Vaccines Save Lives #education #health #wellness

Yes vaccines are arguably the greatest technological development of the 20th century. Immunizations have been so effective at eradicating diseases such as measles, mumps, small pox, polio and chicken pox that many Americans have never seen a case of these diseases. I myself can remember having the mumps along with my 2 brothers then we all 3 got the chicken pox, then our poor daddy got the mumps ( as an adult having the mumps was not fun and he was very sick for a long time) My poor mom was worn out by the time our household finally got well, she was a superstar (God rest her soul) I can't believe she took care of all of us without complaining one bit.
This day and time you just don't see these types of diseases anymore due to our great jobs getting immunized so far. I am afraid this might just change soon due to parents who have chosen not to vaccinate their children for whatever reason they might choose.

Think about what you are doing before you choose not to vaccinate, educate yourself with the right information (not off You-tube videos) and think about the many life's of others that might be affected if your child comes down with one of these diseases and spreads it. These diseases can kill, that is why we vaccinate....to save lives.

see the pdf of this infographic HERE :   http://www.wellnessctr.org/wellness-corner/upload/immunization_web.pdf

Healing Presence Is An Art Form #ArtofNursing #nurseblogcarnival #nurses #finearts

The art of nursing - that healing presence and patient-focused practice first envisioned by Florence Nightingale.

When we think of the term " fine art" most often we envision a beautiful painting, sculpture or drawing comes to mind doesn't it? Nursing and healing is not the first thing that pops into your head when you think fine art, but the art of nursing is a fine and artful profession.

The Fine Arts
Nursing Art dates back many years to times of our predecessors. I love vintage nursing art and photography from all eras. The nursing profession has come such a long way since cotton cloth bandages and needles sharpened by the nurse, not some sterile factory many miles away. Necessity was the father of invention most days as nurses used whatever means they had to heal and care for the sick and wounded.

Timeless is the the quote from Florence Nightingale, "Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter's or sculptor's work; for what is the having to do with the dead canvas or dead marble, compared to having to do with the living body, the temple of God's spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said the finest of Fine Arts."

The Mission Field

Nursing is an art of devotion, it requires a type of selfless hands on healing presence. No matter the era of time or style of uniform worn nursing the sick and injured has the same from the heart art of caring and skillful touch of the "nurse". Task oriented robot nursing has no place in the "art" of true caring and healing, but sadly so many young nurslings go into this field with the task at hand attitude. Financial gains can also lead a nurse into the profession for some wrong reasons. 

Most of us can agree that we did not go into nursing for the monetary gain, but something more....something deeper within our beings. Many nurses like myself felt a spiritual calling from above to care for others. I have always called my work my mission field, as God seems to lead me in the path of those patients that most need my care or experiences. 

These Hands of Mine:

These hands of mine do not appear like a work of art that anybody wants to look at, they are worn, tired, wrinkled now and dotted in age spots, scarred up and poorly manicured. If my hands could talk they might just tell you of the many years they have been a healing presence in healthcare. How they helped me put on that very first jr volunteer (candy-striper) uniform so proudly at age 15, that eventually lead me into the field of nursing (even though I wanted to be a veterinarian).

These wrinkles might tell you many happy and sad stories of over 28 years of working in the Emergency Department, of holding many hands and giving many hugs to patients, families and co-workers. The power of touch has such a healing effect, these hands have tried to make a difference in the compassionate care we give others. Just like we use our ears to listen, we use our hands to open that conversation up and say "I care about you".  These hands have held newborn babies as new life emerges, and held the dying as life faded away. There has to be an art to using your hands I believe.

The Art Of Nursing

Nursing is a timeless art of healing and devotion to care. No matter what area you work in or what level of education you may have we all practice a selfless beautiful art form. Like the painter focus's on the blank canvas, the nurse focus's on her patient and paints a picture of compassionate healing. She/He uses the tools of the nursing practice (stethoscope, bandages, scissors and such) like the artist uses a brush or sculptor uses tools to sculpt a form. 

Art of Self Care, Self Love:

Remember to also take time to focus on yourself as the healer, your ability to practice your art form is only as good as you are. The Art of self-care is just as important in our lives as caring for our patients is to our mission fields. The artist can not paint if he is not well enough to lift his paint brush to the canvas and paint the picture that is from his heart.

The same thing is true for the healthcare provider that does not feel well, the care that flows from your hands is just not the same as when you are healthy and able to give your full attention to the tasks at hand, caring for your patients. 

The Art of Nursing 2.0 May 5-8th 2015 is a great way to help you practice, heal your spirits and improve your art form, check out the event and sign up HERE! This 4 day virtual event coincides with Nurses Week this year. 

This post was written as part of the Nurse Blog Carnival. More posts on this topic can be found at  ElizabethScala.com. Find out how to participate click the box below and join us!

Book Review: "Nursing From Within" by Elizabeth Scala #nurse #bookreview #selfcare

Elizabeth Scala is a nursing colleague and friend of mine, so I was happy to review one of her latest endeavors. One of Amazon's hot New Releases from the Nursing book list: Nursing from Within

Lighting A Spark Within Me
It was pure pleasure to read such an inspirational book for nurses, the read came at a time in my own life when I needed some inspiring and healing words. As nurses we are taught to care for others and we do that very well, so well that we sometimes (most all the time) take on more and more challenges. We care for others so well that we don't take the time to take care of ourselves. I have to admit this book resonated with my soul as I turned each page. I am that nurse that has always been way to busy to take care of herself. What the heck is "self love" I had to ask myself, do people actually do that? They did not teach this concept in nursing school way back when (we won't discuss how long that's been...lol)
Self-care is such an important part of nursing care, if we are not well, how can we help others get well?
This is something I am actively working on day by day, one day at a time. Elizabeth's book has helped me light a spark within me that I hope can ignite an inferno that will glow from inside out.

"Nursing From Within" is about a true deep and inner connection with the spirit of self"

You Can Teach Old Dogs New Tricks (or Tools for Life)
As an older (yikes) more experienced or well seasoned (or burned out) nurse I can relate to Elizabeth's advice throughout the book, even though her advice hit home way to often. Positive thinking throughout the book was very refreshing and kept me engaged with each page turn. I needed this self evaluation and inner focus to the "Nurse" within me. Young or old, most of us went into the nursing profession for the same reasons, we care about others. We just need some positive tools to help us do our jobs better, starting with the most important person first, you..... the nurse!

Elizabeth teaches some simple tools that she developed to help nurses become happier and healthier. These are tools for not only nurses but all health practitioners and healers.


3 Tools for Happier and Healthier Nurses:

1. Self Love: "To reconnect with the Nurse Within, you have to love this person that you are" Only when we love ourselves and let our light shine from within can we truly begin to be that nurse that we were "called" to be. Such a simple thing, but why is this so hard for us?

2. Being Present In The Moment: "You need to exist in the here and now" " All you need in peace and quiet"
Taking the time to listen, be still and be quiet sometimes is the best way to find out exactly what your patient needs.

3. Every Situation Is A Gift: " Each moment is a chance to learn something new" A way for you to grow through something and thrive on the other side. (I think this is true in all aspects of our daily lives)

Read more great tools in Nursing from Within: A Fresh Alternative to Putting Out Fires and Self-Care Workarounds " by Elizabeth Scala (available in paperback and Kindle formats)

Elizabeth is a nurse, Reiki Master, healer, certified coach, facilitator, teacher, author and speaker. You can find more about this awesome lady at Elizabeth Scala [dot] com





Get your copy of "Nursing From Within" via Amazon today!