Rejection, in any form, can break your heart. Whether it is done in a kind and sensitive way, that is intended to deflect blame, or in a way that seems to be dismissive, and only serves to patronize, or diminish one’s feelings…hurts. like. hell.
After so many years of hiding behind a protective wall, peeking out from the light-filtering curtains now and then, and testing the waters by dipping your toes in, to see if the temperature feels “comfortable”, gives a false sense of bravery… and then you take a deep breath and decide to “go for it”… only to be shut down, without a second thought. Oh yeah, that feels familiar, and you remember why you built up that wall in the first place…and you cry yourself to sleep, admonishing your actions, and promising to do better, be better, look better. Yeah, that sucks.
I’ve written about being vulnerable before, and putting yourself “out there” by feeling strong, and finding courage in a universe that is disguised as “fate”, but that is really hard to do. I can’t fathom having to do this all over again. I’m not as strong as I used to be… nor am I as weak as I have been. I have no one else to blame but myself, really. Making choices based on what feels “right” or “right at the time” has always been my own “Mt. Everest” that has yet to be conquered.
I know what I don’t want… and what I want has been oh, so elusive. At some point, I have to wonder if I should even try… I mean, the odds are against me, especially at my age. There is something comfortable in being alone… there is no heartache without some kind of rejection. It only hurts when you try, and fail.
Nurses fix things, don’t they? They are the constant during the worst times, who use everything that they have in their “comfort care” fanny pack to lessen the pain and make the hard things… bearable. But what if the pain is in their own heart and mind? Who fixes that? Asking for a friend…
Life is funny, isn’t it? I don’t mean “funny haha”, I mean that life is a self-propelled roller-coaster ride of both joy and sorrow. All of us have unique burdens and “stuff” that we carry, but everyone experiences both joy and sorrow throughout their lives. How we manage these experiences can define our existence, and help us choose our next path (for better or worse).
Joy and sorrow are proof of life. We tend to obsess over past mistakes with that gut-wrenching emotion called regret, or we worry so much about the future (what we want/don’t want to happen, as if we had complete control over that! Ha!), that we forget to stay present in the moment, and enjoy the little things that are happening right before our eyes. Or maybe that’s just me? Either way, I subscribe to the belief that “without pain, there can be no pleasure; without sadness, there can be no happiness; without these, life is endless, hopeless, doomed, and damned” (Ellison, 1999).
If you follow me on social media, you know that our current state of affairs is far from funny. Our political climate is basically a ticking time-bomb, and the tilted Supreme Court proved that they want to combine church and state, travel back in time, and challenge basic human rights that have been in effect for years. Women’s rights, in particular, are being targeted by some backward States, including the right to choose, right to contraception, and privacy; other “rights”, such as gay and interracial marriage, may be on the docket next. Don’t even get me started on the corrupt dynamic duo of Clarence and Ginni Thomas, who actively tried to overturn American democracy … but that’s another post for another day!
In nursing, we (intentionally or unintentionally) practice a therapeutic technique that incites laughter at the craziest things, which are usually quite serious, but occasionally, are seriously hilarious. Rationale being, it is better to laugh, than to cry. “Life has sadness and tragedy in abundance, but at the same time, it is pretty funny … humor can bring joy and reduce suffering” (Brooks, 2021). According to Sabato (2019), the use of levity can come from having a degree of distance from the immediate situation. I think this is something that healthcare providers aim to achieve when they are caring for their patients, especially during emergent medical situations. We have to be somewhat detached so that we can focus on the task at hand.
Sabato (2019) states that humor is tragedy plus time, and when we recollect serious misfortunes we have experienced, we can find some parts become more amusing as time passes. I believe this to be true. I have reflected on some painful memories in my life, and looking back, when I recount one of those stories, I am now able to make a joke about how great I am at making major life decisions (usually my pathetically endearing attempt at sarcasm and self-depreciation).
I started this blog 5 years ago (August 17, 2017 to be exact), because I had just taken a leave of absence from my job in NYC to help care for my Dad, who was transitioned by his Oncologist into Hospice care. It was a way for me to process my feelings of sadness, and very soon after, (August 26, 2017), grief. My joy and sorrow are experienced almost simultaneously because my Dad always kept his sense of humor, even as he experienced pain and a dismal fate. He made jokes about his plot in the cemetery being so close to the road so that when I visited him, I could just wave and not have to get out of the car. When asked how he was doing/feeling, he would immediately respond “fine and dandy”, or that he’s “still alive”. I know he did this not just for my benefit, but because he was still processing his own end of life. Brooks (2021) writes that “humor has an almost anesthetic quality to it, lowering the focus on pain, and allowing us to remember the joys in life”.
Life is funny, isn’t it? My advice is to always look up.
Some days are just too damn hard. It always makes me question “how the hell did I get myself into this mess… I should know how to avoid conflict by now”. I really do try to not take these things personally. I understand that it’s not about me … it’s usually about things that are way beyond my control… and isn’t “control”, or loss of it, the problem? Loss of control makes people angry… sometimes really angry… and (some) people can lash out against whomever they see standing in their way of what they want, or need. I know this to be true, but it still sucks to be at the receiving end of misplaced anger and aggression. In a world where many of us are trying to lay low, and avoid people who could potentially “turn” dangerous, it’s important to know when to ask for help from our employers to support us, and ensure that we are not being mistreated by those whom we are (only) trying to help.
It is so hard to work in healthcare, especially now during the extended period of Covid and its multiple variants. Most of us are working short-staffed, and many nurses are quitting the profession entirely. I know nurses who read my blog are all too familiar with the struggle, but for those who need to hear this… you can’t control what people say, do, think, or believe, you can only control how you respond to it. That’s it. So while I try to “shake it off” so I don’t lose sleep over what I should have said… I will know in my heart that I am not the only one having a bad day too.
I’ve spent a lot of time feeling (very) comfortable in my role as a clinical Nurse/Supervisor for more than 30 years. I got to the point in my career where it felt like “home”, walking through the hospital, with cardiac monitors alarming and call bells ringing, and the hustle and bustle of nurses and clinical staff running into patient rooms responding to help. It’s a well-earned level of expertise that gives one a feeling of confidence that strengthens your spirit, and puts you in a state of catlike readiness to handle the unexpected crisis’ that occur when you least expect it. It’s what I know, and what I love; it’s my life… well, it was my life.
But now everything has changed, and I can’t remember when I’ve ever felt this stressed-out. Between a recent surgery, selling my house in the state where I was born and raised, building a new house in a different state, and changing jobs, sometimes I don’t know where to start on my colossal list of “things-to-do”. It’s overwhelming, and I just want to press “pause” on this big, blue marble called Earth, and basically just take a long nap. My confidence level at work is at an all-time low. My new job is so different from what I have known, it challenges me in ways that I never anticipated. Being challenged is not a bad thing, but it makes me feel very uncomfortable being so inexperienced, and dare I say, “stupid”? It’s a feeling of complete vulnerability, which is the absolute worst, at least it is for me.
We all make life and career choices every day; for better or worse, and sometimes, with just a leap of faith that it’s the right thing to do. What we don’t see when we are making these difficult choices, is the future outcome. I guess that’s what is so exciting. It’s a new beginning, and sometimes the hardest things in life turn out to be the most rewarding.
I left a really great job yesterday, where I worked with really great people… extraordinary, really. We all work really hard, with our own unique contributions (big and small), to get “our kids” strong(er)… to heal all that can be healed, to the best of our ability… and hopefully, we get to send them home to their grateful families, to carry on with their lives, and experience the gift of growing up. I will miss this special place, and all whom I was lucky enough to meet along the way. I gained so much from you Children’s Specialized Hospital, but best of all, I gained many cherished friends.
Friends make everything better… even when you’re working short-staffed, and have really bad days! I’ve worked with my great friend, Nicole, for over 21 years… we’ve seen it all, and have countless stories to tell about each other… and everyone else! She has been my one constant in every job since the year 2000. She made me a better nurse, and a better person. No matter what, she always sees the silver lining, and works tirelessly to lead by example. I will miss her the most.
It’s so hard to say good-bye. I am terrible at it. I am a cryer, so there is always an abundance of tears, and a red, runny nose, that requires fist-fulls of tissues to soak up the mess. How lucky am I that I got to work with such wonderful people, that it hurts so much to say good-bye to them?
Thank you to my friends at CSH for the beautiful flowers, balloons, and card. I love them… you are all very special to me.
On Monday, I will start a new job, with an old friend (Hi Aileen!), and I will be able to use everything that I’ve learned, in my 30+ years of nursing, to be able to advocate for the underserved, and medically-fragile, pediatric population in my (new) county, in my (new) state, of Delaware. I have spent my entire career committed to caring for children, and this new role that I have accepted will help me to take my expertise one step further, and meet the families where they live, to better assist them in getting the medical help that they need to live a healthy life, and hopefully overcome some obstacles that they may have.
Wish me luck!
“It’s so Hard to Say Good-bye to Yesterday” (Boyz II Men)
… How do I say goodbye to what we had? The good times that made us laugh Outweigh the bad… I thought we’d get to see forever But forever’s gone away It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday… I don’t know where this road Is going to lead All I know is where we’ve been And what we’ve been through… And if we get to see tomorrow I hope it’s worth all the wait It’s hard to say goodbye to yesterday… And I’ll take with me the memories To be my sunshine after the rain It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday… And I’ll take with me the memories To be my sunshine after the rain It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday
Life is hard; sometimes it can become very overwhelming, and can lead one to a feeling of indifference towards others. We focus so much on our own “stuff”, that we can’t see past it, to recognize when others may be struggling as well. Even those closest to us may not know the many burdens that we carry, because we hide it well, and often suffer in silence.
This past year in particular, was relentless with tremendous loss, isolation, fear, and anxiety. It was the “perfect storm” for those who usually seek relief from stress by socializing with friends and family. Many of us lost that. I lost that.
We lost hugs. I am a “hugger” and I really missed hugging my friends! We even lost our smiles; they had to be hidden by a facemask at all times to protect us from a deadly virus. But smiles are so important to connect with others! We had to rely on our eyes to communicate our feelings, and that is not always easy to do. And we made mad dashes to the grocery store, dripping in hand sanitizer, hoping that no one around us dare clear their throat with a cough. (God forbid)!
But this is where I start bragging about Nurses. It’s Nurse’s Week, and this year we all deserve a damn vacation! We went to work every day to take care of our patients, just like always, as if there wasn’t a global pandemic that kept many others home from work or school. Our “business” never closed its doors.
According to Psychology Today (2021), altruism is helping others at some cost to ourselves. It is showing empathy, and purposefully acting in a selfless way to help others. Nurses are the definition of altruistic! During this pandemic, nurses gowned up Every. Single. Day. They wore restrictive and uncomfortable PPE for 13+ hours until their faces were bruised. They washed their hands and uniforms as if hoping they could be sterilized, so as not to pass the virus onto ourselves, or others. Nurses kicked ass this past year, but there was a high cost to be paid. Too many lost their lives in this battle, and on this week of celebrating nurses, please take a moment to remember them, and their families, in our prayers. They were brave and kind and altruistic… and they paid the ultimate sacrifice in this Covid war.
Please take care of yourselves this week, you deserve it! Thank you for your kindness, love, and friendship; thank you for being you!
Today is my Birthday! (yay!) It’s not exactly a big milestone, more like a half of one, but the number does frighten me a bit. Honestly, I should get a “do-over” because 2020 was such a dud.
As I reflect on these fifty-five years (holy crap-oly!) that God has given to me, I see an abundant view that is a privilege denied to many. I have much to be grateful for, and I try to remember that, even through the bad days.
Life, in general, can be complicated… it’s a day-to-day rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, until it’s over… which is something that I’ve actually been thinking about a lot lately; maybe it’s my age, or this past year of such devastating loss due to Covid… and the isolation, of course. The isolation has been really hard. Fortunately, I’ve had so many wonderful friends in my work “pod”, at least that part of my life hasn’t been lonely. Nurses are essential after all, not to mention, “superheroes”!
But I’ve gotten stronger and bolder as I’ve aged; I think that’s how it’s supposed to be. You become less worried about what others think (of you), and focus more on the important things, like being true to oneself.
I (almost) always say what goes through this busy mind, for better or for worse. That’s why I write in this blog; it may seem silly to some, but it helps me to just sit still and thoughtfully think about what I want to say. It can be very scary to open up and share yourself with others, mostly because people can be so judgmental, but experience has given me confidence, and a feeling of self-worth and courage, that I didn’t have when I was younger.
Thank you for letting me into your lives, listening to me, showing me love and kindness, and laughing with me, and not at me.
Today is my birthday! I will celebrate life, and all that it has given to me, as I imperfectly live it, one day at a time.
If you want to find out what motivates nurses to do what they do every single day, ask them about some of the patients who made a difference in their lives…the stories that they tell will move you; they will make you laugh and cry, and they just may help you to understand the power of purposeful service to others. Every now and then, completely out of the blue, I am given a gentle reminder of the unexpected gifts that this amazing profession has given to me. Yesterday, while I was cleaning out my glass cabinet looking for my red Christmas wine glass that reads “He sees you when you’re drinking”, I came across my rather impressive collection of shot glasses, and I found myself thinking about a patient whom I had the privilege of caring for several years ago. Let me explain…
This young man was diagnosed with Acute Myelocytic Leukemia (AML) in his late teens; he had spent several years in and out of the hospital for chemotherapy treatments and subsequent admissions for fever/neutropenia, blood products, etc. He had been doing well; he was working hard and attending college on a full scholarship when he found out that his cancer had relapsed and he was going to need a bone marrow transplant (BMT). He stayed strong and optimistic; he had big goals and cancer wasn’t going to get in his way. He was turning 21 just before his scheduled BMT and he had plans to take a trip to Las Vegas with his friends because that was how he wanted to spend his birthday “sipping Patrón tequila and partying”. He knew that each birthday was a gift, but “21” was a milestone that he wanted to experience the most; he wanted to be like every other 21-year-old who got drunk on his birthday as a “right of passage”. This was amusing to all who knew him because this young man was the very last person you could imagine drinking tequila in Vegas! Unfortunately, due to an infection, he ended up having to spend his 21st birthday in the hospital (in the very un-exciting state of NJ). Yes, he was disappointed, but he rolled with the punches that kept coming his way (as always).
I was working nights at the time, and at the stroke of midnight, on his 21st birthday, all available staff on duty that we could muster up for a few minutes, entered his room singing “Happy Birthday to you…”; we all had shot glasses (aka 30 ml clear plastic medicine cups) of apple juice in hand to toast the now “legal” birthday boy. I had a “real” shot glass from my one and only trip to Las Vegas and presented it to him for his “shot” of AJ, which he happily kept as a souvenir. As corny as this little make-shift party was, he loved it, and he talked about his plans for next year to (really) celebrate…I am certain that he never doubted for a minute that he would get to Vegas one day.
I would try to visit with him regularly to check-in and see how he was doing, and each time that I was there, he talked about his “Vegas” birthday party and smile. I didn’t fully comprehend until then how much this small gesture meant to him and that he would always carry that memory with him. Sadly, that would be his last birthday; he had fought so hard, and he never gave up. He taught me about courage and resilience, and accepting defeat gracefully. At his wake, his sister thanked me for taking the time to help him celebrate his last birthday. It meant the world to me that I could make a difference… showing someone just one small act of kindness could be that one thing that they need to get through a difficult time.
I cleaned out one of my glasses and drank a shot of apple juice in your memory today. Cheers my friend!
“When you are a nurse, you know that everyday you will touch a life, or a life will touch yours.” – anonymous
I was at the receiving end of a comment recently, which was clearly intended to belittle, from an unlikely source… a parent of a sick child in the hospital… the remark was this “Who are you… you’re not important, you’re here working on a holiday”. In my nearly 30-year career, I can honestly say, that was a first. The world of healthcare is not a 9a-5p, Monday-Friday job… hospitals do not close down for summer vacation, snow storms, weekends, or holidays… they are always “open for business”. Nursing is a 24/7/365 job. In fact, during any type of disaster, emergency, or significant weather condition, nurses are considered “essential personnel” and are (strongly) advised to report for duty. While most others are warned to “stay off the roads” during a State of Emergency, we pack overnight bags in anticipation… and when the time comes, we search for an open stretcher in a quiet corner and (try to) sleep so we can work the next day in case others cannot make it in for their shift.
Nursing is a profession of dedicated service to the community in which it serves, just like police officers, EMTs, and firemen/women; and it’s not just nurses that keep a hospital running smoothly… it’s also the Doctors and Advanced Practice Nurses, Patient Care Techs, Respiratory Therapists, Security, Housekeeping, Food & Nutrition, etc. We all know the expectations going into our roles. I have worked many, many holidays in my long career…and yes, I still do. I worked on Christmas Day last year, and I will most likely need to do it again this year. I accept it, and I am grateful that I have a job that I love, with people that I have grown to love. We all have families that we would like to celebrate the holidays with… but if we can’t, we make the best of it; we post a sign in the staff lounge for a pot luck feast, and we all contribute to the festivities… we find ways to laugh through it, and we reschedule the time that we can spend with our own family so that we can take care of yours. Working on a holiday is not a measure of importance or title… it is just something that we know we must do to care for those who need us.
I wish that I was able to say what I was thinking to this parent, but I bit my tongue; I am in a position that requires me to de-escalate situations, rather than speak my mind. But I do wish that I would have pointed out that those he attempted to minimize (it was not just me), were there (on a holiday) taking care of his child… and that is not unimportant to us, and it shouldn’t be to him either.
I originally wrote this post about suicide two years ago after several incidents of “jumpers” from a nearby parking garage occurred within a short time frame, and I couldn’t get past the sadness and horror as I walked past it everyday. It touched me deeply, and I didn’t even know them… but I knew of them, and seemed connected to them in some way. Each time it happened, it seemed like a dark secret no one would talk about. There was minimal information in the newspaper, and I had so many unanswered questions. There is a stigma that comes with mental illness that many do not feel comfortable talking about. So we don’t.
Now, I’m going to open up and get very honest and personal. My cousin committed suicide when I was young… it was something that wasn’t talked about in my family, and I am still not certain of the specifics and I wish I knew more. A dear friend’s son committed suicide last year… it has been absolutely devastating for her, her family, and Alex’s friends (my daughter was one of his friends). They will always mourn his loss… he was gifted, and kind, and successful, yet he couldn’t ask for help to get out of the darkness.
Something happened recently that shook me to my core; my daughter attempted suicide. She became so overwhelmed with her work in the news industry, with this relentless cycle of negativity and civil injustice, that she quite literally “broke”. Her compassionate heart could not continue to write (and re-write, and re-re-write) about the horrific acts of violence and sadness in the world…. that, and the tragic loss of life with the global pandemic, and the isolation of being in quarantine, was too much for her to bear, and she lost something that keeps most of us moving forward… hope. My own beautiful daughter became so depressed that she didn’t want to live another day. That shocking realization is something that I was not prepared for… not my sassy, funny, bright, strong, successful daughter…. that can’t be… under my own eyes, in my own house. How did I miss this? I felt like I had failed her. In hindsight I did see some subtle changes, but she was good at pretending she was ok… she stopped working-out with her virtual trainer because it was so hot outside. She stayed in her pajamas all day because didn’t everyone who worked from home do that? She wasn’t sleeping because she was working so hard writing for the news show that she produced. And me…. I am a Nurse, so I went to work like I always did, even under the stress of Covid… I came home late, sore, and tired… and I missed it. But thank God, I was able to stop her in time… and I got her help. Yes, we have guardian angels among us.
We have all felt sad, disappointed, and alone at one time or another in our lives. Those of us who have struggled with depression, or other high risk factors such as loss, low self-esteem, rejection, or stress, have experienced varying degrees of darkness and despair; it’s not a fun place to be, and not everyone makes it out alive. Some have been in such a low place that they feel their only solution to overcome this immense pain and suffering is through one final extreme act of choosing death over an unbearable life. We all have our own inner demons that come out when we are at our most vulnerable.
Depression is an illness that often can be mistakenly viewed as a sign of weakness, or an inability to cope with everyday life. This is just not true. The American Psychiatric Association (2018) defines depression as a medical illness that affects how one feels, thinks, and acts; it can lead to thoughts of suicide if left untreated with the right mix of therapy and medication.
Suicide has been described as death from despair. According to the Center for Disease Control (2018), suicide rates in the U.S. have increased 25% in the past two decades and are increasing among adults aged 45-64. Among those aged 15-34, suicide is the second-leading cause of death. These are scary statistics…especially when they hit so close to home. Those of us in healthcare have seen the outcomes of an attempted suicide. My first experience as a young PICU nurse caring for a teenage girl who attempted suicide by hanging was extremely difficult; there was no happy ending or miraculous recovery for this young, troubled girl. This story was tragic, and yet it happens everyday. She had gone through a bad break-up with her boyfriend, and the pain and rejection led her to self-mutilation, which didn’t dull the pain deep inside of her, so she hung herself. Her sister found her, and called 911. She was brought back to a life of vegetation. She wore a haunted look of pure rage, which seemed to be her only facial expression when “awake”. She had just enough brain activity to continue medical interventions. I still think about her from time-to-time and I wonder if she ever found the peace that she was looking for so long ago. I truly hope so.
What can we do to prevent our loved ones from choosing this ultimate act of despair? First, we need to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression and not be afraid to ask if they need help or want to talk….or even if they have ever thought about hurting/killing themselves. We need to support better medical coverage for mental health and pre-existing conditions; we need to prevent those who have mental health conditions from being able to legally purchase a firearm; and last, and most important, we need to support them and not judge them. “There but for the grace of God, go I”. Timing is everything, and if the pain and despair are recognized early enough, perhaps a life can be saved.
Linkin Park wrote a beautiful song about suicide called One More Light (2017). The irony that one of the writers, Chester Bennington, committed suicide a year later, speaks to his state of mind and intimate understanding of the effects of suicide for the ones who are left behind to try to heal from this great loss.
Video:
One More Light (lyrics)
Should’ve stayed, were there signs, I ignored?
Can I help you, not to hurt, anymore?
We saw brilliance, when the world, was asleep
There are things that we can have, but can’t keep
If they say
Who cares if one more light goes out?
In a sky of a million stars
It flickers, flickers
Who cares when someone’s time runs out?
If a moment is all we are
We’re quicker, quicker
Who cares if one more light goes out?
Well I do
The reminders pull the floor from your feet
In the kitchen, one more chair than you need oh
And you’re angry, and you should be, it’s not fair
Just ’cause you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it, isn’t there
If they say
Who cares if one more light goes out?
In a sky of a million stars
It flickers, flickers
Who cares when someone’s time runs out?
If a moment is all we are
We’re quicker, quicker
Who cares if one more light goes out?
Well I do
Who cares if one more light goes out?
In a sky of a million stars
It flickers, flickers
Who cares when someone’s time runs out?
If a moment is all we are
We’re quicker, quicker
Who cares if one more light goes out?
Well I do
Well I do
Linkin Park (2017)
Songwriters: Brad Delson / Chester Charles Bennington / Dave Farrell / Francis White / Joseph Hahn / Mike Shinoda / Robert G. Bourdon
Nurse's Notes 