Spending an awful lot of time in and around hospitals these days.  This is the time of year when the flock of new baby nurses arrive.  Still fresh, unjaded and idealistic, smiling, loving their job, and young, did I mention young?  Well, usually.  There are always those who come to nursing later in life.

I miss the pride of being a “darn good nurse”.  Even with all that nurses were up against back 20 years ago when I was starting out, (as one of those nurses who came in a little later in life), there were plenty of hurdles in the field of nursing.  By and large there have been some great improvements since then, such as robotic carts that do the run to the basement pharmacy for you, and chairs to sit down in once in a while when you document, as well of course as computers and patient ID verification measures which ensure the 5 “rights” of med-passing. Right drug, right time, right patient, right dose, right route.

I miss the wonderful sense of satisfaction that came each day when I closed the last chart after report and documentation, and headed out to the parking deck.  I miss the “good tired” that comes from moving on your feet all day, conquering the next problem, soothing a worried brow with a hug or encouraging word or moment of prayer with someone, and the relieved smiles of patients and families who got good news.  Even the hand-holding and silent acknowledgement after a patient’s passing, and observing of the mutual respect and grief of fellow staff as another slips away.  I miss the stories of amazing things that happen in nursing every day.

It was so good at the beginning when I still had pretty decent health and stamina. I don’t miss the several years I struggled to still give my 110 percent even long after my inner reserves became far from sufficient.  When I would go to work and every assignment and next patient request became like a burr under my skin.  I was so tired and so depleted, I needed to be the patient.  In the nightmare years of trying to get diagnosed, I encountered seemingly few medical professionals that gave me the kind of attention and respect that I always gave to my patients.  That hurt. And after years of that sort of treatment, my hurt turned to anger and cynicism toward nearly the whole medical establishment.  Doctors who dismissed my concerns or even laughed.  Inattentive staff who were completely un-invested in their job, dropping the ball on really important things which resulted in huge setbacks and redundancy and my frustration grew to explosive proportions.  It is safe to say that my experience in healthcare from the inside of the bed-rails was nearly as traumatic as being sick and becoming disabled, if not more so.

But these last few days around the hospital where my husband is, brought back the good memories.  The floor he is on is a lot like the one I worked on my first 3 years.  Good people.  Good nurses and doctors.  It got me to thinking about the Obama Care changes that they say are coming.  There is no question healthcare is still somewhat “broken” in this country.  But the biggest problem lies with the pharmaceutical companies and other big-money entities, as well as the already-too-involved degree of Government interference.  Obama care will only multiply the problems exponentially and those new nurses who are so high on their careers will have a big let down.  As will so many patients, particularly those on Medicare.  If you go into the hospital on the first of the month with pneumonia and insurance covers that stay, but then you go back on the 20th with a stroke, hey, tough luck on the stroke.  Insurance will reject it.

That is what the detractors meant when they said “rationing”.  As you can see by the scenario I set up, it also confirms the death panels.  Hey, unlike our congress, I read the bill!  Not that it matters much because by the time anything works its way through congress it rarely looks the same when it comes out.  That is when they throw in the rest of the nasty sausage-making ingredients.  You know, the unpalatable stuff.

Well, I’m off to the hospital to see hubby while doctors still have a little time to talk to patients, and nurses still have their hearts because Obama care hasn’t stripped all that out just yet.  God help us when it does, but we will cross that bridge when we get there.  The good Lord sees what power-hungry and greedy people have done.  The love of money is the root of all evil, and this is the same thing.  The crooked ones always ruin things for the rest of us.  There are people in this world who have mistaken themselves for God.  The ones making billions of money off of “planned parenthood” and the abortion industry. But the One True God is fixin’ to reach the end of forbearance, and then, who can help them in the face of God’s wrath? 

Babylon the Great is not a place, it is a system.  A system of those who cheat their workers for their own gain, who amass power unlawfully and rob others by means of their position.  The same greed that martyred peaceful Christians and Jews down through the ages, is alive and well, but not for much longer.  Babylon the Great is fallen, is fallen.  Fallen once, fallen twice.  Like the idol Dagon, the second time it falls, it will never rise again.