"You're too nice." I've heard this about a million times from a million different people - good friends and total strangers. I understand the idea of being 'too' nice, like letting people walk all over you, but that's rarely how people use this remark towards me. In fact, a great deal of people don't understand how I'm as nice and friendly as I am. To be quite frank, I don't understand how it's that difficult to comprehend - and I don't get why everyone can't be a little bit more kind.
I smile at strangers. I have a peppy attitude even when I'm extremely tired. I don't mind helping people with things because I think it's a good thing to do. I like to make people smile. I like to say positive things. I like to make work fun. I like to make the most of every situation. Apparently, all of these things make me exceptionally nice? To me, it doesn't make much sense; this is just how I am. I'm not sure if I was born to be this way or if it's just an attitude that I adopted over the years. Nevertheless, it feels innate at this point - I generally opt for the nice response to someone or the 'yes' instead of 'no' when someone asks for help. I don't have to try.
Now, I'm not saying that I'm the nicest person in the world, nor am I saying that I'm a saint. In fact, I probably think I'm far less kind that most other people would say. Why? Because I feel like I'm not doing anything special. I don't think I'm going out of my way to have a positive attitude, and I like the way people respond when I'm being my peppy, friendly self. I'm not perfect...far from it. I have my flaws as does everyone else in the world.
But honestly, life is about enjoying yourself, being happy, and making the most of this amazing experience we've all been given. If I can make someone else's time on earth a little bit happier, I'm definitely going to do so. The question I ask is this: why would you want to do anything but ? Sure, there are days when I am down in the dumps. There are times when I think everyone is out to get me. Some weeks, I feel like crap and want to curse at everyone (yes, even me). But do I? Nope! Why? What's the point? It doesn't make me feel any better when I am rude or mean to people, and it certainly doesn't make them feel any better. If you spread anger or cruelty, everyone ends up worse off. If you spread happiness or kindness? Everyone's that much better :]
So I guess the point of this post is to encourage everyone out there to think a little bit happier and act a little bit more thoughtfully. When you exude this kind of positivity, life seems that much sweeter. Kindness is simple, especially when you're used to spreading it.
Smile at a stranger today,
Liz :]
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Work Lessons 2.0
Today, after leaving work an hour late, I felt mentally exhausted but also....well, to be honest, like a terribly sucky nurse. I've been off of orientation for a couple of months now, and this hasn't been a sole occurrence. Am I doing everything that I can do? Why can't I get things done? Am I not organized enough? Why do I get such terrible assignments? Why can't things just go my way? Is something wrong with me? Of course, all of these thoughts have gone through my mind on shifts like tonight's (when I get the chance to think them, at least). But when it comes down to it, here are some things I've realized:
Sometimes work is just plain awful. I really don't like to say things like this, but I'd be lying if I said everything was rainbows and ice cream sundaes all the time. There are days when I want to curl up into a ball and scream for a little bit and then cry while eating an entire tub of ice cream. Unfortunately, you can't even predict when days like this will occur. But here's the thing - I can't blame myself for causing the day to be awful. Sometimes it's totally out of my hands. Of course, this applies to other nurses out there, but I'm pretty sure workers in every field have 'I need to eat all the ice cream ever' types of days. So here's something we need to keep in mind - sometimes work sucks, and there's not much we can do to change it. Of course, this sounds entirely pessimistic and depressing. I assure you, I'm about the most optimistic person out there. But I like to live in the real world, too.
I can't do everything myself. I like to be independent. I always have. And when it comes to work, I like to take care of the things I need to take care of on my own. I don't like asking for help unless I absolutely need it, and even then, it's a little hard for me to do. Quick questions are one thing...but asking for someone's time or physical labor is an entirely different request. And I really hate doing it. Of course, I'm as polite as can be, but I still hate asking people to do things for me. I've come to realize, though, that my day can go from ok to terrible in a matter of minutes if I consistently try to get everything done on my own. RNs have aides and charge nurses and other people for a reason...so we can all work together to make the day go more smoothly. Slowly, I'm getting better at this. But it's still the biggest obstacle I face as a new nurse. Someday, hopefully, I'll feel less guilty about needing help from time to time :]
I can't always be superwoman. As a nurse, I like to think that we play a massive role in the health and healing of our patients. And of course, we do! But, unfortunately, I can't be super nurse every shift I work. I can't always have discussions with my patients about their medical history. I certainly do not have time to bond with my patients every day. Sometimes I can't deliver their pain meds on time. Occasionally I can't even get all of my work done and have to pass it on to the next shift. But you know what? That's ok. That's part of the job...even if it's a little hard to stomach sometimes. I try to give my job 100% all the time - but sometimes 100% doesn't mean that everything goes as perfectly as I had hoped. Things come up, and I can't always be that wonderful nurse that I aspire to be. But that's ok. Just because I can't always do every single thing I wanted to do during that shift doesn't mean I'm a bad nurse. That's life. That's reality. And I need to learn how to accept it!
People are in the hospital because they're sick - and sometimes they don't get better. I love discharging patients. Honestly, there's nothing better than sending someone packing when they're on their way to recovery. It would be ideal and amazing if everyone left the hospital like this. Sadly, that's not the case. And oftentimes when people are in the hospital, their state of health continues to decline, as well. This is hard to see...and sometimes it's really difficult to avoid blaming yourself. "I didn't push the doctors enough to add this medication. I didn't encourage ambulation enough. I didn't keep as close of an eye on them as I needed to..." And so the self blame continues. Of course, nurses make mistakes like everyone else. And so do doctors. And so do aides. And interns. And everyone else in all of the world. But sometimes, sadly, people just keep getting sick and there's not much we can do about it. Health declines, and that's a fact of life. It's hard to wrap my head around at times, but it's something all health professionals need to realize.
For now, that's all I have to say. I'm still loving my nursing career, don't get me wrong, but I'd be lying if I didn't say it was stress inducing and difficult at times. While I'm incredibly optimistic, I also realize the importance of facing reality - and I'm learning more about how to do this with each day.
Toodleoo,
Liz :)
P.S. I went through a bit of a lull on this blog, but I'm going to try my best to post somewhat regularly. Frankly, I missed writing in this space whether I have an audience or not ;)
Sometimes work is just plain awful. I really don't like to say things like this, but I'd be lying if I said everything was rainbows and ice cream sundaes all the time. There are days when I want to curl up into a ball and scream for a little bit and then cry while eating an entire tub of ice cream. Unfortunately, you can't even predict when days like this will occur. But here's the thing - I can't blame myself for causing the day to be awful. Sometimes it's totally out of my hands. Of course, this applies to other nurses out there, but I'm pretty sure workers in every field have 'I need to eat all the ice cream ever' types of days. So here's something we need to keep in mind - sometimes work sucks, and there's not much we can do to change it. Of course, this sounds entirely pessimistic and depressing. I assure you, I'm about the most optimistic person out there. But I like to live in the real world, too.
I can't do everything myself. I like to be independent. I always have. And when it comes to work, I like to take care of the things I need to take care of on my own. I don't like asking for help unless I absolutely need it, and even then, it's a little hard for me to do. Quick questions are one thing...but asking for someone's time or physical labor is an entirely different request. And I really hate doing it. Of course, I'm as polite as can be, but I still hate asking people to do things for me. I've come to realize, though, that my day can go from ok to terrible in a matter of minutes if I consistently try to get everything done on my own. RNs have aides and charge nurses and other people for a reason...so we can all work together to make the day go more smoothly. Slowly, I'm getting better at this. But it's still the biggest obstacle I face as a new nurse. Someday, hopefully, I'll feel less guilty about needing help from time to time :]
I can't always be superwoman. As a nurse, I like to think that we play a massive role in the health and healing of our patients. And of course, we do! But, unfortunately, I can't be super nurse every shift I work. I can't always have discussions with my patients about their medical history. I certainly do not have time to bond with my patients every day. Sometimes I can't deliver their pain meds on time. Occasionally I can't even get all of my work done and have to pass it on to the next shift. But you know what? That's ok. That's part of the job...even if it's a little hard to stomach sometimes. I try to give my job 100% all the time - but sometimes 100% doesn't mean that everything goes as perfectly as I had hoped. Things come up, and I can't always be that wonderful nurse that I aspire to be. But that's ok. Just because I can't always do every single thing I wanted to do during that shift doesn't mean I'm a bad nurse. That's life. That's reality. And I need to learn how to accept it!
People are in the hospital because they're sick - and sometimes they don't get better. I love discharging patients. Honestly, there's nothing better than sending someone packing when they're on their way to recovery. It would be ideal and amazing if everyone left the hospital like this. Sadly, that's not the case. And oftentimes when people are in the hospital, their state of health continues to decline, as well. This is hard to see...and sometimes it's really difficult to avoid blaming yourself. "I didn't push the doctors enough to add this medication. I didn't encourage ambulation enough. I didn't keep as close of an eye on them as I needed to..." And so the self blame continues. Of course, nurses make mistakes like everyone else. And so do doctors. And so do aides. And interns. And everyone else in all of the world. But sometimes, sadly, people just keep getting sick and there's not much we can do about it. Health declines, and that's a fact of life. It's hard to wrap my head around at times, but it's something all health professionals need to realize.
For now, that's all I have to say. I'm still loving my nursing career, don't get me wrong, but I'd be lying if I didn't say it was stress inducing and difficult at times. While I'm incredibly optimistic, I also realize the importance of facing reality - and I'm learning more about how to do this with each day.
Toodleoo,
Liz :)
P.S. I went through a bit of a lull on this blog, but I'm going to try my best to post somewhat regularly. Frankly, I missed writing in this space whether I have an audience or not ;)
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Nursing Orientation: Complete!
Whew! These past few weeks have been crazy crazy crazy for me! Where I was hired as a registered nurse, we have to complete a minimum of six weeks orientation before we're out in the big bad unit on our own. With one week complete of real, on my own nursing, I'm happy to say I've survived! To have something to look back on, here are some ups and downs as well as things I have learned during my orientation and my first week (officially) on the job:
Later gators,
Liz :)
- There's never a stupid question! I know, I know. People say this all the time. But honestly, I mean it! I've asked a ridiculous amount of questions during my nursing career so far, and there's no way I'll know everything...so they're just gonna keep coming. When you have someone's life in your hands, this whole stupid question thing makes sense. Sure, a seasoned nurse might know something like the back of their hand, but I'm brand new and I don't. And even down the road, there will definitely be things I need to ask about. I'd rather ask and potentially look like a fool than risk hurting one of my patients. And, not that I really had a fear of asking people questions before, but I totally don't now.
- Some days will be excellent, and some days you'll want to rip your hair out. I think this speaks for life in general, but it definitely applies to the nursing world. Throughout my orientation, I had days that were nearly perfect. All of my patients were cooperative and pleasant, things happened on time throughout the day, and I was able to contact doctors (who were nice to me) with no issues at all. Then, maybe even the next day, everything goes to hell. My patient who was fully oriented in the morning suddenly becomes confused. A doctor goes off on me for paging him twice when he hadn't responded to a serious issue in almost an hour. My old man's blood pressure is through the roof and the docs aren't doing anything about it. My phone is going off every two minutes and I literally cannot get anything done. Days like the latter happen, and sometimes they occur much more frequently than I would like. But hey, that's what comes with the territory, and dealing with that stress is going to help me in the long run no matter where my life takes me!
- Just because nurses have a shortened work week does not mean that we have it easy. During my orientation, I was working three 12 hour shifts per week. Now, I'm scheduled as a 40 hour per weeker, so I do two 12s and two 8s. To a lot of people, this sounds awesome (myself included). But I'd just like to point out that it's not easy. Let me give you a little reference here. On the days that you work a 12 hour shift, you basically go to work, come home and eat, relax for a tiny bit, and then go to sleep. There's no time for fun, and there's a lot of catch up you have to do on your days off. If I do two or three shifts in a row, I usually end up sleeping in on my off day just because I need to catch up. Now, weeks when you're on days are good. But then after two weeks of that, you get switched to nights. So you're all messed up that first week because you're not used to the night schedule yet. It's hard to get good rest during the day because it's bright and noisy out, everyone else you know is not on your wacky schedule, and you end up waking up every hour or so. On your second week of nights, you're sort of in the swing of things, but you're still on the sleepy side since you haven't been sleeping well. That week ends, and then you're flopped back to days for two weeks. The vicious cycle stays on repeat. So, even if we work three or four days a week, it all evens out. Trust me. (Though, I must say, this is not me complaining. Just helping people understand. I love my job!)
- It's so easy to bond with a fellow nurse. When you work in a profession where it's not unheard of to get shit on, you gotta stick together. If you don't have a job in healthcare, you'd probably be grossed out by the routine type of thing nurses talk about over their lunch break. During my work as a nurse, and even more so as a nurse's aide, I've been peed on, pooped on, vomited on, sneezed on, and bled on. It's gross, but you get over it because it's part of your job. And at least for me, the best way to get over something is to laugh about how ridiculous the situation is. I'm sure most professions could connect in ways like this. When someone's ringing their call bell because it's an "emergency", and in all reality they just got orange juice instead of grape with their breakfast tray, you just have to put on a smile and deal with it. And so, it's easy to connect with fellow healthcare workers as we all have ridiculous, exciting, or funny stories to share and tell.
- I love my job. I was pretty certain I'd love my job going into my college career, and I became even more sure that I would once I started clinicals and working as an aide. But, since I've truly began my work as a nurse, I can now say that I officially love my job. Every day that I work, I affect someone's life. Of course, what I do isn't always the most amazing thing - in fact, it's usually something small that makes someone's day. Acting in a persistent manner with the doctors in order to get a patient's pain under control can make a huge difference. Offering a smile and a few jokes just to cheer someone up can really be a big deal. And talking to a family member and taking the time to explain something is usually very appreciated. I'm not changing the world here, and I may not even be changing lives. But I feel like I'm making a difference and doing something important with my life. I love taking care of my patients, I love doing my very best to get them better (or at least keep them comfortable), and I love learning new things every single day. Ultimately, I love being a nurse.
Later gators,
Liz :)
Sunday, July 28, 2013
What the Heck Do Dreams Mean?
I have crazy dreams. Yeah yeah, I know lots of people say this. But trust me...I mean it. When I dream, it's very rarely a sort of go with the flow, ordinary type of situation. It's more like...BAM WILD DREAM. What the heck do they mean, though?
Someone once told me that I have such crazy, extreme dreams because my every day life is so stress free. Well, at least I make sure to keep it that way. Because I don't stress over things and try to control my anxieties and worries in real life, this person told me they all manifest in my dreams! But other people have told me that I'm just hiding all of my stresses in real life, and my dreams show that I have serious issues! Who the heck knows. Still interesting to think about, ehh?
Over the past couple of nights, here are some snippets of the dreams I've had:
Anyways, just thought I'd share my ramblings on some of the bedtime happenings that go on in my brain. I'm curious to hear if anyone has any thoughts on these wacky dreams I have!
Happy dreaming,
Liz :)
Someone once told me that I have such crazy, extreme dreams because my every day life is so stress free. Well, at least I make sure to keep it that way. Because I don't stress over things and try to control my anxieties and worries in real life, this person told me they all manifest in my dreams! But other people have told me that I'm just hiding all of my stresses in real life, and my dreams show that I have serious issues! Who the heck knows. Still interesting to think about, ehh?
Over the past couple of nights, here are some snippets of the dreams I've had:
- A immediate member of my family died
- One of my good friends had sex with another good friend's boyfriend - and there was a crazy dramatic blowout
- I was harassed and chased by a crazy man through some kind of decade in the past (maybe the 40s)
- I lived in Game of Thrones time but instead of just dragons and war and that kind of craziness, there were also these wacky giant robotic machines trying to take over
Anyways, just thought I'd share my ramblings on some of the bedtime happenings that go on in my brain. I'm curious to hear if anyone has any thoughts on these wacky dreams I have!
Happy dreaming,
Liz :)
Monday, July 8, 2013
Moving Madness
Today, I officially started to pack some stuff up for the move. I'm staying in the same city - just moving to a different part of the area that's about 15 minutes from where I am now. This move is bittersweet in a million different ways.
I'm leaving my college roommate, one of the best friends that I could ask for. I love her to death, and it's going to be extremely weird not having her around all the time. Since I'm moving to a one bedroom apartment, that's going to be really strange, too. I'm used to having someone around to talk to, watch TV with, laugh at something silly about with...it's going to be a major change.
Leaving the area I've been in is going to be quite a change, too. I've fallen in love with where I am, at least for the lifestyle that I was living. My favorite coffee shop, favorite bar, favorite place to sit out in the sun, favorite friends...they're not going to be a five minute walk away anymore.
Of course, I am moving very close to the hospital I'll be working at, and I am really excited to make my new apartment my little home. It's just...going to be very weird. I'm all about starting fresh like this and the excitement that comes with it, but I can't help but feel a tug at my heart for all the things that are going to majorly change.
I'm glad to be graduated and done with college, but I totally understand the sadness of leaving it all behind.
Ta ta lovelies,
Liz :)
I'm leaving my college roommate, one of the best friends that I could ask for. I love her to death, and it's going to be extremely weird not having her around all the time. Since I'm moving to a one bedroom apartment, that's going to be really strange, too. I'm used to having someone around to talk to, watch TV with, laugh at something silly about with...it's going to be a major change.
Leaving the area I've been in is going to be quite a change, too. I've fallen in love with where I am, at least for the lifestyle that I was living. My favorite coffee shop, favorite bar, favorite place to sit out in the sun, favorite friends...they're not going to be a five minute walk away anymore.
Of course, I am moving very close to the hospital I'll be working at, and I am really excited to make my new apartment my little home. It's just...going to be very weird. I'm all about starting fresh like this and the excitement that comes with it, but I can't help but feel a tug at my heart for all the things that are going to majorly change.
I'm glad to be graduated and done with college, but I totally understand the sadness of leaving it all behind.
Ta ta lovelies,
Liz :)
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Major Man of Steel Disappointment
For as long as I can remember, Superman has been my superhero of choice. Though I've gone through phases with others, Clark Kent is the heroic wonder that I've gone back to time and time again. There's something about how pure and good hearted he is that draws me in - that positive, seeing good in everyone type of attitude is the way I strive to be. And in a superhero? Even better.
Of course, when I found out that Henry Cavill would be playing Clark Kent, my jaw literally dropped - especially when I saw promo pictures. He's a total babe and looked the part to perfection. I generally don't go for manly, muscley men...but holy heck. I. Was. So. Excited.
Maybe that's where part of the problem began - the anticipation. Henry Cavill playing Superman? OHMYGOD. Christopher Nolan taking part? YES. Superman on the big screen again? IT HAS TO BE AMAZING. But...it just...wasn't.
As you're all aware, this is certainly my own opinion and we're each entitled to our own. But was everyone else left with a lackluster feeling upon leaving the theater? I certainly was, and I believe these are the main reasons why (spoiler alert, by the way):
I'm curious to know what other people thought of Man of Steel! I've heard mixed reviews - some from avid Superman fans and others from those who don't know much about the superhero. Please share your thoughts with me in the comments!
And if you liked it or not, everyone in the world should appreciate this beautiful GIF:
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...just me heading out for the day,
Liz :)
Of course, when I found out that Henry Cavill would be playing Clark Kent, my jaw literally dropped - especially when I saw promo pictures. He's a total babe and looked the part to perfection. I generally don't go for manly, muscley men...but holy heck. I. Was. So. Excited.
 |
| I mean...just look at him! What. A. Babe. |
As you're all aware, this is certainly my own opinion and we're each entitled to our own. But was everyone else left with a lackluster feeling upon leaving the theater? I certainly was, and I believe these are the main reasons why (spoiler alert, by the way):
- Where was Lex Luthor? Superman obviously doesn't have to have Lex ruining the world every time he takes a step, but that happens an awful lot. And for the first legitimate movie about Clark Kent in a while (especially since it goes over his beginnings), I was definitely expecting to see the bad guy pop up.
- What the heck was going on with Lois? In this installment, Lois apparently finds out that Clark Kent = Superman before he even starts working at The Daily Planet. I wasn't a fan of that aspect, nor was I a fan of the way things played out between them. Even if it's totally silly that the only difference between Clark Kent and Superman is a cape and pair of glasses, that's part of the foundation of the comics. I really missed that aspect, and I just didn't like the relationship these two had...which is something I was looking forward to :(
- I love Amy Adams...but I didn't love her as Lois. I think she's adorable and such a good actress, but this part wasn't the best choice for her in my opinion. Maybe I just love the way Lois was played in Smallville, but I wanted her to be more feisty, havoc-wreaking, and mischievous in general. She was a wishy washy character in Man of Steel and not the strong, amazing character that I looked forward to seeing.
- The storyline for the movie simply wasn't what I expected in general, and it didn't keep me glued to the edge of my seat and totally loving every second as I had hoped it would.
I'm curious to know what other people thought of Man of Steel! I've heard mixed reviews - some from avid Superman fans and others from those who don't know much about the superhero. Please share your thoughts with me in the comments!
And if you liked it or not, everyone in the world should appreciate this beautiful GIF:
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...just me heading out for the day,
Liz :)
Monday, July 1, 2013
Nurse Nation?
As I went to nursing school, I'm Facebook friends with many people who share the same passion. So, when it came about that MTV is creating a show about nursing - specifically the traveling type - it was flooding my news feed. Curious and taken aback by this news, I had to check it out.
Nurse Nation is apparently a new "reality" type show that will be airing on the station, following the lives of several twenty-something travel nurses. If you're unfamiliar, a travel nurse is basically someone who gets a new assignment every three months or so. Your assignment can be in any city pretty much, and thus you have the ability to travel all over the country. It's a really amazing opportunity, and MTV is stressing the "work hard - play hard" lifestyle that these travel nurses shall have.
I'm totally unsure of how I feel about this show, especially with the spin that MTV tends to put on most things. As a recent nursing graduate, I obviously have a great love and respect for my profession. Part of me is entirely afraid that this show is going to make nurses seem like crazy partiers or people who lack morals or something else foolish and generally untrue like that. But, obviously, this is a common theme among a lot of MTV reality shows. On the other hand, I know I'm going to be tuning in. Why? Travel nursing has been a dream of mine ever since I decided to take up this profession. As I'm just starting my first RN position later this month, I lack the experience needed to travel. But as soon as I get it, you can guarantee I'll be grabbing that opportunity. I think the sneak peek into my future life will be interesting, though I'm sure the MTV spin won't be 100% realistic.
Anyways, I'm looking forward to seeing how this show turns out, but I'm wondering if the general population will be interested in tuning in? Is that something non-nurses would like to watch? Let me know what you think!
Oh, and since I never made a mention yet, I did pass my boards in 75 questions and am now an official RN! :)
Until we chat again,
Liz :)
Nurse Nation is apparently a new "reality" type show that will be airing on the station, following the lives of several twenty-something travel nurses. If you're unfamiliar, a travel nurse is basically someone who gets a new assignment every three months or so. Your assignment can be in any city pretty much, and thus you have the ability to travel all over the country. It's a really amazing opportunity, and MTV is stressing the "work hard - play hard" lifestyle that these travel nurses shall have.
I'm totally unsure of how I feel about this show, especially with the spin that MTV tends to put on most things. As a recent nursing graduate, I obviously have a great love and respect for my profession. Part of me is entirely afraid that this show is going to make nurses seem like crazy partiers or people who lack morals or something else foolish and generally untrue like that. But, obviously, this is a common theme among a lot of MTV reality shows. On the other hand, I know I'm going to be tuning in. Why? Travel nursing has been a dream of mine ever since I decided to take up this profession. As I'm just starting my first RN position later this month, I lack the experience needed to travel. But as soon as I get it, you can guarantee I'll be grabbing that opportunity. I think the sneak peek into my future life will be interesting, though I'm sure the MTV spin won't be 100% realistic.
Anyways, I'm looking forward to seeing how this show turns out, but I'm wondering if the general population will be interested in tuning in? Is that something non-nurses would like to watch? Let me know what you think!
Oh, and since I never made a mention yet, I did pass my boards in 75 questions and am now an official RN! :)
Until we chat again,
Liz :)
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