The Complexities of Simplicity

Meh.

Happy Halloween.

I've been working at making life simpler, then harder, then simpler again.

Bah.

I gave up on social media for a month. Did not really change much in my life. True, I am not in "contact" with as many people as often. (Those "facebook friends" that you have not seen since highschool.) Not a great loss.

I did not really blog. Someone had to have noticed. I think it was my Dad. Because of this I also did not spend as much time on the internet "researching" things. Maybe I was a bit more boring of a person.

I tried not to play on my phone when in the room with other people. This was probably the worst effect. I was not playing games on my phone, but everyone else was. So I was just sitting there trying to make conversation with people too busy flinging birds at pigs.

What this did do however, was make everything on my phone harder to use.

This is why and how I became a Socially Awkward Penguin.

Turns out if you do not have a facebook account, you pretty much do not exist and signing into THE INTERNET is near impossible.

So much for all that.

I posted all this to say.

I get a new phone today.

Maybe I'm back online.

Just when I thought about ending it all...

Just when I had some serious thoughts about giving up on my blog I get this gem.

The Potential Use of "Blogs" in Nursing Education

I'm my homework for today, I'm researching the different uses of technology in nursing education.

Tweets and Blogs are at the top of the list!

How crazy. I guess I'd simply never thought about it, but instructing students to utilize a blog for reflective assignments beats sitting through post-conference any day.

Schon addresses three steps in reflection.

1. Knowing in action

2.Reflection in action

3. Reflection on action

Knowing in action is the knowledge the student brings with them.

Reflection in action is the thinking that goes on while they are using their knowledge

Reflection on action is the thinking that happens after they've completed their task.

For example.

The student brings with them the technical knowledge of how to initiate a peripheral IV (and all the anxiety that comes with it.) Then he/she gets the opportunity to practice and while they are performing the task they are thinking about how it functions. After this activity is over the student reflects on how it went, what went wrong, what could have gone better, etc...

I have to go now, so more later, but turns out blogging is a future wave for nursing students.

I probably better keep my skills up.

Warning to my future students, follow my blog or fail.

My, how meta we are today.

Currently studying learning styles, learning intelligences, and learning strategies.
This entire Master's thing is so much fun.

Most of us know about the different types of learners. We've used it as an excuse for years as to why we didn't do as well as (insert THAT GUY here) on the exam.
"If only my teacher knew I was a VISUAL learner!" we wail in anguish as they ramble on indefinitely without a graph, picture, or powerpoint in sight.
Then there are the poor Kinesthetic learners who are convinced the entire education system is out to get them. 50 minutes of sitting still, "taking notes" then 10minutes to run across campus only to sit for 50 more minutes. When will it be lab day when I can actually DO something? Oh wait. This class doesn't have a lab component. Well, I'm boned.
Auditory learners, you poor kids. What's the point of a 50 page reading? I could read that book all day and still have no idea what the general topic is.

Sigh everyone is out to get us. All of us. Worthless educational program, not understanding MY needs. Only after my monies...

Have a bit of fun. Take one of the "Multiple Intelligences" test.
I liked this one, it's a self scoring excel spreadsheet (complete with graph for all you visual -spatial learners!)

I really was not that surprised with my results. I've always known I'm a left-leaning brain. I can do right-sided things, but it takes some work around. A bit of synestheia helps too. I scored the same on almost every category with the exception of musical/rhythmic (got none) and intrapersonal (much higher.)

After discussing the styles of learning, we moved on to strategies for learning.
They listed three.
Concept Maps
Mental Imagery
Storytelling

For those nurse's out there I don't have to explain Concept Maps. They're pretty much the pillars of nursing education. Draw a bunch of pictures to represent your patient and what's wrong with them and all the things we will do to fix them (don't forget to include how they feel about it!)

Mental Imagery dealt with that initial "gut" understanding or visualization of an idea. Those pictures you automatically associate with words. Triggered by language or music. It allows people to see the "big picture." Based on socialization and indoctrination if you ask me. How do I know when I say "tiger" if you're thinking of a Bengal or White tiger?

Storytelling- Acting out the scenario. This is the part of your CPR class when they tell you you've found a 40 year old unconscious on the golf course. "Hey! Are you ok? You, call 911. You, get the AED." Etc. Or, for example, when I was a baby nurse and freaking out about all the little things (IV starts, etc.) I wrote myself a little short story involving a new grad and the zombie-apocalypse while she was working a night-shift. Really helped me with my triage skills. ;)


Then it ended saying that another method of storytelling is blogging about your learning experience.
Whee.

All the while I was envisioning myself in my dream job, using all these skills to develop the most awesome educational materials ever.
Ah, the power of daydreams.

The Pleasure of Finding Things Out

This is a fantastic book.

I'm a bit of a scientist-stalker and one of my favorites is Richard Feynman. (Who doesn't like this guy?)

I'm reading along in this book and it's got loads of practical advice.

Here's an excerpt I particularly liked and wanted to share.

Link to the story here.

It really gets my attention that it actually doesn't matter all the naming conventions and idiosyncrasies about an object you could name. If you don't know anything about how it works, or why then you truly don't know the object.

For instance, pretty much everyone has that "friend" that they know really well. You know what they like and don't like and how they react to tapioca, but you never can quite remember their name. Do you know them? If you know about their family and favorite book and what they want to do this weekend or where they want to go on vacation do you know them? Or do you know the person you were just introduced to?

Learning different languages really puts things in perspective. There are so many ways to name yellow. How do you describe it?

In another Feynman book (Quantum Man by Laurence Krauss.) He challenges us to explain left and right to an alien. It's very complicated. Try to figure it out.

"The prize is the pleasure of finding the thing out." That's the short version of his answer to winning a Nobel Prize in physics. How many people do you know that after achieving something of that magnitude would blow it off so easily? How much better do you think everything could be if people were more focused on doing things because they're interested as opposed to doing them for the rewards?

I don't run to lose weight, or beat a certain speed. I run because it's fun. Some days its not fun, its frustrating. Other days its a blast and I can hardly wait for the chance. The pleasure I get from running isn't all the goal setting and achieving or medals and PRs. The pleasure is in getting out there and discovering what my body can and won't do.

Zumba?

Two things I learned from Zumba.

Know where YOUR water bottle is and wear socks.

I accompanied a co-worker to a free, work-sponsored zumba class. If I wasn't the only white-girl there at least I was the only one under the age of 40. It's interesting to be talking to someone about their grandchildren then have them explain to you how to "pop and lock-it."

Zumba is a combination of all those ridiculous moves you combined when you were 13 and rocking out in your bedroom to your cassette tapes. I ended up failing my arms and legs around for an hour while burning approximately 10 calories a minute.

Techincally, it's salsa, samba, bollywood, and belly-dance. However, to me it's more like the hokey-pokey with squat-lunges, and "little kicks."

Really wished I grabbed a pair of socks though..

It's still too hot outside to enjoy the porch.

It's almost too hot outside to enjoy the couch...

I've been thinking, might I need to revamp this blog? I technically don't work IN the ER anymore. I don't have patient interaction, I don't see my former co-workers, I don't really DO nursing in the traditional sense.

I spend most of my time researching things, making presentations, having conference calls. True it's about Nursing Informatics and technology.

However, this blog tends to be my rantings and ravings as it is.

I downloaded the iTunes University classes Principles of Management. I figured if I have to be the project leader for the ED I might as well learn how to do it right. Now, where to fit THAT in?

I've only listened to one class so all I can tell you is a bunch of theorists and studies that have been done on human behavior.

I should probably get dressed before I go to work.

I might be out of dress code in a dressing gown...

MorningCat

Let me introduce you to someone.

His name is Morning Cat.

He's snuggly, sleepy, purrs and is quite a bit insistent.
Morning Cat gets up between 530-630 and requires attention. Doesn't matter from who or what kind. Positive or negative. Morning Cat enjoys snuggling just as much as being hurled at the wall because godsdamnit this is the first day ive gotten to sleep in in months!
Places MorningCat likes to be. My head, my back, under my arm, walking on my stomach. It's ok if you want to keep sleeping, Morning Cat will rub his head against your hand or face receiving all the pets he wants regardless of your state of consciousness. He will also step on you and kneed your face with a bit of clawing and a few "sweet" mews.

However Morning Cat morphs into Bastard Cat by 7am...
He then remains in this form until 530am the next morning.

I've spent the last two weeks traveling.

One for work and one for fun.

Little blogging and lots to do.

Work is mostly sitting around in meetings wondering what I'm doing there (in a cosmic and literal sense) and when it will be over.

I was beginning to feel like Bean in Ender's Shadow.

Lots of food everywhere.

I also made this form for the Cerner interview process based on my observation of their employees.

Is the applicant young, attractive, and well-spoken?

-Yes= Hire immediately

-No= Offer a warm handshake.

It seems like those are the basic requirements for their employees. Closely followed by being tech-savvy and cordial.

There were a lot of cookies around that office though. I wonder how they keep all that up?

Just found this little gem on the internet. Like all things on the internet, could this be for realz?

It's supposedly a memo (few years old) posted by the Cerner CEO, chewing his middle management out for poor productivity.

Must have gotten that straightened out, these people were great to work with.

I guess David wasn't joking about the beatings though...

Cerner even has their own "facebook" (complete with iPhone app.) Crazy world in it's own. Our building was an old Casino on the Missouri River. It was quite fancy and a little weird to have meetings in.

The buffet was good (as previously stated.)

Also, on the mention of Facebook. I've deleted myself, removed as much as I could, contacted the Admins and submitted a request to be deleted.

I'm through with social media (well...sort of.)

Facebook was going to get me in trouble (again) eventually (again) and I decided I'm done with it. Not interested enough in most people's lives. This way if I really want "social interaction" I'll actually talk to someone, not look at pictures of their dog without their knowledge.

Besides all that pseudo-friendship probably isn't good for society.

This way I can spend more time blogging!!

If you want to contact me you'll have to email, call, text, or write me.

Ha.

Ode to a Kindle

I should really, no really be doing something else right now.

I mean honestly, when you have to purchase receipt paper rolls to create your weekend to-do lists, you really shouldn't be dinking around the internet. I blame this on my parents.

Weekends were more like Workends at my house, but we all loved it. There's no way to excape it either. It was always a "Hurry up! We need to relax!"

Anyway. I've kind of broken that mold a bit. Here I sit, Saturday morning. After sleeping in until 7am. I snuggled with a cat. Made a cup of coffee, wrote in my journal, then... picked up my Kindle.

A pageless turn, a weightless thing

How could I so swiftly discard my others?

Speakers yes, but no backlit screen

It lays on a table, not bookcase with brothers.

It feels so light, yet heavy with knowledge

So simple to transport, and hard to escape

I acquire new adventures must faster at current

Visit endless worlds, with hardly the baggage

If my arms grow weary, I switch it to landscape

Buy, trade, and share? Books even for rent.

I like it. Its easy to carry and find new books without having to GO anywhere. I'll probably read tons more now that I have one. No longer confined to what the library has, or what is a decent price at the bookstore.

I don't really like acquiring things. You always have to store things, and keep up with them, etc. I never seem to want to read the books I have on my shelf, because they're always there. There's no sense of urgency. I rarely read library books I get because I don't want them to get damaged when I carry them around.

I do see the negatives of a Kindle though.

The snoop factor is gone.

When people come to my house, they can't really snoop through my books. Potential conversations are lost. Also, when reading in public no one can see what you're reading. Good and a bad thing. But then again, potential conversations are lost. No one is going to be like, hey that person is reading a book I've read. Maybe we're similar enough to have a pleasant moment. Nope. Moment gone.

Also. I'm spending a lot more money on books now. The nice thing is, Kindle books are much cheaper...

The Constant Struggler

Ha HA!

I'm back.

A few days ago I had a dream in which I was the lead researcher for the Harley Davidson Institute of Neurotrama Research.

This does not exist.

Except in my head and on my whiteboard.

Today marks one week of me doing absolutely nothing at work. This is an exaggeration of course, but it feels that way. Going from working an understaffed ER to reading computer manuals is a bit of a change of pace. Considering that I finished reading them all last wednesday and we still have about a week of scheduled "study time" I've been doing various other things.

I think today I'll make a presentation about Diffusion of Innovation as discussed by Rogers.

It's applicable to the instigation of computerized charting at the hospital.

Besides, I've run out of internet...

It happened again. I hit my responsibility spiral and crashed out of control.

This one was interesting. I tried introducing some "color" to my clothing palette. This was a bad idea. There's a reason I need to keep things remarkably simple. If not I make them incredibly complex and it rapidly gets out of control.

I'm reading Running and Philosophy: A Marathon for the Mind there's a bit where Kevin Kinghorn writes about "Single Decision Makers" He likens them to Anscombe's intentional actions. Where you can give an explanation as to why we do them. I found this describes me a bit too well.

For example.

I decide to go running every morning (this month it's every other day.) That's the decision. Every subequent action that follows are intentional actions. I put out my shirt and shorts, find my shoes, set my alarm, make sure my phone is charged, and fill my water bottle before going to bed.

In contrast, there's another sort known as the constant struggler. My roommate for example. She's decided to exercise everyday, but where I decide to do it and go into autopilot. She makes a decision every step. What time of day should I exercise? What clothing should I wear?Depending on what exercises I'm going to do. Should I cardio first or second? Which muscle group today? How long should I wait after eating? What will I refuel with?

I don't choose what shorts or shirt to wear. I don't (typically) change my time of day. I don't "mix up" my routine (except monthly.) I've decided on something and that's how it is until the review period is over and I can re-evaluate.

I do things like this for a month. Review the data collected and see what I need to alter.

Here's the unfortunate bit that seems to have taken a while to get to. I decided to add color to my closet. Once I did this I couldn't get up and put clothes on. I had to make multiple decisions every time I wanted to get dressed. Would this underwear show through? Was it too hot for this shirt? Are these pants clean? What socks do you wear with this? AURGH!

It was very difficult.

I gave up yesterday.

I'm wearing scrubs and a white t-shirt.

Business casual is so overrated.

Things are simpler when you don't have to think about it.

This is one of the main reasons I'm a vegetarian. There's usually about one good thing per menu when I go out to eat. I don't have to decide if I feel like chicken or steak. I can always have pasta!

Carbivore out.

Snip Snip

So, when I friend of mine made the post that she bought $66 worth of items for $0.94 I sort of sat up and took notice.

I was raised to be a good steward of money. Really more as a bragging point than anything. Oh yea, and so we could go on living our lifestyle.

My Dad once bought a suit at JC Penney's for around $3. I found a pair of puma trainers for $10. Paying full price seems like such a rip off. Every time a sale goes on, John comments, "So THAT's what the real price is."

On to the extreme couponing phase.

I don't have television access except at the gym so I stay relatively 3months to a year behind on trends and whatnot. Turns out there's now a show teaching people how to save money by using coupons. I feel I learned this is Home Economics (of course, being homeschooled cleaning the bathroom was considered home economics...) This sharp change in the economy is teaching people to be a little more careful in their planning. There are a few sacrifices to be made however.

Is this something I think I need to look into?

You must develop a strategic plan.

Turns out you can't really skim the grocery adds for what's cheapest anymore. I could never do that to begin with. I already set aside a portion of my weekend to flip through cookbooks with my roommate (Sarah) and decide on recipes for the week, who will cook what night and the overall health of the foods we are choosing (it's fun to live with scientists.) These decisions are all copied onto this What to Eat pad and checked against the pantry for what we need. The missing items are checked on this All Out of List and off we go with our "Green Bags" to Kroger, Sam's, or (if it's just me) WholeFoods and the Farmer's Market.

I am a terrible person at the grocery store. I hope you never have to see me. Not only do I have terrible control over the MONSTER-SIZED carts (just can't get leverage if you can barely see over) I also read the labels for EVERYTHING, bring my own bags, use coupons, self-checkout, purchase alcohol (while looking like a 12 year old), buy insane amounts of fresh produce, check unit prices on items located in different isles (or even different stores.) Sometimes, I even get on Amazon while in the store to see if it's cheaper to have it mailed to me within two days.

Do I really want to add the crazyness of getting weekly emails, printing, snipping, planning, etc. Just to save a few bucks?

Here's the sad kicker...

All this time I've been thinking about this (thinking includes creating a coupon email account and signing up for a bunch of online coupon sites, reading the ehow, and watching some tip videos on youtube.) I keep coming up with one repeating idea that I can't seem to shake and really reveals my personality.

Why?

What's the overall net gain?

A few extra bucks?

Is all this work worth it?

I already spend a great amount of time recording and analyzing my diet to keep kcal and sodium low while maintaining protein levels separate from animal proteins. (not as hard as people seem to think) Do I really want to add an additional level of crazy?

Then I think, what will I do with the money.

Anything I need I already have. I could probably live comfortably 2-3 months without buying another item (if I ration the food properly.) Things I want I either purchase or talk myself out of. School bills have been part of the planned budget since highschool and therefore are well foreseen. Emergency money is placed well out of reach.

Hmmm,

Here we go.

I'll find a charity/organization/or cause and donate the remainder of my planned grocery budget to them after 1 month of couponing.

Suggestions would be appreciated.

If you think you're infected...

So here's what happened.

Friday evening I developed a rash across my abdomen, by Saturday it was spreading up my neck, and it covered me by Sunday. Monday when I went to see my Doctor it was in my ears and my mouth. Monday afternoon I had a fever.

I had erupted in pseudovesicular pustules all over my body.

They think I had a severe allergic reaction to sunscreen. So bad it became systemic. I've been on steroids for 4 days now, and it looks like I'm overcoming chicken pox.

I still have a few open sores so work is frowned upon as well.

I was eaten up.

Now it's time to embrace the paste.

This is how you get ants...

Well, here's to having written something yesterday and forgetting to submit it.

Oops.

We have ants.

The 2D character sketch from Archer was pretty much the conversation held in my house...

But we also have a plan.

I come home around midnight when I get off work and I find my "big board" (<-reason why we have it.) covered in a very specific strategy to "Starve the Bastards!"

Incidentally, I had a very ant-related dream that night in which I did panic.

Now I find this scary business.

Ant-zombies.

The scientists found that at solar noon, when the Sun is at its strongest, the fungus synchronised ant behavior, forcing infected ants to bite the main vein on the underside of a leaf. The multiplying fungal cells in the ant's head cause fibres within the muscles that open and close the ant's mandibles to become detached, causing "lock jaw," which makes an infected ant unable to release the leaf, even after death. A few days later, the fungus grows through the ant's head a fruiting body, a stroma, which releases spores to be picked up by another wandering ant

Jeez. Thanks Science Daily.

Now I have the decision. Do I want fungus in my house or ants?

Here's a zombie movie potential.

Them and 28 Days Later.

If only I had a little ant doll...

What's with the candypan?

Here I sit at Starbucks, freezing bits of me off that I didn't even know I had, but hey, Frappuchinos are half-price!

Supposedly, I'm working on my Ethics in Nursing paper. Last paper for this semester, once it's done, I'm done.

Meh.

I've made the cover page so far.

I've been such an oscillator of moods recently. I became visibly upset over getting lost on my way to a wedding today. So upset, in fact, I gave up and decided to go home. Now, every thing is just peachy. I'm trying to decided if this is a problem or simply life and I need to figure a way to chill out.

I really think it's just life. One can not be happy all the time, nor should one expect to be. I don't need medication or hormone therapy, I just have moods. Right now, I'm cold.

SO. Onto the interest of the day.

It's between 1430- 1500 at work and everyday I try to pass around the ED with a bedpan full of chocolate. Nothing gross like that. They're all neatly packaged and I hand them out to people.

So, why the bedpan?

Here's why.

Everyone knows a little bribery goes a long way but Alice Isen has isolated even more. She reviewed some studies with doctors, candy, and correct diagnoses.

A little positive influence helps doctors come to correct diagnoses faster and more accurately.

In addition, if I can't be skinny at least I can make my co-w0rkers fat!

Once again, back in action.

So let's all glance around the room and pretend that this is going to be more than just a one time thing...

Let's hope.

My job is changing in a few weeks. I'm no longer going to be a floor nurse. I'm headed over to the IT department to help design our computerized charting. I'll be there for an ENTIRE YEAR.

Yay.

This is great timing. My job satisfaction is hovering around a zero. We did finally hire a manager. Maybe things will straighten out and be fixed and shiny when I return.

I have to give the quick run down of life recently. Then I'll get better at appropriate updates.

Lets see when we last left I had just finished a marathon.

Life sort of stalled after that.

I've read about PMS (Post Marathon Syndrome) but didn't really think it would happen to me. I mean, come on, after 26.2 miles doing about 30minutes a day shouldn't be that difficult.

I was wrong. I finally FELT like running for the first time yesterday. I've been running about every other day (or only on my days off) but I haven't really felt like it.

Finally, got out of my funk yesterday.

Probably why I haven't been blogging. I've been in a seriously bad mood. Nothing seemed interesting or noteworthy. Then, of course, the dilemma of am I really so arrogant to think that people are interested in this life? Or then dilemma of am I really so arrogant that I believe myself to be above sharing my story with others?

Gah.

I'm doing this for me. To stay updated with myself. It does make me feel better. Of course. I don't have all the interesting things to blog about such as my friend JT (recently moved here) or awesome little comics like my friend Kyle (badideagoggles (<- this always turns into bad idea google. )) However. It does contain... me.

I think I'll run now and get something to actually write about later.

Fantasy vs. Reality

Fantasy Reality

Run this morning 2 cups of coffee on the porch

Write my paper for school Surfed Reddit

Clean the house Set up the roomba and went to Target

Eat a salad for lunch Made a salad, then ate a bag of sunchips, salad in fridge

Put laundry away Dumped laundry on the floor, hung up 3 shirts

Lift weights/strength training Played Wii sports resort

Read unit 2 in school Read Colour Out of Space- Lovecraft

Anyone else have this problem?

Someone will want to read this...

I just finished my first Marathon.

Wow.

I just finished a Marathon.

I've been training for this since I moved to Arkansas and today I finished it.

Pretty amazing.

I learned a lot of things.

Like how to run without bending either knee.

Woke up at 6am after a night of dreams in which I missed the race due to various unbelievable events. Ate a pita pocket stuffed with peanut butter, bananas and honey and some coffee.

7am arrived at the race and walked around in the freezing.

Miles 1-6 pretty good. Very cold however, felt like 32 degrees according to the weatherman.

Bathroom stop- this was a mistake. This is when my right knee seized up and I began the hobble.

Mile 13 tried to fix a wedgie in another portapotty, discovered my underwear had ripped and I was essentially commando the rest of the race. Oh yea, and my left knee decided to call it quits here.

Mile 14- learned to run without bending my knees.

Mile 15- met Ingrid from California, on her 7th Marathon. She has 2 children and 4 grandchildren, the youngest of which is 15.

Mile 17- borrowed some aspirin from Ingrid.

Mile 20- Finally.

Mile 23- Saw one of the race vehicles drive by with two racers I had recently passed. Were they picking up stragglers?! Better pick it up!

Mile 25- Cheered on by a man in a kilt.

Mile 25.2- got some free lipstick

Mile 26- I could see John and Sarah

Mile 26.2- They ran out of medals and will mail one to me. Rats.

I practically have no blisters though and my knees feel ok until I try to use them. Nothing 5 days of naproxen can't fix!

Now I can finally get that 26.2 sticker for my car!

Well, I almost wasn't going to post this...

But here goes.

Justifiable Homicide.

Reading through my own RSS feeds, seems several people have gotten their panties in a twist.

Good.

But I do want to point out that abortions are still legal medical procedures and so killing/harming someone for performing a legal procedure is still illegal.

Here's where it gets scary.

How many people are going to use this to feel justified? People already attack and kill physicians. Now there's a wordy bill that almost makes it seem...ok.

For those of you who read all that and heads are still spinning.

South Dakota is passing a bill that extends justifiable homicide (killing someone attacking someone else) to include those doing harm to a fetus/unborn child.

I do however like PZ Meyer's take on it.

They've still got to amend this thing, though. There's no mention of a season or of bag limits.

Do this right and we'll give you a cookie.

That's my assessment of Pay for Performance.

What's that you say? You normal, non-hospital person.

Weeeeelll, let's get into it. (Yes, I'm mixing homework and blog time.)

Pay for Performance.

Essentially, there are some "Quality Indicators" set up based on your presenting complaint. If the healthcare team hits these indicators the hospital gets "rewarded" for your visit. Sounds like a pretty good idea. I mean, everyone likes cookies. :D

Its purpose is to align payment incentives to encourage ongoing improvement in a way that will ensure high-quality care for all.

-http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11723&page=3#

For all. That would be nice. Unfortunately, an unintended effect has been the avoidance of "high-risk" patients. Those with multiple problems that would make meeting these "quality indicators" very difficult.

Then there's also fee for service. You basically get a bill for each test or procedure run, submit it to your insurance and hope they cover it. Also costs more, for you.

So it feels like this to me.

You can either order a #5 Cheeseburger that comes with lettuce, pickle tomato, fries, and a shake.

OR you can individually select what toppings and sides you want and pay the extra $0.50 per selection.

There's the argument that managed care, and care plans, and quality indicators are making medicine to be less of an art, more of a one size fits all. I hear grumblings that doctors can't make their own clinical judgement anymore. While I understand this frustration. I also like protocols. I feel they hit the high points. You cover the bases and check out all the reasonable possibilities.

I've heard the story one too many times about the 25 year old marathon runner presenting with chest pain and dying from an MI because no one thought it necessary to do an EKG on her.

Call me a freak, but zebras exist.

The problem is, as it always is, payment. How are we going to afford this mess?

Pay for Performance, doesn't make it cheaper.

Arg, so many problems, not enough solutions.

It's at this point in playing Sim City or Caesar I would generally quit and do something less stressful.

Now I have to reword all that in a professional sense and submit it as my assignment. Too bad I can't use hyperlinks...

Well, um oops.

Yea, it's me.

Not dead actually.

Just... busy...

Didn't realize more than a month had gone by since I posted anything... at all. Don't worry though, I haven't read my RSS feeds or called my mother.

But all that is going to change.

Eventually.

Maybe.

Meh.

So, what HAVE you been doing?!?

Truth is, I've got a roommate now and she's way more interesting to talk to than to surf the web first thing in the morning. So. HA.

Plus, this whole marathon training thing takes a LOT of time. Phew. I'll be glad when this is over and I can go back to simple hour long runs (instead of 4-5hours.)

Work is pretty intense with all the changes they're wanting to make and all the studies I want to do. I've been collecting, and compiling data, writing proposals and papers like a nut job.

I just hope I remember to document it all so I can get reimbursed with the whole Professional Advancement thingie they've got going on.

In addition to that crazy business, going back to class (even online class) takes quite a bit of time.

Good news is I'm progressing faster than a 90s video game character

Actually, at the rate I'm going I could be done by December.

Hm, fun.

Kelly visited again this weekend. No mudruns though. This time we played video games and attended a birthday party for Darwin. I know how to have a good time.

She's making me be a more social person. So I'm joining a club. We have a meeting tomorrow night. Kinda nervous. Geeks don't get out much. I haven't had to be social sans people I know in a very long time.

But, how can you call yourself an ENTJ you say?

ENTJs love to interact with people. As Extroverts, they're energized and stimulated primarily externally. There's nothing more enjoyable and satisfying to the ENTJ than having a lively, challenging conversation. They especially respect people who are able to stand up to the ENTJ, and argue persuasively for their point of view.

I am energized and like to be around people, but I don't necessarily want to talk to them. Tackett and I discovered this similar contrary trait we share. We like people, but we don't really like them.

I guess it's because I enjoy a good conversation and most people are (in my opinion) poor conversationalists.

I'm almost tempted to go purchase these, just so I'll know how to talk to people.

Meh, enough about this.

I'll get back on my blogging track and begin to provide details into all the fun and interesting things going on here.

Until then.

No science rage today.

Not enough time to catchup.

However,

I am listening to The Panic Virus on my long runs.

Well, I will be. Once I'm done with The Moral Landscape. (Book club meeting on Thursday if I do!)

I bet you can't wait for more Andrew Wakefield anger once I get into that!

Back in Class

Ah, back to school for me.

I'm in an online college now. Western Governor's University I did a lot of research and found out it's pretty good and not too expensive.

This was my main choice because it's all online and it's a "go at your own pace." I've discovered my pace can be pretty fast, so it felt like a good fit. I pay for my time, not credit hours.

Anyway. I completed my first class last week. I don't feel as though it should entirely count because it was an introductory class to online universities. How to set up classes, watch videos, access their library, things like that.

I've been playing around in my real first class today (Nursing Theories and Research) and I'm already 25% done. Whee!!

I do have a few frustrations though...

This textbook...

Sucks.

Understanding the Work of Nurse Theorists.

A Creative Beginning.

I guess the "Creative Beginning" should have clued me in. This is a load of fluffy---- well, it's very subjective.

My assignments are things like,

"Perform an Internet search using the phrase Hubble Space Telescope to find stunning photographs of outer space taken from the Hubble Space Telescope. Print your favorite photo to represent Roger's theory and paste it onto page 148 to share with classmates."

Excuse me? This is a MASTER'S program not 2nd grade. I stopped "pasting things to share with the class" when I learned how to open Microsoft Word.

You've got to be kidding me. When our graduate level classes have things like "paste to share with the class" as our assignments, no wonder so few people take nursing as a serious profession.

For another project I get to learn how to make a paper crane. Now, while I've always been interested in origami, I didn't expect to learn it in my Nursing Theories class.

Ugh. I'm thinking about posting about this aggravation to the "class community" but I don't want to be labeled as a troll this early on.

I guess I'm not much of one for the "Art" in the "Art & Science of Nursing."

Get your facts right!

More comments on Andrew Wakefield.

It's almost been a year since his paper has been retracted. I'm kinda glad and disappointed that we're still talking about this issue.

He was a fraud. He published a fraudulent paper. It was retracted and we're still feeling the effects of his fraudulence. (Look at pertussis for USA between years 2009 and 2010)

I'm glad it's still getting attention, because people need to know that vaccines do not cause autism!

I"m disappointed because it's been a LONG time since this started. It has caused a number of issues since it slipped through.

What is going on with the peer-review process?

It's a bit like this arsenic based life thing.

Things are getting out before they've been accurately checked. There's something wrong with the process if it's taking so long to be "reviewed and approved" but the "information" is still out for the general public to see. People made some very bad decisions based on the Wakefield incident.

Rebecca Watson made some interesting comments about this in the beginning-ish portion of this Skeptics Guide. (I had too, this is me with Rebecca Watson and some other weird-o...)

She was saying that now it's more the blog-o-sphere thats doing the fact checking and hand calling on bad science.

That's good in a way, but how can you tell who's a good blogger and a bad blogger. People go in search of blogs that reinforce their current beliefs and opinions. So, it seems that people are only going to get the data they want when they can search for it themselves.

It doesn't seem very objective.

On the other hand, it's good to get a lot of differing voices if you're presenting to a skeptical audience. Then they can discern for themselves.

Ugh, I feel it's time for a big overhaul in the peer-review process. When things like Butt-reflexology, fraudulent vaccine claims, and untested lifeforms keep on creeping in we've got problems.

It's no wonder the common man doesn't trust science.

Here's a Point of Inquiry that talks about why I think this is such a vast problem. Why Facts Fail.

After a while, once someone hears the initial data, it doesn't matter how much true data you can present them with. After they've formed their opinion, they're sticking with it, no matter how ridiculous it seems.

So, we really need to be sure we're getting the facts right. People just making stuff up so they'll get attention (AHEM, arsenic-based life) is not helpful. It's not a search for truth about our environment. It's not science.

*Steps off soapbox*

New Year!

Isn't everyone posting about New Years now?

I had a good 2010 and could regale you all with most of the stories about my life in 2010.

Biggest Event in 2010 for me Per Month

1. My cat was 1 year old.

2.John and I took a trip to KC and watched a free concert we learn about from google buzz 2 hours before it started. Good job social media.

3. John's Birthday, We learned about medschool acceptance.

4.I began applying for jobs in AR and we looked for houses

5.We bought a house

6.We moved to Arkansas and met Spencer (bad timing on that)

7.I began working in a new hospital, we hung out with some friends at the lake.

8.John started school

9.Met some medschool peeps.

10. I began marathon training in earnest, Kelly and I ran in the mud

11. Had a great Thanksgiving and Skepticon III

12.Traveled home for Christmas with family!

My life isn't that exciting according to this.

Maybe my New Year's Resolution should be to have more fun in life.

Things upcoming are the Little Rock Marathon and something else from my "list" that I haven't decided if I want to reveal...

According to WIRED, 2010 was a pretty dangerous year. I knew about the Russians and Wikileaks, but it seems I don't pay that much attention to the other things going on.

I guess it's time to compare and contrast Fail-Safe with Dr. Strangelove.

ACTUALLY.

It's Isaac Asimov's birthday. He'd be ninety one if he hadn't died of HIV complications. A bad blood transfusion killed a man that has been published in nine out of ten sections of the Dewey Decimal system.

Go hug a robot but, as Zog reminded me, make sure it follows the three laws of robotics first.