“Labor” and “Love” Do Not Go Hand in Hand

Much like the Wonder Twins, Killer and I work best as a team. And, as the picture shows, we share an unhealthly lust for the ‘fist bump’. It part of what makes us ‘work’.
So where is my tattooed friend? I have only spoken to Killer once since he left to return to the exciting world of Travel Nursing in late January. I think he said he was in California and I believe he said he’s working an average of 82 hours per week. This alarms me. It’s not his safety I worry about but the safety of his patients. What if YOU’RE the guy laying on the table during Killer’s eighty-first work hour of the week and you need him to be focused and committed as he inserts the catheter? Isn’t there a law about this? It should be illegal to work more than 30 hours a week, much less 82! A custodian, the post office clerk, a furniture maker, a photographer, a car salesman- no one should work 82 hours in a week; but a nurse? A nurse especially should be well rested and alert at all times.

On a positive note, I think they stick you on coma watch after you’ve put in over 70 hours, so maybe it’s not that big of a deal. Besides, I’ve know a lot of nurses and I’ve learned a couple of things about them. Half are lushes or heavily into recreational drugs and don’t let their jobs interfere with their lifestyles. I don’t have a problem with this if you are a custodian, the post office cleark, a furniture maker, a photographer or a car salesman, but I’d kind of like to think that when you’re stitching the wound, you only see on gash, not two. I also know that an alarming number of nurses are not very bright. I don’t mean ‘average’ intelligence, I mean damn close to BOX OF HAIR stupid. Because Killer isn’t a drug using alcoholic and because I personally know him to be quite bright, I think he’s operating with an acceptable level of care, even if he’s sleep deprived and unbathed… as I imagine him to be.

82 hours means that Killer is working TWICE as many hours as I work in a given week. Granted he is making three times my salary doing this, but at what cost? Three days a week I’ve given up by 2:00 and I’m just waiting for the sweet whistle of release to blow so that I can go home. I can’t imagine knowing that in a week’s time I would have 41 more hours waiting to pass before I could be off the clock. It’s not that my home life is so exciting that I salivate with anticipation, it’s just that once I’m off work, I’m on my time. Aside from sleep and a massage, this is one of the best feelings I know.

Bear in mind that Killer may be exaggerating a bit. There was a guy in high school who claimed to work 194 hours per week at Jitney Jungle Grocery. He didn’t recant until he got the furrowed brow stare. When I see Killer next month, I’ll cock an eyebrow and see if he passes the truth test.

As far as I know, Killer is unaware of my TWO DAYS IN A ROW blogathon. During this time, I can make this blog any damn thing I want to. Any suggestions? I’m committing to one more post before Sunday, and I’d love to seize this freedom before the master gets wise. 

•   Comments(5)    Posted by liz on 02/16 at 07:15 PM
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