Post of the Nights

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So, half way tonight; I’m looking forward to that. The last few nights have actually been pretty good, although I realised I neglected to write that I’d put a dressing on someone last night. It’s depressing that despite actually doing a good job, the thing that’s stuck with me is that someone’s documentation is incomplete. I’m hoping not to get into too much trouble… But thinking about that, combined with my hayfever, meant I only got 5.5 hours sleep. I’m now feeling appropriately tired; and verging on fed up and and slightly miserable.

One thing that’s actually been good is that this week I’ve had my fill of real A&E patients. Our hospital instigated a new policy where GP admissions no longer come to A&E (well, actually, that’s officially been the policy since I started there; but now they’ve organised a system which means they’re actually not coming to A&E). Not only that, but the A&E patients I’ve seen have been really nice people. People who needed the services of an A&E department. Which has been a positive experience, and seen me really enjoying work.
Thankfully, I’ve managed to read the second chapter of my ATLS manual, which means I am on schedule (page 53, no less). Ther’s still a hell of a lot to read, and I’m not sure how much I’m managing to absorb. Hopefully, despite being a year-‘n’a’half-qualified nurse on a course with a bunch of doctors I won’t make too much of a prat of myself. My knowledge of anatomy, physiology and disease is just not as good as I’d like it to be.

The problem is I’m so tired, I feel completely vague and my brain feels like stew. It’s pretty awful. On the plus side, yesterday I sorted out my endocrinology appointment; well, I sorted out my change of address, today I actually sorted out the date for it. Unfortunately, it’s 3 months away, instead of this month.
What has been cool is suddenly obtaining a copy of The Van, which has kept me entertainined and cheered me up and kept my mind of the missing documentation. (Although it’s not exactly a cheery film; same as the rest of the trilogy).
What’s been less cool is that I didn’t get any nights enhancement last month, and am down to an appauling and disturbingly small amount of money. It’s left me feeling somewhat distressed. I just about have enough money to make it thorugh the rest of the month, and it’s only the 5th. The money that was meant to go towards the credit card from my NHSP shifts is, instead, paying living costs. I need to start Agency work, and soon, to sort this financial situation out.

I’m a little worried about the bike going down to be repaired, but with the cost of petrol at the moment 25-30mpg compared to 60 odd mpg that I should be getting. Halving petrol costs would be somewhat of a help, really. Hopefully the work on the DAF’ll come in on the lower side, especially if Alex’s DAF55 (which he’s breaking for spares) has a reasonable floor which can be used to repair the 44. The bits have arrived for the 44 now, sills and brake bits. Next week, ATLS reading completed, I hope to give jejy a bit of TLC – get the hazards working properly, service the engine, that kind of stuff. No new plugs or leads, no dizzy caps are available, no rotor arms… so it’s going to be a bit of a minimal service – hopefully we can get the brake fluid changed though; three years sat in a garden’s not going to have done anything good for it – and lord knows when it was changed prior to that.

I’m gonna go round greasing bits that need greasing too, if I get time, and maybe even try and deal with some of the rust that’s lurking.

Anyway, I should get back to consuming enough fluids that when I forget to drink tonight I won’t get totally dehydrated.

KateWE

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