Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Donna Lewis - I Love You Always Forever (video)
I heard this song on the radio yesterday and I was reminded of how much i loved it back in the day!
The Filament
Nursing and Unitarian Universalism.
What do these two have in common?
Well, for me, they share this undeniable influence that brings me to this place.
It's so insanely interesting to me the experience each new season of life brings. The new challenges and opportunities brought forth. The joys. The sorrows. Happy is the heart that still feels pain right?
I'm not gonna lie, there is a deep pain in the process of transforming and stripping oneself to their very core. Old ways are either left behind or seriously questioned. Not to mention, it takes work! But there is undoubtedly an evolution that takes place that is so thrilling. It leaves nothing but hope.
I feel like I can break up my 20's into little compartments. Each one having their own unique advancement into something a little more and more authentic...and I am walking right into it.
For the past month and a half, I have been attending a Unitarian Universalist church. It's been an adventure for sure. I am finding that I have always had these liberal butterflies flying around in the back of my head.. but I had no idea how to reconcile or even begin to dissect them. I love the fact that there are many walks of life. Pagans, Atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Agnostics...
The hospital.
Another setting to meet all different kinds of people.
As you may or may not know, I am in the second semester of nursing school. During clinical a few weeks ago I was in the hospital supply room gathering some equipment to discontinue my patient's IV. I had company. My teacher was with me explaining to me what i needed exactly to perform the procedure. The room is small and cold, filled with an overabundance of supplies that seem to go to waste most of the time. Anyways, as I nervously looked around for 2x2 gauze, my teacher breathing the breath of fire right at my neck took that opportunity to share with me how she felt about my nursing care.
Here we go.
My patient that week was Muslim. She had her family with her at her bedside watching every move I made. I wanted to be culterally sensitive and make sure I provided additional privacy during care.
But my teacher thought otherwise.. She didn't think i had a good concept of this patient's background and that I see things black and white. She believes this is why i struggle with nursing application on the unit floor in general. She continued on by saying..."you know Melissa, nursing is not all theory and it certainly isn't predictable. It's not a formula you can learn to then come back the next day and expect it to work the same way. The connection is not being made that there are so many different approaches to nursing care and interventions with your different patients. Gulp.
The room was no longer cold.
She has a point though. I don't totally agree with her estimation of me and my performance as a student nurse, but I don't argue.
It's like being thrown into a sea of unpredictable currents and tides. That's how i feel on the hospital unit right now. And I can't seem to speed things up!
When I worked at Starbucks, it took me like 8 weeks to get comfortable making a latte. Just a damn latte!
Soon thereafter, I was on a roll! I made drinks left and right. I had my own little groove thang and wasnt hesitant at all. I would whip up a triple venti, 2 pump, 3 splenda, whole milk caramel macchiato all while having a conversation with my customer about their day at work!
I'm hoping this will transcend into my nursing career. haha. because $5 coffee is so important you know.
Confidence.
It takes time. And it takes confidence to move into these transitions in life. It takes confidence to believe that wherever we are at, whatever we believe is where we need to be. There is so much peace in that. It doesn't look a certain way as much as I really would like a clear picture and answer to things, I am afraid that will take away from the mystery and I won't have anything to celebrate.
Movement.
Fast. Slow. Easy. Hard. It's movement. It can be uncomfortable. But so is staying still.
I just hope my teacher sees that even though I'm movin slow it's progress! Plus, I am going to be doing this for a long time..so I better utilize all this time and really connect with it.
Nursing has become such a passion of mine in this short period of time in my life.
Belief.
There was a former way of believing and it seemed very confining. I wouldn't say black and white. For me, it's been more of a splash of mixed colors without any clear cut edges, unsure of where to even start. Questioning was stifled and certainly not safe. It was a more formulaic way of living, and it wasn't because I really wanted to. It was because I was scared to move beyond the boundaries of what I felt confined me spiritually.
People.
Period. Being open to understanding different cultures and beliefs.There is so much to be gained and to learn by others. I am discovering this...
And that is why I love that there are communities of people that allow for this to be lived out and validated.
And I continue...
What do these two have in common?
Well, for me, they share this undeniable influence that brings me to this place.
It's so insanely interesting to me the experience each new season of life brings. The new challenges and opportunities brought forth. The joys. The sorrows. Happy is the heart that still feels pain right?
I'm not gonna lie, there is a deep pain in the process of transforming and stripping oneself to their very core. Old ways are either left behind or seriously questioned. Not to mention, it takes work! But there is undoubtedly an evolution that takes place that is so thrilling. It leaves nothing but hope.
I feel like I can break up my 20's into little compartments. Each one having their own unique advancement into something a little more and more authentic...and I am walking right into it.
For the past month and a half, I have been attending a Unitarian Universalist church. It's been an adventure for sure. I am finding that I have always had these liberal butterflies flying around in the back of my head.. but I had no idea how to reconcile or even begin to dissect them. I love the fact that there are many walks of life. Pagans, Atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Agnostics...
The hospital.
Another setting to meet all different kinds of people.
As you may or may not know, I am in the second semester of nursing school. During clinical a few weeks ago I was in the hospital supply room gathering some equipment to discontinue my patient's IV. I had company. My teacher was with me explaining to me what i needed exactly to perform the procedure. The room is small and cold, filled with an overabundance of supplies that seem to go to waste most of the time. Anyways, as I nervously looked around for 2x2 gauze, my teacher breathing the breath of fire right at my neck took that opportunity to share with me how she felt about my nursing care.
Here we go.
My patient that week was Muslim. She had her family with her at her bedside watching every move I made. I wanted to be culterally sensitive and make sure I provided additional privacy during care.
But my teacher thought otherwise.. She didn't think i had a good concept of this patient's background and that I see things black and white. She believes this is why i struggle with nursing application on the unit floor in general. She continued on by saying..."you know Melissa, nursing is not all theory and it certainly isn't predictable. It's not a formula you can learn to then come back the next day and expect it to work the same way. The connection is not being made that there are so many different approaches to nursing care and interventions with your different patients. Gulp.
The room was no longer cold.
She has a point though. I don't totally agree with her estimation of me and my performance as a student nurse, but I don't argue.
It's like being thrown into a sea of unpredictable currents and tides. That's how i feel on the hospital unit right now. And I can't seem to speed things up!
When I worked at Starbucks, it took me like 8 weeks to get comfortable making a latte. Just a damn latte!
Soon thereafter, I was on a roll! I made drinks left and right. I had my own little groove thang and wasnt hesitant at all. I would whip up a triple venti, 2 pump, 3 splenda, whole milk caramel macchiato all while having a conversation with my customer about their day at work!
I'm hoping this will transcend into my nursing career. haha. because $5 coffee is so important you know.
Confidence.
It takes time. And it takes confidence to move into these transitions in life. It takes confidence to believe that wherever we are at, whatever we believe is where we need to be. There is so much peace in that. It doesn't look a certain way as much as I really would like a clear picture and answer to things, I am afraid that will take away from the mystery and I won't have anything to celebrate.
Movement.
Fast. Slow. Easy. Hard. It's movement. It can be uncomfortable. But so is staying still.
I just hope my teacher sees that even though I'm movin slow it's progress! Plus, I am going to be doing this for a long time..so I better utilize all this time and really connect with it.
Nursing has become such a passion of mine in this short period of time in my life.
Belief.
There was a former way of believing and it seemed very confining. I wouldn't say black and white. For me, it's been more of a splash of mixed colors without any clear cut edges, unsure of where to even start. Questioning was stifled and certainly not safe. It was a more formulaic way of living, and it wasn't because I really wanted to. It was because I was scared to move beyond the boundaries of what I felt confined me spiritually.
People.
Period. Being open to understanding different cultures and beliefs.There is so much to be gained and to learn by others. I am discovering this...
And that is why I love that there are communities of people that allow for this to be lived out and validated.
And I continue...
Thursday, June 24, 2010
How the Body Works : Functions of the Hypothalamus
Do you ever wonder what triggers thirst, hunger or sex?
Jamie Foxx says.. "Blame it on the a-a-a-a-alcohol." haha. Well that too...
But lets take it back to good 'ol anatomy and physiology.
The hypothalamus.
In class this week we are learning about fluid volume disturbances, one being Hypovolemia ( a fluid volume deficit of water and electrolytes). Not to be confused with dehydration.. although so very closely linke, dehydration is the loss of water alone.
As nurses this is one of the most crucial areas of care we need to closely assess in our patients. And now I know why. Most every single patient I have had so far in my clinical has had some form of symtom of hypovolemia. They have an IV of normal saline to promote homeostatis (normal saline is an isotonic solution which in turns helps bring fluids back to a balanced level) or they may have an IV of Lactated Ringers which contains added electrolytes. There are specific things we need to strictly monitor and assess like skin turgor, degree of edema if present, lung sounds, body weight, urine intake and output and so on.
So I was curious as to how we become thirsty? Where does this all begin?
Pathophysiology. yaya.. i love this stuff.
This is a short video that explains very simply what the hypothalmus is and the function.
But here is a little break down of our thirst mechanism:http://http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8362127
Cheers!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
What makes something worthy of praise?
Serenity. Generosity. Kindness. Others.
These words were brought to my attention today by a lady who i'd like to call my moma.
We talk a lot about all things spritual and everything else under the sun.. And we seem to do this all while in the Greenwise section at publix. haha.
I especially like to question things that she says.. not in a rude "you're wrong" kinda way, but more so to really understand why she thinks the way she does. Where is she coming from? What stirs up within her? What is the driving force behind her passionate beliefs?
It's not because I want to be spiteful, on the contrary, because I care and I am genuinely curious.
The mystery of others fascinates me.
The conversation started with an overview of a stressful week she had just experienced. My mom is a business owner, a wife, a child and caretaker of ill parents in a nursing home, and not to mention a grandmother herself. So there is always something happening in her world. There is never a dull moment. She almost thrives in it.
If the AC doesn't go out at the studio then it's the plumbing.. and then its the car breaking down... and then it's my sister's baby with a 104 fever.. a call from the nursing home telling her my grandmother fell and she needs stiches asap.
Ah. breathe. I can't keep up with my mother's life. haha.
So anyways.. she is a woman with a faith in God. So of course this was the perfect segue into the next obvious turn in our conversation..
This week the car was fixed because a man we know who happens to be a mechanic decided to repair whatever it was that needed repairing. My mom was ready to hand over the benjamins when he said... "no, really, it's ok. i felt led to do this free of charge."
whoa.
I was totally moved by his act of gracious generosity. I mean.. that was really really nice of him to do.
To be compelled to do something nice...
So i asked my mom, (within the context of what we were talking about). What happens when God doesn't "show up" ? If you were to think of it that way. So in this case, this man charging what would be expected when doing a job. Naturally.
Maybe the story would have been told a little differently or maybe not even told at all.
What makes something worthy of praise?
Then i thought of these simple truths..
Serenity; someone who provides a deep breath and a calm spirit during a tumultuous time.
Generosity; a man who decides to fix a car for free.
Kindness; the kindness that catapults generosity.
Others.
This seems way to simple. But it's a spiritual enlightenment for me. What do I learn from other people? What can I give other people? Why do I love them?
These words were brought to my attention today by a lady who i'd like to call my moma.
We talk a lot about all things spritual and everything else under the sun.. And we seem to do this all while in the Greenwise section at publix. haha.
I especially like to question things that she says.. not in a rude "you're wrong" kinda way, but more so to really understand why she thinks the way she does. Where is she coming from? What stirs up within her? What is the driving force behind her passionate beliefs?
It's not because I want to be spiteful, on the contrary, because I care and I am genuinely curious.
The mystery of others fascinates me.
The conversation started with an overview of a stressful week she had just experienced. My mom is a business owner, a wife, a child and caretaker of ill parents in a nursing home, and not to mention a grandmother herself. So there is always something happening in her world. There is never a dull moment. She almost thrives in it.
If the AC doesn't go out at the studio then it's the plumbing.. and then its the car breaking down... and then it's my sister's baby with a 104 fever.. a call from the nursing home telling her my grandmother fell and she needs stiches asap.
Ah. breathe. I can't keep up with my mother's life. haha.
So anyways.. she is a woman with a faith in God. So of course this was the perfect segue into the next obvious turn in our conversation..
This week the car was fixed because a man we know who happens to be a mechanic decided to repair whatever it was that needed repairing. My mom was ready to hand over the benjamins when he said... "no, really, it's ok. i felt led to do this free of charge."
whoa.
I was totally moved by his act of gracious generosity. I mean.. that was really really nice of him to do.
To be compelled to do something nice...
So i asked my mom, (within the context of what we were talking about). What happens when God doesn't "show up" ? If you were to think of it that way. So in this case, this man charging what would be expected when doing a job. Naturally.
Maybe the story would have been told a little differently or maybe not even told at all.
What makes something worthy of praise?
Then i thought of these simple truths..
Serenity; someone who provides a deep breath and a calm spirit during a tumultuous time.
Generosity; a man who decides to fix a car for free.
Kindness; the kindness that catapults generosity.
Others.
This seems way to simple. But it's a spiritual enlightenment for me. What do I learn from other people? What can I give other people? Why do I love them?
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Warning Sign
https://health.google.com/health/ref/Transient+ischemic+attack
Thinking the Cold play song? That's what comes to my mind immediately when I read those two words!
Check this article out!
Today in lecture we talked about the neurovascular system and disorders such as brain attacks and heart attacks. One that stuck out to me the most was a Transient Ischemia Attack. TIA.
A warning sign.
The human body is stinkin amazing.
Thinking the Cold play song? That's what comes to my mind immediately when I read those two words!
Check this article out!
Today in lecture we talked about the neurovascular system and disorders such as brain attacks and heart attacks. One that stuck out to me the most was a Transient Ischemia Attack. TIA.
A warning sign.
The human body is stinkin amazing.
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