New Year, New Beginning, New Nurse
While 2014 is still in its infancy, the year has certainly begun in earnest. And for many of us, plans are afoot for what this year could actually look like in the bigger picture. Are you making plans and dreaming dreams?On New Year's Eve, I published a post entitled, "Your Wild and Precious Nursing Career", borrowing and paraphrasing a quote from a famous poem by Mary Oliver. I wrote: The poet Mary Oliver once wrote in her poem, "The Summer Day": “Tell me, what is it you plan to dowith your one wild and precious life?” Taking Oliver's poem fragment as a place to begin, I'll ask this question:"Tell me, nurse...
Source: Digital Doorway - January 9, 2014 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse nurse identity nurses nursing Source Type: blogs
Your Wild And Precious Nursing Career
As the New Year dawns, it's a time when many of us look backward and forward to assess many aspects of our lives, our careers not least among them. How do you feel as you say goodbye to 2013 and hello to 2014?The poet Mary Oliver once wrote in her poem, "The Summer Day": “Tell me, what is it you plan to dowith your one wild and precious life?” Taking Oliver's poem fragment as a place to begin, I'll ask this question:"Tell me, nurseWhat is it that you plan to dowith your wild and precious nursing career?"The New Year can bring with it a plethora of mixed emotions, including excitement, joy, trepidation, remorse, re...
Source: Digital Doorway - December 31, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse nurses nursing Source Type: blogs
Happy Holidays To All
Greetings and happy holidays! What a year it's been!In honor of Christmas Week and the celebrations therein, I won't be posting again on Digital Doorway until next week, either prior to, or just after the beginning of 2014.Thank you to all of my readers, followers and commenters throughout this past year!I send you my gratitude and respect for your support and enthusiasm, as well as thanks for the wonderful work that you do in the world. Blessings on you and your family, friends, colleagues and loved ones.Gratefully,Nurse Keith (Source: Digital Doorway)
Source: Digital Doorway - December 25, 2013 Category: Nurses Source Type: blogs
Of Flu Season and Nurse Martyrs
Nurses are often notorious for being martyrs, caring for others when they really need to be caring for themselves. And when flu season strikes, many nurses may heed the call of duty rather than the call of their own bed.Yes, it's that time of year again. Even though influenza is a potential problem during any season, the colder months of winter are when it rears its ugly head in earnest. Influenza, nasty colds and increased absenteeism often push our profession into a corner during the winter months, with some nurses apparently having no choice but to work under duress, sniffly noses and all. How About You? ...
Source: Digital Doorway - December 21, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse nurse self care nurse wellness nurse-patient relationships nurses nursing self-care Source Type: blogs
The Story of Malcolm: Nursing and Grace
I've written a guest post for the blog of Karen Ingalls, a writer and author who is a five year survivor of ovarian cancer. Her book, Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir, is an inspiring account of the challenge of living with such a diagnosis. My post is the story of "Malcolm", a patient from early in my nursing career who taught me many lessons of living well in the face of the vicissitudes of life. I hope you enjoy Malcolm: Gratitude and Grace.I thank Karen for the opportunity to share my story with her community of readers. If you'd like to hear Karen's recent interview on RNFM Radio, please click here. (Source: Digital Doorway)
Source: Digital Doorway - December 12, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: internet radio nurse nurse-patient relationships nurses nursing patient care RN.FM Radio Source Type: blogs
Of Bowels and Happy Nurses
So nurses, what can make a nurse happier than a constipated patient who finally moves his bowels? Pretty much nothing, I guess. (Be forewarned, the following story is full of sh*t.)While caring for one of my home care patients this week, I was quite aware that he had not moved his bowels in about six days. This is nothing new, so it's an ongoing struggle for fecal regularity, and since my shifts with him are eight hours long, I have time to make a plan and execute it.Elderly and chronically dehydrated, with poor fluid intake and no exercise, he's basically a bowel obstruction waiting to happen. Sigh. Taking the abov...
Source: Digital Doorway - December 11, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse nursing nursing care patient care Source Type: blogs
The Natural Inventiveness of Nurses
Nurses are smart. Period. Nurses also have to be inventive, think on their feet, and use critical thinking to solve problems on the fly. Nursing school doesn't prepare us for every possible thing that could happen (and how could it?), so we fly by the seat of our pants and learn as we go. And learn we do.Back when I was considering going to nursing school, a neighbor who was a seasoned nurse told me, "If you want to be a nurse, remember one thing. Nurses aren't just nurses. Sometimes they're plumbers, sometimes they're carpenters, and sometimes they're priests, therapists, mediators and miracle workers. Be prepared for any...
Source: Digital Doorway - December 4, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse nurses nursing Source Type: blogs
Giving Thanks
During this week of focusing on the gratitude engendered by the American celebration of Thanksgiving, I'd like to take a moment and give thanks for anyone and everyone connected with this blog, my work in nursing, my new avocation as a Nurse Coach, RN.FM Radio, and my many connections and networks.Thanksgiving is about feeling and expressing gratitude for our abundance and blessings, and I have more blessings in my life than I can count. This blog is approaching its ninth birthday, and I especially want to thank all of my readers who peruse my posts, leave comments, share my posts on social media, and encourage me to conti...
Source: Digital Doorway - November 27, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse nurses nursing personal Source Type: blogs
Nursing, Technology and Collectivism
Nursing and technology have gone hand in hand since the beginning of our profession. Whether it's the technology of syringes or tablet computers, nursing has been impacted by the development of technology since day one. But what does technology mean when we consider it's impact on nursing vis-a-vis the notion of collectivism?According to Wikipedia, collectivism is "any philosophic, political, religious, economic, or social outlook that emphasizes the interdependence of every human." So, how does technology fit into this idea of collectivism in the world of nursing?When we examine nursing through the lens of social media, b...
Source: Digital Doorway - November 25, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: medical technology nurse nurses nursing Source Type: blogs
Of Nurses And Their Self-Esteem
On November 6th, I published a blog post entitled "For Nurses, 'Just" Is A Four-Letter Word". The basic premise was that nurses' use of language that diminishes their expertise and importance has a far-reaching impact. That post has received a great deal of attention, so I believe I struck a nerve that resonates deeply with many nurses out there. (Thank you for all of the wonderful comments, by the way!) So, why is our self-esteem so collectively low?In the aforementioned post, I made the following statement:If you're a nurse, when was the last time you said, "Oh, I'm just a nurse" or "I'm not really an expert--I'm just a ...
Source: Digital Doorway - November 20, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse nurse identity nurse professionalism nurses nursing Source Type: blogs
Scrubs Blog Carnival: Thriving As A Nurse
I am thrilled to be hosting the Scrubs Magazine Blog Carnival for Nurses today, and it's an honor to provide the readers of Digital Doorway with a glimpse into the quality and depth of talent that exists among the nurse blogger community.Today's theme is "thriving as a nurse", and I have no doubt the entries will inspire and move you in myriad ways. (Note to reader: the bold and italicized title of each blog will lead you to the specific entries for the carnival.)Enjoy!Healthy Work EnvironmentsRNDeer has shared a very important post that focuses on how to identify a healthy work environment. Not only does this post list th...
Source: Digital Doorway - November 15, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: blogs nurse nurse bloggers nurse self care nurses nursing scrubs magazine self-care writing Source Type: blogs
For Nurses, "Just" Is A Four-Letter Word
If you're a nurse, when was the last time you said, "Oh, I'm just a nurse" or "I'm not really an expert--I'm just a nurse"? If you stop to think about it, what are you really saying when you deny your expertise? Words are powerful, and the words we use to describe ourselves can have far-reaching effects--for others, and within our own psyches.For a number of years, I've used the soapbox of this blog to cajole nurses to embrace their nurse identity while also embracing their individual and collective value as skilled clinicians.Like I've said before, nurses have been voted the most trusted professionals in the United State...
Source: Digital Doorway - November 6, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse nurse identity nurses nursing nursing identity Source Type: blogs
Healthy Nurses and The Self-Care Bandwagon
A few weeks ago, I was talking on the phone with a colleague who is not a nurse himself but who interacts with nurses on a regular basis in his professional life. His comments about nurses and their self-care (or lack thereof) were extremely thought-provoking.Like I have said on this blog many times before, nurses are renowned for not taking good care of themselves, ostensibly because they're so busy taking care of others and living the lives of the saints that they are perceived to be. Let's face it. We all know that nurses aren't saints, while we also acknowledge that many nurses come close to sainthood vis-a-vis t...
Source: Digital Doorway - October 29, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse nurse self care nurse wellness nurses nursing self-care Source Type: blogs
Santa Fe Coaching Retreats With Nurse Keith!
I don't often write explicitly about my coaching practice for nurses, health professionals and nurse entrepreneurs here on this blog, but my latest launch is so exciting, I couldn't contain myself and had to tell my Digital Doorway community all about it!Since opening my new office this week here in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, I've realized that working face-to-face with coaching clients is a new service that I can offer to my clients--whether they live in New Mexico or not!So, here's my new idea: On my website, I now have a page dedicated to Santa Fe Coaching Retreats with Nurse Keith! My vision is to offer coach...
Source: Digital Doorway - October 17, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: coaching nursing nurses Nurse Keith nurse coaching nurse entrepreneurs Nurse Keith Coaching nurse entrepreneurship Source Type: blogs
Nurses and Collective Success
Collectivism and collaboration are hot topics in the entrepreneurial spaces where I currently hang out. Just last weekend, my business partner and RN.FM Radio co-host Kevin Ross and I were at the National Nurses in Business Association annual conference in Orlando, and our presentation was entitled "Cross-Pollination: Collaboration on Steroids". This notion was well-received by the audience, and our assertion that competition belongs in the dustbin of history seemed to hit home with most everyone who was present.In high-quality healthcare environments, collaboration and cooperation are essential. Imagine an operating room ...
Source: Digital Doorway - October 12, 2013 Category: Nurses Tags: National Nurses in Business Association nursing nurse entrepreneurs business nursing nurse entrepreneurship Source Type: blogs
