She sang

"It ain't over until the fat lady sings." --Ralph Carpenter

Finally, I got the call. I'll never forget the date: the only job offer in my career that happened in January.

Let the adventures begin.

New Year's resolutions

Raise your hand if you hate them. (raising hand)

If we can't get them to stick in January, will they ever? Probably not. Experts claim habits form in about three weeks.

Anyway, here goes. I'm going to try to hit the ones on this BuzzFeed list and my own.

1. Exercise more. Yes, I do need to get up and move around more, even when I don't feel like it.

2. Eat less sugar. Those candies and cupcakes really messed me up on the scale.

3. Drink more water.

4. Keep a gratitude log. I even found one for my phone: Gratitude365.

5. Develop a career resolution list for 2016. I have to work on goals for my review at work, so I might just start early.

Hope you enjoy your year wherever you are.

Stay tuned...

TGIF odds and ends

Oh, you know it's going to be an interesting day when your boss calls and asks "What the hell is going on?" Got that cleared up and it was better than I thought.  He/she isn't mad anymore, just worried that he/she will have staffing issues.

I'm a big picture career person, so that's what I'm thinking. Pleasing the boss is important, but having peace of mind and career growth is important, too. One of these days, the HR reps in the Hotel will learn how to read and use telephones. All I can do now is wait.

I found out today is the birthday of the inventor of the x-ray. Unfortunately, unlike our radiology nursing friends at Washington, no one brought donuts.


Since the lovely folks in the media department are printing my MegaConference poster, F., the designer sent me the mockup this week. As usual, she does amazing work. I can't wait until she gets it done.

I'd like to publish something one of these days, but as this article mentions, some publishers are not what they seem, so beware!

On my way out the door today, I did a little occupational therapy reinforcement (along with my unit tour guide duties). I showed one of our newer patients how to navigate the inpatient wifi on his phone.
He was up and running listening to his favorite radio stations on his phone by the time I left.

A little head bopping and a huge smile was a great way to greet the end of the workday

Hope you have a happy weekend wherever you may be.

Follow your arrow

We talk a lot about how we work together as a team, but sometimes, it seems like we miss the point.

I have had to work with Manglement to bring nurses into the Hotel. One manager has retooled all the interview questions (yes, we use them for a number of reasons) to ask questions about the team.

One nurse wanted to transfer from one unit to another. No dice because this nurse has had an issue with the hiring manager in the past. We also had other unsuitable candidates. Why? Because some of them just don't come prepared. They don't sell themselves. You give them time and they don't know how to do it!

So, if you're on a journey, and want to go somewhere new, follow your arrow. Learn along the way. Just because something fails once or twice, or even three to thirteen times, you will eventually get to success. Listen. Find mentors and read the signs along the way.

Enjoy your weekend wherever you may roam.

 

1500...wow!

Has it really been 1500 posts later in my nursing blog career? Well, that's what the number says as I'm getting this ready. Wow!

I almost have a feeling of a school commencement, where I'm supposed to say something meaningful and lasting to mark the occasion. Hmm...maybe I'll have to think of something profound for later? Or, I can just say, "Have a look at the body of work out there, and see what you think." (doesn't that sound positively literary?) (giggles)

For me, this blog has been a journal, diary, soapbox, and a creative outlet that has often been a lifesaver when work, grad school or the craziness of life has made things seem impossible.

I have learned in my short career as a nurse, that nothing really is impossible. It might be annoying, smelly, obnoxious, or darned scary, but never impossible in the long run.

As the maxim says, "The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running."And so I go.

Thanks for coming along. I enjoy the company.

More later...

Divine providence

Who knew, that at 18, she'd be embarking on a career of a lifetime? Well, that's what's happened for one of our staffers who just celebrated not 10, not 20, but 40 (yes, 4-0) years at Madison. She has a work ethic most people don't have anymore: come to work, and do the work.

Another one of our staffers had the day off today. She was hemming and hawing between going to the gym and staying home to sleep in. Some nagging feeling just told her, "Work out, girl." There was a reason and not just to stay healthy. The middle aged man on the treadmill next to her dropped suddenly to the floor and had an MI. She did CPR with another nurse for several minutes before the ambulance arrived. The man lived.

Finally, one of our patients got a horrible diagnosis. He is living on borrowed time. He is denying it, and the way things are going, he won't get to spend his last days at home. I went into my goody stash and found several tools our team can use to help him deal with everything going on from his diagnosis.

I'm just wondering if it's just the way it's supposed to be...

Rebirth

No, I don't believe in reincarnation (sorry!), but I am reminded how much hard work goes into anything worthwhile. I cleaned, scrubbed, cut, chopped, mixed and baked away for today's Easter lunch. It was gobbled up relatively quickly, but many happy, content smiles were shared sans alcohol. (Yes, they were driving!). We had a grand time at the RehabRN house.

I'm saving my alcohol (as tough as that was...I enjoy a nice glass with a good meal) for tomorrow. When the test is over. Yes, I'm taking one of the biggest tests of my career so far. I'm as ready as I can get. 

Back to studying. More to come.