Post-Thanksgiving Thoughts

Happy Black Friday, everyone! Though I've never participated in the festivities, it still seems to be a holiday in itself. I hope that those of you who did go shopping stayed warm (it's cold here in ohio!) and got whatever you were looking for. I also hope that those who are working on Black Friday got to spend a little bit of time with their families yesterday. I am so thankful for all that I have, and yesterday was a great representation of that. Here are a few pictures of my Thanksgiving:

One of three tables!

This quote has been stated many times, especially by my aunt
who passed away. This pillow is always an awesome reminder of her.

My favorite part of Thanksgiving. 

My Dad, carving one of his two turkeys.

Thanksgiving memories of my grandmother.

Following dinner, all of the cousins gather in the basement to watch "Elf".

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Cozy fireplace in my Papa's "library".

I hope you all have a wonderful start to the holiday season. Stay tuned for some blog updates!

I'm Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I know it's not technically until tomorrow, but I thought I'd get a little jump start on the blog festivities. I'm a major fan of the holiday season, and the time I get to spend with family and friends. Some of my best friends are coming into town today, and I'm excited to celebrate the holiday with them. 

In honor of this day, I'd like to share the list of 27 things I'm thankful for this November:

1. My family 

2. My friends, both old and new 

3. My boyfriend, Alex, and the ability to see him most days of the week!

4. My dog, Sam

5. Fall colors

6. Warm coffee on an early morning

7. The ability to Skype my best friend who is currently in another country

8. First snowfalls 

9. Thank you notes

10. Family dinners 

11. First-try IV sticks

12. Kind patients

13. The ability to go out for a meal with my 95-year-old grandfather

14. Christmas music and fairy lights

15. Homecomings

16. The health of my family and friends

17. Automatic car starters

18. Decorating Christmas trees with family 

19. Having the means to share with others

20. My education

21. Sharing a room with my sister whenever she's home

22. A car that drives safely in the rough Ohio snow

23. Clean sheets

24. Sweet potato casserole

25. Getting out of work on time

26. Patients who acknowledge how thankful they are for me

27. The ability to feast on Thanksgiving with family from close by as well as out of town 

What are you thankful for? Have an absolutely wonderful turkey day, and make sure to hug all of the family and friends you get to see!

#Speak

I wanted to start with some #advicetobabynursingstudents, after being able to put it into practice again this past weekend. It was something I had recognized in nursing school, but remembered and utilized in my past four days of work. 

No matter what state your patient is in, always speak to them as if they can hear you. 

If a patient can't speak back to you, that doesn't mean they aren't listening to what you are saying. Too often, I see people speaking to each other over a patient, without letting the patient know what they are doing. This would be okay in an emergent situation, of course, but if you're simply going in to do trach care, for instance, this is very important to remember. 

If they aren't alert and oriented, we can't be 100% sure that they aren't hearing us. They're probably scared just like any other patient, and they need reassurance from you, their nurse, that you are taking good care of them. This means letting them know each thing that you are doing while you're in their room, just as you would an alert and oriented patient. 

It sounds simple, and it really is. It's just sometimes easy to forget, and it can probably make the biggest difference to that patient and their family. I hope you all will think about this advice as you continue in nursing! 

Tacky Sweaters

I'm a nurse, but sometimes I... get excited about Christmas extremely early.

Okay, not sometimes. All the time. Yes, I'm one of those people who begins listening to Christmas music in September. I love everything about the holiday season, and I'm no stranger to anything Christmas-related. Over the past few years, the "Ugly Christmas Sweater" parties have been all the rage, with said-sweaters in high demand. I have found myself a great one (lucky for me, my aunt was a fan of the ugly Christmas sweaters way before it was a trend), and have also found a few that I'd like to share with someone who'd appreciate them.

They are definitely trickier to find in some areas, and online some sweaters are selling for nearly $50 a piece (which is just slightly expensive...). I have hand-selected four sweaters to sell on my Etsy site, and I hope that if any of you are interested, you'd take a look! They are in great condition and I promise an easy transaction. My store is called Nursing & Things, of course. Again, I have four items listed, included this beauty: 

So if you're interested, please check it out! And stay tuned for more holiday-themed posts in the coming weeks. I am preparing for a layout change, as well as a December chalk-full of Christmas fun! 

Giving Thanks Garland (DIY)

It's easy sometimes to for me to forget all that I am fortunate to have. For instance, yesterday after work, I remembered that I had parked far away from the door. It was chilly, and I wanted to get into my car as quickly as possible. In the middle of complaining to myself that my car was so far away, I remembered something. I could walk to my car. I have two, fully functioning legs. I know there are many people who don't have the ability to walk to their car, some whom I had just seen at work. It really helped me reflect on what I had, instead of the small inconvenience that parking far away caused me. 

I really am so fortunate, and I decided to take the month of November to remembering all that I'm thankful for. For the twenty-seven days leading up to Thanksgiving, I have written down one thing that I'm thankful for. I made a garland to display in my room, to serve as a constant reminder that there are even small things that make my day better, and make me feel thankful. 

To make the garland, I simply used twine and baby clothespins used here in a past DIY. I purchased paper leaves from The Paper Source (my new favorite)! I simply wrote one thing I'm thankful for on a leaf each day. I hope you will all join me, and I'll share my fully-compiled list on Thanksgiving day!

No Spend November Update

Well, it's about time I fill you guys in on how I'm doing with this whole "No Spend November" thing. If you haven't heard already, I've linked up with Paige from A Dose of Paige to cut spending this month. As discussed in a previous post, I decided to specifically cut spending in makeup and fast food. I've actually done a very good job, in my opinion, and have done a couple of things with the money I would have typically spent!

I mentioned before that I have a drugstore makeup/fast food spending problem, and I've been surprised at how easy it has been not spending money on those two things. I've started my new job, and I've gotten a few pay checks, and rather than blow money on useless things, I've... saved my money. A simple idea, really. Because I realize how fortunate I am to be able to spend money on such frivolous things, I began noticing things I could do to help out others. And because I typically spend at least $20 every time I enter a drugstore, the absence of this spending has left me with some extra money I wanted to share. I shared my money with two causes I found very important:

1. The Bond Family

The sister of one of my close friends has been a nanny for a few years now. Unfortunately, under rare circumstances, the child she nannies has both parents with cancer. One of the major wishes these people had for their daughter was to take her to Disney World, and they wanted to do it soon, because of the progression of the mother's illness. I've never met this family, but I've heard countless stories, and the love and optimism they share is contagious. I was eager to help in any way that I could, and when I found out that my friend's sister was raising funds to send the family to Disney, I was on board.

Apparently, there were several donation groups started for the family, which resulted in enough money to send them on a celebrity-worthy trip to Disney, and also some money that would go towards medical bills and anything else they would need. More than that, though, I was able to contribute something towards memories that the family would treasure forever. That, simply stated, is priceless.

2. Operation Christmas Child

Through my church, I participated in Operation Christmas Child this year. The idea is to purchase little items (gloves, hats, toiletries, school supplies, etc.) for a child of a designated age/gender, and package them in something like a shoebox. These boxes travel to different countries, and throughout the United States, and are received by children who may not normally get anything for Christmas, or who can't afford basic necessities.

This is a fun charity event to participate in, because you get to experience the thrill of picking out little gifts for someone who would be so thrilled to open them. This year, I bought for a boy between the ages of ten to fourteen. I purchased a winter hat, socks, a sweatshirt, gum, mints, pens, pencils, etc. It was a fun day for me, and I appreciate the fact that the person who receives my gift is in need of those items. By cutting out fast food and makeup, both things I don't need, I was able to keep a child's hands and feet warm through the winter.

Have you been cutting spending this month? If so, what on? What could you use that money you saved for? Leave me a comment and let me know, I'd love to hear about it!

Holiday Lush Haul

I'm a nurse, but sometimes I... need to take a nice, relaxing bath.

Lush products are my favorite when it comes to relaxing. I love trying new products, and seeing which ones work best for me. When I went shopping this past weekend, the store was packed with holiday shoppers. Although it was insane, it truly got me in the mood for this holiday season (not that it takes much for me...). I decided to choose four holiday products, all of which I've never tried before!

1. Rudolph (fresh face mask)

I have never tried a Lush fresh face mask, but they seemed intriguing to me. Since I don't have a Lush store nearby, I decided to seize the opportunity and purchase their Rudolph mask! The name was cute, and the soothing idea of it seemed perfect for me. The website describes it as:

"This limited edition Fresh Face Mask soothes and softens dry, irritated skin with nourishing ingredients like calamine, lavender and oatmeal, while fresh mint and cucumber revitalize and replenish skin’s radiance."

I will have to agree that the mask was revitalizing and replenishing to my skin. When I opened up the package, I was instantly attracted to the presentation. The mask itself is brown, but there's a red jelly nose set in the center. Cute, right? The one thing I didn't care for is the smell of the actual mask. It's definitely "fresh", but the combination of the scents were not appealing to me. That being said, I don't think the smell was enough to turn me away from the mask. I still have about two good uses left!

2. Snowman (bath bomb)

This little guy was too cute to pass up. He smells sweet, and I'm just a huge fan of bath bombs in general. Although the one I picked looks a little misshapen, I still think he's adorable. Lush describes him as:

"Our year round best-selling Bath Bomb, Butterball, has been transformed into a dashing Snowman with a festive red scarf and a delicate carrot nose- just for the holidays! We know luxuriously long soaks in hot baths are a favorite winter pastime, but they can leave skin feeling a little dry. Snowman’s generous helping of cocoa butter ensures skin stays soft and hydrated, regardless of how long you spend soaking. The comforting, blissful vanilla aroma lingers softly on the skin long after the bath."

I had no idea that Snowman was just a transformed "Butterball" bath bomb, and that is one of my favorites! It's soothing and hydrating for your skin, and turns your bath a pretty shade of pink! I will definitely repurchase this product.

3. Father Christmas (bath bomb)

Again, just the look of this bath bomb made me want to buy it. The cute little Santa Claus is nice and round, just like a bath bomb should be. As if the looks weren't enough, he smells like candy. Sugary and fruity, I definitely was eager to try him out. Lush says:

"Once you pop this jolly red bomb in your tub, it turns your water from bright red to vivid green, spreading trails of creamy white froth as it goes. Best of all, Father Christmas fills your bathroom with an invigorating satsuma fragrance that lingers on the skin for hours afterwards. Uplifting, fruity and fresh – this is the most festive bomb of them all. All we want for Christmas is this Santa, baby!"

My favorite part of this bath bomb was the color your bath turns. It starts out bright red, but then turns to the "Grinch-iest" green. Definitely festive, and definitely relaxing. This is one of my favorite bath bombs to date, and I hope to get another one closer to Christmas.

4. Bombardino (bath bomb)

Finally, this little guy made his way into my basket because of his smell. It's like a dessert... described by the company as "lemon cheesecake". I'd say that's an accurate description, and I can't wait to jump into a tub of Bombardino. Lush describes this bath bomb as:

"Inspired by a hot après-ski drink enjoyed in the ski resorts of the Italian Alps, Bombardino makes the perfect treat to enjoy after a long day on the slopes, or an exhausting day spent holiday shopping. Sicilian lemon oil and vanilla absolute combine beautifully to create an uplifting and comforting lemon-cheesecake aroma, and bits of cocoa butter from his whipped hat melt into the bath water to soften up winter skin."

I haven't yet tried this, but I know it's going to be amazing. It's possible that by the time you're reading this, he'll have already been used up...

November is well underway, and I have big plans for December! You'll begin to notice that I'm one of the biggest holiday fanatics out there, and I hope to be posting some major holiday-themed pages in the coming weeks. I hope you'll follow along!

#Not Cool

Hey, guys! Back with another #advicetobabynursingstudents post. This particular post is about one of my biggest nursing pet peeves. I've found people doing this in both nursing school as well as my career, so I felt that it was important to address. 

Never, no matter how cool you think something is, say "that's so cool!" about a patient's wounds, drains, diagnosis, etc. 

When you're in nursing school, working with wounds or drains for the first time may be cool. You may have never seen a PEG tube before, and learning how it works may be cool to you. You also may have never seen a large wound before, and learning how to dress it could be a cool first experience as a nursing student. What's important to realize, though, is that these devices and wounds are attached to real people. 

Put yourself in their shoes, and imagine someone coming into your room to look at a newly placed PEG tube. You're already slightly depressed about it's presence, and now people are coming into assess it. Now, imagine how you would feel if someone said "oh, that's awesome!" while assessing it. 

You'd probably think, "this is not cool at all". You'd be even more upset, because in your opinion, this tube in your abdomen is not a cool thing to you. That's what I always try to remember when taking care of my patients. I realize that what they're going through can be depressing and embarrassing to them, and so I try not to draw unnecessary attention to those things. It's important to recognize that drains and tubes are there, but not to call them "cool" or "awesome". 

I'm sure there are people thinking "I would never do that!" Or "I doubt anyone actually does that", but I've witnessed two people make patients extremely uncomfortable this way. One was a nursing student, and one an experienced nurse. I wanted to write this post to urge you all to think before you speak to people... Think about how you'd like to be spoken to, and put yourself in their shoes. 

My Weekend (11/8)

Here's hoping you all had a fantastic Monday! I was lucky enough to visit my sister for part of mine, as well as do a little shopping with my mom. I tried to keep the no-makeup, no-fast food spending in play (lush items don't count as "makeup", right?), and I think I did a pretty good job! Here are some of my favorite pictures/items from this weekend. Leave me a comment letting me know what you were up to!

Pretty sunset on my walk to work.

Rereading "Catching Fire" in preparation for the premier!

Beautiful box all ready for Christmas!

Christmas treats from Lush (haul to come soon)!

Fiercer Than Sasha

I'm a nurse, but sometimes people surprise me.

I'm hoping you all caught a glimpse of an article featuring Deborah Cohen, the brave woman facing a double mastectomy who coordinated a dance party with her surgical team. The video amazed me, made me laugh, and definitely made me smile. She's one of the coolest people I've seen around the Internet in a while, and I wanted to share her video with all of you.

Unfortunately, I can't post the video directly on this blog, so instead I'll link her video here:

Deb's OR Flash Mob

As an Ob/Gyn, Deborah obviously has more medical knowledge than the average patient, but with that comes more awareness of what she's facing. This makes her story that much more awesome... the fact that she wanted to take this hurdle and make it something positive. I love when she says "this is a time-out". As a nurse, I see many people dealing with various diagnoses very differently. There are some people who become depressed, some people who deny their illness, and some people who take charge. You learn to read people, and help each patient in the way they specifically need helped.

I think it's incredible that Deborah chose to deal with her struggles in this way. Just watching her dance made me feel better, and I'm sure that eight minutes of dancing fun helped her in some way to take charge of her illness. The way you let a struggle make you feel can determine the outcome, and medical professionals could be more in tune in helping patients deal with difficult moments.

I wish I had been in that room for that dance party, because it looks like it was a lot of fun... and she had some darn-good moves.

All I have to say is, Queen B better watch out.

Changes

I'm a nurse, but sometimes I... Can't do everything. 

As a new nurse, there are a lot of things to worry about. Orientation hours, paperwork, and the simple stress of learning to be on your own. I started this blog because I had a lot to share about my nursing journey, and I've had a ton of fun writing! However, as the past few weeks have gone by, I realized that I don't have as much time to write. So, rather than sacrifice good content for a post each day, I've decided to come up with a more effective schedule. 

I don't want to give up blogging completely, because I do love it and I have a lot of ideas. I'm planning for a blog relaunch next month, as well as many holiday posts as the winter comes. I hope you all will stick around for those! 

I'm planning on writing Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. I hope you all understand, and notice the difference in my more thought-out posts. Have an awesome week, and I'll be back on Friday! 

My Perfume Collection

I'm I nurse, but sometimes I... Like to smell good! 

I'm the type of girl who sticks to one scent. I don't mess around with a lot of different smells, and I tend to use one perfume for a very long time. This post includes the collection of scents that have stuck with me through it all. They all smell different, but have all proven to be some of my favorites.

Vera Wang "Glam Princess"

This perfume was a gift for my 19th birthday, and I have used it ever since. My birthday is in July, so it reminds me very much of summer. The smell is warm and rich, and lasts all day long. It is definitely my "signature scent". 

Marc Jacobs "Dot" 

I received Dot for Christmas last year. It was at the top of my wish list, mostly because of the packaging. I'm a sucker for pretty perfume. On top of that, though, it smells amazing. It's light, and fruity, but it lingers for hours. It reminds me of Winter, but I'm sure it would be better worn as a summer scent!

Carolina Herrera "Flore" 

I'll admit, this is not my perfume. It belonged to my aunt who passed away, and it's never been worn by me. It's definitely an older smell, but it reminds me of her and it's in such a pretty bottle that I always have it displayed!

Victoria's Secret "Very Sexy" 

This is a body spray, and I wore it mostly in high school. It's still one of my favorites... sexy, like the name. It's definitely a nighttime/winter smell, but it's been around for a while and it's a great addition to any collection. 

Victoria's Secret "Tease"

Another body spray, but this one is lighter and more fruity. It's not too fruity or sweet, and it's light enough to wear in the daytime. I've had this for a few years as well, and love to spray it on when I don't want a lot of perfume. Even though it's light, it lasts all day! 

It's amazing what scents can do with the mind. All of these scents take me back to a different time in my life, no matter when I wear them. What's your favorite perfume, and what does it remind you of? 

My Weekend (11/1)

I didn't take many pictures this weekend, mostly because I spent 32 of my awake hours working. I guess I could just do another orientation update, because other than the hospital I spent little time doing anything else! 

I am thoroughly enjoying work. I love being a nurse, and even though it wears me out, there's nothing I'd rather be doing as a career. Nursing is one of the most gratifying careers (and sometimes one of the most under-thanked), and I'm proud to say that's what I chose to do with my life. 

I am quickly becoming familiar with the floor I'm on, and I feel like I am slowly gaining the confidence to do things completely on my own. I am sure of myself, and of my choices. I know it will take a while for me to be completely on my own, and I'm thankful for that, but it's nice to feel independent as well. 

I'm excited to continue my career as a nurse. What are some of your nursing orientation stories? Where did you first work as a nurse, and did you like it at the beginning? Leave a comment, I'd love to share stories!