My Job, My Hell...

[TheLastRifleMan]

Changing gears, I'd like to share the most singularly moving experience of my entire professional life with y'all that happened just today. I hope not to violate my own pathetic OPSEC, but this stirred things in me so unusual and so deeply that I can think of nothing else right now. I work in a hospital.

So today, we had a celebrity come through the unit. We get that a lot. Sports team cheerleaders, etc. Doesn't affect me. Today, a man I haven't thought of in probably 25 years came by. "King" Richard Petty. I found myself oddly anticipating this visit, but didn't know why. I found myself trying to get a glimpse, which is not something I normally do.

I feel like that's normally not proper for the employees. The Celebrity isn't here to see you, they're here for the patients, but Petty stirred distant memories in me. I remember being 6 years old and seeing his larger-than-life persona and trademark ornate cowboy hat on TV as he was discussing his controversial move to Chevy and the Monte Carlo in 1984. I was transported back, barefooted, to my dirt-poor grandmother's warped, linoleum-floored living room, watching what I thought was a living Superman on TV. I wasn't 7 years old at the time.

At the last moment, I shied away from him as he exited the next room, even though my poorly-contained excitement had caught on with the staff, and even the service chief herself was happy to grant me a face-to-face with him (he saw each and every patient. He gowned up in isolation gear, and took photos with EVERYONE). I didn't want to go to my office, though. I had to observe Him. He's skinny, looks to be about 6' 5", but is probably only about 5' 11", and his charisma takes up whole cubic yards of space. I was sitting at the nurse's station working as he and his entourage came out of another room.

I looked away, but just in time to see a man in a wheelchair roll up and stop Petty in his tracks and say "Hey, there's a really good healthcare guy that would like to meet you over there." and he pointed to me. Petty immediately strolled up to me as I arose, awestruck. Then, as he looked me in the eye from behind his trooper sunglasses and shook my hand firmly, he said something to me:

"Thank you for taking care of our veterans. I appreciate what you do."



"I appreciate what you do." If I wasn't on such an adrenaline rush I'd have broken down and cried right there. I'm sure Petty was just being gracious and professional, a trait he's famous for, but in that instance, I was in two places at once. Here I was, a 35-year-old man who's invested most of his life into his education, doing the best I can for the people I just happen to be serving at the time. Yet when he took my hand in his and told me that he appreciated what I do for a living, he may as well have been directly speaking to that 6-year-old boy in his poor grandmother's house from the magical television box that could barely contain his aura so long ago.

I did cry later, and am doing so now as I write this. I texted my dad, and he just said "Money can't buy that".

My job wasn't Hell today. Today, "King" Richard Petty approached me. Today, the Superman that I hadn't thought of since I was a little boy came out of my deepest memories, looked me in the eye, shook my hand, and thanked me. He told me that He appreciated me for what I do.

Right now I am both a 35-year-old man that on most days feels like he has no idea what he's doing, and also a young boy, standing in the dilapidated home of my long-deceased grandparents, being noticed, recognized, and of all things appreciated for everything I've done with my career since I first learned who Richard Petty even was.

Thanks, Richard Petty. You were just being nice today. I will cherish this memory forever.

HELL YEAH! That is very cool! I have heard he is a down to earth kind of guy and kudos to him for coming over to you to shake your hand. He did not have to do that, but he did.

I only got to talk to Kid Rock once for about 20 seconds...I think I would have liked to talk to Richard Petty even more.

[SuperBanki]

Wow, there are a LOT of great stories on here. I have a few of my own to add later, but they are nowhere near as good as these. Mine only deal with some Retail and my current job as a caregiver for an 87 year old woman and dealing with the lovely healthcare industry people. Just as a teaser (cause I'm an ass like that), here's a few titles.

The Shit Stained Carpet (and why it won't stay clean)

Poo is not a Toy (and does not belong in the Toy Aisle)

Why I'm not allowed to do my job (seriously, I'm not allowed to do what I was hired and payed to do)

[Laager]

Changing gears, I'd like to share the most singularly moving experience of my entire professional life with y'all that happened just today. I hope not to violate my own pathetic OPSEC, but this stirred things in me so unusual and so deeply that I can think of nothing else right now. I work in a hospital.

So today, we had a celebrity come through the unit. We get that a lot. Sports team cheerleaders, etc. Doesn't affect me. Today, a man I haven't thought of in probably 25 years came by. "King" Richard Petty. I found myself oddly anticipating this visit, but didn't know why. I found myself trying to get a glimpse, which is not something I normally do.

I feel like that's normally not proper for the employees. The Celebrity isn't here to see you, they're here for the patients, but Petty stirred distant memories in me. I remember being 6 years old and seeing his larger-than-life persona and trademark ornate cowboy hat on TV as he was discussing his controversial move to Chevy and the Monte Carlo in 1984. I was transported back, barefooted, to my dirt-poor grandmother's warped, linoleum-floored living room, watching what I thought was a living Superman on TV. I wasn't 7 years old at the time.

At the last moment, I shied away from him as he exited the next room, even though my poorly-contained excitement had caught on with the staff, and even the service chief herself was happy to grant me a face-to-face with him (he saw each and every patient. He gowned up in isolation gear, and took photos with EVERYONE). I didn't want to go to my office, though. I had to observe Him. He's skinny, looks to be about 6' 5", but is probably only about 5' 11", and his charisma takes up whole cubic yards of space. I was sitting at the nurse's station working as he and his entourage came out of another room.

I looked away, but just in time to see a man in a wheelchair roll up and stop Petty in his tracks and say "Hey, there's a really good healthcare guy that would like to meet you over there." and he pointed to me. Petty immediately strolled up to me as I arose, awestruck. Then, as he looked me in the eye from behind his trooper sunglasses and shook my hand firmly, he said something to me:

"Thank you for taking care of our veterans. I appreciate what you do."



"I appreciate what you do." If I wasn't on such an adrenaline rush I'd have broken down and cried right there. I'm sure Petty was just being gracious and professional, a trait he's famous for, but in that instance, I was in two places at once. Here I was, a 35-year-old man who's invested most of his life into his education, doing the best I can for the people I just happen to be serving at the time. Yet when he took my hand in his and told me that he appreciated what I do for a living, he may as well have been directly speaking to that 6-year-old boy in his poor grandmother's house from the magical television box that could barely contain his aura so long ago.

I did cry later, and am doing so now as I write this. I texted my dad, and he just said "Money can't buy that".

My job wasn't Hell today. Today, "King" Richard Petty approached me. Today, the Superman that I hadn't thought of since I was a little boy came out of my deepest memories, looked me in the eye, shook my hand, and thanked me. He told me that He appreciated me for what I do.

Right now I am both a 35-year-old man that on most days feels like he has no idea what he's doing, and also a young boy, standing in the dilapidated home of my long-deceased grandparents, being noticed, recognized, and of all things appreciated for everything I've done with my career since I first learned who Richard Petty even was.

Thanks, Richard Petty. You were just being nice today. I will cherish this memory forever.

Now that's a fantastic story...........you just have to give kudos to people like Richard Petty...........and you as well........may God Bless you.

[Laager]

This one is from my son, who is currently in Air Force basic training.

Week two of an eight and a half week basic, I get a phone call from my son.

Son: Dad, my wingman flipped out.

Me: Wingman? What the hell is a wingman?

Son: It's the same thing as the Army's Battle Buddy.

Me: Battle Buddy? Wingman and Battle buddies.....sheeezzzzz what's the military coming to.....

Son: Anyway, he flipped out today.

Me: So what happened?

Son: Well we were standing in formation and the TI (I'm guessing this is the equlivant to a DI or Drill Sergeant) just finished chewing him out and had moved on to someone else down the ranks, when I noticed by wingman moving around, so I looked over and he was taking off his shirt.

Me: Okay......what the TI told him to or what?

Son: No, so I called out to the TI and he did not even look up, he just ignored me. So, I looked over and now my wingman is taking off his combat boots. I tried to call the TI or the assistant TI but they ignored me, guess they were busy chewing out this other AB (Airman Basic or E-1).

So I looked back and my wingman is now pulling off his pants......then off came his underwear and then last off came his socks.....

The TI finally yells out AB Priest what the heck is your malfunction....you are not allowed to speak..............

Just as my buck naked wingman starts sprinting out of formation and heading in the general direction of the main gate to Lackland Air Force Base.

TI: Holy Shit!!

Son: After that both the TI and assistant TI take off running after my wingman. They left us standing in formation for almost an hour, then when they came back alone they wanted to know why no one said anything about him stripping naked in formation.

Me: So what did you say?

Son: Nothing......what could I say.....I had a feeling if I pointed out the fact that I tried to tell them, that they would get mad...besides I was tired of standing so I kept my mouth shut.

Me: Keeping your mouth shut is usually a good idea.......So where is your wingman now?

Son: Med hold.......he's getting a mental health eval.

Me: Hmmmmm, welcome life in the U.S. Military.......it sounds like its going to be a fun time.

Son: Well I hope not, because that was my second wingman.....

Me: Second one? What happened to the first one?

Son: He had some kind of seizure....and was sent to the hospital.

Me: Hmmmmm........................

[Viper shtf]

Sounds like you son is some kind of catalyst, that sets weirdos off.

[Laager]

Sounds like you son is some kind of catalyst, that sets weirdos off.

Either that or he has the same kind of "luck" that I do......I'm a "weirdo" magnet.......or so I've been told.

[Viper shtf]

Judging by your stories, I'd say you are too.

[TheLastRifleMan]

Wow, there are a LOT of great stories on here. I have a few of my own to add later, but they are nowhere near as good as these. Mine only deal with some Retail and my current job as a caregiver for an 87 year old woman and dealing with the lovely healthcare industry people. Just as a teaser (cause I'm an ass like that), here's a few titles.

The Shit Stained Carpet (and why it won't stay clean)

Poo is not a Toy (and does not belong in the Toy Aisle)

Why I'm not allowed to do my job (seriously, I'm not allowed to do what I was hired and payed to do)

I like #3. Sounds quite familiar...

[Laager]

Wow, there are a LOT of great stories on here. I have a few of my own to add later, but they are nowhere near as good as these. Mine only deal with some Retail and my current job as a caregiver for an 87 year old woman and dealing with the lovely healthcare industry people. Just as a teaser (cause I'm an ass like that), here's a few titles.

The Shit Stained Carpet (and why it won't stay clean)

Poo is not a Toy (and does not belong in the Toy Aisle)

Why I'm not allowed to do my job (seriously, I'm not allowed to do what I was hired and payed to do)

I like #3. Sounds quite familiar...

Have to agree with you.....sounds like he must work for the fedgov as a GS.........

[SuperBanki]

Why I'm not allowed to do my job (seriously, I'm not allowed to do what I was hired and payed to do)

This story takes place about 3 months ago, when I first started my new job. For background info, I should probably explain how I got my job. One of my closest friends from High School has an older, sick grandmother. I have known the family for about 10 years now. They heard I was out of work, and had been gone through the same situation with my grandmother years ago, and how much help I had been with her, so his dad offered me a job. I now work as an in-home caregiver for an 87 year old woman. We also have an association called the Visiting Nurses Association (NOT state/federal based) who come in a few times a week to bathe her. Dorothy (the old woman) is a "Max assist" which means she cant move herself out of bed, cant walk, she is bed/wheelchair bound 24/7. Now, with the background out of the way, onto the story.


My third day on the job an aide from the VNA (Visiting Nurses Association) is scheduled to come to the house and bathe Dorothy. Now the VNA knows I have been hired to help and to take care of Dorothy. The aide arrives at the house, and I go to wheel Dorothy into the bedroom and move her onto the bed so she can be washed, simple right? Well, the aide stops me, apparently it's against their rules for me to move her while they are there.. And to confound the issue even more, THEY aren't allowed to move her either. WTF!? So I ask the aide to leave for a few minutes, but she tells me that I can't put her in the bed because she already checked in.

So at this point I'm pretty pissed, Dorothy has been sitting here in her wheelchair all day, hasn't had a bath in 3 days, and just wants to get clean! I call up the VNA with the aide standing next to me, and I ask to speak to her supervisor. He finally gets on, and I explain the issue to him (well, ok, I may have been a little hard on him) and basically say WTF to him. He tells me, since I am not authorized to take care of her, they will not allow me to move her with their knowledge. Now, in my head, I'm screaming at this idiot, because the first day on the job I had met with the VNA, along with Dorothy, and her son Jeff (the one who hired VNA), and informed them I was brought on. How the FUCK am I not authorized to take care of her?

I hang up on the supervisor because I am frustrated and don't want to flip out on him any further, and call Jeff up at work. I explain the situation to Jeff, who then calls VNA, and rips the supervisor a brand spankin new asshole. The supervisor calls the aide, and tells her that I am allowed to move Dorothy in and out of bed. I move her into bed, she gets cleaned up, the aide leaves. End of story right?









Right?











Nope. 2 days later we have to go through the SAME goddamned thing again. This has been happening at least once a month for the past three months.

Hopefully this was at least midly entertaining to you guys.

[Trident]

No Super Banki, it is not amusing in the least.
It is pathetic that an agency will force it's rules on to the patient
to her detriment.
Lesson learned?
Have your client in position prior to the VNA arriving.
Consider "charting" to cover your assets.
Write down everything you do for your client, her fluid and food intake,
her bowel and urinary output, your moving her/transferring her from
wc to bed to commode.
Note her temperature [you can get a strip thermometer to place on her head or an
instant scan reader for her ear].
Medication dispensed [time, amount, kind].
Note all verbal and written communication from the family.
Documentation is your friend.
Let the family be the communicator with the VNA reps.
Remember, no kindness goes unpunished.

And thank you for being such an ethical and caring helper for this elder.

I hope and pray that when I am at that stage of life I will have a kind soul caring for me.

[KnightoftheRoc]

I'm in a similar situation with my job, SuberBanki. It's security, not as a caregiver, but- a couple months back, I was discussing a security issue with my boss, and told her she needed to decide something on this, as we didn't have anyone specifically in charge of security- just three different guys who reported to her. We would communicate amongst ourselves, but nothing formal. She informs me that yes, we DO have someone in charge of security- ME. This is news to me, and this summer makes six years on this job.

So, OK, fine- I'm in charge. I can handle it, I've been "the boss" plenty of times before, I know how to get the job done. I explain to her that in order to fix the problem at hand (one man per shift, 11 doors, and can only be in one place at a time), I need to order some equipment and install it. I've already got a system in mind, suggested it about umpteen times in the past, complete with links to the items online- nothing. So, I tell her to set up a debit card, or a pre-paid credit card that I can use to pay online for these things, with a budget- even if it's only $100 a month, added each month to the card, with the statements going to her. Set up this way, there's no way the card can be abused or mis-used without her knowing about it. OR, she can make the purchases of the equipment I suggested, and I'll install it. I don't really care HOW we get the stuff, just get it, and let's fix the problem!

The problem is, she likes to micro-manage, and is frankly the worst manager I've ever seen. As a result, she won't relinquish control over anything, but still holds everyone else accountable for when things go badly (usually thanks to her mismanagement). It's gotten to the point that the building owners are forcing her out, now. She has managed to present this like everyone working there will also be out of a job. To date, I don't know when, or if, I'll be going on unemployment, or if I'll be staying on under new management.

And, in the meantime, I'm still not allowed to do my job, but God help me if anything gets screwed up while I'm still there.

[Tater Raider]

I'm in a similar situation with my job, SuberBanki. It's security, not as a caregiver, but- a couple months back, I was discussing a security issue with my boss, and told her she needed to decide something on this, as we didn't have anyone specifically in charge of security- just three different guys who reported to her. We would communicate amongst ourselves, but nothing formal. She informs me that yes, we DO have someone in charge of security- ME. This is news to me, and this summer makes six years on this job.

So, OK, fine- I'm in charge. I can handle it, I've been "the boss" plenty of times before, I know how to get the job done. I explain to her that in order to fix the problem at hand (one man per shift, 11 doors, and can only be in one place at a time), I need to order some equipment and install it. I've already got a system in mind, suggested it about umpteen times in the past, complete with links to the items online- nothing. So, I tell her to set up a debit card, or a pre-paid credit card that I can use to pay online for these things, with a budget- even if it's only $100 a month, added each month to the card, with the statements going to her. Set up this way, there's no way the card can be abused or mis-used without her knowing about it. OR, she can make the purchases of the equipment I suggested, and I'll install it. I don't really care HOW we get the stuff, just get it, and let's fix the problem!

The problem is, she likes to micro-manage, and is frankly the worst manager I've ever seen. As a result, she won't relinquish control over anything, but still holds everyone else accountable for when things go badly (usually thanks to her mismanagement). It's gotten to the point that the building owners are forcing her out, now. She has managed to present this like everyone working there will also be out of a job. To date, I don't know when, or if, I'll be going on unemployment, or if I'll be staying on under new management.

And, in the meantime, I'm still not allowed to do my job, but God help me if anything gets screwed up while I'm still there.

Have your guys say, "Okay, just let me clear that with KotR." Then make them clear it with you. She'll get the point or have an anurism. Either way you win.

[MasterMaker]

This only further my belief that people like this are fundamentally wrong in the head(in the same way that some crazy persons don't know that they are)

I have had some experience with the whole paperwork is more important than people mentality, people like this can't get their head around the concept of actual results being more important than paperwork that states that they have results.

I think that if the PAW happens, and some fucker tries to re-instate bureaucracy, I will let him know that they will not find his body if he does, and I will probably mean it.

Sorry about the rant but I have reasons to have "issues" with people like this.
(and no, I won't share any stories about it since re-living it will probably piss me of to such an extent that what I write will see me thrown of the forum)

[Jsimmonsgr]

Alright boy and girls here is another horror story from the Sleazy 8... Once upon a time, the company I used to work for started a policy that no guard would work the sleazy by themselves unless they were (to quote the head honcho) 'armed to the fucking teeth, armored like a gawddammed rhino, and had had more experience than a toothless hooker.' I was working the site with a new kid, turned out it was his first job as a guard, and we were having a fairly slow night. I was sitting in the office taking a (for me) rare opportunity to read a book on my smoke break, while the noob walked the property and got familiar with the layout of it. While I am reading he radios in that there is a lot of traffic going in and out of one of the rooms. I looked up the room and found that it was rented to a woman, age 29, Caucasian, about 5' and weighing in at about 115. Right off the bat I figure this is a call girl, there was a out of state sports team in town and occasionally out of town call girls would come in and take calls in the hotel. Now this is a violation of the hotels rules and is enough for us to give the guest the boot, I figure since the kid is new I will let him make the contact and see how he handles it. I radio back the information and he tells me that he will make contact and is ok with doing it on his own. I cant see the unit on camera but can see both exits from the upper floor of the building that the unit is in. about 2min after he tells me he is making contact I watch him run past the camera with the female in close pursuit, wielding what appears to be a fucking baseball bat! I bolt out of the office and make a beeline for where I figure they will run past, sure enough here they come. At this point I start laughing so dammed hard I fall over, I couldn't help it! The female was NOT swinging a bat, she was whipping around the biggest damn dildo I have ever seen , before or since, doing her damnedest to smack the noob upside his noggin! Swear to god the thing had to be 3' and about as big around as my wrist! The whole time she is swearing up a blue streak and telling the guard to ' take it like a man' and the guard is crying and cussing her out telling her to 'get that dammed thing away from me! I don't like guys! I like girls!' We ended up tag teaming her and getting her in cuffs, but not before she slapped him upside the face with King Dong, leaving a rather embarrassing shaped bruise on his cheek, forehead and chin. She also blacked both of his eyes. When PD arrived to transport her and take the reports they were laughing so hard one of em fell on his ass and couldn't get up for a few minutes. The poor kid ended up quitting a few weeks later saying that he couldn't continue to work due to continuing harassment ( his new PD nick name was Big Johnson) from PD. As for the woman she was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, sexual assault, sexual harassment, solicitation of sexual favors for monetary gain, trespassing and soliciting a police officer for sex.

What can I say, it was a interesting job.

[SuperBanki]

....assault with a deadly weapon.

For real? That's just too good.

[That German Guy]

That story somehow reminds me of GTA San Andreas... one of the available outfits is a gimp suit, and equipping it automagically replaces whatever melee weapon you had on you with a giant rubber dong. Maybe she played that game a little too much?

[Jsimmonsgr]

I think it was just the closest thing she had at hand, you wouldn't believe some of the 'weapons' we pulled of off people.

[Jsimmonsgr]

dupe. I hate DSL.

[Jsimmonsgr]

dupe

[Jsimmonsgr]

dupe

[Viper shtf]

Whoa, quad post.

[colinz]

I have had some experience with the whole paperwork is more important than people mentality, people like this can't get their head around the concept of actual results being more important than paperwork that states that they have results.

The entire Health and Safety Industry is built around this IMO.

[silentpoet]

I have had some experience with the whole paperwork is more important than people mentality, people like this can't get their head around the concept of actual results being more important than paperwork that states that they have results.

The entire Health and Safety Industry is built around this IMO.

As much as I hate nights that is why I work nights. Less bosses and more chance to skirt rules if needed for the residents.