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Regardless of the “sense and non-sense” and endless interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s writings, I have always enjoyed a certain segment of the poem The Walrus and the Carpenter which is tucked away somewhere in the adventures of Alice Through The Looking Glass. The poem has been around since the 1870’s and I learned it from my grandmother and passed it on to my children. My grandchildren will not be spared. I have not done any great in-depth analysis of the poem, as many have, but often repeat these lines:
   The time has come, the Walrus said,
   To talk of many things:
   Of shoes..and ships..and sealing wax..
   Of cabbages and kings..
   And why the sea is boiling hot
   And whether pigs have wings.

We could have a great talk about sealing-wax. In my mind, I would love to see it make a comeback. However, the time has come to talk of many other things:
   Of early mornings that become endless days..
   Hallways that are racetracks..
   Opportunities, timing, choices.
   Bundles and sets
   Of Policies, Protocols, Politics & Patient Care
   Fear of falling; Fear of not falling; Fear of Failing; Fear of Succeeding; Fear of You
   Anagrams: ITYK
   Input, output, opinions, ideas, place
   Of crossroads, decisions, direction, self-evaluation
Oh, we could talk of many things! But, someone has to listen! Is that me or you?

And, we could talk of life. Of times when roads diverge and we are compelled to stop
and carefully analyze the complex maze of direction choices on the map before us. And, we could talk about what Alice really saw in the Looking Glass! Well, this is what I see: the cheese is moving, pigs are flying, the oysters are dead and after 17 years on 4-medicine, I’m moving to the Mother Ship. Why? Because the Walrus said, “The time has come”!

What is in your Looking Glass?

Sherry

Sherry Holden, BSN, RN
Associate Partner, 4South, IU Hospital

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Career Job Search.
 

Like most of you, I have been watching the Olympics. Every venue has its awe - except Curling. I don’t seem as thrilled about a broom and a stone as I do watching Shaun White fly out of the half pipe! I suppose the badgers and the Canadians would disagree. I imagine that is part of the lure of the Games - we all have our preferences. One thing I am acutely aware of is the training and commitment required of each of these athletes. It is truly amazing. I heard the interview with Apolo Anton Ohno regarding his regime and agreed with Brian Williams’ over-all assessment when he said, “These people have DNA that the rest of us do not have”! Apolo not only talked about his preparation but he talked about his goals. He has daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals that culminate with the ultimate prize that happens every four years.

I’ve been thinking about goals. Without them, it seems life just happens. In reality, perhaps I could be a curler in the next Olympics - if I start soon. Or, maybe, I could just get my life in order and have a goal for the day! Clarian has been presenting Forums this month about our accomplishments and goals on the road to preeminence and I have the new Joint Commission goals ever present on my name tag. Every day when I arrive at work, I set up a care of plan for each patient that contains two goals for the day. It seems everyone has goals but me.

I did a random, non-scientific pole of my peers the other day and asked the simple question, “What is your goal for today”? Responses:

• Survive - be happy - keep my patient from falling.
• Get through the day! Keep my sickle cell happy and my other patient’s wife from being mad at me.
• To leave here and go home happy.
• Get out on time.
• To be organized and not become stressed-out.
• Do no harm.

I guess I am a bit naïve. I thought someone would say, “I have been reviewing the Synergy Model for Patient Care and my goal for the day, probably the week, is to enhance my communication skills and become consciously aware of the manner in which I interact with people.” That didn’t happen. I didn’t even come up with that idea until right now. But, I think it is a stellar goal.

This whole goal business has me thinking, planning and pondering. For starters, I have set my retirement date. It will come before the next Winter Olympics; the next Magnet Review; and the end of the Mayan calendar. But, sadly, I will not see the day that 4-medicine has all private rooms! So, what do I want to accomplish? My time is limited. Lately, I have had goals like those above: be safe, get out on time, survive! I’m wondering if there isn’t something more? What is it that I would like to do before I end a nursing career spanning four decades?

And, my questions to you are the same, whether your career is just starting, waning, or coasting: What are your goals? What do you want to accomplish? Is there something more? What is it that you really want to do? I say, go for the Gold!

Sherry

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Position Indiana.

• Just When You Think You Know Something
• Gerontological Bliss
• Lifelong Learning
• Medical Nursing: Priceless

Instantly, the power is gone. Darkness prevails. If you think about it, most of us are not comfortable with darkness – we are hard-wired for light. Twenty-three hours of darkness at IU Hospital this week was an interesting challenge. I’m sure debriefings have run the gamut of every department within the system. I’d like to add my two cents with a few observations from my perch on 4South.

There is a plan. Disaster drills are such a nuisance – especially when you are in charge and the day is horrendous. So are fire drills when it is 0705. And, code drills. Nonetheless, they are all the foundation of preparedness. I suppose the people who are responsible for all of this stuff are going over the details with a fine-tooth comb. From my vantage point: It’s a good plan, and it worked.

People become very resourceful and depend on one another when it is dark. Night shift people can verify this in particular. I understand morning blood draws were more than interesting. So once again we revert to what we learned in kindergarten: “Hold hands and stick together.” Teamwork is a great force.

4South had the benefit of a few working computers. We had to share. It worked well. By and large, people do not want to PAPER CHART. I even found myself being one of them – imagine that!

Patients are very resilient. Given the appropriate information they respond in kind. From the moment a patient is admitted to the hospital, they become dependent. I find it amazing how people respond in that state when given “appropriate information.” I also find it interesting how communication and relationships change when we are all in the same boat: We bond quickly.

Management was right there with us. They were visible, available, resourceful, dependable and appreciative – working for the common good. Why is it that we don’t always see them in that light? I even had a few personal minutes with the Chief of Staff. How special was that!? What he offered was encouragement.

During the day, the unit was quiet. We had limited light, fewer people using our space and a slower pace. It was nice.

We will all have stories to tell. Over the years I have endured many situations without power – some of them lasting for several days; most of them weather-related. We will have fun remembering.

Without electricity, how would we function? Think about that for a minute. And then, think about this: When the power goes out, we are empowered, and the power of the individual is endless.

Sherry

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Job Opportunities.
 

November 1-7 is designated Medical-Surgical Nurses Week. This is a time set aside to celebrate and appreciate Med-Surg nurses. When I first became involved in the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses and became aware of this week, I wondered why we needed another week in addition to Nurses Week in the spring. Over time I have grown to appreciate the difference.

During Nurses Week, I set aside a bit of time to reflect on why I became a nurse. During this period of time, I think about why I am a medicine nurse. Why did I choose this specialty, and why in the world have I stayed with it for forty-two years?!? Medical nursing is never really a comfort zone. Just when you think you know something, it changes. There are many specialties that are more glamorous than medicine. And there are many places in the system where people don’t have to work at such a crazy pace or have an odd appreciation for chaos.

Over the years I have done many interesting things within the framework of medical nursing, and I have had opportunities to do numerous things in other areas, but have never made the leap. Four years ago, after my round with cancer, I was sure I would never be able to keep up with 4-medicine again. I interviewed several places and was offered a couple of very interesting jobs, but I couldn’t make the move; just couldn’t imagine myself without liver patients!

Medicine is always a challenge. It is about critical thinking, honing one’s senses and developing keen assessment skills. It’s about team-work at its finest. Many years ago I referred to medicine as the “theater of dependency.” We like to think of ourselves as very independent practitioners, but in reality we rely on each other constantly. Medicine nurses have very distinctive personalities - need I say more? Let’s just consider IU 4-medicine for a brief moment... (How wild and whacky was that?!?) I guess medical nursing gets in your blood. Over the years, I have had three criteria for staying the course in any position I have held: am I learning, am I having fun, and am I making a difference. If all of those things are operational, I am pretty content. Medical nursing has been a place of satisfaction for me.

I was pleased with the slogan for this year: "Medical-Surgical Nurses: Making a World of Difference." Medicine Nurses share an umbrella with Surgical Nurses. Somewhere along the line, I have made a distinction because I am pretty much a pure medical nurse. I hope I haven’t slighted any surgical nurses in this blog, because I can tell you right now, I have a great appreciation for what you do. Actually, I pretty amazed at what you do! I think you know that as truth because when I float to your areas a lot of hand holding occurs to get me through. For some reason it is hard for me to wrap my brain around all that cutting and pasting! So, to all of my colleagues in Medical-Surgical Nursing, enjoy the week, share your stories. re-commit to your specialty and never doubt for one moment that you indeed “make a world of difference.”

And, if you are out there as an “undecided,” consider Medical-Surgical Nursing, because it could make a world of difference in your life, too.

Sherry

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Position Indiana.
 

I like words. I like concept analysis. I like it when I discover the “right” word. I like new words. I like words that I always pronounce wrong or words that roll off my tongue. I’m actually looking for a certain word. Here’s the challenge: if you could define nursing in one word, what would it be? I would much prefer we were having this as a round table discussion so each of us could have the opportunity to expound, because I am going to give you my word, which I, of course, think is the best - and the only way I will have “thought variables” is if you send me a reply. Otherwise I am going to be pretty smug about my choice.

Nursing is "relationship." A cascade of other words are contained within relationship. Thus, one could define nursing in great detail based on a single word. Try it for a little word exercise and see where it takes you.

I have been thinking about the nurse-patient relationship a lot this past week. Over the past few months I have had a wonderful relationship with CW and his wife B. It all started with, “Hello, my name is Sherry and I am going to be your nurse today.” That introduction has forged great relationships over time. CW was special. He endured many difficult medical interventions, numerous trips to the hospital, and was forced to make choices and decisions that were very challenging. Each time he came to 4-medicine, I wanted the privilege of caring for him. I learned a lot about his history, his family, his life, their great 4th of July Celebrations, his daughter’s wedding, his children, the wonderful home he loved on the Ohio, and a wife who sacrificed beyond his expectations. I have his address and phone number on my dresser. I had planned to visit CW & B after his surgery this summer; maybe go to a horse race. It was not to be.

On September 4th, I went to Ohio for his funeral. I wanted to see him one more time, say good-bye and connect with B. She is a special, gifted woman and I think we will maintain a relationship, too.

There was never a time that I cared for CW that he didn’t ask about me: what was new, how were the kids, the grand-babies, the garden... He always made me feel good. He was a joy to care for and always appreciated anything done for his well-being. I told B the other day, “People like CW are the reason I am a nurse.”

With relationship comes joy and sadness; the memory of both will linger in the case of CW. Understanding that full scope of involvement, tomorrow I will once again walk into the room of a stranger and say, “My name is Sherry and I’m going to be your nurse today.” Nursing defined.

Sherry

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Nursing Jobs Indianapolis.

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