I would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy 2017. January 1st has everyone dreaming about what the new year will bring. Our patients remind us daily that our health is a precious gift that can suddenly leave us. The risk for cancer can be divided between genetic, environmental and lifestyle choices. This month's Journal Club post examines risk factors that for the most part involve choice. Our January post does not involve a lot of reading but has some great information. I hope you will enjoy reading Cancer Prevention and Obesity, Weight, and Cancer Risk .
Questions
- In your own words, how is obesity linked to an increased risk for cancer?
- The answers to this question are not in the articles but ask you to use critical thinking skills. Give four reasons why poverty could be added to the list of risk factors for cancer.
Discussion Question
Goal setting is important in life as well as for our nursing careers. To make a resolution for the new year involves having the determination and intention to make it become a reality. I have listed some nursing goals or resolutions for 2017, please comment on one or more that may speak to you. Feel free to add your own goals or dreams for the new year!
- Make a difference to someone's else's nursing career and mentor a new nurse.
- Seek out someone that could become a mentor to you.
- Foster more collaboration and communication between physicians and patients.
- Give yourself permission to say "no" at work or home when you feel overwhelmed.
- Stop nurse bullying when you see it, eliminate gossip and back biting by not participating or listening to it.
- Dust off your transcripts and go after your BSN or an advanced degree!
- Find something positive to say to a co-worker you are not fond of.
- Actually take the 30 minutes that you are given each day to eat, go for a walk, or relax.
- Study for your OCN or become certified in your specialty area.
- Develop some healthy ways to cope with on the job stress - any suggestions?
- Avoid unhealthy stress eating and keep some healthy snacks at your work station.
- Write down a list of reasons that you love your current job. If after ten minutes you are still staring at a blank piece of paper, talk with your manager or update your resume.
Please send all questions and answers to melissa.luebbe@ctca-hope.com. This is the third of six articles for 2016-17, we are half way through the Journal Club year!
Giving yourself permission to say "No" at work when you feel overwhelmed is huge. This can be really difficult to do if you are a "nice" person. When you have said yes for so long that people depend on you and DON'T depend on others that creates an unfair work environment. When you finally say "No", or can someone else take this I can't, you may get classified as having an attitude problem. Suddenly, you are the bad guy to your co-workers, boss, etc. There is a lot of judgement attached to saying no. There are limits to what each of us can take and what is safe. It takes awhile to say no assertively - I still haven't mastered it. Recognize that you are still a work in progress, but that self-respect is required for healthy living.
ReplyDeleteStopping gossip/co-worker bullying is also a very important topic to me. I have been the victim of and I have listened and participated in gossip myself. I would rather have an honest conversation with someone, and I encourage my co-workers to do the same. If there is a real job performance problem, it may be time to take it to your supervisor. How can anyone possibly improve if we don't have some honest conversations. Sometimes people have no idea how they are coming across, I know I can be clueless sometimes. There are always many perspectives and everyone has a right to their perspective yet we also need to respect others. If all else fails, we don't have to create gossip or a hostile work environment.
Good comments. No one benefits from an evil tongue. We don't all know what's right for others and sometimes not even ourselves. Kindness goes a long way.
DeleteUnfortunately, "no" will need to be an increasing part of my vocabulary as well in 2017, both in my professional and personal life. There are so many increasing demands in both but still only 24 hours in a day last time I checked. For me, as technology continues to accelerate our lives, I pledge to be increasingly mindful that I am still a human being and just 1 person. "I am biology, not technology"....Professionally, I will do my best to keep up my existing certifications and prepare for an upcoming certification exam.
ReplyDeleteJulie, love the I am biology not technology phrase!
DeleteI totally agree with retaining humanity and not becoming a robot. I also agree with saying "no" more often. As I am aging, it is easier to say no, but still feel guilty sometimes.
DeleteI totally agree with retaining humanity and not becoming a robot. I also agree with saying "no" more often. As I am aging, it is easier to say no, but still feel guilty sometimes.
Deletecontinue to set limits for yourself!
DeleteI agree with trying to say no more often will be challenging. At CTCA before now we never said no, regardless of the insurmountable task at hand. Last year I made the feat to resign as a supervisor and become a stakeholder. One a the BEST things I could have done for me.
DeleteI am in the process of studying and preparing to take the Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN) later in the year. I have purchased the study guide book and been doing CEUs directly related to breast cancer care so hopefully come the summer I will be ready and successfully pass my exam. I am also hoping to take additional classes (not for a degree) that could help me within my field - whether it be a Spanish class for medical professionals or a seminar on professional development (communication class or leadership development).
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your exam Elizabeth:-) Sounds like you are preparing well:-)
DeleteYay Elizabeth! That's great to hear. I have just begun studying for the same certification. We will have to chat soon! Until then, happy studying!
Deleteyou will rock that exam! Can i borrow the book when you are done with it?
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DeleteHonestly, I have been bad promising myself to take the OCN certification. Hopefully, I will be energized to proceed to try and take sometime near future. Had enrolled in the prep class held here, so will see:)
ReplyDeleteHeard the prep class is good. Take it one day at a time, and hopefully it wont be as overwhelming.Good luck!
DeleteIf I can do it, you can do it! Feel free to ask me anything about prepping for the test!
DeleteThis is my goal too! I know we both can do it if we study hard. And I think it would be really beneficial to our patients if we have more nurses in our institution that are OCN. Best of luck to you :)
DeleteI am looking into starting a study group. Let me know if this would interest you
DeleteThanks for all the positive encouragement everyone, it helps getting back to the right study mood again:):):)
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DeleteAs we all know health care has changed and we are all feeling the effects of this here at MRMC. So, my goal is to try to continue to have a positive and thankful attitude in this changed environment!
ReplyDeleteThank you, you inspired me to also think positively and hope for the best!
DeleteTina- I think that is a great point! We all really need to stay positive-- we have to learn to accept the things we cannot change but learn to still embrace how we can make a positive impact on our workplace and keep moving forward. As Dory said in Finding Nemo "just keep swimming" :)
DeleteI agree, Tina. With so many changes recently, it is good to re-focus on what we can control in the face of change-our attitude toward it!
Deletekeep that smile on!
DeleteThank you, Tina, for role modeling a positive attitude! It helps us all in helping each other to cope with the changes.
DeleteAvoid unhealthy stress eating and keep some healthy snacks at your work station is my goal. I love food and this is probably the hardest goal to accomplish. I have recently tried to make most of my meals at home, and have a few recipes that make even the healthiest of food more enjoyable. I think its been great to stay home and enjoy cooking with my husband while both of us are making better health choices.
ReplyDeleteI know where to go to get a healthy snack at work!! My husband and I do a lot of home cooking and there are so many healthy advantages and its a huge cost savings... not to mention its quality time spent together. It can also bring out your creative side with trying different variations to staple dishes. Good luck!
DeleteOhhhhh.... I liked the list to choose from - there were several that "spoke" to me. I will continue to be a mentor for a new nurse... a friend of mine will be graduating this May. I will also give myself permission to say "no"... with full time work & 2 small children - life gets busy fast and I want to focus on these years before they fly by. I also plan to take 30 minutes a day - I would like to make my health a priority again... I've been slacking. And last but not least I hopefully plan to take the CBCN (Breast) exam later this year. --> maybe even go after a 2nd Bachelor's... we shall see :)
ReplyDeleteI love this goal toward some self care and family time. It is so hard to say no sometimes because of fear of upsetting others. Focusing on yourself even for that 30 minutes a day will help you feel so much more refreshed and energized to tackle your job and all your supermom duties! :)
DeleteI loved reading the nursing New Year’s resolutions. In this current political culture I am witnessing bullying going both ways. I loved the resolution about seeing bullying, say something. I will always speak up for the underdog, and will always support a good protest. This week a local shop owner was blatantly making racial slurs towards a customer and her young child, even after being confronted by Zion police, he continued to mock the lady and her entire race. There is going to be a protest supported by the black lives matter movement of Lake county IL, this Saturday at 12. I hope I see all races and people from all walks of life supporting the boycott of this restaurant. It hurts my heart to know that there is such deep seeded racism in this multicultural community. I will work harder this year to be the change I want to see in this world. The second resolution I loved seeing is going back for your BSN. I have five classes left. I am so excited to almost be done with this journey. As the days go on, I find myself trying to talk myself out of going, you know, self-sabotage. I vow to stick with it, through this year and hopefully I am a BSN graduate by the end of this year! Fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteSo excited for you that you're so close to being done with your BSN. Stick with it - you'll be done before you know it!
DeleteI believe that negativity and gossip can insidiously sneak into the workplace and become part of the culture on a unit. None of us are immune to it and everyone of us has participated at one time or another. Since I am certainly not a super nurse with flawless skills and a brain like Einstein, I hope to participate even less. In response to Ashley, I work on a unit that loves, loves, loves our snacks and will try a little more fervently to resist. After all, this Journal Club was about obesity and cancer. :)
ReplyDeleteMary, the gossip train is so long at CTCA right now especially with all the changes. I think participating less is a great goal!
DeleteI think you are a super nurse!
DeleteMy goals this next year is to take the OCN certification. I originally wanted to do it this fiscal year, but with expecting a new baby in the spring, I think it will be pushed back to the fall. I think in the mean time however, I really want to focus and read up more on different cancers and prepare for the OCN exam. I feel like I need more advanced knowledge in oncology care to better take care of my patients!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great goal Amy! You have such an exciting time coming up with your new baby, the OCN would be the icing on the cake for your new year! Your post encouraged me to also do some reading to prep for OCN maybe early next year. Best wishes with everything! :)
DeleteMy goal this year is to get my BSN. I may not complete it until next year, but I've started and am glad I pushed myself to start it. I also plan to take the holistic nursing boards exam in April which I am so excited about. I am excited to fill my year with educational advancement and allowing myself to learn new things to bring back to my workplace. I'm loving reading everyone else's New Years goals. Good luck to everyone on working hard to accomplish them! :)
ReplyDeleteTina PizurJanuary 5, 2017 at 4:12 PM
ReplyDeleteThis year I am receiving my AHNA Certification and will continue learning more about mind, body and spirit. It significantly and positively effects my interactions with my patients. And maybe next year I will work on the CBCN (go Elizabeth!)
Hi Tina! Like you, I am also pursuing the AHNA certification! Learning to treat more that the mere illness or disease is very important in oncology nursing! I think you are a great holistic nurse already :) Good luck and go definitely go for the CBCN next!!!!
ReplyDeleteJess
Learning to say no is something I'm getting better at! At the moment, I'm going to school for my Master's degree and will be getting ready for the AHNA certification. At home, my husband is also doing school work. We have a very busy toddler and have a little one on the way-hectic! So while I hate to decline invites or bypass other opportunities, at present it is what is best for me. I don't want to overwhelm myself.
ReplyDeleteJess
Re-looking at my goals, I would like to incorporate more active activities into my life or as others would say "exercise." As my kids are getting more self-sufficient, I feel like I finally have more free time and want to participate in life outside of them. I am in the brainstorming phase and not sure of how I will pursue this goal, just yet. Work in progress.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Sarah
Sarah,
DeleteTry to start out with a long walk daily and then later weeks try organized exercise classes and a gym membership
I agree with Sarah , I decided this year i will focused more on eating healthy and exercising more.
DeleteI totally agree with you guys, being a nurse we can be caught up with the razzle dazzle of taking care for our patients, caregivers & their family. We tend to neglect our self. Our noble mission to give & give is rooted in our life that is unhealthy.
DeleteI will earn at least 30 hours of CEU.
ReplyDeleteI think of a positive trait of each of my coworkers.
To cope with on the job stress, I take deep breaths, walk away from the stressor ( if it is not a patient) and I stay organized.
As we baby boomers are discussing retirement and colleagues are actually taking the leap and retiring this year, I think about why I am staying in nursing and should I stay in nursing. I have created a mental list, during my long commute home daily. The positives of my career, the things I would miss are: the relationships with the patients and families, the sharing of stories, their ups & downs, their gratitude. I would miss the challenges of solving complex problems, moral discussions with the physicians, and collaborating on the best approach to a difficult problem. I would miss learning every day. I would miss the nurses and rad onc therapists asking my professional opinions and the daily laughter with them as they are my friends. I would miss being apart of something bigger, more grand than my own little existence. After reviewing my list of positives, I think retirement is a long way into the future.
ReplyDeletei am glad to hear that!
DeleteThe brief synopsis of the positives in your career really provide a wonderful list for why we all continue in the nursing profession. Your "little existence" continues to have a grand impact on every patient! Thank you for all that you do every day!
Deletei choose to take care of myself to take that 30 minutes each day to relax , breath , eat healthy .we have to take care of ourselves so we can better take care of people around us. there is nothing wrong by having a "me " time. self time to reflect and appreciate all the blessing and all the people that we love
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this!!
DeleteSelf care must come first!
My goals for 2017 is to be a better person inside and out. I will try to change my eating habits and exercise more, learn how to deal with stress a little better. I will strive to be compassionate, helpful and improve my communication skills. I would like to start prepping for OCN.
ReplyDeleteTo make healthy choices by eating, exercising, and be involved in activities of healthy living.To be cognizant and pay more attention to self care. To study for OCN or become certified in my specialty.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great goal Imelda! My best advice is to start small. Make a choice to replace white rice with brown rice or another whole grain (I'm a big fan of quinoa, farro, and Israeli couscous) or drink 2 more glasses of water a day than you normally would. I've found whenever I'm trying to get back on track that if I try to start with too many things: eat vegetables 3 x a day, exercise 5 x a week, only drink water, sleep 8 hours a night, read a book every 2 weeks........ I get overwhelmed and then poop out! So yeah, start with small changes, and once they become habit, make some more. Feel free to reach out to me if you need any motivation or suggestions! I'm always up for trying a new exercise class or going for a walk (once the weather is better!) Cheers to a happy and healthy new year!
DeleteMy goal for 2017 is to take more complete care of my body. I've always enjoyed running, but needed something more for the winter months. I've joined a health club near my home, and am taking yoga and aqua fit classes there. Feels good!
ReplyDeleteGood for you Jen, I would like to try and be a little more healthy for 2017 too.
DeleteI agree Jen!Itoo want to become more active and take better care of myself. I sometimes have the best intentions to increase activity such as walking daily on a non stressed level but sometimes it does not work out. I get into other things such as reading the paper and the time has gone. I need to increase my self motivation level as once I have walked I feel great. The effects are so positive. I also would like to give myself permission to say no and not feel guilty.It is sometimes hard to place oneself first.Nancy c
DeleteI agree Jen!Itoo want to become more active and take better care of myself. I sometimes have the best intentions to increase activity such as walking daily on a non stressed level but sometimes it does not work out. I get into other things such as reading the paper and the time has gone. I need to increase my self motivation level as once I have walked I feel great. The effects are so positive. I also would like to give myself permission to say no and not feel guilty.It is sometimes hard to place oneself first.Nancy c
DeleteMy goal for 2017 is to be healthier physically. I would also like to look into furthering my education. I don't know if I am ready to take that leap yet but will start the investigation process. I hope all of us have a healthy, awesome 2017.
ReplyDeleteMy professional goal for 2017 is to become OCN certified. CTCA is very supportive of continued education and certification in specialty areas. So when the 2 day OCN prep class was offered I took advantage of the course. It was very informative and helped me to outline my own study guide. I have heard that a formal study group may be formed to help with the preparation for taking the exam. With these tools I plan to be prepared to test and pass my OCN exam this year!
ReplyDeleteBarb, I also am looking to get my OCN this year as well. I also took the two day prep class which gave great resources and I have acquired the study books as well. A formal study group would be great.
DeleteOne goal for me this year is to take my holistic boards...and pass!! Being away from holistic training at birchtree, it's hard to maintain acting as a holistic nurse. So, aside from taking and passing my boards, I will improve my holistic nursing career as well as my personal life by applying what I've learned, and continue to learn, about caring for mindbodyspirt. It's great to see so many other people are going for their certification this year also.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I have incorporated holistic nursing into my practice. It is not a natural to move forward with this practice as it was while I was in class but once I help a patient through a stressful situation, it reminds me to focus on the needs of all of my patients and to practice more self care.
DeleteI miss those classes! I agree it is not as natural or easy to maintain a holistic practice without Veda or Marie to encourage and remind us. It would be excellent if we could get a tune-up from them every 6 months or so!
DeleteLOVE this! Be a positive source of energy- and spread that infectious smile
DeleteI have to admit, I am really torn with going back to school for my BSN. There are financial concerns, concerns if I have the time to devote to classes without taking away from time with my family and friends and can I still learn? I am setting a goal toward taking small steps to determine if this is what I want to do such as, taking my boards for holistic nursing, studying and taking boards to become OCN certified and maybe then I will know if going back to school for my BSN is right for me. In the meantime, I will work on being the best nurse I can and balance that with some "me time" to enjoy my life as we know, life is very short.
ReplyDeleteThe goals that speak to me most are the ones that I am already trying to work on to a certain extent, specifically coping with on the job stress and stress eating.
ReplyDeleteMeditation has been life saving for me in terms of dealing with stress. I downloaded an app (Calm-- try it, it's amazing), and that really helps keep me motivated and on track with doing it. It has different meditations for anxiety, sleep, gratitude, self esteem, and so many others! It also has different time lengths, some as short as 2 minutes, so there's no excuse to say that you don't have time. I even take time to meditate at work. Meditation really helps keep me centered and remember to breathe. It's amazing how such a little thing can make such a huge difference.
Stress eating is another story all together, though, especially working nights! Sleep deprivation and working nights both lower self-control (sort of like when you hit the Taco Bell after a night of drinking!), so it can be very challenging. I always pack a (mostly!) healthy lunch and snacks, but there are always temptations. I will often make sure I don't have cash in my wallet (no trips to the vending machine!), and I've even gone so far as to take my debit/credit cards out as well (no trips to the McD's on the way home). It's extreme, but it works! I also sometimes set an alarm in my phone to go off around 0740 that says, "Go Home! You are not hungry, it is just your night shift brain talking!" Still though, sometimes the fast food breakfast wins out and I have it, enjoy it, and move one. On a less extreme note, which I learned from several of my fitness magazines, is that when you are tempted by treats say, "I don't eat that," instead of "I can't eat that." It helps make it more firm in your mind. One other example is when people bring in donuts. Maple donuts are my favorite, so my rule is, if there is a maple donut, I can have one. I usually end up getting to have a donut once every 4 times someone brings them in.
I continue to strive to manage my stress and stress eating because it makes me an overall happier person and allows me to take care of my patients even better.
I have had the same problem working night shift, with weight gain. I think you have some good and pretty simple ideas to help with the abnormal way that we eat on nights. I also believe that because I am on such an odd schedule with nights, that my brain is used to eating at odd times.
DeleteLove your strategies- and i have downloaded the app- thanks for the advice.I use an APP called Insight timer if you are interested in checking out another meditation app.
DeleteThanks for sharing the app you downloaded (Calm). I look forward to trying it. Sounds like there would be some great sessions that can used at work too.
DeleteMy professional goal this year is to take the AHNA certification exam. I am still deciding about obtaining my BSN as my graduation date would be close to my retirement date! My personal goal is to take better care of me. Drink those 8 glasses of water and try to get some sort of exercise daily. Happy New Year everyone!
ReplyDeleteCathy, looking forward to retirement sounds like a good goal too. Good luck working towards the AHNA certification exam.
DeleteMy goal for this year is to re-enroll and finish my BSN. I took what was meant to be a short break, and turned into a looooong break. In the changing climate of the nursing field, it is important to have my BSN for both job security and for increased knowledge.
ReplyDeleteMy second goal is to get a mentorship program active on ICU-SOU for our new RN's. I think this will be an important step in continuing learning after orientation.
Michelle, go for it and you will not be sorry. I went back to school for my BSN after being out for 13 years. It was a great thing as I enjoyed learning something new again and making myself have to think. I learned a lot about computers as well and have become quite proficient. You got this and can do it.
DeletePatricia, I understand your concerns. I went back to grad school at 55 with my youngest being a senior in high school - I had to have someone help me with the computer. I also had my first grandchild coming the next year. I did one class at a time and never missed anything. It is doable. It was a personal goal- I knew it would not increase my pat. Go for it and set upon times just to study. Do not stress out. It will fly by. Who would have thought I loved going to school online. I did not even know what APA was! Good luck and enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWell Patricia I am still not good with computers because my comment did not end up under your post... LOL.
ReplyDeleteThis year I am going to remember the good in people. We have had some very challenging patients lately and I try to remember to take a deep breath and remember I am not in their shoes. Ironically many times I end up very close to these patients. I want to remember to not to prejudge and hop on the bandwagon. Remember that we all handle stress in our own way. Share, pray and relax with the patient. We are all human.
30 minutes break
ReplyDeleteWhen I was working bedside nursing, it is impossible to get the 30 minutes break, (eat, relax or nap!).
In Asia, or other country, they are required to have 1 hour break, 30 minutes meal, and 30 minutes nap. And base on the survey, that this workers function more better, mentally and physically than those who don’t take a break.
For me it is very important and I tried, it can really make your work more faster, easier and better. You can concentrate and your mood, change into a pleasant one than being crabby due to stress. Thanks to my co-worker that they always remind me, “it’s break time.”
I am so happy to hear you have the support of your co-workers. That really helps! This time away is a priority. It is an area I certainly need to improve upon!
DeleteI really enjoyed reading through everyones goals! What a positive affirmation of the amazing nurses that I work with.
ReplyDeleteFor myself I plan to study for OCN. I am working on starting a study group- so if anyone is interested shoot me an email.
I also will take my breaks at work. I enjoy putting my headphones on listening to audible- or a podcast and doing a power walk- I look forward to getting outside for this every day.
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ReplyDeleteI smiled as I read the goal of writing a list of reasons you love your current job. It is so important to be doing what you are passionate about and enjoy! I agree if you are not happy, find something that makes you happy. It is not good for you or anyone around you to continue in a job that you do not love! Sure there are days we may get frustrated...nothing is perfect. But life is too short and you have too much to offer to be in a job that you do not want to be. We need to empower ourselves and take ownership of our happiness in whatever we do in the new year!
ReplyDeleteInitially when I read that option, I actually laughed out loud. On a serious note, I feel nurses need to be passionate about what they do and if they are unable to find anything they enjoy about their job, it is time to move on and find something that intrigues you.
DeleteSo true! It's important to be able to find passion in what we do. We spend ALOT of time working and if we can't find any reasons why we're still doing the job we're in, it's time to find something else to do. If you're unhappy at work, that can spread to other areas of your life and that's no way to live.
DeleteI have lots of goals & dreams for 2017. Some are easy while others are not. A friend told me one time that in order to keep a DREAM come true is to wake, continue to grow and continue to become better everyday and in everything you do. But with all these in the back of my mind, I will start my 2017 by eating healthy ( a very hard thing for me to do because I don't like vegetables ), exercise regularly ( fingers crossed ) and give myself a personal time to unwind, rest and relax. As what Vilma said in her post, that there is nothing wrong by having a " ME " time at all.
ReplyDeleteFor 2017, I would like to be able to complete my OCN certification. I was able to take the 2 day OCN preparation course which was offered this winter. This course was really helpful in getting me ready for what the test consists of. I feel like studying for and taking the OCN test will allow me to better educate all of the patients that are seen in the clinic.
ReplyDeleteTheresa Minniear - Clinical Research
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, everyone. I always say that I am going to take lunch, but it's hard when our culture frowns upon getting voicemail during working hours. I suppose it's easier to "just do it." Get up and go for a walk! That's my plan once the weather warms. Exercise can be a stress-buster, too.
My New Year resolution is to try to focus on improving my own health, which will likely require setting another goal of saying "no" more often. I am trying to improve my dietary intake of vegetables and am hoping to make use of a local yoga studio that just opened in my town.
ReplyDeleteDiane,
DeleteTwo years ago I made a New Years resolution that actually stuck....maybe the first one ever! I told myself I would only take the stairs, never the elevator. I have kept up with that, unless stairs were not available or when I broke my ankle!
My 2017 goal is to complete my BSN. I should be done before summer. It has been a hard road. Once I am finished, I am going to concentrate on finding me and get healthy again.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Sheila! You're BSN is right around the corner :)
DeleteMy goal is to be a productive complainer! Not just complain about an issue but to have a valid solution to rectify that complaint. We often fall into a cycle where everyone can complain about something but no solutions are discussed.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. No complaining = solution
DeleteWell I am proud to say that I have made a goal for myself and I dusted off and went back to school. This year I hope to get at least 1/4 of the way done with my BSN. I am only 3 classes in and it has been rough however, i realize how important this is to my career.
ReplyDeleteOne of my goals for this year is to obtain my OCN certification. Another goal of mine is to improve communication not only within my clinic center but among all departments within the hospital. I really think that good communication makes a world of difference for our patients as well as for good work relationships.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Pam. Improvement in communication is a must!
DeleteMy 2017 goal is to choose to be happy at work. Happiness is largely a choice. So I will continue to think positively about work. I will avoid negative people, complainers, and gossip. I will find co workers who I choose to spend my time with.I will choose to only be happy at work.
ReplyDeleteLisa Hammons RN, Remote Care Manager.
ReplyDeleteIn order to reduce some of the work stress, I try to take a 30 minute break on most days so I can get out of my chair and move. Being tied to the computer by a wired headset can feel very confining at times and sitting in a chair all day isn't good for mental or physical health so I try to at least get up and move around for 15-20 minutes of that break time. That time away from the computer and phones is very helpful especially on the very stressful days, it's good to have a few minutes to decompress.
I will use some of these throughout my day. Thank you
DeleteOne of my goals this 2017 is to be able to finish my BSN degree and that is why I have started working on this last year. To be able to further myself in any fields of my endeavor is something I look forward to and I know is very beneficial for me not only for my professional growth as a nurse but as well as for my personal achievement as a person. For me having a solid education is something that can not be taken away from you especially when you put your heart and soul into it. One thing that I love about my job is the satisfaction I get from taking care of my patients and giving back to them the love and compassion that I get from my peers. Working in a Surgical/telemetry floor is not as easy as what others would say, but the challenges and the many facets of stress, pressure, and joys that accompanies it makes it a lot fun because once you overcome these things nothing else as hard as this that you might not overcome. I am truly blessed to be part of my work team, although at times there can be a lot of downfalls but I still believe that at the end of the day, what matters is things are being handled professionally and we still remain intact and keep that sense of family as everybody should feel like in their home.
ReplyDeleteRichie!!! I'm so excited for you to start your BSN. That is my goal this year too. Good luck.
DeleteI can certainly relate to one of the goals you have suggested:Give yourself permission to say "no" at work or home when you feel overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteI am notorious for being the person that cannot say no. I like to help out or do nice things for others because I believe in paying it forward. It's times when I do get overwhelmed or feel taken for granted that it seems to backfire. I have to learn that no is okay, it's not possible to do everything for everyone although I would like to. Finding the ways to say no is a whole other story ;)
These are all great resolutions. I love the last one about writing down all the reasons you love your job and if after 10 minutes you're still staring at a blank piece of paper, you basically need to find something else to do. That applies to many other parts of life, not just jobs. Can be said about relationships, things we spend out time on, etc. The resolution that speaks to me is giving myself permission to say "no". I'm good at telling others why they should do that, not so good at following that advice. It makes me feel good to be able to help others. Sometimes though I end up feeling resentful and angry. Not a good feeling. Something I need to start practicing. I also need to take more time for myself, to do things I want to do and that are things I value.
ReplyDeleteI love your post. This year has been eye opening for me in terms of my stress level, and how I just need to finally stop and makes changes to address it. I also need to take more time for myself. Life is busy, but at some point you have to find a way to slow it down. This is a goal that I am also working on, and it is a work in progress.
DeleteEveryone has such great goals! This year I am going to go back to school for my MSN. I am going to pace myself to maintain a work/life/school balance. I consider myself a life long learner and this is the next step in pursing higher education for my professional growth.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for going back to school. I will also be starting my MSN this year in February. Managing stress and balancing work, school, and life will be challenging. Be sure to make time for yourself! Good luck.
DeleteI would love to try and work on my OCN certification. This has been a goal of mine for the past two years, but life takes over sometimes. I am hoping to take the exam before the end of this year.
ReplyDeleteSo many things come to mind first I would say as a mom and a nurse at CTCA, we start to put others before ourselves. I do believe this is what causes many increased stress. I am not pointing a finger rather I am sharing what challenges I brought on myself. My years goal is to start working on me and trying to learn that it is ok to make time for me and allow myself this time as if it was blocked and not changeable.
ReplyDeletei would have to agree with you Kristin. The goal to focus on is YOURSELF---we need to give ourselves "ME" time for yourself---it keeps you focused, healthy, and prevents you from going insane! :)
DeleteIt is always nice to have new goals in mind for the New Year! One that comes to mind right away at this moment is to complete my BSN. It has taken me a little longer than I had expected but nevertheless I have not stopped taking classes. I have taken thus far a little over half the classes I need to complete the program. I can safely say I can be done no later than the end of the year or early part of 2018 at the very latest. Managing work, family and school can be a little challenging. I do want to give myself some time to relax and get rewarded for all the responsibilities we have to juggle in life. I have been contemplating on scheduling some sauna sessions at some point to help me relax! I think we all need to pamper ourselves here and there. Another very personal goal is to avoid going to Sam’s Club as often as I do. I think I have an addition to that store! :-)
ReplyDeleteHortensia Aiello
My goals for 2017 would be to make time for myself--this is an important goal that should be addressed. Its always difficult to find "me" time. Also eat healthier, exercise(take those nice walks around the neighbor esp when it gets nicer out), and then take time to breathe through the difficult times(stressful times)---maybe ill join a yoga class...
ReplyDeleteThis year I have decided to put myself first. I'm not very good at it, but it's a work in progress. I will also be starting my BSN this year. I've been adding more walks with my dogs. At work we've decided not to bring in unhealthy snacks, because it's way too easy to stress eat. This month has been very DIFFICULT to not engage in gossip at work. I really am grateful for everyone I work with at MRMC. We all are amazing at what we do under such challenging circumstances.
ReplyDeleteGreat goals. Like you I have decided to go back to school this year. I will be starting my MSN in February. Good luck in school.
DeleteFor the year of 2017, I plan to start a few goals related to my nursing career. First, I plan on going back to school to obtain my master’s degree in nursing. I will be starting school this February at Chamberlin in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. Second, I plan on obtaining my oncology nursing OCN certification. Lastly, I have a few personal goals. I have been eating healthy foods and exercising more.
ReplyDeleteMy goal this year is to continue advancing my nursing degree. Prioritizing work, family and "me" time to get everything done is always the challenge for us all. I applaud all those that have and/or are working on their professional goals.
ReplyDeleteI think that for goals I have been striving for and finally will achieve in in April 2017 will be receiving my Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. I think continuing education is so important in this field of work because it is always changing so fast. Also I think it is important to take 30 minutes to take your break to gather your thoughts and take care of yourself. If “you” aren’t in the best state of mind, it can really affect your nursing care, so always take care of yourself! This also goes hand-in-hand with making sure you know when to say “no” to too much overload at work. Sometimes we try to put more on our plate than we can handle, but only “you” know how much your brain can handle, this saves mistakes and lives!
ReplyDelete-Mallory Mukka RN-Breast Clinic