Some healthy perspective for a Friday afternoon: Truth: What I do at work holds great responsibility and implications for others’ lives. Lie: I am responsible for everyone I could possibly be responsible for, and should feel guilty if I take time off, don’t pick up an extra shift, or need to request a lighter assignment … Continue reading Truths and Lies in Nursing
self care
Finding Effective Means of Rest as a Nurse and Mother
Ever since I had my first of two children almost nine years ago, I switched from full-time (three 12-hour shifts per week) to part-time (two 12-hour shifts per week). With my husband working four 10-hour days per week, this arrangement has allowed our family the incredible privilege of not needing childcare outside of the family. … Continue reading Finding Effective Means of Rest as a Nurse and Mother
A PICU Nurse’s Gratitude for Frontline School Nurses
I’ve been a PICU nurse for just over 11 years and I became a mom three years into my nursing career. Now a mom of two elementary-aged girls, I went part-time as a nurse after my first child was born and have been fortunate enough to maintain a fixed work schedule since then, thanks to … Continue reading A PICU Nurse’s Gratitude for Frontline School Nurses
Shamelessly Acknowledging Our Weight Limit as Healthcare Workers
We’ve spent some time thinking through what it can look like to hold space for rhythms of professional grief. While my specific rhythms will certainly be different than yours, I hope you’ve been encouraged to consider the validity of your professional grief and that you’ve taken time to consider where and how it shows up … Continue reading Shamelessly Acknowledging Our Weight Limit as Healthcare Workers
Holding Space for Rhythms of Professional Grief: Part 2 of 2
In my last blog post, I shared my short-term response to the common questions I get as a pediatric ICU nurse, “How do you deal with all the sad things you encounter at work? How do you separate your personal life from your work life? How do you stay in that environment and not completely … Continue reading Holding Space for Rhythms of Professional Grief: Part 2 of 2
Holding Space for Rhythms of Professional Grief: Part 1 of 2
From time to time, people will ask me how I deal with the saddest, hardest patient cases I encounter as a pediatric ICU nurse. Related questions also take the form of, “How do you separate your personal life from your work life?” or “How do you keep working in an environment with so much suffering … Continue reading Holding Space for Rhythms of Professional Grief: Part 1 of 2
NPR TED Radio Hour Podcast Episode
My NPR TED Radio Hour podcast episode has dropped! In this podcast, Manoush explores a few TEDTalks connected to the topic of Heartache. Starting at 27:00, my interview with her explores some of my bittersweet experiences as a nurse and the hard-wrought lessons grief has brought about over the years in this profession. I can … Continue reading NPR TED Radio Hour Podcast Episode
Happify Caregiving Webinar Available for Viewing
My webinar for Happify on “How to Care for Yourself as a Caregiver” is now available for free viewing anytime. Caregivers do such incredible but hidden, lonely, undervalued work. It was a true privilege to provide this space to spotlight how invaluable they are and validate the many burdens and needs. Please share this with … Continue reading Happify Caregiving Webinar Available for Viewing
Columbia University Narrative Medicine Volvox Presentation
Please join me, the editors of "The Healer's Burden: Stories and Poems of Professional Grief," and two other contributors to the book, Lara Ronan and Rondalyn Varney Whitney, for a virtual panel discussion in the upcoming Columbia University Narrative Medicine Volvox Presentation on Wednesday, October 28th, 2020, from 7-9 pm EST / 5-7 pm PST. … Continue reading Columbia University Narrative Medicine Volvox Presentation
When an Over-responsible Caregiver Learns a Life Lesson from a 5 Year Old
I have in recent weeks come up against my limits at times of what I can give to others and accomplish in the course of a day, and it hasn’t always been a graceful acceptance of those limits. I have instead resented them, and then learned the harder way to heed them and their inherent … Continue reading When an Over-responsible Caregiver Learns a Life Lesson from a 5 Year Old
The Heart of Nursing 