May 9, 2012

Happy Nurses Week



Happy Nurses Week!

Confession: The Pearl Harbor movie may have been a bit lot of inspiration for my nursing career. Seriously.


You know you're a nurse if:
  • You believe experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
  • You can only tell time with a 24-hour clock.  
  • You've ever thought, 'Patients, God love 'em, because today, I sure don't!'
  • You believe old nurses never die, they just go PRN.
  • You think it is acceptable to use "penis" and "vagina" in a normal conversation.
  • You believe any job where you can drive to work in pajamas is a cool job.
  • The ER is a mixture of can do, can't do, and why the heck not!
  •  You've developed a crease between your brows from trying NOT to inhale the various human secretions you've encountered over the years.
  • Your bladder can expand to the same size as a Winnebago's water tank.
  • You avoid unhealthy looking COPDers in the mall for fear that they'll drop near you and you'll have to do CPR on your day off.
  • You automatically multiply by three the number of drinks a patient claims to have daily.
  • Your idea of a meal break is finishing your coffee before it gets cold.
  • You think "awake and stupid" is an appropriate choice for mental status.
  • Discussing dismemberment over a meal seems perfectly normal.
  • You believe unspeakable evils will befall you if the word 'quiet' is uttered.
  • You have to leave the patient before you begin to laugh uncontrollably.
  • You believe chocolate is a food group.
  • You've ever had a patient look you dead in the eye and say, "I don't know how that got stuck in there." 
  • You want to throttle anyone that states: Night shift must be so boring, all the patients do is sleep.

I'm proud to call myself a Registered Nurse and treasure the life-impacting moments I get to be a part of. Nursing challenges me every day to view others as God views them and to share his love doing so.

Thank you Nurses for all of your hard, selfless work. YOU are amazing!

sorry for the crudeness...  but true for most RNs
In honor of Nurse Appreciation Week, I want to recognize some of the nurses who have inspired me, taught me, mentored me, encouraged me, and supported me.
  • Dr. Mindy S.- Thank you for mentoring, teaching & believing in me. You've inspired me more than you know.
  • Janee- I couldn't have survived without you. Thanks for being the example of the thorough, compassionate & kind nurse I want to be.
  • McKenzie V.- You are the most thorough, compassionate, organized, & thoughtful nurse I know. Thank you for training me and constantly motivating me to be better.
  • Catherine- You are downright amazing. You work SO hard and literally save lives every day. I wish I could be more like you :) Thankful for post shift work-out times to vent/debrief with you! 
  • Madigan RNs- Thank you for always encouraging me & teaching me.
  • Madigan Lt's and Major W.- (you know who you are)- You motivate me to be the best I can be, to continue learning, & to do my best. Thanks for letting me work alongside you as a member of the team.
  • To my PLU classmates- You worked hard, You are impacting lives, You made it, You are Incredible! 
  • Dr. Sylvia W.- You helped peek my interest to be a mom/baby/OB nurse & helped me follow those dreams. Thank you.
  • To all of my current work co-RNs: YOU are fantastic, competent, compassionate, hard working, & I'm grateful to work alongside you. 
Thank you, Nurses for:
 you hard work
your long hours
your extreme patience for difficult patients & families
 putting others before yourself
 constantly learning & applying new things
& for going above and beyond. 
You make a difference! 

May 8, 2012

Country Drive


Sometimes a plain old country drive does me good. All I needed were my red cowgirl boots, jeans, and plaid button-up and I'd have felt right at home (says my alter ego country-girl self ). The sun was setting, country music was playing, the horses were good listeners- yes, we had a little chat; it was a fresh, beautiful evening.
The end. 


((Thanks McKenzie for living out in the country- I love driving to your beautiful home.))

May 6, 2012

Oregon Maternity: Heather & Baby Jackson









It was a joy to photograph Heather & her soon-to-arrive baby Jackson bump! Heather kept me smiling and laughing throughout the shoot & still managed to stare down the camera with those beautiful brown eyes. This was my first maternity shoot and I appreciated the good sport she was. Can't wait to meet baby Jackson!

Check out Shaunna's photos here (we did the shoot all together). 

Learning moment:
From looking through most of my shots- it is clear to me that I need to step wwaaayyyy back and mix it up a bit with some more full body far away shots. I'm learning every day! Variety is key.

Other advice? I'd be glad to hear it!


Oregon Maternity: Shaunna & Baby Boy




 
 

Due in June, this soon-to-be Mama is simply glowing! If you can't tell by these photos- I simply couldn't get enough of her gorgeous eyes. Aren't they stunning? This baby boy has a lot to look forward to with Shaunna as his mom! Can't wait to meet him!

PS- This was my first maternity photo shoot! I'm definitely still learning but so appreciate the opportunity to practice on friends! 

Check out Heather's photos here (we did the photo shoot all together). 

May 3, 2012

Maternity Photo Shoot: Heather & Shaunna





 Sneak preview of Heather & Shaunna's maternity photo shoot from today. 
It was incredibly windy but we persevered and got some great shots! I have so many more to go through but couldn't resist sharing a few! Enjoy!

PS- I love these girls & had such a fun time photographing them! 


May 2, 2012

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you

Pacific City, OR

I'm exhausted, my body aches, I'm worn out, our home is a complete disaster, and I've been in a somewhat sour mood. 
When I was in nursing school and found myself completely worn down, I recall being envious of my patients (how backwards & messed up is that!?). I wished that for just 24 hours I could trade places with them. I longed to just lay in bed, sleep & have food brought to me (yummy pie slices). As a nurse, I know that this is nowhere near to what happens when you are a patient. It is a rarity to get 1 hour of uninterrupted sleep in the hospital. However- I still wished that for just a day, I could give up all control, rest, and trust others to take care of me.  Crazy, I know...

Maybe it is the combination of working 12hr night shifts & switching back and forth all the time, or a busy few weeks with inconsistent schedules. Or... the horrid sunburn I got from the coast this weekend soaking up every bit of energy I have (I get really odd looks from patients & have to explain that its not contagious or anything as I'm holding their newborn- fun times). Whatever it is, I find myself struggling to turn to God & submit my worries, aches, negative thoughts, & tiredness to Him. I lay here in bed now waiting for the phone call to come into work as I was thankfully placed "on-call" for the night because of low census. Though I know I'll be called in before the night ends, I am grateful for the few extra hours I may have to just rest & re-center my mind & heart. 


I whole-heartidly believe that I can never turn away discouraged by God's word.  I will meditate on this simple verse tonight:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 
John 14:27