thatnursewrites

What historical event fascinates you the most?

I enjoy learning about American History. It’s difficult for me to pinpoint exactly what fascinates me the most because there’s so much out there. I’ve always been a read a book before seeing a movie type of person. I especially like when I randomly see a movie based on a true story or a documentary that interests me, I do a ton of reading about it. I’ve learned more about history that way than I ever did in high school and it’s been my favorite way to learn as an adult. I become engrossed, obsessed until I’ve had my fill of the information and then I move onto something else.

What’s the biggest risk you’d like to take — but haven’t been able to?

I would love a side gig. Something creative and fun that earns some regular extra money and has nothing to do with being a nurse or me getting up at 0400. There are a few downsides to this. 1. I’m not creative. Not at all. 2. I don’t have time. 3. I do not have a mind for business. I

’m also a stickler for work life balance so in reality I don’t have time for this because there’s only so many hours in a day. Yet, I still fantasize about this. I still pray for this. Maybe the universe just hasn’t put it into fruition for me yet but I remain hopeful something will present itself.

What have you been working on?

These two things are relative. I am working on the second thing this year that has brought me outside of my comfort zone.

The first thing which I accomplished in the spring was a nationally recognized certification exam in my area of nursing. Studying for the exam was a brutal yet rewarding experience. It gave me sense of purpose that I long for when I see my early twenty something children glued to their laptops to complete assignments for their degrees.

Shortly before I took the certification exam my husband and I were given two free tickets to Brit Floyd, a Pink Floyd tribute band. The concert was amazing and the music resonated into my soul and into the last remaining brain cells I had left. The music saved me and a week later I passed the certification exam. I’ll never forget that concert.

The thing that I am currently working on which is the second thing that’s dragging me way outside of my comfort zone is a project for my hospital’s Clinical Advancement Program. My project is to create a teaching module for my department’s yearly competencies on an emergent anesthesia complication called Malignant Hyperthermia. I was inspired to do my project on this topic because it was one of the things I learned about for my exam and a topic that I found fascinating.

The project involves research, posters, creating scenarios, PowerPoint and writing. Going into to this, I felt rusty because I earned my BSN 12 years ago and haven’t done any projects or paper writing since then. I’ve realized though when I can turn my anxiety off and focus, I can actually conquer the tasks I didn’t think I could. Today I mastered putting my research into APA format for the first time in 12 years and my PowerPoint is coming along nicely. After our competencies are over with in early November I will have more research and writing to do. I know that I can do it though.

I’m getting there one step at a time and it feels good.

When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

I lived with my parents until I got married. I moved out of state with my husband two weeks after our wedding. It was a fourteen hour ride from the state that our parents lived in. My husband had moved after we graduated from college and I followed him after our wedding. I had quickly befriended an older women in our apartment building who had two young teenage boys. One day she asked me what I was making for dinner. It occurred to me that I was no longer living in my parents cozy three bedroom ranch house waiting for my mom to cook me dinner. I was now living in this dumpy apartment, I didn’t have a job yet and now I am responsible for cooking dinner. I didn’t even know how to cook! That was 27 years ago. I don’t remember what we had for dinner that night but I do know my transition into adulthood and married life was not a difficult one.

What would your life be like without music?

When I think about what my life would be without music I reflect upon a scene from the Johnny Cash movie Walk the Line. Johnny Cash and his band were at Sun Records attempting to record a gospel song. In the middle of the song record producer Sam Phillips stops them and tells them he can’t accept any more gospel music, that this song they were playing would not sell. He went on to tell Johnny Cash to sing a song that was something real, something he felt because that’s the kind of song people want to hear. That’s the kind of song that truly saves people. That’s how I feel about music. It takes only one good song to turn a frown upside down, to feel alive, to change a vibration, to be inspired. My father always played music in the house when I was growing up so it’s always been engrained in the fibers of my being. Music has saved me through every struggle and victory in my entire life. No matter what is going on in my life, whether it’s good or bad, I know music is always there for me. Without music my life would be a silent movie.

What’s your favorite word?

Two months before we were to be married, I brought my husband to my hometown to meet my extended family. I’m Italian and my family is loud and uses foul language. When we returned home my husband said he’s never heard the word fuck used so much in one weekend in his entire life. There it is, my favorite word. Fuck. As I get older I am able to refrain myself from only using it in the most appropriate settings. Sometimes though it just flies out of my mouth and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

What brings a tear of joy to your eye?

All you have to do is open your eyes and look around. There’s always something that brings joy. Here are some of mine.

Music so beautiful that it resonates with my soul.

Soldiers coming home to their families.

Underdogs winning the game.

Strangers showing each other acts of kindness.

Seeing an athlete make that last minute play that wins it all.

People achieving their dreams.

Watching my children grow up.

Good sportsmanship.

Watching animals interact with humans in ways we didn’t think they could.

A moving homily in Mass.

Making a connection with someone.

How are you feeling right now?

Today is my overtime day and the final day of my work week. When I work overtime I like to stop somewhere on my way home from work for a treat so I’m stopping at Tropical Smoothie for a Mango Berry Cosmo. I’m also going to get myself some nail polish to paint my toes. I’m looking for a pretty orange color.

I’ve never given the color orange much thought until recently. I’ve been noticing it more and it makes me feel alive. I googled the meaning of the color orange. According to a color meanings website, Orange symbolizes emotion, youth, optimism and enthusiasm. It encourages, uplifts, stimulates and communicates. It helps people with spontaneity, creativity, positivity and warmth.

September is my birth month. As I reflect upon my previous year and the year ahead, I am confident that I am moving in an orange direction.

I feel orange.

What TV shows did you watch as a kid?

It’s fun taking a stroll down memory lane when an old tv show comes on. Seeing favorite characters again is like visiting with old friends. My first two decades of life were the 1970’s and 1980’s and they were loaded with classics!

For cartoons I enjoyed The Flinstones, the Jetsons, Superfriends, Loony Toons, Tom and Jerry, Smurfs. I loved Sesame Street too and the Muppets.

To this day The Brady Bunch is my all time favorite show. I know which episode of the Brady Bunch it’s going to be in the first scene. I also watched Gilligans Island, Facts of Life, Little House on the Prairie, Lawrence Welk, The Munsters, Different Strokes, All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Good Times, Laverne and Shirley, Happy Days, Eight is Enough, Mork and Mindy, The Love Boat, Chips, Dukes of Hazzard, Dallas, The Cosby Show, Family Ties, and Cheers.

Let’s talk about the 70’s show Emergency. Yes, I watched that. When other little girls were playing house with their dolls, little Jenny and her friend Kevin had her dolls sprawled out in trauma scenes on the living room floor; saving lives one doll at a time with a Fisher Price doctor kit. I have no idea what happened to Kevin but I do know Jenny ended up working as an emergency room nurse for 13 years.

What’s your favorite time of day?

Tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition and yawn and stretch and try to come to life. —Dolly Parton

I’m definitely a morning person. With the rising sun, each new day brings hope and new possibilities. Outside there is dew on the grass and the birds have already started their day. The air is crisp and clean and there is a stillness because the world hasn’t woken up yet. Regardless of the weather I love to inhale the morning air before I get into my car to go to work. My work days start at 0530 or 0600 and we hit the ground running but that’s fine because I’m most focused, energetic and positive. My best ideas and solutions come to me in the morning. The end of the day is a different story. I am ready to shut it down and call it a day.