Some days

The job is good, others... not so much ! I know this is true for everything and everyone.
The really sad part for me, is I care too much. Oh, this is not about a patient or a family. I have those moments as well. But 23 years in health care and I have been cured about the sweet patient with the sad family in bed 14 syndrome.
No, my caring comes at a deeper level. How things should work. Why can't people do their job? Medicine is changing. FAST !! and I am not talking about the advances and breakthroughs in treatment plans. What patients expect, demand are willing to pay for and ... are actually getting.
Why can't these so called "internet generation doctors" learn to put in their orders correctly in a computerized system that all but fills in the blanks for you. Instead ...rather than learn something they make up their own way. Now... some of them are ingenious in putting in orders... but the patients does not always get what the doctor wants, or worse, does not get what they really need.
Now I am no genius who got accepted to and made it through medical school.... ( ok, maybe I did get accepted to a FORM of medical school... after all I could have probably got into the vet program if I had a little more patience) ...but I have figured out how to work the ordering system. It is not that hard. and trust me I work long hours at my job and have many patients to see....and just about every other excuse I hear the new MD's come up with.
So this brings me to...let me make your job easier protocols. The various medical organizations out there have created standards and guidelines and recommendations for treating just about every condition out there. We have people who can investigate learn write and teach these disease management protocols for the patients that fit them. The key.... identify the patients that fit, and let me do my job.,.. then you can do yours. But if I call and say, this patients doesn't fit the protocol, or I need you to come look at the patient.... don't give me attitude.... this very same protocol could keep you in bed for six hours tomorrow night while I treat ten of your patients who do fall into the protocol. Now.... who writes the protocols... the people who us them.... not a bunch of "I haven't seen a patient in ten years" managers. Not some attending who has been at this for like three years and doesn't want a SINGLE phone call in the middle of the night so they want it to work in every possible scenario.... protocols are for the 'average patient' with no complications. Written by the RT's Nurses, PA's who take care of these patients!!!!and they have to start at point a.... ADMIT and finish at point Z discharge and paperwork and billing and charting and and and and and..... why am I the only one who thinks of all this stuff sometimes?
It is so frustrating, I know people see their own path. I do too. but ask.... investigate. Try to see it from someone Else's side. You can't MAKE someone love their job. You can't MAKE someone care. Health care is the new factory for many. Sad but true. Many want to go to work, do the tasks assigned them, clock out and go home. When the door hits the latch their mind turns off. Not everyone wants to go to a meeting before, after, or during their shift. They believe they were hired to take care of patients - not write a protocol. Then let them !!! Time off is the number one reason people do 12 hour shifts. I only work three days a week. and get paid well for it. that is 156 days a year if I do not take any days off. of those 156 days I earn 8 sick days and about 17 vacation days.... so I am down to 123 days. That means I work four months and have 8 off !! not a bad gig! Maybe we should write schedules that way.... you work the first 125 days, your work the next, and on and on....
I want to not care. To be one of those people who just simply say, ah...f--- it.... let 'them do it'.... but I can't. and the Libra in me... makes me see all the sides of the argument. Hungers for the other view. lays it all the table and then .... wants to walk away and NOT own the decision@! that is why I am not management. But those who are. whew.... own it, explore it, see it from somewhere other than the hidden desk in the basement of a hospital. Use those of us who DO want to help ..and honor those who just want to do their job and do it well. Life and work forces are made up of all kinds of people. use them.... honor them and for gosh sake... say THANK YOU once in awhile !