COVID-19 & My Nurse Mental Health - I feel like shit that has been trampled by elephants.

I literally can’t get out of bed some days. 

Everything makes me cry. 

Going through the day feels like walking through waist-deep mud.

I am tired of talking to people who are not my nurse or healthcare friends. No one else understands.

This is what COVID-19 has done to me. I have not caught it. I am physically well but mentally, I feel like shit that has been trampled by elephants over and over again.

If you are in the healthcare field, you may know what I’m talking about. There is a constant dread during every waking moment. It is a heaviness that for me, is often on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I have heard others describe a giant pit in their stomach that will not go away. 

And your dread is valid. This effing novel corona virus is a REAL bitch, and it’s killing healthcare workers around the world. 

Plus, we are often being expected to work without the equipment we need to stay safe and keep our patients safe. It’s a time when we are being called “heroes” but are being treated like trash. 

Yet there are people out there who care. I see social media posts, public displays of appreciation, and huge philanthropic efforts to support us. Everyone I know texts, calls, or emails. They all want to know the same thing - “How are you?” 

I don’t know how to answer.

I want to say - “I am awful. I am afraid. I am worried about every one of my friends and loved ones getting sick or dying. I can’t see my family or best friends. I’m terrified that I am going to bring this wretched virus home to my husband. I am so lonely that I can’t move. Every shift gives me a panic attack before and after and sometimes during… but otherwise, I’m good. Have you watched Tiger King yet?”

I don’t think that’s what people are hoping for…

Thankfully, I have amazing friends.

A brilliant nurse friend and colleague of mine posted the most eloquent response to this question, which I have now borrowed with her permission and will use as the response for me, and I think, most nurses right now: 

“People keep asking how I'm doing. I wanted to be very honest, so here it is. Strap in - this is long.

We are struggling.

The burden of this pandemic weighs so heavily on us. We are bearing the weight of the world on our shoulders and we aren’t sure that we are strong enough.

We carry a rock in our stomachs and a lump in our throats which have taken up permanent residence and from which we cannot be released.

We put on a brave face, but we are taking enough antacids to medicate an elephant. If we are already on antidepressants, we’ve increased them. If we aren’t on them, we are considering starting them.

We’ve stopped worrying that we’ll bring this home to our families anymore. We’ve taken that as a given. We worry that our family members could be the vectors who unknowingly spread the virus to somebody else. We need to protect the world from US.

For that reason, we take social distancing extremely seriously. Guess what? That social distancing, though? It’s killing us. We are empaths. It is both our nature and our job and now we can’t give our love to anyone. Do you know how much we could all use a hug right now? We can’t have one. Our children miss their relatives and are begging for real in-person hugs and we can’t let them. Our hearts ache.

We worry.

We worry about all of the same things that you do. We worry about our families, but we don’t get to dwell on that because we’re worried about your families, too. We worry that you will be the patient we have to tell, “I’m so sorry, but due to the isolation precautions we will all be trying our best not to enter your room after I leave. Here is your call bell. Let us know if you need anything!” We worry that you will feel alone. We worry that it will be the last words you hear from another human before you are gasping for air and we have to intubate you with no family present and nobody to hold your hand.

We worry that our kids will internalize our grief, anxiety and depression due to what we face each day.

We worry that you call us heroes. We don’t feel like heroes at all. We are just as frightened as you are.

We feel guilty to be gainfully employed when so many are not. However, we worry what the ultimate price will be for continuing to do the job we love so much.

We feel sorrow for the lives lost and for the many more that we are bound to lose due to poor planning and preparation.

We feel disposable. Under a president who refuses to acknowledge the severity of this pandemic, the CDC making subpar recommendations for PPE, a national administration that has been unable to equip its frontline staff appropriately to protect themselves so that we can SAVE FUCKING LIVES – WE FEEL DISPOSABLE.

Despite all of this, we will still SHOW UP. Because when you are a nurse, it is more than a job. It’s a calling. It’s what we do. We SHOW UP.

To all of our colleagues – from EVS to RT to MD and everyone in between – THANK YOU for showing up.

To all other essential employees of the world – THANK YOU – for feeding us, delivering our mail, picking up our trash, keeping the streets safe. THANK YOU.

And to those who are forced and/or able to stay home, THANK YOU for doing your part to flatten the curve. We know that it is not without great sacrifices for many.

To those who are donating, volunteering, sewing masks and caps, lifting us up in prayer, helping your neighbors, and spreading kindness and love – THANK YOU.

This is a battle that we are all fighting together and everyone plays their respective part, so THANK YOU.”

 - Ginelle Rasch, Emergency Department Nurse

I know. Ginelle is THE BEST.

Things are so hard. If things seem impossible for you too, know that you are not alone. I feel the same. Ginelle feels that same. But somehow, together, we are going to get through this. 

And if you need a little extra help to push through, that’s totally ok too. In the past few weeks, I have switched my SSRIs, increased my talk therapy appointments (via telephone), and have had to be very open with friends and colleagues about my mental health needs. 

Your mental health is important, just as important as your physical health. Take time to care for yourself. And know that you are definitely not alone. 

- Sarah @ New Thing Nurse

Here are a few resources that I am using to help me get through the days. Maybe they will help you too:

Crisis Text Line - Mental Health Support via Text

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) COVID-19 Resources & Information Guide

Podcast: Kate Bowler - Everything Happens, “The Emergency Button”.

Podcast: The Hilarious World of Depression - Call a Friend, Find Out How They’re Doing.

I tried yoga once so far. It was nice. This yoga is free! - Down Dog

Connecting with friends:

Art of Emergency Nursing Podcast Episode with Me, Kristen Cline, & Kevin McFarlane

FB Live Fill Your Cup Virtual Meetup with Anna Rodriguez of The Burnout Book

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Crafts for Healthcare Workers: Make Headbands with Buttons to Save Our Ears with Mary Olp of The Irish Thread Creations

If you’re a nurse, doctor, respiratory therapist, CNA, PCA, or any other healthcare worker right now, I bet your ears hurt from wearing a surgical mask 24/7. Pain, skin breakdown, and more are happening to our ears as we work to care for COVID9 patients.

Well like all of today’s problems, the internet has given us a remedy for our surgical mask induced ear discomfort! Headbands with buttons sewn to them which allows healthcare workers to place ear loops over the buttons instead of their ears! #happyears

There are a lot of photos circulating on social media, and all of them look great! But my friend Mary Olp, a former emergency nurse, sewing guru, and the brain behind the Facebook page The Irish Thread, has created a pattern for all you crafty nurses and nurse supporters out there!!!

Note - These headbands SHOULD NOT be used with N95 masks as it may affect the seal. 

Ear Saver Headbands for Healthcare Workers

Wearing Surgical Masks Pattern & Instructions

by Mary Olp of The Irish Thread Creations

Once done, consider distributing to your nursing department, local hospital, and beyond! Make sure to take photos and send them to New Thing Nurse - newthingnurse@newthingnurse.com and The Irish Thread Creations.

Thanks to Mary and all the crafty folks out there who will be saving our ears!! 🧵💛 

To learn more about Mary Olp and The Irish Thread Creations:

The Irish Thread Creations Facebook Page

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COVID-19 is here! 😳 What does that mean for nurses?

COVID-19 is here! 😳 What does that mean for nurses?

Generally, it means chaos in our workplaces. The information related to COVID-19 (aka Corona Virus) is constantly evolving creating confusion and misinformation everywhere. This can make every shift 12+ hours of stress for nurses and other healthcare colleagues.

Here are my top tips for managing the stress of being a nurse during a pandemic:

1. Stay up to date! - The information is changing hour to hour. Keep informed by following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 page. It has the most current information available with the recommended guidelines for healthcare workers.

2. Keep clean! - Washing your hands seems like an eye roll worthy recommendation, but it is necessary to decrease your risk of exposure and transmission. I found this great article that gives some of my favorite songs as tunes to use to make sure that you are washing your hands for the recommended 20+ seconds.

3. Sick? Stay away from others. - Like any time that you are ill, stay home, cuddle up, and watch some TV. If you want to really get into the outbreak spirit, check out the Netflix docuseries “Pandemic.” I LOVED IT!

4. Make some mental space for yourself while at work - Your shifts are stressful on a normal day but then you get to go to work in a pandemic - AHHHHHHH! Now is an even more important time to take time for yourself to create mental calm so that you can be your best self for work and home. Check out this New Thing Nurse Blog post that offers a few tips on how to keep calm during a stressful shift.

Remember - Take care of yourself so that you can take care of others.

- Sarah @ NTN

Resources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Resource Page

New Thing Nurse Blog - When the Shift Hits the Fan

Atlanta Magazine - 9 Atlanta Songs to Help You Keep Time for Hand Washing

Pandemic Docuseries on Netflix

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About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life. 

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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Guest Blog Post: Finding My People as a New Grad Nurse with Ted Rossini, BSN, RN, PHN

Hello New Thing Nurse Tribe! 

My name is Ted, and I am a new nurse who graduated in June 2019. I found my first job working at the Student Health Unit for the California School for the Deaf (CSD) & California School for the Blind (CSB) in Fremont, CA. When I started my nursing journey, I couldn't have known that I would end up here, nor could I have foreseen what a good fit it would be for me.

Before nursing school, I worked as a preschool teacher, a barista, a planetarium presenter, a waiter, a resident assistant for foster youth, and a summer camp director. I lived in four states earning just enough to pay taxes and in another five states for short stints with AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps NCCC. I accidentally fell into healthcare when I became an EMT while earning a FireFighter-1 Certification. All this is to say, I knew I had a lot of experience but was unsure how I'd fit into the nursing world when I graduated.

Sarah from New Thing Nurse visited my school in Fall 2018 with a presentation on the importance of self-care and avoiding burnout. At that point I was already feeling burnt out from nursing school and really didn’t know what type of nursing I'd like to pursue upon graduation. I was also hearing healthcare professionals tell the world that turning 36 hour weeks with lots of overtime is bad for them and bad for patients’ health. One thing that really stood out from the New Thing Nurse presentation was a picture of Sarah with her shift mates doing a silly dance on a slide entitled - "Find Your People." 

From my experience in EMS and non-profits, I was already familiar with how much self-care outside of the job and taking breaks was key to avoiding burnout. But this concept of "finding your people" was a new idea for me. So often I was devoted to the work that whoever my coworkers were just happened to be who they were. It was a very strong tool I carried with me on each clinical rotation throughout nursing school and sure enough, the rotations that were the most fun and meaningful had less to do with where I was than who I was with. Put me with someone who liked their job and wanted to help people, and I was happy in all kinds of clinical settings from Pediatric Heme One, the Cardiac ICU, Med-Surg, NICU, to orthopedic rehab. 

And then there was my nursing school cohort. I love my cohort dearly and wouldn't trade them for anything, but so often in class, my views and values clashed with theirs. I would often hear my fellow nursing students say things like - "I'm going to be in a level 5 NICU" or "I'm going to be an ICU nurse" . In protest, I declared - "I'm going to be a school nurse."

After I calmed down and took some breaths, I remembered once working as an EMT at a Renaissance Fair. I had met someone who was studying American Sign Language (ASL) and had just been accepted to a graduate program. In my travels and previous jobs, I had actually learned a fair amount of ASL and interacted with a large deaf community in my early adulthood. That was when I remembered that the California School for the Deaf was near my nursing school, and I had a simple thought - “It's a boarding school, so they must need nurses.”

I looked, and there was a position open! I kept my eye on that post for four months while I finished school, recovered from my preceptorship, and finally studied for and passed the NCLEX. I wasn't sure what I'd find there, and I certainly had almost no experience with the blind community. But even before I was hired, school staff were so kind and welcoming. 

Ultimately, I applied and got the job! On my second day, there was a "True Colors" team building exercise where I got to really know my coworkers and felt immediately at home. I quickly discovered a friend, who is now one of my mentors, who loves theater (like me!) so I joined her and her husband for a play my very first weekend on the job. I quickly realized that I had found my people - we're huggers, we like to laugh, we like watching kids grow from children into adults, and we wear fun scrubs. A great moment came when my mentor and her husband joined my grandmother, aunt, mother, and myself for Hamilton. She wanted to get a picture with just her and me, and I quickly thought we should make a sign together as one. She immediately knew the best sign: Nurse!

- Ted, School Nurse

Photo: Ted and mentor make the American Sign Language sign for “nurse”.

Photo: Ted and his colleagues are doing "serious” work at the California School for the Deaf (CSD) & California School for the Blind (CSB) in Fremont, CA.

Photo: Ted and colleagues in the fun scrubs on Crazy Hair/Punk Day during spirit week.

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About the Author - Ted Rossini, BSN, RN, PHN works at the Student Health Unit at the California School for the Deaf (CSD) & California School for the Blind (CSB) in Fremont, CA. When Ted is not at work, he enjoys attending the theater with family and friends.

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Let's learn about Nursing Informatics: An Interview with Shaina Onnagan, MAS, RN-BC, CEN

Shaina Onnagan, MAS, RN-BC, CEN

I have been so lucky in my nursing career to meet some incredible people who become friends and continuous nurse inspiration. One of those people is Shaina Onnagan, MAS, RN-BC, CEN who was kind enough to answer a few questions for the New Thing Nurse Blog. Shaina and I met in the wildest emergency department that I have ever had the pleasure of working in. Since working together at the bedside, Shaina has jumped into the world of Nursing Informatics and is going to share about her experience with us today. Enjoy!

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Sarah @ New Thing Nurse (NTN): Hello and welcome to the New Thing Nurse Blog! I know and LOVE you from having worked with you in the craziest emergency department in the world, but our readers do not know you yet. Please introduce yourself to our #newthingnursetribe!

Shaina Onnagan (SO): Hi there #newthingnursetribe! I’m Shaina Onnagan, and as Sarah mentioned, I had the absolute honor working with her in by far one of the most insane emergency departments. I’m originally from Hawaii, but I’ve called San Francisco home for over 15 years now. Professionally, I’m a board certified nurse informaticist currently working as a clinical informatics RN. In my free time, I like to run around with my puppy, bake lots of yummy desserts, and, honestly, sleep.  

NTN: The New Thing Nurse Blog is all about learning from each other by sharing our professional journeys. How did you fall into nursing? And what area of nursing did you start in?

SO: Funny enough, I started college as an English major. I was sitting in my Intro to British Literature class in a room that was straight out of Harry Potter. It was tiny – it barely held the 12 students and professor– and covered from floor to ceiling with books older than time. I had the sudden realization while listening to the professor talk about the syllabus that I had no idea what I was doing in that class. It didn’t feel right to be there, so I left and started to think about what I really wanted to do. I’ve always liked human physiology; I’ve always been fascinated by how the human body works (um, hello endocrine system??). I was also lucky enough to be attending a university that had a stellar Nursing program, so I almost immediately decided to change majors into something that felt more natural for me: Nursing.

I’ll save you the story (and it is quite the story) of getting into Nursing school. I graduated in 2010 with my BSN, and I was lucky enough to be accepted into a new grad program in the emergency department at a hospital in San Francisco. Although I still work at the same hospital, I now work in a different role as a clinical informatics RN.

NTN: You currently work in an area of nursing that I feel I often hear about but still know so little about. Can you tell us all about nursing informatics? 

SO: And that’s completely ok! I hear that all the time – not many people know about nursing informatics. It’s only been recognized as an official nursing specialty since the 1990s! And to add to that, there are so many TYPES of informatics – medical informatics, nursing informatics, biomedical informatics, clinical informatics, etc. Each specialty has its own focus, and not surprisingly, nursing informatics focuses on nursing.

This is directly from our Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards or Practice (2015):

“Nursing informatics (NI) is the specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple information management and analytical sciences to identify, define, manage, and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice. “

That definition sounds nice and great and professional, but the quick 15 second elevator pitch I normally use to explain what I do is imagine if you take nursing, information technology, education, project management, and sprinkle in the theory and background of different analytical sciences and combine them all together – you get me, a nursing informaticist.

NTN: What drew you away from the bedside and into a new nursing role?

SO: I think Sarah can attest to this – but that super crazy emergency department we both worked in? It took a toll on me, physically, mentally, and emotionally. I have always been a firm believer in the importance of self-care for nurses, and I did as much self-care as I could. I did the things I loved outside of work. I spent a lot of time with my loved ones. I set my boundaries. I left work at work – or at least I tried. But I learned that I was not the kind of person who could grow skin thick enough to block out the constant physical threat and emotional abuse that came with being an ED nurse.

During one particular shift, I realized that I wasn’t providing the kind of patient care I expected of myself. On top of that, I recognized that I had signs of compassion fatigue. My health was suffering too – I started having migraines, GERD, and physical pain in places I never injured. My body was telling me something that my mind didn’t want to grasp: I was burnt out. I didn’t want to admit it since I was basically a “baby nurse” with only a few years under my belt, but I knew I needed to go.

I took a step back and started asking myself a lot of questions about where I was, what I was doing, and where I wanted to go in my career. There was a moment where I even questioned whether I should still be a nurse at all. I did a lot of soul searching and spent time talking to my mentor because I knew I wasn’t ready to leave the profession, but I knew I needed to do something different.

That’s when the opportunity for a clinical informatics RN role appeared, almost as if as magic, and I took it. I had no idea what “clinical informatics” was at the time, but it sounded like something I could be interested in. I’ve always gravitated towards computers and technology in general, so a role where I could use my nursing experience and knowledge and work with computers? I’m in!

NTN: How did your nurse friends feel about you leaving them for an office? What challenges did you face in your transition to your "new thing"? And how do you feel now that you have been working in it for quite a while? 

SO: A lot of people – co-workers, friends, family – didn’t understand the move. Most thought it was temporary, and to be honest, I thought it was going to be temporary too. Then, something amazing happened. I started my new job and things just started clicking for me. I felt like this was where I was supposed to be all along.

Towards the beginning of my new role, I harbored a lot of doubt in my heart because I had a lot of people asking me when I was going back to the bedside. Someone I knew even once made a joke that I wasn’t a “real nurse” anymore since I didn’t directly take care of patients, and that comment hurt, if I’m being honest.

Because no, what I do now may not affect patients directly. I can’t optimize a part of the electronic health record (EHR) and suddenly see a patient’s disease symptoms improve. But what I do does affect the nurses and all clinicians who take direct care of the patient. In a way, I am an advocate for our nursing staff to help develop health information systems that assist them with providing the best possible care they can. It’s a vital role and one I take lots of pride in.

NTN: Do you have any tips for anyone out there who might be considering jumping into a "new thing" of their own, especially for any of our nurse readers who might be looking for something away from the bedside? 

SO: You will know when you’re ready to leave the bedside. Listen to your instincts. It’s a scary leap, but I can say with complete certainty, it’s one that I don’t regret.

Also, remember that nursing is such a unique profession because there are SO MANY nursing specialties. You can be a Medical/Surgical nurse for 5 years and then go into Pediatric nursing. You can start off as a PACU nurse and move into a nursing administrator role. So if you move away from the bedside and into a nurse educator role or nurse informaticist role, know that you can move back. That’s the beauty of nursing.

NTN: The focus of New Thing Nurse is supporting nurses as they find their "new thing." I know that you recently became a Corgi mommy! How has it been bringing a puppy into your nurse life?

SO: She is a bundle of joy and then some! I think my favorite thing about having a corgi puppy or just a puppy in general, is that no matter how hard your work day was, you can go home to a wiggling little ball of fur who wants nothing more than you love and attention… and maybe some treats.

NTN: Do you have any "new things' on the horizon? New Thing Nurse wants to know!

SO: I do! I’m just a semester away from graduation for my Master’s in Health Informatics. Working full time and going to school full time has been quite the challenge, so I’m glad I’m almost done with that.

NTN: Do you have any other advice for our readers?

SO: Self-care. Self-care. Self-care. Self-care! Remember that you cannot take care of your patients if you don’t take care of yourself first. Don’t be afraid to branch out and try new things, like a new nursing specialty. You never know – you just might find that one role you didn’t even know you wanted.

Shaina and her puppy, Babingka, in beautiful San Francisco, California.

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About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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The Business of Nursing: An Interview with Amelia Roberts

I recently had the opportunity to do an interview with Amelia Roberts, RN for her Business of Nursing podcast, a project that Amelia started to showcase the variety of nursing businesses, what works, and what doesn’t for nurse entrepreneurs. Amelia is a former GI and Endoscopy nurse and digital native who officially became a practitioner of online marketing twelve years ago with a role as a virtual assistant. Student loans from nursing school inspired her to put her marketing experience to use and she started offering social media management support to a variety of purpose-driven organizations.

Shortly after, Amelia had the opportunity to become an online community manager for a health literacy association and later dove into social media data analytics with Stanford University’s MedX project. Along the way she saw a need for other health professionals to start disseminating their expertise and make reliable health content easy to find. One thing lead to another and Amelia now works as a visibility expert and digital marketing consultant, helping under-recognized professionals become thought leaders by skipping the maddening world of Facebook Ads, sales funnels, and algorithm changes. Amelia coaches her clients to engage online collaborative partners such as podcast hosts, bloggers, and social media referral networks who already have the “know, like, and trust” of thousands of supporters.

I asked Amelia a few questions to answer for the New Thing Nurse Blog. Read below to get her perspecive on transitioning from bedside nursing to starting her own business where she helps clients in optimizing their human potential.

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New Thing Nurse (NTN): The New Thing Nurse Blog is all about learning from each other by sharing our professional journeys. How did you fall into nursing? And what area of nursing did you start in?

Amelia Roberts (AR): My upbringing was influenced by women in my family who were either teachers or nurses, a group that has sometimes been called the “Pink Ghetto.” While I loved technology and computers, my mom said she would pay for school if I became a nurse like her, so I did. Yet I never loved working MedSurg, nights, weekends or holidays, so I started my nursing career in the outpatient world with GI/Endoscopy Nursing.  

NTN: Now that we know where you started, tell us about where you are now. What motivated you to make that transition into your "new thing" as you call it on your website - a Human Potential Optimizer? 

AR: Over the course of figuring out what I was born to do as a human, I looked at all of the things I enjoyed and projects that went well. They all had a common thread: I help people survive, thrive and get to their highest potential, at the bedside, in the boardroom or in their business. In short, I help people get visible, be seen and live optimized lives. 

This realization is what moved me into this work being a visibility expert and human potential optimizer.  

NTN: Do you have any tips for anyone out there who might be considering jumping into a "new thing" of their own, especially for any of our nurse readers who might be interested in launching their own business? 

AR: Yes, as nurses our greatest fear is killing someone. Please note that death need not be a concern when it comes to trying your new thing! In short, you will not die nor will you likely kill anyone by choosing a new path that serves you best. 

NTN: What has been the best thing that you have invested in to help with your "new thing"? What was the least helpful? 

AR: Investing in reputable coaching has been the best thing that has helped me with my new thing. There is a lot of information that they do not teach in nursing school, so a good coach can shave YEARS off of a pretty steep learning curve. 

On the other end, some so-called “Experts” have been the least helpful. 

Following the advice of some "Gurus" led me to think that I needed to do #allofthethings just to get my business to take off, yet when in reality is was about having a specific outbound client getting plan and then working that plan to get clients. 

NTN: I love the idea behind your blog and podcast. Can you tell us more about the podcast and what inspired you to start it? 

AR: As I started helping people get visible and grow their audience, other  people seemed to be surprised that as a nurse I had the ability to learn something new. In short others were surprised that a nurse could learn a new skill such as marketing and get people results. 

Because of this knowledge gap, I created The Business of Nursing Blog to show that nurses are capable of learning MANY new things and our skills ARE transferable and VALUABLE in places beyond the bedside and traditional nursing roles. Related, I also wanted to use my blog to bring new resources to the attention of nurses who are thinking about what else is out there for them. 

NTN: Do you have any exciting "new things" in the future? 

AR: Yes, I plan to focus on helping under-recognized professionals grow their visibility by being featured as guest experts on podacasts, in Facebook groups and on virtual summits of their best buyers, clients and referral partners. 

NTN: Do you have any other advice for our readers?

AR: Yes, when it comes to reaching out for something new, dare to believe that it will be easy. 

Sometimes we have fears related to how hard something will be, yet many times people are seeking for someone with just the sort of skills you offer. You just may be the the solution that someone has been dreaming about having in their life!

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Listen to my interview with Amelia on her podcast, The Business of Nursing here:

Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL on The Business of Nursing Podcast

How to find out more about Amelia Roberts, RN and her many projects:

Solutions by Amelia Website

Amelia Roberts, RN on LinkedIn

Amelia Roberts, RN on Facebook

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About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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Guest Post: Finding Balance as a Nurse and Mom with Lindsay Woolf Grainger, MPH, MSN, RN

To me, the most amazing individuals in the world are the #nursemom and #nursedad. Like unicorns, they manage to rock the world of nursing and parenting with a magic that smells like coffee and determination. While I am not a member of the nurse-parent team, I know many of our #newthingnursetribe are and that is why I invited my nursing school friend and esteemed colleague, Lindsay Woolf Grainger, MPH, MSN, RN, to tell us how she has tried to find work-life balance as an almighty #nursemom.

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Hello readers!!

I am delighted to be sharing my experiences with you on the New Thing Nurse Blog!! I am Lindsay Woolf Grainger - a nurse, nurse educator, wife, mom, and friend of Sarah’s from nursing school. Yes, I remember the “good ol’ days” of skills check offs, late-night study sessions with Sarah, and fun ,yet random, hair cutting parties (look - we had to be creative with our budgets as nursing students). I am humbled to have this opportunity to offer my thoughts on the daily quest to balance work and family priorities as a #nursemom.

My husband and I have three daughters - ages 1, 3, and 6. Our days can seem like a blur of feeding, entertaining, refereeing, comforting, and disciplining our kiddos. I love the privilege of being a parent, and with these responsibilities on my plate, my career has had to evolve.

The news of my first pregnancy created some immediate changes in my work as a new grad, nightshift nurse on a transplant unit in a large, urban facility in Georgia. For starters, I actually asked for help when moving patients. I was extra sensitive to smells and took better precautions NOT to inhale. My participation in doing CPR compressions was frowned upon. I also realized that nightshift combined with the fatigue of pregnancy was pretty intense, so I put my name on the list for a transfer to dayshift and was grateful when a position came up within a few months.

Some really groovy things happened during pregnancy too. I discovered a new-found confidence and assertiveness. This led me to schedule a meeting with our CNO to discuss my concerns about the hospital’s then-recent decision to cut the training time for new grad nurses in HALF. I don’t know if I credit the hormones or what, but I felt compelled to advocate for future nurses, and it seemed like my barely emerging “baby bump” was leading the charge.

After the delivery of our daughter, a whole new wave of realities came crashing into my life - the challenges of breastfeeding, the haze of post-partum hormone shifts, and severely truncated sleep. New career questions emerged. I had the luxury to return to work PRN, but even so I was clumsy at maneuvering pumping while on the job (in the bathroom—really people?), and I felt anxious to be away from home yet anxious to maintain my professional pursuits while at home.

So that delicate teeter-tottering of balancing career/family time began quickly for me. Today I work as a full-time nurse educator, and I appreciate the flexible schedule that it affords. I still struggle to manage all of the childcare needs (especially when the kid(s) are sick) and worry that my mind too frequently drifts to work plans or schedules even when I am hanging out with my kids. There are many competing interests to balance between the needs of our family and the demands of my job, but I try my best. And I try to forgive myself for the days of lopsided priorities.

A few things that help redirect me towards balance include:

• Open Communication - I think that effective partner communication is essential (with or without kids). The more my husband and I communicate about our concerns and our needs, the better we seem to be able to work as a team to equilibrate our jobs and family.

• Landing Intentionally - To state the obvious, working in health care can be really stressful. With lots of family responsibilities in the mix, it is important for me to be intentional about where I work. I have decided that on the job I need to land somewhere in between “bored” and “stressed out.” I need a job that remains challenging and engaging without driving me nuts from the stress.

• Being Creative - My entrance into the field of nurse education started with a random phone call one year out of nursing school when I was 3 months post-partum. I was sleep-deprived, unprepared, yet curious. So (naturally?) I said yes. I am so grateful for the opportunities that this career path has afforded me and our family. Being creative and open-minded with career choices and scheduling can make work/family balance easier to achieve.

• Sharing - One of my favorite ways to prioritize my family is to include them in my job! As a new nurse, I invited (ok…begged…) my husband to occasionally visit me at work. I wanted him to understand what I was up to each day on the job. I have taken my children (even as babies) to the hospital to introduce them to co-workers and (hopefully) foster their interest in and appreciation for healthcare. Now as a nurse educator, I look for ways to include my kids in the classroom. My kids have also enjoyed volunteering (alongside nursing students) with Meals on Wheels in our community. (Full disclosure: I *might* be guilty of dressing our girls in child-sized scrubs during these events to max the cuteness factor.)

So, I have mentioned a few things that point me more towards balance, but I should probably mention a few of the pitfalls that distract me in this pursuit:

• Others! I cannot look at the lives of others (the credentials they have achieved, hours they work, activities their kids do, accolades their kids have achieved, relationships they have with their partner, etc…etc…). I don’t live anyone’s life but mine. No one is living anyone’s life but her own. The comparisons that tempt me are unhealthy and unfair and don’t help me figure out how to balance my unique responsibilities and goals.

• Sleep! For the record, I have tried (as probably most of you readers have) to sacrifice sleep for the benefit of my job and my family. Prolonged sleep deprivation has not moved me an inch closer to balance, so I would call this the ultimate “anti-balance” pitfall!

Every day can be viewed as a new opportunity to reassess our work/family balance and to move weight from one end of the teeter totter to the other. If work is suffering, then refocus on work. If family life is suffering, then refocus on family. And always know that no one (not even an acrobat, or your co-worker, or even your distant social media acquaintance) is perfectly balanced or put together. All of you nurses out there who work tirelessly to serve your families and your patients. YOU are heroes!!!

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Photo: Lindsay Woolf Grainger, MPH, MSN, RN

About the Author: Lindsay Grainger, MPH, MSN, RN is a full-time nursing instructor at the Mary Black School of Nursing of the University of South Carolina-Upstate. Her academic interests include community health, public health policy, immigrant health and refugee health. She holds a Masters of Science degree in Nursing (CNL) from Augusta University and a Masters of Public Health degree from Emory University. Lindsay has worked at the bedside in organ transplant nursing and in general surgery. Lindsay has also taught undergraduate and graduate clinical courses at Augusta University.

Outside of the classroom, Lindsay enjoys spending time with her family. (Her three daughters keep life whirling and twirling!) Lindsay's hobbies include learning languages, practicing yoga, and writing music. Lindsay currently serves as a volunteer at the Greenville Free Medical Clinic and previously served as a volunteer for Friends of Refugees in Clarkston, Georgia.

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#MakeItHappEN: The New Thing Nurse & Emergency Nurses Association Partnership to Support Nursing Students & New Nurses

Did you hear the big news?

New Thing Nurse and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) have teamed up to provide more support to nursing students and new nurses who are interested in pursuing careers in the emergency department!

Repost from the ENA Instagram: 📣 ENA has some exciting news! Whether you're a student nurse or a recent grad, ENA wants to support you during those important early steps of your nursing career. To do that, ENA has combined its resources and partnered with ENA member and popular career coach Sarah Wells!

Together with New Thing Nurse, ENA brings you career tips from an emergency nurse who has gone from student to the front line of an ED. #MakeItHappEN

- Sarah @ New Thing Nurse

Learn more about how ENA and New Thing Nurse can help you: www.ena.org/makeithappen

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About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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Be the Change Agent: An Interview with Lauren Plaine

I met Lauren Plaine at Emergency Nurses Association’s (ENA) national conference Emergency Nursing 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was the 2018 Emerging Professional Liaison to the National ENA Board. This was the first year that this role had been established, and Lauren was the pioneer to first take on the position. Lauren put her incredible energy and poise to work as a representative for ENA’s emerging professional membership to voice their opinions and needs to the Board of Directors.

I have had the chance to get to know Lauren over the last year and was lucky enough to get to ask her about her experience as a voice for new nurses across the county and about her next new things.

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New Thing Nurse (NTN): The New Thing Nurse Blog is all about learning from each other by sharing our professional journeys. How did you fall into nursing? And what area of nursing did you start in?

Lauren Plaine (LP): Well I definitely fell into nursing.  Growing up I always wanted to be a doctor, but that was not in the plans for me.  I completed an EMT class in high school and began running with my local rescue squad my junior year.  My initial major was athletic training until I realized that I really did not want to stand on the side of a high school football field for the rest of my life.  Through running rescue, I had interacted with the nurses in the ER and decided maybe I could be a nurse.  In nursing school, I worked as an ER Tech and my manager picked me up as a new graduate.  Honestly, had she not hired me I’m not sure I would still be a nurse today because I love working in the ER. 

NTN: You are a very active member in the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), the largest professional organization in the world for emergency nurses, and had a very special role with them in 2018. Can you tell us about ENA, why you are so active with them, and about your amazing role within the organization that you held all last year? 

LP: I am someone who will ask you all about “the why” of a decision.  I like to know how you got to your conclusion and after many questions, my manager encouraged me to join ENA to help understand why we do what we do in the ER and how our practice is guided.  From there, I became very involved in my local chapter finding that ENA truly is a resource for education and networking, but even more so a community of like-minded ER nurses who simply want to better our corner of the world.  On a whim, yes a whim (ask my mother), I applied for the Emerging Professional Liaison position for the National Board of Directors.  Stunned when I received my confirmation of appointment, I could not image the level of inclusivity that I was about to experience.  I sat as a non-voting board member, but was treated like any other director.  All of the board members valued my perspective and opinion. Millennials are the largest group in the nursing workforce, and with this role I felt that ENA values our perspective and is placing an emphasis on cultivating the next generation of nurses and leaders.

NTN: How was it being a younger nurse on a board with such experienced nurse leaders? What lessons did you learn from that experience that you have found valuable as a newer nurse and new nurse leader? 

LP: It is very intimidating to be the youngest and least experienced at a board table.  I was not sure I wanted to speak at all the first meeting for fear that I would sound unintelligent and inexperienced.  Let’s be honest, my previous baby nurse experiences in the ER were not always welcoming.  During my first meeting when I was holding back, Jeff Solheim, 2018 ENA President, called me out for my opinion and to offer the emerging professional perspective (insert sweaty palms here).  As I shared, I found everyone listening intently just as they had to other perspectives.  What I learned is that our engaged ENA leaders truly care what everyone has to say.  What I found meeting after meeting is that even as an emerging professional, I have the ability to make change with the help of this organization.     

NTN: What motivated you to make that transition into your "new thing" as the Emerging Professional Liaison?

LP: Everyone complains about their problems and the problems in their department or lives, but you are just as much of the problem if you sit idly by.  Be the change agent.  I was tired of accepting the status quo and decided that it was not enough for me any more.  You are responsible for living every moment.  So, I ask myself frequently - Are you satisfied with your life or is there something you can change to make it and the world a better place?

NTN: Do you have any tips for anyone out there who might be considering jumping into a "new thing" of their own, especially for any of our newer nurse readers? 

LP: I have three suggestions for anyone who is thinking about jumping into their new thing.  First, stop the self-doubt and go after what it is you want.  Only you can change the life you live.  Second, ask yourself what is your why?  What drives you to make this change?  Write it down and post it somewhere you can see it every day.  Third, be aggressive about your ambition.  Stop holding back, because the world could be a very different place if you actively seek to improve yourself and the world around you. 

NTN: The focus of New Thing Nurse is supporting nurses as they find their "new thing." As you have now completed your year as the first ever Emerging Professional Liaison for ENA, what will be your "new thing" for 2019? 

LP: My new thing is my national committee appointment.  I am serving a two-year term for ENA’s Emergency Management & Preparedness Committee.  Emergency and disaster management is something that I am very passionate about and I am perusing my Master’s in this field of study.  My other new thing is public speaking.  I hope to make new opportunities in 2019 for speaking engagements.  

NTN: I happen to know that you are also super passionate about physical fitness. Can you tell our readers about why physical fitness is important to you, and how it helps in your nursing practice? 

LP: I use fitness as an outlet for my stress, but I also think its important for us to be examples of health to our patients.  It’s also nice to work with a different population.  In the hospital we see a lot of people who do not value their health, but at the gym everyone in my classes comes because they actually care. 

NTN: Do you have any other advice for our readers?

LP: Find your why.  Why nursing as a career?  Why you went to the gym? Why you ate that delicious pizza (jk… maybe?).  But in all seriousness, asking yourself to evaluate the why behind the important things in your life will help you with personal development and creating a better future you.

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Aren’t you feeling amazing about the future of nursing? I know that I am.

To see more from Lauren Plaine, you can come to ENA’s National Conference, EN19, in Austin, Texas (I’ll be there too!) this fall where she will be speaking more on how to engage and support the next generation of nurses. YASSS!!!

For more details >> ENA’s National Conference - EN19 in Austin, TX

Lauren was ENA’s first-ever Emerging Professional Liaison to the National Board of Directors.

Lauren and Sarah (ME) at our first ENA rendez-vous in Pittsburgh, PA at EN18 last year.

Lauren rocking some PPE as she prepares to jump into a trauma case.

Lauren Plaine speaking at the Emergency Nurses Association's 2019 State and Chapter Leaders Orientation in Chicago, Illinois.

Perfectly poised for a 2018 ENA Connection photo shoot.

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About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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It's Time to Take the "Us" Out of "Uterus"

Now hear me out – I think it’s time to take the “us” out of “uterus”.

I know this sounds strange, but I think I understand now why there is all this confusion about who gets to manage what goes on inside the apparently troublesome organ currently known as the uterus.

I believe I have found the root of the problem. The problem is there is no “i” in uterus.

The Strength of the Letter “i”

The letter “i’ seems to help with the clarity of ownership related to anatomy. Think about it - there is an “i” in “penis” and “testicles”, and there seems to be no doubt about who gets to manage what happens to those.

During my career as an ED nurse, I have many times tried to tell patients with penises what to do with them with very little success. I have tried to help people with penises stop putting things up them that should not be there, remind them of the often infectious repercussions of placing their penises in holes without protection, and request them to stop touching their penises in front of myself and other ED staff at inopportune times (AKA all the time). Each time I make recommendations or assertions about a penis attached to another person, I have been reminded in strong, colorful language that the owner of the penis can and will do what they want with it. I can always ask, but ultimately, the person that penis is attached to is in charge of what happens to said body part (at least, in some cases, until the cops arrive).

And don’t get me started about trying to get someone with “testicles” to do anything with them. As soon as I ever mention an idea or procedure having to do with the testicles, a hand goes over them like a vice. It is often a moot point before it is can even be verbalized. 

Furthermore, there is an “i” in both “fallopian tubes” and “ovaries”. And while there has been comments from people without either with thoughts on how to manage biological processes that occur in and around fallopian tubes and ovaries, there does not seem to be as much fuss about these organs as with the “uterus”. I really think it has to do with the letter “i”.

The Problem with “us”

The biggest debates right now seem to be around two things with names that contain “us” – the uterus and the fetus.  It seems that certain parties feel entitled to telling humans with a uterus how to manage it and once a fetus is involved, to take ownership of said fetus even if – 1) it is not quite yet a fetus, 2) it is not housed in their bodies, and 3) they do not seem to quite understand how the process of pregnancy works. Their entitlement claims to have been founded in the name of numerous causes – religion, ethics, the law. I feel that the presence of “us” in the name “uterus” makes them feel as if they are a part of that organ, even when they are not. “Us” seems to imply a collective ownership of a uterus to others. And I really think people might be confused because of the “us”.

I cannot otherwise understand why someone else would feel the right to tell me, the person with the body that contains an organ, how to manage it. Organ trafficking is definitely illegal, at least the last time that I checked. Organ donation and procurement is HIGHLY regulated in the United States. Consent dealing with anything having to do with organs in the hospital is a complex system of legal paperwork with signatures and witnesses. And as the uterus is an organ, there must be some big misunderstanding about the ownership situation around it.

(And I want to take a moment to be very clear on a certain point – this is not just an issue for me because I identify as a “woman”. The issue of who gets to dictate what happens to the organ called the uterus will affect all kinds of humans who identify all kinds of ways. I know that this will be confusing for some people, but this is something that I want to emphasize. I am speaking out as a human with a uterus - not just as a woman.)

The Difficulty of Adding an “i" 

I really love languages, but English is a hard one. The letter “i” is often used, strangely to me, to make singular words plural. This is one challenge with my thought of taking away the “us” and adding a letter “i” to the word “uterus”.  “Uteri” does not work for this reason, talk about confusing.  And other variations are just plain bad. “Utire” is terrible as it will make every nurse (and most humans with a uterus) think of infection or a gross outfit. “Iteri” sounds like a snobby word for a place to get lunch (EW). These won’t work, but I have another idea.

The Power of “me”

I have come up with this solution: I think that we should now rename the “uterus” with the new moniker - “uterme”.

A “uterme” definitely makes ME feel that it is an organ in me and when I say “My uterme”, I feel it is doubly stated that the organ is inside of me and MINE. When I say “uterme”, the listener is reminded that me and myself are going to be navigating the events of what goes on inside my organ and most importantly, there is no implied group ownership of my uterme.

It even gets down to an almost primal level of communication that Tarzan enthusiasts might enjoy – “Me human. Me uterme.”

It definitely seems like everyone can understand that – even the most primitive humans.

And as a human with a uterme, I am going to go two steps further in declaring my ownership of this organ that resides inside me:

1. I am first going to say here, in plain words, that I and only I will ever make decisions about my body. No other person, law, or religion will ever dictate what I decide to do with it. And that should apply to ALL humans. Your body is YOUR body.

2. I am personally renaming my own uterus/uterme – my “utermine”.  Other humans should feel free to use this nomenclature if they so wish.  #uterminesunite

For more information on how to support humans with a uterus, uterme, or utermine:

Planned Parenthood

Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Source: https://www.acog.org/About-ACOG/News-Room/Statements/2019/ACOG-Statement-on-Abortion-Bans?IsMobileSet=false

These opinions are my own and do not reflect those of my employer or other affiliates

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About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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The Violence Nurses Face

When I tell people that I am a nurse, their response is almost always positive.

They will either say, “That is so wonderful! You get to help people!” or thank me for my work and tell me a story about a kind nurse that made a difference in their life or that of their loved ones. I can see them picturing me in white scrubs, holding patients’ hands, and offering comfort to those that need it most.

But that isn’t really my reality.

I mean, yes, I get to help people. And yes, I often offer comfort for those that are experiencing unimaginable tragedy. But I also am required to take annual Workplace Violence training where I learn to protect myself and escape in the case that I am choked, grabbed, or beaten by someone during my shift. Almost every day that I work, I experience some sort of verbal abuse, intimidation, harassment, or physical threat.

You know, just another day at the office.

If you’re a nurse or other healthcare worker, this isn’t news. But I bet you aren’t surprised if you experience these things during your regular work day. Sadly, many healthcare workers have grown to accept the abuse that we face almost every hour that we are in the clinical environment.

Violence in the workplace has become a massive problem facing healthcare workers across the United States.

In a 2014 study, nearly 80% of nurses surveyed reported being attacked while on the job in the last year. That is nearly 8-0 PERCENT. When I asked my non-healthcare worker husband when he was last attacked at work, he paused, looked at me funny and said, “I can’t recall.” This is not a standard concern for those outside of our industry.

In the eight years that I have been an emergency department nurse, I have been spat on, had my hair pulled, grabbed at, swung on, inappropriately touched, present during an attempted machete-assault, part of more team efforts to restrain violent patients than I can count, had my life threatened, and had the pleasure of once telling my husband that if I go missing to look for a certain person because they will know where my body will be. And all of that does not include the countless verbal abuse, intimidation, and threats that I’ve experienced almost every shift that I have ever  worked. #thisismytruth

And I consider myself lucky.

I have never really been hurt on the job. Luckily, none of the threats have been acted on. I have seen more nurses and healthcare staff than I would care to think about seriously injured on the job or who have had to leave the medical field all together due to the effects of being a victim of violence in the workplace.

The public does sometimes hear about the violence. However, these usually are the most extreme cases, and only the ones that make it to the mass media. You may remember the viral video showing a patient beating on a group of nurses with a pipe pulled off his bed. Or possibly you saw the photo of the ED nurse who was stabbed repeatedly by a patient that she was caring for in the emergency department. Then there is the absolutely tragic story of Carlie Beaudin, a nurse practitioner at the Medical College of Wisconsin, who was violently murdered in the parking garage by the hospital where she worked in January of this year.

Only one word comes to mind when I hear about these kind of events – STOP. This has to stop.  

Nurses are rated one of the most honest and ethical professions in the country almost every year in Gallup Polls.

That’s great. Now it’s time to be the most respected.  

It is time to use our voices to advocate for safer work environments and to share our stories.

There are many groups who have already started these efforts. It is time to organize and unify to get workplace protections in place. I have heard stories about hospitals who do not encourage their staff to report incidents of violence or abuse, about nurses being told not call the police when assaulted, and about cultures of “patient satisfaction first” coming before staff safety. Just writing these words makes my eye start to twitch with rage.

So, what can we do about it? How do I work to make the violence stop?

Below are a list of organizations who have started the work. They are groups that advocate for workplace safety for healthcare workers, provide trainings, support legislation to increase penalties for assailants, gather data to analyze and publish, and provide all sorts of resources from legal to mental health support. Check them out and see which might be helpful for you to get started in your journey to stop the violence against healthcare workers.

I also want to make a plug for a new campaign that I am working with – the Raise Your Hand (RYH) Campaign. This campaign was started by nurses and is being led by emergency department nurses to raise awareness, collect data, and provide insight into solutions regarding violence against healthcare workers that occurs in hospitals. We have a brand new website – CHECK IT OUT – where we are gathering stories from nurses and other healthcare workers who have experienced violence in the workplace so that our Research Committee can start to extract data to help us find evidence-based practices to help us combat this epidemic of violence.

If you have experienced abuse in the workplace, know that you are not alone, and it is NOT acceptable.

We have to work together to create a new nursing reality, really a new healthcare reality, where we can ask each other, “When was the last time that you were attacked at work?” and all respond, “I can’t recall” with a funny look on our face.

Raise Your Hand Campaign - https://www.raiseyourhandcampaign.com/

Silent No More Foundation - https://silentnomorefoundation.com/

Stop Healthcare Violence - https://stophealthcareviolence.org/

American Nurses Association “End Nurse Abuse” Campaign -

https://www.americannursetoday.com/take-pledge-end-nurse-abuse/

 Emergency Nurses Association Workplace Violence Resources -

https://www.ena.org/practice-resources/workplace-violence

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About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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An Ode to Inappropriate Christmas Decor - Nursing Style

I LOVE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!

Especially when they’re put up by nurses! The holidays, like Halloween, are one of my favorite times of year to peruse social media to see what kind of crazy decorations that hospital staff (i.e. usually the nurses) have cooked up.

This year has not disappointed.

Below is a sampling of some of my favorite hospital decorations that I have found on the interwebs this year. Enjoy, chuckle & maybe steal a few ideas (NOT ALL ARE APPROPRIATE - I cannot be held responsible for your choices.) for your own unit.

Caution: Most were gathered from big social media accounts sans credit to the originators, so sourcing is hard. If you know the source of any of these gems, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, and I will happily give credit to the creators of these wacky creations. Also forgive me for grainy picture quality. I do my best.

Category 1 - Urinal & Bedpan Decor

Objects that are meant to contain urine and bowel movements made into art have a deer (PUN) place in my heart. They seem to be typically turned into reindeer and wreaths, a practice that I applaud. I find this practice absolutely golden. #shamelesspun

A classic urinal wreath with colorful Coban for flair.

A darling bedpan reindeer with festive pompoms.

The cardboard bedpan reindeer cousin to our specimen above. #specimenjoke

The Combo - bedpan reindeer with urinal wreath + PUN MESSAGE! A personal favorite.

Category 2 - Christmas Trees Made of Medical Equipment

CHRISTMAS TREES! Who doesn’t love them? Well you may love them more once they are made from random medical equipment!

The IV pump Christmas tree - Where did all the pumps go? This one may look familiar as it was circulating a lot last year, but I still love it.

The Condom Christmas Tree - THIS IS MY FAVORITE!!! I don’t know who thought of this or who blew up the condoms (bless you), but this is pure genius. And the flier next to it!! AMAZING! I would love to see this up in my local health department. Safety first, especially with Christmas decor.

Category 3 - Tortured Elves & Gingerbread Men

I don’t know what the Elf on the Shelf guy did to some of y’all, but you are getting BRUTAL on this poor guy. I have never seen so many elves on life support until the last year or two.

Elf on the Life Support - I think his sedation needs to go up. And what are those other figurines doing to him??

Elf on the Life Support II - This guy has enough sedation, but WHAT DID Y’ALL DO TO HIM?? And the bigger question - what did he do to y’all?

Run, Run As Fast As You…. Wait… - I’m calling it an open fracture and insufficient pain management.

Category 4 - Speculum Reindeer

This may be my absolute favorite category. Someone, somewhere was prepping for a pelvic exam, looked at that speculum, and thought - REINDEER! What a visionary! And what a strange mind. Either way, there are some incredible variations on whatever was the original. BEHOLD!!!

The Glamour Shot - I love everything about this photo. The look of the reindeer, the style of the photo… perfection!

The Speculum Sleigh - What’s better than a speculum reindeer? Why 8 of them of course! And Santa looks so excited about it.

Don’t you love nurses even more after seeing some of these photos? Or fear them? Either way, you have to marvel at their creativity and craftsmanship. May it never stop.

Happy Holidays!

- Sarah @ New Thing Nurse

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About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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FOLLOW NEW THING NURSE ON INSTAGRAM - @NEWTHINGNURSE

A Nurse Reminder – The Importance of Humanity

We are back in the Holiday Season again friends, and the flavor of the month is kindness and giving.

You see it on commercials, billboards, and soda cans. The hospital is full of potlucks and gift exchanges. You may be getting ready for your holiday party and trying to find the right outfit that is not scrubs or yoga pants. It can be a cheery time when looking from the outside of the unit.

But in your department, it is probably a different story.

The census is high. Patients are sick. Staffing is short. There is no time to sit, pee or hardly stuff any of that potluck food in your mouth between call lights and IV pumps sounding off.

We are all busy in the winter. It’s a fact. Nurses wear their fun scrubs and Christmas light necklaces that shine so brightly, but their mood is dark and cold like the weather outside. Your department has run out of everything – no more sandwiches, personal belonging bags or the good, fitted sheets for the beds. Administration is sending out emails thanking you for all your hard work, but also asking you to pick up some extra hours to fill in the staffing holes. It is easy to get resentful and cranky.

These are the days that we see holiday silliness in the emergency department that seems only to arrive in winter – 19 dialysis patients with clotted vascular access in 4 hours, patients with sore throats on a Buy 1 Get 30 Special, and so much epigastric pain (mine included) that it can only be the weeks after Thanksgiving.

And you will get those patients that no one wants to deal with but who take an extraordinary amount of time - the homeless men and women who come for what seems like complete BS. Maybe the EMS call will be for a 67 year-old homeless woman who fell and can’t (did not want to) get up or possibly a 46 year-old transient man who is having a flair up of their chronic thumb pain. I agree, this is not an emergency. This is a waste of an EMS rig. We are receiving a person who does not need emergency medical care services.

However, I want to take a moment to remind us all that while these people do not need emergency medical care, or possibly no medical care at all, they are people who still need care. These are often the forgotten, the hungry, the cold, the mentally ill, and the individuals that our society is failing. They are not getting the medical or mental health care that they need. They are most likely lacking the absolute basics – clean clothes, a place to shower, decent food, and a safe place to sleep.  

**And I hear all of you who are saying that there are lots of people who choose this kind of life and just use and abuse the healthcare system. I agree. There are those people, lots of those people. But let’s just remember that they are still people.**

I had a patient like this yesterday. They needed nothing medically and were definitely taking up a bed that we needed for a sick patient. But as I tried to get them out of the ED, they told me about how much they just wanted a shower and some sleep. They told me how they had been eating out of the trash and scared to sleep because they never know who is around and what they might do.

This is not a person who needed any medical care, but they did need someone to care. We tried to help. We gave them clothes and food. We let them wash up. I led them to the waiting room to eat and rest while the ED continued to provide medical care to those who needed it.

I finished my shift and went home. And I was frustrated and sad. The emergency department should not have to be caring for the basic welfare of our patients. I truly feel that humans all have the right to clean food and safe housing.

And I can’t always make that happen. Shelters are often full. The department doesn’t have enough food to feed everyone a meal. Hospitals can’t be the fixer for all of these problems.

But for what it is worth, I know that I can always try to remember to care – to care enough to give each person the most dignified and respectful interaction that I can and to care enough to keep their humanity in mind even during the busiest time of year.

- Sarah @ New Thing Nurse

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About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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FOLLOW NEW THING NURSE ON INSTAGRAM - @NEWTHINGNURSE

I have a confession.

I have a secret that I want to share with you.

Promise not to judge me?

I am a full-blown Conference Nerd.

Still my friend?

I have, for years, spent a lot of time and money attending nursing conferences. I love them all, no matter the topic - emergency nursing, pediatric care, pre-hospital, nurse wellness, hospice, burns, trauma. I have been to a lot. I have seen many lectures. I loved every minute of it.

Now my conference passion is taking on a new form - I am getting to be a conference speaker!! This conference season, I am SO EXCITED to be presenting at some of my favorite conferences!!!

This month, I have already presented at San Francisco ENA's TraumaCon3 (see ridiculous photo above) and will be heading to PIttsburgh, PA next week to present at the Emergency Nurses Association national conference, ENA18!!

In October, I will be in Walnut Creek, CA at East Bay ENA's For Nurses, By Nurses Conference. And in November, I'll be heading to Orlando, FL to co-present with my collaborator & favorite human, Allison Shuttleworth, at the ENA Fall Regional Symposium.

I am geeking out over here.

At ENA18, I will not only will I getting to share the stage with some of my favorite nurse speakers, I will be getting to brag about all of the amazing work that my emergency department has done to enhance the pediatric care for our littlest patients and their families!

That's a straight win-win.

I love conferences because of the networking, the education and the feeling of camaraderie that you feel among the engaged nurses in attendance. At conferences I'm not a nerd, I'm just one of the gang.

What are your favorite conferences? I would love to learn about them and expand my conference roster for 2019. Drop me a line with your suggestions or invitations (just a hope...) - newthingnurse@newthingnurse.com

- Sarah @ New Thing Nurse

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Want Sarah to speak at your next event?

Contact New Thing Nurse to arrange for Sarah to be your next event’s exciting speaker!

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About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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FOLLOW NEW THING NURSE ON INSTAGRAM - @NEWTHINGNURSE

How to be a Successful New Grad Nurse

Author's Note: A New Thing Nurse follower recently asked me what advice I would give to a new nurse starting their first nurse job. This post is inspired by her and all the recently minted, new nurses who are starting their nursing careers! Congratulations to you all!

Are you a new grad nurse starting your first job?  Here are some tips to take with you to work to make things go a little easier.

1.     Be open to learning. – There will be so much to learn, and you can’t learn it all at once. Be open to days where you will learn a lot and other days where you may learn only a little. The important this is just to stay open to learning. If you close your mind to learning, you will never grow into the best nurse that you can be.

2.     Ask all your questions. – There are seriously no bad questions. Lives literally depend on your work, so ask anything that pops in your head.  Off-the-cuff tips and advice that I received from co-workers over the years have saved my behind so many times. Pepper your preceptor and colleagues with your questions and absorb all of their pearls of wisdom that you can.

3.     Document everything that you do. – The old adage is absolutely true. If you didn’t document it, it never happened. If people are rushing you and telling you that you do not have time to document, remind them that it’s part of your job. There will be a time where you have to learn a good pace to balance patient care and documentation, but it’s an essential part of nursing.

4.     Be kind to everyone you work with from the housekeeper to the CEO. – You never know who will save you on a busy day in the future. Frequently it’s the frontline staff that will help you the most in a pinch, so be kind to all.

5.     Remember that healthcare is a team sport. – Always be willing to help, as well as ask for help when you need it. No one can do this job alone. If you have a spare minute, make a bed or clear some trays. The good you put out will always come back to you.

And most importantly – TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. Nursing can be hard. Don’t fall victim to burnout by setting too high of expectations as you start your career. Make time for self-care and find a good support system. You will a need a tribe to thrive.

Good luck! This will be hard, but you are joining the most amazing profession. And know that the #newthingnursetribe will always be here for you every step of the way.

-  Sarah @ New Thing Nurse

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Anxious about getting started at your new job?

Send me an email & we can talk about how New Thing Nurse can make your new job a little less stressful - newthingnurse@newthingnurse.com

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About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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FOLLOW NEW THING NURSE ON INSTAGRAM - @NEWTHINGNURSE

An Interview with Anna Rodriguez from The Burnout Book

Confession - I really like social media.

I have been overly involved with social media for years, but got REALLY into my accounts when I started discovering the nursing social media community. From your phone, you can interact with nurses from literally all over the world. It is so wild how much you can have in common with people that you have never met and who are located in geographic areas that are literally thousands of miles away.

It was on Instagram that I first “met” Anna Rodriguez, the curator of the incredible IG account - @the.burnoutbook. I was immediately drawn into her posts about self-care, strategies to fight compassion fatigue and manage stress, her videos of her doing yoga with her Corgi, Walter, and her personal experiences that she would share about working through nurse burnout herself. I completely identified with her narrative and felt like I had found a kindred spirit who also wanted to help support the nursing community!

As luck would have it, Anna happens to also be very active on IG! We now have become regular commenters on each other’s accounts and decided to combine our passions for sharing nurse stories by featuring each other on our own blogs! Isn’t life neat sometimes?

It is now with much pleasure that I introduce you to Anna Rodriguez of The Burnout Book… or better yet, I'll let her introduce herself!

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Sarah @ New Thing Nurse (NTN):  ANNA! I am so excited! Can you introduce yourself to our New Thing Nurse readers?

Anna Rodriguez (AR): Hello! I'm Anna Rodriguez, I'm a critical care float pool nurse in Washington state! I've been a nurse for 10 years now (which seems crazy), and I've had a variety of roles in that time: bedside nurse in med/surg, telemetry, CVICU and then as a nurse manager in CVICU, then I transitioned back to bedside care as a travel nurse and then to my current job. In the future, my plan is to pursue a masters in nurse education. Through all the different jobs I've had, I discovered I find a lot of job satisfaction when I'm in a supportive role, helping others learn new things or helping make their jobs or lives a little easier. So, at the moment, I'm still working as a full-time nurse and started a blog on the side focused on nurse burnout reduction and prevention.

NTN: The New Thing Nurse Blog is all about learning from each other by sharing our professional journeys. How did you fall into nursing? And what area of nursing did you start in?

AR: I’m sort of an anomaly. I figured out what I wanted to do pretty early on and stuck with it, no changes in my major during college! I was in 6th grade and my best friend's mom worked as a CNA and her sister was a nurse, and so she introduced the idea to me. At the time, we envisioned ourselves in a pediatric clinic, playing with babies and kids all day and maybe having to clean up some vomit now and then. All these years later, we both became nurses but both ended up preferring to work with adults! But during high school, I made sure to do some volunteer work at the local hospital so I could be exposed to the environment and make sure I enjoyed it. I would help transport patients around to procedures or to their vehicles when they were discharging, and I found that I really like interacting with patients and being helpful. Nursing is a really good fit for me. I'm so glad I ended up choosing this path.

NTN: The focus of New Thing Nurse is supporting nurses as they find their "new thing." What made you explore nursing away from the bedside? And what was your first "new thing"?

AR: I believe bedside nursing has a bit of a shelf life, at least for me. I admire the nurses who are able to make a career out of bedside nursing, but I'm at the point now where I'm ready to branch past that that and into a non-traditional nursing area, like nurse blogging and education. That's probably what I'd classify as my first "new thing." Although, I'm always looking for opportunities to grow as a nurse, whether it's by attending a conference or volunteering on a committee!

NTN: What helped you make that transition into your "new thing"?

AR: First and foremost, I have an amazing husband who always encourages me to do new things and is incredibly supportive. I've also found an amazing nurse community on social media, and we're always encouraging and learning from each other. So definitely find your people who cheer you on. Second, I'm always staying curious and trying to learn new things and stay challenged. From a practical perspective, if you're a nurse who wants to start a blog, I highly recommend the book "The Nurse's Guide to Blogging: Building a Brand and a Profitable Business as a Nurse Influencer" by Kati Kleber (Fresh RN) and Brittney Wilson (The Nerdy Nurse). It's so, so good.
 
NTN: Do you have any tips for anyone out there who might be considering jumping into a "new thing" of their own?

AR: Don't wait until it's a "good time," there's always something going on that will make it inconvenient. You will find time for the things that matter to you. With that being said, it really helps if your new thing is something you're passionate about! Something that you think about non-stop, dream about at night, and talk to all your friends about. Pick THAT new thing, and you'll find time for it.

NTN: Your slogan says you're passionate about "helping nurses keep their spark!" What drives your work to help the nursing community fight nurse burnout? Did you have a personal experience with nurse burnout?

AR: My drive and passion for fighting nurse burnout definitely comes from a personal experience. I was working as a nurse manager for two years and during that time, I witnessed burnout in my staff and went through my own experience simultaneously. I was the manager when we implemented our new Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) program with nurses running the machine at the bedside. It tested us in a lot of ways, physically and emotionally. These are really sick patients who require a 1:1 nurse to patient ratio (sometimes 2 nurses for 1 patient!) and we were working extra shifts to account for this staffing matrix that we weren't anticipating. And because we were seeing sicker patients, there was a lot of moral distress and compassion fatigue occurring. I was considered a "working manager" and would frequently work full or partial shifts at the bedside to supplement the staffing needs while still doing my manger role. I worked some nights when we didn't have a charge nurse, I came in on a weekend for a family conference and missed a funeral for a very special long term patient of ours. We started experiencing nurse turnover (mostly on night shift) for a variety of reasons: interpersonal relationships with physicians, scheduling issues, the acuity of the patients, etc. I realized pretty quickly that I was putting in way too many hours and that my personality made it difficult to let go of a lot of the issues when I walked out the door. I would stress about conversations I needed to have the next day with staff or patient's families. It wore on me physically, mentally, emotionally and I was burned out within two years. I knew transitioning back to bedside nursing would help (at least from a time management perspective) so I helped train my replacement and moved on to travel nursing. It's been almost two years since I quit managing, and I'm still recovering from that experience. I share all my burnout tips on my instagram page (@the.burnoutbook) and on my website and blog, www.theburnoutbook.com.

NTN: If you could give our readers your top tip or tips towards avoiding burnout, what would they be?

AR: I’m going to link to one of my first blog posts, "What to Do When You're Starting to Feel Burnout." It covers the first steps you should take if you suspect you're in that chronic state of physical/mental/emotional exhaustion that we call burnout.

First, talk to someone who you trust. Not only can it help you feel a little less alone when someone else knows your struggles, but it can help provide perspective. Second, write your experience down. Reflective journaling can help you process emotions and deal with negative things. But most importantly, I love writing down the positive experiences: the patient thank you, the compliments from peers, the positive and humorous interactions that you have as a nurse. The Burnout Book started as a little notebook where I documented those positive things so that when I had rough days and felt burned out, I could go back and read through the book and remember why I do what I do.

The last tip is all about self care, which can take many forms. It can simply be saying "no" when the staffing office calls to try and get you to work an extra shift. It can be doing things on your days off that are relaxing or energizing. It can simply be spending time with loved ones. I highly recommend setting healthy work boundaries and know what your limits are. That can go a long way.

NTN: I love nursing professional organizations. You seem very involved with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). What can you tell our readers about the AACN, and how it has enhanced your nursing career?

AR: One of my favorite “new things” I've done recently has come about because I'm a member of a nursing organization, AACN (American Association of Critical Care Nurses).

The AACN is a national organization that creates a community of acute care and critical care nurses. There are a bunch of perks to being a member! You get access to a ton of continuing education, they have several journal publications that come in the mail, they provide discounts for certification tests and study material, they hold an annual nursing conference where you can meet nurses from across the nation (and around the world!), and a whole bunch of other online resources. There are other nursing organizations you can become a member of with access to similar things. This is the organization I chose 8 years ago because I was in a Telemetry unit with plans to go into critical care and it made sense at the time.

More recently, I've had the opportunity to be a volunteer on a committee to help create questions for a nursing certification exam, and I've been a social media influencer for their national nursing conference! I'm amazed at all the opportunities that have come because I'm apart of this organization!

NTN: Your IG account is full of videos of you doing yoga, often with your adorable dog Walter.  How does yoga help you? Do you incorporate yoga into your nursing practice?

AR: I’ve always enjoyed yoga from an activity standpoint. I love testing my flexibility and stretching, it's very relaxing. After going through my burnout experience, I've found a huge benefit from yoga because you are practicing breathing techniques and meditation to quiet the mind while being active. My mind used to be so distracted with what I had to face at work that I was constantly in a state of anxiety and even experienced what I'd call a panic attack. Yoga helps refocus my thoughts and bring them to the present instead of being fixated on things outside my control. But man, it takes time and practice. You can’t flip a switch. It takes time to retrain your thought patterns.

NTN: Do you have any "new things' on the horizon? New Thing Nurse wants to know!

AR: “New things” on the horizon: moving to a new city, I'll be getting a new job at that time, continuing to work on building The Burnout Book community online and collaborate with others! In the next few years, I hope to pursue my masters degree in nursing education as well.

NTN: Do you have any other advice for our readers?

AR: There are many things that can contribute to burnout that are outside of our control: staffing ratios, meaningful recognition, leadership support, etc. But what I suggest is find the things that ARE in your control and develop a self-care plan that works for you! Maybe it involves meeting your social needs by going out to lunch with a friend a couple times a month. It may look like finding new and fun ways to be active, like taking a barre class or going on a hike. Maybe it will come in the form of counseling, assertiveness training, practicing saying “no”, changing jobs, or getting a medical provider to help you with your physical and mental needs. You can't pour from an empty cup. Put your own oxygen mask on first.

Y'ALL - DOESN’T SHE GIVE THE BEST ADVICE?

Now - check out the Anna & Walter cuteness below!

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Want to learn more about Anna Rodriguez, The Burnout Book & Walter, the Corgi?

Email - anna@theburnoutbook.com
Website - www.theburnoutbook.com
Blog - www.theburnoutbook.com/blog
Instagram: @the.burnoutbook & @anna.the.nurse
Facebook: Anna the Nurse
Twitter: @anna_the_nurse

- Sarah @ New Thing Nurse

About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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FOLLOW NEW THING NURSE ON INSTAGRAM - @NEWTHINGNURSE

Going Dutch: An Interview with Joop Breuer

I have always loved the phrase - "Going Dutch."

Wikipedia defines "Going Dutch" as a phrase the means that each person in a party splits the cost of an activity instead of one person paying for the cost for everyone. Everyone does their part to contribute to the success of the group. Wouldn't the world be better off if everyone went Dutch on things? #deepthoughts

I also love the phrase "Going Dutch" as this year in May, I got the opportunity to visit the Netherlands for a little vacation and blog research. My Emergency Nurse Association (ENA) connections helped me land a dreamy tour of Leiden University Medical Center's (LUMC) emergency department and ICU with one of my favorite international ER nurses, Joop Breuer, a staff nurse and Educator for the LUMC emergency department.

Joop was kind enough to show me around and educate me to the many similarities and differences between emergency nursing in the Netherlands versus the United States. Joop also readily agreed to my requests for an interview for the New Thing Nurse Blog! I am excited to share the following interview with you and think that you will all want to "Go Dutch" by the end of this post. :P

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Sarah @ New Thing Nurse (NTN):  I have had the pleasure of knowing you through the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) for some time, but can you introduce yourself to our New Thing Nurse readers? 

Joop Breuer (JB): My name is Joop Breuer, an ER nurse from the Netherlands. I started nursing school way back (for some in the prehistoric years) in 1976 and graduated in 1980.  After that, I did a year military service and after that, started training as an ICU nurse. Worked on different ICU`s for 9 years but after these 9 years, I was kind of “finished” with ICU.

During the summer, I was asked as an ICU nurse to do a 6-weeksrotation in the ER.  They were experiencing staffing shortages. After 2 shifts in the ER, I knew: “THIS IS IT.”  I immediately applied and got hired. I did my CEN and have been working on the ED ever since. And I still Love my job.

I am now working in Leiden in the Netherlands (a beautiful town by the way, birthplace of RembrandTt) at Leiden University Medical Centre, a level 1 trauma centre about 20 miles south of Amsterdam. I am married, no kids.. living just outside Leiden, close to the beach.

NTN:  I love hearing about other nurse's professional journeys. How did you fall into nursing? And what area of nursing did you start in and where do you work now? 

JB: During high school I didn`t know what to do after graduation. My older brother was working as a nurse, and I thought: “Well why not? Why not try nursing?”  And I loved it. Nursing is such a rewarding profession.

NTN: The focus of New Thing Nurse is supporting nurses as they find their "new thing." As an ENA member, you were an early advocate of the Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) process and course when it came to the Netherlands for the first time. What was your experience like in helping introduce such a new process to the Netherlands emergency medical community? 

JB: In 1995 TNCC was brought to the Netherlands, by instigation of the Dutch Equivalent of ENA. I was one of the first to take the course (given by British Nurses), and I was stunned by it, how well this program worked. In the Netherlands you cannot apply to become an instructor, you are asked… and I got the honour of being asked.  I still am an active TNCC instructor, Course Director, and since 2008, responsible for all TNCC matters in my country.

NTN: What helped you motivate you to take on such a large project as your "new thing"? 

JB: I still am convinced TNCC is the best program for nurses around. And I always feel so proud when after a course, candidates say that they really learned something to be used in day to day practice.

NTN: Do you have any tips for anyone out there who might be considering jumping into a "new thing" of their own?

JB: If you start a new thing on your own, be well prepared, read about it, and share your excitement with others.

NTN: I love nursing professional organizations. You are very involved with the Emergency Nursing Association (ENA). What can you tell our readers about ENA, and how it has enhanced your nursing career? What is your current role in ENA? 

JB: ENA is by far the biggest organization for ER nurses worldwide. This is reflected in all ENA has to offer to its members: education, research, grants, etc.  Having been to an ENA conference, I was impressed by its member - their commitment and professionalism.

Over the years, I have become more involved in ENA in different positions and many, many members have become dear personal friends. Being a member of ENA has brought me many good things and being part of such committed group of nurses makes me very proud. 

NTN: As an ER nurse in the Netherlands who is also very familiar with the United States' approach to emergency nursing, what are things that you find similar? What aspects do you find different? 

JB: Similar to the US as in the Netherlands, ER nursing is a strenuous job. But also a job once you are infected with it.. you will love it for the rest of your life. Problems facing ER nurses in both countries are quite similar: staff shortages, boarding patients, increasing age of nursing staff, aggression of patients to name a few.

What is different I think is the working hours - we don`t do 12 hour shifts at our ED. In the ICU, they do. We as ER nurses also don`t have any techs around. We do our own respiratory, circulatory and also plasters etc. We also do not care about insurance in the Netherlands… everybody gets treated. Our healthcare system is quite different than in the US.

NTN: You have told me that in addition to being a nurse educator at your ER, you still frequently work as a night shift Charge Nurse too. What keeps you at the bedside in addition to your Educator role? 

JB: The combination of charge/stretcherside nurse and nurse educator is very important to me. I couldn`t imagine a job where I wasn`t working “stretcherside”.  It also gives me a lot of valuable input which I use in my educator job.

NTN: Do you have any "new things' on the horizon? New Thing Nurse wants to know! 

JB: I am running (again) in this year’s ENA Board of Directors election. I want to be elected as a member of the Board of Directors of our organization.

Currently I am a member of ENA’s Position Statement Committee. After publishing the position statement on the use of social media by ER nurses, (I was the lead author on that one), I am excited that the joint ENA and the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) position statement on human trafficking is nearly finished. Together with a Forensic Nurse, Diane Daber from IAFN, I am the lead author of this one as well.

NTN: How can our readers find out more about you and your work?

JB: You can find me on Facebook and on LinkedIn.

I also published 2 articles in the Journal of Emergency Nursing (JEN): one in the September 2013 issue called: “Working Together, Training Together,” and one in the July 2015 issue called: “Going Dutch, Emergency Nursing in the Netherlands”

NTN: Do you have any other advice for our New Thing Nurse Blog readers?

JB: Always use your critical thinking skills, stay curious, always ask yourself - “Why?” and I always say to my students: “BE the nurse you would want to take care of your loved ones”

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Want to learn more about Joop?

Check Joop out on social media (Facebook & LinkedIn) and his ENA election video on YouTube.

- Sarah @ New Thing Nurse

About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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FOLLOW NEW THING NURSE ON INSTAGRAM - @NEWTHINGNURSE

New Thing Nurse visits the Athens Nurses Clinic

“If you don’t get your blood pressure under control, you could die.”

I was in school in 2009 when I met Paige M. Cummings, the Executive Director of the Athens Nurses Clinic. I was volunteering at a homeless resource fair when I overheard these firm, direct words coming from the booth next door.

I craned my neck to look over to see Paige taking a blood pressure cuff off of one of the fair attendees, a gentleman in his 50s. She was looking him in the eye and telling him in plain words that his blood pressure was too high and that he needed to take steps to bring it down.

The gentleman was not looking away or deflecting her words. He was listening intently and seemed to be really absorbing the information. In my short time in nursing school, I had not seen any medical professional speak to a patient so honestly about their condition. And it seemed to be working! I had to meet this woman.

After Paige finished with the gentleman, I not-so-coolly rushed over and introduced myself. I also may have thrown myself at her feet and asked (AKA begged) to work with her. Paige calmly listened and then told me about volunteer opportunities at the Athens Nurses Clinic.

What is the Athens Nurses Clinic?

The Athens Nurses Clinic (ANC) is located in Athens, Georgia and has its roots planted in providing healthcare to the homeless, indigent members of Athens-Clarke County since 1988 as the Georgia Nurses Association Foundation Clinic for the Homeless. In 1993, with the help of many local nurses and volunteers, The Athens Nurses Clinic moved to Reese Street, opening its doors to not just homeless members of Athens-Clarke County, but also to the uninsured, indigent members of Athens-Clarke County and Northeast Georgia.

In 2014, ANC moved to North Avenue and collaborated with three other agencies as a part of the Athens Resource Center for Hope. ANC is now open five days a week providing healthcare services and medications to patients at no cost. Services include the treatment of many chronic conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, gastric re-flux, asthma, allergies, and arthritis. ANC also accepts walk-in patients Monday-Friday for the treatment of acute conditions, such as colds, flu, UTIs, rashes, or tooth abscesses. ANC also provides laboratory testing, free mammograms, pap smears, vision screening, dental care, and Hepatitis C treatment.

The mission of the Athens Nurses Clinic extends far beyond providing medical treatment to patients, focusing heavily on education and disease prevention. ANC provides a year-long CDC approved Diabetic Prevention Program for the community, encouraging diabetic patients to bring family and friends to tag along. Nutrition, exercise, and smoking cessation classes are offered to patients who want to lose weight, improve their health, and decrease their stress levels. Recently, the clinic has partnered with SNAP educators, UGA, and the Athens Farmers Market to implement what is called the FVRx program. Through this program, enrolled patients attend classes focused on healthy lifestyle choices and receive prescriptions for free fruits and vegetables from the local Farmers Market. Equipping patients with the knowledge needed to improve or prevent acute and chronic disease is a key function to the standard of healthcare ANC provides.

Source: www.athensnursesclinic.org

With over 6,000 individual patient encounters in 2017, ANC is not slowing down anytime soon. The staff and volunteers are making a difference every day and saving lives along the way.

My Experience at the Athens Nurses Clinic

Soon after meeting Paige, I became a regular medical volunteer at the Athens Nurses Clinic. It was overwhelming how much direct-patient care experience and knowledge that I was getting each day that I was there.

I also was so confused because I was the ONLY nursing student volunteering at the Clinic. Where was everyone? Had I  stumbled upon the last, unsaturated volunteer location in the city of Athens, home of over 30,000 students all vying for volunteer experience?

I started talking to my classmates, trying to recruit a few to help out at the Clinic. Then I started talking to the other colleges in town trying to see if there might be other students out there who might want to come volunteer from the pharmacy or public health schools. This work evolved into me being the first Volunteer Coordinator at the Athens Nurses Clinic!

Today the Clinic continues to be a clinical site for dozens of students each semester from multiple local colleges and partners with the educational organizations, like the University of Georgia (my alma mater), to offer free educational programs to the Clinic’s patients. The Athens Nurses Clinic is a holistic center of healing and treatment to its patients and community.

What the Athens Nurses Clinic Taught Me

I continued to work at the Athens Nurses Clinic throughout nursing school and when I became a new nurse. The Clinic is where I learned to be a patient advocate to everyone, regardless of their SES or cultural background.

Annabella Uhde, ANC’s Office Administrator and Interpreter for the many Spanish-only speaking patients that receive care at the clinic, helped teach me how to best address the cultural and language needs of patients from other countries. Her positive energy flowed through each patient interaction. I learned the importance of a smile and kind touch from her.

ANC is also where I learned to be a strong, nurse leader. Paige was (and still is) always juggling a million tasks and wearing too many hats to count. I would watch Paige find the funds to support the clinic, manage the staff and army of volunteers, orchestrate the clinical service lines, sit on a slew of boards/committees and still dabble in patient care when needed. An ex-military nurse, Paige always gets the job done. Paige was one of my first nurse mentors and taught me that you can be a great nurse leader no matter what kind of clinical setting you may find yourself in.

How You Can Support the Athens Nurses Clinic

The Athens Nurses Clinic is able to provide all that it does to its patients because of generous donations and financial support from the community. The world of non-profit healthcare can be brutally hard, but great people every day are out there in the trenches, fighting to increase access to care for many marginalized patient populations.

And YOU can help the Athens Nurses Clinic in their work! There are several ways that you can donate -

Tomatoes at Terrapin

Tomorrow is the 9th Annual Tomatoes at Terrapin fundraiser for the Athens Nurses Clinic. This is the largest fundraising event that ANC puts on each year. It is a great day of outdoor music, tomatoes sandwiches and beer, all held at the Terrapin Beer Co. brewery in Athens, GA.

Check out the details >> http://tomatoesatterrapin.com/

Volunteer

If you want to be more hands-on in your help to the Athens Nurses Clinic, they are always looking for qualified volunteers to help out!

Volunteer at ANC >> http://athensnursesclinic.org/wp/get-involved/volunteer/

Donate

If you have some spare dollars hanging around, you can make an easy, online donation on the Athens Nurses Clinic website. This money goes directly to providing free care to the patients who need it most in the Athens-Clarke County community.

Donate to ANC >> http://athensnursesclinic.org/wp/donate/

I continue to be amazed at the excellent work being done at the Athens Nurses Clinic. If you are in Athens, Georgia, go by and check them out! If you are not nearby, look in your own community to see if there are other non-profit clinics. I guarantee that they are out there, working to provide the same magic to patients in your area.

Go see how you can get involved. You never know what you might learn by helping out.

- Sarah @ New Thing Nurse

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About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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FOLLOW NEW THING NURSE ON INSTAGRAM - @NEWTHINGNURSE

Sloth + Hospital = Slothpital

MY DAY AT THE SLOTH SANCTUARY OF COSTA RICA

In April, I had the opportunity to travel with my sister and New Thing Nurse team member, Anna Wells, down to Costa Rica. This was not my first time to this beautiful country. From 2008 to 2009, I spent nearly a year in Monteverde, Costa Rica where I volunteered as an English teacher in a small, mountain community called Santa Elena. I had an amazing time and made some incredible memories, but nursing school, work and life had since prevented me from returning for nearly eight years (how does that always seem to happen?).

This year, my sister and I decided to make it happen and head down for a Central American adventure. During our trip planning, I knew of one destination that absolutely had to make the trip agenda. The Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica is a famous spot known for being on of the few locations where one can see sloths who have been rescued and are in the process of rehabilitation to be released back to the wild in Central America.

If you don’t know this yet, I LOVE SLOTHS. They are my spirit animal. If you are wondering why I feel so much in common with these lethargic tree-dwellers, just ask my husband, family or friends how much I love to sleep, take my sweet time and just hang out. The Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica was a natural stop to add to our trip.

I am excited to share with you my day at the Sloth Sanctuary and my time in their Slothpital. How we care for our natural world is a direct reflection of how we are taking care of ourselves and our fellow humans. Environmental health and our own health go hand in hand. The Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica can teach us a few things about taking care of ourselves and our planet.

Now – more sloths!!

Photo: A bucket of sloth cuteness.

WHAT IS A SLOTH?

At this point you may be wondering, what exactly is a sloth? Besides being my favorite animalito, sloths are tree-dwelling mammals that are found in the tropical forests throughout Central and South America. Sloths are known for their slow, deliberate movements and equally slow metabolisms. How slow are we are talking? Let’s just say that it can take up to a month to digest consumed nutrients. But staff at the Sloth Sanctuary will tell you that they are not slow, just energy efficient. Sloths are able to move with unexpected speed when threatened, so do not let that slow reputation fool you!

There are two types of sloths that live at the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica – the Bradypus variegatus (three-fingered sloth) and the Choloepus hoffmanni (two-fingered sloth). Buttercup, the Sloth Sanctuary’s longest resident, is the Bradypus variegatus variety for reference. Many resources discuss the types of sloths as being “two- or three-toed”, but the Sanctuary divides them in terms of “two- or three-fingers”. Fun Fact - All sloths have three toes on each hind foot. The number of digits only differ on the front feet, thus making it easier to consider them “fingers”. #themoreyouknow

WHAT IS THE SLOTH SANCTUARY OF COSTA RICA?

Located outside of Cahuita, Costa Rica along the Estrella River, the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica was founded by Judy Avey-Arroyo and Luis Arroyo. Originally purchased as a location for birding tours, the Sloth Sanctuary evolved into a sloth rescue center after their first sloth, named Buttercup, was brought to the property in 1992.

Buttercup is now over 25 years old and still resides at the Sanctuary. The Sloth Sanctuary has been an officially authorized rescue center since 1997 and continues to be a center for conservation work and research. Today, the staff at the Sloth Sanctuary continuously works towards its mission to rescue, rehabilitate and release their sloths back into their natural habitats.

Photo: Buttercup is a three-fingered sloth & the Sloth Sanctuary's first & oldest resident.

A DUSTY ARRIVAL TO THE BUTTERCUP INN

Anna and I arrived at the Sanctuary in the evening after a long day on the bus from San Jose. Dusty and tired, we were welcomed and shown to our room at the Buttercup Inn. Yes, that’s right. Buttercup, the Sanctuary’s longest sloth resident, has her own hotel. After dinner and a shower, we had a nice, long, sloth-like sleep that got us ready for a day in my personal sloth-y heaven.

MY DAY IN SLOTH PARADISE

Keep Calm & Hang On

“Keep Calm & Hang On” is the mantra at the Sloth Sanctuary, and I also think that it would also be a great slogan for any emergency department. While the pace of life at the Sloth Sanctuary did not require me to hang on tight often, I did have to hang in there as our day in sloth paradise started bright and early.

Anna and I started our day with coffee by the water followed by a boat tour of the local waterways that are off-shoots of the Estrella River. The lush landscape is filled with plants and animals everywhere you look. Our guide helped identify all kinds of local flora and fauna as we enjoyed our leisurely ride down the river. It was a truly delightful way to start the day.

Photo: A leisurely ride down the river to start our day at the Sloth Sanctuary.

Next, we met Marco, our Sloth Sanctuary guide, who took us on a tour of the areas where some of the permanent residents of the sloth sanctuary are kept. Unfortunately for many complex reasons, some sloths are unable to be returned to their natural habitats. The Sanctuary has become a permanent residence for many such sloths and is now currently working to expand their capacity to be able to better accommodate their slow but beautiful group of tenants.

The Slothpital

After touring the permanent resident pavilion, Anna and I got to go to the SLOTHPITAL where Sanctuary staff take care of their adult and littlest sloth-lings. To say that I was excited is an understatement. I WAS FREAKING OUT but trying to maintain a cool composure (I mean, I was there as a professional nurse blogger person). Behind the Buttercup Inn, we climbed the stairs to find ourselves in a room full of tiny sloth life. This was the cutest P.I.C.U. that I have ever seen. Please see the photos below to see why I melted for the duration of our Slothpital stay.

Photo: A bucket full of two-fingered sloths in the Sloth Sanctuary P.I.C.U.

Photo: A two-fingered sloth says HELLO!!!

Photo: Anna Wells, New Thing Nurse team member, photographs two-fingered sloth during feeding time at the Slothpital.

Photo: A two-fingered sloth chows down on Beach Almond leaves for lunch.

Photo: The N.I.C.U. department of the Sloth Sanctuary where the littlest sloths stay.

Photo: A three-fingered sloth awaits lunch in the Slothpital N.I.C.U.

On the day that we took our tour, the Slothpital P.I.C.U. was caring for several dozen small patients. Specially trained staff are in charge of these buckets of cuteness and work around the clock to keep them fed and comfortable.

Anna and I next toured the Slothpital clinic where I noted that all of the same resources that my emergency department has is available at the Slothpital – phlebotomy, lab, X-ray and ultrasound. The Sanctuary has a local veterinarian who is available at any time their patients need admission physical evaluations, check-ups or any sort of increased levels of medical care. I was surprised to find out that the Slothpital also has a very busy obstetrics service that was getting ready to deliver a baby sloth the day that we were taking our tour. Like my E.R. colleagues, the Slothpital staff are always on high-alert because they never knew what was going to happen next.

Photo: The Slothpital clinic where new sloth residents are weighed & given a thorough admission physical exam.

Photo: Sloth skeletal diagrams.

While caring for sloths may not seem like it could have anything to do with human healthcare, I beg to differ. The Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica is a place where any sloth can go for care and rehabilitation with the goal of returning everyone to their home environment in optimal health. If that isn't the best goal that nurses could also set for their patients, I do not know what is. The way we care for the natural world reflects the values that we have for ourselves. I hope that I get to see a day where everyone in healthcare is as invested in providing the best care possible to their patients just like the staff at the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica.

- Sarah @ New Thing Nurse

Want to learn more about The Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica?

The Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica Website

Want to be featured on the New Thing Nurse Blog?

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About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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FOLLOW NEW THING NURSE ON INSTAGRAM - @NEWTHINGNURSE

An Interview with the Interviewer: Elizabeth Scala

This week has been very exciting here at New Thing Nurse.

On Wednesday, April 25th, an episode of the nursing podcast "Your Next Shift", hosted by the imitable Elizabeth Scala, MSN, RN, MBA, went live. This episode features an interview with myself, your New Thing Nurse friend and founder, and Elizabeth where we talk about all things nursing, self-care, travel, rugby and of course, New Thing Nurse.

LISTEN TO MY INTERVIEW ON "YOUR NEXT SHIFT" WITH ELIZABETH SCALA HERE!!

I have never been on a podcast before, this again making me a #newthingnurse. I was SO nervous when we recorded the interview last month as I have been a fan of Elizabeth Scala's for quite some time. If you are not already familiar with her work, Elizabeth is a Johns Hopkins-trained Registered Nurse, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and consultant on burnout prevention for nurses in all specialties. She is the CEO of ElizabethScala.com and founder of The Art of Nursing - a Nurse's Week program providing education and inspiration to thousands across the country. Elizabeth also hosts the incredible podcast "Your Next Shift", where she interviews nurses from diverse roles from across the spectrum of nursing.

I mean SWOON, right? #nursecrush

In addition to inviting me to be on her podcast "Your Next Shift", Elizabeth was also game to play a little "Interview the Interviewer". Below is a brief interview between myself, Sarah @ New Thing Nurse, and the "Your Next Shift" hostess with the mostest - Elizabeth Scala, MSN, RN, MBA.

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Sarah @ New Thing Nurse (NTN): I have been a big fan of yours for a long time but for those who aren't familiar with you and your work, can you introduce yourself and tell us about your work?

Elizabeth Scala (ES): Sure, Elizabeth Scala here. Professionally, I work as a Registered Nurse. Personally, I love gardening, jigsaw puzzles, my pup and dancing to jam bands all over the country! I have my dual masters' degree in nursing and business. And even though I am quite the homebody - I do love to travel and teach others.

NTN: I love hearing about other nurses' professional journeys. How did you fall into nursing? And what area of nursing did you start in?

ES: Great question! And totally worded appropriately for me. I definitely am on that "fell" into nursing. It was NOT my agenda;  growing up, hospitals would scare me! So, senior year of college I was moving into my apartment off campus with three other girls. Two of my roommates were in nursing school. One of my roommate's mothers was a nursing faculty. And the three of them, along with my own mother, decided that after I graduated with my psychology degree that I could go straight into the accelerated nursing program. I didn't have concrete plans yet after college so I thought, "Why not!?!" I started out in psychiatric nursing, worked some in the community, and am currently a research program coordinator at a large academic medical center.

NTN: The focus of New Thing Nurse is supporting nurses as they fine their "new thing". What made you step away from the bedside? And what was your first "new thing"?

ES: Gosh - what made me step away from bedside nursing was me. I wasn't taking any care of myself. My health was in the toilet; my emotions were on a roller coaster ride. I felt miserable and one night - since I RARELY slept through a night - I was having another sobbing tantrum. My husband and I both agreed that I could not keep going at the pace I was at. I needed to take a break, and I needed to focus on myself. I left my psychiatric nursing job and made a risky decision to work just part-time at a local wellness center. I was still able to work as a nurse - as they needed a RN to head up a physician referral program - so that was kind of neat! And during that time I had many "new things". To thing about what was the first... hmm. I think it was remembering that I was an athlete growing up. I loved sports, was always in good shape, and highly competitive (smile). Being at the wellness center and around all of the equipment, personal trainers, and healthy bodies - I was like "Ohhhh yeah..." It woke me up first physically to the shape I was in. After that, more and more started to unfold and I started to feel healthy, happy, and whole again.

NTN: What helped you make that transition into your "new thing"?

ES: I would say that many things helped me. My husband being supportive and allowing me to leave my full-time job with all of the perks that went along with it. Boy, I do NOT know how we made it financially - but we did! Then, my own curiosity. My own pause and need to do things that I enjoyed. Being at the wellness center, I was surrounded by resources. I asked for help, hired a trainer myself, and got back into shape. My boss at that job was super helpful. He introduced me to the concept of "coaching" and I went into a certified coaching program. Then, even one of my clients at the wellness center helped! She was a marketing specialist and started to talk to me in between her sessions about social media, blogging, and all sorts of things I never had heard of. I guess the main thing that I believe helped is an open mind and a desire to learn more. Even if I didn't know how something would work out, saying "yes" without hesitation was super productive in taking the next step!

NTN: Do you have any tips for anyone out there who might be considering jumping into a "new thing" of their own?

ES: Hmm, interesting question. I think that it depends on what their "new thing" is. For some new things, you definitely need to wait before jumping. What I mean by that is I have done a TON of things wrong in my online work. And even now, I am at a place where I am assessing and re-assessing decisions and plans. So, if you are considering a new thing that you know nothing about, do your research. Learn more before taking a plunge.

Next, I would say to the person considering a new thing... is it YOUR thing? So often we get wrapped up in what we think we "should" be doing. I think of all the dirty words - SHOULD should be at the top of the list (LOL). That being said, I mean is the new thing something that you desire or something you are going to do for someone else? I have learned along the way that when I get into something new that isn't 100% my true heart's desire... it doesn't work out all that well. Now, other "new things" that are a bit less heavy (like trying a new hobby, such as tango dancing) - for something like that, jump in head first! I do think we need to do more new things that are fun, adventurous, and will fill our spirits!

NTN: You have been a self-proclaimed warrior against nurse burnout for a long time. What drives your work to help the nursing community fight burnout? Did you have a personal experience with nurse burnout?

ES: As shared above, yes. Yes. And, yes again. In fact, to be honest, I am noticing that I may be back in burnout again. I think from everything I have shared above speaks to this questions, but to state it another way... Burnout happens when we are riding on someone else's train. When our values, desired, strengths, and assets are not being actualized. When we are living life along the "should" of what other people want and need. Now, I do agree that we all report to somebody - at work or at home. Sure, there are things that we may not 100% enjoy. And yes, work is work, and there will be stress on a job. However, when we get away from our true heartfelt desires, then we find ourselves in trouble. Couple that with working too hard, not getting a break, or forgetting to do things that are good for your mind, body, and spirit - all of this added up leads to burnout. I do agree that the workplace needs to be supportive and help us be happy and healthy professionals. At the very same time, it is up to us to stand up and take responsibility for our own well-being.

NTN: If you could give our readers your top tip or tips towards avoiding burnout, what would they be?

ES: Do what you enjoy. Set healthy boundaries. Schedule down time, me time, and non-work time. Change it up. If you are stuck in a rut - figure out why and what needs to shift. Focus on the positive. Sure, there is a tone out there that is scary, miserable, and bad. And, even through the greatest of tragedy we can learn, grow, and transform our lives. Live as much as you can in the moment. It is when our mind wanders to the "what if" or the "should, could, would" is when we get into trouble. Stop and breathe. And don't take yourself or your life so seriously. Smiling and laughing - that can be some of the very best medicine!

NTN: Do you have any "new things" on the horizon? New Thing Nurse readers want to know!

ES: I believe that I do, but most I am not even aware of yet. As I honestly (and maybe for the very first time) shared above - I am a bit into burnout right now. And, being someone that knows the signs, causes, and what to do about it - I need to stop. Really stop everything and take pause. What are my next steps? What lights me up? How can I best serve others? I can say that I have a very special course coming out soon. The content is done, and we are working on some of the aspects of how folks will be able to interact with and enjoy the program. I also know that some of my other "new things" involving ending some things that I hae been doing for several years now. In a way, ending things is the first step to the new beginnings, right?

NTN: How can our readers find out more about you and your work?

ES: Sure, well the easiest place to find me is at ElizabethScala.com. I also have a Facebook page and community. I do hang out quite a bit on LinkedIn. And, if you're looking for resources you could check out Nursing from Within or Your Next Shift - two of my very favorite books!

Oh, and I cannot believe I forgot to mention this at all so far... my podcast! Now that I am assessing where I am at and what I enjoy - I can tell you. The podcast is NOT going anywhere. I LOVE to interview other nurses - highlighting their triumphs and lifting the profession of nursing up!! So, definitely check that out. I am sure that you'll see some familiar faces, smile.

NTN: Do you have any other advice for our readers?

ES: Boy, I could go on and on, for sure. I think I shared a lot above. To close it out, just be yourself. And, if you don't know who that is or what that self wants, take the time to figure that out. First off, you will be happy that you did. Things will go so much smoother. It gets easier when you live life as your best you. If you get off course, it's all good. Even the best of us experience burnout! And guess what? We can thank it. It is that gentle reminder that we are not living life as our highest self.

Thanks for the opportunity to hang out with y'all! I hope to "see" you online. Enjoy YOUR new things!!

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ISN'T SHE AMAZING??

Hear the "Your Next Shift" podcast episode featuring the interview between Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL and Elizabeth Scala, MSN, RN, MBA in its entirety below.

A Shift In Perspective with Sarah K. Wells - Your Next Shift with Elizabeth Scala

- Sarah @ New Thing Nurse

About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!

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FOLLOW NEW THING NURSE ON INSTAGRAM - @NEWTHINGNURSE