Warning...... this is a rant!!!

I am so angry I could spit, just like a cat. It all started at work last night. When I got there at 3, I was told our staffing had been cut back from 7 to 6 because our census was down 1 patient, who is in the hospital. There are now 27 instead of 28 total care residents there, 25 of whom require total feeding at supper time. And they are not easy feeds, either. They have swallowing problems, need to be reminded of what they are doing, because they have forgotten what eating and swallowing even is. The first supper trays come at 4:30, and the second set come at 4:45. We finished feeing at 6:15 pm. That means that someone's supper sat for an hour and a half to and hour and three quarters before they finally got fed. Would you want that for your father or mother, or grandmother or grandfather? I sure wouldn't. I talked to our head person and was told a bunch of nonsense about statistics, and national averages for staff to patient care hours, and how there is no money for bringing back the 7th staff member. But, when the one patient returns there will be???? How on earth does this even begin to make sense??? Would she/he want this for her/his parent or grandparent? This head person isn't even a nurse, but is managing a nursing unit, and has absolutely no clue what goes on from day to day, and shift to shift. The head person then made the suggestion that the trays could be delivered earlier. How would that make a difference in the fact that there are 25 people to feed, and that it would take just as long? The moral at our workplace is the lowest I have ever seen it, and it is partly because of stuff like this. There is no reasoning with them. Money and statistics are the bottom line, even though the organization, which I cannot name, talks all kinds of nonsense about it promoting "patient focused care". They aren't the ones who have to deal with the family members who, quite rightly, complain when their father or mother are sitting in a soaking wet chair, or are waiting for a cold, congealed meal. WE are, and WE are absolutely powerless to change it. Like I said, I am so mad, I could spit. There has recently been stories on the news talking about the salaries of the CEO's of the various hospitals......... up to $700,000 per year, before travel allowances and all kinds of other benefits and perks. But there is no money to pay for a staff for even 4 hours so the someone doesn't have to eat a cold meal.  GRRRROOOOOOWWWWWWLLL!!!!

Bear Tracks progress

In the last couple of days, I've gone from thinking about starting a new quilt, to doing it, and enjoying every minute of it. I think this has to be one of my favourite blocks. It is so graphic, and has such a strong contrast to it, depending on the fabrics used for it. I have to make 4 more of these blocks, and then 28 more separate paws that end up in the final border. The I can move on to the nine patch blocks. Unfortunately, I can't do any more on it today, since I have to work this afternoon.  I'm starting a new job on May 6th. It's at the same hospital, but it is a regular part time position, rather than the casual part time that I've done for at least the past 10 years. I really liked the casual. It had a large degree of flexibility to it, since I was able to pick and choose the shifts I worked, and take time off when I wanted to, simply by saying I wasn't available. However, with the closing of one of the veterans units, the available shifts for the casual nurses has really dried up, to the point where it has lost all it's flexibility, since there aren't a lot of shifts to pick from. That's why I've been working almost exclusively weekends for at least the past year, since that is all that has been available. With this new position, I'll have a semi-regular schedule, and actually be able to work it so that I'm off at the same time as my husband. With a new baby coming into the family very soon, that is an important consideration, since we'll want to be spending as much time as possible visiting with him, and getting to know him. We've booked some vacation at the end of May, and booked a campsite at a park less than 10 minutes away from their house, so that should be fun. I hope it warms up by then, but if it doesn't, it's a hydro site, so we'll be taking electric space heaters. Should be fun. However, I'd best go get ready for work.

Glad that weekend is over

Whew, that was a brutal weekend of work. I think I'm getting too old for this, but there are 2 1/2 years to go before I can retire, and even then it will only be with the minimal pension. I spent the weekend working on the Alzheimer's unit. That has got to be the worst disease. It robs the patients, mostly men, since they are vets from the 2nd world war, of their minds. Some of them know who they are, but none of them know where they are, let alone why. It's no surprise then, when some of them fight the idea, literally, of some stranger, to them at least, coming in and undressing them, taking off their diaper, and proceeding to wash their private areas. Reasoning doesn't work, because their ability to reason is gone. All they know is that these strange women are stripping their clothes off. Most of them are cooperative, but there are 3 or 4 who fight, tooth and nail, again, literally. Most of the time, if they are fighting it, we just leave them, and try again later. But, when they are "soiled", there is no choice but to get it done. There are no male staff on this unit, so it is up to us women to look after these men. To say that it is difficult is an understatement. But, the weekend is over, and I don't have to go back to work until Friday, so I've decided that today is my play day. I'm going to work on the mystery quilt, and on my 100 block challenge blocks, and I'll come back later tonight, or tomorrow, and give a progress report.

Brutal week

That was a brutal week. Our hospital, which looks after veterans from WW2 and Korea, is probably going to be shutting down one of its units, since there aren't a whole lot of WW2 vets left. Consequently, I am trying to pick up as many shifts as I can before the shutdown happens, since I don't know how many will be available afterwards. Working 6 out of 8 days is way too hard on this old lady. But, with a wedding coming up, and retirement to save for,  I have to take what is available. There wasn't even a whole lot of quilting done on those days, although I got a fair bit done on Cactus Rose on Monday and Tuesday, my days off, while watching the olympics. All 4 of the centre blocks are done, and the applique started. Becca wants to go out later this afternoon to look at wedding invitations, and pick out the contrast fabric for the bridesmaids' dresses, so I'm hoping to get the last of my swap blocks done before that. She and Matt are out right now starting their registries, which should be a lot of fun for them. They got their engagement photos back yesterday. Aren't they the greatest? I know, biased Mama talking. (giggle). June 12th is coming up way too fast. (sigh)