Penguin's new job.

[Silver Penguin]

After ten years in the same job, as a Pediatric ICU nurse, I've taken the plunge into something new. I'm still a PICU nurse, but my role is now completely different.

I am the site coordinator for the Virtual PICU database. Data is extracted from patient charts and plugged into a national network that compares statistics with hospitals nationwide. The network is eventually going international. Our hospital is required to provide this data, as a condition of getting reimbursed for certain types of insurance.

The big changes for me involve returning to a traditional work week instead of 3x12hr shifts. I'm able to flex my hours a little, which means I can go to the gym before work etc. Nice little office, with a window, and no members of the public that I have to be polite to (no matter how rude they are to me).

There is some stress involved but nothing like the idea of holding lives in your hands.

Looking forward to the change. It also means that I get to ride my bike to work five times a week instead of three!!!

 

[rushes]

Sounds good!

Congrats!

 

[Niehart]

You go girl! Congrats!

 

[Wanderer]

Change is good! Burnout is bad!

My wife has many years as a NICU nurse. I couldn't deal with the stress of *really* sick kids everyday.

Congrats on the new position!

 

[SacramentoMike]

Sounds like a nice change and a nice promotion, too. Congrats, Jill.

 

[madmike2]

Yebbutt....you now have to retrain yourself for a 5-day work week. No extra days for chores or fun.....Of course, Andy and the kids will help with the chores.

Seriously, Jill, if you're happy then I'm happy for and with you. Having some distance from the daily stress of holding one's life in your hands will be a lovely respite.

 

[Patriot]

I'm glad for you

You did a great job for ten years and many are indebted to you for your work

Now it's onwards and upwards

Contrats

 

[7xray]

Congrats Jill. It will be interesting for you to learn new things and, perhaps, shape things for the better for the future. My wife is involved in community health programs and often rails about how the infant mortality rate in the US compares unfavorabily with many other countries. Sounds like this program may be able to tackle that problem. Tackle it with your customary zeal and enthusiasm.

Fred

 

[rogdeb]

:clapping: Sounds like a promotion to me Jill .. Rock On :clapping:

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Nice job Jill, and it can save lives in the long run. Change is good and helps keep burnout at bay. I wish you the best of luck in the new position!

 

[Checkswrecks]

Congrats ont he change Jill.

My wife moved from floating between ICU & Cardiology, to a group of 3 doing cardiac research programs for the same hospital. Her feet and back are SO much better for not having to deal with handling 300+ pound patients. While your patients have been smaller, I hope you the same reduction in physical and emotional stress.

Bob

 

[dcarver]

Good for you SP! Now you can join the 'regular' work force..

 

[Silver Penguin]

My wife moved from floating between ICU & Cardiology, to a group of 3 doing cardiac research programs for the same hospital. Her feet and back are SO much better for not having to deal with handling 300+ pound patients. While your patients have been smaller, I hope you the same reduction in physical and emotional stress.

My back is loving the change! Administration believes that pediatric patients are smaller than adults, so we don't have access to the lift team and mechanical lifting equipment. Sadly, not all the patients are small. Right now there is one pt who is about 300lbs and another who is 525lbs. Both are wearing diapers (or as close as you can be to 'wearing' diapers when that many are duct-taped together).

And Mr. Carver, I'll remember that if I have any trouble being part of the 'regular' work force, I can always solve the problem by eating at Denny's in Death Valley.

 

[bigjimbiker]

Congrats, Jill. Change is good (and I mean career field as well as diapers!). My eldest daughter is a Certified Midwife but recently added R.N. to her name and works full time in the ER as well as part time back-up at the birthing center...it seems that although very spiritually rewarding, birthin' babies don't put much bacon on the table. She's happy she can enjoy both avocations...bigjimbiker :yahoo:

 

[James Burleigh]

Huge mistake. Can't believe you did this. Who's gonna save the litte critters now? We're not friends anymore.

JB

(Thread was getting a little too saccharin; thought I'd better rescue it at your expense.)

 

[Silver Penguin]

Huge mistake. Can't believe you did this. Who's gonna save the litte critters now? We're not friends anymore.
JB

(Thread was getting a little too saccharin; thought I'd better rescue it at your expense.)

LOL! Thanks for the reality check. One can always rely on JB to tell it like it is. Actually, part of the project that I'm working on, is to ensure the funding for the unit to continue saving little (and not so little) critters. Your tax dollars at work!

 

[krashdragon]

Huge mistake. Can't believe you did this. Who's gonna save the litte critters now? We're not friends anymore.
JB

(Thread was getting a little too saccharin; thought I'd better rescue it at your expense.)

LOL! Thanks for the reality check. One can always rely on JB to tell it like it is. Actually, part of the project that I'm working on, is to ensure the funding for the unit to continue saving little (and not so little) critters. Your tax dollars at work!

Way cool!

Hope you so totally enjoy it. and you do know you can talk bad to the computers!

Ok, I MEANT to type BACK! :clapping:

Mary

 

[Barabus]

Jill,

I remember when you were training on this. You were so excited. Sounds like it worked out. Work is still a four letter word as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Silver Penguin]

I remember when you were training on this. You were so excited. Sounds like it worked out. Work is still a four letter word as far as I'm concerned.

LOL! Still a four letter word, but a lot less sticky stuff to deal with. This is actually a different job to what I did a couple of years back. That was when the hospital went from paper to an electronic medical record. I got in on the ground floor with the training. The experience has served me well, since I'm now using that knowledge to work with an International database for Pediatric ICUs.

How's Cygnus these days? I do wish he had been able to meet Siggy and Zeus when you lived here.