A Lesson in Gratitutde

This weekend, nothing related to school was accomplished.  

But I did decorate the Christmas tree.

I also discovered this lovely tune by Ingrid Michaelson (one of my faves), and though we haven't had much snow in Denver yet this year, it seems rather appropriate for the season.

Isn't it nice!?

As I was randomly decorating the apartment this weekend, and admiring the various beautiful angels I have gracing our presence, I was reminded of the last real angel I met - sent to me in the form of a stranger.  As my classmates and I were leaving our table in the hospital cafeteria, she and her mother were just sitting down to eat.  I smiled politely and started to follow my classmates back up to the floor when she touched me timidly and said, "I'm jealous."  Not really sure what she meant, I asked her why.  She said, "because you're in nursing school," pointing at the university logo on my black scrubs.  Not really knowing what to say, I asked why she couldn't also be in nursing school if that's what she wanted.  Then she explained to me that she was a single mother to a special needs child who was very sick.  Incredibly humbled and still not sure how to respond I thanked her for sharing her story, told her that I thought she was brave, and that I thought she could probably be a nurse anyway with all of the experience she had caring for her child.  As we smiled and said farewell, I felt so touched by that woman's story, and so very grateful for the opportunities I have been given.  

We must remember not to overlook opportunities to share the love we have been given and to express our gratitude for it.

Now I am simply struggling to get a start on my nursing research paper that is due next week.  We have to write either an evidence based practice proposal, or a research proposal.  I would love to write an evidence-based practice proposal related to oncology nursing, 

but I am having a lot of trouble narrowing it down to a simple topic.  I am toying with ideas about using evidence to support an Oncology Nurse Navigator position to improve patient satisfaction outcomes, or developing a sexual health nursing assessment tool to improve quality of life outcomes for patients before, during and after their cancer treatment.  I am extremely interested in the survivorship aspect of oncology nursing care, so that is the direction I am pursuing.  

Any thoughts on these would be appreciated.

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I hope you all are enjoying the holiday season and finding time to love and to be grateful amidst all of the rush and stress.

Burned Out

I haven't been too inspired to blog lately...and I've really been slacking in the department of pictures and visual interest.  Sorry...all my creative juices have been sucked up by care plans and research papers!

But now I am finished with my actual clinical days for Med/Surg I and just have a perioperative/ER day to get through, a QSEN project to complete, and a cumulative final exam for the class.  Ugh!!  I am feeling the burn - burn OUT, that is.

Don't get me wrong, I am still learning like crazy, and I love being a nursing student, but I am so ready for a break.  I just have until December 17...which is just about two weeks away!

If you are wondering if you have ever experienced such a thing as burnout, here are a few of the signs and symptoms:

Don't panic, the syndrome is curable with a little rest and relaxation!

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ON a positive note, I had a GREAT clinical experience.  I got to practice a lot of skills, including my  

first successful IV start!  

My patients were wonderful, as were their families.   

They taught me so much; 

I hope I was able to convey my gratitude.