First 5K run/walk

Reference:

www.allnurses.com

This cartoon is exactly why I prefer cruising. By being "forced" to not  use my phone for fear of outrageous charges to my cell phone bill, I do not feel the guilt when I see certain numbers pop up on my phone and choose to decline answering it or answering it and being persuaded to take that extra shift!

Unfortunately, we did not go on a cruise this past weekend. Sad, I know! But my family and I participated in our first 5K fun run/walk this past weekend in San Antonio. I have pictures, but like the other posts, getting them from the smartphone to the laptop is a chore. It was quite a funny thing for me. While I have been jokingly been deemed the fastest walker in the hospital, and the grocery store, and the shopping mall, and the airport, etc. etc., I came in last among my family members. I paced myself. Slow and steady did not win the race, but I finished it! It was our first ever and we did not train for it.

We stayed in a hotel for two nights. The kids enjoyed the heated pool. The weather was great. Not too cold and not too hot for a major (to us its major!) exercise endeavor, the 5K. Our kids really enjoyed both the 5K and the pool; and we hope to make it a monthly activity. Of course we will mix it up a bit. We don't want to get into a boring routine of the same retreats.

Having suffered burnout three months ago, this winter break has done wonders for me. It is doing what I had intended -- make me miss nursing so I will go back to it. It has also allowed me to reflect on the root cause (nurses are good at that, aren't we?). I am beginning to think that my attitude began to suffer because our nursing team and its leadership was suffering. Nurses, while we are often overheard saying, "I don't take it personally," we really cannot help but feel some sort of responsibility. While placing the blame never is the answer, accepting the responsibility and being accountable is the answer. Sometimes stepping away, no matter how hard it is to do, is the right answer.

So what are you doing for yourself this month? Nothing planned? What about this week? Surely you have something planned for this week's days off. We all have laundry, cleaning house, errands, bills to pay...but what are you doing for yourself? Don't forget to pencil in -- actually use a black permanent marker so you cannot erase your penciled in time -- some time for yourself, even if it is just 30 minutes. Maybe a 30-minute power nap will do the trick? Maybe a 30-minute jog or walk? Or what about an arts and crafts class at the local art studio? You make time for everyone else...make time for  yourself too. Schedule it in!

Forest Bathing

Today my family and I went forest bathing. Wonderful sounds. Interesting smells. Lots of sunshine and lots of pecan trees. Carpet grass. Lake. Flowing water through the dam into the Guadalupe river. Campfire. Fish fry. The guys went boating, but the girls stayed back today. I will upload pictures this next week.

Weinstein (2015) suggests that nurses must make time for themselves in order to decompress. She states that "forest bathing" is a great way to do that. It literally means taking a walk and spending time in a forest getting back to nature (Weinstein 2015).

Since today is Valentine's Day, my husband threw in an extra special surprise. He had flowers delivered to the campground for me. Pink roses with white Gerber daisies with pink centers. I will have to upload pictures of the flowers next week too. Talk about surprised! I wasn't expecting flowers and I surely never would have expected them to be delivered by the florist at a lake out of town and on a Saturday! (And he must have paid cash because I have not seen any charges come through the financial statements! Hooray for him! I'm one lucky girl!)

Nursing keeps our minds very busy and we need some downtime. Sometimes if that means shutting your phone off and sleeping late, then do it! If your only nurse's retreat is the quiet of your bedroom with no phone, then take what you can get. But you need to take that day off and put in that vacation request! I am so glad I did! It was worth it.

What are you going to do for yourself today? Do you have big plans in the works?

Weinstein, S. (2015). B is for Balance. 2nd Ed. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.

Guess what!

Yesterday I took my daughter to a painting class. She has not been in over a year and five months and has been asking to go back. So I took her back to a painting class Saturday. Of all the things she could have painted, my six-year-old painted me a pink Valentine's candy and painted "Love you" on it just for me. Sweet baby girl.

Sometimes nurses have a hard time accepting the generosity of others. When was the last time you accepted someone's kindness that you did not feel like you owed them something back or wanted to do something for them in return?

Reference

en.paperblog.com

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who has commented on my blog. I can humbly say I am so proud! This was my first attempt...ever! Some how a tech genuis somewhere, designed this program so that every time someone posted to my blog, I received an email through my yahoo address on my iPhone. I have no idea how that was happening, but it was great! I was able to keep up with the blog throughout the week...and it has been a very trying week for me. The comments that I received were genuine and positive. It was very inspirational...and much needed this week. However, I was unable to add to or respond on my phone. 

I had not intended to keep up the blog after this course; however, because of the comments that I have been receiving this week, I will try to keep it going. It might just be that new hobby I have been needing and a great de-stressor for me! Each one of you is very much appreciated for commenting honestly and sharing with me this great opportunity to take my own advice! We truly are our own worst enemy at times.

Thanks again!

Lisa

Reference

http://www.wallpaper-download.net

Today, please!

Today is the day to put in that vacation request...or take the day off.

Reference

http://www.thesketcheffect.com

Where is your balance?

It is important for nurses to have a balance in their life. According to Weinstein (2015), a balance can bring amazing rewards. This author writes: "People can reap significant benefits from reducing the stress in their lives at work and home." While stress is not unusual nor is it abnormal for nurses, Weinstein (2015) states to give yourself a break because you deserve it.

One suggestion from Weinstein (2015) is forest bathing, trading the concrete walls for Mother Nature. The "ideal walk in the forest," is how the author defines forest bathing. I personally (and as a nurse) choose the Gulf of Mexico via cruising from Galveston, Texas to Cozumel. While a walk with Mother Nature can be rewarding, as Weinstein (2015) states, I do not live near a forest to participate in the literal forest bathing.

image by thesportinmind.com

Abraham Maslow (1943) had a theory of human fundamental needs that he described in a hierarchy, often depicted in a triangular shape, according to learning-theories.com. Maslow's Hiearchy of Needs is often studied in nursing. The highest need after establishing all the basic needs is self-actualization. Weinstein (2015) states that we must listen to our inner calling in order to establish our ultimate peace. Weinstein (2015, p 9) states: "This is the level at which those people who seek to emulate lives of service modeled by Nightingale, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Mother Teresa operate so effectively." 

Nurses must find the balance in their life to meet those basic and fundamental needs in order to further advance to the self-actualization level, the highest level of fulfillment. By doing so, we can take care of others better, safer, and happier than when stress is overtaking our lives (Weinstein, 2015).

References

http://www.learning-theories.com/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs.html

Weinstein, S. (2015). B is for Balance. 2nd Ed. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.

Nurse's Retreat

In partial fulfillment of N5308 Nursing Informatics

University of Texas at Arlington

As nurses, we must take care of ourselves before we can take care of others. Nurses more often than not put ourselves into high stress situations by the very nature of our career choice. Stress has been deemed an occupational hazard since the 1950s (Jennings, 2008). It is very important for nurses to step away from the rigors of nursing, relieve stress and decompress.

I am a mental health nurse by choice. I have found that nursing is emotionally taxing, but very rewarding to see positive patient outcomes. In order to take care of my mental health, I often take a cruise vacation...no emails, no phones, no social media, no deadlines. While many cannot take cruise vacations for reasons of their own, for me, being away from everything and everyone (except my husband and kids), allows me to rejuvenate and relax. It gives me time away from my job to love it more, miss it, and get ready to get back to reality.

"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths." ~Etty Hillesum

Reference

Jennings, B. (2008). Work stress and burnout among nurses: Role of the work environment and working conditions. http:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2668/