Posts Tagged ‘volunteering’

Yesterday on my ER shift I almost go into cardiac arrest when I realize I’ve just fed a stack of crucial records for a critical Patient (currently in an ambulance speeding toward the ER) through the slot of a trash bin designated for shredding! In horror my eyes land on the big fat PADLOCK blocking my next move!  Nooooo!

Flash-back several minutes —

In the Waiting Room  Triage Nurse Anthony Chan, in his usual pissy mood, shoves two stacks of papers in my hands —

Personally hand this to the Charge Nurse and no one else, STAT! And stick these in the shredder bin. Within your skill-level, Volunteer?

I burst through the doors into Trauma, but the Charge Nurse isn’t there and no one knows where she is. I head toward the nearest Trash Bin to get rid of the other stack, but I run into Dr. A, who distracts me by making my heart beat faster (not my fault). Nonchalantly I slip the papers through the slot, flash him my killer smile and mosey on back to Triage…

I freeze when I spot Anthony Chan. F<#k! Read the rest of this entry »

“trust me…”

Hollywood may’ve gotten a bad rap this past election year, but when it comes to negotiations, they’ve set a great example for “how its done.” After twisty-turny, last-minute negotiations, Hollywood is getting its happy ending!

Sadly, it’s not the same for Healthcare in America.  After yesterday’s vote, when many of the Congressmen didn’t even take the time to read the bill they rushed to vote on —

They Took The Healthcare Crisis off LIFE SUPPORT!

The CHARACTER of our COUNTRY has sunk to a new low as House Republicans (mostly white men) gloated in the White House Rose Garden after passing a bill that takes away Healthcare for Americans, but gives Tax Breaks to wealthy donors and big corporations.

Disturbing on so many levels, if you have something wrong with you, it’ll cost you a lot more per year to deal with it. For instance it’ll cost over 140K annually for patients with metastasized cancer (as if their problems aren’t already overwhelming enough.) And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s Amateur Hour in the White House as our new President blusters through his first week, one-impulse-at-a-time. The news causes so much stress and embarrassment, I find myself spending more time at the hospital volunteering in the ER to try to make up for the arrogant behavior coming from our highest office. When I can’t listen to the news a moment longer, I go to the the one place where I can treat people from all over the world fairly and kindly and at the very least show that we’re not all like Donald Trump. Read the rest of this entry »

“EMPATHY” is this week’s buzzword for everyone except (ahem!) Donald Trump. To the shock and horror of the eloquent Mr. and Mrs. Khan (parents of the fallen U.S. Armed Services hero, Captain Humayn Khan) and other Gold Star Families, Democrats, Republicans-brave-enough-to-speak-out, and just about all compassionate Americans old enough to understand, there seems to be no end to the continual insults flowing uncontrollably from the big fat unfiltered mouth of TOUCHY TRUMP.

Trump is our MOST EMBARRASSING Presidential Candidate EVER!

Maybe Trump should try volunteering at my hospital for a crash course in Empathy 101, but there’s no way (NO WAY!) he could intelligently interact with the diverse population of patients and family members who freak out as they deal with physical and mental pain, while stuck in limbo, waiting…

Trump could learn a lot from our ER Staff though…

Boy, what I’d give to see our tightly-wound, uncompromising Triage Nurse Anthony Chan monitor King-of-Tantrums-Trump when his diarrhea-mouth attacks a stressed-out someone who accidentally pushes his buttons. Rule-stickler Anthony Chan may be small in size, but he’s big on principle. When Trump loses it, Chan will lash out at him, wash his mouth out with Purell and ban him from the ER. (Wish he could ban him from the U.S.) Read the rest of this entry »

Voices in my head keep….

• interpreting warnings from CNN — scaring me about going just about anywhere, any day, any time —
• repeating Trump’s boisterous blunders – reminding me that 40% of the population seems to agree with him —
• warning me that newer, younger, hotter, blond actresses are now on the radar of the Casting Directors who used to champion me —
• cautioning me that I don’t know how to do anything except for Acting, Volunteering and Ubering —
• challenging me to be a little braver and collaborate on a short film or web series so I can gain control my own destiny —
• reminding me that my life of not knowing isn’t nearly as bad as those of the patients who come into the ER and find out really big things to worry about —
• channelling my mom and prompting me to find the funny even when it hurts.

Sunny sunflowers remind me of my mom

The middle of the night is an excellent time to stress about things like: “Will I ever book a great gig again?” or “Am I destined to remain an Uber driver for the remainder of my life?”  Tuesday night provides me with a double whammy worry as I notice an odd looking bump on my neck. My insomniatic issues are compounded as I google “red bumps on necks” and can’t decide if I have a bacterial or fungal infection, skin cancer, or if I’ve just been bitten by a Zika-carrying-mosquito.

Volunteering in the ER —

Hours later during my early morning ER shift, I happen to catch the eye of Dr. A on a never-ending call with a former ER patient stressing about a medication she’s been taking.  He tries and tries to reassure her in the nicest and most calming way, not getting anywhere till — Read the rest of this entry »

Labor & Delivery… interesting…

Hospital Stories —

Wednesday afternoon on my ER Shift, a British woman, “preggers with twins,” comes in to deliver. As I wheel her upstairs, I ask if she’s nervous and she says — with out-stretched arms —

I’m a little scared about being strapped to the gurney during my C-Section!

Whaaaaa?!

Apparently her friend who had twins (at another hospital) told her that she had to be restrained during her procedure. So I say —

Uh, no – not in this hospital – unless you’re a mental patient.

She laughs —

Well that explains it!

Read the rest of this entry »