Category Archives: Uncategorized

Am Meds

Happy Sunday everyone!! Unfortunately I work every other weekend, and this was my weekend to work. It was a typical weekend and went great until this afternoon at lunchtime. I work in a assisted living facility for retired nuns and they are great, independent prestigious women. Its a very small beautiful place with their own apartments, own large kitchen in which all meals are prepared for them and they can pretty much have anything they want to eat. Theres a daily menu but anything can be ordered to their liking. Most of them self administer their own medications but there are some that I must administer medication to which usually goes as planned etc etc.

Todays lunch medication pass had an unexpected twist. A patient who receives medications from me for breakfast was in the line to obtain her lunch. I carried her tray to the table for her and while doing so I notice she has 2 pills left in her medication cup from breakfast. I immediately recognize these are am medications and begin to question why she hadn’t taken them earlier as scheduled. Well Im sure you’re probably thinking that I should have made sure she took them this morning., and yes thats nursing 101 , but in my defense I must go to the main dining room at 0800 every morning that I work to monitor the other dining room and patients. I observed her take probably 4 of the 6 medications I had given her. Well apparently that was all that she took and she took the other ones back to her room with her to be take at a later time.

She then proceeds to tell me that she will take them when she’s finished eating. I tell her that its unacceptable and from here on out I must watch her take her meds at the time that I give them to her. Yes I should always do this but she up until the last few weeks had been administering her meds herself so I trusted that she took them as scheduled. Guess who was wrong?

Needless to say she doesn’t agree and informed me that my way of administering meds is ridiculous. I try to explain to her this is the way its actually supposed to be done. I was informed that I am the only nurse that even makes sure she takes them etc etc.

She fought me on it allllllll day long. She came to the nurses station to apologize and inform me that she will no longer be taking more than 4 pills at a time and the rest must be divided up at different times.(Keep in mind this was just recently done and she agreed to take them as follows) So here we are again back at square one .

Sooo that was just a little rant. Im just glad the day is over. I am now home in my happy place writing to you. Any rants you would like to get off your chest? Any subject is welcome. Please feel free to comment, I would love to hear some of your stories. Have a blessed week!!!

Nursejb

Silent Struggles

Imagine sitting in a dark room all day with absolutely no motivation to get up and do anything, or constantly having racing thoughts which will not allow you to focus on tasks at hand? Consistently feeling sad or down or confused thinking or decreased concentration. Excessive fears and worries and extreme mood changes are just a few of the symptoms associated with mental illness.

Mental illness is very real and this is something that anyone who knows me will tell you that I say often because I have seen so many people that I love struggle with it. I feel there are so many other people that struggle that maybe aren’t aware of whats really happening and it hurts my soul to think they actually feel there is no way out and that this is simply the way life is. Personally life is too short to be unhappy or miserable or unable to enjoy the simplicity of everyday life.

Mental illness is a very broad diagnosis with mental health conditions and or disorders that affect the mind, thinking and behavior. Depression, anxiety disorders ,schizophrenia are all examples of mental illness.

The struggles that come with mental illness are very challenging and can literally set a person back from all progress made with just one very bad day. Getting to work, talking with friends and family ,even getting out of bed can be impossible for someone with a mental illness. Drugs and alcohol only cause a further spiral of negative effects as you attempt to self medicate your mind.

Mental illness will not go away and should always be addressed. Please seek professional help whether it be an actual dr or therapist. Personally I don’t feel medication is the answer for everything. I truly believe in natural and herbal supplements for almost all conditions.

Maca, Ashwaganha, Valerian and St. Johns Wort are just a few of the herbs thats can be used to treat depression an anxiety naturally. If however, you are having suidical thoughts you should definitely contact a friend a doctor.

Call 1-800-273-TALK(8255) if you feel you need to talk to someone. There is always someone available to help if you need it. Please don’t ever feel that you are alone. There are millions of people that are suffering with this awful condition right along with along and in a painful heartbreaking silence. My heart goes out to all of you.

Self Love = Regard for ones own well being and happiness.

What is the definition of self love to you? Self love to me is taking care of my needs and not sacrificing my well being to please others. Self love to me means exercising and eating healthy and having a skin care routine at night. Self love is having faith and being spiritually grounded by knowing where my strength comes from. I haven’t written in awhile as I have been loving myself. I hope you all are practicing self love as well on a regular basis. Life is much better when doing so.There are so many benefits to self love including genuinely being happy within yourself. You become very aware of things that you spend your time on. When practicing self love we become able to embrace challenge and become less critical of others as well. I encourage everyone to practice some type of self love beginning today. Life is too short to not be in love with ourselves, after all we are all uniquely created individuals! Please comment for ideas and tips on practicing self love as I have many tips and ideas.Much love to you all.

Who’s familiar Intermittent fasting? Intermittent fasting is a eating pattern that cycles periods of eating and not eating. I personally tried the 16/8 method and i would eat from 12p-8p and fast from 8p-12p. It was very effective in the beginning of my health and weight loss journey. I lost approximately 10 pounds in about 2 months. I became used to this way of eating very quickly. I will admit the first few days were difficult. I would drink coffee during the fasting period and although you’re typically not supposed to I added cream and sugar to it. It was still effective for me. Oh and lots of water.Who else has found intermittent fasting to be effective?

Welcome!! I am nursejb and I have been a nurse for over 10 years and I will be posting my daily experiences with noncompliant patients, disease process, general health and wellness as it relates to men and women. I am currently vegetarian and soon to be transitioning to vegan. Somedays are harder than others (pray for me)so we will discuss this other diets and ways of healthy living.