The latest installment of Change of Shift is up over at Rehab RN. I’m a couple days late.

There are a lot of great submissions as always. Rehab RN always makes blogging a good time. Be sure to check out the latest edition of our beloved blog carnival.

I’m on the ‘failed’ list. I just can’t seem to make a submission these days. (I’m sorry)

As always a BIG THANK YOU to Kim over at Emergiblog for getting the CoS party started, and keeping the fire going!

Carpe Diem

“We’re just in disbelief that you could be arrested for doing something you had been told your whole career was an obligation.”

Texas Nurse to Stand Trial for Reporting Doctor – NYTimes.com

This is just unbelievable. There is a lot more to this ‘small-town’ story that I’m anxious to hear. A nurse from a small community hospital reports a doctor for actions that warrant compromising patient safety and for practicing ‘bad medicine’.

Somehow the nurse was fired without explanation and is now standing trial on felony charges!?

What happened to do no harm?

What happened to advocating for the patient?

What happened?

Posted via web from My Strong Medicine

Check this video out of the ‘Lunk Alarm’ at a Planet Fitness:

I guess this ‘alarm’ is the real deal at all Planet Fitness facilities. I think it has it’s place, but it needs to be in the right context as well as given the correct approach to the guilty party. No need to publicly embarrass anyone.

I also found snippets of info on the internet about this ‘phenomena’ here, here, here, and here. I guess the intention is to make the facility’s environment ‘non-threatening’ for all who enter. This has everything to do with the loud-mouthed, muscle-bound, no-neck, roid-raged gym rats thinking they are Mr. Olympia. It can make those normal folk feel a tad uncomfortable. Also those individuals who are still fighting with their identity and their courage to actually work out in public tend to shy away and not share the same gym space due to the intimidation. This includes men and women of all ages, and types.

Those men who were at the gym and needed to show off there testosterone-induced prowess of “I am man – hear me roar” are also to blame. I likened this ‘grunting’ to the ‘look-at-me’ dress for women (yes, ladies you know what I’m talking about). Both were created for attention. Nothing more, nothing less.

Grunting can be beneficial in some instances, but for the most part it’s just down right embarrassing and uncomfortable for anyone that is within hearing distance.

The other debacle of this debate is how does one define ‘grunting’ vs. ‘breathing’. I for one am guilty of the ‘hissing’ noise. I do exhale forcefully when lifting heavy weights and doing heavy repetitions during my workout. When I’m doing a relatively difficult exercise the forced exhale I think helps me on some sort of weird psychological level. I would never defend the ‘hiss’ or the ‘grunt’ in saying that it helps you lift! Grunting or hissing is not going to make you stronger, nor is it going to get your body to lift a weight or finish a rep that you wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.

Here’s my summation.

Grunting – unless you are a professional athlete it’s not warranted. I said PRO-FESS-ION-AL. This means you are being paid money to perform your athletic ability. This could be bodybuilding or your chosen sport. This does not mean you THINK you are one of the elite. So all you gym rats who think you are the ‘one’ – you really need to rethink your world.

All your grunting is doing is making you look like a fool, embarrassing your skills and quite frankly wasting your energy. It’s also making those around you uncomfortable, or most likely laugh at your antics. It’s neither impressive or revered, so just stop it and control yourself.

I’m all for the deep and long forced exhale DURING the actual exercise or repetition. Anything before or after the movement is just another goofy antic to draw attention. I too lift heavy weights now and then and my psyche needs the extra push – but don’t turn it into a circus act.

Oh- for those who are habitual grunters and are pissed-off by the Planet Fitness ‘rule’ – quit your complaining and go find a ‘sweat box’ to do your work out. There are plenty of other places where your grunting will be not only accepted but will be commended.

This non-grunting is a powerful movement towards equality and ‘playing nice in the sand box’. We all bring something different to the fitness arena and the facilities who offer these services. I love to see the ‘non-fit’ members take the dive and try exercises with the free weights as well as show up during the most busiest of times to get their ‘fitness on’. I have more respect for the ‘non-fit’ person busting their rump, sweating and catching their breath to do an exercise than those idiotic grunters who ‘throw their weight around’ (literally).

It’s all about taking care of your body and increasing your health and fitness level. And I for one support any and all movements that make that effort happen.

Way to go Phil. Thanks.

The way I see it, the weather and it’s activities seem to be working in reverse lately. So if him and his shadow are predicting 6 more weeks of winter.. I for one look forward to the early Spring.

At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

Punxsutawney Phil predicts 6 more weeks of winter – Yahoo! News

I 110% believe in the idea our mind, our thoughts, our choices, and our attitude determines our life’s results.

Mediocrity and ‘settling’ will only get you what you ask for.

Being realistic and ‘following suit’ will only get you the same.

‘If you continue to do what you’ve always done, you always get what you’ve always gotten’. A powerful but extremely simple concept that the people of the world can’t quite grasp.

I’m not only a fan of motivational quotes and metaphysical books, but I’m also a fan of Will Smith. I’m a fan for many reasons, but mostly for his outlook, for his attitude, and his sheer drive.

I’ve been witness to his success from the days when he was a low-named, unknown rapper with his partner DJ Jazzy Jeff to the prolific Hollywood icon he is today. I don’t know about you, but he must have done something right? Luck may have played a small part in his success, but his CONTINUED success stems from something greater.

I think he is the walking, talking, breathing representation of what positivity is and what the ‘no-quit’, ‘don’t-settle’, and ‘out-work’ mind set can get you.

Never settle.

Never quit.

The only reason ‘It’s never been done’ is because some quit trying. Surround yourself with this aura and people like this and you’d be amazed at how different and how amazing the world really is.

Happiness is a choice, not a situational result.

Thanks Will.

Come on! Seriously Mariah??

I’m having a hard time not losing my cool over this recent (attempt) music video by Mariah Carey. Yeah, yeah I know it’s a music video. Yeah, I know it’s all in fun and for entertainment. BUT, when is society and the media going to put a stop to the ‘sexy nurse’?

Gee. Maybe I should put one of those outfits on? What do you think? White skirt with my high heels, pretty lil white cap and of course the over-the-top red lipstick?

I’m a nurse.. so it should elicit the same response right? It’s sexy right?

Listen up people!

This persona and fantasy only makes my job tougher. It degrades and denounces the very fabric of our job and our careers. I  am in the business of saving and impacting lives. When I have a bad day – someone gets hurt. We don’t wear those outfits. We don’t saunter to our patients’ room. We SURE don’t wear high heels!

It really angers me to the point of exhaustion when we keep allowing the media to bash and abuse this old, and frankly disgusting portrayal of nurses.

Yeah, I’m fully aware of the difference between fantasy and reality. I have a firm grasp on fact versus fiction.

But, I’m not the rest of society.

Grr.