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Battles fought from the trenches last night, my friends, and I'm still reeling. In the light of day, after all the dust has settled, I'm seriously wondering whether I did the right thing for either of the people I saw last night. Not really a...

Published 8 Sep 2009 8:03 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: in the field, in the news, the job
The Social Work Equivalent of Throwing a Cat into Bath Water

A play-by-play. 8:45 Thursday night : Social worker receives a text from the boss (social worker would like to take a moment her to say her boss LOVES texting, that social worker gets more texts from her than anyone else.) instructing social worker of...

Published 17 Aug 2009 4:21 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: flat-out bitching, in the field, the job
Considering Social Work as a Profession?

Go for it! Seriously. Because if I get nothing else out of my job, (and I won't go on and on about the being "called" to be a social worker and how satisfying the work is and how much pleasure I get at the end of the day because I've...

Published 13 Aug 2009 10:44 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: in the field, the job
The Office: Reality, as Opposed to Slick Comedic Writing for Beautiful People to Perform on TV

I got called into the office last night to help out since they're one short this week. As I was getting settled in, I happened to glance down and see a huge three-ringed binder, completely full of all kinds of paper. With my name in 100 point font...

Published 21 Jul 2009 4:09 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: mundane office drivel, paperwork, the job
The Gift That Keeps on Giving

I've told you about back-up on call. The person who is second in line to receive a phone call if the first person gets hammered. For instance: I got called to go out a couple of weeks ago and quite literally one minute later the phone rang again....

Published 5 Jun 2009 3:59 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: the job
Sleep Woes

Working on-call overnight completely jacks with my sleep patterns. It does not matter what time the phone rings. It doesn't matter how long I'm on the phone. It doesn't matter if I actually have to leave the house or not. Ringing phone = Quadruple...

Published 26 May 2009 11:29 AM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: the job
Oh, Hi, Grim!

I've been to two funerals in the past two months. Two men in their golden years who had children and grandchildren and the will to keep on living. Until their bodies acted against them, that is, and sickness ravaged their mortality away. Both men...

Published 16 May 2009 3:01 AM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: life, suicide, the job
Delusional Thinking: An Illustration

I cover more than one hospital. In fact, I cover three of them. (You know how every once-in-a-while I'll tell give you a heads up about foreshadowing? This is one of those times.) Most of the time, the primary on-call person is able to juggle the...

Published 12 May 2009 5:43 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: in the field, medical professionals, the job
Dude? I'm Not Your Babe, 'K?

Not long ago another mental health social worker called our hospital looking for a bed for someone he had in his own hospital. This happens all the time--it's part of the gig. We talk to each other regularly when our own places are full and we need...

Published 11 May 2009 4:31 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: in the field, the job
The Politics of the On-Call Punt

So this weekend I was the "back up" on call person. I know I've talk about this before, but allow me to refresh your memory. We always have a person who is on call. Always. Our program provides 24 coverage because you just never know when...

Published 27 Apr 2009 2:58 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: the job, thoughts
Court is Now in Session

So part of our assessments includes us making a decision as to whether the patient we evaluated has "good judgment." Actually, it's a multiple choice question: JUDGEMENT Good Fair Poor And then we're supposed to circle our answer and...

Published 14 Apr 2009 3:06 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: in the field, mental health, paperwork, the job
Consultation!

Which is just a really nice way to say "monthly *** fest." I need to leave the house in 45 minutes for my consultation, the one and only meeting that I really quite enjoy. Because when you deal with the kind of people that I deal with on a regular...

Published 27 Mar 2009 1:10 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: the job
Ever Feel Like Technology is Winning? Or Possessed?

How hard, I ask you, could it possibly be, to make some copies? (If you aren't yet familiar with my writing style, this would be the moment where I alert you to my oft-used literary technique known as "foreshadowing".) Part of my job at...

Published 26 Feb 2009 11:00 AM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: the job
Words of Wisdom

I was at the ER not long ago and one of the nurses was playing with a cool looking doo-hicky. After inquiring about it, she told me it was a label maker, a new toy to the unit, and asked if I needed anything branded. Me: Absolutely. I need my binder branded...

Published 24 Feb 2009 2:41 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: medical professionals, mental health, the job
How I Saved The World Last Week

***Phone rings at midnight*** Coworker: Hey, Reas. I need to pass this one on to you. I paged Dr. Dre a while ago but he hasn't gotten back to me yet. It's for St. Elsewhere; they're needing a bed for a seven-year-old. Me: No problem. Tell...

Published 23 Feb 2009 2:56 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: the job
I'm Not an Ephydriad, I'm A Neophyte Social Worker!

This post over at Crass-Pollination inspired me to think aloud on this issue. On my own blog, of course, because why not net a post on the matter, right? Do YOU remember it? The Knock. The first time you went out in the field and had to knock on someone's...

Published 9 Feb 2009 11:00 AM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: child welfare, the job
Basement Cat has Spoken

more animals And thus I have taken down my most recent post. Perhaps this is an indication that I am in desperate need of medication, and believe me when I tell you I'm not ruling that out. But I would like to think that really it means I'm just...

Published 15 Jan 2009 8:20 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: blogging, in the field, the job
Oppositional Paperwork Disorder*

I have to renew my license every year. It expires on December 31. And every year since I earned my license, I have renewed it on December 31. Well, that's not exactly true. Last year I was running WAY ahead of schedule and actually got it renewed...

Published 8 Jan 2009 2:47 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: paperwork, the job
Check, Please.

You know........ Sometimes I just don't want to talk to a kid who fantasizes about blowing up his school. -> Read More...

Published 9 Dec 2008 11:00 AM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: teens, the job
Here's My Number. I'm Sure I'll Never Hear From You Again.

I don't really get much follow-up with people. The nature of my job just doesn't allow for it. I see people when they're in crisis and refer them to others for long-term care. Every-once-in-a-great-while, however, I will get some additional...

Published 26 Nov 2008 3:39 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: alcohol, in the field, the job
Couples Therapy

There is therapy the way Therapy Doc does therapy , and then there's my way. You might take a moment to adjust (read: lower) your expectations. Ready? All right. Guys, here's the thing: your partner/lover/wife really does not like it when you...

Published 11 Nov 2008 11:00 AM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: domestic issues, suicide, the job
Perception is Key

So I saw a kid recently at my (psychiatric) hospital--a kid that was sent to us via an ER. He took some Advil almost a full day before I saw him, and ended up in the admissions office after a long ordeal. A psychiatrist apparently assessed him at the...

Published 6 Nov 2008 12:29 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: in the field, mental health, teens, the job, thoughts
The verdict

As you well know, I assess people in crisis. I get called, I go and talk to them and based on a series of questions, observations, summations, and good 'ole instincts I make a professional judgment. I've talked to drug abusers, alcohol abusers...

Published 30 Sep 2008 9:14 PM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: random weirdness, the job
Ethics my fanny

Let's be clear here: A morning person I am not. If left to my own devices, I would keep a total vampire schedule emerging only at dusk and going to sleep at dawn. Alas. Life throws you these little obstacles every now and then that prevents us from...

Published 12 Sep 2008 11:00 AM by Trench Warfare

Filed under: life, random weirdness, the job

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