Random letters to random people.

Yesterday was a rough day for me. I work on a critical care unit, and sometimes I wonder if I should have chosen a job at an easier level and worked my way up to this. I feel like I’m trying to run a marathon just after I’ve just learned to walk. Usually, I like to challenge myself, and can do almost anything I put my mind to. But this is by far the hardest things I’ve ever done, and the fact that I’m not naturally a pro at it is especially frustrating, for a perfectionist like myself.

Here are some random letters to random people that helped shape my day:

Dear Lady: I’m sorry I gave you too much pain medicine and dropped your blood pressure down to the 80/30 region. But when I got there that morning, you were having an absolute fit because the nurses at night failed to manage your pain, and I was just trying to help. I’m glad you’re ok now, but you gave me a hell of a scare.

Dear Patient’s Daughter: Hovering over your mom all day long isn’t going to get her better any faster. I know she’s in pain, she had spinal surgery for crying out loud, but she has got to get up out of that bed. Do you want her to end up with bed sores and pneumonia?

Dear Laboratory: Please send medications when we call for them. We are trying to prevent people from having brain spasms and seizures on this floor, and that’s hard to do when our medications arrive 4 hours late. It’s not that difficult. Hang up the phone, put the medication in the tube, and send it. Piece of cake!

Dear Oncoming Night Nurse: Please don’t treat me like I’m a lazy, stupid, careless nurse because I didn’t hang that potassium. I busted my ass all day, I’m new, and you have plenty of time to hang it while all of your patients are asleep.

Dear Other New Nurse: You had a rough day, I could tell. Next time, please ask someone for help so you can eat lunch.

Dear Preceptor: Thank you for talking to me at the end of my shift. I was overwhelmed and on the verge of tears, but you told me that I did a good job, and I really needed that.

Bye for now. Stay happy, and healthy!