12.02.2012

On to the Next One

So it is bittersweet to say that I have given in my two week notice for my first RN job. I don't know if I ever said how I truthfully felt about my job but I actually hated it. I enjoyed the actual work but the hospital itself was not making me happy. One main issue I had was the fact they didn't train the nurses in different departments but made us float to other areas with out orientation or training. I am a new grad and even though I worked in Med-Surg as a nurses aide I still don't have the experience as a Registered Nurse. I felt as though I was placed in unsafe situations and the hospital didn't care. I even bought nursing insurance through Nurses Services Organization because I didn't feel safe there. I stood up for myself while the other nurses allowed them to walk all over them. You have to remember that it is your license, you worked hard for it and no one else cares to protect it. Safety for yourself and the patients is what it came down to and I couldn't deal with it any longer. I did learn a lot during my time there and I met some great people. I had one nurse, that I would probably never forget, tell me that I am a smart and great conscientious nurse. I have met a lot of people in my life but it's the ones who encouraged me in my nursing career that I wont ever forget. So I am on the market again for a new job. Wish me luck and I will keep you all updated!

Thank you for reading!
 

11.16.2012

Healthy

I think one of the hardest things besides staying awake on night shift is denying all the fatty and comforting food that is passed around to help us stay awake. 
As nurses, it is really easy to lose yourself in trying to care for your patients. Our long hours can be stressful and if you have families, all of your time is pretty much gone. We forget to work out, eat healthy and take care of ourselves.
Some easy ways I learned to stay on the right track is to bring your own lunch, eat healthy snacks and to work out on your days off. 
Now I cannot say that I have achieved all of this but I try my best to stay focused on my health. Because face it, if you are not healthy how are you supposed to take care of your patients and more importantly how can you teach healthy lifestyles to your patient if you can't be an example to them.

How do you try to stay healthy? Comment below!


 

11.03.2012

RESCUE Remedy Natural Stress Relief Gum

Nursing is a stressful job (THAT is an understatement). As you know, I work in Pediatrics and with the winter season upon us, more children are coming in with respiratory issues such as RSV and the flu. 

I try not to get myself too overwhelmed but it is hard to control the environment of a hospital. So when I received RESCUE Remedy Natural Stress Relief Gum in the Bride to Be VoxBox from Influenster, I knew it would be perfect for me. Even the though the VoxBox is for brides I am not planning my wedding at this moment so I used it for the most stressful thing in my life at this moment.

The gum is white and has a liquid center of 4 drops of the RESCUE remedy. It is a natural combination of flowers; Rock Rose, Impatiens, Clematis, Star of Bethlehem, and Cherry Plum. The gum itself doesn't have a taste and the liquid center tastes slightly sweet but it dissipates once chewed. The gum itself is a good "chew". And by that I mean the gum holds up for a long item for chewing. 

I usually pop this gum in my mouth right when I know I am getting admissions or when I feel panicked about work. The gum helps to calm you down and to deal with stressful situations. 

My experiences with the gum is that to me, it is both a mental and a physical thing. I feel like when I chew the gum it reminds to take a deep breath in and out, to slow down and chewing helps to release the stress. I have still not figured out if the gum itself calms me down, but it sure does help. This is something I would keep nearby when I am work.

Check it out the website here: RESUCE Remedy. It costs $5.95 and is found in health food stores like Whole Foods and GNC. It also comes in different forms like drops and sprays. This may be a great way to help you keep calm and focus.

Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influsenter. 

Thank you for reading!