Unit 3

I had to go to a funeral today in Tumbleweed (Jodi was there too), and I really REALLY hate funerals, so I don't want to write about it.

This week was exhausting (my sister in law is staying with us for a couple weeks), but work was actually really good. Somehow I managed to catch up with all my treatment plans, and we had a great potluck on Friday. Actually, my department has the most amazing potlucks. It is such a critical element of working in our department, I'm surprised that "bringing yummy potluck dishes" isn't explicitly stated as part of the job criteria to be employed there.

I DID have a family session on Unit 3 that started a little awkwardly. Just for a little background, Unit 3 is our most acute unit, and houses the patients who are either actively psychotic, or they are such a threat to themselves/others that they require extra monitoring. It is not uncommon for me to walk onto this unit and see a female patient running around topless, another patient singing at the top of his lungs, and yet another patient asking me if I could go find his missing kidney. Rarely do I have to facilitate family meetings on this unit because the patients usually aren't oriented enough to participate.

This meeting was with a 20 year old Schizophrenic and his parents.When I walked the parents onto the unit, they were immediately approached by a polite and attractive male. He addressed them confidently, shaking their hands, saying, "Hi! I'm Dr.Johnson. I'm sure you have many concerns. What's going on?" Immediately their faces lit up, and they started rapidly disclosing background information about their son. I'm tapping on the mom's shoulder and trying to make eye contact with them as I'm frantically shaking my head. Finally I tugged at the mom's sleeve.She looked at me,and I quietly said,"He's NOT a doctor." She looked confused for a second, and then she spotted the hospital wristband on the man's arm."Ohhhh," she said, as she slowly backed away. Guess you have to get used to Unit 3.

Other than that, the rest of the workweek went well. I still have patients who think they were stung by a "giant scorpion woman" back in 1985, or that the government planted a fax machine in their butt. But that is all pretty typical. I am really fond of the patients.They have a beautiful, childlike demeanor to them, and they always make me smile.

Tomorrow, we are going to Tumbleweed to visit my parents for a belated Easter celebration. The best part? My Dad always buys me Cadbury Eggs!!!