Tag: nursing

  • Time flies when you’re having fun

    Time flies when you’re having fun

    Do y’all believe it’s June already?!? The kids are out of school, probably already eating everything in sight and driving up light bills. June 1st was the official start of hurricane season. Temps are already blazing on the gulf coast; Only Lord knows how this is about to play out. I can’t believe it’s almost summer. As far as I’m concerned, we’re a wink from the 4th of July.

    This past weekend I was in San Antonio for the Texas Nurses Association conference. May I just share, there is a caliber of nurses whose calling is simply to inspire other nurses (thank you Rebecca Love and Kellie Bryant). Nurses in general, especially those at the bedside, typically focus on the art of nursing. There is so much more to our profession that makes it complex; For starters, being a huge entity of what sometimes feel like a circus in our healthcare landscape. The challenge is to bring more nursing voices to the places that are not the bedside but ultimately affect what happens at the bedside. This means getting more of us involved in policy (at all levels), in civic/non-profit boards, and becoming elected officials.

    There is also inspiration that comes from non-nurses at these conferences (Sarah DiGregorio). These are probably my most favorite speakers, because they remind me of how the depth of nursing is embedded in everyday life. Every single person will ALWAYS encounter a nurse for multiple occasions throughout their lifetime. I believe I previously shared that there is something I have simmering on a back burner. Sometimes it is difficult to know what we should or should not pursue. In this season of my life, I am being very intentional about asking God to order my steps and send me confirmation if I am moving in the right direction. I received that confirmation during the conference [more than once]. I am learning to trust the journey to the destination. Many times the Lord will show us the destination, keeping the intricate details to Himself. The journey, which can sometimes be treacherous, prepares us for the destination, and if we know the details of the journey, we may possibly opt-out [as God gives us free will]. This will only result in delaying or missing out on our blessing. Are you on a journey requiring you to exercise your faith muscle?

    Stop trying to control the process.

    Submit yourself to the Lord.

    Watch Him bring it all together.

    And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

  • Racism in nursing

    Racism in nursing

    Twice in the past 7 days, the nursing profession has made headlines. The first was regarding a nursing student at Indiana State University. She posted a video to give her opinion surrounding the Beyoncé country music controversy. Click here to see the response from the American Nurses Association.

    I’m sorry, but if you’re Black, you’re not country,” the woman says in the video. “I don’t care. And I meant that in the nicest way. I know you were raised in the country or your grandparents were, I guess — your great granny and grandpas — but they was picking. OK? They wasn’t planting. Just keep that in mind. They wasn’t making money. They was getting sold for money. You ain’t country.”

    The second, was the story of a nursing leader being fired from Emory University Hospital after advocating on behalf of the staff after they expressed long standing acts of prejudice against black nurses.

    I have never and will never understand the point of racism. I’m befuddled as to what people feel they gain from operating in that manner. It is truly a toxic complex. From a professional standpoint, the presence of these mindsets in the healthcare space are directly responsible for many of the health disparities that are present in the United States. Imagine that…people stay sick or die because we cannot show one another human decency. I just find it tragic.

    “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.” – Romans 13:8 NASB 2020

    “But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment.” – Matthew 12:36 NASB 2020