MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Emergiblog' source. Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:44:19 +0100 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/11/melancholic-baby.html Okay. How come I didn’t know about this? Yes, there is enough fat in a Cinnabon to last you for a week and clog even the widest coronary artery. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have gone for a free one! Kudos to Cinnabon for doing this, I don’t know of any other non-healthcare company who has ever given free goodies to nurses during Nurses Week. I’m verklempt! Seriously. In fact, to show my appreciation to Cinnabon, I’m going to have to purchase at least one of these each week. Since I’m dieting, I won’t be able to eat it, but I shall buy one nonetheless and give it to my thinner colleages. I do think it is funny they had to limit it to one roll per nurse! Geeze, it’s not like any of us would eat a dozen. Or anything….. ******************... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1963124 Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:50:32 +0100 1963124 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/11/presidential-advice-via-grand-rounds.html Did you hear that??? No, it wasn’t an earthquake here in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was the sound of, oh, about 200 of my friends and family hitting the ground after seeing a picture of Barack Obama on my blog. You might say I didn’t vote for him. However, there comes a time when you need to look ahead and as he will be my President, I figured I’d look at the bright side. 1. He’s the best looking President we’ve ever had. John Kennedy, the runner up, doesn’t even come close. Folks, I saw women at work fighting over the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle the day after the election so they could have the full page photo. No, I was not one of them, but yeah, he’s cute. 2. We’re going to have little kids in the White House again! For s... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1954016 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:12:34 +0100 1954016 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/11/move-that-bus.html Remember the Toland family? It started over at Grunt Doc, picked up some steam at Dr. Anonymous’ radio show when Kevin Haynes called in with the story of Staff Sergeant Toland. I wrote about them here. Well, they made their trip to Disneyworld and the family had their Princess dinner with Cinderella. Now they are home. And if you would like to know what your generosity helped build during the week they were gone , it’s all right here on CNN: Dying Soldier Gets His Wish If you can watch that video without getting teary eyed, you are a stronger person than I! Emergiblog is Sponsored by allnurses.com - Where Nurses Come Together MOVE THAT BUS! from Emergiblog (Source: Emergiblog) Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1954017 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:31:43 +0100 1954017 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/11/livin-la-vida-er.html This may come as a shock, but in my entire nursing education, I never had my instructors help me get dressed. “Dressings” had a whole new meaning by the time I was in college. I wonder if this came from the “RN-to-Mrs.” degree program. If Nursie McZip, RN, could not get your dress fastened all the way, did you flunk the course? After all, if you were doing those calisthenics, your dress would close! Wait a minute. Now it all makes sense! They were dressing up for Social Dancing and Etiquette 101 Perhaps this was a totally strict nursing school and dating boys was not permitted. No fraternizing with the medical students! Besides, you never knew when a formal dance would spontaneously erupt on the ward. ******************** I had intended to write a somewhat scathing... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1944503 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:00:19 +0100 1944503 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/11/ah-but-i-digress.html Well, I’d love to write something on nursing right now, but my mind and heart are in Cleveland. I may be responsible for the first NFL-related Twitter Fail Whale! Brady Quinn has done great the first half of the Browns vs. Broncos game and even though it isn’t even over I have GOT to say it’s fun to have “my” quarterback back in the saddle! I am so stoked! I have waited for this day since Brady graduated from Notre Dame. It’s good to be a fan. Emergiblog is Sponsored by allnurses.com - Where Nurses Come Together Ah, but I Digress from Emergiblog (Source: Emergiblog) Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1936322 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:51:19 +0100 1936322 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/11/michael-crichton.html The most frightening book I ever read was “Jurassic Park”. Far from the adventure movie we have all seen a million times, this novel was downright evil. I read it in one sitting. And trust me, if you want to hear every creak in the house, jump out of your skin when your cat meows, watch the hair on your arms stand straight up and feel your throat close because you have forgotten to breathe for five minutes, Read it at 4 am when you are home alone. I did. And then I went out and bought every single book Michael Crighton had written. Some of his work I loved (”Prey”) and some I found appalling (”Rising Sun”) and one of his projects has affected me every single day that I work (”ER” - via the public’s perceptions). Geeze, I wish I could wr... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1936323 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:10:34 +0100 1936323 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/11/elect-to-read-grand-rounds.html It’s time for the Election Day edition of Grand Rounds! Mother Jones has put in a great deal of research and effort to produce a wonderful Grand Rounds of history and Presidents! It’s not widely known, but I am a history buff and especially a Presidential history buff! This is right up my alley and a post after my own heart. Head on over to Nurse Ratched’s Place , check out the information, check out the topics and if you haven’t done so yet, be sure to vote! “I Voted” - the one sticker you can wear on your shirt as an adult and not feel silly! ***** Speaking of elections, I was pleasantly surprised when I went to the polling place today. I usually go mid-day because it is sloooooooow. But not today! We were lining up to vote and everyone was talking ent... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1932108 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:58:30 +0100 1932108 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/army-of-one-needs-support-of-many.html Last night was a special night on the Doctor Anonymous Show on BlogTalkRadio. His guest was ER doc and law school graduate Symtym. Fun show, some tech talk, lots of laughs. And then a surprise caller. With a story. A story that you need to hear. ***** Robert Toland is a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. He’s fought for our country and defended our freedom for eight years. Robert is in the middle of the photo, with his wife Melanie and their three daughters. Lilia is 5, Skyler is 2 and Morgan is 1 1/2. On November 1st, this family will be taking a vacation to Disney World. It will likely be their last vacation. Robert Toland has colon cancer. He’s been told he has just a few months to live. ***** Back on October 25th, Kevin Haynes, Service Officer in the American Legion... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1922721 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:33:45 +0100 1922721 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/so-i-go-insane-like-i-always-do.html No, this is not a rehearsal for a Busby Berkeley musical. These are student nurses! Apparently calisthenics were part of the curriculum back in the day. Nursing school was a lot more than studying and clinicals, you know. One had to learn the niceties of society and proper etiquette, too! I have an entire photo shoot on the life of a student nurse in the 1940s. When I post them, I’ll warn you ahead of time. You won’t want to be eating or drinking while you read, as aspiration is to be avoided at all costs! ******************** Our Change of Shift host for the week, Amanda at Crazy Miracle Called Life, has just posted the new edition! ******************** If you have not yet voted in our poll for topics to cover at next year’s medblogger conference, please do so! The poll... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1919389 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:12:01 +0100 1919389 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/hangin-with-johnson-and-johnson.html I’m back! It was a whirlwind trip to beautiful Orlando, Florida to speak at Johnson and Johnson’s Global Communications Conference. I had an absolute blast! I’m standing here with my co-panelist Lisa Emrich, author of Brass and Ivory, her blog about life with multiple sclerosis. She also runs the Carnival of MS Bloggers and writes for Health Central on MS issues. That’s in addition to being a professional musician and music instructor (and I thought I was busy!)! ***** The speech went well, but I did forget one minor thing: When you are giving a Powerpoint presentation, advance the slides! I got so into what I was saying, I forgot to press the clicker! It is very surreal to see your name on a twenty-foot screen, I should have gotten a picture of it. I was very nervo... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1898319 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:02:01 +0100 1898319 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/grand-rounds-back-at-emergiblog.html Sweet mother in heaven! This is me in an airport at 0430 and the Starbucks is not open. Someone must pay. Actually, it is me who will pay as soon as they open. I’d say “good morning” but I haven’t been to bed. I think I’m running on pure, unadulterated adrenaline. ******************** But, the good news is that Grand Rounds will be hosted here, at Emergiblog next week! No theme, just send your best postings and I’ll put them in around an extra-special, one-of-a-kind theme I’m dreaming up as we speak. Because I’m always late in getting a Grand Rounds post in, I shall have a deadline of Monday morning at 10:00 am. So no excuse, you can write your post on Sunday! Send to me at kmcallister911 at mac dot com. This is gonna be fun! Emergiblog is ... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1898320 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:57:11 +0100 1898320 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/lord-i-was-born-a-travelin-nurse.html Finally, the world agrees with me! Listening to the Bee Gees is good for health! Not yours, necessarily, but the person whose chest you are compressing! Yes, just thinking about the song “Stayin’ Alive” helps you perform CPR appropriately. Heck, Barry Gibb’s had my my heart since 1974. I had this poster on my wall in college. Told my husband he was the only man I’d ever leave him for. Been married almost 30 years, guess Barry ain’t showin’ up! ******************** Don’t let the post title fool you - I haven’t become a traveler. I am, however, traveling to Orlando, Florida for a night to be part of a panel at Johnson and Johnson’s Global Communications Conference. I leave the house at 0400 tomorrow. God bless the instructor who gav... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1890580 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:52:06 +0100 1890580 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/gentlemen-start-your-grand-rounds.html Emergiblog is Sponsored by allnurses.com - Where Nurses Come Together Gentlemen: Start Your Grand Rounds! from Emergiblog (Source: Emergiblog) Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1888776 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:53:34 +0100 1888776 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/school-daze-at-change-of-shift.html And it’s time for Change of Shift! This time it’s over at Nurse Ratched’s Place with a “Be True to Your School” theme, hence the photo of these studious student nurses in place of the usual CoS logo. Nice cap there, Mother Jones! Seriously - that’s an 8/10! ***** Well, since Mother Jones had the guts to put up one of her yearbook photos, I’ll put an old shot of me up, too. It’s the only proof I have that I was ever that skinny! I tried wearing white recently and I looked like a walking drive-in movie screen. I expected cars to start parking in front of me with speakers hanging in their windows. If I had a nurse’s cape, it would hide a multitude of sins, much like navy blue scrubs. Thank God for navy blue scrubs! ******************** G... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1882127 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:37:34 +0100 1882127 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/when-the-poverty-is-in-your-backyard.html Well, I’m just a half-hour late to the show. As everyone knows by now, yesterday was Blog Action Day, meaning over 12, 000 bloggers all blogged about one topic: poverty. I was going to write yesterday, but maybe it’s better that I didn’t. I have a little bit better perspective on poverty than I had yesterday. ********** I’m working on a paper for my Community Nursing class; I am in the process of conducting a “Community Assessment”. Part of the assignment entails doing a “windshield survey” of the community. Drive through. Get a feel for it. Find out what you can from just observing. Now I knew that the area I had chosen was an older, run down area of my city. Lots of ethnic groups represented, most without health insurance. High crime area. ... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1882128 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:45:31 +0100 1882128 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/time-for-rounds-and-browns.html Sigh! Any excuse for a Brady Quinn photo! The good news is that the Browns pounded the Giants last night. My thanks to those who put up with me live-twitting through the game! Where were all the Browns fans on Twitter? I was all alone! The bad news was that Brady did not play because Derek Anderson decided to play really well. I shan’t comment further. Oh well. Brady is only 24 so he’s got a loooong career ahead of him. Makes me wish I was 30 years younger. (Many thanks to Barry at the Orange and Brown Blogs for the okay to use this AP photo from their site!) ******************** From Cleveland to Casablanca… Grand Rounds shows up with a bit of a movie theme over at Notes of an Anesthesioboist. “T” quotes her favorite movies, one of which is “Independe... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1874490 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:56:34 +0100 1874490 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/the-nursing-shortage-a-sticky-wicket.html Cherry Ames, Podiatry Nurse? Yuck. The poor nurse in this photo can barely contain her true feelings. Obviously, she doesn’t relish her job, but that poor doctor actually has to do the exam. Without gloves! I hope he washes his hands between patients, especially since he is looking for athlete’s foot. Major yuck! At least the nurse is wearing a decent cap. ****************************** And that’s why I became a nurse. I wanted the cap. And I got it! And now there’s a nursing shortage. ***** Ask ten people why there is a nursing shortage and you’ll get ten different answers. The best post I’ve ever read that addresses the real reasons for the nursing shortage was sent to me by Shane. Now, it isn’t unusual for me to give Shane information about nurs... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1869740 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:10:10 +0100 1869740 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/are-you-just-a-nurse.html Whoa. Excuse me while I get my smelling salts! A veritable cornucopia of nursing caps! I love it! I see about ten I would wear, and some that are beyond the pale! One looks like a gas station attendant should have it on (circa 1950s) and one looks like a paper airplane. There is one in the middle, third row from the top, that looks like conjoined caps. Methinks the designer must have been chemically impaired! I still like my own cap the best! ****************************** My forays into recent BlogWorld and ENA conferences have left me with a plethora of ideas and inspiration. This post is one of them, directly inspired by the keynote speaker at the ENA Scientific Assembly in Minneapolis, Dr. Joseph Michelli, PhD. ********** For some reason, I am occasionally mistaken for the doctor. I&#8... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1861206 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:21:03 +0100 1861206 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/zippy-watches-the-fighting-irish.html Hey, I have company to watch the game with today! Zippy posts about it! (Source: Emergiblog) Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1852076 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:27:18 +0100 1852076 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/zippy-meets-starbucks.html Hey everyone! Zippy and I went to Starbucks! Zippy even treated! You can read about the adventure at Fun With Zippy! Let’s just say that salted, caramel hot chocolate is just about the most delicious drink I’ve ever had! Think of a chocolate, caramel pretzel. And get the sea salt on the whipped cream! Yum! (Source: Emergiblog) Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1846593 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:44:43 +0100 1846593 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/10/change-of-season-at-change-of-shift.html Change of Shift is now up over at NurseLinkUp, hosted by our old friend Keith of Digital Doorway! The autumn theme has made me want to go get a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Looks like Zippy and I will be making a trip this afternoon! Many thanks to Keith for hosting. The next CoS is back at Nurse Ratched’s Place , so you can send your submissions to “motherjones at yahoo dot com”. ******************* There is a very promising author who has placed their book in installment form online (no, it’s not me!). I have known this author for many years. This book is five years in the making, and has already won one award. It is called The Shadow of the East. The first installment: The Beginning of the End. Please check it out. I’m sure the author would appreciate any feedback... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1846594 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:17:45 +0100 1846594 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/blogworldexpo09-medblogger-poll-is-up-and-running.html Yeah, it’s finally up! The list of topics for BlogWorld09 is up! I voted already! Go ahead and vote now - choose eight topics you would like to see. *** How to vote: 1. Click on “Comment” at the bottom of the poll. 2. Click on the “Vote” tab. You should then be able to pick your eight topics. 3. If you are asked to enter a password (as the poll is private), it is “blog”. *** The eleventh topic, Networking Outside the Medical Blogosphere, could not be added to the list, but you can still vote for it by sending me a comment or an email and I’ll keep track. Voting goes on until the end of November The list has been placed in random order to avoid any personal bias on my part. ******************** Don’t forget that Keith (Digital Doorway) ... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1839426 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:46:29 +0100 1839426 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/zippy-greets-kim.html Hey!  Zippy here! Kim finally came home! She was on a trip when I arrived, how rude but that’s okay! I’m here at an undisclosed location in the San Francisco Bay Area. Yeah, I was already in San Francisco, but Kim says we’re just going to hang out. I need some rest after my Hawaiian adventure. In fact, I think I still have sand in my claws! I wonder where Kim will take me! (Source: Emergiblog) Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1835750 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:26:30 +0100 1835750 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/we-manage-chaos.html (Well, I thought I was homeward bound. Turns out they overbooked my flight from Phoenix to Oakland, and needed volunteers to take a later flight. What’s in it for me? A bigger jet, dinner and a free round-trip ticket to anywhere US Airways flies in the US. Hello? Heck yeah, I’ll volunteer! I’m exhausted but I’m thinking, “NASCAR, here I come!”. My husband has it tagged for something else. Not a chance, Bub - Coca Cola 600, 2009, I’m so there! So I’m blogging in a combo Wolfgang Puck/Pretzel Mania/TCBY/Pizza Hut cubicle. It’s the only place with a plug!) ****************************** Here I am with Mary Tyler Moore on the Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Or at least her statue. I didn’t have a hat to toss, darn it! The mall is beaut... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1835751 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:06:37 +0100 1835751 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/homeward-bound.html The lights are out, the stage is empty, the 2008 ENA Annual Conference and Scientific Assembly is over. The memories and stories remain. I’m heading home this morning, where I will be processing, and writing, blog posts about and inspired by my time at the ENA conference. Next stop: the 2009 Conference in Baltimore! If you have never been to an ENA Conference, plan for 2009. It’s so worth it! (Source: Emergiblog) Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1835752 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:22:42 +0100 1835752 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/a-president-for-all-of-us.html Greetings from Minneapolis, where it is absolutely beautiful. I love this city. Here at the Convention Center, I have access to the Press Room! Okay, it’s a room with tables and internet connections, but it’s a Press Room! I, ladies and gentlemen, am “the press”. And I have the credentials to prove it! ***** It feels like an “All Access” pass at a rock concert! I can’t thank the ENA enough, especially Tony Phipps, Media Director, for the opportunity to cover the ENA Annual Conference from this perspective. Because of their generosity, I had an experience that doesn’t often come to an ENA member. I met, and interviewed, the President of ENA: Denise King. ***** Ever wonder what kind of person becomes the President of the ENA? Someone who is u... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1831592 Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:04:44 +0100 1831592 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/ena-annual-meeting-i-made-it.html I can’t believe I am actually here in beautiful Minneapolis (land of James Lileks, my blogfather!) for the ENA Annual Meeting and Scientific Assembly! I already have a ton of post ideas - six, to be exact, and that was just from the keynote address! I did want to mention, before going on, that I met Zippy’s cousin today! This is Eenah the Lobster (get it? E-N-A = Eenah) and she is the mascot for the 2009 ENA Meeting in Baltimore! Zippy himself should be arriving at my door any day now. Hubby is expecting him! I hope I can show him as good a time as everyone else has. Hope he likes coffee. And NASCAR! And the Cleveland Browns! And Notre Dame! I’ll turn Zippy into such a Notre Dame fan he’ll turn irish green! ******************** The lovely lady on my left is Ms. Can... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1828035 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:41:15 +0100 1828035 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/and-one-more-for-the-road.html Man, you know you are an American icon when your face is painted on the side of a Las Vegas hotel! Checked to see what the tickets would be… $180. Um, while I’ve seen Barry Manilow at least 8 times between 1976 and 1979, no way was I going to pay that much money. I would have paid it, however, for Tony Bennett. I’d have paid even more. I would have taken out a second mortgage, if I’d have had to. But he was only there on Friday and Saturday. I missed it. ************** This was totally cool! It’s just a bar in the Vegas airport, but it’s a Budweiser bar! Meaning lots of Kasey Kahne all over the place! No, I didn’t stop for a drink. But…what a great place to watch a race (next to the NASCAR cafe, of course!). ********** Tomorrow at 0600, my ... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1822019 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:02:24 +0100 1822019 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/grand-rounds-51-in-your-own-words.html Surprise! Didn’t expect to see Grand Rounds here? Let’s just say I’m having a friend over to celebrate an anniversary! Welcome to the party; I’m sure you know my friend. ******************** Grand Rounds 5:1 - In Your Own Words Welcome to the historic, 5th year anniversary of Grand Rounds, the weekly summary of the best of the medical blogosphere. As the proud new co-leader of Grand Rounds, I am committed to expanding its reach, promoting the Grand Rounds “brand”, and making sure contributors’ voices are heard by healthcare’s movers and shakers. This day happens to be historic for me as well, since I have just taken the leap into blogging independence. I am excited that “Dr. Val and the Voice of Reason” lives on at the Getting Be... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1822020 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:51:51 +0100 1822020 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/wheels-are-turnin-blogworldexpo-09.html It’s not “maybe” anymore. We’re on. Put in your vacation requests. Get a passport if you need one. Sign up for those extra shifts. Arrange for coverage while you’re gone. October 15 - 17, 2009, Las Vegas, Nevada. The medical/health blogosphere will have a full track of presentations at BlogWorldExpo09. The missing ingredient is you. ******************** The luncheon was great - ten of us were present, they put out enough food for fifty! But we did more than eat. We talked. And brainstormed. And realized that we had more than enough topics to cover eight sessions over two days. We tried to think of as many areas of the health blogosphere as possible. We looked at the suggestions made on Doctor Anonymous’ BlogTalkRadio show. We tried to provide unique cont... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1812153 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:47:31 +0100 1812153 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/blogworldexpo-09-we-can-do-this.html For those of you who missed Beth’s twitpic of our BlogWorldExpo group, here is the version from my iPhone. From left to right: Rob Halper, our friend from Johnson & Johnson, Beth (PixelRN), Me (when I’m not doubling as my Lego alter-ego), and Dr. Val. In the back, the one and only Shane and Dr. Val’s friend John (Mr. Dr. Val was taking the picture!). I actually met two medbloggers within an hour of the opening of the conference and they will be joining us at the lunch tomorrow. ******************** I’m stoked. Totally. First of all, the atmosphere here at BlogWorld08 is electrifying. I attended three sessions today and probably have enough ideas for at least three-to-four posts. Tomorrow is our lunch session. It looks more and more like the BlogWorld09 Medblogge... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1810733 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 06:44:40 +0100 1810733 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/viva-las-vegas-so-far.html Well, I made it to the Sahara! And then I did what any self-respecting blogger would do. I headed for the NASCAR Cafe, where I was able to watch the end of the qualifying runs for Dover over a rather stiff margarita. They are not stingy with the grog here, me mateys! *********** But what is this? It’s a NASCAR cup in the shape of a fuel can! Well, obviously I had to have it and they were even nice enough to put a second margarita in it for me! Now lest you think this is just a cheap, sentimental throw-away piece of plastic, let me tell you this thing is ceramic! Truly a work of art. If they cancelled BlogWorldExpo my trip to Las Vegas would be complete because of this exquisite piece of motor sports artwork. Seriously, it’s just about the coolest thing I’ve ever seen! **... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1807977 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:00:12 +0100 1807977 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/change-of-shift-walks-the-plank.html Ahoy, Mateys! I be lookin’ fer any ’scuse to be lookin’ at that scallowag Jack Sparrow! Miss Emily (she be over at crzegrl.net) has me attention this here fine mornin’ with her “Talk Like A Pirate”Change o’ Shift. A mighty fine job she be doin’ over there. I suspect I’ll be owing her some grog in appreciation fer her hosting duties, as it were. ******************** Last night I be guestin’ on the Doctor Anonymous Show on BlogTalkRadio. A blast, it was! The good doctor brought his own grog, so I need to be thankin’ him with a good pirate salute (Saaaa-lute!) for a’ havin’ me fer a visit! Dem parties he be a throwin’ after the show, well, lets just say some timbers were a shiverin’! At this very moment ... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1807978 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:42:07 +0100 1807978 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/grand-rounds-change-of-shift-and-radio-daze.html This is hilarious! The Ammonia Phone? It’s for asthma, bronchitis and consumption. I think the only thing it consumed was your money. The description alone is priceless. I post it today in honor of this week’s Grand Rounds held over at Nurse Ratched’s Place with the theme of the Grand Rounds Medicine Show. This would have fit right in! ********** For those of you looking for Change of Shift, Emily at crzegrl.net is working hard to get the edition up by this evening. I’ll send the announcement once it is posted. ********** Tonight I have the honor of being the guest on the Doctor Anonymous radio show! I’ll be talking about the BlogWorldExpo (leaving tomorrow morning!) and what we hope to accomplish with them in terms of putting together a MedBlogger track for... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1804619 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:07:33 +0100 1804619 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/weekend-warrior-off-duty-doings.html He was wonderful! I saw Lindsey Buckingham on Saturday night at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Here’s an artist who maybe puts out a solo album every ten years and then he puts out two in two years! “Gift of Screws” (a reference to an Emily Dickinson poem) is more upbeat than last year’s very introspective “Under the Skin”. It comes out on Tuesday and will be on iTunes and amazon.com. I love everything he’s ever done. I could have sat there all night just listening to his guitar. If you click the link above, you can hear the first “single” off the CD, “Did You Miss Me”. It’s worth the click! *********************** We kicked major Michigan behind this week! After last year, it’s nice to see the &#8220... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1792911 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:54:22 +0100 1792911 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/send-them-off-in-a-letter-to-yourself.html Can you believe this? I don’t know about you, but some of my favorite moments in nursing school were spent in “Circle Time”! Not! This looks like a kindergarten class listening to teacher read a book! What, they only had one piece of paper to go around? I realize this was before the advent of technology, but surely the Gutenberg press had been invented by then! ********************* Discharge instructions. One of the most important duties I have in the ER is educating my patients on what is happening to them, what they need to do after discharge and when/where to follow up. It’s disturbing to learn they understand very little of it. It’s even worse to learn that they don’t know that they don’t know. Check out this story from Reuters. ***** I had a... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1791106 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:19:14 +0100 1791106 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/brenda-gibson-one-more-look-back.html UPDATE: THIS WAS A STORY I WROTE ON BRENDA GIBSON FOR THE 2996 PROJECT SEPTEBER 11th, 2006. I HAVE DECIDED TO REPOST IT AGAIN IN HONOR OF HER AND THE OTHER VICTIMS OF 9/11. I THINK OF BRENDA EVERY TIME I SEE THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS PLAY. IT’S BEEN SEVEN YEARS. DATES AND AGES HAVE BEEN UPDATED WITHIN THE POST. MAY WE NEVER FORGET. EVER. ***** Brenda C. Gibson was a budget analyst for the Pentagon. She loved her job. She could have retired, but she chose to keep working. She was so dedicated she postponed a major surgery. She didn’t want her department to be short-staffed during the busy end of the budget year. And so, Brenda C. Gibson got up that Tuesday morning, like she would have any Tuesday morning. But it wasn’t just any Tuesday. It was September 11, 2001. ***********... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1784943 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:57:52 +0100 1784943 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/an-applequack-grand-rounds.html I know, I know. The actual theme of this week’s Grand Rounds over at Applequack.com is “The Sound of Music”. But how could I resist a reason to use a photo of THE Apple on the blog? After all, Dr. Cris writes about Apple and medical stuff, right? And besides, I have a horrible confession to make. “The Sound of Music” is not one of my favorite movies. I’ve tried, really, I’ve tried. Hubby says it’s because it doesn’t star Jeff Goldblum and/or Will Smith. Yeah, right! ******************** The next Change of Shift makes its appearance on September 18th at crzegrl.net. You can submit by using the (very handy) Blog Carnival link on the right sidebar or send your submissions to “emily at crzegrl dot net”. If you send them to me I... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1777573 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:05:15 +0100 1777573 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/if-i-knew-then-what-i-know-now.html Holy cow! I didn’t think my heart would hold out until the end of the game!!!! Hardly a stellar performance, I must admit, but the IRISH WON!!!!! I think I’m hoarse! Time to go wash off the green body paint… Just kidding…. But, in honor of the first of many Irish wins, I will continue the honored tradition of the last three years and proclaim my devotion to the hallowed halls of Our Lady of the Lake: Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame,wake up the echoes cheering her name! Send a volley cheer on high, Shake down the thunder from the sky! What though the odds be great or small, Old Notre Dame will win over all! While her loyal sons are marching, Onward to victory! (now if Kasey Kahne can just make the Chase for the Sprint Cup….) ******************************* D... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770106 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 04:52:08 +0100 1770106 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/time-flies-the-carnivals-are-in-town.html Change of Shift is up over at Nurse Ratched’s Place, with a pulp fiction theme! Where does Mother Jones get all those books? ******************** Laurie over at A Chronic Dose has put together a huge Grand Rounds this week! Her theme is education. I’ll be spending some time over there this weekend! I’ll have the honor of hosting once again in October! It will take me that long to think of a theme! ******************** Emergiblog is Sponsored by allnurses.com - Where Nurses Come Together Time Flies: the Carnivals are in Town! from Emergiblog (Source: Emergiblog) Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1761959 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:30:47 +0100 1761959 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/all-i-have-to-do-is-dream.html Okay. I know that I always say Emergiblog is 99% apolitical, but I absolutely had to post this photo. The man on the far left is my husband, John. In the middle is my son Kendall, who was an undergraduate at Notre Dame when this was taken. And that is not an imposter on the right, that really is John McCain! Kendall had the opportunity to intern for Senator McCain for a semester. I have a great respect for John McCain, but at the time this was taken I never, ever, ever thought he’d be the nominee for President. I am thrilled, and proud, to have this photo hanging in my home. Well, if you didn’t know before, now you know I’m a conservative Republican. And Kendall? He’s in his third year of law school and Editor-in-Chief of his Law Review. And a staunch Democrat. Go f... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1761960 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:33:46 +0100 1761960 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/09/an-extreme-makeover-for-your-blog.html Healthcare Today wants to give your blog an extreme makeover! It is a contest and the prizes are enough to make a bona-fide blogger go bananas! A complete migration of your current blog to your own domain name (i.e. www.yourblogname.com) and WordPress, the software used by more of the web’s most popular blogs than any other. A shiny new professional blog theme that reflects your blog’s personality and makes you look great. One year of free hosting from Liquid Web, the best web host we’ve ever used. Free consulting from Shane, the “web guy” for Emergiblog, Nurse Ratched’s Place and about a nurse. The contest runs through September. The details are at Healthcare Today: Take Your Blog to the Next Level. Many will enter, five will win! And it will m... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1758361 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:59:46 +0100 1758361 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/08/chopped-liver-to-the-er-stat.html Oh, this is hilarious! It is so obviously not a real hospital room! The solid white backdrop - no oxygen, no light fixtures, no code button, no intercom. Okay, so maybe they didn’t have those back in the day. It’s hard to see, but there is a piece of tape on the glass bottle that says “Saline”. It looks like the tubing coming from the IV is rubber and about the size of a garden hose. Is there anyone out there who has been in nursing long enough to remember rubber tubing?  I’m embarrassed to say that glass bottles were still in use when I started (and no pleurivacs, either - just three glass bottle water seal drainge!) It seems that they practiced make-up application and used hair arranging as a therapeutic intervention.  That patient looks really sick, doesn... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1744671 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:43:18 +0100 1744671 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/08/alas-grand-rounds-i-know-them-well.html Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt Grand Rounds. I hope Will shall pardon my paraphrase of Hamlet’s words in Act II, scene ii. Hamlet totally rocks, as does Teresa at Rural Doctoring for the Shakespeare theme of this week’s Grand Rounds! And just for the record, Lawrence Olivier gives the best performance of Hamlet I’ve ever seen ( with all due respect to Kenneth Branagh), although the critics of Olivier’s time disagree with me. I wonder what Zippy thinks? ******************** Rima from The Doctor Blogger has submitted a proposal called The 3G Project to the American Express Members Project. The projects that get the most votes will be funded. Rima does not receive the money, but the institution ad... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1731897 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:59:40 +0100 1731897 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/08/urgent-helpsupplies-needed.html This is a quick post to let you know what I found on Healthcare Today. You really need to see this. The 73rd Calvary in Iraq working in a convoy support center are running a burn unit! These are non-medical guys, they work on trucks, but they are seeing/treating about 40 kids a day with burn injuries. Why? They volunteered. The Iraqis built a primitive but effective triage center and our guys are working to help these kids heal. These are not war-related burns - there is a high incidence of domestic burns secondary to boiling water and oil from cooking. Because they are not war-related, the guys of the 73rd cannot use Army supplies to treat the burns (a rules-of-engagement thing). They need donations of physical supplies (not money or checks). Lots of them. I found bulk gauze rolls and no... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1731898 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:01:23 +0100 1731898 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/08/my-charade-is-the-event-of-the-season.html How could we ever forget the old commercial: “Remove wrenched ankle..HA-HA-HA!” I wanted to punch that kid, and I was about the same age! I was not a good player of “Operation”, either, I always made the nose light up. Good thing I didn’t go into surgery, folks would be running around with electric, red noses. The price of the game today? $14.99 on amazon.com. Did they increase the fee paid for removing that ankle? I bet the “fees” haven’t changed from the original game. Guess it isn’t so far from real life as I thought. ******************** I am a hollow shell. How’s that for a dramatic beginning? It’s how I feel right now, and it hasn’t changed since I last left my unit.. I expended so much mental and emotional ener... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1730247 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:02:19 +0100 1730247 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/08/change-of-shift-vol-3-number-four.html And it’s that time again, folks! Welcome to Change of Shift! Many thanks to those who volunteered to host CoS - there are still dates available, but they are filling up fast, so if you would like to host, check out the dates and drop me line. Are you Twittering? Beth at Pixel RN has a great list of nurses on Twitter, so if you are looking for colleagues on the service, check out her list. I’m there under….wait for it…Emergiblog! ******************** Suzanne at :: adventures in daily living :: starts us off with a very comprehensive post on How to Help a Family With a Medical Emergency That Lands Them in I.C.U. There are things here I never even thought of, and I’ve done the ICU vigil more times than I care to think about! A big Change of Shift welcome to Denic... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1721961 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:09:32 +0100 1721961 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/08/dewey-or-dont-we-grand-rounds-goes-to-the-library.html Ever wonder what we did before the internet? You’re looking at it. The Dewey Decimal System. If you have to look it up, you’re too young to remember it. Let’s put it this way: it gave Kerri at Six Until Me a nightmare. A nightmare that became the theme for this week’s Grand Rounds! Melvil Dewey would be proud! ******************** I’d like to thank Scrubs Gallery for their continued support of Emergiblog. You guys rock, and the site gets better and better! ***** The Healthcare Today site is growing fast! I’m proud to be in the company of some pretty heavy hitting bloggers over there, and you can easily sign up. Then, you can submit your own posts to the headlines and vote on those already there. It’s not only a quick look at the blogosphere topics,... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1715848 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:52:14 +0100 1715848 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/08/do-it-yourself-medicine-shelf.html Does your medicine cabinet look this neat? Do you even have this many drugs? My “medicine chest” is in my kitchen. Various and sundry medications and supplements share shelf space with Skippy Extra Chunky Peanut Butter, Smucker’s jelly, Starbucks coffee, Splenda, and CoffeeMate. I’m ready for nasal congestion, runny nose, nausea, muscle spasms, inflammation, cough, insomnia, diarrhea, indigestion, allergic reactions, superficial boo-boos and headaches. If I had the appropriate anatomical equipment,  I’d probably be prepared for erectile dysfunction. And those aren’t even my prescription meds! Oh, I don’t take them all, but just in case someone has a symptom, I am ready! Better living through chemistry, that’s my motto! **********************... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1706395 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 05:17:47 +0100 1706395 http://www.emergiblog.com/2008/08/the-waiting-is-the-hardest-part.html Another offering to the god of constipation. Okay, fess up. How many of you snuck Ex-Lax pieces out of your Grandmother’s medicine cabinet because it was “chocolate”? I did. Guess what happened… Nothing. No diarrhea. No abdominal cramping. Nada. Well, something actually did happen. I got caught! And back in the early 60’s, pre-Dr. Spock days of child discipline, one did not sit one’s child in the corner for a “time out” or have a “discussion” with one’s preschooler. If you get my drift. Let’s just say that I never, ever did that again. ******************** I was on my way back from Employee Health, where I had received my annual TB test. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they had titres on file for my childho... Emergiblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1706396 Sat, 16 Aug 2008 04:28:12 +0100 1706396