nursing note 3/8/06

I'm a critical care nurse in the Neuroscience ICU at a Level 1 Trauma hospital in northern VA. I work on a 16-bed unit, and most of my patients are stroke/bleed/aneurysm, head trauma, or brain tumor patients. Most are comatose, most are vented, and most are way too young ... way younger than you'd think.

Last night was my first night shift in quite some time ... wow, an ICU is a very different world at 0300 than it is at 1500! My buddy Teneille and I, day shifters by trade, try to sign up together for our one required "P" shift per schedule. That way we can keep each other going, help each other with bathing our patients (something we don't often have time to do on days), and enjoy the rare down time we're not used to on "A" shifts.

It was a quiet night, no transfers or admissions, no MSETs (code blues) on the floor, no deaths ... although Teneille's lady had been "terminally weaned" (life support withdrawn) on day shift, so we really thought she'd not make it through the night. She did, though (apparently her pacemaker was taking longer than expected to realize what was going on).

The really exciting news is that when Teneille and I went down to the cafteria for our "lunch" break at 2 am, she honed in on a small sign inconspicuously propped next to the express foods case. It announced:

New line of Vegan Foods
Coming March 13!

To include:
vegetarian chicken salad
vegetarian tuna salad
original chickpea hummus
spicy mediterranean hummus
taboulleh
stuffed grape leaves
fresh whole wheat pita and pita chips

available in the "Express Case" 24 hrs/day

WOO HOO! I danced around the place like the weirdo "psychovegetarian" my friends think I am! But I am SO excited! The hospital put out a survey last fall, and I figured what the hell, it can't hurt to ask! I'm sure this isn't just in response to my survey, but I am thrilled and very impressed that the management is taking this step. Besides doing something for those of us who do choose to eat healthfully, even at work and - gasp! - even on night shift, this sets a much needed example (in my opinion). It's a hospital, people!!

We're on vacation (scuba diving in Little Cayman) till March 18, but you can bet I'll be checking out that Express Case my first shift back. Stay tuned!