Blog Post #20 is complete and ready to entertain, update, and exasperate my loyal readers. After a bit of a dormant spell, I’ve accelerated my writing output to get another new published article out into the world.

I received a lot of pressure to post a follow-up to my Humour in Healthcare post from back in January. I finally got around to writing it and was pleased to have it accepted and published last month. It’s old fodder for those who regularly read my blog but I find my jokes are funnier the more times I tell them. In fact, I laugh a little bit louder and a little bit more each time….just like you. You can check it out here:

http://vchblogs.ca/humour-healthcare-2-prepare-offended/

Unfortunately, it looks like I’ve written my last post with City Mash Vancouver. They’ve slowed operations and I’m not sure where they’ll be going from here. I enjoy their site and am grateful for the opportunity I have had with them to share my writing.

As the old saying goes, “The greasy wheel gets the squeak.” I’ve continued to send out emails introducing myself and my work and pitching my best ideas with very little response. Although a bit too early to tell, I am currently in discussion with a Vancouver food blog/magazine that is interested in me becoming a regular contributor. How does an RN have the credentials or knowledge to write about food? Well, I eat and enjoy food. They’re also looking for posts on beer. I always have a focus on health but won’t be writing “How to Best Pair Your Choice of Cigarettes with the Right Choice of Meat” or “Ten Signs You Have Food Poisoning.” I’m hopeful that this opportunity will work out. I should have an update on this with my next post.

My wife was disappointed with my last blog post. She wanted me to share my bad jokes from Niagara. So here we go:

1. Have you ever found a common word that everyone says or you read often and it turns out you actually don’t know what it really means? Everywhere we went in Niagara, people were talking about The Escarpment. The Escarpment – this and The Escarpment – that. Finally, I asked my wife, “What’s an escarpment?”

She said, “ I don’t know. What’s an escarpment?”

I replied, “I think it’s an area where you find edible snails live…..or it’s an area where the fish who don’t own, rent.” (Escarpment – a long steep slope separating areas of land at different heights, usually from erosion)

2. Niagara is a beautiful area with a lot of North American history. Someone showed us the only building that wasn’t burned down when the Americans fled during the War of 1812. Talking with some people by the Niagara River, they couldn’t believe how big and amazing the river was. I said, “Yeah, I hear it’s a really nice boat ride down the river. In the summer, it’d be great for tubing.” (You would be required to put the pieces together yourself to find the funny.)

Words of Wisdom : If you’ve been having trouble making mashed potatoes like I was, start cooking them first…..way better.

So it’s time for the ending joke. I know you’re saying, “There’s been so many great jokes all blog long.” Well, I don’t want to break the tradition so we gotta keep it going. Enjoy.

 
The Nursing Name Game:
I had a very challenging shift recently. I worked with another Roy, a Joy, a Blinket (yes, that was her name), and an Ansom (yes, that was her name). I had a patient named Troy and a patient named, Queeny (yes, that was his name).
All shift long, I heard, ‘Joy!?’ and thought, “Did they say Joy or Roy?”
‘Troy, how are you feeling?’ and I continually needed to ask, “Are you talking to me?”
I also had people calling, ‘Roy, can you come here?… No, I meant the other Roy.’
This went on all shift long.
Or I’d hear, ‘Ansom, can I talk to you?’ I’d walk over and say, “Yes, what did you want to talk to me about?”