Three Weeks Retired

It's hard to believe three weeks have passed since the big retirement day.  I have enjoyed every minute.  Participating in the work related holiday celebrations seemed a little strange.  It was fun to be with my former work-mates, but how different to be on the outside looking in.  The experience did reinforce how wonderful my "work family" was. 

With that in mind, it is fun to think about special people I have worked with during 39 years of nursing practice.  My first job was in an emergency department/trauma unit, in a county hospital in a southern city.  The need for a social worker was apparent and the addition was made to the staff on my shift.  What a surprise when I met the new staff member, she was a Catholic Nun.  Her presence was calming for patients and staff.  She was the most non-judgemental person I had ever met.  She lived her faith by action and reaction.  It was the first time I realized you could profess by example and never have to speak a word about religion.  What a revelation for a shy young woman raised in a religion that centered on verbally professing.

The Second Missed Clinic Day

My favorite day of the work week was Wednesday.  That was clinic day.  I had the privilege of overseeing the care for prenatal patients for over 22 years.  Most of the women were at risk for preterm labor and /or poor pregnancy outcome.  The challenge was to support, care for, and educated them, hoping for a full term, normal weight baby.  The challenge was met by a team of nurses, a social worker, a registered dietician, a medical assistant, a public health aide, and three OB-GYN physicians.  The staff was  dedicated and committed to preparing these young women mentally, physically and emotionally for the life change that was coming.  There were successes and there were failures.  Through it all a remarkable staff worked  together to make a difference in the lives of young women.  I will always think of them on Wednesday

The End of The First Retirement Week

I have survived the first full week of being unemployed.  I've done pretty well, but I'm must admit, I think of certain patients and some administrative functions of the programs I managed.  I don't think this is unusual at all, I'm sure all nurses carry certain past patients with them.

 I became a nurse's aide at age 17 and was assigned to a pediatric unit.  I can still see a tiny 6 year old girl that was burned over the majority of her body.  I remember in detail the first auto-accident victim as a student in nursing school.  My first surgical rotation patient was a 51 year old man with a cholecsytectomy.  The nasogastric tube, urinary catheter, oxygen canula, two different intravenous drips and cardiac monitor seemed overwhelming.  We learned together over ten days how to cope with a post operative period.  When he was discharged he said "you did good kid".  The first birth I observed was one of the times I felt the presence of God.  During my psychiatric rotation at a state hospital I realized some patients were just quirky, not mentally ill.  They had no where else to go.  A pediatric rotation in a large city at the children's hospital taught me some people should never be parents.  I cared for an 18 month old boy with an immune disorder.  He had not experienced life outside the hospital and his parents never came to see him.  I was amazed how loving he was.  The nurses were his parents.

Past experiences mold who we are.   Past patients I carry in my heart helped me gain skill, insight and compassion for the next patient I cared for.  I wish they knew what an important part they played in my delivery of care.  They "paid it forward" without knowing what they did.

Today Really is Sunday-Day Four of Retirement

In the morning when you wake up, do you pay attention to the first thougth that pops into your head?  That is the official "thought of the day". This morning I thought OK, how did I arrive at this point?  It started at age four when I asked for a medical kit for Christmas.  By the time June and my birthday rolled around, the Christmas kit was worn out, so another appeared in the stack of birthday loot.  I saw one of my favorite aunts in  her cap and uniform when I was six.  I wanted to be just like her.   Another aunt arranged for me to volunteer in the veterinary practice that employed her before I was old enough to become a nurse's aide.  That was elemental in getting me used to procedures, surgery, bedside manner and human nature. 

OK, today really is Sunday.  No scrubs to get ready for the week, but I did scrub the kitchen sink.  I'm pretending the next week is vacation, and after that I will get down to the business of retirement.  I plan on spending a few volunteer hours with the senior center in our small town.  The great adventure is ahead.  It reminds me of how it felt to start a summer vacation at the end of a school year.  You knew fun was coming.  The suspense came from not knowing exactly what, when or where.

Second Day of Retirement

Today feels like Sunday, but no work tomorrow.  Where did 42 years go?  This does not feel like vacation either.  I always did a count down of vacation days left. but I don't have to do that!

The First Day of Retirement

 
Nursing has been a big part of my life for 42 years.  I would not have had it any other way.  My career has been a multi-layered journey of learning, serving, supporting, educating, comforting, questioning, and accepting the beauty of diversity.  I have learned the strongest element on earth is inner strength.  Serving and supporting others with the right mind set benefits the provider and recipient.  Educating and comforting can be combined to open someone's heart to learning what can really help them.  Questioning why things happen or why things are the way they are is human nature. We don't all see the same shade of blue when we look at the sky. However, we all share the reality that everyone's world has a sky. 

Common bonds can change the world two people at a time.  Find someone to share something positive with everyday, even if it is just a kind word.  Your world and theirs will be better.  Ask a nurse you know and they will tell you it is true.