And it’s Blog Post #22! We’re coming to the one year anniversary of my first published article. If you haven’t read it, check it out here:

http://www.mightynurse.com/sylvia-moreau-nursing-and-life-affirming-stories/
I met Sylvia for coffee last month. She is doing very well. She amazes and inspires me. Her story, although difficult and challenging, is also triumphant and a tribute to the human spirit. She’s talking of doing some writing of her own. I’ll share the link to her work should she decide to send it out into the internet-abyss. I believe she has a lot to say and can provide a unique perspective for people going through difficult times.

There’s little to update on my writing front….such is the life of a part time freelance writer. I have recently decided to commit more to my writing and will therefore be working less as a bedside Registered Nurse. This should mean more articles on a more regular basis and maybe a more active blog. Dare to dream!

Change can be a challenge. We find a comfort zone. We settle into a role or job and only disaster seems to push us out. I prefer to be proactive, risking a little to gain a lot. We internally decide what we’ll put up with, what we’ll accept, and then often never re-evaluate it. I’m nervous to reduce my hours as a nurse. It’s good reliable work. However, I can’t write about the virtues of using your time for passions, doing what you enjoy, and not exchanging your non-renewable time for money and then just focus on my work/career.

While nursing is a difficult and challenging career, I do find the feeling of helping people, giving back, and contributing to a greater good does give me a lot of satisfaction. I may not always enjoy it but I am very proud to be a nurse. I give my all and try my best and every once in a while, I feel like I really make a difference.

Job Hunting

I am fortunate to have worked in many different areas as a nurse. It’s quite interesting looking for nursing jobs. Ads will come up stating, “Nurse Urgently Needed!” or “Looking for Superstar Nurse. Apply Immediately!”

Did you not know that you were going to need a nurse?

Are people fleeing this job?

These are the questions I ask myself.

 

What about ads that require everything:

1. At least 5 years experience.

2. Specialty training in IVADs and Hickman Lines.

3. Trach. Care certification with ICU training.

4. Master’s Degree or equivilant.

Meanwhile, they don’t say who they are, what the hours are, what the pay is, or what the benefits are to working there (wherever ‘there’ is). Why should I take my valuable time to even apply for such a job, let alone devote any of my time to you or your company? Not just in nursing, but in all aspects of employment, value yourself. Job ads should say, “Here’s why you should work for us. This is what we can offer you.” It’s not a once waste streak.

My blog photo this week is of the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada. While walking downtown in May 2017, this amazing reflection caught my eye and this photo was born.

Last week, my wife and I celebrated our ten year wedding anniversary. We decided to go on a road trip to Bainbridge Island near Seattle, U.S.A. We were going to bring some old books that we were looking to get rid of. I had recently asked someone where I should bring used books. He said to bring them to America. Every day, they’re getting a little closer to burning books. I don’t know how true that is but I know we only found friendly helpful hosts living their lives and treating us well. My wife and I had a wonderful time.

Words of Wisdom

1. If you have a seafood allergy, don’t go to a seafood restaurant! That’s like having a gluten allergy and going to a bakery. That’s like having an allergy to bee stings and sticking your hand in a hive. That’s like having a chocolate allergy and visiting Charlie at his factory. That’s like a diabetic going to Candyland. That’s like a barefoot person going to Legoland. That’s like having a peanut allergy and meeting Linus and Charlie at the rowdy part of the theatre. Don’t Do It!

2. Don’t eat food that doesn’t belong to you without asking first! I recently heard a story of a restaurant cook who saw a cake in the fridge. The cook didn’t know that the cake had been dropped off by a family that had reservations to celebrate a 50th birthday that night in the restaurant. The cake was worth over $600 U.S.D. The cook ate it. So at the end of dinner, the family asked for the cake to be brought out…..no cake. The manager had the pleasure of explaining that the cook had eaten the cake (they should have said it was dropped). I hope the dinner the cook made was good. What would you say if that was your cake?

• The cook ate the cake.
• Too many cooks spoiled the cake.
• It was a piece of cake.
• It was a piece of cook.
• Cooking is a piece of cake.
• You can have your cake and eat it too.
• You can have their cake and eat it too.
• That was icing on the cake.
• That was icing on the cook.
• You can’t have your cake and cook it too.
• You can’t have your cook and cake too.
• Way to go Cookcake!

It’s time for the usual ending jokes. Here’s a couple nursing jokes and a return to Star Wars. Enjoy

A patient rang the bell and I went to him and asked, “Hi, What would you like?”
He responded, “I want warm water and not this room temperature stuff. I want a new blanket. This one has some crumbs on it. My pillow needs fluffing. I require a different pair of socks. Also, change the channel on the TV. This is boring!” 

I replied, “Sir, I’m not your servant. I’m your nurse. You need to do your own stuff and comfort yourself. This is not a hotel with a personal maid service. You’re not in a resort. Stop being demanding, belligerent, and rude. Do things for yourself, jerk!!”

I didn’t actually say that.…..I don’t say ‘Hi’ or ask patients what they would like.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Knock Knock
Who’s there?
Count Duke.
Count Duke who?
Count Duke who had his head cut off by Annakin.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Credit to a fellow nurse colleague for this one. Thanks Leah!
Leah and I were helping a patient who was unable to get up from bed. The patient asked me why I went into nursing. I said that I needed to find something where I didn’t have to deal with people. We all laughed a little. Leah then said, “Roy wants to be a comedian but every time he would tell jokes, people would walk away. Nursing gives him the chance to tell jokes to people who are bedbound and not able to walk away.” Then we really laughed.