Simple Lessons

[Davey Do]

Sometimes the simplest lessons are the most difficult to learn.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

Best video on external cardiac massage that I've ever seen.

[Daisy4RN]

Yep DD, I don't do that any more. You put your heart out there (on your sleeve) and people will take advantage of it! 

[Davey Do]

5 hours ago, Jedrnurse said:

Best video on external cardiac massage that I've ever seen.

Yeah, Jedrnurse, and it's so simple, why doesn't everyone do it?!

1 hour ago, Daisy4RN said:

Yep DD, I don't do that anymore. 

Sometimes with age comes wisdom, eh Daisy?

I was recalling some past events in my nursing career and thought how emotions regularly mucked things up. The difference between a good shift and a bad shift was how I handled it.

If I outwardly displayed my emotions in a tense, or any other dramatic situation, things usually did not go well. However, if I kept my cool and acted prudently to the best of my abilities, I was almost always okay with the outcome and myself.

When she comes home from a 12 hour MN shift on IMU, I often ask Belinda how her shift went. Sometimes she says, "Terrible" and proceeds to give me highlights. I regularly remind her that she did a good job; she provided quality care for her patients. And Belinda is one not one to "go off", so she doesn't fan the dramatic fire.

Unlike Belinda, not going off is an act that I've learned, much as a performer in a play. On several occasions, I would have preferred to box ears than to respond in a therapeutic manner. But I was playing the part, I knew my lines and didn't show my true emotions; I did not wear my heart on my sleeve.

Thank you, Jedrnurse and Daisy for your comments.

[Davey Do]

"A tongue can accuse and carry bad news. The seeds of distrust, it will sow. But unless you've made no mistakes in your life, be careful of stones that .you throw."                                                                                                   -HankWilliams

 

[Davey Do]

This next Simple Lesson has a recent, special meaning to me: 

Basically, if we bite the hand that feeds us, our food just may be taken away.

I knew this was a possible outcome when I called Wrongway on some unscrupulous situations earlier this year. But I also knew that I didn't need the feed that Wrongway provided, so I subsequently symbolically bit their hand. 

Ever thus...

[Davey Do]

I was scrubbed in on a surgery back in the mid '80's when I dropped an instrument on the sterile field and the surgeon, Dr. ABC, gave me this Simple Lesson:

 

 

[Daisy4RN]

21 hours ago, Davey Do said:

Sometimes with age comes wisdom, eh Daisy?

I was recalling some past events in my nursing career and thought how emotions regularly mucked things up. The difference between a good shift and a bad shift was how I handled it.

If I outwardly displayed my emotions in a tense, or any other dramatic situation, things usually did not go well. However, if I kept my cool and acted prudently to the best of my abilities, I was almost always okay with the outcome and myself.

When she comes home from a 12 hour MN shift on IMU, I often ask Belinda how her shift went. Sometimes she says, "Terrible" and proceeds to give me highlights. I regularly remind her that she did a good job; she provided quality care for her patients. And Belinda is one not one to "go off", so she doesn't fan the dramatic fire.

Unlike Belinda, not going off is an act that I've learned, much as a performer in a play. On several occasions, I would have preferred to box ears than to respond in a therapeutic manner. But I was playing the part, I knew my lines and didn't show my true emotions; I did not wear my heart on my sleeve.

Thank you, Jedrnurse and Daisy for your comments.

Yes Davey sometimes with age comes wisdom, unfortunately though not for everyone.  I think that sometimes it comes early in age also depending on ones lifes situations. I had a few major life changing events early on that changed my thinking alot; from worrying about the future (too much), worrying about being wronged etc  to just chilling out and enjoying the day/present. I remember someone once told me life (situations) are 10% the event and 90% your reactions (for most day to day type events this works). Indeed, as they say, don't sweat the small stuff. I was never an over-sharer in the workplace just tried to keep a low profile (esp after I realized how the politics of a workplace work, ugh); I never liked all the drama either. The only time I tried to speak up was either for the nurses in general, or the patients, but of course, it doesnt take long to realize that usually doesnt go well (as you know!). I also learned early on to not speak up to any situation right away but to "pause and ponder" (recognize that?!), I didn't call it that but it works great (and I like your wording LOL).

Good advice to Belinda, she is lucky to have you in her corner! 

6 hours ago, Davey Do said:

This next Simple Lesson has a recent, special meaning to me: 

Basically, if we bite the hand that feeds us, our food just may be taken away.

I knew this was a possible outcome when I called Wrongway on some unscrupulous situations earlier this year. But I also knew that I didn't need the feed that Wrongway provided, so I subsequently symbolically bit their hand. 

Ever thus...

I literally had a dog that did this, bye bye doggy!

 

16 minutes ago, Davey Do said:

I was scrubbed in on a surgery back in the mid '80's when I dropped an instrument on the sterile field and the surgeon, Dr. ABC, gave me this Simple Lesson:

 

 

Good advice no matter where you work, I did that once as a student, oops!

[Davey Do]

1 minute ago, Daisy4RN said:

The only time I tried to speak up was either for the nurses in general, or the patients, but of course, it doesnt take long to realize that usually doesnt go well (as you know!).

Thanks for the kind words about Belinda, Daisy!

Re: the quoted part- I admire you when you say "the only time..." because I strongly shared my opinion (confronted) loud, caustic, antagonizing staff who ran around untethered and got on my nerves. 

It's a wonder I didn't have a hit put out on me.

Then again, maybe I did. 

I was terminated, you know.

[Daisy4RN]

7 minutes ago, Davey Do said:

It's a wonder I didn't have a hit put out on me.

Then again, maybe I did. 

Yeah you never know, be careful out there!

 

8 minutes ago, Davey Do said:

I was terminated, you know.

I know! But it all worked out in the end/for the better, eh

[Davey Do]

22 hours ago, Daisy4RN said:

I know! But it all worked out in the end/for the better, eh

Daisy's "it all worked out better in the end" was a thought-provoking statement.

I asked myself, "Would you have changed anything that happened in your life?" and Googled "the most difficult questions we ask ourselves". On the first hit, one of the first questions was "Are you living the life of your dreams?"

Presently, that is not a difficult question to answer, for I am a retired nurse who feels and believes I had a successful career, doing exactly what I want to do.

But then I asked myself, "Have you ALWAYS been living the life of your dreams? Were you living your dream when you began working as a nurse over 36 years ago and in the interim, despite a multitude of "tiny murders" and major life crises?

So, I took the role of an MC and interviewed myself, past and present:

 

[Davey Do]

There's a good amount of venting  on allnurses in order to gain support and/or get a new perspective on things. Venting is a therapeutic catharsis.

"Once you tell somebody the way that you feel
You can feel it beginning to ease
I think it's true what they say about the squeaky wheel
Always getting the grease."                                                                              - James Taylor