Don't be taking me for granted.

We need some more staff for our department. We were approved for another radiology tech and an additional RN in June. Alas, we have not found either one. So, in addition to having an employee out with a death, we are technically down a nurse every day.

At lunch we were discussing our staffing issues, and the likelihood of turnaround in our department...

"Julie just put her son in private school. She's not going anywhere."

"Donnie just gained himself a mortgage. He's here to stay."

Jared piped up, "I love you guys. I'd work here for free if I had to." Okay, we all busted up at that, because that is a wee tad stretch, of course....

"Andi only has to work a few days a week. Why would she be going anywhere?"

"Ahem!" I felt compelled to join in, when I had previously been inhaling my sandwich. It was from Jersey Mike's, and I love me some Jersey Mike's, even if it's a day old...

Please hold for sidebar:

Have I ever told you of my nursing background? I started out doing Telemetry and Stepdown. Basically that meant that my primary focus was cardiac. I love the heart. I love heart meds. I love figuring out what to try for improved cardiac function...I guess you could say I heart hearts!

I spent nearly 4 years as a float pool nurse where I worked, ortho (that's joints for you non-medical people, and that would be the bottom of the totem pole for my choice in specialties.) I worked general med/surg. You name it, you will see it on a med/surg floor. I did a teeny bit of oncology.I worked a progressive care unit, which is sort of like a minor step down from intensive care. So, to make a short story longer than necessary, I've done a little bit of everything. Jack of all trades, master of none as they say...

Return to lunchroom conversation:

"Carol has been convincing me to work most days, instead of a few days....I worked 4 last week, 3 this week, and 4 next week. Do not be taking me for granted, because I am totally unafraid of expanding my horizons to new areas of nursing."

Did I happen to mention that my boss, Carol, was at lunch too? You could hear crickets chirping, if we had crickets in the hospital, which thankfully we don't....

Then everyone burst into conversation.

"You don't have to pick up all of those shifts!" This from a tech who is relatively unaffected by the lack of nurses, unless it means he can't move to the next procedure as quickly...

"You can just pick up a 3 hour shift if you want! I will take whatever you will give me." This from my boss. Okay, seriously. Who wants to come in for 3 hours? That would end up being frantic to get as much done as quickly as you can, and good luck finding a relief nurse so you can skedaddle...

"What do you mean branch out? Why would you ever leave us?"

Well, Gentle Reader, at least I know I am loved and my sacrifice is appreciated...

Wait.

Is it considered sacrifice if I'm getting paid? Because, let me tell you, I would never even joke about coming to work for free...

And at least now they know not to take me for granted...

And how awful am I that I got a giggle out of their joint worry?

Now, to make it up to them, I'm off to bake Pioneer Woman's Coffee Cake Literally. I will take it as a peace offering for my coffee swilling coworkers, since nobody in this house will appreciate it, but me. And let's be real...My thighs just can't handle that much cake. Even if it does have coffee in it!

Confession: They really don't need to fear me leaving. I work cream puff hours compared to the 12-13 hour shifts I did before, with very few weekends, no call, and no holidays. Seriously. Why would I leave? But don't tell them that...