Spoiled!

This new nurse is SPOILED! My hospital, for some reason or another, had changed its policy. Typically, for a unit that hits capacity at 23 beds, we've had the privilege of having 2 CNA (Certified Nursing Assistants) on the floor. I have grown accustomed to what our roles are---Recently, the new policy states that there will be 1 CNA per 25 patients. My unit only has 23 beds; therefore, we will never have 2 CNAs again. Ugh! Okay, I can deal with this. Yes, it makes my job harder because I cannot rely on the CNAs to be there to help my patients when I am charting, or busy with something else. I get to answer each call light, assist patients to the bathroom, change beds, and give bed baths. I've been trained to do that, but have HAD to do it for quite some time. Yes, this new nurse is spoiled. 

Today, there were a total of 14 patients on my unit. This, unbeknownst to me, meant we were not going to have any CNAs on the floor. It didn't help that we had 3 patients who needed a "sitter" in their room, as they were a danger to themselves or others. So, today, I had to take my own vital signs (I know..for all you "experienced" nurses you're laughing right now), perform all my own morning care, assess each patient, pass their medications, chart my assessment, pass more medications, perform wound care, help patients to the bathroom, get water for them (like 50 times!), pass their food trays, give pain medication, turn them because they weren't able to turn themselves, change their linens, give a massage (she was so sweet and so appreciative of my massage skills), collect the I&Os, assess the telemetry, get a new admission at 5:45 pm, call doctors for orders, find IV pumps, get the oxygen to work for my new patient, and so on. As I went from task to task, I kept reminding myself to treat each patient like they were the only one I had while I was with them. When I entered the room, head straight to them, make eye contact, and see how I can help, as if I had all the time in the world. It helped me get through a tough day.

The lesson learned, though, is how dang important my community is! God has commanded that we live in community with others, and at this point in my life (aside from my forever friends at CBU and my family) I am learning to live in a new community. This new community is foreign, and I think I assimilated to it quite well, but it's uncomfortable at times. I never know where supplies are, I have to ask questions all day long, and I just feel inadequate at times. What helps, though (other than the fact that I love my patients and I know that God is using me), is the community that I've found works together to maintain safety and comfort of our patients. It was so clear today, that although I can survive without the CNAs help, I am so much better at my job when we work together. God's placed me in this community, at this specific time, for His perfect purpose---and tonight, I will rest in that promise.