Another Step Forward

I realized at lunch yesterday that I haven't updated this blog in a while. Why at lunch? Well, my grandmother whom I haven't spent time with in 16 years contacted me and I found out that she reads my blog. Humbling for me. However, since I get to enjoy time with her, I think I am the lucky one. And with that a quick update and the past few months:

1. Got carbon Monoxide poisoning from the apartment I was staying at in Farmington. That was no fun. Luckily I came back to Albuquerque and finished up my clinical with two amazing Nurse Practitioners and a Physicians Assistant, all of whom taught me a great deal.

2. Cuidando Los Ninos is making great changes. Tony Pino is an AMAZING leader. He along with his development team put on a breakfast event that did well in terms of bringing the community together and raising funds for the non-profit.

3. The Youth Creating Change Film and Art Festival was a success! And lots of fun. These students really took on an incredible amount of determination and responsibility to spread the word about childhood homelessness.

4. Got nominated and choose for the top 40 professionals under 40 by New Mexico Business weekly. A Big thank you to my family, friends and  Mountain Man, for being in my life and motivating me. Emily, Erica and Tony thank you for nominating me and writing letters of recommendation on my behalf. The Celebration is June 21st.Check it out here: http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/event/64991

 

5. I GRADUATED! It is official I have a Masters of Science in Nursing and am now a Family Nurse Practitioner. I will be taking my national boards this summer.

6. With my plate less full I have decided to take a wonderful opportunity and become a Board member for American Women Veterans. I have much to learn and much to do but I am motivated and excited for this next stage in life.

and 7...

I met with Secretary of Veteran Affairs, Retired General Shinseki today and discussed veterans education and benefits. More on that later. And with that I hope you enjoy the wacky pictures. More soon. ~m

Sweet Silence on a long drive...

Last Wednesday I packed my truck and made the 3 hour trek to Farmington. I was supposed to go to the main hospital that day to finish some nursing education materials and prepare for my clinical rotation. However, the… let’s say “powers that be” had still not received my electronic finger prints and I was caught in a rock and desert? Mind over matter I thought, the drive up gave me the opportunity to listen to my Family Nurse Practitioner Review CD’s and absorb the beautiful New Mexico scenery.

I arrived in Farmington and met with my land lady. A tall blonde woman who greeted me with pink roses for my small “executive apartment” I rented for the month I am here. I have to say in the world of struggling students this woman is a saint. I emailed several “executive apartment” places here asking for a deal with prices. I explained I was a student and had to go to Bloomfield. I needed a safe place to stay but I was by no means a rich executive. One gave me “one hundred dollars off” for the bargain price of 1800 (I hope you can see the irony here), however my current land lady gave me a safe place to rest my head for 1000. I swear there is a place in heaven for this woman.

A few things I have learned:

1.       1. If your shower is freezing, look at the water heater, it may be left on “vacation” mode. I can’t blame a lady for looking out for the environment.

2.      2.  Let the water run a bit…just in case sediment was built up in the pipes…

3.      3.  Never forget warm slippers and your favorite blanket, they help you feel cozy in a new place a sleep.

4.      4.   Find the gym: Mine is around the corner from my digs. 

5.       5.  all else fails find your coffee shop. I like Starbucks and yes I own stock (I don’t drink coffee but they are supper nice to us tea drinkers too)

6.     6.    Melatonin is still my friend and helps when in a new place and can’t sleep.

The week passed with little help from the powers that be. However I have to say that I did get the opportunity to meet my preceptor and she seems animated, smart and driven. All awesome qualities to have, especially when asked to mentor another nurse. In fact, when I was going through this drama of the non-help from the powers that be, my preceptor was able to make some calls and emails, and guess what? Friday afternoon I was given the thumbs up to go to the hospital and finish paperwork. (Honestly health community, why do we make it so hard?)

My weekend was: books, family, food, skiing, mountain man and laughter, but not always in that order. In the spirit of hope I am looking forward to my next week. I will keep you updated. ;)

Its a Rural World

It’s Monday morning and I am enjoying a cup of tea by my computer as the sunlight hits the window. School has been out over the holiday break, and I enjoyed Christmas at home with my family.  This week we start our “final semester”, which just being able to say is a great feeling.  When I originally took on this endeavor of becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner I was told that going to a rural clinic was mandatory. This did not surprise me, New Mexico is a beautiful state with many hidden treasures but health care is not one of them. I volunteered to go to Bloomfield; my preceptor is a PhD and is highly recommended by her peers so I decided that being in slight control of my fate was better than no control at all.

Bloomfield is a small town outside of Farmington a bigger city in New Mexico, which by some standards is still small. Both Bloomfield and Farmington have primary industries of mining of petroleum, natural gas and coal. Farmington is also known for its baseball tournaments. I don’t know much more about either city accept that when friends ask “where are you going?”. The replies I often get when I tell them include:  “that’s way out there” and “really?”. However, you have to remember that in what I call the “Albuquerque Culture” driving to Rio Rancho is considered far in some of my friend circles.

I spoke briefly with my preceptor on the phone. She gave me a list of hotels and recommended I stay in Farmington and let me know which hotels may or may not have bedbugs. It seems that as far as lodging is concerned my best bets are places that are $90 a night, which obviously won’t happen on my budget. However, one thing I did deduct while talking to my new preceptor is that she is a very busy woman. I hope that transfers to my clinic days and the experiences I will gain while being there.

I decided the best way to approach my final clinic rotation (consisting of 305 hours or 38, 8 hr days) was to jump in the car and do a “recon” of the area. (Don’t judge me but after 13 years Army the least I can do is incorporate the skills they thought me into my civilian life). I invited my man friend (I call him affectionately Mountain Man) and he surprisingly came along for the drive. I grabbed a bag, pen, paper and my trusty ipad and two bottles of water and jumped in the bat-mobile (that’s what I call my little car).  After getting a full tank of gas and some Starbucks I was caffeinated and ready to drive. And drive, and drive and drive.

One thing many people perceive when thinking about long drives through New Mexico is that is desolate. Sad to think anyone would ever use that word when describing my home state, but many think big trees constitute beauty. And I guess it is all in the eye of the beholder. My drive along NM 550 is majestic. It runs through Bernalillo and passes through San Ysidro, and Cuba before Bloomfield. The view is painted with shrub and various sandstone formations in soft hughs that engage your brain.  The drive was about 3 hrs (I was not speeding and made some stops due to my high caffeine intake lol).

When I arrived at the clinic I have to say I was taken aback. The clinic is nice, surrounded by a fence and a very small reservation. The only thing that concerned me was the sign on the gate “The health center is temporarily closed there are no providers”, not sure what to think about that. But to be honest I am nervous.

After driving to the clinic we bypassed Bloomfield and had lunch in Farmington.  We scoped out the various hotels and amenities available.  My concerns are to find a place to stay for a month, not get bed bugs and hopefully have a hot shower and internet? However, I have lived in worse areas and at least I get to work without carrying body armor daily. I am not sure yet what to think about my next challenge but hopefully a month away from Albuquerque will bring some enlightenment and experiences that I can grow from. Soon I will be starting a new career, so this next step is just another leap forward in the process. Funny how our past colors the lenses in which we see the future.

I will write more soon.
~m

NYE Thoughts from my iPad

I forgot that on NYE you were suppose to contemplate the past year and make future plans. I guess I should start with what my goals where last year: Do well in school (done I think with the help of Autum and some awesome preceptors that are helping my future as a Nurse Practitioner), be there for my family; for the family I call my family done as well. I can honestly say that my TRUE Family has tough me many life lessons and given me the opportunity to be a SISTER and Daughter with the true meanings of those words understood and expected. I said I wanted to be involved and join the board for Cuidando Los Ninos, I did that and worked to be on the executive committee, which means a little more responsibility but lots of rewards through mentor-ship. Have an Art Gayla at the film festival to raise money for Cuidando (done with amazing rewards of seeing involved youth increase awareness about the faces of homelessness and receive the wonderful support of my friends. I also decided I would "put myself out there" and start dating again. I completed that and was in the Albuquerque Magazine "Hot Singles" issue. With that hurdle jumped I also started dating an amazing man. What was not on my list, and came as an amazing surprise. These include the new friendships I have made this year. Also my trip to NYC with Beau which gave me the opportunity to meet Stella, Olga and Genevieve from American Women Veterans, you ladies are inspiring. Also important to me are my DIY projects at my home. Thank you dear roof for leaking, and teaching me more about my responsibilities as a homeowner. One thing I also learned is that friendship is a word often thrown around, worked for or even miss-used. We can often say that someone is our friend, but to be a friend you have to be "present" and not in the physical sense but definitely in the emotional sense.  We have the advent of FB that truely makes it appear as though you have hundreds of friends. But I often wonder if I was at the same coffee shop would they say hello? Probably I would, becuase I love saying hello. But like many social outlets (FB), it at times become a tedious chore rather than a true expression of friendships. So at the end of this thought, I would like to say, I have amazing friends whom inspire me in different but amazing ways and many acquainceces who will either stay aquantences or evolve to friends. What are my goals for next year: 1. Graduate with my Master's in Nursieng as a Family Nurse Practitioner. 2. Work more for Cuidando Los Ninos in developing out program, gaining my grants and raise more funds. 3. I can't wait to help more Veterans 4. Work to start a AWV Chapter in NM 5. Start working as a FNP in a great learning environment. 6. Build Assets, and probably the most important one: 7. Continue to love and cherish my Family and Friends. I would like to thank them for their support over my lifetime, appreciate the lessons they teach me and for each of my friends be "present".

Being Present

I have always known that it is important for nurses to be present, or should I say in the present? Life it seems can pass you by and decisions can be made that may not seem to have a huge impact, however like the "butter fly effect" not being present can have unknown consequences and impacts to the health of your society.

As many know, I believe that we are all more than "just a nurse". Our hard work impacts health care and the various jobs that we have chosen to peruse and develop. These accomplishments are just the tip of the ice berg in terms of our success. I love being a nurse and I believe it is that perspective that gives me insight on even the most random of subjects. Take for instance the "employee handbook".

In addition to being a veteran, an ED nurse, a full time graduate student, sister, daughter, girlfriend and friend, I am a board member for a wonderful non-profit that seeks to help children and their families that are experiencing homelessness. Check out: Cuidando Los Niños if you want more information: http://clnkids.org/

I usually work on advocacy and out-reach, and serve as a "connector" (read http://www.gladwell.com/tippingpoint/tp_excerpt2.html ). I give the elevator speech and work to get donations, sponsors and anything else I can for Cuidando, but in addition to being aboard me member I serve on the Executive Committee. Our task from the interim Executive Director was to review the employee handbook.  So in-between triage classes, an advanced EKG workshop and case studies I sat pen in hand and poured over the handbook. 

I have yet to write an employee handbook, however I am skilled in "the joint commission" , "OSHA", "preventive medicine” as well as "infection control" "Evacuation plans and Fire Drills" (thank you OIF and OEF).

As I started to pour over each section I found myself actually having input on several areas: credentialing, performance evaluations, reimbursements, holiday schedules, PTO, leaves of absence, property books, dress codes, attendance and illness. Not too bad, if I do say so myself.

I also took the liberty to change some verbiage from physician to provider. Yes it may seem small in terms of grammatical ways, however it terms of the education I am about to complete (at least at my Master’s Level)and  it is important to me that an employee be able to see a mid-level provider (NP or PA) in addition to a physician.  

I clarified the emergency evacuation program, and to tip the entire butterfly effect off I asked for specific verbiage regarding employee health and vaccinations. Warning to all you who do not believe in vaccines I do (.) If we can prevent out breaks of pertussis and the flu (to name only a few) and save lives as well as prevent costly hospital stays, especially for children and infants (who when sick are not only high risk but incur potentially worse outcomes and health discrepancies) then not only will I take the Flu shot that I don’t like, but I will ensure my immunizations are up to date as well. (Wow that was a long run-on sentence…I will step off the box now…)

The thing is, in retrospect none of these items are huge by any means, however being present at the meeting, having that knowledge and insight is what is important. So to all my friends who are amazing nurses and think they are “just” anything, remember you  ARE Nurses and that is why they should always be present.

Windows

Windows can be the openings to your soul, or even just the space in which to let light reflect upon your heart. As of late I have traveled to various missions and Native American sites around New Mexico and Colorado and my mind has started to ponder. I spent my time enjoying some inner peace and reflecting upon the past. It made me think that all around us in life there are windows of opportunities.

I can remember as a little girl looking out the window of out small trailer and thinking of all the things I wanted to accomplish. The window served to inspire my dreams. I never had small dreams, or unattainable goals. In my dreams I wanted to help others, serve as a mentor and leader and ultimately one day move to a place where I could enjoy the calm breeze from the mountains. My window served as my inspiration, my dream builder, and my launching point for life.

A few weeks ago when I traveled to the Abo missions at the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, I glimpsed at windows that over-looked tumbling hills. I sat and wondered if others used this window to look out and day dream. If I were at a mission as a Native American in 1629, what would I dream of? The sun good, the mother of life, of wild flowers and tumbling rain showers, possibly yes, but probably more.

The invention of windows can be linked to as early as the 13^th century and in various languages the word “window” has been described as the “wind eye”. I think that they were invented to open your inner soul, to allow for daydreams and to shed light on our hearts.

-m

The fear of suffering is worst than suffering itself (The Alchemist) Funny, but we fear many things in life. But, when we take action that fear can inspire us to do more. ♥

Sometimes you just need that solitary day to yourself for some inner reflection. Lately my plate has been so full that I have feared not accomplishing anything. But fear can be a funny thing. It can take hold of us and stop us from moving forward, or it can cause us to push farther and make plans for our next opportunities in life.

Last week was “The Faces of Homelessness” Donor Breakfast benefiting Cuidando Los Niños. I was anxious to make my guests feel comfortable and welcome, even fielding last minute invites form guests. I planned their seating arrangements and spent a few sleepless nights anxiously awaiting the breakfast event. Waking up early the morning of the event, I was ready and out the door eager to make sure everything was perfect. Fear of course stood next to me, waiting for me to get anxious and slip in with waited opportunity. I arrived, got the best gift ever (my name tag!) and found out that my planning was slightly lost as my seating arrangements were not perfect. I had a moment of impatient frustration: why not how I planned it? It took me only a moment to see that others had worked so hard, my need to perfection was seriously silly. I kicked fear in the shin and as it walked away from me I figured out that no matter what happened that morning, everything would work out.

The breakfast was wonderful, we had a articulate speaker Diana Sauceda and she kicked off our morning with style and grace. We heard life stories from two of our mothers, and an amazing video presentation about our children and families who work towards changing their homeless experience. My mom came and was able to see the organization I donate so much of my time for.  My friends all came to support Cuidando and that made me feel so proud of them. I didn’t see fear at the breakfast table; he must have decided to walk away.

I still have too many things on my plate. I do fear not getting everything accomplished: school work and case studies, clinical hours, and a very important Youth Creating Change Film Festival June 25^th, and of course some family events. I heard fear ringing my doorstep just now, ready to come hang out again, but I think I will use this time wisely and catch up on some projects to that I can hang out with my new friend: Wisdom 

Remember we are all more than JUST a nurse.