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Welcome to my blog about health, nursing, caring, kindness and positive change. Our world is full of such negative influences and bad choices, today is the day to make a positive change both physically and mentally in your life.
ERNursesCare is a blog incorporating my nearly 30 years of experience in the healthcare field with my passion for helping others, I want it to encourage others with injury prevention, healthy living, hard hitting choices, hot topics and various ramblings from my unique sense of humor. Come along and enjoy your journey......
Showing posts with label nurses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nurses. Show all posts

Friday, May 5, 2017

This Crazy Nurse Thing #nurses #heros




I never wanted to be a nurse.
I was a hyper theatre kid who ran around making people laugh; not much has changed.
When I was diagnosed as Type 1, I knew a BS in psychology wouldn't be getting me decent food, much less insulin. I had to do this crazy nursing thing, there wasn't a choice.
In 4 years I thrashed through the UCF program with honors, then sat myself in Susie Miller's office to beg for employment.
Another 4 years and I'm in love with this crazy nursing thing, which never stops being crazy. Never.
Lucky doesn't begin to describe me, the friends I've made, the palms I've squeezed, the lives brought in, the lives let go.
The most intense exercise in empathy, sprayed with your blood, drenched in my sweat, shook by your screams, sobered by your pain, strengthened by your calm.
This is the ultimate human experience, stripped bare. You sit alone, waiting for this hyper theatre kid in a Superman watch to step in and change you.
I've learned to never promise anything in this work, but I'll make an exception for you, patient.
It's you that will be changing me.

Shared with permission from Samuel Joseph 


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Friday, January 13, 2017

Winter Safety Series: 10 Top Tips For Winter Pet Safety #pets #wintersafety

Our pets or furbabies are laughter and joy in a sometimes dreary world. Just as we protect ourselves, our homes and our cars in the winter,we need to pay close attention to our pets too. Outdoor pets are use to living outside, yes, but they are not all used to bitter freezing temperatures.



Be prepared to bring your pet indoors if the temperatures drop, or at least have a safe warm space for them. A garage or outbuilding that is out of the elements is at least something if you can not bring them inside the house. I realize that not all pets/animals can come indoors, we have owned dogs that would destroy an indoor space if we brought them in. Plan ahead and make these pets a cozy house with lots of insulation materials like straw or cedar chips. Warming pads that are outdoor safe can be purchased at your local farm or pet supply store.
Other animals have cold temperature guidelines too, chickens, rabbits, horses etc need protection too. You can find options for keeping them warm online or just ask your vet. Chickens just don't do very well inside, they are not fond of your kitchen. Lol


 
  My puggie furbabies above (in addition to 5 kitties that stay indoors too)

Here are my Top 10 Tips for keeping your animal friends safe and warm during the cold winter months:
  1. Be Prepared!! Don't wait until the temp drops to start planning to bring your pets indoor. Have a plan in place already, stock up on supplies ( pee pads, food, extra water bowls, bedding, etc)
  2. Bring your pets inside, don't let indoor pets out during bad weather either.
  3. Provide plenty of fresh water for hydration. Use a water defroster/de-icer for outdoor water containers.
  4. Make some noise! Check under the hood of your vehicles before starting them. Animals ,especially cats love the warmth of the motor and the tires. Bang on the hood and sides to give them a chance to run out.
  5. Protect against hazards,especially if you have brought a usually outdoor pet inside, the sites and smells are new and worth eating or chewing on.
  6. Clean up antifreeze spills or other liquid hazards you might use to winterize your vehicle. Antifreeze tastes yummy sweet to dogs, but can be deadly if ingested.
  7. Provide warm outerwear, like sweaters and booties for trips outside. You will get some cute photos and protect little Fee-fee from the elements.
  8. Take special care to wipe off doggie paws and under bellies when you come back indoors. The salts and chemicals that are outside can make them sick if they lick it off. You can buy special paw care salve or cream to keep feet healthy.
  9. Never leave pets alone in the car, just as important in the winter.
  10. Never let pets off the leash during a winter storm/ snow. The snow and ice will mask the scent that they need to follow and find the way home. Pets get lost much faster in bad weather. 




We just had our first large winter storm of the season last week, being prepared was the key. I even came prepared to feed all the birds and squirrels in the neighborhood too I think.Those squirrels are eating better than me now!
I wish you safe journeys and warm nights! Stay tuned to my blog for upcoming tips and helpful topics. Next week I am going to try and focus on winter illness's and the plain Jane explanation of topics such as " strep throat " , " pharyngitis " " influenza" "pneumonia's and more. Plus when do you go to the ER for treatment!

If there is a topic you want me to cover, please comment below.

Chow!


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Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Super Health and Wellness Bundles: What's In There? #healthyfamily #herbsandessentialoils #ultimatebundles

https://us154.isrefer.com/go/herbmain/a3732/


So whats in these super bundles?? How about a list of the products (I like to see things before I buy them)

#1 Herbs and Essential Oils Bundle List :
(all of these are included for one low price) 
  • 101 Essential Oil Blends for Topical & Aromatic Use by Rachel Zupke of Mason Jar Values ($7.99)
  • 5 Multi-Use Herbs (And What to Do with Them) by Sarah Josey of Golden Poppy Herbal Apothecary & Clinic ($17.00)
  • Best Herbs & Essential Oils For Labor & Delivery-Audio Class & Transcript by Jenni Wilson of Natural Oil Mom ($19.95)
  • Cold & Flu Season: Are You Ready? by Carol Little ($9.99)
  • Common Sense Home Remedies Book #1 – Head, Throat & Chest by Laurie Neverman of Common Sense Home ($2.99)
  • Common Sense Home Remedies Book #1 – Skin Troubles by Laurie Neverman of Common Sense Home ($2.99)
  • Common Sense Home Remedies Book #1 – Tummy Troubles by Laurie Neverman of Common Sense Home ($2.99)
  • DIY Lavender Creations by Stacy Karen of A Delightful Home ($5.99)
  • Essential Oils Planner by Amy Bayliss of AmyBayliss.com ($5.95)
  • Essential Oils: Separating Truth from Myth by Kristen Smith of Smithspirations ($9.95)
  • Essential Oils: The Herbalist’s Toolkit by Amber Meyers of Herbal Academy of New England ($4.99)
  • Handbook of Home Remedies by Wellness Mama (list her this way on the site) of Wellness Mama ($24.00)
  • Herbs & Oils: Beyond the Basics by Jessie Hawkins of Vintage Remedies ($165.00)
  • Homegrown Healing: From Seed to Apothecary by Chris Dalziel of Joybilee Farm ($9.97)
  • How to Create Healing Herbal Baths by Kami McBride of Living Awareness ($19.99)
  • Mama and Baby Herbal Wisdom by Kate Tietje of Modern Alternative Mama ($7.95)
  • Safe EO Labels – Set A by Lea Harris of Using EOs Safely ($19.99)
  • The Essential Oils Course by Edie Wadsworth of Living Life in Grace ($39.00)
  • Using Essential Oils Safely & Effectively by Natalie Vickery of The Family Herbalist ($12.50)
  • Wholistic Vitality: Healing Foods for the Whole Family by Dr. Karen Lee of DrKarenSLee.com ($9.99)



 

#2 The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle List : 
(all of these are included at one low price)

Alternative Health

DIY Beauty & Skincare

Essential Oils & Natural Remedies

Fitness & Weight Loss

For Women

Gardening & Homesteading

Gluten- & Grain-Free

Healthy Kids

Healthy Lifestyle

Paleo

Real Food & Nutrition

Recipes






Hurry up, you only have a short time to get your orders in! 
 
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Thursday, May 12, 2016

Happy Nurses Week Giveaway: Hurry Enter Today! #nursefamily #fastaffnursefamily #nursesweek

Nurses Week each year is a family affair, as nurses we feel a bond to each other. Working side-by-side as individuals or as a team, nurses share some of the most demanding, precious and life-changing moments together. We share new life, triumphant miracles, horrific trauma and of course death of the patients we live each day to take care of. Nurses around the world share a consistent knowledge and passion that only a nurse feels .....knows......lives.....


How many of you have bonded with a special nurse that you may have worked with and shared that common bond with?
Above: my bestie, we met in a class right before I started working in the ED.

My very best friend of nearly 28 years is just that nurse. We worked together in the emergency department for many years ....laughed and cried together as we grew into "seasoned " nurses. She has had my back, as I have had hers thru many life events, joys and sorrows. Even though we don't work
together anymore, we stay very close and I consider her my sister ( we even look alike...lol).


This year during National Nurses Week, the travel nurse company Fastaff celebrates just such relationships with a giveaway : two $500 gift cards for Southwest Airlines! How awesome is that?
To enter complete the form Here to nominate someone who is a part of your life... your nurse family.
Happy Nurses Week to nurses all over the world! Enter the giveaway today! You only have a day left to enter.....so hurry do it now!

Here again is the link to nominate your #nursefamily www.fastaff.com/nurses-week 
  

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Saturday, April 16, 2016

Zika Virus: What Do You Know About It #ZikaVirus



Just what do you know about the "Zika Virus", that mosquito- borne illness that is in the news all the time now it seems? Did you know that it has actually been around since 1947? Yep that's right, it started in Africa and spread to Asia and the Pacific islands, then to Latin American and the Caribbean where it is rapidly spreading now.

So what are the symptoms of Zika? 
  • Most people don't know they have been affected with the virus at all, they will have no symptoms
  • The most common symptoms can be fever, rash, joint pains, conjunctivitis (redness of the eyes) , muscle pain and/ or headaches possibly. 
  • The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) for Zika virus disease is not known, but is likely to be a few days to a week.
  • It is best to see your doctor or healthcare provider if you are pregnant and develop any of the symptoms above within 2 weeks of traveling to any of the affected countries/areas.
  • Zika virus is usually a mild illness with symptoms lasting only a short time after being bit by an infected mosquito. 
  • People infected with the Zika virus do not usually need any kind of hospitalization and very rarely are ill enough to die from the virus. Please to not present to the Emergency room in a panic because you think you have symptoms of the Zika virus. 
  • There is no cure and no vaccine available yet, although they are working towards the vaccine. 




Prevention:  "Education is the key to prevention"

  • There is no cure and no vaccine for Zika, so prevention is the best cure we have right now.
  • Avoiding mosquito bites especially in areas that are know for outbreaks of the Zika virus.
  • Prevent sexual transmission of the virus by using condoms or abstaining from sexual contact. 
  • Wear long sleeve protective clothing and pants to keep bare skin covered, be aware that mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus usually bite more in the day-time hours. 
  • Stay indoors in air conditioned rooms or keep screened doors closed to limit exposure
  • Sleep under a mosquito net if you are in a heavily infested Zika area
  • Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane-diol. Choosing an EPA-registered repellent ensures the EPA has evaluated the product for effectiveness. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breast-feeding women.
    • Always follow the product label instructions.
    Reapply insect repellent as directed.
    Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
  • If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen before applying insect repellent.
  • Protect children from mosquito bites (they need special care with chemical bug repellents)
  • Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
  • Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children younger than 3 years old.
  • Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
  • Cover crib, stroller, and baby carrier with mosquito netting.
  • Do not apply insect repellent onto a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, and cut or irritated skin.
  • Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face.
  • Be sure to check your yard often, daily even for standing water and keep it dumped out. Mosquito's can breed in a tiny little bit of water, like the size of a bottle cap (sneaky little boogers), so be a detective and get rid of them.
  • Protect your family and your community, it's just the right thing to do!
  • Be smart about planning a pregnancy if you are going to travel to South America or the Caribbean , talk to your doctor first. It might be a better option to wait or delay your travel plans.


Below is a great infographic I found that explains the Zika virus in detail (with a timeline) , symptoms, treatments and preventative measures.


What is Zika Virus? [Infographic] Infographic

Do you want more information about the Zika Virus? Here are a few links to visit and learn more. 
http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/zika/fs-posters/index.html
http://www.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/en/
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zika_virus
http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/13/health/cdc-zika-virus-microcephaly/index.html
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/zika-virus-symptoms-prevention

Please educate yourself and be smart this summer about mosquitos, they can carry numerous virus's and diseases. With some prevention and a dose of smartness we can be smarter. 

Have a great and safe weekend

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Thursday, September 10, 2015

World Suicide Prevention Day 2015 : Why We Need To Talk About Depression Now! #worldsuicidepreventionday

According to the recently released World Health Organization (WHO) report:Preventing Suicide: A Global Imperative, over 800,000 people die by suicide across the world each year. The report notes that this estimate is conservative, with the real figure likely to be higher because of the stigma associated with suicide, lack of reliable death recording procedures, and religious or legal sanctions against suicide in some countries.
We may not be able to pinpoint the exact figure, but we do know that each individual suicide is a tragic loss of life. It is hard to imagine the extreme psychological pain that leads someone to decide that suicide is the only course of action. Reaching out to someone who is struggling can make a difference.
‘Preventing Suicide: Reaching Out and Saving Lives’ is the theme of the 2015 World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention(IASP) and the WHO, a co-sponsor of meetings and events related to WSPD 2015.. Since 2003, WSPD has taken place on 10th September each year. It serves as a call to action to individuals and organizations to prevent suicide. This year, the theme encourages us all to consider the role that offering support may play in combating suicide.
The act of showing care and concern to someone who may be vulnerable to suicide can be a game-changer. Asking them whether they are OK, listening to what they have to say in a non-judgmental way, and letting them know you care, can all have a significant impact. Isolation increases the risk of suicide, and, conversely, having strong social connections is protective against it, so being there for someone who has become disconnected can be life-saving.




Reaching out to those who have been bereaved by suicide
Suicide is devastating for families, friends and community members who are left behind. They may experience a whole range of emotions, including grief, anger, guilt, disbelief and self-blame.They may not feel that they can share these overwhelming feelings with anyone else. Therefore, reaching out to those who have lost someone to suicide is very important.
As a result of the stigma surrounding suicide, those who are bereaved by suicide are often perceived differently from those who lose a family member through another cause of death. People who are bereaved may find that they are avoided by people who don’t know how to broach the subject or offer their condolences. Or they may just feel that others do not understand the intensity of their emotional response to the death of their loved one.
Once again, a pro-active approach and offering a sympathetic, non-judgmental ear can make all the difference. Giving someone who has been bereaved by suicide the opportunity to talk about their loss, in their own time, on their own terms, can be a precious gift. Allowing them to express their full range of feelings can be cathartic, and can help them to take the first small step in moving through their grief. Starting the conversation may be difficult, but it will almost certainly be appreciated.
Reaching out to put people in touch with relevant services
Although the support of friends and relatives is crucial for people who may be at risk of suicide and for people who have lost someone to suicide, it is not always enough. Often more formal help is also needed. Such help can take many forms, and is likely to vary from country to country. In high-income countries, it may include specialist mental health services and primary care providers, both of which offer clinical care. It may also include a range of community organisations which provide non-clinical support, as well as support groups and self-help groups. In low- and middle-income countries, the more clinically-focused services are less readily available, and there is a heavier reliance on community organizations. Part of reaching out to vulnerable individuals can involve helping to link them to relevant services.
Reaching out to the suicide prevention community
There is strength in numbers. Around the globe, many individuals and organizations are involved in efforts to prevent suicide. We can learn from each other, and strengthen the evidence base for effective interventions. Reaching out to those who are travelling the same road increases the likelihood that our collective efforts to reduce the numbers of people who die by suicide, and the numbers of people for whom these deaths have shattering effects, will be successful.
Reaching out on World Suicide Prevention Day
On September 10th, join with others around the world who are working towards the common goal of preventing suicide. Check in on someone you may be concerned about, listen to what they say, how they say it and show them kindness and support. Investigate ways of linking in with others who are trying to prevent suicide in your community, your country, or internationally. Show your support by organizing or taking part in a WSPD activity in your area and/or join in with IASP’s Cycle Around the Globe.
Please, reach out and save lives.
Credit: IASP- World Suicide Prevention https://www.iasp.info/wspd/

Light a Candle Near a Window at 8pm on September 10th 




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Saturday, August 29, 2015

Nurses Are The Worst..........What?


Nurses are many things to many people, we are called many things from angels to saints, but the one thing I can admit myself is that this nurse is the worst.....patient. Yes, I have a hard time doing what I should be doing, taking care of me. I am getting better at it though, I have learned that oh so hard lesson of saying no and not taking on so much. Lessons I have had to learn the hard way, trial by fire. 
Giving so much of ourselves to others and the inability to say "no" can leave any nurse without the proper time to care for herself or himself. Burned out nurses leave the profession everyday because they forget the importance of self care.
Self  care is as important as patient care now, you must advocate for yourself because nobody else will. 

Many of us work 12 hours, night shifts, over-time, 2nd jobs, go to school, then turn around and have to go home to a house full of kids, disabled spouses or elderly parents that might be ill too. I know I work a weekender position, but often feel like I work 7 days a week due to the stressors of having a disabled husband and homeschooling my kiddos. There is always something at our house to do or somewhere to go. 



Have you ever gone to work tired, irritable, lacking sleep and felt like you took that frustration out on your coworkers or even your patients? How about going to work and feeling sicker than the patients that you were caring for? Those things should not be happening. 
Taking care of yourself on a daily basis, balancing work and home environments, decreasing the level of stress you feel and learning some tools to educate yourself so you can be your own healthcare advocate will lead to a nurse that enjoys taking care of others again.



List of Awesome Self Care Tools: these are just some of the things that I find to be helpful

  1. Learn how to say "NO"- this is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. You don't have to do it all, your kids don't need to do every sport or club at school, let them pick one they love. The time you spend at home as a family they will cherish more later on. 
  2. SLEEP- your body heals itself and repairs itself while you sleep, you have got to get some sleep!! forget this staying up all day and trying to work all night long (unless you want to land in a ditch dead one day- that's where you are headed). I use essential oils to help me sleep, a little lavender or vetiver oil on my feet at bedtime and I have no trouble sleeping day or night.
  3. ROUTINE- get yourself into a routine- your body will thank you- your sleep will come easier- for instance I work night shifts on the weekends, so my routine is to stay up all night at home on Friday nights and sleep on Saturday- my family knows this is my routine and I get my sleep, everybody is happy and I am awake to drive to work safely. What kind of routines can you set up during the week? Make a white board for the kitchen and write your routine on it, tell the family you are going to follow this, they will love you for it.
  4. Eat whole foods, fresh foods and don't go without meals- this is just a no brainer, Food is energy..........if we don't eat, we don't get the fuel we need to function. Crap in is Crap out.....right?
  5. Add Probiotics to your daily supplement regimen - this is one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself healthy. Your gut health is one of the most important things, it is like your 2nd brain! Billions of good bacteria live in your gut and they need to stay healthy to help you fight off any threats to your immunity. Just do it! 
  6. Exercise- yes I know you are saying, when am I gonna fit that into my busy schedule, well a walk 3 time a week will make you feel so much better I am telling you. Even though I have arthritis and chronic pain, I can manage to get some walking into my busy schedule so I know you can do it too. Work your way up to swimming, biking, hiking and other activities that you can do together as a family. We love to go hiking in the mountains, it does not even feel like we are exercising but we are. Exercise is fantastic for your mood and your joints!
  7. Laugh! humor is such a stress reliever, smile daily and find something to laugh about. Think positive and your life will be positive. 
  8. Music soothes the savage beast-- you! I love to crank up the tunes and just get lost in the music when I am in the car, it helps me calm down and destress on the way home from work.
  9. Leave your work at the door!! As an ER nurse for over 28 years now I have learned many strategies to cope with the things we see in the ER. The biggest thing is learning to leave it at the door when I clock out, that has helped me more than anything. I don't take my job home with me, or talk about what happened at work with my spouse or kids. It's just like a switch, I just turn it off. ( Unless something tragic happened, we debrief and talk at work before we even leave work- highly recommended).
  10. Get organized-- get a day- planner and write everything in that planner, including your days off work, trips to the spa, your mani-pedi appt, all the things you can look forward too, schedule date nights with your significant other. Organize your house, keep things simple, don't overwhelm yourself with clutter. Plan and keep a routine for cleaning,laundry grocery shopping, bill paying etc. 
  11. Slow down and Breathe! learn meditation- it is a great way to connect with your inner self and de-stress. Prayer is a fantastic way to help you in your self care journey. 
  12. Try Aromatherapy- I discovered the power of essential oils and have fallen in love with the wonderful benefits they have provided my family and my health. We have felt so much better since discovering the value of these gifts from above that have been around for billions of years.
  13. Unplug and get outside- yes you can do it, leave that phone, tablet, laptop or other digital device off and get outside, breath some air, smell the flowers or fresh crisp leaves or newly cut grass. We spend so much time connected to our devices that we have lost the connection to ourselves and others.
  14. Explore Alternative Holistic Healthcare Options- we are always taught to use western medicine in our healthcare practices that we often forget the benefits of other types of medicine out there. I am learning so much more about the natural medicine model and a more "whole body" &  holistic approach to medicine. Medicine is much more that just prescribing a pill all the time, right?
These tips and tools are only good if you apply them, your patients, coworkers and family will surely appreciate a nurse that is the best ..................nurse he/she can be.



This post was written as part of the Nurse Blog Carnival. More posts on this topic can be found at http://thebossynurse.com. If you are interested in participating find out more details and sign up.

Nurse Blog Carnival
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Monday, March 23, 2015

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!

Nurse Blog Carnival


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Friday, February 6, 2015

Wear Red For Awareness #goredforwomen #hearthealth




According to the American Heart Association, one in three women dies of heart disease or stroke each year. To help fight the high rate of heart-related deaths, every February the American Heart Association directs their attention to awareness days and campaigns that teach the general public about the importance of adopting behaviors that lead to improved heart health. February 6 is National Wear Red Day and the health professionals from NurseWise – a multilingual nurse triage and health education provider – are encouraging Americans of all ages and genders to wear red in support of the American Heart Association’s quest to decrease avoidable heart issues.
"At NurseWise we believe in and continuously promote health education and empowerment," said Kim Tuck, RN, President and Chief Executive Officer at NurseWise. "In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. We encourage everyone to wear red on Friday, February 6, to increase awareness about heart health and behaviors that can easily be adopted to reduce the chance of developing heart disease, stroke and other serious heart conditions."

To help you remember, the nurses at NurseWise have created a set of health tips in honor of National Wear Red Day using the acronym “HEART.”
H – Have heart awareness. Know your status! Make, schedule and KEEP routine appointments with your medical provider to stay abreast of your specific heart-health status and to learn warning signs that might indicate the need for specialized medications, lifestyle changes or testing. Knowing your heart stats and family predispositions for diseases of the heart is the first step in achieving more informed and improved heart health.
E – Exercise regularly. Your heart is a muscle, and just like the rest of the muscles in your body, it needs regular exercise to operate at its best. Start small by adding a short, slow-paced 10- or 15-minute walk to your day at least twice a week. Ask your medial professional for exercise recommendations based on your health status.
A – Always side with safe over sorry. You know your body better than anyone. If you start noticing an irregular-heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, frequent headaches, impaired vision, tingling in your left arm or short memory lapses, see a medical professional immediately. Never hesitate to see a doctor if you notice a change in the way you feel or notice an abnormality in your breathing or heart rate. Seeing a medical provider could save your life and uncover budding health conditions before they become serious health conditions.
R – Rest is essential. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep on a regular basis is essential to your health. Despite your busy schedule and long list of things to do, if you aren’t getting proper rest, you will stifle your body’s ability to repair itself during the sleep cycle. Find a sleep routine that works to help you get to sleep at a set time every day so your body can perform its natural healing processes.
T – Take time to decompress. Stress is a leading factor that contributes to conditions like high-blood pressure and stroke. Explore exercise and breathing techniques to help you find calm even in the midst of a busy workplace and personal schedule. If stress ever becomes overwhelming or your feel like you’re going to do something to hurt yourself or someone else, please call 9-1-1 right away to speak with someone who can get you the help you need. There’s no need to ashamed of stress. Every animal and human experiences it in some form, because stress is a natural function of the body. How you treat stress is what makes the difference in your quality of mental and physical health. There are techniques, medications and homeopathic remedies that can help you find the balance you need to keep your heart and body functioning at their best.
For more information about National Wear Red Day, please visit: https://www.goredforwomen.org/home/get-involved/national-wear-red-day/

About NurseWise
NurseWise is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation that is in the business of providing multilingual telehealth (nurse triage and health education) services. For more information, please visit our website at www.nursewise.com or contact us at info@nursewise.com.


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Thursday, January 29, 2015

A Prestigious List :Top Blogs 2014 #nurses #nursebloggers #healthcare

I am a bit late with this Prestigious list of Top Blogs, but these colleagues of mine are awesome all year round, not just in 2014, they have been stellar for many years!

Awesome Sauce!! This is a list of some of the best of the best nurse bloggers from all walks of life! I am so blessed to be included on this list in such fabulous company. Congratulations to all the incredible writers, authors and bloggers on this list, be sure to visit each one. There is a wealth of information and talent here, WTG friends!!
This list of top nursing blogs was compiled based on Facebook likes, frequency of postings, and number of followers. Many of the following blogs are top hits when conducting online searches and can also be followed on Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+. This list has been divided into sections for the reader’s convenience: general nursing, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, nursing student, nursing career, and women’s health.

GENERAL NURSING

    1. Confident Voices – Beth Boynton is a national speaker, professional coach, facilitator, and medical improv trainer. She writes this blog founded on respectful communication for nurses, physicians, patient advocates, and support staff to encourage safe, respectful work cultures.
      Highlight: National Council of State Boards of Nursing Website Has Some Great Teaching Tools re: Social Media
    2. Disruptive Women in Healthcare – This blog targets challenging and inspirational concepts in the current healthcare field. There are over 100 individuals that actively contribute to this blog including elected officials, healthcare workers, patient advocates, researchers, and economists.
      Highlight: The Hospital Discharge Race: Is Sooner Always Better?
    3. Diversity Nursing – Diversity Nursing offers a variety of articles on all topics pertinent to nursing including health and wellness and career tips. This blog also includes a job board and a forum for open discussion amongst nurses and student nurses.
      Highlight: Nurses Among Most Influential People in Healthcare
    4. ER Nurses Care – Written by emergency room nurse Leslie Block, this blog uses her passion for nursing to demonstrate caring and compassion through her posts focusing on healthy living, injury prevention, and various current trending topics in healthcare.
      Highlight: Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack: Do You Know The Difference?
    5. Living Sublime Wellness – Elizabeth Scala MSN/MBA, RN is a motivational speaker who focuses her writing on encouraging nurses to make the necessary changes in healthcare by facilitating out-of-the box critical thinking.
      Highlight: Ode to the Bus Driver
    6. Not Nurse Ratched – A nurse and freelance writer, Megen Duffy blogs about all things nursing while using her humor to lighten the mood as necessary. Duffy’s blog is highly followed online and on Facebook likely due to her down to earth writing style.
      Highlight: Tips for CNAs and New Nurses and Students (Oh My)
    7. Nurse Barb’s Daily Dose – Barb Dehn, RN, MS, NP is committed to deciphering convoluted health information in order to assist individuals in achieving optimal health and wellness. Nurse Barb’s Daily Dose contains articles pertaining to women’s health, parenting, caregiving, healthy living, and medical conditions.
      Highlight: Menopause: Frequently Asked Questions
    8. Nursetopia – Nursetopia features timely articles on all pertinent topics in healthcare. This blog inspires nurses by highlighting and displaying the positive influence nurses have on the healthcare culture.
      Highlight: Give Grace to Grow
    9. rtConnections – Renee Thompson is a motivational speaker and the author of  Do No Harm” Applies to nurses too! Strategies to protect and bully-proof yourself at work.Thompson gears her presentations toward clinical competence and bullying within the workplace and works to enhance effective communication within a healthy organization.
      Highlight: What Does It Take for Nurses to Believe They are Heroes?
    10. The Nursing Show -The Nursing Show is not your typical blog. It is filled with hundreds of short podcasts and easy to read articles pertaining various nursing topics geared toward nurses of all skill levels. All nurses are sure to find topics of interest in this diverse, educational blog.
      Highlight: Nurses Lead the Way for Organ Donation, End of Life Support

REGISTERED NURSES

    1. According to Nurse Kateri – Kateri, RN, BSN, started this blog while on a personal journey to discover herself and now uses it to detail her personal experiences as they pertain to health and happiness. This blog features narratives relating to her career in pediatrics and pediatric intensive care.
      Highlight: Nurse
    2. JParadisi RN’s Blog – Julianna Paradisi, RN is an accomplished artist and an oncology nurse who incorporates art into patient care. This blog focuses on the same while featuring some of her personal pieces of art as they relate to her writing.
      Highlight: Where Science, Humanity, and Art Converge
    3. Nurse Eye Roll – Nurse Eye Roll was established by a newly seasoned nurse wishing to provide encouragement, inspiration, support, and laughter to student nurses. Nursing school is tough and Nurse Eye Roll is there to offer tips and suggestions about navigating the path toward graduation and successful board examination.
      Highlight: Orienting a Struggling New Grad
    4. The Nerdy Nurse – Brittany Wilson, RN, BSN is a nursing informatics nurse who prides herself by incorporating technology into healthcare in order to improve and streamline patient care. This blog is found on various lists of top nursing blogs and is highly followed on social media. For more information, see what is nursing informatics?
      Highlight: 3 Resolutions Every Nurse Should Make

NURSE PRACTITIONER

  1. Barefoot Nurse – Barefoot Nurse reviews real life experiences as they occur through the eyes of an advance practice nurse. Kelly Arashin, the author behind this blog, is unique in her profession because she is a dually board certified nurse practitioner in acute and critical care and a clinical nurse specialist.
    Highlight: Not a Physician, Not a Nurse…What?
  2. My Strong Medicine – Sean Dent is an acute care nurse practitioner by day and weightlifter and coach by night. This blog was originally designed to share his experiences as a nurse but now it contains more commentaries on his personal life, his love for CrossFit and weightlifting.
    Highlight: Advice to My Pre-Nursing Self
  3. NP Business Blog – Nurse practitioners whom are in private, independent practice are breaking the mold of traditional NP employment status and are often found without the available resources to answer common questions. Barbara C. Phillips developed this blog as a means for NPs to offer support to others in all avenues of business NPs may be involved in.
    Highlight: 7 Reasons Not to Start a Healthcare Practice
  4. NP Odyssey – In existence since 2009, this blog contains a wealth of valuable information and insight including what it takes to become a nurse practitioner and the challenges NPs frequently encounter. This blog also incorporates articles pertaining to recent headlines in healthcare and how they pertain to NP practice.
    Highlight: New Grad RN and NP Jobs: Spread Your Wings
  5. The NP Mom -Brett Badgley Snodgross is a family nurse practitioner with a passion for pain management and palliative care. She writes informative, easy to read articles related to common concerns she sees in her practice ranging from dieting to hypertension to allergies and beyond.
    Highlight: Weight Loss 101 – The Making of a Healthy Life – WATER!

NURSING STUDENT

  1. A Journey Through Nursing School and Beyond – This blog takes the reader through the entire process of climbing the ladder through nursing education. The author began this blog as a certified nurse assistant, became a LPN, then an RN, and is currently seeking a master’s degree in nursing education. Most entries are brief and include an update on coursework although others offer valuable tips and tricks of the nursing trade.
    Highlight: Test Taking Tips for Nursing School
  2. Adrienne, Student Nurse – Adrienne, RN is passionate about the way nurses and nursing students use social media in their professional lives. Adrienne, Student Nurse is written with the goal of telling the story of being a student nurse in an effort to motivate others to accept the challenge of becoming a nurse.
    Highlight: Charting Lingo
  3. Becoming a RN – Follow Amy on her journey through nursing school through her blog where she recounts her trials, tribulations, and triumphs. This blog includes insight on navigating through the various challenges presented by nursing school and inspires nursing students to prevail.
    Highlight: My Most Effective Study Tool

NURSING CAREER

  1. Digital Doorway – Keith Carlson, RN utilizes his blog, Digital Doorway, to coach nurses so they may feel fulfilled in their nursing careers. One of the most well known bloggers in healthcare, Carlson blogs about career opportunities, social media in healthcare, and burnout prevention.
    Highlight: Is The Nurse’s Glass Half Full?
  2. Innovative Nurse – Kevin Ross, RN is the ‘Innovative Nurse’ behind this blog. Ross writes about numerous areas of career nursing such as time management, salary, mobile apps, networking, and workplace happiness in the healthcare arena.
    Highlight: Why You Need to Take the Phrase “Just A Nurse” Out of Your Vocabulary
  3. International Nurse Support – International Nurse Support provides nurses with the necessary strategies to be confident in their positions while empowering them to climb the profession’s ladder as they progress in their career. This blog is owned by Joyce Fiodembo, however guest bloggers are featured frequently.
    Highlight: Handling the “Write-Up” You Do Not Deserve
  4. Off the Charts – Off the Charts is the online publication of the well renowned American Journal of Nursing. While this blog lacks the personal touch many other blogs convey, Off the Charts presents up to date research data provided in an easy to read format. Various bloggers are often featured on this blog including many other bloggers in this list.
    Highlight: Ebola: A Nurse Epidemiologist Puts the Outbreak in Perspective
  5. The Nursing Site Blog – Kathy Quan, RN, BNS, PHN, has been a nurse for greater than 30 years and utilizes this blog as a means to share her extensive knowledge with fellow nurses. Quan is the author of five books including The Everything New Nurse Book which helps new nurses transition from nursing school to bedside nursing.
    Highlight: Use Common Sense with Social Media
  6. Your Career Nursing – Tina Lanciault, RN helps her readers find their niche in nursing by writing about alternative nursing careers. Your Nursing Career contains articles related to online learning, networking, lifestyles, product reviews, and entrepreneurship.
    Highlight: Nursing Certification

WOMEN’S HEALTH

    1. At Your Cervix – At Your Cervix is written by a newly graduated nurse midwife and nicely portrays the trials and tribulations a new nurse midwife may encounter in practice. The blog contains educational articles that pertain to women’s health as well as commentaries based on the situations she came across over the course of the bloggers first year in practice.
      Highlight: What I Wished I Learned About in School
    2. Mimi Secor – Mimi Secor is an accomplished family nurse practitioner with over 30 years experience in women’s health. Outside of her private practice, Mimi Secor is a public speaker and nurse consultant who prides herself in promoting quality care in women’s health.
      Highlight: STIs in the Aging Population: What? I thought only my teenager could get that!
About the author:
5
Jamie Bond has been a registered nurse since 2002 and returned to the college scene in 2012 to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has a passion for all things nursing, especially the care of the at–risk population. Jamie has first hand experience navigating the complicated, multifaceted field of nursing. A married mother of two school-aged sons, Jamie enjoys spending her spare time cheering on her kids at their various activities.
Credit to the http://www.bestmasterofscienceinnursing.com/30-nursing-blogs-2014/
Check out their site for more great nursing information
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