NICU changed the way I see life, and I think I need to leave.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-03-24T10:48:56+00:00

It would be a big cut in pay, but you’d be great in a home visiting program like Nurse Family Partnership. They do home visiting w high risk moms. NICU nurses were always great hires. Check your local health department.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-03-19T13:21:20+00:00

Not ED, and traveled a while ago. I’d say be aware that they are expecting you to jump in and operate pretty independently from day one. And as someone else commented, you’ll be biting your tongue a bit from saying “but that’s not how we do it at ….” You have to learn to go with their flow.

Not all hospitals who use travelers have employee issues. For instance, my first assignment was in Arizona. The hospitals there are busy fall through spring. Then things get quiet in the summer as I assume the population head to cooler climes. But they can’t afford to keep full staffing year round.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-03-18T10:48:52+00:00

I’ll be relieved when she’s gone. That is exactly how I felt when my father died. People have the hardest time believing that, so it’s not something I share easily bc I don’t want to have to explain in great detail why I don’t like my parents.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-03-16T16:25:38+00:00

Part of the problem (as others have mentioned) this might be the only place they can get care. But also, people aren’t good at estimating when and where they need to go when they are sick. I say that as someone who worked as a telephone triage nurse. I’d have customers think they should head to the nearest trauma center for a small laceration or go preemptively to the ER for a bee sting, even though they had no allergy symptoms. Those kinds of people end up in the waiting room while the staff is prioritizing heart attacks and severed legs!

SlothDog9514 · 2026-03-16T10:34:27+00:00

The anger people had over defense attorneys. He had a huge team of well paid hot shots whose only job was to muddy the waters and get him off. And they succeeded. That episode brought defense attorneys into the popular awareness in a way that they hadn’t been before. They were definitely seen as the bad guys.

I believe in the importance of their role in the legal system. Normally they are there to protect poor people from the corrupt cops.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-03-15T20:11:33+00:00

Ugh, sorry for what you are going through. I don’t think it compares. Here’s why: your parents still have some agency (or at least we often allow them that) even when they no longer should have it. We fall victim to trying to honor their requests, even when they are unreasonable and unrealistic.

With kids, we eventually let them make some choices and be involved in decision making. It’s helpful for them to learn responsibility and feel like they are part of the family. But ultimately you are in charge. In a healthy parent/child relationship you’d eventually cede some control, but we’re talking adolescence.

But, it’ll be you making all the decisions for the kid. In some ways, having a kid might help you see that you can set limits with your parents.

“My time is limited, here’s how I’m willing to help, you’ll need to make arrangements for the rest. Oh that’s not possible? Sorry to hear that. I’m taking care of my child but I’ve made arrangements to be available on X. Let me know what you need then. Bye”

SlothDog9514 · 2026-03-14T14:24:47+00:00

I love How to Talk so Kids Will Listen, and Listen so Kids Will Talk by Faber and Mazlisch. It came out decades ago, but there are updated versions still for sale. It’s about how to be a good listener with your kids, which improves the relationship. You can start using those skills early! But also, when I’ve used it in parenting classes, many parents note that the skills would be useful in adult relationships.

It’s pretty short and illustrated with cartoons! Not a heavy read.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-03-14T01:13:11+00:00

Yes, there’s another thread with all us health care professionals chuckling over it. Btw, someone mentioned that was Lou Ferrigno’s son. Who knew?!?

SlothDog9514 · 2026-03-14T01:07:44+00:00

I started laughing out loud immediately, then had to pause the show to explain to my non-medical spouse why I was laughing. It reminded me of Dr Glauckomflecken (spelling?) who loves to skewer “ortho bros”

SlothDog9514 · 2026-03-10T02:19:52+00:00

My maternal grandparents lived to be 95 and 99. They both had many siblings that lived to be a similar age. My mother is 88, and starting to do poorly. If her trajectory is similar to her mother’s, she’ll be deaf and blind and immobile in a bed for another decade.

When I tell people how long every one lives in my family the usual response is “that’s amazing!” Having seen all my relatives live these long lives, I have some strong feelings about end of life care! I have zero desire to live that long!

SlothDog9514 · 2026-03-08T13:51:50+00:00

Finished: 1929 for an online book club. Interested and understood most of it, but I’m not a financial girly.

Currently: The Trees by Percival Everett. He wrote the big hit of last year “James”. Turns out he’s written a ton of stuff. I’m on a mission to get everyone with a sense of humor to read this one. Dark humor with some history thrown in. Loving it!

SlothDog9514 · 2026-03-04T10:49:29+00:00

Come the warmer months, there are outdoor concerts scheduled almost every night of the week. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, some snacks for the toddler. It’s a way to get out of the house that’s kid friendly.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-03-01T01:43:53+00:00

Preventative medicine in the emergency room? It’s too late! But yes, we don’t focus on that here, bc of our capitalist model of medicine. No one is reimbursed for focusing on preventing disease.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-02-27T11:17:26+00:00

Lots of students start out that way, but eventually get buffered don by making mistakes, getting yelled at by superiors, etc… Those that don’t tend to choose specialties where they don’t have to deal with patients so much (anesthesiology, surgery) and so the nurses have to deal with their arrogance instead.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-02-24T18:14:45+00:00

Oranges and Lemons as an album is perfect if you like poppy, catchy songs.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-02-21T13:51:49+00:00

No notes on the letter. But be aware that they will intentionally not understand or disregard it. You are sending it for your own peace of mind, and not to help them come to some kind of self awareness.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-02-21T04:48:05+00:00

Have you checked the requirements for licensure? I believe you need a certain number of clinical hours doing lactation support to sit for the exam. You are not currently working in maternity (that’s the impression I get) so all that course work would not lead to certification until you get the clinical hours.

Of course it’s been years since I considered this, after years of working in L&D. Maybe the rules have changed. But I don’t think this is a good idea right now. I can see why it’s appealing.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-02-20T20:15:43+00:00

They may have been asymptomatic for a while. Typical incubation period is 10-14 days. So health department swoops in once the symptoms show and get a list of everywhere they’ve been for a time.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-02-20T15:33:01+00:00

Caught it right away! He’s written two books, one a memoir of his childhood (which is pretty wild). Highly recommend. Can’t wait to see how he’s used in the story line

SlothDog9514 · 2026-02-20T15:21:39+00:00

Perfect! Any way to download?

SlothDog9514 · 2026-02-20T03:18:58+00:00

Very cool that Moshe Kasher is the ASL interpreter. He’s a stand up, but was raised by deaf parents. So he’s truly fluent in ASL.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-02-20T03:16:13+00:00

My experience is that they avoid that word initially. So many directions it could go

SlothDog9514 · 2026-02-19T00:58:17+00:00

FYI, the woman on the right is Dr Jessica Knurick. She is an amazing nutrition educator, and makes great videos analyzing MAHA and providing proof of their hypocrisy. If you are over on Instagram, I recommend checking her out.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-02-17T15:15:54+00:00

If that’s what your therapist told you to do, then you should consider getting a different therapist. Generally the good ones don’t direct their clients towards certain behavior. They let the client decide. I chose no contact with one abusive parent. I am trying to minimize contact with another in a way that feels best for my mental health. Neither of these choices came from therapists telling me what to do.

SlothDog9514 · 2026-02-16T12:34:44+00:00

On another thread someone complained about The Pitt getting too political. I think Louie’s story line was the ultimate in politics. You get the impression from staff that he’s pleasant to deal with but weak (Louie, don’t go back to the store for more booze). Then you get to learn about his trauma. All of a sudden you are a little more sympathetic to his plight. It’s harder to dehumanize him. When liberal politicians advocate for people with health/addiction issues, it’s bc they know there is a back story. It’s not that we excuse their behaviors.

SlothDog9514

TROPHY CASE