Hey Arlo,

I've attained a very important milestone in my life/career, (is there a difference?), and in some way I credit you and your music. I just wanted to share.

Ya' see, when I first discovered your music I loved it so much. I loved the experience of your concerts, but dang it...you preached so much about changing the world. Change it in small ways, or big ways...just change it for the better. It sorta got to the point that I'd feel guilty. What right did I have to take such great enjoyment away from a show if I wasn't doing my part? Perhaps a song can, in fact, change the world...But How could I change the world? Hell, I don't even sing!

You seemed to ask a lot.

As I've blundered my way across the mortal coil, I've found myself in and out of the medical industry. Sometimes I'd leave it to chase some money, or have an adventure of some kind, but I found myself returning again and again. The intrinsic value I found from making a positive difference in the life of a sister or brother became nearly overwhelming. I found a true love of, and fulfillment from helping.

At age thirty-seven I returned to school...NURSING SCHOOL...at age forty-one I graduated. A few weeks ago I passed the boards. I am now a Registered Nurse in the state of Florida! For the past year or so I've been working in one of the busiest Emergency Departments around. The people I work with are the most incredible group of caring/skilled/knowledgeable/compassionate professionals a fellow could hope to meet. They're heroes. I'm just a lucky guy that gets to call those people my colleagues.

I love my patients. I love my coworkers. I love making a difference. In no small way I credit your music, stories, fans, and family for planting some seeds in my life.

I noticed recently that you are going to be playing The Tampa Theater in March. (Wow, that is an incredible old venue and right around the corner from my hospital). Anyway, I wanted to do something special while you are here. I've decided that I'll purchase a small block of tickets and treat some of my ER heroes and fellow nurses to a night out.

When I graduated, my family and friends kept advising that I do "something special" to celebrate. "Buy yourself something pretty", they'd say...or "Treat yourself to a vacation". I didn't want nuthin' more than I already had. I worked so hard to get through school with the goal of going to the hospital and helping. My celebration was simply that...Going to the hospital and helping. My joy is being a part of this incredible team. What more do I need?

I can't think of a better celebration than treating some of my fellow nurses to a special night of music. So I'll buy that block of ten tickets, and call it my "something special"...My graduation gift to myself.

Anyway my friend, I just wanted to say "I'm with ya'"...and thanks for showing me the way,

~Eric
http://www.ESchmidt.com
--

Congrats! You & the nurses are gonna have a great time!

Hey Bones - Congrats on passing the boards!!!

It was very nice of you to share your thoughts (and history). I think treating the other nurses and workmates to an Arlo gig is a FABULOUS idea.

I hope you all have a terrific evening. Let us know ok?

Reg

Congrats on passing the boards!

And yes please let us know about your time at the show. I'm sure it will be grand.

Congrats Bones. But (speaking from experience) make sure to take time for yourself as well as giving to others!

I know you'll have a great time at the gig.

Thanks for the nice things y'all are sayin'!

I'm really looking forward to the show. And I'll be happy to keep you posted when it goes down.

~Eric

Hey all. I'm picking up the tickets tomorrow. Turns out that it's just gonna be too expensive to purchase that many tickets, so I think I'm just gonna spring for four. I'm sure it'll be a special night.

A while ago I was swapping a few emails with a friend, and told her a little about what I do. I thought it turned out to be a nice little piece of writing, so I shared it with a few friends and family and was bolstered with some nice feedback...So I thought I'd share an excerpted quote of that email here.

****************
Well Rachael, you asked about ER. You've probably already figured you can't ask me that without getting an overly verbose response. It's such a new and important part of my life, and I spend so much time thinking and talking about it. I hope I don't come across as being too one dimensional. My facility is exceptional, my coworkers are incomparable, and to describe the work as fulfilling is simply insufficient. I hope I don't sound "Pollyanna", but the intrinsic value that we receive by making a positive difference in the life of a sister or brother simply cannot be measured. I suspect you understand.

Yesterday a patient was brought to one of my rooms via EMS with an emerging STEMI. This is a profound heart attack that is sometimes referred to as "The Widow Maker". I'm a long way from having the skill and experience to take the lead position in such a resuscitation, and immediately my role became ancillary but central to the effort. For about 12 minutes the core team consisted of 4 RN's, 4 SOCOM guys, and two physicians. (SOCOM=Special Operations Combat Medic. My unit is where the military sends their elite to train in combat medicine. Kinda tells you a little something about where I work, huh?) Anyway, the twelve minute resuscitation was such an amazingly well orchestrated and beautiful dance of compassion/care/skill/science/life/drama.

STEMI ALERT called, paramedics giving report, questions/answers/assessments, monitors being attached, EKG's being completed-analyzed-double/triple checked, multiple IV access lines being established, drips being initiated, complicated drug calculations being made and double/triple checked, drugs being ordered-retrieved-drawn-pushed, defibrillator being applied, more orders called, vital signs measured and called out every two minutes, wrappers from various tools being thrown around the room, sharps being used-monitored-disposed of, wife being educated/comforted, more drugs being administered, pt being educated/comforted, documentation being completed, portable X-Rays being executed, specimens being collected and analyzed at bedside and tubed to the stat-lab, charges being tracked (this shit ain't free ya' know). Twelve minutes, no fewer than twenty-eight hands, and we've done everything we can in the Emergency Department. The pt is as stabilized as we can get him. The STEMI Team arrives from the Cardiac Cath Lab and whisks him off to surgery. Without further comment or discussion, the ER team disperses like so much fog in a brisk breeze, returning to their normal duties. My room is empty, quiet, a mess, the job is done. Gotta get the room clean quick. An abdominal pain is already en route from the waiting room...and I have other pt's that require my attention.

And that's twelve minutes in the day of an Emergency Nurse.
****************

~Eric

mcg per kg per min?

Eric, thanks for sharing. Those 12 minutes are VERY important. I've been "on the other side" of that description, twice! Good job!!!

four tix...second row!

And, yes Goofus, mcg/kg/min titrated every two minutes based on vitals, plus the loading dose.

but dig this...FOUR TIX, SECOND ROW! Yahoooooo!

The best medicine ever!