A Tribute to Diane – Follow-up

From The Natchez Democrat

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Diane Persons Forrest 

May 3, 1963- February 7, 2019

NATCHEZ — Services for Diane Forrest, 55, who died Thursday, February 7, 2019 in Natchez will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel in Natchez with the Rev. Dan Ratcliff officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Laird Funeral Home

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time Monday at Laird Funeral Home.

Mrs. Forrest was born May 3, 1963 in Jackson, the daughter of Forest and Barbara Persons.

She completed studies in health care and practiced as a nurse for many years. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Natchez. She was thoughtful, unselfish and caring. She enjoyed making cards for friends and relatives for all occasions. She loved all holidays and would prepare greetings and gifts far in advance. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dave Forrest; her brother, Rodney Persons Jr.; daughter-in-law, Lauren McCoy; Aunt, Patricia Persons and uncle, Joe Craddock.

Survivors include her parents, Forest and Barbara Persons, of Natchez; one son, Jason McCoy, of Memphis; one grandson, Ethan McCoy, of Memphis; two aunts, Annie Bess Saul and her husband TK, of Clinton and Carolyn Craddock of Plano, Texas; two uncles, TD Persons and wife Linda, of San Antonio, Texas, and Jack Spradling and wife Judy of Florence; her loving Shih Tzu, Snoopy, and a number of cousins and other relatives and friends whom she loved very much.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Pallbearers will be friends of the family.

Honorary Pallbearers will be the members of the Bill Rice Sunday School class.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.

We Recognize Nurse For All They Do!

Nurse Diane

Today is another day that is near and dear to me - National Nurse's Day/week.  I remember the first year I was working.  The hospital went around to all the floors delivering nice umbrellas to the nurses.  In the past few years while I was working at home, I didn't get much in terms of gifts, but the appreciation was very apparent.

Nurses just want to be appreciated on this day and all days.  Being a nurse is not a very easy job, not only do you have to have Patience (patients) but you also have to have knowledge, skill and a caring heart.

Nurses work nights, days, weekends and holidays.  They spend time away from their own families to take care of your family member.  When you take care of someone, you do so in a way that you imagine how someone would take care of you, or your family member.

Not only do you have to learn the skills, but you must continue learning, drugs change, procedures change. Things improve to make health care better.

Nurses can be found in all types of places such as schools, hospitals, DRs offices, and sports arenas, off shore wells, campgrounds, airplanes, and any place where the possibility of injury or illness is around.

Today is National Nurse's Day.  According to holiday insites.com, the purpose of nurse's day is recognition to nurses for their contributions and commitment to quality health care. It brings awareness to the importance of nurses in the care , comfort, and well being of all of us, and especially our children and the aging, and those in poor health.

The roots of International Nurses Day goes back to 1953, when Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a "Nurse Day" in October of the following year. The proclamation was not officially made. But, this day was born and eventually gained national recognition.  Some of the individual days include:

May 6-12: National Nurse's Week

May 8: National Student Nurses Day

May 6th: National Nurses Day

Wednesday of Nurse's Week: School Nurses Day

May 12: International Nurse's Day

November 14: Operating Room Nurse Day

So today, if you know a nurse, or come in contact with one today, make sure to say thanks for all their hard work!

(All images from Google) 

Invention of the Thermometer

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By Nurse Diane

My son recently moved to another city, and into a house instead of the apartments he previously rented.  His home has an attached garage, so he could get in his car without going outside.  With the weather being unusually cold down south, he was not used to wearing a coat or jacket in the mornings.  Well this particular morning, he left his warm home, went through his warm garage, and got in his warm car to drive to work.  Once he got out of his car, his body was shocked with the freezing temperature, which made his long walk to his office a bit chilly.

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My father laughed at him and then informed him that he needed an indoor/outdoor Thermometer. (Don’t tell, but he is getting one for Christmas!)

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Thermometers are wonderful tools with many uses.  As a nurse, the first thing that comes to mind is to check the body's temperature for fever.  A friend of mine spent many a childhood day warming a thermometer to get out of going to school.  He heated it just enough for a small fever, and didn't put it on the pipes to break the glass.

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These days a glass thermometer is difficult to find.  Reason being that the glass breaks, causing injury, and the mercury inside is harmful to your health.  These have been mainly replaced by digital thermometers, which are fast and accurate.  I am reminded of a nurse joke using a thermometer:

A big shot business man had to spend a couple of days in the hospital. He was a royal pain to the nurses because he bossed them around just like he did his employees. None of the hospital staff wanted to have anything to do with him.

The head nurse was the only one who could stand up to him. She came into his room and announced, “I have to take your temperature.”

After complaining for several minutes, he finally settled down, crossed his arms, and opened his mouth.

“No, I’m sorry, the nurse stated, “but for this reading, I can’t use an oral thermometer.

This started another round of complaining, but eventually he rolled over and bared his behind. After feeling the nurse insert the thermometer, he heard her announce, “I have to get something. Now you stay JUST LIKE THAT until I get back!”

She leaves the door to his room open on her way out. He curses under his breath as he hears people walking past his door, laughing.

After a half hour, the man’s doctor comes into the room. “What’s going on here?” asked the doctor.

Angrily, the man answers, “What’s the matter, Doc? Haven’t you ever seen someone having their temperature taken?”

After a pause, the doctor confesses, “Not with a carnation.”

I also use a digital thermometer while making my famous fudge, pralines and divinity at Christmas.  Comes in handy and you don't have to worry about a hard ball or soft ball stage.

Thermometers are also used to checking the temperature outside and inside, they also check the temperature of your vehicle to prevent from overheating.

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All this was made possible in 1724.  Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit was the German physicist who invented the first practical thermometer, the mercury thermometer in 1714. In 1724, he developed the scale of temperature that bears his name, the Fahrenheit Scale.

So before you go outside today...check your thermometer, so you don’t freeze when you leave the house.

Perioperative Nurse Week

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By Nurse Diane

If you have ever had to have surgery, you know it can be a very stressful time.  Just the thought of being "knocked out" and "going under the knife" is enough to send your heart racing.  A friend of mine recently had surgery, having a pacemaker inserted in his heart. While the procedure is a simple one, he was still understandably nervous.  The morning of his surgery, the nurse came to his room, explained the procedure to him, and answered his questions, trying to calm his fears.  Once he was transported to the surgical suite, the scrub nurse welcomed him, positioned him on the table, draped the area to be operated on, cleaned and shaved the area and spoke with him to ease his fears.  Once he was under the anesthesia, the nurses continued to work.  They assist the surgeon by handing him the tools he needs, another takes notes of things that are going on, including vital signs and patient conditions. There is another nurse who keeps count of the supplies being used such as the instruments and gauze pads.  After the surgery is completed, the nurse cleans the wound, applies the dressing, while the nurse who is keeping count of things, goes back to check to make sure that everything that went in the body during the surgery, came back out once the incision was closed. All the while there is the nurse there checking vital signs and making sure that the patient is tolerating the procedure.

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Once the wound is dressed and all instruments and supplies are counted for, the patient is wheeled into the recovery area.  The post op nurse will continue to monitor vital signs and check the dressing to make sure there is no excessive bleeding or any other problems.  When the patient wakes up, the nurse is the first person they see.  Once they have determined that the effects of anesthesia have worn off, and vital signs are good, the patient is returned to their hospital room.  Before the nurse leaves for the day, she returns to the room, explains the procedures that had taken place, answer any questions, and makes a final check on the patient's condition.

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Depending on how many surgeries there scheduled for that day, the nurses can have a very long and hard day, but they take time with each patient to make sure their fears are calm, and their condition is good. My friend was no different.  His procedure went well, the nurses performed their duties like a well-oiled machine, and he was discharged home the next day.

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This week is Perioperative Nurse Week.  If you have recently had surgery, or expecting to have a procedure soon, don't forget to let the nurses involved in your care that you appreciate their commitment to patient care and safety and for making your experience a less stressful one.

Emergency Room Nurse's Week

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By Nurse Diane

While working in the hospital, we were frequently moved to other areas to work when the staffing was short.   One of my favorite areas to work in was the Emergency Department.  This department is constantly moving.  You never know what is going to happen when the next patient comes through the door.  I’m sure you have seen television shows like ER and House.  The action is fast paced, and people are bleeding and having tubes pushed down their throat, and they are getting paddles ready to shock you back to life.  While this kind of activity may happen in the larger cities, here in my small town, we never experience anything that critical.

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The nurses in the Emergency Department have to be knowledgeable in every area, and every medical problem - from heart attacks, to women in labor to cuts and broken bones.  When you go to the hospital for an emergency, you are frightened and anxious.  You rely on the medical staff there to take care of the problem, and fix it and make you all better.

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This anxiousness also calls for alot of patient nursing care.  People often take out their anger on those who are there to help them, only because they are the closest ones available.  The Emergency department is quickly becoming more like a battle ground instead of a hospital.  Drug addicts come in, hoping to steal drugs, fighting family members want to include nurses in their fights, as well as unruly patients.  The security at the Emergency Departments has become tighter than Fort Knox, just to keep the nurses and other staff safe.

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Many people come to the ER with just a cold or virus.  These nurses treat these patients with importance as well.  While the work in the ER is stressful and tedious at times, there is still no place in the hospital these nurses would rather work.  On the site lifeinthefastlane.com, these examples of Emergency room nurses were listed.

You know you’re an Emergency Nurse when:

• You see stress as a normal way of life;
• Your idea of a good time is a code at shift change;
• You occasionally park in the space with the “Doctors Only” sign, and knock it over;
• You have recurrent nightmare of being hit and run over by a portable X-ray machine;
• You silently diagnose people as you walk through the shopping center;
• Your most common assessment question is “what changed tonight to make it an emergency after 6 years?”;
• When checking the level orientation of your patients, you aren't sure of the correct answer yourself;
• You have competitions with patients presenting with urinary retention, who has the largest bladder volume;
• Your sense of humor seems to get more “warped’ each year;
• You think transdermal meal patches would be a good idea;
• Your family members must have a fever over 104° or be missing a limb with active bleeding in order to receive your sympathy;
• You believe the government should introduce a permit to be able to reproduce; and
• You believe “to stupid to die” should be a diagnosis.

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This is Emergency Room Nurse's Week.  If you or a family member have to experience the Emergency Department at your local hospital, please be kind to the nurses there.  They are only there to help you, they can't make tests return any faster, or move along the other patients any quicker.  They will show you the same time, courtesy, professionalism and care as they show to the patient before you, and the ones who come after you.  Even if you aren't feeling your best, they will try their best to make you feel better.   Show your gratitude to an Emergency Department Nurse today.

10/10-16 National ER Nurses Week

By Diane Forrest, RN

You might work in an ER if...

• You've ever had to contend with someone who thinks constipation for 4 hours is a medical emergency...
• You've ever entered a patient's chief complaint as "I'm drunk"...
• You refer to motorcyclists as "organ donors"...
• You've ever had a patient with a nose-ring tell you "I'm afraid of shots"...
• You stare at someone in utter disbelief when he or she actually covers his or her mouth when coughing...
• You've ever thought "as long as he's got a pulse, I won't worry about that rhythm."...
• You've ever referred to a body bag as a "To Go" bag...

• You think of chocolate, coffee, Coca-Cola® and the cafeteria's frozen yogurt when anyone mentions the 4 food groups...
• You think that the announcement of an impending arrival in 5 minutes of two adults in a serious MVA on backboards with sirens on and anxiety a level 10 would be a great opportunity to eat lunch...
• You have ever heard triage nurse first ask, "Is it urgent?" when interrupted from the first break in hours...
• You have four categories of patients...urgent, emergent, non-emergent, and S.I.O. (sleeping it off)...
• You automatically multiply by 3 the number of drinks they claim to have daily...
• You feel that you can diagnose passersby at the mall based on physical presentation...
• You don't have to ask "frequent flyers" any medical history questions because you can fill it out from memory...
• You can keep a straight face as the patient responds "Just two beers"...
• You give the local drunks tips on where to sleep so they (and you) won't be disturbed by a return visit

The other day I was telling you about Pediatric Nurses Week, and the important work these nurses do.  Well it is also Emergency Nurse's Week.  These nurses are amazing.  They never know what to expect from one minute to the next.  They see people who come in with colds, to patient having heart attacks, to accidents, gunshot wounds, or victims of other crimes.

There have been many security changes for the ER as well, patients come in wanting drugs pose a serious security risk.  Psychiatric patients can be harmful as well.  Each emergency room I have ever visited has their own security staff for these reasons.

Emergency room nurses have to be knowledgeable about every possible illness or injury be able to comfort and calm the patient and family member.  In the past year my husband was transported the ER on 4 occasions.   Luckily I knew and or worked with several of these nurses, so the process was fairly easy.  I was able to provide all the necessary information as well as take care of him while he was having tests run, freeing up the nurse to take care of other patients.  However most of the patients that enter the ER are not as prepared.

Emergency room nurses deserve this week of celebration and honor.  They could be the one to save your life

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Rules for the Emergency Room

• Here are some tips to those who may end up in an ER, be it yourself or a family member.
• If it requires the ambulance team and entire truck crew of firefighters to transport you and safely place you on a hospital stretcher, it is time to go on a diet.
• When you present to the triage nurse, do not tell him/her that your doctor called ahead. If you survey our waiting area, probably 50% of the people waiting said the same thing, and the other 50% use the ER as their regular doctor.
• Never start out by saying, "I was searching the Internet . . . "
• When asked how much you weigh, please do not give the "Deer-In-The-Headlights Look", and tell us you "really don't know". It's a simple question with a simple answer.
• Just because you have a phone and know how to call 911, we are not impressed by your arrival on an ambulance stretcher. You had better be sick.
• If you came escorted via EMS for multiple complaints that started more than one week ago and your entire family followed the ambulance to the hospital, you will be labeled a ninnie and treated like one, enjoy the waiting area with your family.
• One complaint/ailment per visit, please.
• Just because you came in on a ambulance, doesn't mean you're going home on one. You better start making arrangements, now. I am not driving you home, or figuring out how to get you home. Cab vouchers are not an option.
• If you have one of these four, go to your own doctor in the morning: A Migraine; the Flu; a stomach virus; or a stuffy nose.
• Do not ask us how long it will be. We don't know. I don't know what is coming through my door 30 seconds from now,so I sure as hell don't know when you're getting a room.
• We have priorities. We understand that you have been waiting for two hours in the waiting room. If you don't want to wait, make an appointment with a doctor. The little old lady that just walked in looking OK to you is probably having a massive heart attack. That is why she goes first.
• If your mother is a patient and we ask her a question, let her answer it.
• If your child has a fever, you had damn well better give him Tylenol® before coming in. DO NOT let the fever remain high just so I will believe the child has a fever. Do you want your child to have a seizure? Do you?
• If you are well enough to complain about the wait, you are well enough to go home.
• Do not utter the words "it is in my chart", I don't have your chart, and I don't have the time to call and get it. Just tell me. It is faster.
• We know how many times you've been to an ER. We can usually tell if you are faking it during the first 5 seconds of talking to you. Do not lie to us. If you lie about one thing, we will have to assume you are lying about everything. You don't want that.
• If you have diabetes and do not control it, you are committing slow suicide.
•  If you are a female between 16 and 42 and your last period was between 28-35 days ago, please don't waste our time if you are here for Abdominal Pain & Vaginal bleeding. Guess what!!?? You got your period, again.
• Do not bring your entire posse with you. One person at the bedside is all you need. It is really difficult to move around seven people who are in the way if you are really sick.

• Every time I ask you a question, I learn more about what is wrong with you. I don't care if I asked you what day it is four different times. Each time I ask, it is for a reason. Just answer the questions, regardless whether you have answered them before.
• If you want something, be nice. I will go out of my way to piss off rude people.
• Our definition of sick is not your definition of sick. If a member of the ER staff says that someone is sick, it means that they are in the process of DYING. They have had a massive stroke, are bleeding out, having a heart attack, or have been shot. We don't consider a kidney stone, sick. Painful, yes. Sick, no.
• At any given time, one nurse has four patients. One doctor has up to 15.
• There is a law (similar to Murphy's) in the ER. If you have four patients: one of them will be sick (see above for definition); one of them will be whining constantly; one of them will be homeless; and one of them will a delightful patient. (don't be the whiner). Please.
• If you see someone pushing a big cart down the hall at full speed and you hear bells going off, do not ask for a cup of coffee. Someone is dying, you inconsiderate a*****e. In the ER, bells don't ring for nothing. Sit down, shut up, and let us work.
• If you can bi**h about the blood pressure cuff being too tight, or the IV hurting, you are not in that much pain.
• Physicians and nurses are not waiters. We are not customer service representatives. This is not McDonald's®, and you very well may NOT have it your way. Our job is to save your life, or at least make you feel better. If you want a pillow, two blankets, and the lights dimmed, go to the Ramada®.
• If you have any sort of stomach pain and you ask for something to eat, you are not sick.
• Do not talk s**t about the other members of staff I work with. The doctor that you hate? I work with him every day, and I know that he knows what he is doing. I trust him a lot more that I trust you. I am not here to be your friend, and neither is he. I will tell him what you said, and we will laugh about it. If you want a buddy, go somewhere else.
• If you are homeless, don't ask for a bus token or cab voucher to get home. It just confuses the staff.
• Please don't tell us how to do our job. Do we go to your place of business and tell you how to do your job?
• Please don't bring in a "show and tell". If you have to fish it out of the toilet, it's really not necessary to bring it in; we will take your word. If you did fish something out of the toilet, you may not use my pen.

Textbooks and Stethoscopes: The Pilot By Sunny Hon

I think by now, us students have realized that the nursing profession isn’t what primetime programming depicts our destined futures to be.  Minus the cross-generational sharp wits and the mandatory dramas of workplace love triangles, what you have left is scrub-wearing professionals who work very hard to get the sick and the injured back to functional health.  Contrary to belief, nursing has nothing to do with the treatment diseases or ailments.  We don’t look at patient charts to help with diagnosing illnesses.  What we do is treat the human responses to the multitude of ailments that hinder one’s ability to care for oneself.  Along with dispensing medications as prescribed by physicians, our primary tools of the trade are perhaps washcloths and patience.  The running joke around the water cooler has been “this wasn’t in the nursing brochure.” (I don’t think I’ve yet to stand around with a bunch of doctors, all of us with stethoscopes around our necks, laughing.)  Nonetheless, our collective hunches agree that what we have embarked on is a career of great importance.  

Sunny is a full-time nursing student who's is going to get into "layman" details about the ailments he comes across in clinical and discuss some nursing issues for the male student point of view.

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