An open letter to nursing students

 Dear Nursing Student,

 

The first thing I want to say to you, nursing student, is I'm proud of you and you should be proud of yourself. Nursing is not easy. It is not for the faint of heart. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry, but mostly it makes me appreciate the little things in life: my health, my limbs, my ability to speak, etcetera. So be proud of yourself for taking the hard road.

 

Whether you're just starting out or you're getting ready for NCLEX, you're probably feeling a little overwhelmed right now. At any given point during my time in nursing school, I was feeling overwhelmed about something and I learned, throughout my journey, that is completely normal. It's completely normal to question even wanting to BE a nurse anymore (believe me, I did that many times). It's completely normal to come home feeling exhausted and thinking you can't take one more day of this. But you know what? You can.

 

The important things to remember are:

 

Grace. Give yourself lots and lots of grace. You're going to make mistakes. You're going to blow that vien, mix up medications, not know the right answer sometimes. Grace is important - you need to forgive yourself, and learn from these mistakes - that is what will make you a better nurse.

 

Rest. Take time for yourself, your spouse, your friends. Take an hour to call an old girlfriend or go for a walk. Clear your head and come back to it later. Stay refreshed. Stay hydrated and stay  nourished. You can't expect to keep other people healthy if you aren't healthy yourself.

 

Patience. You aren't going to learn nursing in a day. You aren't even going to learn it in a year. Or ten years. Be patient, the knowledge will come. And keep coming and keep coming. The day it stops coming and you stop learning, is the day you need to stop being a nurse.

 

Love & compassion. To me, this is what separates a good nurse from a great one. The one's who really invest themselves in their patient's well being and the ones who truly love what they do and have compassion for everyone. Don't ever stop loving people.

 

So, little nursling, I hope this letter to you has helped you in some way. I hope you remember why you started nursing school. I hope you remember to trust your instincts and question everything. Whether it's your first semester or your last, don't give up. Keep on keepin' on.

 

Regards,

 

A nurse who was once in your shoes.
 

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Four years ago...

Does anyone use the Timehop app? I have it, but rarely do I re-post anything. Mostly, I just enjoy seeing what pictures I took or what my Facebook status said six years ago (some of it is actually pretty strange). The other day, Timehop informed me that four years ago, this was my Facebook status:

 

 

 

In the last four years, SO MUCH has happened in my life - not only nursing related things - but if we're talking strictly about nursing, there have been some major changes.

 

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Four years ago, on November 4th 2010, I was probably getting home to my little apartment after a long day of Nursing Fundamentals Clinicals. Or maybe a lab. Either way, I probably wasn't having a good day.

 

Who would have thought today I'd be getting home to my (very) little apartment after a long day of managing a 50 bed unit of very sick people, loving (almost) every minute of it, even though it's still hard?

 

Four years ago, I was still attending BSN classes at the university - the university from which I never graduated.

 

Who would have thought I would have to take the long road - transferring to a different school to become an LPN, working for a year, then going back to school to become an RN - making the BEST friends (and learning the best lessons) along the way?

 

Four years ago, I was "madly in love" with my high school sweetheart.

 

Who would have thought he really was the idiot everyone kept telling me about, and that I'd finally meet a MAN worthy of my time and marry him? (Okay I know that had nothing to do with nursing, but still - a big change).

 

Four years ago, my dream was to work on a labor and delivery unit. I loved the idea of welcoming new life into the world on a daily basis.

 

Who would have thought I'd be working with (mainly) geriatric patients - saying many more "Goodbyes" and "see you on the other side's" than I really ever thought I could handle?

 

Four years ago, I wondered - "Why do I want to be a nurse again?"

 

Who would have thought, even still, that I don't have the answer? But that I know it's what I'm meant to do?

 

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If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. Being a nurse is hard. Being a nurse, however, is one of the most rewarding jobs I could ever imagine. There are days I want to tear my hair out, days that I go home crying, days that I don't ever want to step foot in my building again. But those aren't the days that count. The days that count are the ones where a patient looks at me and says "thank you for all you do, you mean so much to me." The days that count are the ones where I can hold a family member's hand while they say goodbye to their loved one. The days that count are the ones where I can reassure a patient, family, or even another nurse - that everything is going to be okay.

 

That's why I wanted to be a nurse. That's why I still want to be a nurse. Because of the good days. The days that count.  

   

Five things nobody tells you when you get promoted

Many of you may know, many of you may not, but I was recently promoted to a new position within my facility. (If you're still lost, I am a registered nurse - formerly a LPN - working at a long term care and rehabilitation facility). Recently as in last week. My new official title is "Clinical Nurse Manager" which basically means I manage a single unit (there are six in my facility) and I report directly to the Director of Nursing (or DON in nurse-speak).

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I had applied for a new position - but it was NOT this one. This one came as a surprise, kind of like one of those "one door closes and another one opens" kind of things. It came with insecurities and doubts and "can I really do this?" and "what ifs." It came with excitement and nervousness and encouragement.

When you accept a new job, it usually comes with many congratulations and many well wishes, but there are a few things nobody will tell you about being promoted.



1. Everyone will have their own way of doing things. No matter what field you work in, what position you start in, or what position you are promoted to, the people around you are going to have their way of getting the job done. In my case, I am being trained by multiple people, and each one of them have a different way of doing things. Starting out, I can already see what I am going to do different, but I can also see some habits of my own that I need to adapt and change. No one person is completely right, and no one person is completely wrong. I think it's important to take away something from every person teaching you.

2. Not everyone will be excited for you. Its just one of those things. There will be those who just don't think you're good enough, no matter what. There will be those that are jealous, those that wanted the job themselves and thought they were the better fit. This is when you just have to hold your head high and not let your own self doubts mix with the doubts of others.

3. The training period is never long enough. No matter if you get three weeks, or three months, you will never know everything you need to know before you're on your own. There are just some things that have to be learned the hard way.

4. Being someone's boss (especially someone who was your fellow peer) is really hard. I learned this when I became an LPN, then I learned it again when I became an RN, and I'm still learning it now, as a manager. If you've ever been promoted within a facility, chances are you are now your former peers' boss. And chances are you are now the one that has to tell them what to do, how to do it, and reprimand them when they get it wrong. It sucks. I haven't found a way to do it when it doesn't suck, so if you know of one, please let me know.

5. You will get things wrong. It's okay. Thankfully I'm still working under supervision so I haven't had a chance to screw up too badly. But I know it's coming. It always does. I am not perfect, nor to I pretend to be. I do however, try my best to get the job done in the most efficient and ethical way possible, while doing what is best for my staff and my patients, who are of course my number one priority.

Did you learn anything new when you were promoted/hired in a new position?

Proposed Legislature and what I think about it

Today I went to the State House down town to sit in on a Public Hearing with a few classmates and one of our instructors. The proposed legislature was SB 57 (you can read the entire text here) concerning the care of diabetic children in the school system. In short, it states that non-nurses and/or non MEDICAL personnel can and should be able to care for school children diagnosed with type one and type two diabetes.
Unfortunately the hearing was cancelled, and even though I was excited to be able to come home and take off my pants in exchange for ones with an elastic waistband, I am very disappointed to not be able to sit in on this hearing as it is something I care a lot about.
A brief overview of diabetes: Your body produces insulin in the pancreas which helps to break down glucose in the cells and use it as energy. Without insulin, our cells cannot use glucose (the body's main fuel source) for energy. The glucose builds up in the bloodstream and exits through the kidneys into our urine. Think of it as having a major gas leak... you keep pumping all of this gas in your car but it never makes it to where it is supposed to go and you are constantly running out of gas. We don't want our bodies to run out of gas. External/supplemental insulin is then used for people diagnosed with diabetes to help break down the glucose so we can actually use it to fuel our bodies.
Back to the proposed legislature. Basically it states that the injection of the medication is an act that is "not in the practice of nursing." We all know that there are many people diagnosed with diabetes who self administer their medication, who are NOT nurses. I am not denying that administering an injection is something ONLY a nurse can do. 
Diabetes is a complicated, ever evolving, many layered, disease that involves way more than "giving insulin." When caring for young or newly diagnosed patients diagnosed with diabetes, you require more than just a "skill" (giving a shot). You require knowledge, history, and judgment that I believe can only come in the form of a person who is formally trained in the subject.
I have been learning about and dealing with this disease long before I was a nurse (my mom's dad was a diabetic) and I continue to learn more and more every day. If you have children, think about them. Would you trust someone to take care of them if they weren't even trained in that field? I completely agree with the Alabama Board of Nursing when they say that by passing that bill, it would lower the standard of care these children would receive.
I know this isn't applicable to many of you (unless you're from Alabama, a diabetic, or a family member of someone with diabetes) but I just wanted to share with you all some of the things that go on within our government. I was not planning on lobbying but our instructor that accompanied us was definitely planning on sharing her two cents and I couldn't be more proud. I encourage you all to do your research on the proposed legislature in your state, you may be surprised and find something that will affect you personally and you may even be so compelled to attend a public hearing and say your piece. You never know who's mind you could change.

You know you're a nurse when...

You have textbooks with pictures of organs/genitals laying around

Your friends/family call you for any little ailment

You know that most things can be treated with acetaminophen and/or ice

You have a BURNING HATE for WebMD and all other "medical websites" and the patients that come in already "knowing" their diagnosis and argue when you or the doctor have a different opinion. (Whew that got a little heated)

You dread computer charting updates

Your friends tell you they're idea of a gross story, you aren't impressed

You can easily spot mistakes on TV shows involving medicine. (When Walt "restarts his IV" on Breaking Bad with the needle.... except there AREN'T needles inside an IV)

You can always win the "I had a bad day at work" argument. Feces on your scrubs, anyone?

You always shrug off being sick but insist anyone else should seek treatment asap. That sinus infection isn't going to take care of itself, buddy.

Weekends mean nothing to you anymore

You don't take the little things for granted

 

I have become a nurse

Last Thursday marked one year that I walked across the stage to accept my pin and graduate nursing school. I feel like this year has absolutely flown by, and in another few months I'll graduate again as a registered nurse. In the last year I have done, seen, and learned so many things; too  many to name, but here are a few things I am greatful that I've experienced along the way:

I have learned how to get what I want from doctors.

I have learned to listen to the older nurses, even if they aren't nice.

I have learned to go with my gut, always.

I have learned to check, double check, and recheck my meds.

I have learned that two hands are better than one, and four are better than two.

I have witnessed families coming apart, and families coming together.

I have cared for people who have no one in the world.

I have cared for the alcoholic, the drug addict, and the mentally ill.

I have cried happy tears, and sad ones.

I have had days where I questioned myself on end, and days where I didn't.

I have received praise for my work, and reprimand for my mistakes.

I have seen a mother welcome her child into the world, and a daughter tell her mother goodbye.

I have learned that it's okay when you don't know everything, and it doesn't hurt to ask.

I have pounded chests.

I have learned what teamwork really means.

I have pushed meds.

I have been called names, good ones and bad ones.

I have seen people who are at their worst, still give their best.

I have had people lift me up, when it should have been the other way around.

I have called codes, called ambulances, and called families.

I have held a patient as they took their first breaths, and another as they took their last.

I have become a nurse.

Sharing an office

As you may know, I recently acquired a new job title, and with that came a new office. An office shared with three other women, so there's four of us total. We all get along exceptionally well, or at least I get along with everyone and they get along with me. I can't say much about them getting along with each other. We eat lunch together every day (usually in the office, since we're too busy to go out) and we share stories like it's going out of style. Seriously, I've been here for three weeks and I know more about these ladies than any of the nurses I worked with before. I don't hate it.

Sure sharing an office has awesome perks as mentioned above, but sometimes it isn't so great. Here's why:

1. You can't let 'er rip. Don't even say you never pass gas (mom) because we all do it. Some less than others, some more. But it's pretty common courtesy not to do it in such an enclosed setting, where people will probably give you side eyes. So now every time I gotta relieve some pressure I have to excuse myself to the bathroom or find a reason to go out of the office.

2. People aren't always going to get along. As I hinted at before, two of the ladies in the office aren't exactly best buds if you know what I mean. Sure, they never argue and aren't rude to each other, but they never go out of their way to be nice to each other. I have been assured, that it won't be too long before I see them "getting in to it." Apparently it's a common occurence. I just want no part in it.

3. You will get talked about. So maybe this is more true than with women than men, but as soon as someone walks out of our office, somebody has something to say about them. Don't get me wrong, it's not always a mean comment, but comments are definitely made. Makes me not want to take as many restroom breaks.

4. Its difficult to take selfies (real important issue here). Having a front facing camera helps, but when your supervisor's desk is behind yours, she can see your phone screen. So you've gotta be discreet, or wait until you're alone in the office.

As you can see, I've gotten pretty good at it.

Now don't go getting your panties in a wad thinking this is all I do at work. Because I do a lot, but there are only specific things I can do. I work in admissions, if we don't have anyone admitting, I don't have work. Or if the referring facility hasn't sent paperwork, I don't have work. It can get pretty tedious waiting around.

5. I can't think of a #5. But I am a weirdo and I like my lists in incraments of 5. I don't have a previous office job that I can compare this job to, but so far I am loving it. I love the hours, my co-workers, and the work that I do.

Do you have to share an office? What do you like/dislike about it?

The weekend before a Monday final...

....does not a good time make.

Well guys, I wish I had some fun things to report to you, but not counting a date night, the only thing this weekend consisted of was a lot of studying and almost as much complaining about said studying.

Friday night, Derek and I stayed in, he was quite tired from his second job and I worked rather late that nigh so we were both fine with it.

Saturday, I spent the majority of the day studying for my final (which is today) then Derek and I headed out to our favorite wing place for some wings and adult bevvies.

He's such an enthusiastic picture-taker.

 

My normal sized Miller Lite, and Derek's monstrous beer.

 

We ended the night watching RIPD pretty much because that was the only movie playing at a decent time that wouldn't keep us up past our bedtime. It was decently funny. I would have rather watched The Wolverine but apparently that is only for nerds.

 

Sunday, I spent literally the entire day studying my little patootie off. I have exactly an 80 in my class right now and I'd kill to keep a B. B's are hard to come by in nursing school, and I'm proud of mine. Also if I plan on going further (which I do) I need to have good grades.

 

I took to Starbucks for a change of scenery and surprisingly got a lot accomplished.

 

Toward the end of the night the constant studying was starting to get to me.

 

We'll end this post on a happy note. Happy Monday!

Shenanigan-less Weekend

This weekend was a pretty mild one compared to recent ones. Friday, I got home from work to find Derek working on his boat project and he decided he wanted to show me these beauties he found holed up in an old jetski exhaust.

Incase you're unfamiliar with the arachnid species, those are two black widow spiders and they were HUGE.

A better picture to reference the size. I'm so so so glad I wasn't the one who found them, because I would have most definitely shat my pants. As I was taking these pictures, I hear Derek yell and I thought he had found another widow, but it was only this cute little guy:

Of course as soon as Derek handed him to me, the little booger decided to pee all over my hand. He made up for it by sitting so pretty for a picture. Okay now that I'm done grossing most of you out. That night we went for sushi and a movie date, but it turned into sushi and a redbox (if you haven't watched Argo yet, please do) which was fine by me.

 

Saturday, I spent 90% of the day doing this:

(10 points if you can name that book!)

And the other 10% doing some laundry and occasionally wondering out to the barn to check that Derek hadn't been bitten by any black widows.

 

Sunday I did some more of the above, writing a paper, putting together a presentation, and then got ready to work an evening shift to make some extra $$ as work. It started off boring but then I had an exploding ostomy bag and a code, so it definitely didn't end boring. I celebrated national ice cream day with some soft serve and lunch break in my car.

Yummay in mah tummay!

Obviously my front facing camera is not even 1/2 the quality of my actual one. Oh well.

 

Link up with Sami and share your shenanigans! Happy Monday!

A day in the life

 

The prompt for blog every day in May today is "A day in the life." So here is a typical work day of mine:

 

0430 - Wake up, get dressed, grab lunch for the day.

0450 - Leave for the gym

0515 - 0615 - Gym flow

0635 - Head to work

0700 - 1930 - Work (tons of fun!)

2000 - Get home, fix dinner, and socialize with my in-laws

2100 - Relaxing (playing COD, blogging, watching tv, etc)

2200 - BED.

Selfies in the break room, no biggie.

 

Wow when you break it down like that, it doesn't seem like much, but by 10 p.m. I am DONE. Like I physically can't function past that time. On days when I have to work late (until 9 or 10) I usually don't go to they gym the next day, unless I'm feeling extra peppy or I don't have to work. Then I can sleep in.

 

For those of you who don't know, I'm a nurse. I work at along term care facility (aka nursing home/rehab facility) and the hours are long and the work is grueling. I love my job, even when I hate it. Here's the part I don't like though, since I made the decision to go back to school, my employer cannot work around my schedule. Which has forced me to leave my full-time, permanent position, and work on a PRN (as needed) basis.

 

I am so torn, because even though I will be getting a much needed break, and I will be able to choose and control the hours/days that I work... I don't want to leave my patients. I will be leaving them in the hands of a brand spankin' new nurse (who I have been training the last week) and it has been a tough transition for me. I'm not going to get into the details because I want to respect the privacy of my co-worker. But I will ask this: will you pray (send good vibes or happy thoughts or whatever it is you do) for me and my co-worker as we make this transition together, because right now it's not easy for either of us. Ultimately it is about the well being of our patients.

 

Whew. When I started off writing this post, I was not headed in that direction, but sometimes I have no control over what my fingers type... it just kept coming out. Like word vomit. And I feel better. Even though I haven't shared what's really going on, I at least have a small amount of frustration off of my chest.

 

"Nurses are a unique kind. They have this insatiable need to care for others, which is both their biggest strength and fatal flaw." -- Dr. Jean Watson, RN

 

Linking up with Shanna.

50 questions to free your mind: Part 2

First, and most importantly because I forgot yesterday, HAPPY NURSES WEEK to all of my fellow nurses and future nurses. Give yourself a pat on the back for being awesome!

 

True story.

 

Free ice cream yesterday at work for nursing appreciation. Sooo yummy.

 

As part of my 101 goals in 1001 days, I am answering 50 Questions that will Free Your Mind in 10-Question segments. To read Part 1 click here.

11. You're having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful an unjustified. What do you do?
Defend my friend, of course. If their criticism is unjustified, then I will definitely put them in their place (in a respectful way) and let them know that it is NOT okay to talk about that person in front of me.

12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
I'm not really understanding why I'm offering advice to a newborn... but lets roll with it. I would tell them to do what makes them happy. To pray about the big decisions and to always do what they feel is right in their hearts.

13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?
Save their life? Duh. To save them from getting into trouble, for something they did? Nah.. I'm a big believer in paying your dues and suffering consequences you bring upon yourself. Sorry 'bout it.

14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
I suppose so. I can't think of anything specific, but I think everyone thinks most ideas are crazy...until they work.

15. What's something you know you do differently than most people?
The way I eat reeses cups. I pick off the thick chocolate from the edges and just eat the center. Everyone that has seen me do this thinks I'm crazy. But I don't like the chocolate part as much as I like the peanut butter part.

16. How come the things that make you happy don't make everyone happy?
Because we all have our own personal preferences. I like my tea cold and sweet, some people like it hot and lemony. That's what makes this world a beautiful place. Everyone has their own likes, dislikes, opinions, and things that they love.

17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What's holding you back?
I really want very much to travel. I've started a list of places I want to go and I plan on eventually going to all of them. As for what's holding me back, mainly money. The fact that we're working on getting approved to buy a house. And that I'm going back to school. There are a lot of things. And I'm okay with waiting. They say that good things come to those who wait. Or patience is a virtue.

18. Are you holding on to something you need to let go of?
I can't think of anything in particular...

19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
Florida. Because I pretty much lived there most of my life. Because there's a beach. The winters are mild. I also wouldn't mind South Carolina.

20. Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
Sometimes I do. No I don't really believe it makes the elevator faster. But most elevators won't shut the doors unless a button has been pressed.

101 goals in 1001 days

A little more about being a nurse

Howdy! So by now you all know that I'm a nurse, right? No? Okay well now you do. I'm a nurse. I work a "12 hour" shift 4 days a week. I say "12 hour" with quotations because really its more like 13. Sometimes 16 if I'm really lucky. But hey, I love it. Here's a little look into the life of a nurse:

You know you're a nurse if...

...you rattle when you walk because your pockets are filled with pens, markers, pencils, scissors, bandaids, a glucometer, and a maybe a snack or two.

...you find yourself picking out the good veins of the people standing next you in the grocery line.

...you can smell c-diff or a lower GI bleed from a mile away.

...poop doesn't gross you out. Neither does vomit, blood, or any other body fluids.

...you consider it a complement when people say you're a "good stick."

...you know what a "good stick" is.

...you would like to meet the inventor of the call light in a dark alley with a gang of nurses and needles.

...you think sharpies are gold and black pens are silver.

...you make it to the end of your twelve hour shift and realize you only peed once.

...you get excited when drug reps come, because that means free food.

...you think anyone that says the "Q word" deserves side eyes for life.

...you have seen more penises than Lisa Lampanelli and as many vaginas as a gynecologist.

...you don't think twice about using words like "penis," "vagina," or "cerumen" in day-to-day conversation.

...you know that gauges go down and frenches go up.

...you know there is no such thing as always. Or never.

...if there's something that can go wrong, it will.

...you've ever heard the phrase "I really don't know how that got stuck there" or "I'm allergic to all medications except Demerol and Morphine."

...you are the only one at dinner who isn't allowed to discuss how your day went at work.

...you wash your hands an abnormal amount per day.

...you use nursing abbreviations in every day emails, letters, or text messages. And get annoyed when people don't know what you're talking about.

...your family members and friends call you to ask "where these bumps came from."

...you find countless alcohol swabs in your washing machine.

...you eat more meals standing up than sitting down.

...you know the significance of the song "Another one Bites the Dust"

...you become best friends with the male nurse or nurses aid. Not because he's cute, but because he can pick things up that you can't.

And lastly

...you love your job more than anything, even if all you do is complain about it!

That one time my life couldn't get any better

I can't believe I'm 23. I know 23 isn't old, and I'm not trying to say it is. It's just hard for me to believe that it's already been a year since my last birthday, since it seems like yesterday. This time last year, Derek was taking me on our first date. We talked for hours, and I'm pretty sure that's when I fell in love with him. My favorite thing about birthdays is all of the love I feel. From family. From friends. From co-workers. From fellow bloggers. It truly melts my heart to know how many people love and care about me. Here's a few pictures from my second birthday celebration:

Out to eat at our favorite wing place! The staff sang "Happy Birthday, Haley." Close enough, right? And I just can't get over how ecstatic Derek looks. You would think it was his birthday with all that excitement.

 

After dinner we headed home for on of my favorite things. Cheesecake. Man was it good.

(Apologies for the cell phone quality)

 

Another angle.

 

"Okay babe that's enough pictures."

 

The last picture of the cheesecake alive. We pretty much demolished it.

 

I still can't believe I'm going back to school. I am so excited to be going back with most of my classmates from my LPN class, including Morgan. Between carpooling, studying, classes, and clinical, we were probably together more than her and her husband (not really). But we became very close and I can't wait to take this journey with her again. Even if we won't be carpooling this time. I am so glad and proud of myself for taking this opportunity to better myself and further my career. I just can't wait to see what kind of doors God will open for me along the way!

 

Linked up with Robin and Shanna. Cheers to hump day and being half way to the weekend!