You'll Give Thanks for CoS!

Alright, between going back to school and having a death in the family, my blogging efforts have really gone by the wayside. Regardless, it's important to keep up with what's happening with our colleagues. The latest Change of Shift is up at Emergiblog and, as this picture indicates, there is plenty for you to read there!

Kim has provided us with a cornucopia of the best that nurse bloggers have to offer, from "Safety Sniglets" to "Chest Hair and Scrubs". Don't you hope that last one is about MEN? Seriously, I couldn't make this stuff up. Please take a moment over this weekend to read and learn. You'll be glad you did!

This image gently borrowed from http://imagineannie.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/blech/ without permission.

So Many Tricks...it's a Treat!

Change of Shift is up at Reality Rounds and you do NOT want to miss this one! The theme is "What's So Scary About Health Care?" and the question is answered in a multitude of nursing posts. Topics ranging from Health Insurance to Childbirth Education; Strikes by Nurses to Medical Decision Making, are covered in bone-chilling detail.

Don't be spooked....check it out before it's too late!!

Image Source: http://holiday-clipart.net/

"Last Gift from Grandpa"

Every year for the past four, my husband and I have lost a parent. Our final remaining parent, my father-in-law, died last week. He was a terrific man who leaves behind wonderful memories for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Due to job issues, most of the grandchildren have moved all around the country, from Texas to Florida, to both Carolinas. As their families and jobs have grown, it's been a challenge for everyone to get home at the same time. There are second and third cousins who have rarely/never gotten together.

This week that will change as everyone comes "home" to NW Ohio to share tears and laughs, memories and stories. Some of the travelers will find the going rough in getting here (you try being in a car with two 3-year-olds for 12 hours!), but they are coming because it is important.

As our daughter put it through her tears, the chance to get together is "like a last gift from Grandpa". We know he is pleased.

Let's Start October with a Change of Shift

Pumpkins are everywhere and the autumn wind has come up in my part of the country. What better way to change to a new month than with a Change of Shift? This edition is being hosted at "home", that is Emergiblog, where Kim started it all.

There are plenty of posts for everyone, from the new grad to the more seasoned among us. Click on the link and read this edition for yourself. Have I ever lied to you?

Kindle Worm?

Since childhood I have been described as a bookworm. I love to read and I really love books. Books with varied bindings and assorted types of covers are comfortable and welcoming. I like the smell of books; I like turning the pages. Flipping a few pages back to review something previously read, or turning to the last page for a preview of the ending, are among activities I enjoy.

For most of my adult life I have loved electronic gadgets and technology of all kinds. PDAs, iPods, computers, netbooks, smartphones, and video games intrigue me. I like to mess with them, see how or if they work in my day to day activities, and then move on to the next new thing.

For my birthday I received an item that combined my love for reading and my fascination with technology; a Kindle. Holding it in my hand, it was techy and cool, but lacked the warmth and charm of an actual book. Since May I have been enjoying reading a variety of books, both fiction and non-fiction, but all simply for enjoyment.

With the start of school looming, I inquired as to the availability of textbooks on my Kindle, as this seemed like a great way to utilize new technology. Much to my delight and amazement, my first textbook was indeed available as a Kindle book and I promptly downloaded it.

Class started this past Monday, with an initial reading assignment of Chapters 1 and 2. I was quite excited to give this new technology a try and regret to say that I am sorely disappointed. It's only been four days, I've read the two assigned chapters, and I've already ordered a hard copy of the book. Yes, I was able to highlight, make notes, and clip sections of value with the Kindle. On the negative side, charts didn't quite look right and page numbers that were referenced in class material just didn't exist in the Kindle world.

Perhaps I am not being brave, chickening out only four days in, but the challenges of work, a Six Sigma Black Belt class, and starting my online MSN classes, have provided me with enough of an overload that something had to go. The Kindle has now returned to its status as where I read my non-fiction and fiction books....for pleasure.

It's plain to see that, at this point in my life, I'm just not cut out to be a Kindle Worm.

Change of Shift - My Tardy Reminder

Ok, it's not for lack of interest or lack of caring; it's about lack of time. Putting that aside, let me belatedly remind you that it is time to check out Change of Shift, which is hosted this time by Amanda, of This Crazy Miracle Called Life. You don't want to miss the offerings of numerous nurse bloggers, gathered all in one place. Every edition has something for everyone to learn, to relate to, to laugh about, and/or to cry over.

Thank you to Amanda for providing topics as varied as a journey through nursing school, a reason to give up blogging, and whether or not we have an exit strategy. Today's a perfect day for you to click the link and see what I mean.

Seriously....go now!

Change of Shift is the premiere nursing blog carnival, and a big thanks goes out to Kim McAllister, of Emergiblog, for getting it started and keeping it going.

Back to School

The outdoor thermometer hovered around 95 degrees one Sunday evening in August as I struggled into the dorm with a suitcase, several tote bags, and a fan. The parking lot was filled with cars, trunks open, spilling students & possessions into the parking lot. We were all busy with the same activity.

Pretty familiar scenario at this time of year, isn't it; parents moving their kids into dorms in preparation for another year at college? Only this wasn't about moving my child into school; that activity has been over for many years. This adventure was to move myself into a dorm in preparation for a week long residency course. The course was a start toward achieving a Masters of Science in Nursing degree.

Assembled in a classroom the first day, I looked around the room at my classmates. Predominantly female, they represented a wide range of ages from early twenties to..well...me. Some of these nurses have only been out of school for a few years, others of us have 30+ years in the field. We all shared a common concern about returning to school, working at a graduate level, and finding the time in our already packed schedules to take on this challenge.

The one week residency course was a wonderful opportunity to meet and get to know the other students in my cohort. Combined with a yearly residency week, this program is conducted online. Having the opportunity to know the people behind the online names is extremely helpful, especially now that we have all returned home. There is plenty of anticipation building up for our next class, which starts in a week. We've been exchanging emails, chatting on Skype, and gearing up for what is to come.

For some unknown reason, I woke up early today; I think school is really on my mind. I've spent time this morning reviewing the latest Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, fondly referred to as APA. As advised by a writing professor, I have affixed tabs to the portions of the book most commonly used in a nursing program. You can see the colorful result in the photo with this post.

I really love school and am looking forward to the opportunity to take my learning to a new level. I'm already enjoying meeting new people with whom I will be interacting over the next several years. I feel that we all have similar challenges, though I have one that I choose to view as a positive and not a negative. As one classmate said to me when we all parted ways to return home after the residency, "Thanks for being the oldest student in the class!"

You're welcome. :)