Not a Splurge Shopper, Studying, and Work

For those who have been wondering about my shopping, no, I am not going on a shopping spree!  Haha, I am the slowest person when it comes to making decisions about clothes.  I take forever to narrow down my choices.  There is no way that I could spend ALL day at the mall, it drives me crazy just spending a couple hours there!  So no, I'm not going to be buying all these clothes at once - they'll be bought over the space of a year or more.

Jordan has been attending all of his classes and labs for this first class of the year.  So far, so good!  He has recognized that his energy peaks during the morning, so that's the best time for him to study and review.  Last year, he stayed home and watched the lectures when they were posted online in the afternoon, and it seemed more difficult.  So hopefully with attending lectures, he'll pass all his tests with flying colors!  Speaking of which, his first test is on Friday.  Wish him luck!  Also, I've been trying to talk with him more about what he's learning so that it can solidify in his brain.  It's been interesting, as I've learned more than I did in nursing school!  It also helps me to feel like I'm involved with his schooling.

Lastly...work.  I really, really, really need some advice guys.  I know there are people out there who read this blog who don't know me, and I could use your advice too.  I'm very, very frustrated with the people I work with.  The actual patient load is great, and I love this kind of nursing.  But the people...ugh.  Let me tell you.  The unit manager (UM) is supposed to be in charge, and the unit coordinator (UC) does the schedule and other stuff that I don't know about.  The UC was hired a couple years ago, and has basically taken over the UM's job.  The UM constantly defers to the UC's ideas.  That's the first problem.  The UM doesn't do her job.

The UC has some major, deep-set issues.  She seems like she has a chip on her shoulder.  She is friends or family with about 6 or 7 of the staff, and constantly gives them preferential treatment over everyone else.  She lets them work whenever the heck they want, lets them come into work or leave work whenever the heck they want, lies to administration to cover for them (this has been witnessed by several employees), and is a brat to everyone that she's not friends with.  She has a major chip on her shoulder about her position and her dominance over the UM.  Almost all the staff members have made complaints about this woman and her behavior to the UM, but obviously since the UM does whatever the UC wants, the complaints go nowhere.  They have also complained to the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), and there have been some investigations, but this woman and the UM have been given chance after chance to shape up and no real action has been taken.

The UC is supposed to make out the unit schedule, and as truly horrifying as it sounds, the schedule is only ever made out a week in advance.  And even then, there are holes in the schedule so that some of the units don't even have enough coverage.  The UC has been offered help with this aspect of her job.  One RN even made out the schedule for this week and had all holes filled, and the UC went back and changed it, making tons of empty spaces.  She doesn't utilize her part-time staff to help fill in the holes, and lets her best friends work whenever they want, so there are obvious issues there.  She doesn't allow people who aren't part of the clique to work any overtime, but lets her friends work 56 hours a week.  Not only is this not fair to staff members, but it's unsafe for patient care as well.  If the unit is not appropriately staffed, and there are multiple psychotic patients, one of the patients or staff members could get hurt, leading to multiple legal issues against the nurses and the hospital.  For example: Every other week I work on the unit with only 8 beds.  The other nurse who usually works with me is the UC's sister, so she comes in almost every day TWO hours late!!!  This makes the nurse from the previous shift have to stay so that the unit is staffed appropriately.  But, if the nurse decides to leave (not right) then it's just me waiting two hours.  If a patient decided to freak out and kill or seriously injure me, no help would be available for two hours.  This is SERIOUS.  We're dealing with people's lives!

There are a couple things I could do.
1. Quit, find another job.
2. Don't say anything, wait for it to get better.
3. Voice my concerns with the CNO and maybe even the CEO to get some action, and consequently get in trouble with the UM and UC.
4. Find another job part-time and stay here full-time.  Transition to full time at the other job if this one doesn't improve.

I really don't know what to do.  Please, please help me.

Preparing for Evacuation

Don't worry, we don't need to evacuate.  I've been thinking about it though in case the need arises, and what I would do in such a situation.  I mean, we have zero food storage and some medical supplies that I've collected over the years, but not a whole lot else.  I really like FlyLady's list of what you need to be prepared for an emergency.  Click here to see it.  Simple and comprehensive!  Of course, I still need to work on a two year food storage - we just don't have the space for it now!  Maybe when we possibly rent a house next year we'll have space.

Much Better List

Ok, I found a WAY better and more comprehensive list for women's clothing basics for year-round and individual seasons.  I completely decluttered ALL my clothes yesterday and got rid of: six coats, two jeans, a pair of heels, 5 scrub bottoms, 1 pair pajamas, 1 skirt, 2 shorts, and 11 tops!  AANNNDDD....(some of you will be amazed) I got Jordan to declutter some things in his closet too!  He got rid of a pair of shorts, seven tops, and two coats!  Wow!  Let the shopping begin!

Birthday Plans...

This post is more for me, so I can remember what I want to do.  I want to spend the morning at Maymont (hopefully it's not a billion degrees outside) because last time we went was too short!  Then I want to go home and make my birthday cake...I'm so excited.  Then I want to go shopping here, here, and here for some of my wardrobe essentials.  Then we'll go out to dinner and come home for cake!  That sounds fun to me.

Random Post!

I've been posting a lot lately because I work nights, and last night and tonight I've only had THREE whole paitents!  Wow!  So needless to say, I've had almost 6 hours every night to do whatever I want, including watching movies, reading my Kindle, and blogging.  I have so much on my mind, and want to get it all out, so you guys get to read a list.

1. I think Lady Gaga has saved my life.  Haha!  I listen to her every morning coming home from work, and if it wasn't for her loud and lovely music, I would fall asleep every drive home.

2. It has been SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hot here in Virginia!  Seriously - like 100 degrees with 70% humidity.  The heat indices have been upwards of 115 degrees!  I want to go to the pool so bad, but I'm worried about getting heat stroke.  Oh, and you know the pictures of the country with colors according to heat?  Virginia was entirely pink.  Pink is hotter than red, FYI.  Haha :)

3. I'm needing to get some new clothes.  I looked up some wardrobe essentials for women and found this site.  With essentials, you can have fewer clothes, but more looks because of the versatility of the clothes.  Love that!  I'll just have a billion accessories to have cute, diverse looks.  Lol.

4. I'm so excited for my SIL, Lindsey and her fiance Matt to get married!  Cannot wait to see everyone - we're coming out August 12th and leaving the afternoon of the 14th.  It'll be quick, but I NEED to see my nephews.  Love them and miss them so much!

5. I've been thinking seriously about someday getting my Psychiatric Mental-Health Nurse Practitioner.  This is an advanced nursing degree that gives you most of the privileges of a doctor, including having patients and prescribing medications.  I'll do that after Jordan is done with residency and fellowship.  I think it would be the most awesome thing for Jordan and I to have a practice together.

6. I seriously love FlyLady.  Her incredible FREE system has literally saved me and my home from CHAOS.  My home is almost completely decluttered, it's organized, and it's clean all the time - I could have unexpected company over!  Check her out.  Just take babysteps!

7. My sleep has been so random this past week.  I slept 6 hours in 2 days last weekend and then 15 hours in one day this week.  Ugh!  Just want my boss to put my schedule on a pattern so I don't have to work different days every week!

Being Married to a Medical Student

I seriously have been stressing about things that won't even happen for a couple years.  Namely...

1. Passing boards (happening next summer)
2. Interviewing for residencies (starting during third year)
3. Getting matched to a program for residency (happening during fourth year)
4. Possibly moving for residency program
5. FINANCES for all this...I've been researching and getting interviewed and all that jazz for residencies can cost up to $10,000!  This of course depends on how many programs you apply to and includes travel expenses, but that's so much!  I'm just going to have to get over it.  Plus, Jordan and I are thinking of starting a family soon (not in the immediate future, hold your horses) and I need to factor in the cost of a baby plus how much I will work.  Holy cow.  I get anxiety just thinking about it.  I'm seriously going to have to work full-time until we move for residency, and then I'll just work part-time (Jordan will make some money as a resident).

Breathe.  Breathe.  I've always wanted to be a SAHM but it's not going to happen.  :( This makes me very sad.  But, I need to realize that this is, for the most part, about Jordan.  His career goals.  His aspirations and desires.  We're a team, and we'll get through this.

I found another really good blog about a spouse with a career whose husband was in medical school.

Advice...

I've been concerned lately about how to help Jordan with his schooling.  Medical school is tough folks, it doesn't get any easier.  His schedule is demanding, and his brain is often on overload.  I found this awesome blog post from another medical-student spouse about some advice, and I think the advice applies not only to spouses, but family members and friends as well.  Click here for the link.  I especially like number four, because his schedule is the be-all end-all.