The Train

Recently, I've been thinking of the words of a friend who is an ER Nurse, in the frontline during this COVID19 Pandemic...

"I look into the eyes of my coworkers and wonder which of us will lose our lives in this battle. It will happen. We all know it will happen and yet we continue to show up...shift after shift...This isn’t political. This isn’t a hoax. This doesn’t discriminate." - Kimberly Wainwright-Morrison RN

These words stirred my soul. I reflected on all of the friends and colleagues I had surrounded myself  throughout my career in healthcare and paused to think of who will we lose. 

In times like these, I rely on the wisdom of my husband who introduced me to the concept of The Train... "My life is a lot like a train trip and I've been lucky enough to get the window seat in a comfortable car. Undoubtedly, there will be a few bumps and curves along the way, but the train will stop at destinations that are colorful, fun and terrific as well as other destinations that are grey and difficult to navigate. But, neither lasts and I will eventually re-board and continue on. One day, I will reach my final destination and know that by and large, life has been a great ride in a comfortable window seat." 

His view comforts and speaks to me. I add another aspect to the train-ride of life.
It concerns family and friendship...

We will meet fellow passengers that board the train. 

Some of us have been travel-buddies since the beginning of life, some of us have traveled together for years, and some have to depart early for different destinations, but sometimes will board our train again. Sadly, some will reach their final stop.

We will laugh and talk, eat and drink together. We will comfort and support one another during arduous journeys and celebrate our successful trips together.

We will love each other.

For what ever reason, there will be travelers who we might not see 'eye to eye' with, but yet, they remain on our train. They don't share the same car anymore but we see them from time to time. Is their presence to remind us of how others travel in life? 

In the final analysis, it really doesn't matter. As my husband had said, "One day, I will reach my final destination and know that by and large, life has been a great ride in a comfortable window seat." 

#TheIsolationJournals - Close Your Eyes...What Do You See?

2020. The Year of the Nurse. As if...

A glimpse of the camaraderie, professionalism and science of Nursing

My inspiration for this post is not to praise my colleagues, although they deserve praise...

but rather to put the call out there for backup. 

I'm talking to the kind, organized, intelligent and compassionate people out there 

 to be the next generation of Nursing.

I'm talking to you.

So, here I am making masks for my friends who are on the front-lines of care during this COVID19 pandemic. 

Nurses in the ER, ICU and Screening Centers. I think of them. And how cool they are. How smart they are. How 'science-based' they are. I've been retired for a few years now and anticipate that there may be a high probability I will get back into the fray - should it be necessary.

The 'calm before the storm' in Dallas has got my head back into 'Nursing Mode' and my training to never quit and to anticipate worst-case scenarios has been revived.

Hence, the masks

Recently, our current Lieutenant-Governor of Texas, Dan Patrick implied that I would gladly give up my life for the US Economy... but I say- hold up there, Dan - not so fast. 
 I take good care of myself and I still have a little life left in me. 

Believing in science and knowing how expert Nurses, Doctors, Techs, Respiratory Therapists and all those in concert, encompassing a wide variety of healthcare disciplines, I'm confident that this virus will be managed safely and effectively with all hands on deck. 

That includes you, Dan. You are in a position that can help move mountains in this crisis. 

Be a Nurse, Dan. Don't be a Dick.

Anticipate worst-case scenarios and work your ass off to prevent them.

Awright... back to Nurse Recruitment...

Who knew that Nurses were not all about bed-baths and pill passing?

Beginning my Nursing career in Toronto, Canada and I became a 'Dialysis Nurse' at age 19. To say that I was scared shit-less would be an understatement. That year in Dialysis was one of great introspection and self-assessment. Not counted as one of the best Nurses in my unit, I had some growing to do but I realized that what I brought to the Nursing table was a passion for learning, and a profound degree of compassion and love for others.

Just a kid, really.

Nursing provided me an opportunity to travel. I made it to the USA from Canada and found myself  'Jones-ing' on 'Cardiac Medicine'. It was a 'Telemetry Unit' where I got a crash course in Organizational Skills, EKG Interpretation and Cardiac Resuscitation. Loved it!

Being young. I had a restless heart. The ER strangely soothed that restlessness. Hard to explain but there ya go.

Advised to be an ER Nurse by a Doc I had met while working in Cardiac Medicine, I loved it. It was exhausting, and difficult, and life-altering and taught me more than I can ever know about the fragility of life.  

Later in life, I anticipated (Hey, Dan) that the pace of ER Nursing might be a little much on my 50 year old body and decided to learn how to be an ICU Nurse. 

Back in the day, our CT scanner was a 0.5 mile trip each way from the ER. Multiple trips to/from CT included running all the way while pushing a stretcher loaded with a sick patient, monitors, defibrillators, IV pumps etc. Good News... since then, I hear things have improved as most ER's have their own CT Scanner in the department now! Yay you!

Although ICU Nursing was no picnic, it was physically hard work as well but you generally had a chance to get a cup of coffee before you took report from the off-going Nurse.
In the ER - this was not always an option as many times CPR/Traumas/Hemmorhagic Emergencies/Crazy/Stoned/Drunk People (the list goes on) required that you immediately step up.

ICU Nurses, et al

ER vs. ICU:
It seemed to me that in ER you relied on your super-keen observation skills & spidey-sense to anticipate if a patient was going to 'crump'. In the ICU? Everybody looks like they are about to 'crump' to begin with - so you have to rely on the numbers to help you prevent 'crumping'. Numbers? That's where it gets really interesting. ICU Nurses use high tech monitors to identify specific values of pressure, rate, volume etc. simultaneously in real time while administering care to their patients. But that's yet another post. Oh, and I was surprised at how 'thankful' families were in the ICU - the 'emergency' was now over and they had time to process what had happened to their loved one. Gifts of cookies, flowers, pizza abounded ...Sorry ER.

In Nursing...you have an instant 'peer-group': The friendships are real and lasting and many times profound. So many memories of the fun (and not-so-fun) times with my Nurse-friends. I could write another post on Nursing-friendships alone...but you get the idea.

At one point, I gave Nurse Management a whirl - it was not well suited to my personality - but is definitely the way to go for some great Nurses out there - I'm talking to you, Susan Rossow RN, Jody Phillips RN, Jessica Wilson RN, Jane Norris RN & Lillie Crain, RN ...to name just a few. I wish I could name them all but after 42 years... it's a lengthy list.

And I kid you not... I was an 'underachiever' in Nursing.

Nurses that I have been honored to work along-side throughout the years, are now...

• Infection Control Nurses
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners: Some of their specialties include Emergency, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Trauma, Critical Care, Family Practice, Gerontology
• CRNA's : Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists 
• Clinical Nurse Specialists: Critical Care, Pediatrics, Nursing Education
• Professors of Nursing
• Case Managers: They assist patients, families, and the Health Care Team with determining future needs of the patient, prevention of 'issues' and identifying potential barriers to their progress.
• School Nurses
• SANE Nurses: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners
• Flight Nurses
• OR and Recovery Room Nurses
• Day Surgery Nurses
• Plastic Surgery Nurses
• Home Health Nurses
• Nursing Entrepreneurs
• Neonatal Nurses
• Hospice Nurses
• Palliative Care Nurses
• Oncology Nurses

     So I'm writing this in anticipation that one day soon, we will need you. I will need you. 

ER Nurses, et al

Granted, Nursing is not for everyone. 

A good attitude about dealing with shit that you really don't want to do is necessary for Nursing. But Nursing as a career choice was the best choice for me and I'm here to say... if you think you might have what it takes... do it. If you already have a degree, it will take you about 2 more years (give or take) but that would be 2 years well spent. At the risk of sounding crass, the pay is good - starting around $65,000 in Texas for a new grad. (depending on your area) with health care benefits for you and your family, flexibility in hours and shifts, tons of specialties, incredible job-security and a lifetime of unbelievable experiences.

Any Questions? I'm here for you. 

And for my Nurse-Colleagues, the Techs, RT's, Docs, Unit Clerks out there... I know this is a scary time for you and your families. Please know that I love you, miss you, pray for your safety and thank you. But I also know that you are all over this and will help see us through this difficult time. 

2020. The Year of the Nurse. As if Flo planned it this way.