Another day in the Valley...

I say the Valley, because I work at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and today was a long day. My day usually starts around 4:50 am arrive at work 5:50 am then from 6:00-6:30 listen to report from the night shift then 6:30-7:00 I check my patient's chart looking at most recent orders and progress notes from night shift to see if anything happened over night that I didn't get in report and reading the patient's medical history and last vital signs. Then on days when I work on the floor, like today (some days I work as team nurse then my role is different), I go to each patient's room to check on them and get vital signs and then since I work in a spinal cord rehad unit I have to get all my patients washed, dressed, and fed before their therapy at 9:00 am. So between 7:00 and 9:00 I am running between rooms like crazy, all this and only one or two patients can actually stand. I am moving men and women who are two times my weight. After I get my patients to therapy, hopefully on time, then I can help with doctors orders such as starting IV lines, changing dressings, catherize if needed, because not all patients with a spinal cord injury can empty their bladder, and take out staples like today, because we get a lot of patients that have had back surgery, CABG surgery, and knee amputions. I usually may get 15-20 minutes lunch then I help feed patients that can't feed themselves and tiolet these patients before they head back to therapy again. If we get any admissions these patients usually come around 2:00 pm which is when evening shift comes in, but since I work 12 hour shifts I don't leave until 6:30 pm. Today I was the lucky nurse that had 2 admissions and 5 patients to care for, which is A LOT of paperwork (2 head to toe assessment that are completely written out and complete medical history as well as writing out the medications each patients are on for the doctor). First admission came at 2:00 pm and I finished that one around 3:00 so I then took care of my 5 patients putting the ones that were finished with therapy back into bed and getting them comfortable. Then my next admission of course comes at 5:40 pm just 20 minutes away from giving the nurse who comes in behind me, report. So I start this one too, working very quickly to pass the time, I pretty much finish right at 6:30 pm and quickly update the nurse and clock-out, only to continue to worry about all my patients and wonder if I charted everything and did I complete my patient's FIM scores ( functional improvement measurement used by rehab units to get paid by insurance companies)? Did I write my progress note (one has to be written every shift)? A nurse's day never ends, even at home you hope your patients are doing well and hope that you remember to tell the on-coming nurse everything that was important and what didn't get done. A long post but many ask what I do so this is a small portion.