SkyWatch Friday

Last weekend I was hiking on the Wild Pacific Trail. This is an amazing trail with some beautiful scenery. People from all over the world come here just to take in the sights. Renowned Actors and musicians have homes in this area and I can see why.

Happy Friday all! If you would like to join in on the fun please check out SkyWatch Friday

When have policies gone to far?

For most of us, our work environment is controlled by polices, procedures, and standards. In most cases these are good safe guards ensuring safe practise is followed. Certainly you want to make sure that the person who is starting your IV or drawing your blood knows what they are doing and that their practise is guided by standards, policies and procedures. There is a certain comfort knowing that your pharmacist is dispensing your medication in a safe and accurate fashion, again based on practise, policies and standards.

There are many safe guards in place to ensure that these individuals meet certain standards and are following policies and procedures.

However, there does come a time when policies that are written and established leave you just shaking your head. Case in point, the other day I was having a casual conversation with one of my colleagues when some how the conversation got turned and twisted to us discussing undergarments. Don't ask me how we got there....we just did. We were casually chatting when another colleague walked by and my co-worker calls out "I hope you are wearing your panties under those scrubs". I giggled, I thought what the heck are your talking about. I truly thought she was making a silly comment, but truth been known there was more to this than I knew. My co-worker has an interesting sense of humour so I wasn't sure if she was joking or not so I called her on it. True enough she goes on to tell me that our employer is currently in the process of having a policy written on the wearing of undergarments!

Yes, you read that right. My employer in it's wisdom feels it necessary to have a policy in place with regards to staff wearing undergarments. Of course I was stunned by this, so I did a little investigation of my own. I contacted our nurse educator who indeed confirmed what my co- worker had told me. "Are your for real" was my response. WOW!!! So, now I am left with a couple of questions. First who is going to patrol/monitor this? How are they going to monitor this? Am I going to have to drop my scrubs to prove I am indeed wearing underwear? Is my employer now going to tell me what kind of underwear I can wear?

My employer keeps telling us they don't have money for certain projects, or extra help, or they need to cut back on supplies etc., but somehow they seem to have the funds available to waste on establishing such a policy. Am I the only one out there that thinks this is just crazy and a waste of valuable resources, time and money?

Unfortunately there are always individuals who push the dress code issue. But I question does undergarments come under a dress code policy? Personally, I don't look that closely at my colleagues to check to see if they wearing undergarments and I really don't care and or think it is any of my business. Again, how are they going to enforce this policy?

What about you, do you work in an environment where your employer has policies in place that just leave you shaking your head?

Hello again.....

Life can throw you a curve ball when you least expect it.

In June I went for my scheduled mammogram. I have gone for regular mammograms since I was 40 at my doctor's suggestion. When my sister was diagnoses with breast cancer 3 years ago I became more diligent with making sure I went for my mammogram and performed self breast examinations, something I have always felt a little goofy about doing but the alternative of not doing it is far worse.

About 10 days after my mammogram I got a call from the hospital telling me that they had booked another mammogram for me along with an ultrasound. Needless to say my antenna's went up. The following week I was in for my follow up mammogram. My little heart was pounding what seemed like a thousand beats a minute. I arrive at the hospital(the hospital I work at) and speak with the technician who will being doing the mammogram, she told me there were some abnormalities that had shown up on the other mammogram and that they wanted to get a better look. She took numerous pictures, she went out and spoke with the radiologist and came back and said I was all done and that they would be in touch.

The following week I had my ultrasound. Again I was nervous as all get out. The sonographer was very professional and explained what she was doing, the ultrasound took maybe 25mins. and then I was on my way home to wait patiently for some word as to what was going on.

My doctor called and I went in for the results. Turns out I had 4 cm. area about the size of a walnut that I had what they called "micro calcification in clusters" the radiologist comments where that they were suspicious of "lobular carcinoma". It was suggested that I have what they call aSterostatic biopsy. Needless to say my antenna's went up even further, and I am sure my doctor could see it in the expression on my face. She said she would arrange to have the test done. I wait patiently. I get another call from my doctor's office to tell me that it has to be a surgeon who makes the referral for the test so now I have to wait to get in to see the surgeon. Another week passes. I saw the surgeon on the Friday. He said he was going to have the request for biopsy faxed to the hospital that day. He was going away for 3 weeks. Urgh!!!

Remember I said I work at the hospital. Well I was going to work that afternoon after seeing him, so being curious I went to see if they received the requisition from his office. They hadn't. I'd have to wait until Monday to find out. Monday comes around and still they haven't received the fax. Well his office is now closed for 3 weeks where could it be. I checked again on Tuesday the clerks in the booking department were great and they put me right through to the person who arranges these biopsies. I spoke to her, she was very apologetic and stated that she still hadn't received anything. She put me on hold a few times...then she came back to me and said...you know I don't have it, but I will book you in anyhow....I couldn't thank her enough, 10 days later I was in having the procedure done, and what a procedure.

Mammograms at the best of times can be uncomfortable especially for those of us who are shall we say are well endowed. The procedure requires that you lay on a table on your side while they try and place your breast on the screen so they can take pictures to find the best place to obtain the biopsy. As most of you know 18 months ago I had open heart and well my chest is still tender thus making it difficult to lay on my side for any length of time. But I persevered, I wanted them to get the best pictures possible. After about 1hour they were happy with the pictures. The radiologist came in and explained what he was going to do and proceeded to freeze my breast and then insert what sounded and felt like a drill in my breast. He wasn't happy with the first 2 samples so he asked if he could do it again. Of course! Would there be any doubt that I wouldn't want you to get the best samples possible. Go for it doc!! The next biopsy he tells me he got good samples....why thanks doc. They patch me up and put the cutesiest little self sticking ice pack on my boob....ahhhhh.

So now the really hurry up and wait game begins. It took 10 days for me to get the results....and it turns out that it was benign. Whew!!!!!!!! Almost 2 months had passed for me to get that news. I actually got the good news on my deceased mother's birthday August 9th. I swear she was looking out for me.

Now more than ever I will be diligent with my self breast examinations and regular mammograms. So ladies, please please do yourself a favour and get checked regularly.