I don't know what to title this post.

My previous post for today is going to get put on hold.

Because today I found out some very sad news.
Below is a post I wrote back in February about the sweet daughter of a dear friend of mine.

She had been doing well at the time.  Finishing the first major round of treatments and waiting for the next step.

Friday she suffered a major setback and it is medically clear that she will not be with us much longer.

So many thoughts are swirling in my mind.



I'm ashamed to admit there are thoughts of anger.

She had to be one of the 4 in 1 million?

This is a beautiful righteous wonderful family.
Its not fair.  Its not fair at all.  How could this happen

They have prayed so hard.  They have fought so hard.
So much prayer and fasting.  So many times have names been put on the alters of the temple
She is so young and so precious.


But at the same time thoughts of gratitude can't be pushed aside.

I'm grateful for my knowledge that children, under the age of eight are saved.  They have that magical golden ticket to pass by the sentinels that stand watch at the gates of heaven.

I'm grateful to know that families are eternal, and that regardless of what may happen, The Graves family will be able to be with their little Anni again.

I'm grateful to know that soon this sweet 3 year old will be free of the pain and fear that has plagued her life these last many months.



Then my thoughts turn to prayer.

Prayers that her parents will be comforted in their grief.  That their faith will be strengthened and their heavy hearts lifted.

Prayers that her siblings will be able to cope and find solace in a world that doesn't make sense even if you are an adult.

Prayers for grandparents who have put their heart and souls into anchoring and supporting this family. Prayer that they will feel strong and be able to grieve and support-a dual task that is not an easy one.

Prayers for the friends and neighbors who have helped...prayer that they will continue to flood this family with love and assistance.

Prayers for the medical team caring for this sweet girl and her family.  That they will make all the best decisions and give the highest level of care.  And that they will be comforted in their sorrow...we may see it a lot, but we are not immune.

One of the most powerful lessons I remember from Rebekah (Anni's mother) when I was a teenager was on prayer.  With great emotion she told us of times when she prayed and her prayers were answered.
Never did I imagine that this lesson would become so powerful as I tried (feebly) to help in some small way.


All we ever can do sometimes is pray.

And so that is what I will do.


Graves family you are in my thoughts...you are in my prayers.

REPOST from Feb 2014:Things You Should Know About Tuesdays: Neuroblastoma Kids

Ever since I started working in pediatrics, there has been a story I have wanted to tell.

In the Summer of 2013, I received an email from a dear friend, an old youth leader who I loved very much.

The email told me of the sad news that her daughter Annika had been diagnosed with a stage 3 neuroblastoma.

The news saddened me greatly, knowing what little I did about cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Several months later I began to take care of other children with the same condition.
And now its gonna be pretty hard for me to be quiet about it.

"Awareness brings compassion and compassion brings action"

And we need all three.

Imagine being 2-3 years old (most occur in children under the age of 2).  Having a condition only 4 per million children have.  A condition that causes tumors to grow along the nervous system outside of the brain.

Picture having test after test run, in dark and scary rooms with loud and frightening machines.

It seems that every grown-up you see want to hurt you with a needle to get blood.

Then you sit in a big chair in front of a big desk, while your mom and dad cry.

And then suddenly more hospital visits.  You start to recognize that you are driving to a place that scares you and you begin to cry even before you arrive.

And suddenly there is a weird thing on your chest. But they seem to be able to get blood out of it so no more horrible pokes.

And then then the nurses start giving you "medicine" to make you "feel better".

But you don't feel better.  You feel tired and sick to your stomach.

You hurt and you don't know why  

You have to wear a mask everywhere you go and you can't do the things you used to be able to do.

You feel like you never get to be at home anymore.

You can't sleep through the night anymore, because either you wake up sick or someone wakes you up to "get blood", or "take vitals" whatever that means. 

Its not all bad I suppose,  You get ANY food you like cause all the grown ups seem to be very worried about how much you eat.  You get to watch lots of tv.  You get to meet famous people and have lots of grownups tell you how cute you are.  You get to see clowns and dogs, make music and be the nurse's helper.

Now I don't tell you this story for pity.  I don't even tell you this story to get money or support for a cure from you (although I have included a link below for more information and how to get involved.)

I tell you this story to open your eyes.

In my line of work I have realized how blessed every parent of a healthy child is.

And so this is all I ask.

Be grateful for your health and the health of those around you.

And please pray for those who are not.

Annika-so glad your journey is going forward...so glad you are coming home for a while.

All my love and prayers are coming atcha....don't try to dodge em cause we all could use a few extras!

I hope to continue to talk about neuroblastomas, and Annika's story as time goes on. 

http://www.cncfhope.org/

The list of foundations is endless.  I have done a SMALL amount of research and have found this foundation to be wonderful in there information and efforts for research.

I encourage you to do your own research of course before getting involved with ANY charity.

http://annikasepicjourney.com/about-me/

This is a blog begun by Annika's mother if you wish to follow her journey.

Things You Should Know About Tuesdays: Meg

For those of you who don't know I often take Tuesdays to get on a soap box about something I'm passionate about.

This week is no exception



Recently I was introduced to Meg Herndon.
A beautiful and vivacious red head.
A talented soccer player, a go-getter who managed to juggle playing for a Division II team while going to nursing school and working as an aid at a local hospital.

(When I was in nursing school necessities like bathing eating and sleeping became luxuries and she found time to do all that!!!????)

I admired her from the start, and would love to introduce her to you as well.

Sorry-should have warned you to grab a few tissues.

On September 9th, after coming home late from an away game with her team, she rode her scooter to work. And as she was coming around a corner, she was hit head on by a Ford 250.

On September 20th, she passed away, leaving a legacy of love by donating many of her tissues and organs.


And I could get on my organ donation soapbox.
But Cindi, Meg's mother (who introduced me to her) would prefer I mention this.......

Meg was not wearing her helmet.

Its hard to say with the type of collision and the type of injuries she sustained if that would have made any difference.

But does that really matter?

If wearing a helmet would save your life, isn't it worth the helmet hair?

I could list off a million statistics of how helmets save lives.  Of how many lives are lost by those not wearing helmets.

But those don't matter.  Those are just numbers.
In 2012, a life was lost.
That is what matters.

Don't allow yourself to become a statistic.  Don't be one in so many hundred, or the such and such percent of something.

Wear your helmet.  Be smart and be safe.

Things You Should Know About Tuesday: The I'm Here Movement

A few weeks ago, I was able to attend a nursing conference.

One of the keynote speakers was Marcus Engel. He is an incredible and talented speaker and writer creating an interesting movement in healthcare.

He told us the story of an accident he was in, that could have cost him his life.

As he floated in and out of consciousness, he was comforted by an unknown stranger, who just sat next to him, holding his hand.
And every time he came to consciousness, she said "I'm here"

It was an astounding and inspiring story.

Ten years ago I decided to be a nurse, and continued to work towards that goal for this very story.

For the opportunity to touch a patient, a family.....

In my profession, the people we care for are in their darkest moments.
There might not be another time in their life when they are in as much pain, when they are more scared.

I went through nursing school (not the most pleasant of experiences) because I wanted to paint toe nails and hold hands.  I wanted to see miracles and see the impossible happen.
I wanted to wipe away tears and strengthen those who were weak.
I wanted to heal.



But now I'm a nurse. And its easy to forget those reasons when you get ice and coordinate tests and explain things to families and advocate for your patients with the doctors.
The bureaucracy can be not only distracting but disheartening and discouraging.
We as healthcare workers are in the business of care, but we can't care for anyone if our administrators aren't in the business of business.  We are sometimes short-staffed, we are sometimes overloaded with tasks and have to navigate procedural barriers.

And beyond that you have everyday dramas, trials, and struggles in your personal and professional life.  Not every patient experience is life-changing.  Not every patient is even grateful for the care you give them (we cut them a little slack since they are scared and sick...)  Life as a nurse can be stressful and unrewarding at times.

It can be so easy to forget where you are.

Its easy to forget to be present.

Thank goodness we get reminded sometimes, to just be there.  To be present.

To say "I'm here"

Because there are those magical moments.  Those moments when you realize why you do what you do.
Moments when being there is all you needed to be.  Moments when you realize if someone hadn't been there....terrible consequences would have ensued...and thank goodness you were blessed to be in the right place at the right time.


Mr Engel has begun a non-profit organization to encourage us as healthcare workers-and I believe everyone, to be more present.

To say to people.. "I'm here"



For more information or to get involved....

http://imheremovement.org/

Things You Should Know About Tuesdays: Neuroblastoma Kids

Ever since I started working in pediatics, there has been a story I have wanted to tell.

In the Summer of 2013, I received an email from a dear friend, an old youth leader who I loved very much.

The email told me of the sad news that her daughter Annika had been diagnosed with a stage 3 neuroblastoma.

The news saddened me greatly, knowing what little I did about cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Several months later I began to take care of other children with the same condition.
And now its gonna be pretty hard for me to be quiet about it.

"Awareness brings compassion and compassion brings action"

And we need all three.

Imagine being 2-3 years old (most occur in children under the age of 2).  Having a condition only 4 per million children have.  A condition that causes tumors to grow along the nervous system outside of the brain.

Picture having test after test run, in dark and scary rooms with loud and frightening machines.

It seems that every grown-up you see want to hurt you with a needle to get blood.

Then you sit in a big chair in front of a big desk, while your mom and dad cry.

And then suddenly more hospital visits.  You start to recognize that you are driving to a place that scares you and you begin to cry even before you arrive.

And suddenly there is a weird thing on your chest. But they seem to be able to get blood out of it so no more horrible pokes.

And then then the nurses start giving you "medicine" to make you "feel better".

But you don't feel better.  You feel tired and sick to your stomach.

You hurt and you don't know why  

You have to wear a mask everywhere you go and you can't do the things you used to be able to do.

You feel like you never get to be at home anymore.

You can't sleep through the night anymore, because either you wake up sick or someone wakes you up to "get blood", or "take vitals" whatever that means. 

Its not all bad I suppose,  You get ANY food you like cause all the grown ups seem to be very worried about how much you eat.  You get to watch lots of tv.  You get to meet famous people and have lots of grownups tell you how cute you are.  You get to see clowns and dogs, make music and be the nurse's helper.

Now I don't tell you this story for pity.  I don't even tell you this story to get money or support for a cure from you (although I have included a link below for more information and how to get involved.)

I tell you this story to open your eyes.

In my line of work I have realized how blessed every parent of a healthy child is.

And so this is all I ask.

Be grateful for your health and the health of those around you.

And please pray for those who are not.

Annika-so glad your journey is going forward...so glad you are coming home for a while.

All my love and prayers are coming atcha....don't try to dodge em cause we all could use a few extras!

I hope to continue to talk about neuroblastomas, and Annika's story as time goes on. 

http://www.cncfhope.org/

The list of foundations is endless.  I have done a SMALL amount of research and have found this foundation to be wonderful in there information and efforts for research.

I encourage you to do your own research of course before getting involved with ANY charity.

http://annikasepicjourney.com/about-me/

This is a blog begun by Annika's mother if you wish to follow her journey.

Notes From a Nurse: I Chose to Do This

I hesitate to to post this...but I'm on a "be real be honest" kick...
so here we go.

Also Disclaimer number 1.....please don't pity me....I hate pity.  This is not a shout out for attention or compliments or "you poor little dears".  It is simply a look into my life...in hope of building understanding.




A few weeks back I had a really busy/rough shift.  Nothing too medically difficult or skillfully difficult.  I had just been running and running.  I didn't sit down to eat my morning snack until 11:30...while I was charting.  And I didn't eat lunch till 4:30.  At which point my headache hit and I finished the day in 10/10 pain.

As I drove home, I stopped halfway to go to a church activity....it was organized by a good friend I wanted to support and hoped maybe some social interaction would help cheer me up

Going to the activity was likely NOT a good idea.  My headache transformed from a painful pounding to an unbearable throbbing, causing my stomach to turn and my vision scattered with little dots.
At this point, I didn't want to drive home...so I laid down across several chairs to close my eyes.

Several people acted very sympathetic...and one, meaning well said "There must be a better job you can find"


Maybe it was my "I left my house at 6 AM this morning and it is now 9 PM" brain talking.  Maybe it was the pain...maybe it was the busy stressful day.
But I bristled.  I was furious!

It reminded me of a blog post I read a few months back

DISCLAIMER NUMBER 2: please know that if you choose to read the following...there is some language I don't agree with and would never use myself.
Please DO NOT read if you will be offended by it.

http://ofcourseitsaboutyou.com/2013/08/11/the-effects-of-nursing-on-nurses/


I am not ashamed to admit to wishing my car would get hit so that I don't have to go into work.
(DISCLAIMER number 3...just a bad fender bender that prevents work for that day...not permanent bodily harm or death.......)
I have wished for fevers to give me a guilt free reason to call in.


I am a women with 2 college degrees.
And I frequently fetch water, ice and fluff pillows.

I am a professional.
And I have been groped and sexually harassed while at work.

I try to help people everyday I work.
And I have had food thrown at me, threatened with lawsuits and verbally assaulted.


I eat when I have time....use the bathroom when I have time....drink when I have time

I am a therapist, a social worker, a teacher, a housekeeper, a handyman, and most of all a punching bag.

I leave work more often than not with a migraine, aching feet and a sore back.

I work holidays.  I work weekends.  I work nights.  I drive to and from work in all weather conditions.
I work when I don't feel good.


My job isn't hard because I watch people die.
My job is hard because for 13 hours in a day, my time is not my own.
I belong to my patients, the doctors, the hospital.

Yes it can be rewarding.
Yes its incredible to hear a patient call you her favorite nurse.
Yes it is great when your favorite senior resident leads rounds and makes you feel like an important team member.
Yes there is nothing like catching that little thing that could have saved your patient's life
Yes its great to be "the best" on the floor at a certain skill.


But its not all roses.  Its hard work.

I hate my job.  But I chose this job.  And I don't plan or want to do anything else.

No...in fact there is nothing else I can do.
I haven't been duped.  I'm not just paying my dues.

This is my career.  This is who I am.


I know its hard to understand how someone can hate their job, but not want to do anything else.
But just know....its possible.  Its the life of a floor nurse


Special shout out to all my nurse buds out there.
Love you all..keep your chins up even on the hard days.
And here's to the moments that keep us going!



Be Happy Be Healthy Everyone

A New Chapter Begins

So I have the ability now to talk about the reason I have been sooooo dreadfully bad at blogging lately.

Lots has been changing in my life and things are all finalized so I can talk about it.
I've had some very "Smile Because It Happened" moments lately

As you all know...I'm a nurse who has been working in an adult cardiac progressive unit.
But you all also know that my passion has ALWAYS been pediatrics.

I have always wanted to help little kiddos feel better and help their parents understand and cope with the healthy issues their family is experiencing.

After being at my current job for a little over a year I began the pediatric search.  I applied and occasionally interviewed nation wide.  But eventually I was lucky enough to apply and interview for a position here in St Louis, at a children's hospital.  (There is a VERY VERY long story that I might tell sometime but....)

It felt like the perfect job from the start and my interview went very well.  It was a speedy process...set up the interview on Monday, interviewed on Tuesday...AND
WEDNESDAY received an OFFER!!!! (Wish I could have made that more of a surprise.....)

I had pretty much already decided to take it but I took a little time to make sure I looked at all my options.
And the next day I accepted and  I met with my current manger and gave her my 2 weeks notice....because if I didn't I wouldn't be able to start at the new job when they needed me to!


I am truly sad to leave my current position.  I have a deep love for the heart.  I adore and admire all my co-workers.  They have trained me and taught me so much.  They have made me a better nurse and helped me be a better person.  I will hate leaving the comfort of what I know.

But I'm not going to cry about it.  I'm just going to be immensely grateful.

I could not have asked for a better first job as a nurse.  I'm not even close to the same nurse as I was a little over a year ago...and that is all thanks to the mentoring and training I received.


But as Dr Suess says...
Don't Cry Cause Its Over....Smile Because It Happened.

MOVIE MONDAY Careful...I've Cried like MULTIPLE times with this one!

Alright ladies and gents.  This is a beautiful and inspiring. 

Those are the only words I can think of!

Hard to keep my eyes dry for this one.

The children and the staff are so strong despite the difficult things they face.

I love it!!!!
And now you all get a glimpse of why of love pediatrics!!!!!!!


Keep Smilin'
Be Happy Be Healthy!!!!!

Because I'm a Nurse

1. I'm addicted to smarties.  Some people drink coffee.  I eat smarties.

2. Every time I meet someone new/shake someone's hand I turn it just a little bit to see how their veins look.  Its worse if you date me cause then I can look at your whole arm with out it being tooooo weird.

3. I eat at 2 AM almost nightly.  Nights on and Nights off work...always get munchy at 2 AM.  And yes I have left my bed for a midnight kitchen raid.

4. Nailing/blowing an IV both makes and RUINS my day

5. I diagnosis myself constantly...I am a self proclaimed hypochondriac

6. I'm a crazy germaphobe.  Like for REALS.  We have these purple wipe things...death wipes I call them.  I do a thorough wipe down at the beginning and end...and sometimes the middle of EVERY shift!

7. Every 3 months I go around with the "Booty Patrol" and examine the backsides of EVERY patient in the hospital.  In the space of roughly 5 hours I usually see...hmmm I'd say at least 75 butts!

8. Very few sights and smells gross me out anymore...unless they are fake. The fake stuff is always worse than the real stuff.  Weird I know!

9. I can identify and locate any beeping on the floor...oral thermometer dying, IV occluded vs complete vs dying, chair and bed alarms, monitor red and yellow alarms, dinamaps dying

10. Some nights are crazy and some nights I feel like a failure...but more often than not...I am able to leave my shift feeling like I might have actually made a difference.


Thanks Anna and Paige for running this one!


Keep Smilin Everybody
Be Happy Be Healthy

What Nurses Think About Medical TV Shows

September LINK UP!!!!!

Yeah for nursing bloggy link-ups!

I adore Anna from "The Days When I'm Not a Nurse"
Frankly I adore all nurses...because they get it.
We live a hard life.  Night Shifts..12 Hour Shifts...Poo Pee and Uh Oh What Exactly is That On My Pants

But I love how Anna makes the most of her days off.
I need to be better about that!

And so...on the days when I am not a nurse....
I usually catch up on my TV shows.
And YES..I am embarrassed to say...I'm a Grey's Junkie.

But ever since nursing school I have resented the show.
And here is why.

1. Really NO hospital in SEATTLE has EVER or will EVER be in a flood...a tropical storm...a boat crash...a shooting...and all the rest of the junk they have had in...what 9 years?  I mean REALLY????????

2. Seriously how do all the most ridiculous crazy unheard of cases all end up in the same hospital?

3. Since when do surgical interns...and residents...and attendings cover all sorts of patients? Where are the internalists...and the hospitalists????

4.YOU DON'T SHOCK ASYSTOLE!!!!!!
Also...V-Fib looks like..

NOT...

(PS...dont shock this one..you'll kill em!)

5. Why does it seem like the nurses in this show are only good as Sloan's booty girls??  We don't have time to hook up with doctors...we are too busy trying to actually SAVE LIVES

But despite it all....I STILL WATCH IT!!!!

It was rough for a couple of seasons..but its gotten good again.  SHOOT  I was so going to drop this one...guess not!

Also..best moment of nursing school??

When one of my classmates answered a complicated question making our professor VERY proud.

This same classmate then leaned over and said "Learned that from House"

check out Anna and all the other link ups!!!!!!

Be Happy Be Healthy!

Its Been a Year!

One year ago today I began working as a nurse...a real big girl fully licensed registered nurse.


It has been a CRAZY year.

Full of amazing patients who have helped me realize why I became a nurse in the first place.
They have made me laugh...they have made be cry.

And occasionally they have irritated me...frustrated me..and stumped me completely!



I have in the past year felt completely stupid.  I have learned that more often than not I know absolutely NOTHING.

There have been moments...few and far between...when I have felt like a real nurse.  I have felt like I actually knew what I was doing.

And so I have hope that someday I might get to the point where I can be like one of those nurses I aspire to be.


It wasn't the perfect job...it wasn't pediatrics.  But it was cardiac.
And it has been a perfect first job.
I have learned sooooo much and had SOOOOOO many experiences.


One year of nursing down...now at least 19 more to go!!!!!!

UGGGHHH 102.4!

Alright peeps.....

Its official

Being sick  SUCKS

I have a new-found sense of empathy for my patients!

I havent been super sick since....at least high school...possibly middle school since I last had a high fever.


I knew Wednesday night I had a little bug  (99.9 and general malaise) but I went to work and pushed through on tylenol and lots of fluids.
It came and went in waves...sometimes I was fine and good.  Other times my coworkers looked at me and said "GO HOME you look miserable!!"

But I was fine.  I went home with the plan to sleep it off and head back to work for my last shift of the week.
I was fever free at the time and slept pretty good.

But then 11ish hit and suddenly I was tossing and turning.  I couldn't get cool....HOT MESS much?

But I kept sleeping cause I knew I needed it for that night.

(at this point you can tell I'm a nurse with student loans...cause yeah going into work no matter what!)

I finally gave up on the sleeping thing around 3 and went downstairs to get the thermometer.
I could kinda go a little cross-eyed and see the numbers change.  But I thought for sure I say a 2....and I was super annoyed cause the thermometer was CLEARLY broken.
My temperature was NOT 92!

But yeah then it started beeping all agitated like....and 102.4 was the final result.
This led to an "Oh crap"..2 phone calls to my charge nurse and nursing services...a dose of tylenol followed by another EXACTLY 4 hours later...kool-aid...milkshake...a fan AND a blanket..

oh what a mess....and oh so not fun!!!!!


try to not get sick everybody....
it may mean its a perfect time to catch up the blog....but
SSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO not fun


So stay healthy everyone!!!!!

Dear Adam Levine...

Wanna Marry Me???

Like for reals though.

You is super talented...even live!  And many pop stars just don't lets be honest

And super good looking....

And the only guy I've ever found attractive with that many tattoos....

I feel like its a sign!

Another concert in the summer of concerts!

This time Kelly Clarkson and Maroon 5

And they ROCKED IT!!!!

Plus I got to go with the gals from work.

Best nurses in the world!

Wouldn't be able to make it without them!

Be Happy, Be Healthy!!!!

Though The Troponins of the 3rd Floor would take great care of you...we would rather not ;)

SCRUBS REVIEW!!!!!

Alright nursing buddies....lets talk scrubs.

One of the perks of our job is that we get to wear PJs...and comfy shoes...and ponytails

The epitome of lazy dressing


But in my short time as a nurse I have discovered not all scrubs are created equal.
And you want a good one.
You've gotta worry about style and fit and comfort.  Pockets and type of fabric
12 hours of crazy messes....you want a brand/style you like!


So when I was contacted by Dickies Scrubs to review a piece from their Summer Scrubs Collection
I said "WHY NOT?"


Its a pretty basic cut...v-neck, double pockets (ESSENTIAL!)
There are several other styles...the empire one looks appealing...as does THIS one :)

Like most scrubs it runs big....I got an extra small and it still was a little large.
They have a XXS.....which might seem like a gamble....but probably is worth it.

(side note....do scrub companies want to help out our self-esteem by under sizing???  CONSPIRACY)


If you have ever gotten Dickies scrubs before, you will know the fabric is real good.  You could prolly get puked on and it might wipe right off!  Exaggeration yes-but the fabric is thick and strong.  It seems super stiff at first, but a couple times through the dryer and you are in pretty good shape.

Color choices are good....depending on the neck line...between 15 and 25 choices!
We all know that when you wear the same thing everyday its nice to get some fun colors!
(I sadly had to get navy for my current place of employment...no hot pink for me!)


On top of it all the price is pretty good.  A good 4 or 5 pairs can set you back a pretty penny-but Dickies does a good job of giving you really good fabric for a decent price.



Interested and want 15% off??????
Use the coupon code: "trueblue" at this link: Nurse Scrubs until Aug 31 2013!


Check them out on FACEBOOK too!

Disclaimer...I NEVER look this good for work....

hair down....makeup...SERIOUSLY????

The headband is legit though...it just usually gets paired with a pony!

A Final Thought on Nurses Week

Moms=unpaid nurses


They clean up poo and puke.

They get cool washcloths and give Tylenol for fevers.

They consult with doctors and other healthcare professionals regarding appropriate care.

And they listen to whining and bad excuses for poor behavior.


all the parts of my job that I do with the mantra "You are getting paid, you are getting paid" Moms do without any compensation.


So Happy Nurses Week!

And Happy Mother's Day!




Be Happy Be Healthy

Nurses Week Day 5: Confessions

Alright-so I can't really confess a whole lot.....

At least not a lot of juicy stuff.  Any juicy stuff I know about-I sure as heck wouldn't talk about here!
I want you guys to think us nurses are saints/angels.


Which we are...just with the occasional flaw.

But I will confess a few things!


1. When I do this to a patient it means I am really annoyed and frustrated with them but I still have to be kind and professional.  This hand gesture is usually combined with "Now Sir/Ma'am you can't _______"

(PS do you love the makeup/fixed hair...with the nasty old BYU PE t-shirt??)

2. Sometimes I'm not totally sure how I would classify someone's breath sounds...coarse, crackles, coarse crackles???  And what the heck are rhonchi anyway...it just sounds like coarse with exp wheezes!
So sometimes I try to cheat off the Respiratory Therapists.  But sometimes they seem wrong too...sooooo I just pick the best.  Its like a bad multiple choice test.


3. No frustrating patient I did not go through the you-know-what that was nursing school to clean up your trash, get you a specific amount of ice, fluff your pillows or hand you the remote that you could reach if you just sat up a little.  And ps....the switch that controls the light above your head is right on the bed...right where I showed you the last 4 times!


4.  I never WANT to be at work.  EVER.  I would always rather be at home!  Of course-who wouldn't?
But until I am a millionaire who never has to work another day-I will work.  At least its something I don't mind!

5.  I never try to convince someone to not leave AMA (against medical advice) or to refuse a medication or procedure.  As far as I'm concerned its one less thing on my to do list.  Plus I don't want to take care of someone who doesn't want to be taken care of.  Here's your form-now get out of my hospital and make room for a compliant patient!

6. Sometimes I have a deep urge to text-page a ;) to the doctors when my patient is asking for something we both know they shouldn't/won't get...but I have to page to be able to say I did all I could.  Dang professionalism!

7. Nursing is ALWAYS about passing the buck.  "Its policy"  "Dr's orders"---frequently used phrases.  I told one of my patient care techs one time "if they get mad blame me...and then when I go in there I'll blame the hospital!"

8. Nurses have names and we like to be called by them.  Shouting "Nurse, Nurse" is just annoying and leads to a cranky nurse coming into your room.  Kindly push that HUGE red button and use our name-instead of shouting.  Please and thank you!


See nothing exciting right??
Sorry to disappoint!


but anyway-----be happy be healthy!!!

Nurses Week Day Four: Pockets!

Ever seen the posts that have been floating around for a while of "what's in my purse"
Well, luckily nurses don't carry purses.  Can you imagine?  Oh how annoying!!!!


But we DO have pockets.  Lots and Lots of pockets!!!!!


So whats in my pockets?????

Allow me to show you

so lets go left to right!

1. Penlight-supposed to be used to look at pupils.  Usually I use it to plug dying monitors and IV poles in without turning on the light and waking up my patient!

2. Permanent marker-multipurpose of course.  But frankly I mostly use it for labeling wounding dressings.

3. Dry erase marker-every patient room has a board with important info on it.  But do these boards ever have markers.  RARELY.  So I carry one of my own :)

4. CLICKY PEN (part 1) red, blue, green and black.  

5. The Backup Pen- black and boring, but just in case.  This is also the pen I loan to the people..aka drs who always say "Do you have a pen"

6. CLICKY PEN (part 2) pink, light blue, light green, and purple.  SOOO fun!  I bought the first pen and then decided I wanted funner colors 

7. Chap stick-the hospital air is crazy dry-so we slather this on all night long.

8. Extra alcohol wipes-I use at least 50 of these a night and there are almost always a few hanging out in my pockets

9. Caps- I have hundreds of these little plastic tops that you pop off medication vials.  Someday I'll make things with them but for now..they will collect in my pockets and get put in the ziplock bag of caps at the end of the night.

10. SMARTIES SMARTIES SMARTIES!!!!!!  I love these things.  And I always have them in my pockets.  You can always tell which nurses station I sat at through the night-because there will be a pile of smarties wrappers in the trash can.  Why do I love them so much-we will never know.  Some people drink coffee.  I eat smarties :)

11. Phone- I truly hate this thing.  Doctors, Lab, the ED, patients, patient families, the charge nurse.  EVERY ONE calls me on this thing.  Not to mention the alarms that sound from it throughout the night.  Oh well....thems is the breaks of bein a nurse

12.  PAPERS.  The little ones are report sheets.  This is what we use to give the next nurse report.  It goes through all the systems and all the important details.  The big sheet is my cheat sheet.  My to do list. Color coded of course.  Meds to give.  Procedures to complete.  Tasks that need to get done. Its ALL here!!!

And that is my pockets!!!!!

fellow nurses-what's in yours??

Be Happy Be Healthy

Nursing Funnies: Nurses Week Day 3!!!!

And Finally...the Funniest of ALL!!!!!!!!

Nurses Week Day Two: The Burnout Book

Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!!!

I write this post as a little advice moment for future nurses.

When I was a very young student nursing I had a clinical instructor who told me to start a burnout book.

That day...right now...right then.

What's a burnout book you say???  

Nurses frequently suffer from "burnout".  When you care for others so much, you can easily lose sight of why you are exhausting and frankly neglecting yourself.

Now thinking about that definition, I frankly gave this clinical instructor the blow off.

I was basically 2 minutes into nursing school..and was so not going to get burned out till-at least a few years down the road.

Then-I got my first job.  And roughly 3 months into it-I was DONE.

Wanted to quit...hated everything done

And so-I repented.  And started my burnout book.

So fellow nurses/nursing students.....

Might I suggest getting a pile of notecards and keeping them in your locker next to a cheap little photo album (you know the kind that hold 25ish and are all plastic-y).  Whenever you have a patient who compliments you...or you make a good catch....or you have a patient that touches your heart-write it down.  Write down every word and every detail.

And when you have a long shift..or a terrible one-you can look back.  And remind yourself why you do this. 

When you feel like all you have done is be a waiter/janitor/verbal punching bag all night instead of a nurse-pull it out and remember the times you were a rockstar.

When you feel out of control..when you are short staffed..or when you have to call a code-the burnout book will get you through.

Be Happy Be Healthy everyone!!!!

Nurses Week: Day One

Happy Nurses Week everyone!!!

I wasn't sure what I wanted to talk about today...until Anna posted her pay it forward, pay it backward plan!

And it seemed perfect!!!!!!



First to pay it forward-to all my current co-workers who are in their first years of nursing.

We've all gone through a lot the past few months.  And I can honestly say there is not a group of nurses that I would want to work with more!  And someday we seriously are gonna be that group of crazy smart nurses who can do everything.  And the more I work with you ladies-the more I think that someday-is not very far away at all!  Thanks for making me laugh, making sure I actually waste that morphine (hahaha....jk), getting me through long shifts, always asking me if I need anything,....and saving my patients with me when they start bleeding out ;)

Second to pay it backward-to my first nursing mentor

I really knew absolutely nothing at that point.  But she patiently guided me and helped me figure it out.
On my last day of that practicum I remember telling her I was terrified that someone was about to trust me to be a "real nurse".  And then she gave me one of the best compliments ever "You already are a real nurse".
And someday (hopefully sooner rather than later) I hope to be a nurse just like her!


Be Happy Be Healthy everyone!!!!