We are in the midst of a sticky, cloudy, drizzly string of days, and I do not appreciate this, especially because this is a time of year when I hope for crisp autumn air.
But on the other hand, I know other people, like our dear Floridian readers, are preparing for a hurricane, which is much worse than a bunch of days of clouds.
a Florida beach from my photo archives
So I am not gonna complain about the drizzle, and I hope for safety for everyone in the path of the hurricane.
This week, I am thankful:
for an at-home first day of med-surg clinicals
My group is on the oncology floor for our clinicals the next three weeks, and the first day went really well. I felt so at home on this floor because it is almost exactly like the floor where I work.
for success with a difficult patient
The nurse and the tech yesterday were both feeling a little frazzled by a particular patient, but a couple of my classmates and I managed to work together and get her care all completed.
And I think this patient is actually excited to see us today too. 🙂
Yay us!
for how competent I feel
When I got my summer job as a tech, I kinda thought the experience would help me in upcoming clinicals.
But I was not prepared for just how confident the tech job has made me!
I think back to how hesitant I felt on the first day of med-surg clinicals in February, and when I compare that to how I felt this week, I see a night and day difference.
Now I walk into a room with lots of “I belong here and I know how to do this job.” energy, and that feels really good. 🙂 As they say, competence breeds confidence.
I am so so so glad I worked all those tech shifts this summer! I did not earn piles of money, but I gained priceless experience.
for the privilege of caring for the dying
Yesterday I did my first post-mortem care for a patient who passed away. While it is, of course, sad when a patient passes away, I think there is something beautiful about the work we do in respectfully caring for the person’s body; it feels like an honor.
We also had a hospice lecture this week, and as I watched the pre-lecture videos about people who care for people who are dying, I teared up many times.
It is so beautiful to see the gentle and kind way hospice and palliative care workers tend to people, and it reminded me of the “why” behind all the studying I am doing: people need competent and kind care.
The post-mortem experience at clinical was another in a long line of experiences that have confirmed that I am pursuing a career that is right for me; I find it inspiring, not disturbing, to care for people, even when it’s at the end of life.
While of course I love to help people get better, I also feel like some of my most meaningful healthcare work so far has been with patients and families who are facing death.
And that makes me wonder if I will end up working as a hospice nurse one day.
for how spacious life feels with 8-hour clinical shifts
I am so used to being at the hospital for 12.5 hours, an 8-hour clinical shift feels like it’s gone in a blink!
Like…I had time to go to the gym afterward.
And shower.
And make dinner.
And do clinical paperwork.
And do laundry.
In contrast, with 12-hour shifts, there’s barely time to eat and shower before you gotta go to bed!
for the cats
she was very interested in my grape
that Lisey is feeling more confident at her job
She’s really settling into a groove as an airplane mechanic now, and that makes me so happy for her!
Ann
Monday 7th of October 2024
Kristen, thank you for sharing these updates. I'm a consistent reader and only occasional commenter but I love hearing from you. Thank you in particular for sharing that palliative care video. It made me tear up, too.
Maggie
Saturday 28th of September 2024
Lisey is so cool! And obviously so are you. I think it is so incredibly important that we treat death with diginity in our society. It's hard to face our own mortality but trying to turn away from the dying is just making it worse. I love how you can see yourself as a hospice nurse. I've been having a few rough days so I need to practice gratitude. I am grateful for a safe home (no hurricanes, no war) with a really nice bed. For friends who are coming to visit tomorrow. For my clever little pre-schooler. For friendly neighbors that I am getting more and more in touch with (I've been reaching out and it is nice to see people are responding). And for this blog that always give me a peaceful feeling!
StephanieLD
Friday 27th of September 2024
Yeah, I know it's Friday, but that doesn't make me any less grateful, so here goes.
Kristen, I had the pleasure of hearing Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in person--while in nursing school! It was either 1969 or '70, but her book hadn't come out yet, and we were not allowed to tape any of her lecture because of that. She actually came to our nursing school, and I think there were lots of people besides us students in attendance. She so impacted my work--I knew about the 5 stages of grief before most of the general public. I always wanted to work hospice after hearing her speak, but it was so new, there were no places around yet. After it became more common, it just paid so poorly, because it's Medicare funded. When I did leave hospital nursing, I took a $5/hr cut in pay to work hospice--that's over $700/month--but I never regretted it. Hospice felt like coming home; like the kind of nursing I was meant to do. But it was the right time of my life, after working over 40 years in various fields of nursing, to end it in hospice.
So yesterday and today I am thankful for: 1. Music. Staying at home as much as I have the past couple of months, you'd think I'd have had more time to listen, but I was usually at the hospital or at rehab, and then when he came home, I needed to be available to hear hubby if he called me, so I couldn't just put on the earbuds and listen. I am so happy to be driving and listening to K-Love again! 2. Long pants again! It's been cool enough that I drug out the jeans yesterday. I do not have the legs for shorts, but it's been too hot not to wear them. Today I got so wet just going to and from the car, I came home, peeled off my wet clothes, and put on a pair of sweatpants and dry t-shirt and I feel so comfy right now. 3. German chocolate cake! Today is our 53rd anniversary, and we had to get out in the deluge because hubby had a haircut scheduled for today--the first once since early June! I drove him there, and on the way back, talking about how we were NOT going out again today, we decided to stop by the local bakery and get some kind of cake to celebrate. Usually, you have to order a German chocolate cake in advance, but they are so popular, the baker has started keeping them on hand, and business being slow today, I was able to grab us one even though it was nearing 3 pm. 4.The Stephen King marathon on TV right now. Got to see the uncut version of The Shining last night, and Cujo is coming on later today. They don't show that one very often. 5. More tomatoes (green ones this time) and a dozen and a half fresh chicken eggs from my BN group. Last night we had meatloaf, black eyed peas, and fried green tomatoes for supper. Why yes, I am from the deep South, thankyouverymuch!
Linda H.
Friday 27th of September 2024
Your kind heart will be such a blessing to others in your career. Any place you choose to work will be so fortunate to have you.
Becca C
Friday 27th of September 2024
I love that picture of Lisey in all her mechanic gear but with her eyeliner just right! It’s awesome.
I am grateful for really amazing weather here. Like unbelievably beautiful. 70s and no humidity and sunny. Also for the time and health to be able to go for a long walk in a state park and enjoy it.
Grateful our state parks are so inexpensive. Only $25 for the whole year.
Grateful to be feeling better after a cold that left me on the couch for a whole day!
Related to the above point, I watched six episodes of Narcos in a row and I will say I am grateful to have that level of entertainment at my fingertips for days when I don’t even have the energy to pick up a book. As miserable as it is to have a fever of 103, Pedro Pascal made it so much better.
Kristen
Friday 27th of September 2024
Lisey and Zoe have the eyeliner down to a fine art!