the radio.  He was so excited to arrive, move in, and set off for Hokie Camp.  I can scarcely believe it's been three years!