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!!!!

H54F!!!!!! Get Excited Peeps!

1.
Baby Sister's last orchestra concert for the year
Even a crazy bitter calloused girl like me got a little teary when one of the best educators in the world said
"I hope some of these students get to be teachers...and if they are really lucky, get to be music teachers"















2.
Ted Drewes (BEST FROZEN CUSTARD IN THE WORLD) has a new Lemon Custard
and it is AMAHZING!!!!  Like CRAZY AMAHZING


Def trying the Smore one next!!!!


3.
Cards Baseball with my favorite people!!!

4.
Extra Shift at work = more stress....but also =MORE MOOLAH
(also it was pay-day this week...first one in a while without extra shifts....very depressing!)

5.
We are almost in the double digits.....just saying
108ish............

Theme Song Thursday: A Dash of Katherine

So last night at work, I had a few moments so I pulled out an ongoing letter to Baby Brother
(I pretty much have a constant letter with me everywhere that gets worked on whenever I have a boring moment or two)

And as I told him all the CRAZY crap that has happened then past week or so (its been quite eventful, let me tell you!) I had a serious reaction.


I call it my "whatever, screw you" reaction.

Its sassy and not very lovely....but eh-we can't be Audrey Hepburn all the time.

Sometimes a dash of Katherine is necessary.
Still classy...but slightly more...brash ;)



Never been a fan of P!NK.....but then again.....Glee can do some pretty good things to less then good songs...

dear boys...cause i'm obsessed with writing these things!

dear tractor boy
why are you being nice to me again????
you are making this very hard!!!!
love
city gal

dear bell boy
well that hurt.  i know you didn't mean for it to
but it did.
and ill forgive you.  but getting over the hurt might take some time
love
wounded girl

dear dumbo
oh no no no
everything you just said is INVALID
just learn to fly and fly away!
love
timothy q mouse

dear felon
yeah its official
you are a *not nice phrase that i won't say
and so i'm done
love
a band perry fan

dear tall and lanky
that thing on your lip...its gotta go
yucky
love
me

dear drunk guy who hit on me on the street
oh honey-you are so drunk...just go home sweetie
love
sally  (apparently i look like my name should be sally????)

dear unicorn
YUM!
that is all
also-you should fall in love with me
jk lol
love
swooning girl

be happy be healthy

Linky Party: a Nurse's Routine

I love our little community of nursing bloggers-and its time for another link-up!!!!

Today lets talk about my routine.


Nurses are creatures of habit-so its not surprising that we have patterns!
12 hour shifts are long.
It takes a little bit to get prepared.
And in my opinion, it takes a little bit more to come down off the adrenaline that kept you going for that long (especially on a very stressful night/day)

But in both-music of course (its me!) plays a pretty crucial role.



I don't have much of a before routine.  I usually wake up (from either a 2 hour nap or a whole day of sleeping).  If its early enough, I will sometimes study my scriptures, watch some TV or blog.  Then I grab some dinner, pack a "lunch" and change into scrubs.

I have a roughly 15 minute drive, and I always try to leave 30 minutes early.  This usually gives me 5-10 minutes of wiggle room-and it is usually spent in the car, in the parking garage "preparing".  I usually try and find a calm song I like on the radio, and I close my eyes, lay my head on the steering wheel and just be for a bit.
Then right before I get out of the car I turn off the radio and say a little prayer.  I know it sounds all righteous and spiritual and stuff, but seriously there have been nights I haven't done this and they have ALWAYS been terrible.




My wind down is generally more of a deal.  Again the 15 minute car ride is important.

15 minutes is just right for me...long enough to have good distance but short enough to not create resentment for my commute.

I take the back way home, since the highway just has too many cars and merging that I don't want to deal with that early in the morning.  Plus the back way is much more scenic.
If I had a good night, I usually go for the loud peppy "rock-on" type music.  A hard/long night usually means a sad/calm song.

Usually once I get home, I chat with my mom (this actually is the BEST decompressing....what will I do when I live alone!?).  I usually hop on FB/blog/email just to make sure I am connected to the world.
And then I shower, lotion, stretch (yoga poses and stretches to help you sleep) read my scriptures for a bit and head right to bed!


And that is my routine.  Not much to it!  I'm a boring person I guess.

But here's the wrap-up/sum-up/take home message......
Nursing can be stressful, and a wind up and wind down routine can really help you cope...and not bring too much work home with you.
Leave work at work!


And Be Happy Be Healthy!

Musical Monday:King of Anything

This song speaks for itself today.

Ever had someone in your life who thought they knew you...but frankly there was know way they could.

But they acted like they did...but everything they said was all...well.....invalid.


So to everyone who has ever been like that....who died and made you king of anything???

Oxytocin-Or Why We Need Other People

Have you ever heard the research they have done on oxytocin??

Oxytocin is a hormone our body naturally releases that leads to feelings of contentment and comfort.

Studies have shown that touching stimulates the body to release this hormone.
Even just touching someones hand can trigger the release.
So just think what an actual hug could do????



Just a simple hug can do wonders.

A bit ago I was having a terrible day.  Like a really terrible horrible no good very bad day.
We were in serious Alexander mode.

Luckily I was able to see a dear friend.  Unluckily at this time this good friend was going through a loss, and was really in need of a hug.
So being a hugger, I pulled her in and held her for a bit.

But I still was so focused on myself.  Everyone around me was hounding me-and suddenly I had minor attack and pulled my hood over my face in a stressed/overwhelmed manner.

And suddenly this sweet friend-who was hurting herself-said "Oh Stephanie, it is ok!" and pulled me into a hug.  And as we left, she kept hugging me and even allowed me to lean on her as we walked.

It likely looked like I was either incapable of walking myself (either due to emotional distress or drunkenness).  And frankly it kind of felt like I couldn't!

But she was there for me.  (even though it should have been me there for her!)
And seriously-my day was suddenly better.
Such a simple almost nothing thing-and my day took a 180 degree turn.

And it was perfect.



So hug each other.  Cause its not like you can hug yourself!

Be Happy Be Healthy!

Confessions on a Saturday Afternoon

I have discovered
THE
unicorn.


(see this post for a definition)

(also please be assured that this whole post is SUPPOSED to be funny haha)


There have been unicorns I have known in the past.
But this man is THE unicorn!


I wish I could put up a picture-but that might get a little awkward (yikes!)


But seriously this man is a creature not from this world.

Tall, dark, handsome....and when he smiles...oh goodness I'm a puddle on the ground.


He caused a very composed and feet firmly on the ground girl to gawk and practically drool.

And seriously when he sat down next to me-I had to hold onto the seat I was in for fear I would fall off.

And then he was talking to me....and I had to remind myself to breathe!

And then ladies and gents, he touched my knee as he was saying goodbye and I thought for sure I would need someone with ACLS training.
Cause my heart looked like THIS


(ps...its NOT supposed to look like that!)


Get the defibrillator people we've got a Code Blue Cardiac Arrest.


Truly this man is a mystical creature, that I am pretty sure is not real......like for REALS!!!


Anyway...Be Happy Be Healthy....and I will sit here trying to slow my palpating heart ;)

H54F!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. LITTLE SISTER IS HOME!!!!!!!!!

2. I saw a UNICORN on Sunday  (more on this in a post that will go live tomorrow-stay tuned)

3. Night out with the gals from work!

Seriously it is nice to see your work friends outside of work...

4. Even though it was kind of a rough week-I have 2 really good friends who totally picked me up when I was down...and told me I was awesome!  LOVE THEM!!!

5. Its coming...its coming...summer is coming!!!!!!

Be Happy Be Healthy!!!!!!!

Theme Song Thursday:Can't Shake You

So this song may have absolutely nothing to do with my life right now.

But that has not stopped me from being moderately obsessed with it.


Plus who can't relate to the idea that sometimes you just can't shake somebody?

In the past you have always been able to let go and move on-but for some reason you can't this time.

Be honest-its happened to you.  :)







Anyway-be happy be healthy!

flo Rida

dear boys ....as always :)

dear rookie
don't flirt with me rook.  seriously.
your minor league flirting has no place in the big leagues.
now get back to work!
love
a big hitter

dear bowtie
wrong girl.  you were supposed to go for the other girl
but eh whatever-yeah lets hang :)  you could be a nice distraction
love


dear basketball player
thanks for picking me up when i was down.
not sure i totally believe you when you say i'm a catch
but if you say so.  it really is two bad we are playing 2 different sports
love
a baseball player


dear tractor boy
i really have no idea what you think you are doing
but i guess i just have to let you do it
bye
a city girl


dear tall and lanky
apparently we are supposed to go out.
yeah we'll see if that happens
i'm super whatever about it all
love
the matchmaker who is getting matched

dear espanolo
eh eh  this could work out
like for reals
love
matchmaker

dear american league
some say i'm out of your league.
some might be saying you're out of my league
either way--we are not in the same league
too bad :(
love
national league

be happy be healthy folks!!!!

and happy wednesday

Brave-My Definition

Brave- 

"having or showing courage"

(Merriam-Webster)

Ok.  

But how do you show that courage?  How do you tell if you have it.

Some might say that being brave means telling the guy you like that you like him...even though you are pretty sure he doesn't like you back.

Its about saying what you need and want to say.

Its about throwing practicality out the window.

But I'm not so sure.

I mean yeah that is brave.  For sure.

But maybe its even more brave to walk away from the thing you want....but shouldn't have.

How many times in our lives have we wanted something, but known it is totally wrong for us.  

In my opinion walking away from this is even more brave than fighting for it.  

Its hard.  It goes against what you have been encouraged to do for most of your life.

For years we have been told to go for it!

To not let anything stop us...or to not let anyone tell us we can't have something.

But sometimes-you can't.  Sometimes you've gotta walk away.

And that is even more brave.

Closing the door when you so desperately want to stay-now that is brave.