Friday, September 23, 2011

Nursing

I finally had my first interview with a potential new nurse today.  For a couple of months, I've been asking our nursing agency to keep a look out for a replacement for Brandy's maternity leave.  So far, nothing.  Typically, I'm not a worrier - but I am starting to stress about the situation.  The bottom line is that in order for Harlie to go to school, she has to have a nurse.  Or me.

I do have a back-up plan.  One I hope to not have to use.  If Brandy has to stop working before we find her replacement, a friend of mine is going to watch Cooper, so I can take Harlie to school.  Clearly, this is not a good long term solution.  And I pray that Brandy will still want to return to work after she has her baby.  So, I'm hoping I don't really need a long term solution anyway.

Since I had not heard from our agency, and I was stressing, I called another agency.  She said the only difficult thing about filling the spot is that most of their nurses live downtown or on the southside, which is not close, and the distance would make a 6:30am start time pretty unrealistic.

But she called this morning and said she found a nurse that doesn't live far and sent her on out.

I just want to state how incredibly difficult it is to invite a complete stranger into your home and your life.    We have been SO spoiled!!!!  I don't know how I'm going to do this!  The thought of some stranger suctioning Harlie, or helping her go potty, just makes me ill!!!  Yet, I have no choice!!  And you know what's sad?  Murphy didn't even ask who she was or why she was here.  Just a normal day... with various medical personnel coming and going.  La de da.

I'll be honest.  The nurse was a little odd.  But that doesn't mean she's not a good nurse.  Right?

I guess I'll think about it over the weekend.

I have a lot more to tell you, but I am falling asleep and I have to get up early and run 16 stupid miles.  In the rain.

Thanks!
Christy

3 comments:

Susan said...

Christy, How much time to you have before she expects to be on leave? I'm sure you'd like a replacement nurse from your agency so you get your regular coverage....but you could also require the school to fill the position. They need to provide Harlie with what she needs to access an education, which means a nurse. I know you know that. But they might even have nurses on staff that can take over while Brandy is on leave depending on how long she'll be gone. Our old school district had floats to cover the nurses. Or any chance she could switch to afternoon Kindergarten? Just throwing out ideas. I hope you get it worked out.

One of my Hobby Blogs said...

hi, can I give you some quick advice! Just keep looking till you're 100% happy, don't settle for someone you're not 100% happy with. It may take a while, and you may need to hire some temporarily while you search, but you will be glad you did in the long run. You don't want huge turn over for your DD's carer. Maybe even think outside the box to find a good carer (not just nurse agencies)... Good luck mate!

Ann said...

Nursing is such a necessary evil. I really hope you can find a fill-in nurse you like. It's hard when you are so dependent on and comfortable with one nurse. Kristi has been with us for 9 years and I can't even think about what it would be like if she ever leaves us.

Good luck!

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