I arrived at work today to find out we were overstaffed on our unit, and as the lowest RN on the totem pole, I was the sucker that had to float to a different floor. Work FAIL.
I was a bit nervous since I am a one trick pony very familiar with the cardiac ICU, but haven’t really ventured elsewhere outside the acute setting. But rather than boo hoo all the way to my new assignment, I was a good sport about it, and decided to make it an educational day.
Welcome to the Neuro ICU. Out of the 6 beds in the unit, I had 3, all of which were stroke patients (hence the super clever lame post title). I won’t bore you with the details but I had THE best day. I loved it and found the differences in care between these patients and mine so interesting, plus the other nurse was so nice and helpful. It was the textbook definition of making lemons into lemonade.
I’m not going to completely sugar coat it though, I didn’t even get a SIP of my coffee until hours into the shift because from 7 to 10:30 I was constantly working to make sure I wasn’t overlooking anything. I have so much respect for ER nurses who are forced to know a little of everything. Good thing there was a microwave nearby, because my starbeezies was COLD when I was finally ready to drink it.
Question. Are you a Starbucks or Dunkin person? Or perhaps neither? Maybe you prefer a quaint and cozy local coffee spot?
If you happen to belong to the brilliant minority of the population that doesn’t require caffeine infusions to get you going…please don’t rub it in. I’m only joking of course (that’s how I express my jealousy) – you are in fact my hero AND I want your job.
Anyways, here is the lunch I packed the night before:
Some new, some old, eh? Dried fruit (papaya spears and mango), pop chips, apple, Kashi GoLean Chewy Oatmeal Rains Cookie bar, Odwalla Super Protein bar, ensalada mista.
Here’s the $-shot of the new bar.
This bar was definitely a dirty little treat. I was really surprised when I opened it to find it was surrounded in a white faux frosting. Not exactly how I pictured a Kashi product to look for some reason. Aren’t they the ones with the hippie commercials, in which nature experts in random exotic locations talk about using gifts from the earth in their food? Anyways, I bit into it and was even MORE surprised at the Charleston Chew like consistency. Is this a bar or a dessert? Turns out, dessert. While I reallllllly enjoyed it, I knew it was NOT something I should be eating. It tasted *exactly* like those Caramel deLite Girl Scout cookies (or Samosas, or whatever they are called today…). Would I buy it again? After examining the ingredients closer, I don’t think so, but DANG was it a yummy treat. Ignorance really is bliss…
The rest of my day was smooth sailing, I even had a little surprise visitor!
One of my coworkers (who wasn’t even working that day), managed to track me down in the Neuro ICU…turns out, she was just stopping by to drop off a present!!
Now THAT’S a good friend.
I was in such a great mood when I got off work, I decided to walk home. It took a while, but the weather was perfect and I got to chat it up with my momz along the way.
I planned my dinner the whole way home…
Chickpea GUAC!
Other ingreds: raw white sweet corn, red bell peppers, garbanzos chickpeas, and a whole lotta avocado. I much prefer the word chickpeas…it sounds so girly, flirty, and fabulous. There was also a splash of lime juice squeezed in – and a dash of salt.
I could have eaten it straight up with a spoon, but who am I to turn down extra fiber and calcium?
Spinach + matchstick carrots = DINNER!
And THAT, ladies and gents, is how it’s DONE!!
Dessert was none other than fruit – fresh AND dried. This was a weird combo. I’m not so sure that bluebeezies and dates go together. It was good, but wasn’t amazing. Sometimes I crave some pretty weird things, huh? Oh well.
Obvs, one ended up in the other (twss). My food just has a tendency to mingle.
My sweet tooth demanded another bowl of medjools, and I was eager to oblige. After dessert NYC Prep, I snuggled into bed to finish off my latest book, One Fifth. It certainly wasn’t deep, but it wasn’t completely mindless either…it kept me entertained, so all in all, it was a good “between” book (meaning, read between more serious choices, or on the subway/work commutes, etc.).
Next up? You’ll have to wait to see…
Chickpea is seriously such a cute word 🙂 it’s ALMOST as good as Medjool which reminds me of Ali G calling his woman “Me Julie” which reminds me of well…me. hahaha who’s narcassstic…
uhhh but that dinner looks WAY too good to even be true. stroke of genius is damn straight.
I’m SUPER excited about Water For Elephants! And One Fifth is def on my reading list. You are A super FAST reader man! I’m excited to hear about your next read 🙂
I never knew a legume could be flirty and fabulous… as you learn things about neurology and brains, I lay in bed at 11:46 am and educate myself on H-cubed about beans. Holla!
Your friend needs to become my friend. I want free cookbooks! Espesh ones that incluce CHICKAPEAS (I think we are used to saying garbanzos because of da west coast? No one really says chickapeas here but I AM NOT HATIN’) and bitchloads of avocado!!! OOOOOH
And I need more dates. Both kinds.
I always wondered how ER nurses managed since they have no idea what is coming at them next. Glad you had a good time in the stroke unit! (was it more like ‘Scrubs’? *hopeful*)
Starbucks, all the way. I don’t like buying coffee from places that don’t trust me to add my own milk. Seriously- I am big enough to be drinking coffee, I can be trusted with milk.
Fab dinner- gotta ask, was there mingling going on in there too? Those carrots are dying for some guac action…
I’m neither a Starbucks nor a Dunkin person – my only source of caffeine is CHOCOLATE 🙂
Hang in there with work!!
of COURSE!! that chickpea guac jumped ship the second it saw the carrot landing pad! haha. ummm…sure elle? it was JUST like scrubs…
You are so right!!! I never called them chickpeas until I moved to this side of the country. But it’s much more glamorous – darn those east coasters and their sophistication, haha!
MMMM can i steal that lunch it looks super extra fab! 🙂
Being from the NW, I’m not a huge fan of Starbizzle, although it’s the best of the chains out there. Go Stumptown Coffee Roasters!
You friend/co-worker gets kudos from me!
That guac salad is so hot its making me sweat.
Haha, I don’t like the word Garbanzo because it reminds me of Gonzo from the Muppet Babies, and I never liked him. Chickpeas make me think of those marshmallow things at Easter – much cuter. However you say it though, they’re good in the tummy!
You have such a great attitude woman. I would have been bitchin’ my way through that day!
When I buy coffee it’s usually Bucks, but I try to just drink one homebrewed cup in the morning to save money and help with the insomnia. Sometimes I don’t make it though.
I prefer chickpeas too… if only because a lot of people have no idea what I mean when I say “garbanzo”! ;p
I’m not a coffee drinker!! I think I ought to get a Starbucks though … maybe I “don’t like” coffee because I’ve never had proper coffee. Then again, I don’t really need another vice, do I? 😉
<3 <3
I have never understood being “overstaffed”…how does it happen?! I mean, don’t they know how many people they have scheduled to work?
I only drink decaf, but I am still addicted! There is just something comforting about a warm cup of coffee… And I don’t buy it anywhere…I am waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too cheap to buy coffee! I make it at home and then take it with me 🙂
Courtney
Glad you enjoyed a new experience at work today! Sounds like a pretty cool job to me, even if you are super busy.
I’m a Starbucks girl, but that might be because I’ve NEVER tried Dunkin coffee…hmmmm.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you are THE Super Nurse! For the record: I’m an, “I don’t care it’s coffee” kind of girl. As long as I can get my fix I’m good to go 🙂
Samosas are goooooood but crazy ingredients? If you put the Glamour “don’t” bar over it, it doesn’t exist, right?
Garbanzo just sounds so….I don’t know but you’re right, chickpea is better. Chickpea guac? You are just pulling out all the stops to make me come to NYC aren’t you?!
I may not be a “working” women once i’m back at school, but I am a college student….who hasn’t become dependent on coffee….yet!!!! I’m sure times will a-change eventually, since I do loveee the flavor and all.
PS-same thing happened to me! That dang kashi bar is a dessert, straight up! Sooooooo sweet, but good.
So funny, you know how we don’t have dunkin here…but they still have commercials for it here! So when I went to Boston i was like all about it and wanted to try it- but my friends were like DO NOT it’s just like watered down coffee so gross and all this stuff! It’s funny bc i guess the Bostonians that they know love it and think Starbucks is waayyy too strong- haha crazy- i’ll stick with my trusty green friend 😀
Haha, I was just saying the other day that I never knew what to call them – chickpeas or garbanzos – so I usually interchange them depending on the day! Either way I’m a fan 🙂
Good for you chica! I think its fabulous that you had such an incredible experience!! My mom was an ER nurse for years and years (and now works as an endoscopy nurse) and I was always AMAZED by her range of knowledge. Glad you finally got to enjoy your bucks (even if it was reheated). I grew up in Boston and was a DD girl then….but once I was introduced to Bucks…there was no going back. I like a couple local places as well. Chickpea guac? Genius for sure
The chickpea guac looks great!
I try to go independent when it comes to coffee places, then Dunkin. Starbucks has an evil strategy of placing themselves next to Mom & Pop coffee houses. Naughty little starbucks!
I’ve heard of avocado hummus, but not chickpea guac.
Genius.
Pure genius.
i know, she’s a sweetheart right? i figured the seattle starbucks crowd would permeate its way down to you oregon folks…
yeah, i agree, indie is all well and good, and i like supporting the under-dog, but it’s hard to resist corporate america when it smells and tastes the way starbucks does…
did you know if you register a card at the bucks refills are free? i always save my cup from the morning before work and get a free coffee at lunch time…its a small savings, but its something! on non-work days im a home brewer, too, though 🙂
no words could be more true…if you arent addicted now, steer clear, its a serious problem for me!
right?!?! they do the schedules the month before, and we only need 4 nurses, but i guess in case of sick calls they sometimes schedule 5..whatever :/ maybe i should start doing half caf? i got headaches in hawaii from my reduction in caffeine…no bueno!
dunkin is gross, dont bother. no soymilk either 🙁
you KNOW it 😉 did you watch the NJ crazies? it wasnt that great, bravo is definitely working every angle that they’ve got with these ladies.
we will NOT be going to dunkin when you do visit…
oh lordy lordy, i think my sophomore year is when the casual drinker in me turned into ADDICTION!!! stay away from the light jess, stay away!!
I’ve never had those Kashi Chewy Bars, but have you ever tried the Roll! bars? They taste like friggin’ Snickers! They have rather long ingredients lists too though, so I save them for special treats;)
That chickpea guac sounds too good for words. Must try ASAP!
PS Where is the kombucha in this post?!
please don’t fuel the fire!!
you’re right – it’s SUCH an east coast thing…until i moved here i thought DD was so nasty and i associated it with 7-11 as far as the coffee goes (well, my opinion hasnt changed THAT much)…starbucks too strong? blasphemy!! the green siren is about to call my name right now actually…
Hey Girl!
Sorry I have been out of the blogging loop for a bit, but I just read your sweet note! I wish I would have known you had a layover in SLC! I totally would have come and taken you to lunch (if you had time). 🙂
I think I have told you this before, but I think you ICU nurses are amazing! I see the types of patients we send you from the ER…enough said on that one, right?! If you ever get tired of ICU, I bet you would LOVE the ER!!!
I am so impressed with your adaptability (not sure if that is a word, haha!) with floating to the neuro unit. That would be very intimidating to go to a unit where you didn’t know the staff or how they do things, but it sounds like you handled it great! You are awesome girl!!!
WOw– you are a trooper! I can’t imagine being pulled from your floor at the last minute.. but at least you learned something and widened your horizons. Keep it up girly.. maybe you’ll like another area better and switch!
-Sunny
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