My trip to the Doctor

I fell running about 6 weeks ago, right when COVID-19 hit Houston. I bruised my left hip and fell on my left hand. I decided I would take care of it myself, after all I AM A NURSE. I wrapped my wrist and took some ibuprofen, applied ice and kept going. The swelling did not resolve and the pain was minimum.

Last week my left wrist started throbbing and the pain moved from my wrist to inside my palm with an increase in swelling.  After talking to a friend, I agreed to go to urgent care because I thought I might have a hairline fracture.

Urgent Care

I arrived at urgent care and to my surprise the door was locked, and I was instructed to call them on the phone and wait in the car.  I completed registration over the phone and waited in the car because they were seeing one patient at a time.  The wait was not long.  Once I was called, the clinic door was unlocked, and I could enter. My temperature was taken at the door and I was questioned about my current state of health and asked to take a seat.  I was placed in a room where I met the provider, a physician’s assistant (PA).

The PA examined my hand and sent me to have an x-ray because it was visibility swollen and painful.  After the x-rays she stated no fracture was note but said I had arthritis and referred me to a hand specialist because of the swelling and the pain.  I asked her what the trade name of the drugs she was prescribing.  She said one drug was Flexeril and she did not know the trade name of the other but because of MY AGE it would be good for arthritis.  

The paperwork she gave me stated the diagnosis was swollen left wrist, contusion and a sprain, but she told me I had arthritis.  I was given a brace and sent home with instructions and a referral.  The prescription was called in and I picked it up on the way home.  The side effects were shocking, warning of a stroke and heart attacks.  I thought if she is worried about my age why would you prescribe such a drug to someone who she thinks is old. 

Photo by Edu Carvalho on Pexels.com

I tried to call and get an appointment with the hand specialist that was referred.  After several attempts, I reached out to my provider who gave me an appointment for June 18, 2020, which was a month away.  I declined and decided to take care of my hand myself, because of the time factor. What would be the point, the wrist should be healed by then.

Lord and behold, my providers’ nurse called me back and offered an appointment for the following Wednesday.  Dealing with the healthcare system is challenging.  I feel badly for those who do not know how to manage the system or their health issues. 

Please stay well!! As you can see, it can be frustrating even for those who work in healthcare as well.

Just keeping you informed.

Dr. Marilyn Crosby

Day 49 of Working at Home

I am fortunate enough as a registered nurse to work at home during this pandemic. Today is international Nursing Day, May 12, 2020. I would be re missed not to think about my colleagues and peers working in the trenches.

Concerns of COVID-19

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We don’t know when this pandemic will end but the mental effects have had a tremendous affect on all essential workers. Many staff feel fearful, complain of lack of PPE (personal protective equipment), receive misinformation, and have feelings of uncertainty which add additional stress.

It has been reported that some nurses have caught COVID-19 and did not survive. I was talking to a colleague who stated she thought nurses were being taken advantage of because of our sense of duty toward the patient. This maybe true. Many nurses are working long hours (usually 12 hour shifts) and long stretches before having a day off, which is also stress producing,

As the country reopens regardless of the data or the scientist who project a resurgence of the virus, please continue to be diligent and stay well. It appears people are not social distancing or wearing mask because its their right. One of my colleagues stated in a Facebook post, if you don’t like wearing a mask, you will not like being on a ventilator.

I am hopeful I do not have to stay home all spring and summer because of the poor choices others have made related to COVID-19. How are you feeling about staying in for the next month or so? Leave me a message.

Happy Nurses Day!

The American Nurses Association (ANA) stated 2020 is the year of the nurse, Today is Nurses Day, May 6th, and International Nurses Day is May 12th. I want to wish all my peers and colleagues Happy Nurses Day! Nurses have been deemed hero’s during COVID-19, and it’s appreciated.

Nurses are doing what they do all the time and work in stressful situations and in many cases short-staffed with difficult patients and others that are unappreciative. The pandemic has given the public a glimpse of the healthcare system and the work of those who are in the trenches daily, including physicians, respiratory therapists, housekeeping, and of course nurses.

This poem is dedicated to all the nurses out there, written by my friend and colleague Marjorie McClean RN

Happy and blessed Nurses Day. Ode to a nurse. I am a strong individual who through blood sweet and tears have earned the right to be called to this remarkable profession,

I am a registered nurse. I have stood on the shoulders of various and sundry nurses in this profession and although I may not be Florence Nightingale or Mary Seacole, I bear the brunt of tirelessly working in the trenches for the welfare of my patients.

I may not get hazard pay but the satisfaction I get from seeing someone who was told they have a minimal chance of surviving walking home with their family is more than rewarding.

I am a proud registered nurse, I am not the physician’s helper. I know my scope of practice and function in it every moment of the day. I may not wear a uniform, stethoscope or identification badge hanging from my neck but the badge of honor I wear in my heart and soul, representing this noble profession everyday.

I see my patients through the eyes of a caring, selfless compassionate nurse who refuse to give up or give in when the going is tough.

If you see my clothes soaked in body fluid which is not my own, do not take pity on me. I am protected. I practice extreme measures when it comes to infection control. My garments are impervious.

Assessment, analysis, planning, problem solving are the earmark of my profession. I walk and run immeasurable miles throughout the day ensuring my charge are getting excellent care. Improvising is the order of the day.

My strides down the hall to a waiting patient’s room is that of a gazelle, although the unexpected lay in waiting. I am about to be puked on, clean and collect some fecal specimen, start an intravenous line, clean and dress a wound, administer medication, plan a specialized menus, mop the floor, counsel a distraught patient, find or locate a home for a homeless patient, train a family to care for the discharge patient, and the need is endless in that room.

I do not eat my young, I mentor and train, passing on the knowledge encase in my cranium. Do not look at me with distain at the end of a long arduous day, when I look like a rag doll who have been poked and prodded. I am ready for my second shift, home and family.

Written by Marjorie McClean, RN

What Are You Doing To Reduce Your Stress?

There are many things we can do to reduce stress, and many chose different options that include exercise, meditation, cooking, watching television, movies, or creating something.

I engage in many things to manage my stress, that include Zumba, jump roping, bike riding and coloring. Yes, coloring, I shared this with a friend and he said “thats different”. I have found coloring to be an activity that is very relaxing and I do not have think about anything.

  • Coloring is great way to relax..
  • Find out what exercise speaks to your soul.

This is also a great time to learn something about yourself, and do some self reflection. This can be challenging because many do not know where to start. Take this time and search your inner soul to figure out what you can do to keep yourself centered and healthy.

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