It has been a very long day. I didn't really see that many patients, but , I sure spent a lot of time co-ordinating with doctors, pharmacies and other disaster organizations to get things done. I've reverted to being a desk jockey. Not that I wish bad on anyone, but , I hope I get to do a little nursing tomorrow rather than paper work.

      We really have some good local resources here though. I had several directors from emergency management at public health come in today and they actually arrange to have a real live doctor come in for a couple hours to write prescriptions for people who had lost their medications in the flood.

       It's really a good tired tonight.

 

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 10:07 PM
Subject: One More (Day) Bites The Dust

 

Hey! All,

          I don't think I worked this hard when I was working by myself or intenerating. I've spent most of the day running to Wal-Mart pharmacy and trying to convince some people that the Red Cross doesn't have endless funds. Wal-Mart donated a $500.00 gift card and the word must have flown around that if you wanted a medicine refilled regardless of whether they were lost in the flood or not, Health Services would get it for you. A compulsive gambler couldn't have gone through $500 so fast. Thank God we had extra hands working today or I'd never have been able to get out like that and spend so much time with each client I talked to.

         Might have seen our first case of H1N1 today. A 2 yr old presented with flu-like symptoms. We sent her to the ER, but, they seemed less concerned than we were so it may have just been a viral syndrome. We'll keep a close watch anyway.

         Well, Good people, tomorrow's another long day and it's coming very soon so I'll sign off.

 

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 9:15 PM
Subject: Be Careful What You Ask For

 

Hi All,

     Well I said I would rather do patient care than run deliveries and today we all got a chance to do just that. Between the illnesses and the injuries we kept the emergency room hopping today. People are getting back to their homes to try to clean them out and salvage what they can. The only problem is every thing is muddy and slippery and falls abound.

     I still had to do a lot of running, but, I feel like I earned my pay today. Wait a minute, I don't get paid, do I? Oh well. ( :

     Not much more to report tonight, Folks. Just for the record, I am enjoying this. No one said I had to be smart. I got them all convinced I know what I'm doing, duh.

 

Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:45 PM
Subject: I'm outta the shelter

 

   Today was my last day in the shelter. It wasn't so bad, but, I'm looking forward to doing outreach where I'll be going out in the field to the peoples’ homes, where they're trying to reclaim their homes. I've kinda done this before, but, then I was alone. This time I'll be working with a team and maybe learn to do it right. I'll be with a family service case worker and a mental health specialist so if I break down I'll have psychological support and someone with a money card to bail me out.

   Yesterday I spent most of the day trying to get a wheel chair for a veteran who is a brittle diabetic and who is going to probably going to lose one or more of his legs. I didn't get much accomplished, but, today a local resident called us wanting to donate an electric wheel chair to a veteran. I didn't know what to say. People are good. MSS offered to send two strong men and a pick-up truck out to get it Saturday morning and deliver it to our man. Maybe I'm a wus, but, I almost cried.