Ralph and I have embarked on a journey.
When I was in 8th grade I was 6’0” and weighed a solid 240 lbs. I played both sides of the ball all through high school and was, if I do say so, “solid”.
This year on February 1st I weighed 306 lbs (on our bathroom scale).
We chose to work on our weight. Not by dieting per say, but by making better choices. We have decreased the portions we eat. Try really hard to resist temptation in regard to impulse eating. We pack our lunch for work... rather than ordering pizza or eating in the hospital cafeteria.
When we weighed earlier today the scale stopped at 267.8 lbs.
Well as of 2 minutes ago the world is still turning. There has not been a Zombie Apocalypse, and Kat still tolerates us. We still suck down coffee and diet Coke like there is no tomorrow and have not been hungry or miserable.
The only issue is it looks like a family of gypsys moved out of our clothes.
Friday, April 26, 2019
Monday, April 8, 2019
It's been a while
Well, it has been a little over one year since Ralph and I have taken the time to blog. Life has been full and very busy, to say the least. Two years ago I took over as Head Administrative Coach for the Christian Brothers High School Brothers in Arms Trap and Skeet Team. We have had some challenges and always find opportunities for improvement, but the athletes (yes I said athletes) have done an outstanding job. Ralph and I need to clarify something for some of regarding the term athlete. You are thinking: "shooting at clay targets is not athletic".
Think about this instead:
The average trap gun weighs around 9 lbs. A round of trap is 100 targets. This means that an athlete has to raise and mount their 9 lb gun 100 times. Using old school math, that means in a period of around 45 minutes, each athletes lifts and lowers around 900 lbs. They do this in the heat, cold, rain, snow, and wind. Try it some time :-)
For the past two summers I have had the enjoyable task of traveling around the county with my son as he pursues his love of competitive shotgun sports. Actually, I get to drive the truck and write checks. He gets to shoot and bring home the bling, and he has gotten a lot of it.
Ralph and I are still traveling around the country working locum assignments, speaking, and teaching. In fact, we will be in Columbus, MT next weekend on a locum assignment.
I had the honor of presenting two topics at the 2019 Annual Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Conference last weekend in Memphis, TN. I presented a 4 hour pre-conference hands on workshop on Incision and Drainage. Sunday morning I presented from the main stage "Bugs, Spiders, and Other Yucky Things".
I am still teaching 4-5 Joint Injection Courses each year with Advanced Education Services ( www.injectioncourses.com ). I will be teaching in Phoenix, AZ October 12th.
My wife, KAT and I both are working with our friend and colleague, Brett Snodgrass MSN, FNP and her company: BBS Health Education ( www.bbshealtheducation.com ). We are providing regional CEU educational conferences for practicing clinicians on a multitude of topics. We will be doing:
BBS Knoxville Pain Management Boot Camp - September 13, 2019 8am-4pm
BBS Knoxville Pharmacology CE Conference - September 14, 2019 8am-4pm with OPTIONAL SUTURE COURSE
BBS Jonesboro Pharmacology CE Conference - October 12, 2019 8am-4pm with OPTIONAL SUTURE COURSE
In February I took a hospitalist position at a local Memphis hospital. It is a 7 on - 7 off schedule which allows for plenty of time for Ralph and I to observe the world...........
Although Ralph and I have not taken the time to blog, we have been diligently making notes about our observations of life. We will get to work on some more blog postings.
As always, our goal is to educate, entertain, and let you know it is ok to laugh at yourself. It must be because we do it quite frequently.
Think about this instead:
The average trap gun weighs around 9 lbs. A round of trap is 100 targets. This means that an athlete has to raise and mount their 9 lb gun 100 times. Using old school math, that means in a period of around 45 minutes, each athletes lifts and lowers around 900 lbs. They do this in the heat, cold, rain, snow, and wind. Try it some time :-)
For the past two summers I have had the enjoyable task of traveling around the county with my son as he pursues his love of competitive shotgun sports. Actually, I get to drive the truck and write checks. He gets to shoot and bring home the bling, and he has gotten a lot of it.
Ralph and I are still traveling around the country working locum assignments, speaking, and teaching. In fact, we will be in Columbus, MT next weekend on a locum assignment.
I had the honor of presenting two topics at the 2019 Annual Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Conference last weekend in Memphis, TN. I presented a 4 hour pre-conference hands on workshop on Incision and Drainage. Sunday morning I presented from the main stage "Bugs, Spiders, and Other Yucky Things".
I am still teaching 4-5 Joint Injection Courses each year with Advanced Education Services ( www.injectioncourses.com ). I will be teaching in Phoenix, AZ October 12th.
My wife, KAT and I both are working with our friend and colleague, Brett Snodgrass MSN, FNP and her company: BBS Health Education ( www.bbshealtheducation.com ). We are providing regional CEU educational conferences for practicing clinicians on a multitude of topics. We will be doing:
BBS Knoxville Pain Management Boot Camp - September 13, 2019 8am-4pm
BBS Knoxville Pharmacology CE Conference - September 14, 2019 8am-4pm with OPTIONAL SUTURE COURSE
BBS Jonesboro Pharmacology CE Conference - October 12, 2019 8am-4pm with OPTIONAL SUTURE COURSE
In February I took a hospitalist position at a local Memphis hospital. It is a 7 on - 7 off schedule which allows for plenty of time for Ralph and I to observe the world...........
Although Ralph and I have not taken the time to blog, we have been diligently making notes about our observations of life. We will get to work on some more blog postings.
As always, our goal is to educate, entertain, and let you know it is ok to laugh at yourself. It must be because we do it quite frequently.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Are you a REAL nurse? Or are you just someone who was able to pass NCLEX?
As Ralph and I travel across the country, I have the opportunity to work with some of the best healthcare workers in the world. Their level of skill and compassion is second to none. Unfortunately I have to opportunity to work with some of the biggest slackers in the world as well.
One might ask what is the difference, or how can you tell. The most recent example we will illustrate below:
Scenario 1: 30 minutes before staff shift change we are called to the ER because EMS is inbound with a possible stroke. In preparation for their arrival, I ask lab to come to the ER and Xray to warm up the CT scanner. I tell the ER RN that if the patient is stable on arrival they will go straight to the scanner (which they will pass by on the way from the ambulance to the ER) and then to the ER. The reply from the "RN" was "they need to come to the ER first so I can triage them and get their history in the computer". Needless to say at this point Ralph woke up!
I met the EMS crew at the door, did a rapid assessment and to the scanner we went. When we exited the scanner and arrived in the ER the "RN" was nowhere to be found. The patient was in the ER with 3 members of the BLS EMS crew, a CNA and Ralph and I. Over the next few minutes an appropriate history was obtained, NIH Stroke Scale of 6 documented twice, a 12 lead EKG was obtained, I started 2 large bore IVs, hI had reviewed the head CT and identified a subdural hematoma, and was talking to the tertiary hospital neurologist on the phone when the "RN" wandered back into the room. Her first words were "why didn't you come get me, I was just having a cup of coffee". I asked her to call the on call RN to assist us because we were going to fly the patient to a neurosurgeon. Her response was "night shift will be here in a few minutes, I don't want to bother the on call RN".
Well at this point it was all I could do to keep Ralph from "splainin" the facts of life to this supposed "RN". But, professionalism prevailed and I was able to keep him muzzled.
The night shift staff arrived and the day shift "RN" informed us that ******* is here I am outa here.
Scenario 2: A few weeks later, Ralph and I were called to the ER for a chest pain patient that had walked in. The ER nurse for the day was the night shift RN from the previous case. When I walked into the ER about 6 minutes after I was called I was handed a 12 lead EKG, the patient had 1 large bore IV and a second was being started, the patient had been given 325 mg aspirin that he chewed, and labs were drawn and in process. This patient eventually also flown to the above mentioned tertiary hospital with a diagnosis of Non STEMI MI, had been started on thrombolitics in our ER and, by EKG and symptoms, his infarct was resolving. The evolution of this case also overlapped shift change, and the oncoming night shift "RN" was, you guessed it, the day shift "RN" from the previous case. The day shift RN did not leave the ER until almost 3 hours after her shift had ended and she had seen the patient roll out the ER door with the flight crew, because this was HER patient.
Now the difference between the 2 scenarios, in mine and Ralph's opinion, is one of the above is a Registered Nurse, and one is someone who was able to pass NCLEX.
Ralph and I will let you debate which is which, and even more importantly, which you choose to be like.
Happy New Year!
One might ask what is the difference, or how can you tell. The most recent example we will illustrate below:
Scenario 1: 30 minutes before staff shift change we are called to the ER because EMS is inbound with a possible stroke. In preparation for their arrival, I ask lab to come to the ER and Xray to warm up the CT scanner. I tell the ER RN that if the patient is stable on arrival they will go straight to the scanner (which they will pass by on the way from the ambulance to the ER) and then to the ER. The reply from the "RN" was "they need to come to the ER first so I can triage them and get their history in the computer". Needless to say at this point Ralph woke up!
I met the EMS crew at the door, did a rapid assessment and to the scanner we went. When we exited the scanner and arrived in the ER the "RN" was nowhere to be found. The patient was in the ER with 3 members of the BLS EMS crew, a CNA and Ralph and I. Over the next few minutes an appropriate history was obtained, NIH Stroke Scale of 6 documented twice, a 12 lead EKG was obtained, I started 2 large bore IVs, hI had reviewed the head CT and identified a subdural hematoma, and was talking to the tertiary hospital neurologist on the phone when the "RN" wandered back into the room. Her first words were "why didn't you come get me, I was just having a cup of coffee". I asked her to call the on call RN to assist us because we were going to fly the patient to a neurosurgeon. Her response was "night shift will be here in a few minutes, I don't want to bother the on call RN".
Well at this point it was all I could do to keep Ralph from "splainin" the facts of life to this supposed "RN". But, professionalism prevailed and I was able to keep him muzzled.
The night shift staff arrived and the day shift "RN" informed us that ******* is here I am outa here.
Scenario 2: A few weeks later, Ralph and I were called to the ER for a chest pain patient that had walked in. The ER nurse for the day was the night shift RN from the previous case. When I walked into the ER about 6 minutes after I was called I was handed a 12 lead EKG, the patient had 1 large bore IV and a second was being started, the patient had been given 325 mg aspirin that he chewed, and labs were drawn and in process. This patient eventually also flown to the above mentioned tertiary hospital with a diagnosis of Non STEMI MI, had been started on thrombolitics in our ER and, by EKG and symptoms, his infarct was resolving. The evolution of this case also overlapped shift change, and the oncoming night shift "RN" was, you guessed it, the day shift "RN" from the previous case. The day shift RN did not leave the ER until almost 3 hours after her shift had ended and she had seen the patient roll out the ER door with the flight crew, because this was HER patient.
Now the difference between the 2 scenarios, in mine and Ralph's opinion, is one of the above is a Registered Nurse, and one is someone who was able to pass NCLEX.
Ralph and I will let you debate which is which, and even more importantly, which you choose to be like.
Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Happy Christmas Morning!
As Ralph and I sit here, away from home on a frigid ( 0 degrees F ) Christmas Morning watching the wind and snow through the window, we realize how much we have to be thankful for. We are warm and dry, have more food than we can eat, are healthy, and have a family at home that loves us.
Unfortunately, many of our acquaintances, friends, and neighbors can't say that:
My wife was out before 5 am this morning helping feed the homeless in Memphis, yet I have more than enough to eat.
Many people need warm clothes, yet I have dry boots, gloves, a hat, and a warm winter coat.
There is someone, somewhere at this very second fighting for their last breath, yet I am healthy.
There are fire and EMS workers, at this very minute, exposed to the elements as they care for others. Yet I have a nice warm emergency room to practice my trade in.
There are emergency workers spending the day away from home with their "second family", yet I have the ability to FaceTime with mine.
Somewhere there is a soldier sitting in the sand, or maybe a wet ditch, standing constant vigil so I may enjoy the things I do and provide for my family. Yet so many things I seem to take for granted.
Somewhere there is a person that has no family, they may be in a strange land with no friends, yet Ralph and I have been befriended by many here and have several invites to visit this afternoon so we "won't be alone on Christmas".
As a christian, today is my celebration of the birth of Christ. Yet somewhere, someone is being persecuted because of their religious beliefs. And even more unfortunate, we may only have to look across the street to see it taking place.
So how do we change things, how do we make the world a better place? We do it just like we do everything else, one breath, one step at a time, and one smile at a time. But most importantly, we do it everyday and we don't just talk about it, we take action.
As we approach the new year, the time for resounding resolutions, let's focus on one thing:
Let's try to make everyday like Christmas. Be thankful for what we have, help those that have not, and most of all, "Let's be good to each other".
Merry Christmas from Scobey, MT
T and Ralph
As Ralph and I sit here, away from home on a frigid ( 0 degrees F ) Christmas Morning watching the wind and snow through the window, we realize how much we have to be thankful for. We are warm and dry, have more food than we can eat, are healthy, and have a family at home that loves us.
Unfortunately, many of our acquaintances, friends, and neighbors can't say that:
My wife was out before 5 am this morning helping feed the homeless in Memphis, yet I have more than enough to eat.
Many people need warm clothes, yet I have dry boots, gloves, a hat, and a warm winter coat.
There is someone, somewhere at this very second fighting for their last breath, yet I am healthy.
There are fire and EMS workers, at this very minute, exposed to the elements as they care for others. Yet I have a nice warm emergency room to practice my trade in.
There are emergency workers spending the day away from home with their "second family", yet I have the ability to FaceTime with mine.
Somewhere there is a soldier sitting in the sand, or maybe a wet ditch, standing constant vigil so I may enjoy the things I do and provide for my family. Yet so many things I seem to take for granted.
Somewhere there is a person that has no family, they may be in a strange land with no friends, yet Ralph and I have been befriended by many here and have several invites to visit this afternoon so we "won't be alone on Christmas".
As a christian, today is my celebration of the birth of Christ. Yet somewhere, someone is being persecuted because of their religious beliefs. And even more unfortunate, we may only have to look across the street to see it taking place.
So how do we change things, how do we make the world a better place? We do it just like we do everything else, one breath, one step at a time, and one smile at a time. But most importantly, we do it everyday and we don't just talk about it, we take action.
As we approach the new year, the time for resounding resolutions, let's focus on one thing:
Let's try to make everyday like Christmas. Be thankful for what we have, help those that have not, and most of all, "Let's be good to each other".
Merry Christmas from Scobey, MT
T and Ralph
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Good morning from frigid Scobey, MT!
Ralph and I are back on the road, healing the sick and observing life!
It has been two years since Ralph and I have shared with you, but life has a way of both getting in the way and changing your perspective on life. In my last posting, my plan was to blog more as I settled into an academic life. I was not going to work locums so I could be home with a blossoming teenage son.
Well, you guessed it, life sent in a 100 mph fast ball that totally changed both my plans and our family life. BG (our son) suffered a severe closed head injury 2 years ago and has suffered from post concussion syndrome since. Initially, he had a continuous debilitating headache that was uncontrollable with multiple medication therapies. Additionally, he had severe spatial vertigo so he was unable to walk without assistance. And if he attempted to read, after one to two minutes his headache became so severe he would vomit. We obviously could not leave him alone, so our family became home bound. Either Kat or myself stayed with BG continually, he was never alone. There was "no quick trip to get a gallon of milk". Kat and I rearranged our lives so we could care for BG.
This period was the most depressing, frustrating, maddening, and horrendous time in my life. Imagine your teenage son vibrant and active one day, and the next he is afraid to try and walk because he is afraid he will fall down. He doesn't want to go outside because his vertigo gets worse. He learns to compensate for the vertigo by crawling on the floor and sitting down to go up or down steps. He has a totally flat affect, he never laughs or smiles and he has no interest in doing things because he is afraid it will make his head hurt worse. Heck, a teenage boy that won't play video games? I am a healthcare provider, I take care of people, I "fix" people, yet I could not make my son better. Both Kat and I know people, we are respected in our local healthcare community, but we could not get appropriate help for our son.
There is a sports concussion program at one of the neurology groups in town. This program deals with concussions and the residual effects, BUT only if they occur during a "sporting event". It seems that the program is funded by research money, and BG didn't fit their research inclusion criteria. Now being the realist that I am, I know you can not truly imagine the emotions that that information produces, but try. What if that was your child? Well, I think you are getting the picture. The 6 ft 275 pound "papa bear's" redneck-country boy personality moved expeditiously to the forefront! What do you mean "he doesn't meet your research criteria"? He is sick, you have the knowledge, information, and resources to potentially make him better, FIX HIM! Fortunately, this is one time Ralph's logic prevailed and I was neither arrested nor sued for inflicting severe bodily harm to the concussion program folks, even though I think it would have improved my state of mind (at least for a few minutes).
We finally found a program and facility in Atlanta, GA that provided information, resources, and support. Almost one year later BG's symptoms had improved enough for him to return to school, by the way, did I mention that he lost his entire freshman year of high school? He still has a continuous headache, that he rates daily as a 2-3/10. He occasionally has an increase in his headache that will put him in bed for a day or two, but he has learned to compensate and adapt remarkably well.
BG has returned to school and has made the honor roll his last two semesters. He has resumed most normal activities that teenagers participate in, including back to shooting competitive trap. He smiles, he laughs, and we have our BG back. We will help him deal with his headaches and pray that one day his head won't hurt (there is still that possibility).
Now that he is better, I have left the academic world and am back to doing what I love. Providing healthcare in rural and frontier areas!
Until next time,
Me and Ralph
Ralph and I are back on the road, healing the sick and observing life!
It has been two years since Ralph and I have shared with you, but life has a way of both getting in the way and changing your perspective on life. In my last posting, my plan was to blog more as I settled into an academic life. I was not going to work locums so I could be home with a blossoming teenage son.
Well, you guessed it, life sent in a 100 mph fast ball that totally changed both my plans and our family life. BG (our son) suffered a severe closed head injury 2 years ago and has suffered from post concussion syndrome since. Initially, he had a continuous debilitating headache that was uncontrollable with multiple medication therapies. Additionally, he had severe spatial vertigo so he was unable to walk without assistance. And if he attempted to read, after one to two minutes his headache became so severe he would vomit. We obviously could not leave him alone, so our family became home bound. Either Kat or myself stayed with BG continually, he was never alone. There was "no quick trip to get a gallon of milk". Kat and I rearranged our lives so we could care for BG.
This period was the most depressing, frustrating, maddening, and horrendous time in my life. Imagine your teenage son vibrant and active one day, and the next he is afraid to try and walk because he is afraid he will fall down. He doesn't want to go outside because his vertigo gets worse. He learns to compensate for the vertigo by crawling on the floor and sitting down to go up or down steps. He has a totally flat affect, he never laughs or smiles and he has no interest in doing things because he is afraid it will make his head hurt worse. Heck, a teenage boy that won't play video games? I am a healthcare provider, I take care of people, I "fix" people, yet I could not make my son better. Both Kat and I know people, we are respected in our local healthcare community, but we could not get appropriate help for our son.
There is a sports concussion program at one of the neurology groups in town. This program deals with concussions and the residual effects, BUT only if they occur during a "sporting event". It seems that the program is funded by research money, and BG didn't fit their research inclusion criteria. Now being the realist that I am, I know you can not truly imagine the emotions that that information produces, but try. What if that was your child? Well, I think you are getting the picture. The 6 ft 275 pound "papa bear's" redneck-country boy personality moved expeditiously to the forefront! What do you mean "he doesn't meet your research criteria"? He is sick, you have the knowledge, information, and resources to potentially make him better, FIX HIM! Fortunately, this is one time Ralph's logic prevailed and I was neither arrested nor sued for inflicting severe bodily harm to the concussion program folks, even though I think it would have improved my state of mind (at least for a few minutes).
We finally found a program and facility in Atlanta, GA that provided information, resources, and support. Almost one year later BG's symptoms had improved enough for him to return to school, by the way, did I mention that he lost his entire freshman year of high school? He still has a continuous headache, that he rates daily as a 2-3/10. He occasionally has an increase in his headache that will put him in bed for a day or two, but he has learned to compensate and adapt remarkably well.
BG has returned to school and has made the honor roll his last two semesters. He has resumed most normal activities that teenagers participate in, including back to shooting competitive trap. He smiles, he laughs, and we have our BG back. We will help him deal with his headaches and pray that one day his head won't hurt (there is still that possibility).
Now that he is better, I have left the academic world and am back to doing what I love. Providing healthcare in rural and frontier areas!
Until next time,
Me and Ralph
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
The journey begins
As some of you know, I began a new journey into
academia on November 3rd. I have assumed a full-time faculty
position at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of
Nursing in Memphis, Tennessee. I will be teaching in the Adult
Gerontology-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration. I will still be doing
some “rental assignments” but will be staying closer to home due to my son’s
health condition and trying to get him through high school.
Hopefully, I will have more time to post my
ramblings and share some educational information with you on a more frequent
basis. I will also continue to inform you of the “WTF” moments I observe in my
everyday life.
As I sit here typing, a commercial comes across the
radio taunting “free pancakes for our veterans today”. What does a “free
pancake” have to do with acknowledging the sacrifices that have been made by
those who have, and are currently, serving in our armed forces? Does this
“marketing plan” not tend to shift the focus from the veterans to the
“restaurant”? Also, why do we just want
to acknowledge the veterans today? Should we not be thankful and appreciative
every day?
The very fact that I am able to blog is a direct
result of the freedoms I have enjoyed for nearly six decades to rant, rave,
ramble, and comment on my life, politics, and the general state of the world. I
do not fear “political consequences” for my postings because my country men and
women have sacrificed so I may experience these and many other freedoms.
Throughout my travels I have: given my seat on a
flight to a soldier headed home from deployment and taken another flight, paid
for a sailor’s cup of coffee, and thanked many service men and women for their
service. Does this make me special, not at all, it makes me an American. So
while we celebrate and honor our veterans with parades and accolades today,
let’s continue doing it the other 363 ¼ days of the year!
To the Veterans and those that will become Veterans,
know that you are in my daily prayers. For those that have served or are
serving now, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SEREVICE! Because you choose to serve, my
family and I sleep better at night.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Joint Injection Course in Memphis, TN November 8, 2014
I will be teaching a joint injection course in Memphis, TN November 8, 2014. There are only a few spots left, if you are interested sign up now at: http://www.injectioncourses.com/
Hope to see you there!
12 Different Injection Approaches:
Memphis, TN Injection Course
Date: 11/8/2014
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Where: Memphis, TN
PAs: This program has been reviewed and is approved for a maximum of 8.50 hours of AAPA Category 1 CME credit by the Physician Assistant Review Panel. Physician assistants should claim only those hours actually spent participating in the CME activity.
See Registration & Cancelation Policy.
Hope to see you there!
12 Different Injection Approaches:
- Glenohumeral joint injection
- Subacromial bursa injection (2 approaches)
- AC joint injection
- Medial/Lateral Epicondyle injection (tennis/golfers elbow)
- Trochanteric bursa injection
- Knee joint injection (4 approaches)
- Trigger Point injection- lumbar paraspinous muscles
- Synovial fluid analysis
- Viscosupplementation knee injection discussion
Memphis, TN Injection Course
Date: 11/8/2014
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Where: Memphis, TN
Hyatt Place Memphis/Germantown
9161 Winchester Road
Germantown, TN 38138
(901)759-1174
NPs: This program is approved for a maximum of 8.5 contact hour(s) of continuing education (which includes 2.0 hours of pharmacology) by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.PAs: This program has been reviewed and is approved for a maximum of 8.50 hours of AAPA Category 1 CME credit by the Physician Assistant Review Panel. Physician assistants should claim only those hours actually spent participating in the CME activity.
See Registration & Cancelation Policy.
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