R(etired)N

Retirement can be a frightening thing for many people. What do you do when you finally get to that age where you retire and find you can't afford a place to stay never mind the expenses of daily living?

One of my first jobs as a nurse was the Extended Care Unit. I loved those old people as much as the babies I looked after later on in my career. There were some great stories to be told by "very experienced adults", as I like to call them.

So, it wasn't a stretch when five years ago, I became involved in a non-profit society that provides inexpensive housing for seniors.

I volunteer my time, sitting on the Board of Directors for a Non Profit Society that owns and operates 10 apartment buildings in the Vancouver/Victoria area. The "Lower Mainland" as this area is known, has some of the most expensive real estate in Canada and also one of the most expensive places to live in Canada. Unfortunately, if you are elderly, living in this area is not affordable, unless you have done some long term financial planning.

Anyone 55+ with a limited income can apply to live in our Society's apartments - some are independent living and some independent with services such as meals, laundry etc. Rents start in the $475 per month range for a studio apartment, which, in an area whose rents in a similar apartment start at double that, fills a niche that is in high demand. This shows by the length of our waiting lists.

As our population ages, there is an increasing need for Supportive Retirement Living and I am happy to serve in this small way, providing a service for the needs of the elderly.

So, today I am driving to Vancouver for our AGM. I won't be posting for a few days. Meanwhile, here is one of our buildings. It has fantastic views over the Pacific ocean. Definitely somewhere I would LOVE to live......eventually.

Maybe I could apply? :)

I am too pooped after trimming wisteria and grapes and ivy all over the yard to come up with anything else, and this amused me........

I have always wondered who the heck lives in those Catalogue houses.......

" A look into the exciting lives of the people that live in your catalogues"
Posted by A NURSE

Saturday, June 26, 2010


Eating Placenta....

Disclaimer: Not for the queasy



Ok...trying not to be judgmental...but you would never catch me doing this....




OR this.....




I have had some people take theirs home to plant under a tree....which my old roomie says is a Fijian tradition....but I can't even eat LIVER, never mind the thought of a placenta, which they say tastes similar.....

It was only 10 years ago that a hospital I used to work at would collect the placentas and ship them to France where they would make a facial cream ( have you ever bought a cream that says "contains Placentae" on it?). I am not sure how they would test the placentas at all, since they were all thrown in together into the freezer at the hospital. I believe most of those creams are now made from animal placenta. Still. You never know. Here is an excerpt from a site that discusses Placenta Cream:

"Placenta cosmetics are a skin care trend that began in the 1930s with an injection. CareFair.com explains that because of the nourishing qualities of the placenta, the cream has been noted as being a "wonder cream" in the field of cosmetics; placenta cream is best known as being an anti-aging cream because it stimulates cell renewal. As the skin ages, cells do not renew as rapidly as they once did, causing the skin to appear thinner. Placenta cream benefits are that the cell renewal placenta cream creates causes the skin to retain a youthful quality.


A placenta comes directly from a mother's womb and provides for the transfer of blood between the fetus and the mother. If the mother or fetus is diseased, the placenta will be diseased. Most placenta cosmetic manufacturers put the placenta through a sterilization process. According to EMKPlacental.com, "the placenta protein preparation is sterile, safe, and completely digestible by the human body. There are no restrictions in terms of applications. Upon ingestion, it is readily assimilated into the body with usually no identifiable side effects." However, remember to read the label and thoroughly research a product before use. "

To each their own, I suppose. There are other risks I would rather take.



I guess, it just isn't *me* :(





Posted by A NURSE at 8:34 AM

1 comments:

running wildly said...

Yowza. Honestly, I couldn't stomach placenta either.

Shudder.

July 01, 2010 3:12 PM

Ahhhhhhhhh...............




In case you can't view the above - here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJH5a7naASM&feature=player_embedded

Posted by A NURSE at 7:13 AM

Age 91. Passed away Sunday.

It would have been amazing to hear some of her stories about the good ol' days of nursing. As much as some of the stuff I remember from my early days of nursing is unbelievable to nurses today, I am thinking that her stories would be much more incredible.

Apparently she waited until the '70s to reveal that she was the nurse in that photo....because she was embarrassed that everyone would see that she allowed a man she didn't know kiss her. How times have changed! I mean, she must have been old enough to not care who thought what - if she was already working as a nurse in a hospital.

When I started nursing in the mid-seventies, it was that period of time before HIV - and even genital herpes wasn't really heard of. All STI's were easily cured with an antibiotic. There were no super bugs. A pill or a shot got rid of anything.

I can't imagine a patient today trying to figure out how to skirt the embarrassment of an unknown kiss... Oh well.

As for the Nurse Icon who passed away..... here's to you for making your mark in the world, even if you didn't really know it at the time, or didn't do anything extraordinary to deserve it. You were just a run-of-the-mill, ordinary nurse caught doing an ordinary thing in that one brief moment of time.

And much like that nurse.....we carry on doing all those "ordinary" things in our everyday nursing life that are really so... extraordinary ........

Posted by A NURSE at 8:16 AM
(when I deleted the post....unfortunately most comments went with them, but here is one that did remain....)
1 comments:
Anonymous said...
It's oh so true...the ordinary things nurses do are extraordinary. I'm retired now and have more non-nurse friends than ever before in my life. They are awed by situations we see as just another work day. They've never saved a life or helped someone die peacefully. I hope all of you still out there can enjoy how wonderful you are.
June 25, 2010 10:01 PM
Post a Comment

I looked after a young man years ago. He was a handsome guy, early 20s. Lots of fun. Very talented. All the nurses knew him from his many admissions and absolutely adored him. He was that type of patient you never minded taking care of. I can still picture him sitting cross-legged on his bed as he struggled to breathe.

One day, he was admitted to the hospital and he didn't get better. His death touched all of us. I think it was my first time experiencing the death of someone my own age. It made an impression on me - I still remember his name.

Last year, I read about a young girl in my own town, close to the same age as the young man that passed away 30 years ago and I thought of him again. You see, they had something in common.

Cystic Fibrosis.

Eva Markvoort was only 25 when Cystic Fibrosis ended her life prematurely. She tried desperately to live. She had a double lung transplant which her body rejected. She did everything she could to fight the Disease until trying wasn't enough anymore. I had been following her blog every once in a while the year before she died - and watched her videos. She was an amazing young woman. One of her dreams was to make a movie documentary . And she did.

The title? "65_Redroses". Interesting name.

Cystic Fibrosis strikes early. Early enough that very young children are affected. When children so young have an illness that is difficult to pronounce, sometimes the words get twisted. Cystic Fibrosis often comes out as "Sixty-five Roses". Eva threw in the "Red" because that was her favorite color.

Even though it was expected, it was a shock to read that Eva had finally died. When you follow someone's blog, somehow they become part of your life, and if they reveal enough about themselves, it is like they are one of your circle of friends. I wasn't quite ready for it.

In a way, Eva still lives on........


* Average Age of Survival through the years:
1950 - Age 1
1960 - Age 10
1970 - Age 16
1980 - Age 18
1990 - Age 29
2000 - Age 32
2004 - Age 35.1
2006 - Age 36.9
2007 - Age 37.4 (but only 50% will reach this age)

I didn't know my husband's dad very long before he tragically passed away.


He was a Marine and served 3 years of active duty in Korea and was awarded the purple heart. My husband says he didn't talk much about what went on there, but from what little information was offered, it was quite horrific.

family photo

Life was difficult in central Washington state and it was a struggle for the ex-Marine to make a living, trying to raise a family.

There were other obstacles to overcome. You see, my father-in-law's heritage was Apache/Comanche/Hispanic. It didn't seem to matter that he served his country well and suffered as a result. He wasn't "white" and people made sure his kids didn't forget this.

April 2007 my husband and I had the privilege of being present when his dad passed through to the other side. One week before, he had driven 300 miles to see his newborn grandson. He had always wanted to see his name carry on, and finally - the much awaited grandson arrived - born 4 weeks premature - and Dad had his wish.

He suffered a massive stroke and spent a week in the ICU before the decision was made to discontinue all life support. He lived another four days on the general ward. My husband's sister and mom sat with him during the day, we spent the nights. The hospital was kind enough to allow us the use of the 2nd bed in the two-bed room. My husband slept while I got up every two hours to turn him and give mouth care and rub his back. I told the nurses not to worry about us, I could look after him.

When his last couple of breaths were imminent, I woke up my husband and he held his dad's hand and whispered his goodbyes. No matter what his life was like, it was this man that influenced my husband to be the man he was, and I will be forever grateful.







Truly, the ultimate in life is Death, for there in lies the Reason men strive to make their mark in life.

Posted by A NURSE at 7:15 PM



1 comments:

Personal Injury Lawyers Liverpool said...

Perfect family photograph...

June 21, 2010 1:56 AM

Since it's Father's Day tomorrow, I thought I would pay homage to the man responsible for my existence.

family photo

My dad is 80 years old. My mother and father have been married for 58 years. He always said, "When I get old and lose all my marbles, just build a fence around the house and let me loose." Thankfully, we have yet to build that fence.

In fact, his memory is better than mine.

His family came out west from Ontario by oxcart and settled in Saskatchewan. His father sold the farm and they moved out to Vancouver. He quit school in Grade 9, apprenticed as a carpenter, met and married my mother. His dream was to build and own his own Resort and 10 years later that dream came true. He struggled to provide for his growing family working two jobs until finally, in their 40's, managed to do well enough to semi-retire and travel - selflessly doing volunteer work all over the world. My folks continued with this work into their early 70s.

I believe if you were to ask him if he was satisfied with the way his life went, he would tell you with no hesitation - a hearty YES. And, although he has Parkinson's, he still gets around quite well - mows his lawn in the summer and shovels their driveway in the winter - all 700 near-vertical feet of it. He still has a great sense of humor.... and looks at life as positively as he ever has.

My favorite photo of my dad - with his sailboat.

my photo

Somewhere in the distance I hear Jimmy Buffett singing -

"Some of it's magic, some of it's tragic - but I had a good life all the way."

Freezing people for fun:


People have seen the one in NYC at Grand Central Station. The above took place in Paris near the Eiffel Tower.

Road to Reno!

"Weather chat" is an important component of the Canadian vocabulary.

If you have ever met a Canadian, the premier subject of discourse is always *The Weather*. You will notice most conversations will begin with that All Consuming Topic.

Being from a Northern population where the Extremes of weather is a way of life, be it the snow and cold of Winter, the fragrant essence and color of Fall, the welcome warmth and fun of Summer or the fragrant flowery promise of Spring - Weather is always paramount in everyone's thoughts - probably because of the effect it has on our lives and how it guides what we do. It is part of our Identity as a nation.


I noticed that the South African FIFA games are being threatened with the possibility of snow and this took me back to my time in California. Have I said before that the worst snowstorm I have ever driven in (and this includes Canadian snowstorms) was in Northern California on the I-5 on my way home to Canada? Oh ya, I did...but for those who don't want to read back..... By the time I hit Weed,CA - the snow was up to the window of my little Mercedes convertible. I turned around and went back.

Well.

Between the Big Earthquake of 1989 and the Oakland/Berkeley Fire of 1991 was the Big Freeze of 1990. The temperature plummeted to sub-zero temperatures for two weeks.....and to me, being a good Northern gal, I could see what needed to be done.

While shopping for real estate, I had noticed a major "problem" with a lot of the houses and buildings in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was shocked to find the house I bought had absolutely no insulation. I suppose people weren't as conservation-minded when the structure was built in 1955.

At that time, everyone figured electricity and heat sources were expendable. Never mind THAT was bad enough, it was the norm to see all kinds of exposed pipes and plumbing of water sources running above ground beside houses and on rooftops of large buildings.

The first thing I did when I bought my new house was insulate the attic and wrap all outdoor exposed pipes. My friends laughed at me as I meticulously enveloped every single outdoor pipe in styrofoam tubes and covered every faucet on the side of my house. "But this is California" they tried to reassure me and talk me out of the necessity for such actions - but Canadian winter experiences guided my strong resistance to conform.

That winter the Big Freeze descended on East Bay San Francisco. All the Oleanders in the divide of the 680 froze and died. Expanses of vinyards froze - decimating the following year's crops. Eighty-five percent of the California Navel Orange crop was destroyed.

Even worse, everyone's pipes were freezing.

I advised my colleagues at work to keep their taps running slightly to avoid this, but sadly to say they refused to follow direction, arguing that this would be wasteful of water as California was in it's fifth year of a severe drought.

As a result, even more water was lost when pipes started bursting with the freeze. Water poured into buildings from the pipes on rooftops as daytime temperatures thawed slightly. Thousands of outside taps and exposed pipes spewed gallons of the precious water before they could be repaired. Contents of buildings were flooded.

Overwhelmed plumbers couldn't keep up with the repairs and damaging water flowed freely. People had to live without water because of the delay of pipe replacement. To make matters worse, no one seemed to learn - no sooner were pipes replaced, but they froze again - with the same devastating results.

My Canadian sensibility spared my pipes, I am glad to say.

Unfortunately, the Big Freeze was to play an even more devastating part in another Horrible Disaster.....to come.......

The FIFA theme song by K'naan, a Somalian-born Canadian - to Celebrate "the Beautiful Game"....the most popular game in the World....



This is a close second......the "football dance" (yes, that's what the world calls "soccer")



Then, a bit of South African rally cry....



Now, if the above doesn't get you in the mood for what's coming up in the next four weeks, I don't know what will! :)

And one more for the road....



GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Speaking of "small world"......

Throught the years, my parents have done volunteer work for several non-profit organizations - working for the improvement in living conditions in various countries around the globe. They would leave for months on end. My dad worked in the construction end of things while my mom would do garden work, painting, cooking - or knitting sweaters and slippers - even caring for sick children (in a capacity of an experienced mother who had had 5 children, in the absence of medical personnel) while in those other countries.


( The plane [photo above] that flew mom into the little village [photo below] in the middle of the jungle in South America - Suriname. Quite brave of her, and definitely not something I would do!! )

I will relate to you the following vignette, which is almost unbelievable, realizing there are 6.8 billion people in the world. Although, knowing all the places around the globe my folks have visited, and all the people they have met on these trips, I am not too surprised.


Still, what are the odds?

Neighbors of my folks were on vacation in Ireland. They just happened to stop in at a small town pub in the Middle of Nowhere. It was one of those little-hole-in-the-wall places that has the menu on a chalkboard over the bar. While they were discussing what to eat, a young newlywed couple on their honeymoon from New Zealand sat at a nearby table, and they - listening to their conversation, giggling at their 'accent' - asked where they were from.

"Canada" they generalized, not for a minute thinking that anyone from the other side of the world would know where their Province was, never mind our small town, population 800. The rest of the Conversation went something like this:


"Where in Canada? We have friends from Canada" the couple queried.

"Well, British Columbia...." the folks' friends offered, hoping that sounded familiar.

" British Columbia!? Our friends are from there too! What town?"

"Oh....a small village in the interior.....in “The Great Vineyard Valley" area.

"That's where our friends are from! What town??"

"TeensyTown......" how weird was this...

TeensyTown? But - that is where our friends live! Do you know the XXXXXs (my parents)???

Needless to say, my folk's neighbors were *gobsmacked*. Unbelievable to be standing in a small town half way round the world where they only just happened to stop by chance and running into someone else from half way round the world - and both knowing my parents very well - their paths intersecting....... serendipitously.


It is definitely a small world within the nursing community here in Canada also, and although perhaps not as dramatic as the story above, still amazing. At least, in the West it is. Whenever a new nurse starts out from another Western province or town, more often than not, they will discover that one of their new colleagues knows - or has a mutual acquaintance from - either their nursing school, or a former hospital, or friends in another town. There is no getting away from it.

When I moved back from California to a whole different Canadian city and hospital than which I started out my career, I found myself working with a former classmate from nursing school and a former co-worker from the first hospital I worked in - plus several other nurses who knew people I worked with in the past.
In every hospital I worked in thereafter, there was always someone who knew - or worked with people I knew. You can't get away with much in this neck of the woods. I guarantee it. It always catches up to you. At my present job, one of my colleagues is a nurse I worked with in Seattle. Small world.

This does create a blogging problem.
I am limited to how much I can say on my blog about my present nursing job. When you are dealing with reduced numbers in population (34million est Canadian pop. vs 309 million est USA pop.) – there are always too many identifying markers when telling a story, no matter how much you try to anonymize. There just isn't enough people here to fade into the woodwork.
So, that’s why you won't find much on here about my current nursing job - except for slight mentions. I quite like my job.....it's almost like *not working* - the days I am working at home - so I don’t want to jeopardize it in any way at all - because most employers do care about what you as their employee talks about if you identify them as your employer....since they usually feel it is a reflection on their business. Unfortunately, with the Government as my employer - there isn't going to be much opportunity to choose another.



Yep. Sure is a Small World.

Small World......
We have a carriage house out back over top our 3 car garage that we rent out. Guess who is now renting it from us?

A couple that are both paramedics with the Ambulance crew in town....and - guess which one specifically? Yup. :) Just found out today.

Nice couple, but, as much as I like them....it would have been handier to have rented to that nice Veterinarian that came around after the Tenancy Agreement papers were signed and sealed. Darn. Nothing against paramedics, but, hey - we have a cat with cancer right now......and it would have been much more practical to have a Vet nearby..... :(

But, the neighbors will be happy........

It was a great day today! This is what you see when you drive 1/2 hr down the road from where we live.....only one of the several lakes in our area.
The day couldn't have been more perfect! It was fun visiting the lake where my mother, in 1947, flew in by float plane so she could give swim lessons to the daughter of the famous shoe store chain family. 

I don't think much has changed as far as scenery goes, but definitely the mode of transportation to the lake has! Now you can drive right to the lake whereas, when my mother was a teenager - you could only fly in. Or hike. Or take a horse.

By the way, that is a leaf floating on the water you see on the right bottom area of the picture....the water is that clear!



This is what the same lake looked like in the 1940s when my Mother was there:


This is a photo of my mother (far right) with the people that owned the log cabin up at the lake, and the little girl mom taught swimming lessons to:

This is the float plane my mother came in on :



1 comments:

 Frank Drackman says:

  Hey Nursie,

  I think we got off on the wrong foot. Nice blog, and your Mom
  was very attractive, and I mean that in an entirely non-creepy way.

  If you'd like to contribute to My Blog, drop me a line at
  Drackman62@hotmail.com. I'm all for opposing viewpoints, and
  won't censor or edit your posts to make you look silly, unless it
  contains Gay-Male Porn.
  Lesbian porn is perfectly acceptable.
  You could even be a permanent contributor if that floats your Float Plane:)
  and I Love Nurses, thats why I married one,
  I remain, your obedient Servant, oops, thats how I answer Mrs.Drackman,
  Frank Drackman

There is an "MD" blogger out there that is a bitter old man. Obviously he has nothing better to do than dis anyone that doesn't agree with him.
I happened to make a comment on a blog he wrote about the Canadian Medical system.

This is the comment I made:

" as much as you might dis the Canadian system...the fact is - Canadians will give up everything else before they will give up their health care. Recent polls show this."

And then - to the next comment he made about meeting a couple hockey players and one or two other canadians that may have complained about the Canadian healthcare system, I replied:

"I live in Canada and the majority of people I come across (and since I live in Canada, that would be more than anyone else here on your blog) are satisfied with the care they get. Your reasoning is flawed - your opinion is based on meeting a couple hockey players not trusting canadian system to "fix" them -( because you obviously only take care of the ones you meet) - not the majority of canadians. If my opinion of the USA went by the few americans I meet where I live, I really would have a narrow view of what americans think.


You will only believe what is within your own belief system, not any of the facts so no point in continuing any convo here."

I obviously found the wild hare.  And we know where it went.  This doc's response?

"A NURSE:


Your Country Sucks, only reason you got your independence is the Red Coats got tired defending your sorry asses and they can brew better Beer in England. When Castro needed open Heart Surgey [sic] where did he go??? Toronto? Montreal? Nope, the Big Apple. Only reason people go to Canada is to dodge the Draft or Slavery. Even the Montreal Expos deserted your pathetic excuse of a Nation.


And whats with the speakin [sic] French??? Am I supposed to be impressed?
Sure Canadians are satisfied with there [sic] Healthcare, they're satisfied to live in CANADA for cryin out loud. Now get back to your friggin Shine Box you friggin Ca-nuck [sic].
Frank "Nuke Canada Now" Jackoff" (I changed his name so as not to embarass him with his own comment - and yes, this is an MD -at least he claims- writing the above!)

And - then he goes as far to make a sarcastic comment on my having no kids and 3 cats as if that were a valid argument. Vitriolic, much? One has to laugh in the face of such ridiculous commentary. If you can't find any fact, go ahead and dis a person's country. I suppose Med school doesn't guarantee that the student has to have a soul or social graces or even intelligence other than what's found in medical books.

I have to admit that I have yet to see a "perfect" medical system. I also have seen first hand, the damage that is done to those who are unfortunate enough to be a casualty of the American system. One american dies every 30 minutes from lack of health insurance states the American Journal of Public Health.

As much as Canadians in general like to complain about everything, (and yes, they do! ask my husband!) they are not about to ditch what they have and replace it with what the USA has. Like I said, nothing is perfect. But, at least, as a Canadian, if I get sick I will not have to worry about the insurmountable huge bill at the end when I should be expending my energy on recovery. I do not have to live in fear of the day that I am now unemployed because I developed an illness that no longer allowed me to work at my great job - and now that I have no job - I have no medical insurance.

If I am an elderly person struggling to make ends meet, I don't even have to worry about paying my premiums. If I am part of the working poor, I don't have to choose between whether to buy food for my kids or buy medical insurance "just in case". If I am a child I don't have to hide from my parents the fact I just got a wound-that-should-be-sutured-on-my-arm-playing-baseball because I already know at the age of 7 years old that they can't afford to have me see an MD (true story-  my husband's).

Also, I never have to worry that an illness can at any time strike me or any one of my family and require medical attention that decimates my retirement savings a few years just before I am set to retire. And I definitely won't lose my house.

If you are wealthy, healthy or young, you probably don't think much about this sort of thing.

Good for you.

But if you have the misfortune of being in that category where you are struggling to make ends meet, or your health took a turn for the worse unexpectedly, or you have become old faster than your rate of savings.......you suddenly have come face to face with Bankrupcy.

You got insurance? Think again. In a June 30, 2009 article, the New York Times reported that, "An estimated three-quarters of people [in the USA] who are pushed into personal bankruptcy by medical problems actually had insurance when they got sick or were injured." So, it seems that even the people who have insurance, are not really covered.

I myself don't have to worry. I have been entrepreneurial enough outside of nursing so that not only am fortunate enough that I really don't have to continue to work if I didn't want to - but I could easily retire my husband as well. We travel where we want to, my husband golfs when and where he wants. We don't think twice about what system we put in our theatre room or how much my husband spends on his golf clubs. We have a great life.  No kids to support but I have nieces and nephews that I adore, and in fact other extended family that I count as my own kids.

If I had to, we could weather a medical crisis. But we won't have to.

Our system is not "free". It does come at great cost. We all pay into it through taxes, and a little less, through our small premiums that we, or our employers pay. But my one belief is, that basic health care is a right, not a luxury or privilege. Everyone deserves basic medical care, no matter who they are, whether they be a big wig in government or a drunk on the street. We have an obligation to provide for those who can't. Personally, I do not mind paying the extra taxes that are deducted from my income to ensure that everyone gets coverage.

Some people argue that people should be paying less taxes and then they can have extra take home income to "save" for future medical expenses. The truth of the matter is, most people don't have that kind of willpower. The moment there is extra income, setting aside that "extra" is not something people will do. Sometimes they don't because they don't plan for it, some because they don't think devastating illness will strike them, or some don't because they are already financially drowning in debt and they are using what little they earn just simply trying to survive. If people had the ability or the smarts to save up for that future health care need, there wouldn't be the crisis or debate that there is in the USA.

I think I have already mentioned the word "selfish" in a previous blog in relation to providing medical care, so I don't think I have to reiterate.

Lastly, people who resort to unreasonable and baseless rants relying on unfounded arguments, don't get my respect. Period. I later found his blog that basically disses everyone from "homos" to other people of colored skin and the underprivileged. So, we really know what we are dealing with here.

Not much.

So, all you Republicans out there - I won't hold him against you. If you are willing to be forthcoming with a reasonable argument based on actual facts rather than "Your Mama is Ugly"....I will listen to you and have a discussion with you based on mutual respect.

And by the way, "pseudoDoc" Frank, you can find comfort in the fact that your lack of use of your "spellcheck" wouldn't have corrected the spelling of "Canuck" anyway. :)

Posted by A NURSE at 2:46 PM


11 comments:


Anonymous said...
I know exactly who you encountered. He's a troll, and based on the lack of intelligence displayed in his posts, I have my doubts that he's actually a physician (though I guess it's possible, which is disturbing).


I'm American, but I lived and worked in Canada for several years. The health care I received during that time was excellent, and I didn't experience the barriers to care regularly created by my American health insurance company. It's a constant, petty battle and I pay premiums understanding this is NOT a guarantee I won't be financially ruined should an actual health catastrophe befall me.
June 5, 2010 1:10 AM


A NURSE said...
Ya, it's a group of supposed "MD"s and out of all of them, only one of them was "civil" and attempted an explanation other than the childish posturing (and I don't mean to be insulting to children here, so my apologies!) that the others did....oh well. There are those "types" out there...and it's a free world and I would support their right for free speech, however, that ends with the hate that is spewing out of his own site...eg.mentioning that they would be wearing "pointed white hats" at a game they were attending....disturbing to say the least - that someone like that (even if it is all written in jest - it isn't funny) is out there.
June 5, 2010 8:34 AM


Anonymous said...
Wow,
What a series of silly posts! Here's the link you requested.
http://fixhealthcarepolicy.com/
June 5, 2010 8:39 AM


A NURSE said...
those "docs" must lots of time on their hands (quiet ER/no life) ...they continue to spew hate...never have seen me before but suggest I am FAT...and that I send people to ER...no, ye of minute brainage, we mostly keep them OUT of ER...obviously the guy has no concept of what triage is.
Oh well. Win some, lose some.
I am still waiting for an intelligent comment from them. *crickets*
June 5, 2010 9:09 AM


newnurseinthehood said...
Gawd. Can I just apologize on behalf of my nation real quick? It's amazing the kind of shit people will say when they think that everyone agrees with them- especially when their knee jerk reaction belief system is challenged by someone with their fancy "book learning" and "logic". The fact that they have to resort to not only personal attacks, but the kind that a 20 year old frat boy would use should tell you something.


I work in a reeedddd state and I'm about one of 3 people on my shift that's a democrat. It's still pretty tense discussing this with people I absolutely adore- so I pretty much just stay away from the issue (with the exception of totally losing my shit on a medic friend of mine who was making assassination jokes, sorry not okay.)


I guess the point of this tangent is, since I know how hard it is to have respectful discourse with people I really love and respect and vice versa (usually the conclusion is I'll become a Republican like everyone else when I grow up, LOLz), attempting to discuss this in a forum such as the internet in which people deem it acceptable to act like total douchebags at all times since it's anonymous, it's absolutely futile to discuss politics.


They'll continue to spew hate, because that's what Neanderthals do. I would take it about as personally as a monkey flinging it's own shit at the wall. The emotional sentiment and thought process are about the same.
p.s. three cats and no kids makes you an awesome chick in my book.
June 5, 2010 2:23 PM


Crazed Mom said...
My mother was born and raised in Toronto and I have many cousins all over Ontario province. I have never heard any major complaints about their healthcare from them.
Just because someone goes to med school doesn't mean they have a high IQ....Bedside manner seems to be a skill many docs have never learned.
Let's ban all 'haterz' as my 19yo calls them. People who spew bitterness just to make everyone as miserable as they must be. Waste of time.
June 5, 2010 5:13 PM


A NURSE said...
NNIH: Thanks :) but no need for an apology for some douche who obviously has hate for a place he has obviously never been. (for one thing-I don't know anyone around me that speaks french!) and he obviously doesn't know his medical history either (insulin was developed by a canadian - among other things)so he has a lot to be grateful to Canada for -as an MD....the guy is a piece of fungus.


CM: interestingly enough, half my family are americans... and while I don't agree with some of their political beliefs, I will listen to them and certainly don't have temper tantrums if they don't think the same way I do.


Anon: thanks for your link. ;) Here is one I like to visit - check it out:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/
Upshot of the whole thing:
I am thankful to be living in Canada. I have no animosity for the USA because of one creepy piece of slime.
June 5, 2010 6:23 PM


Rachedy said...
Wow, the "doctor" can't even form a proper sentence. I would be surprised if some of them are really
card carrying MD's.
June 6, 2010 5:24 PM


A NURSE said...
I would doubt it too, Rachedy :)
I resorted to calling him "mr." Frank. :) I know one at least has to have English 101 pre-med....
June 6, 2010 5:45 PM


Frank Drackman said...
Hey Nursie...
No hard feelings, but thats what Americans do when someone insults our country, thats why we've had an independent country for over 200 years:)
and if your interested in being a contributor to my Nobel Prize(which America leads Canada 319 to 20, and I'm not counting the one our muslim president won)contending blog, drop me a line at
Drackman62@hotmail.com
P.S. Your mom was sorta hot:)
Frank "The MD stands for Mentally Deranged" Drackman
June 7, 2010 5:28 AM


A NURSE said...
Ok. Now that is a backhanded apology if I ever read one.
No, I didn't "insult" your country. I think that was yourself you are thinking of.
However, I do agree with your self-assesment in your signature.
June 7, 2010 4:22 PM

Deciding

Whether to

Come

or

Go

I

Couldn't

Make

Up

My Mind

So...

I left my Mind at Home

And took My Dog Instead



Lexi, my sister's dog....my photo

 I "composed" this little verse above when I was 14 or 15 years old...wrote it in one of my schoolbooks...Thought it was appropriate for this week.....I just can't make up my mind as to what Layout I want for the blog....so I will experiment for a while.....












2 comments:


It's just me :) said...

Nothing wrong with experimenting. :)

June 04, 2010 6:49 AM


A NURSE said...

fun, though, isn't it? :)

As I have said in the past...ya gotta change it up every once in a while! ;)

June 04, 2010 4:48 PM