As Good as it Gets, Blogwise.

When I was younger, I was a voracious reader.  It didn't matter what I read - if there was print on a page - I would read it.  

I had read the whole "Lion, Witch and Wardrobe" series before grade four and was already delving into science fiction and historical tomes by seventh grade.  No "romance paperbacks" for me!  

I still love to read, but I have adjusted to electronic stuff as of late, although I still believe there is nothing better than the smell of a freshly printed page. (Yes, that's me, sniffing books in Chapters!)

Then you run into a blog that *really* stands out.

You know, the one that compels us to go back to the beginning of their blog and read every single post in order  - end to end.

Check this blog out: 

"What makes you think I have cats?" - authored by Betsy*. 

Honest to God, I was sitting in my little office space on my breaks yesterday -  laughing so hard that I was disturbing my co-workers.  I just couldn't help it.   I don't often howl out loud whilst reading, but Betsy really has The Gift.

If you are having a bad day, this blog is guaranteed to cheer you up.   Something like watching "Seinfeld".   Actually, it's a LOT like "Seinfeld".  Betsy transforms her ordinary office life into a sitcom.  There are actually a lot of parallels to the world of nursing.   Very clever writing. Check out the "horoscopes".  Where does this come from?  I wonder at the imaginations of people who write this stuff.

Mostly, I read nursing and nursing student's blogs, but occasionally I come across a blog that is so witty...  I can't get enough.  I want her to write more.  Yes, this one is that good.  

Gee, I love good writing. *sigh*

It's like eating a peanut butter and cucumber sandwich. Crunchy, fresh and flavorful, with a sprinkle of sugar -   it has you wanting more.




* I found Betsy's blog via "It's Always Something" - Lois Sterns - another great writer, who was mentioned in Head Nurse's blog, which is, by the way - the other blog I read from end to end like a book...

Who are my Readers?

I am a Student Nurse 3 (10%)

Just started - 1st year 5 (17%)

2 - 10 years of nursing - 3 (10%)

11 - 20 years of nursing - 3 (10%)

21 - 30 years of nursing - 1 (3%)

over 30 years of nursing - yikes! 4 (13%)

I am not a Nurse 9 (31%)

I wish I were a Nurse 2 (6%)

I wish I weren't a Nurse 4 (13%)

I AM A NURSE / I AM NOT A NURSE/ I AM ON A HORSE

As you can see, I have a "Opinion Poll" question on the right.  You can check off more than one...to allow for the "Wish I were / Wish I weren't"  at the bottom of the choice selection.  Humor me. :)

I read a blog regularly called "Gray Matters" - a Widower Blogger. He was lamenting because he only has 9 "followers" and no one had commented for a long while, so he was getting discouraged and thinking of quitting his blogging, thinking no one was reading it. I tried my best to encourage him by telling him that we don't always get comments (hardly ever- unless you are hugely popular) and just because no one comments, it doesn't mean you aren't being read.   Even if you aren't being read.....what does it matter? Nothing substitutes for a catharsis.

I enjoy reading his blog....I have followed his blog from the beginning - as he tells of his journey from Independent Working Person in Oregon - to a Retired Person in a Retirement Home in Washington State. He writes of his adjustment to living with a bunch of old people...how the old women view him as "new meat". 

It chronicles the conflicts and trials of life in a place that is perhaps turning out to be not quite the heaven he thought it might be and the tribulations of being elderly with not much money.  It is a glimpse into the mirror of our own future....what is in store for all of us if we don't prepare for the future.  In his case....he doesn't have much because most of his life - he was helping others - giving away what little he earned.

 He tells a compelling story.  He doesn't know it - but he was my inspiration to start blogging.

I then started thinking.....I think it is mostly Nurses reading my blog....I wonder where they are in their Nursing career?   Are they mostly near retirement? Just starting out?   So I thought I would throw it out there and see what comes up.  

Like I said.  Humor me.  :)  Making me happy is just a click away.......

Where in the World?

As I was running through all the blogs I follow, one in particular came up this am.

I have to tell you about a gal I met on FB a few months ago in a Canadian forum - she is from Toronto, Canada and she is a Teacher. Trupti is her name. She has a Blog called "Send a Postcard. Save a Life".

She isn't asking for money.

What she asks is - if you are travelling - to send her a postcard from the country you are travelling to - and she will donate $5 for every postcard sent to her favorite charity: NOTHING BUT NETS.

Nothing But Nets distributes mosquito nets to prevent malaria transmission in Africa. Each family in need receives one mosquito net - for every $10. Did you know that Malaria was only eradicated from the U.S.A. in 1951? Did you know that 1500 travelers from the U.S.A. come back with Malaria every year? (the red on the map indicates the areas where Malaria is)

"- Every 45 seconds, a child dies from Malaria, accounting for 20% of all childhood deaths in Africa.
- Non-immune pregnant women are at risk as malaria causes high rates of miscarriage (up to 60% in P. falciparum infection) and maternal death rates of 10–50%.
- Semi-immune pregnant women in areas of high transmission. Malaria can result in miscarriage and low birth weight, especially during the first and second pregnancies. An estimated 200 000 infants die annually as a result of malaria infection during pregnancy.
- Semi-immune HIV-infected pregnant women in stable transmission areas are at increased risk of malaria during all pregnancies. Women with malaria infection of the placenta also have a higher risk of passing HIV infection to their newborns. "

As a student 30 some odd years ago, I was working in a small community hospital near where I lived. I was placed in the ER and this particular night a very sick man came in. No one could figure out what was going on with him. Then, one MD - who came from elsewhere - I am thinking South Africa since we have very many of them in B.C. - recognised the symptoms and had some blood drawn. He was interested in teaching - enough to haul me, a young nursing student, across the hall to the small hospital lab and let me look through the microscope at the blood sample from this patient.

"Take a look" he said - "You may never get to see this again."

He's right. I have taken care of only one other patient with malaria - and that was on a L&D unit - and she was one very sick mom, if you can imagine after reading the above facts from the WHO site.

"263 territories of the world. 263 postcards. $1315. 132 mosquito nets. 132 families saved."

Great Idea. Great cause. And it will only cost you the price of a stamp and the fun of seeing where you went written up in her blog. Check out what countries still "free" to send from - there can't be any repeats - and - get travelling! (But be careful!)

And - omg! - I can't believe that this site is selling these!!!


* Map thanks to NASA, Photo of Malaria thanks to CDC.

Re Posting my Past Nursing Experience: Regrets

Ok. I have thought about it and decided that I will keep this Blog public.

I will repost some of the blogposts I removed - but reworked without the identifiers(identifiers meaning identifying me - since I never did ID any patients) .

If that is possible.

Some of you will find these reposts familiar - if you have been reading my blog since the beginning. If you do, just bear with me. Don't worry - I won't be posting the repeats only - I will sprinkle them with new stuff as the circumstances arise.

My "blogfriends" Rachedy and New Nurse in the Hood posted a meme on their blog - which recognised and voiced appreciation to the Nursing Blogs they read. Thanks, you two, for the shout out and link.... and forgive me for not realising I was supposed to do the same. I am clueless.

Anyway.

I blog mainly for myself. I haven't been blogging about recent nursing experience for obvious reasons....but mostly about my career 15 to 30 years ago....and how it has changed. I blog about the difference between the USA and Canada - since I have worked both. I blog about my daily experiences as I fumble through life. It's the small things, I have realised, that will be important to me down the road.

I know I will be able to remember the BIG events. I just want to make sure I remember the small things that happen in my life when my mind goes....and since I maybe have another 20 years until that happens....why not do that here? And therein lies the reason that I blog.

If you would like to join me in my journey - feel free. Life is an adventure and best lived living it to the fullest. After all, when you get old, you don't want to be mulling over " I should have.....I could have....". I don't think I have ever had to rethink my life........

No regrets. That's my philosophy in life but I guess, not in Blogging - if you catch my drift.

There are Four types of Nurse Bloggers I gravitate to:
1. Old Nurses like me: Don't get offended. It's OK to be "old". Wrinkles are life's Roadmap.
There is a lot to be learned from the Experienced. Plus ....it makes me laugh to read about what went on way back when, the understanding of where nursing came from and the appreciation for someone who has "been there" too! Being allowed to Complain is our Reward for "staying the course"!!
2. Student Nurses: Love 'em. Can't get enough of 'em. They are enthusiastic, energetic, and full of anticipation for what their career will offer them. We need 'em. We want them to succeed.......and all you "old" nurses out there....please take them under your wing and nurture them and guard them with your life......remember - we were all there once - and we will need them in a few years- so mentor them well!
3. ER nurses: what fun and excitement. Just love them! I only did a float through ER and loved it so much! Would have loved to work there full time but ended up in L&D instead....which in many ways....is similar in that you can go from one patient to a full house in a matter of an hour, your patient can go from doing great to dead in a matter of minutes....and you can wonder why it's so quiet one minute - then running full speed dealing with several emergencies the next...... That adrenaline rush is something else, and I live vicariously through you!
4. Male Nurses: Love their perspective. I wish there were more of 'em. I work with several right now and they are above and beyond my favorites to work with.

I do follow a few religiously.....Rachedy and New Nurse in the Hood are on the top of my list, then NurseXY, Nurse J, Madness: Tales of an Emergency Room Nurse, Those Emergency Blues , Running Wildly, Tex, Nurse Jackie, Who's Life is it Anyways? , Send a Man to Nursing School, NYCRN , AlbinoBlackBear (ER RN going for her MD)...... oh - and let me credit one more: Drawing on Experience. His cartoon illustrations of what he is experiencing as he goes through Nursing School is amazing. I am jealous of his talent, being somewhat of an artist myself.

I love these blogs (and more! sorry I couldn't name you all!) for the reasons above.

Now on with mine. :) Be damned the Prying Eyes of Government and such.

Alternate Blog

Awww. I was just reading all the comments this am as I sat feeling sorry for myself.

Thanks u all for all your support. Funny how you can feel a camaraderie through the "blogworld" when you haven't even met anyone. Even Frank, the jerk, turned into somewhat of a mascot of sorts.

The blogs of "old" nurses like me crack me up because I can so relate. The younger nurses that have worked for a while - same -- plus I can feel for you - you have a lot more years to slog through...and the future is looking a little...well... difficult. Finally - the nursing students - you are the future of nursing when I am long gone. Thank Goodness for you.

I really think nursing is getting more and more complex and difficult (never mind the higher ups making it darn near impossible to do a good job). The main thing that I liked is knowing that there are others like me out there in that "Sister-Brother-hood" that is nursing, because - really - there is just no one else who understands like another nurse.

Blogging really helps with getting through the crap times and has us high-fiveing the good times. Being able to express frustration or share elation when we are actually able to do a job-well-done. It used to be enough that our patients rewarded us in the small ways that matter. Thankfulness. A word. A smile. Knowing that what we do really matters and changes lives and that YES - we make a difference in this world. But it seems - those are few and far between.


We are wanting more of a ...... connection.

So - now with blogging - we get support from other nurses who by their encouragement or just sharing their own experiences - or just appearing on our site and reading what we have to say, then quietly leaving - - - - - it's become the new way to communicate.


Unfortunately, there are ethics and government and confidentiality and .....all those other things to ponder......

....so maybe I will write about things other than nursing.



It's a thought.



After all, nursing isn't my whole world.



Only a very, very small piece of it.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

I miss my blog. *Sniff*

And my blogger "friends".

Good news is.....I am getting a raft of stuff done.

Still - it just isn't the same............