Yesterday, I gave my favorite lecture to young nurses who are about eight months into this wild profession. What follows below is a series of posts on Threads that I put up, as I reflected on the lecture. The lecture was on Bereavement and Caregiver Resiliency, because to this day we still have so few … Continue reading Encouraging Healthy Grief over our Patients
self care
Wholehearted Nursing vs Codependency
How do you know if you’ve crossed the line from trying to be wholehearted and deeply empathetic, to being co-dependent? This was a question that came up in a couple of conversations at the recent (and incredible!) End Well conference. I’ve thought about it quite a bit over the years, as there is without doubt … Continue reading Wholehearted Nursing vs Codependency
Brief thoughts on walking with those who grieve and suffer
If someone comes to you carrying 200 pounds and says, "I've been carrying a heavy load for a while and I hurt," don't say, "At least you're not carrying 300 pounds!" or "Look on the bright side!" or "I don't know how you do it." Acknowledge the weight. Help carry some. Facilitate their rest.
Part Three of Three: Go On Living Together
This is the third post in a three-part series I wrote for my church blog about my spiritual wrestlings as I went through my cancer journey. Who knew that this would then be so pertinent in the second half of this year as my husband now recovers from his spinal cord injury. "Life remains beautiful … Continue reading Part Three of Three: Go On Living Together
the liminal space of serious illness with good prognosis
I'm strong and frail Depending on who is asking Who is listening to the text and subtext And who is listening only for what they are listening for . Who catches the hesitations in my sentences The eyes dropped at a certain moment The laughter I offer To ease our tension To assure us we … Continue reading the liminal space of serious illness with good prognosis
Wrestling Hard with Why I Stay
Yesterday, I was in a space with a group of healthcare workers exploring the topic of "Why I Stay." I hoped for some inspiration, some rekindling or stoking of a fire that feels in danger of being extinguished. It was a sobering slap of reality to hear more unexpected silence than active engagement in the … Continue reading Wrestling Hard with Why I Stay
Podcast Episode for Grief is a Sneaky B!tch: Human, Not Superhero
The superhero narrative has been and continues to be prevalent when referring to healthcare workers, and not for terrible reasons per se. Healthcare workers are some of the toughest people I know. I have deep respect for each one of my colleagues, for their fortitude and capacity to bear extraordinary burdens, experiences and responsibilities on … Continue reading Podcast Episode for Grief is a Sneaky B!tch: Human, Not Superhero
Putting a Self-Respecting Foot Down for Rest
It’s been quieter on this space than I’d like it to be, but that’s because it’s been an exceptionally full year of speaking – conferences, webinars and most recently (and *so* enjoyably!), podcasts. After my podcast episode with the lovely Chris and Claire Sandys from The Silent Why on “Loss of Health and Life in … Continue reading Putting a Self-Respecting Foot Down for Rest
Podcast Episode about PICU Nursing with “The Silent Why” is Now Live!
I am overjoyed to finally be able to share this podcast episode with the world. Claire and Chris Sandys reached out to me all the way from England earlier this year to invite me to record a conversation with them, where we go in deep about my work as a pediatric ICU nurse. They are … Continue reading Podcast Episode about PICU Nursing with “The Silent Why” is Now Live!
New Blog Post for AJN: How to Support the Nurse in Your Life, May 2022
Nurses, this latest blog post I wrote for American Journal of Nursing is for sharing with your friends and family, who may be struggling to know how to support you. Of course we don’t expect our friends and family fix all our woes, but here are some tips for them in what - and what not - … Continue reading New Blog Post for AJN: How to Support the Nurse in Your Life, May 2022
The Heart of Nursing 