Nurse Guardian

American Nurses Association of NCSBN

2012-01-11T14:22:00.000-08:00

ANA and NCSBN Unite to Provide Guidelines on Social Media and Networking for Nurses

https://www.ncsbn.org/2927.htm

Great information to keep in mind after a frustrating day at work.

Guidelines for Nurses using Social Media

2012-01-11T14:20:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year

This link is a guideline for nurses to use when posting on social media sites.

Written by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing ( NCSBN )

https://www.ncsbn.org/Social_Media.pdf

Endorsed by the ANA

Emotional Energy Boost during Your Nursing Shift

2011-08-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

Your Emotions are a gift. Emotions alert you to changes in situations and give you guides. Emotions can be worked with to your benefit. This article teaches you an increase in your emotional state of connection to yourself.
Spend a week doing the following exercise,
Each day, think about one situation that you would like to see improve. Lets use the example of a coworker who is difficult to work with. When you think about this situation,
Feel the emotion of excitement and happiness. Surround yourself with this feeling of excitement, as if going to work is like going on a vacation that you have been planing for months.

Then do imagery with this situation, Picture in your mind how you would like to see a conversation with this co worker going. When you think about this co worker imagine a peaceful, civil maybe even humorous conversation. Continue to vibrate this positive energy around this co-worker. Remember What you focus on with thoughts and feelings can become reality.

Journal what occurred and what changes took place.

Plan your shift mentally before you go to work. Go in with expectation that things will go smoothly, your assignment will be appropriate, or even light, your coworkers will have PMA, you will have PMA and everyone you encounter will be pleasant. Think about the shift in your head, think about accomplishing all of your tasks in an 8 hour / 16 hour or 24 period without (effort) WC, with support and with a smile.

Now here is the key; As you are thinking about your shift and time at work. but emotional positive energy into your thoughts. Identify to yourself exactly what emotion you feel when working on this process. Feel the energy of the emotion.

Positive emotions are: Love, excitement, happiness, joy, hope, (arguably these can be categorized many ways)

Feel the energy of joy and happiness coursing through your respiratory and circulatory systems. (your lungs and heart) connect with that energy and let it offer you protection.

Book: Excuse Me...Your Life is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn
Create your own style. Nursing is an art form. Nursing is creative problem solving and strategic thinking. Nursing is having presence and mindfulness in the moment to have an increased awareness of any changes in your patients. Have an excellent shift!

RN Entrepreneur Be Your Own Business

2010-04-12T17:01:00.000-07:00

Companies that recruit RNs and job boards are making money from locating RN's
How would you like to negotiate your own contract with an employer and pocket the finders fee?
RN's can contract themselves as their own business. This opportunity will help empower RN's and increase RN's ability to experience the potential flexibility in your career.
Here are some interesting web sites with information regarding entrepreneurship or independant contrac to business. http://www.independentrncontractor.com
OR sign up for a weekly small business tip from
http://www.nurse-entrepreneur-network.com LeeRay Keyes offers weekly advice on running your RN entrepreneur business.
An article in NurseWeek, a free publication for RNs, Stories of Nurses that launched businesses to increase financial gain and independence.
http://www.nurseweek.com/news/features/02-04/business_web.asp

http://www.nurseweek.com/news/features/02-04/business_web.asp

Remember to empower yourself daily.

Ann Warneka BSN,RN

Managing Test Anxiety, NCLEX

2010-04-11T02:01:00.000-07:00

On a crisp Fall day, we decided to take the train from Williams, AZ up to the Grand Canyon. The train ride was full of adventure! There was a Western Cowboy show before boarding the train, defining the good guys from the bad guys.

During the train ride a great train robbery took place! Lots of Money by that I mean donations from passengers to support the steam engine, and bullets by that I mean cowboys handing bullets to children,were flying everywhere!

I watched my son closely as a "bandit" approached to give him a bullet. My sons anxiety was creeping up from the minute the cowboys stepped "boot" on the train. My son stood behind me as his tiny hand reached out for the shiny metal bullet from the smiling Cowboy. A crooked smile crept across my son's face and I watched his body relax. For my son, it was a pretty real experience being on a train robbed by cowboys. His fear of the unknown increased until he was reassured he was going to be OK.

We all experience fear of the unknown. Fear can freeze us or guide us to safety. When I think back to my experience of taking the NCLEX, I was scared to death to take the test. I did everything I could to prepare for the test. Knowing that your nursing career does not start until the passing results are in your hand puts a strain on the right of passage into nursing.

The experience of test taking for me is like my sons experience watching the train robbers. Test Anxiety, like any other fear can be managed to guide you safely through the NCLEX to your RN license. Study preparation and practice questions for the NCLEX are a highly valuable part of the process, but the focus of this article is the identifying and protecting yourself from the ambush of the "bandit" Test Anxiety.

Part II of this article: 5 Steps 2 Managing Test Anxiety during NCLEX.

Here are four things you can do to identify & manage Test Anxiety;

Website supporting student nurses@ nursingcrib.com

2010-04-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

http://nursingcrib.com is a website that supports nursing students. The website covers a wide variety of student nurse information, including the NCLEX preparation, jobs and hospitals and tons of nursing care plans.
Great site!

Nurses deserve low cost or free quality CEUs

2010-04-08T21:14:00.000-07:00

Another day in Paradise. I came home and removed my scrubs as quickly as possible. The demands of heath care can be a strain and yet I still find it rewarding to work with patients. Nurses that I know don't just have jobs, they have a family and sometimes aging parents to care for. It seems to me my friends who are nurses are always taking care of someone else. I started thinking about how nurses deserve to earn CEUs at minimal or low cost with a quality course and I did some searching on the web.

I found a great gift for you! RN.org offers CEUs for 19.99 a year!! That is almost the cost of 2 CEUs! The website was started by nurses FOR nurses! here is a summary:
www.rn.org - Free Nursing CEU Provider offering Free CEUs and Online Nursing Education with Free Nursing CEUs. We provide Nursing Continuing Education with Nursing Contact Hours, RN CE, RN CEU, RN CEUs and RN Contact Hours.

A gem on the web! Enjoy! ACW

THE EXTINCTION of the REGISTERED NURSE : Zazzle.com

2010-04-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

The changes in healthcare are speeding at the professional discipline of nursing at an alarming rate, like a freight train on one track. Are nurses going extinct? We need to work together as nurses to inform people of the importance of our profession, so nurses do not become extinct.
Go to Zazzle.com. Type in SAVE the RN in the search bar. Look for bumperstickers, t-shirts and hats with the moto SAVE THE RN/ REGISTERED NURSE. 5% of the profit will be donated to the CA Nurses Association.

My friend, a CCU registered nurse in MN called me the other day and told me that the nurses in the entire Critical
Care Department had to reapply for their positions. Can you imagine? SAVE THE RN!
With a strong involvement of the nursing union, it was made clear the nurses with seniority would be considered first for the decreased number of positions. The rest of the nurses probably have to take 2-3 days of work out of their pay check! We know, this change does not just affect the take home pay, but the benefits coverage as well.
On the East Coast, I spoke with a colleague of mine who stated her daughter is preparing to graduate from nursing school and is having difficulty finding a job. Especially a full time job. I don't think these changes mean that the shortage of nurses is over. We need to SAVE THE RN!!

The AZ State Board of Nursing presented information at a fall conference confirming that even with the in increase of enrollment in nursing schools in the state and the increase in graduates from the nursing programs, there remains a shortage in the field of nursing in 5 years. So come 2015, Arizona will have a predicted shortage of 25-29%. Are nurses going extinct?

Nursing, as we know it today, had its roots in American History. The American Civil War was the coal that fed the steam engine for nursing. We must keep the movement of the progression for the professionalism of nursing. We must keep the train on its track and represent out profession.

Please consider the hospital movements that could change the discipline of nursing and impact the entire health care system. Most importantly the Quality of care for our patients. What can I do? Talk to people about nursing! Let them understand your challenges, your rewards. Create a MEET UP group in your area for nurses to support one another. Remember, Visit Zazzle.com ACW

RN Friendly Project

2010-04-06T16:08:00.000-07:00

The following article can be located on www.lippincott'snursingcenter.com

Journal of Nursing Care Quality
October/December2008
Volume 23 Number 4
Pages 305 - 313

This article sites a project for nurse retention and retention of Quality of Care.

Enjoy!

Free E-mail Updates: USA.gov

2009-09-30T10:56:00.001-07:00

Free E-mail Updates: USA.gov

Shared via AddThis

How is Nursing Like a Pirateship ?

2009-09-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

Co-workers and managers may see the signs of compassion fatigue long before you do. Are they constantly asking if you are okay? Are you getting tired of them asking all the time?

Stop and ask either a loved one or a trusted co worker for their perception of your level of stress. Do you trust any of your coworkers?

Do they think you could possibly be suffering from compassion fatigue? Maybe thinking your a pirate will help you find your answer.

A Voyage to the South Sea or better known as The Mutiny on Board H.M.S Bounty was a book written by William Bligh is about the pirates of the high seas, traveling the world to collect Breadfruit to bring back to England.

Working on a medical unit. or ICU has the feeling of a pirate ship.

When the physicians appear, they may bark orders, collect information, formulate a plan,

bark orders then leave.

The team is left to swab the poop deck. There is much to be done on a pirate ship to keep

the ship from sinking, capsizing, being taken over by other pirates.

Medical machines like ventilators, IV poles, Cardiac monitors are all part of the navigation system to steer the team to a ----quiet island---- high seas---

Watch out for seagulls and rats on the ship.

Pirates have an edge of everyman for himself, although living on the ship together, will stab a shipmate in the back and steal their gold. Pirates are recruited and brought onto the ship as a Solo individual, single person. the middle of Pirate is RAT the middle of Nurse is URS.

Remember that. URS really doesn't stand for anything useful.The rest of Pirate without the rat is Pie.

If we took out the RAT in each of us while working on the unit, could we also, maybe be left with Pie?

My memories of my first pie is as a little girl watching my mom pull a golden brown pumpkin and Sweet Potato pie out of the oven. Few people will go out of their way to eat pie in the US. not the top favorite desert, according to statistics. But, when your fork cuts into the flaky crust of a pie and scoops up the fruity deliciousness, just for a second, don’t we release our stress and fatigue?

So Hoist the sales, we are going out to high seas! Prevent a Mutiny. Every day is an adventure in Nursing. Be more like Pie and your voyage may be sweeter.

AnnChristine works as an author and Life Coach, offering seminars on Compassion Fatigue, Test Anxiety as well as Total Life Ownership. She lives and works in Phoenix, AZ visit her blogg or contact her at www.Nurseguardian.com. email: nurseguardian@gmail.com. Phone: 602-516-6800.

Nursing Shoes

2009-09-30T10:13:00.001-07:00

Compassion Fatigue Series Nursing Shoes

Sometimes as a nurse I was told I had a “dark” sense of humor. Is that a reflection of my negativity toward my job and the people in my day or merely a coping mechanism? What is the difference?

Is a dark sense of humor as important as a good pair of nursing shoes?

When I worked the the hospital as a registered nurse, some days I did not want to go to work. Dealing with patient illness and staffing politics and standing on my feet five days a week or more was wearing on my soul. I was beginning to feel frustrated and disillusioned with working as an RN. I began to question whether or not I was really making a difference. I was however grateful for my comfortable nursing shoes.

I have owned many different types of nursing shoes. I remember starting out with the white nursing clogs with the tiny blue heart on the side.

They were effective for taking off the pressure of standing all day, but the changes were coming to get enforce shoes with a closed back as well as closed front.

The next pair I owned was a pair of tennis shoes, leather. Probably the best choice, easiest to clean after a full day. Then not recognizing what stains on my shoes came from what patient or what type of body fluid it was. How do our shoes get so dirty? Oh the number of cloth Tennis shoe that was sentenced to the dumpster after a few weeks of wear.

Does our mindset of our nursing career, like wearing a pair of shoes become darkened with humor that could------- and leave prints of ----on our compassion?

Once, I owned a pair of nursing shoes with the huge metal springs on the heel. Not attractive whatsoever. Functional. Made me taller. Everyone commented on them. Those brave enough to purchase the shoe with the metal spring-stilts got all of the questions!

I look back and wish a coworker had compassion for me and tell me the truth about those shoes. Eventually, i found the shoes to create certain amounts of static in situations working with medical equipment. And my calves became the size of Larry Birds quadriceps. Once Again, I new I needed a new nursing shoe.

Crocs, in my opinion are a gift from Zeus. Now not only do i get to come to work in my pajamas, I am in my slippers as well. If I am really feeling fashionable, I can coordinate my Crocs with my Scrubs!

I have to admit I would have never owned a pair of Crocs myself if a coworker insisted on me trying the Crocodile slipper on my dainty foot.

I think Crocs look like “Duck boots”, only with Measles.

I eventually went on to work as a travel RN, I packed my bags and my Crocs, as well as a few other shoes, just in case. I packed my dark sense of humor. I also went on a quest for finding the answer to the question “ Does Compassion Fatigue exist and how can i help nurses and ANY professional suffering from initial stages of this syndrome?” and “ How can I help serve nurses and offer them support and protection in their daily lives.”

Recognizing and accept the symptoms of compassion fatigue is like recognizing when your shoes have reached the point of being “ just too dirty and worn out to wear to work.” Wearing a clean, stable pair of shoes can change your life for the better, Life is to be lived, not struggled through. Recognizing the symptoms does not mean there is something wrong with you or that you cannot handle your job. it may mean that you are not allowing yourself enough space to be in the recovery phase of the stress filled lifestyle you may lead.

AnnChristine Warneka BSN,RN is the Executive Director of Nurse Guardian. LLC. Nurse Guardian offers Life Coaching face to face via Skype.com. Nurse Guardian offers professional seminars on Train the Trainer; Recognize and Recover Compassion Fatigue™ and seminars in Total Life Ownership™. She lives and works in Phoenix, AZ Visit her blog or contact her at www.Nurseguardian.blogspot.com. email: nurseguardian@gmail.com. Phone: 602-516-6800. AZ Zone.

Mind Body connection with 4 B.A.G.S.

2009-09-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

Mind Body Connection Simple with 4 B.A.G.S.

Have you ever sat in a restaurant or a coffee shop with music on? Who in the coffee shop do you see actually moving to the music? The children are moving, so are the elderly. Not the middle aged responsible people. That would look ridiculous. Well, the children and the elderly may possess something adults have been trained to forget, the mind body connection. The most natural thing in the world to do is move your body to the rhythm of music. Connecting the mind and thoughts to the body is a concept for enhancing self care. Connecting the mind and the body can help decrease Compassion Fatigue and has multiple benefits for improving the quality of life.

There are many ways to reach the mind body connection. From classes in Yoga, or Tai Chi to dance classes, music classes, art classes, massage, playing a sport, engaging in sex, or exercise for 20 minutes or more three times a week on a regular basis.

Just a second, how does a nurse fit one more thing into her schedule and lifestyle?
4 simple ways to reach a mind body connection in a lifestyle of a nurse who may
Have a time commitment with family, education, rotating shifts and multiple jobs?
This article presents five ways to connect the mind with the body. Creation of this level of awareness of the mind and body can release work stress and create a focus
for life outside of the job. Awareness of the mind body connection may prevent you from mentally taking work home.

Breathe. Take a deep breath into the belly area, expanding the belly area and breathe as much as the air out as possible. Better yet, breathe through the nose and slowly out through the mouth. ( like perslip breathing). Do this during your day as often as you
Remember. Eckhart Tolle suggests deep breathing takes us out of our minds and into our bodies.
“Start your day with a deep cleansing breathe before getting out of bed. Breathe a fully belly breath when you step out of bed and stand on the floor. Stretch and connect with all parts of your body just by bringing them into your awareness. If you have achey parts, just breath into them and recognize them. Thank your body for the job it does without you having to think about it.” READ ARTICLE BOOT CAMP FOR NURSES I BREATHING

Acknowledge You have given the care of your patients over to another nurse. Nursing is 24 hours. Quickly list your successes during a shift. For example, helping a coworker, listening to a patient, assessing a medical shift in a patient and preventing a downturn. What went right during the shift? How did you assist a coworker or teach a new RN something ? What agreement did you reach with your manager? What was the best part of your shift? After this 2-3 minute process of reviewing the shift mentally, let it go.

Gratitude: List mentally 5-10 things that occurred during the shift that you are grateful for. For example the ventilators seldom alarmed on your patients. There was plenty of staff to cover the unit, your supervisor was available to help out. Grateful for the nurse relieving your position? Then take your focus of gratitude to your personal life. List 5-10 things you are grateful for in your life. For example, your kids and spouse are healthy, you bring home a good paycheck.

Stretch. Back injuries and the number one nursing injury according to the Department of Labor Statistics. If fitting a formal Yoga class is not in your schedule, get a Yoga CD that you enjoy and start your day with the disk. Stretching enhances muscle tone and releases tension. Completing a Yoga routine every other day for three weeks may give you results of strengthening. Exercise for strengthening the Core muscles, muscles of back and abdomen can be done in other ways as well. Nursing on your feet for 8 hours or greater, you need the core muscles that are strengthened by Yoga or exercise to support your movement of patients and heavy equipment around the unit while protecting your back.

NOTE:
When a shift occurs that you dealt with patient trauma, life and or death and things on the unit were unusually intense recognize when you need to talk out the shift with a friend, spouse, co-worker or supervisor. As thoughts of patients creep back into your mind, let each one go like a Helium filled balloon.

Taking these 4 steps using B.A.G.S to experience the mind body connection may bring an increase of balance in your life and professionalism. By listening to the body and having awareness of changes increases your awareness to yourself and those around you. Focused Breathing, Stretching,, Acknowledgement and Gratitude connect you with your mind, body and core energy.

For more information read Boot Camp for Nurses Series.

Copyright 2009-2011, Works of AnnChristine Warneka, BSN,RN
AnnChristine BSN,RN works as a Medical Consultant. Offering seminars on Compassion Fatigue, FLEX the NCLEX™, Life Ownership, Boot Camp for Nurses™. She lives and works in Phoenix, AZ Visit her blogg site Nurseguardian@blogspot.com or contact her email: nurseguardian@gmail.com. Phone: 602-516-6800.
You may reprint this article with my name attached. Please share this information.

Boot Camp for Nurses I Breathing

2009-09-23T12:21:00.001-07:00

Boot Camp for Nursing™ Part I Breathing

How does a nurse fit one more thing into the shift, workday, schedule and lifestyle?
This is a series of 5 simple techniques to strengthen survival skills in your life and career of nursing. Nursing school was efficient in teaching medical nursing education and taking care of the patient. This program teaches and encourages you how to take care of the nurse. Taking care of yourself in the medical profession allow for management of Compassion Fatigue, which is real and affecting thousands of nurses on a daily basis.
Watching my son as an infant when he was sleeping was such a joy. Not because I finally had time to myself, but to watch his tiny body fill his chest and abdomen with air, with him in a little blue sleeper looking so peaceful, so relaxed!

This exercise focuses on three areas, rib cage, diaphragm and abdomen.
Sit or stand, relax your neck and shoulders, breathe in slowly through your nose counting to five (5). Take a deep breath filling the chest relaxing and expanding the belly area. Breathe as much air in as possible. Hold it for a second and breathe the air out slowly with a count of five (5) through your mouth. With your next breath, breathe in through the nose and slowly fill the chest while expanding the abdomen. Pause and release the breath out through the mouth. (like perslip breathing). Breathe this way during your day as often as you remember.
Some call this breathing belly breathing or diaphragmatic breathing. Belly breathing is something we all do as infants, as as we age into adulthood, we loose that natural ability to take deep, full body breaths.This full body breathing, because you allow the breath to fully enter your body. When you are in a stressful situation, the fastest way to relax the body is to breathe a full breathe of air deep into the body expanding the chest and abdomen.

What is your breathing like right now? Close your eyes and focus on how is your body taking in air. Are your breaths short? Breathing only into the top part of your lungs? Does your belly move out when you breathe? Try the following technique;

Eckhart Tolle, in his book A New Earth: awakening to your life’s purpose, suggests deep breathing takes us out of our minds and into our bodies. Connecting with our bodies gives us stability.
Start your day with a deep cleansing breathe before getting out of bed. Then, breathe a fully belly breath when you get out of bed and stand on the floor. Stretch and connect with all parts of your body just by bringing them into your awareness. If you have sore or aching parts, just breathe into them. Continue full body breathing and focus on the aching part. Try not to judge the pain as good or bad, just allow yourself to recognize the aching. Thank your body for the job it does without you having to think about it.

When you are in the shower, as the hot water hits the area between your shoulder blades, that sensation brings great relaxation to the body. Sing your favorite song in the shower. Singing will allow you to breathe deeper, bring muscle relaxation and give you something to focus on besides the thought of starting another shift at the hospital.
After getting out of the shower, take another deep cleansing breath inhaling the aroma of your first cup of coffee or tea before you start your shift.
During your shift and throughout your work day, create a space for yourself and take in a full body breathe. For example, when you are listening to report from the off-going shift, quietly take in a full body breathe. Think of other opportunities during your shift to practice deep breathing and have awareness how you feel at the end of your shift. Breathe!
At the end of your day, spend five minutes with your eyes closed focused on your breathing. Try this breathing exercise; for diaphragm breathing.
To help you strengthen your diaphragm and use it correctly when you breathe, follow these steps:

Lie on your back with your knees supported by pillows bent at a 90 degree angle to your chest. Lying on a stable surface like the floor is best.
Place one hand on your chest and one hand on your belly just below your ribcage.
As you inhale through your nose slowly, let your belly and lower ribs rise while you keep your chest fairly still. Inhale counting to 3 and exhale counting of 6.
With practice, try diaphragm breathing up to a dozen breaths. Soon you will experience this breathing technique without tiring. When you have mastered this, try it standing. Finally, practice it while walking or even climbing stairs and hourly during your workday.

Daily practice of paying attention to your breathing may bring about changes in your perception of the level of stress in your day. Let the breath breatheYou!
Stay Healthy!
Copyright 2009-2011, Works of AnnChristine Warneka, BSN,RN
AnnChristine BSN,RN works as an author and life coach, offering seminars on Compassion Fatigue, Test Anxiety as well as Life Ownership. She lives and works in Phoenix, AZ Visit her blogg site Nurseguardian@blogspot.com or contact her email: nurseguardian@gmail.com. Phone: 602-516-6800.
You may reprint this article with my name attached. Please share this information.

Blog Boot Camp for Nurses™ II Decompression

2009-09-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

The BASICs for Decompression.

I have seen some of the worst cases of Decompression Sickness, or the bends, from
my experiences as a SCUBA diver. This article includes 5 BASIC decompression techniques you can use to release your work day and return home with renewed energy.

When a SCUBA diver surfaces to quickly they can become sick with a medical diagnosis called “ the bends” or Decompression Sickness. As a SCUBA diver I was taught to return to the surface slowly by remaining at the recreational depth of 100 feet under the surface and managing my air tanks for proper air supply.
The Decompression Sickness is caused by a buildup of Nitrogen in the blood stream. When the diver rises to quickly to the surface of the water, Decompression Sickness can occur.
In addition to knowledge and training to avoiding Decompression Sickness it is important to have good equipment ( ie tools). Safe execution of the process of rising to the surface is also important in having a safe diving experience.
How do you “rise to the surface” and decompress before returning to your life after a shift at the hospital or workday?
Like most of us I am guessing, you are driving to pick up the kids, attend class, run errands, or go to a second job. Life is pretty busy and we tend to rush from one thing to the next. Taking the time to “surface “ after your shift may give you another tool in your skill set to enjoy life and manage Compassion Fatigue.

The process of going home after work, for most nurses usually means immediate additional responsibility, such as kids and family. Creating a ritual for yourself for a few minutes after work can be a mini retreat, helping you to refocus your thoughts on your present moments. Create a ritual for yourself that gives and enhances your energy.

Nursing school does not teach job decompression. Work experience does not teach job decompression.

After you complete your shift or day at work, create a ritual for decompression. This allows you to release the workday leaving work at work. Here a four easy steps to take to decompress from your shift by using BASIC. (BREATH, ADAPT, SPACE, INVENT, CONSISTENCY)

BREATHE. After completing your work day, take a moment in your car, at your desk, or waiting for public transit to take 10 deep breaths. Take in a cleansing breathe. In through the nose and out slowly through the mouth. SCUBA divers relearn breathing underwater with equipment called a Regulator. When breathing with a Regulator it is important to take slow, comfortable breaths. I cannot resist the pun, Regulating your breathing throughout the day reminds your body to relax and can refocus your mind. A complete a set of Breathing Exercises discussed in article Boot Camp for Nurses part I.

ADAPT: The Adept are able to ADAPT to any situation. Changing your clothes allows you to mentally adapt to the fact your shift has ended and another nurse has taken over the care of your patients. Change your clothes if possible, before going home. Do you change from scrubs back into street clothes? Changing your clothes allows you to mentally change from your career responsibilities as a nurse to your personal life responsibilities. Tell yourself, “This is my time now.” And/or “This time is now for my family and loved ones”. As you leave the unit, focus on letting the workday go as you get further from your workplace. Mentally leave those thoughts about work with the scrubs in the laundry basket at work.

SPACE : When you place your car keys in the ignition, and start your car, create space to think about what is important to you. Start focusing on yourself and your loved ones. Remember that your car is your space and you are going home to family, partner, pets and loved ones. This is YOUR time and space for you. The physical motion of driving away from work puts space between your self and your work. As thoughts of patients come back into your mind, acknowledge the thought, try not to judge the thought as good or bad and let each one go like a Helium filled balloon. Focus on what you accomplished and positive aspects of your work day. Send out thoughts of gratefulness
for your blessings.

INVENT: My friend, with a Masters Degree in Nursing stops at a bookstore to read or the grocery store to pick up dinner after her shift. She says stopping somewhere after work and before going home allows her to mentally separate work from her home life. Create a new ritual for yourself when entering your home. Find what would help you to release the day and step into your home as your space. Here are some ideas; visiting with your neighbors, discussing your day with your spouse or friend then releasing the days stress, showering, changing into your favorite sweat pants, playing a game with your children, walking your dog, putting on some music, engaging in a hobby that brings joy like photography, baking, woodworking. Participating in a sport of your choice, as a participant, not spectator. Be creative focus all of your attention in that moment of transition from work to home life.

CONSISTENCY: Practicing the process of decompression comes with consistent practice. Make space for yourself and allow your self a few minutes every day to make the transition from work life to personal life. Simple, clear processes are sometimes the most challenging. I challenge you to be consistent with this 5 step method of following BASIC when you leave the workplace daily for 30 days. Write to me and tell me how BASIC has made a difference in your life.

Remember these these 5 BASIC steps to Decompression: BREATHE, ADAPT, SPACE, INVENT, CONSISTENCY.

As with SCUBA diving, it is important to take the proper steps for decompression.
I have given you some tools to help with the process for safe decompression from the work place. Practice the BASIC steps to decompression.

Stay Healthy!
AnnChristine Warneka BSN,RN is the Executive Director of Nurse Guardian. LLC. Nurse Guardian offers Life Coaching face to face via Skype.com. Nurse Guardian offers professional seminars on Train the Trainer; Recognize and Recover Compassion Fatigue™ and seminars in Total Life Ownership™. She lives and works in Phoenix, AZ Visit her blog or contact her at www.Nurseguardian.blogspot.com. email: nurseguardian@gmail.com. Phone: 602-516-6800. AZ Time Zone.
You may reprint this article with my name attached. Please share this information.

Nurse interviews President Obama

2009-05-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

This U Tube interview summarizes the problems with the profession of nursing today.
It is time for nurses to speak up about their needs in healthcare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWpmO...layer_embedded

This is a fantastic summary. It is time to improve the quality of nurses lives and jobs.

10 Healthcare Professional Rights

2009-05-17T22:43:00.000-07:00

Health Care Providers Bill of Rights:

Compassion Fatigue is a sickness plaguing healthcare staff. While there is hope, these articles provide tools to get back on track from Compassion Fatigue. This article is to give health care providers permission to make and create space for themselves in their workday. Awareness of your fatigue and acceptance is, to use an old cliche "the first step."
You may feel like you are struggling, but your co-workers may perceive you as highly functioning.

I have written articles regarding the process of Compassion Fatigue for healthcare staff. I am a Registered Nurse of 17 years and have overcome Compassion Fatigue.
You no longer have to live life as a job. Life life for the fullness of life. It is your right to live your life!
Patients have rights, physicians have rights, employees have rights both federal and state laws protect them.
Here are 10 Rights for the Healthcare provider and staff.
See the link below to the Compassion Fatigue Awareness site and additional rights for health care professionals.

10 HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL( HCP’s) RIGHTS

HCP’s have a right To state the patient load is too heavy. Identifying that the assignment of the patient load for the shift is too difficult to manage and may become unsafe.

HCP’s have a right To ask for help and recieve it. Remember when your colleagues ask you for help. You ask them for help by communicating the timing of the help and ask them when they will be most available to do so. Anticipate and communicate your need for help to your team, so they have time to respond to your needs. Plan ways to return the help.

HCP’s have a right To take care of personal ( physical) needs during the shift. The right to go to the bathroom, get a drink of water, take a 10 minute break to refocus and plan the remainder of the shift and time to eat a snack or a meal.

HCP’s have a right To be spoken to in a professional manner by all professionals at all times. And not be spoken about in a negative manner when not present.

HCP’s have a right To ask for appreciation, validation and support from coworkers,team members and managers. Remember everyone likes positive feedback.

HCP’s have a right To identify healthy personal boundaries, Prioritizing and balancing a personal life and work.

HCP’s have a right To not participate in negative behavior of coworkers on unit.

HCP’s have a right To appropriately express emotions. Appropriately expressed emotions can be an ally.

HCP’s have a right To release emotional attachment to outcomes of patient care.

HCP’s have a right To be human and accept the humanity of patients.

Please see link below for addtional Healthcare staff rights:

http://www.compassionfatigue.org/pages/billofrights.html

May all your Call Lights be a Blessing!

AnnChristine Warneka BSN,RN is the Executive Director of Nurse Guardian. LLC. Nurse Guardian offers Life Coaching face to face via Skype.com. Nurse Guardian offers LIFE COACHING and professional seminars on Train the Trainer; Recognize and Recover Compassion Fatigue™ and seminars in Total Life Ownership™. She lives and works in Phoenix, AZ Visit her blog or contact her at www.Nurseguardian.blogspot.com. email: nurseguardian@gmail.com. Phone: 602-516-6800. AZ Zone.

Tools Measuring Success in Healthcare Part Three

2009-05-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

This article is the third in a series for measuring success in your healthcare profession. SEE PART ONE AND PART TWO of this article, Measuring Success in Healthcare.

The first tool is identifying what success means to you, The second tool is identifying your career path, when viewing the whole picture of your career, identify a plan for your career path. The third tool is strengthening your “ art of nursing muscle.” The third article in this series gives you a tool to identify your successesful moments during your career.

C. Write about successful moments in your career in Healthcare/Nursing

Nursing is an art form, Within the scope of nursing practice make space for creativity in problem solving. Write down the moments when you turned a sour situation into a positive outcome. This could be a situation with a patient, your approach with a coworker or medical provider or identifying and implementing a change in the processess and policies of your workplace.

Taking the time to write down sucessful moments in your career shows you where you can develop career and personal sucessess, strengthening your “art of nursing muscle”. The more sucess you have, by your definition, the more sucessful you will feel and the more you will srive for those sucessful moments in your workday!

( be careful, keep the focus on the postive outcome and your creative problem solving skills. NOT the difficult situation..you can do it! I believe in you!)

Did you use a metal coat hanger to build a bed? did you build a computer out of IV tubing and some Koban?

Send me your stories! I cannot wait to hear about the heroes in healthcare. You Macgiver you! EMail to nurseguardian@gmail.com

Early in my nursing career, I was trained to identify the solution, not just the problem. Encouraged by the changes brought by my solutions, I also encouraged this action when working as a nurse manager.

Having a life coach to discuss your professional sucesses, plans and discuss your challenges with coworkers, working in a broken medical system will help give you encouragement and support and strengthen your “art of nursing muscle”.

Identify what success means to you, review your career path and create a plan for your career growth and write down your successful moments. These tools will give you an indication of your strengths in your career and help you identify what sucess in your career means to you. Healthcare is an art with a balance of skills, experience and success. Build on your success!

These tools will give you an anchor in your career. Refer back to these tools often and continue to refresh your purpose and desire to stay in the career path you chose. These tools create a positive foundation to support you and to remind you of the successful career choice you made in healthcare.

©Copyright 2009-2015, Works of AnnChristine Warneka, BSN,RN

AnnChristine Warneka BSN,RN is the Executive Director of Nurse Guardian. LLC. Nurse Guardian offers Life Coaching face to face via Skype.com. Nurse Guardian offers professional seminars on Train the Trainer; Recognize and Recover Compassion Fatigue™ and seminars in Total Life Ownership™. She lives and works in Phoenix, AZ Visit her blog or contact her at www.Nurseguardian.blogspot.com. email: nurseguardian@gmail.com. Phone: 602-516-6800. AZ Zone.

Tools Measuring Success in Healthcare Part Two

2009-05-03T23:10:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to Nurse Guardian, LLC.

Nurse Guardian is a company that offers Compassion Fatigue Seminars, Train the Trainer on Compassion Fatigue and Life Coaching geared toward healthcare workers and care givers. This article is part two in a series of three articles.

See Article TOOLS MEASURING SUCCESS HEALTHCARE, ONE posted Friday April, 10th. For part I of this series.

Focusing on the positive aspects of your career remind you why you choose your career path. focusing on your successes in you career may lead to more success or additional career path choices.

Part A identifies the importance of how you define what success is in your career path and what being sucessful means to you. Your definition of sucess may give you additional job satisfaction.

The second part of this series of articles is understanding and identifying your career path up to this point in time, refecting on your career path and jobs you have had as well as where you want to be in your career.

B. Career Success Check List Tool;

Make a list of your career path so far. Check √ the moves in your career path that you have chosen. Put a star ☆ next to the career moves that you did not choose, but just “showed up”, or someone recommended the career path to you. You never thought you would find yourself taking the recommended path in healthcare, but ended up loving it, or finding your niche. I bet your check list is pretty amazing! When you review your list, do you feel like Forrest Gump?

Sharing this list with a Life Coach may launch your career in a new direction the direction you wish to go. Finally, create a path where you would like to be in your career in one year, three years, and five years. Write down everything you think you might like to do, inside and outside of health care Why is this important to you? Think about what this change in your career would bring you.

These tools will give you an anchor in your career. Refer back to these tools often and continue to refresh your purpose and resolve to say in the career path you chose. Or maybe it is time to choose an entirely different career path. Reviewing these tools can help you clarify that decision. These tools create a positive foundation to support you and carry with you to remind you of the wonderful career choice you made in healthcare.

Read part C in this series of Measuring Success in Healthcare,to be posted next week.
These tools create a positive foundation to support you and remind you what an amazing choice you made to have a career in healthcare.

May your next Call Light be a blessing!

©Copyright 2009-2015, Works of AnnChristine Warneka, BSN,RN

AnnChristine Warneka BSN,RN is the Executive Director of Nurse Guardian. LLC. Nurse Guardian offers Life Coaching face to face via Skype.com. Nurse Guardian offers professional seminars on Train the Trainer; Recognize and Recover Compassion Fatigue™ and seminars in Total Life Ownership™. She lives and works in Phoenix, AZ Visit her blog or contact her at www.Nurseguardian.blogspot.com. email: nurseguardian@gmail.com. Phone: 602-516-6800. AZ Zone.

Healthcare Protection During the Swine Flu II

2009-05-03T22:23:00.000-07:00

The World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting the importance of not becoming complacent during this Swine Flu epidemic. Mexico has made an announcement they believe the worst is over with the Swine Flu. Like the Spanish Flu of 1918, which started in the spring, it slowed during the hot summer months. Once Fall and cooler weather came, the Spanish flu came back a powerful force
.
Here is a link to the CDC website for healthcare providers. The page has information on public health, healthcare associated infections, travel notices including outbreaks and loads of information on vaccinations. If you only have a second, click the link for the travel immunization information.

Thanks for checking out my webpage.

http://www.cdc.gov/CDCForYou/healthcare_providers.html

Swine Flu information from CDC

2009-04-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

I had a great, great Grandmother succumb to the 1918 Flu Pandemic. Leaving my great Grandmother with her father and sibling to raise. While the situation probably could not have been prevented, this made me think about how important knowledge is regarding the Swine Flu. In 1918 there was no Internet! Can you imagine??

Today I found a Gadget or Widget from the Center for Disease Control CDC). Scroll down my web page, on the Right hand side is a green box with a link to the CDC.

This site has current medical information on the Swine Flu. On the right side of the CDC page is a modern, snappy CDC-TV podcast. This podcast has information on protection for yourself and your loved ones during this Swine Flu pandemic. As of April 28th, there are five articles ranging from pregnant women and Swine Flu to the CDC's announcement for the use of antivirals under specific circumstances of exposure or suspected Swine Flu infection.

Specifically: "Any health care worker who is at high-risk for complications of influenza (e.g., persons with certain chronic medical conditions, persons 65 or older, children younger than 5 years old, and pregnant women) who is working in an area of the healthcare facility that contains patients with confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) cases, or who is caring for patients with any acute febrile respiratory illness." --CDC.

Travel information is also available on the CDC webpage.

Click on the information on the CDC webpage for the World Health Organization (WHO), under "Swine Flu Watch" on the Right side. The WHO maps out the alert levels for a pandemic.

There will be a web cast on the current Swine Flu pandemic on April 29th 2 PM Eastern Standard Time.

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/news/panflu_webinar.html

For those interested in the 1918 Great Pandemic, there is information at the bottom of the CDC webpage.
I will keep you posted,

Ann

United States Government Recognizes Compassion Fatigue

2009-04-26T09:20:00.000-07:00

http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.aspx?docID=625911. This is an article based on U.S. government findings on compassion Fatigue.

digitalZENDO: Compression to Decompression

2009-04-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

digitalZENDO: Compression to Decompression

Here is a fantastic website for expanding your mind and creating a focus to help with Compassion Fatigue

Compassion Fatigue Four Stages Article III

2009-04-24T01:50:00.000-07:00

Compassion Fatigue is plaguing health care systems internationally.
What is compassion fatigue? see article Compassion Fatigue; tired of caring. This article discribes the symptoms of health care giver fatigue, and why it is so important to find ways to overcome care giver fatigue. There are four stages of care giver fatigue but there is hope for this growing problem.

Do you find yourself criticizing or snapping back at others? Do you doubt others at their word? Similarly, are you more irritable with co-workers, colleagues, or others? Have you lost your patience? If so, you may be suffering from compassion fatigue. Here are four stages to understand and identify compassion fatigue.

1.The first stage of compassion fatigue may be symptoms that include a cynical, sarcastic, or critical attitude. Heathcare professionals can have a dark or morbid sense of humor when it comes to their patients and family members. This increases negativity in the work place and toward human beings, Like bacteria souring milk. Catching compassion fatigue at the first stage is most hopeful to manage. Like restarting an exercise program after a month vs. a year. There is much more sucess in regaining your zest for life.

2.The second stage is the physical emotional and mental exhaustion. Physically having the energy and motivation to complete the job is a challenge. Mentally looking for ways to conserve energy by possibly cutting corners, experiencing increasing job disatisfaction. Feeling a sense of isolation at work. Feeling the loss of support in the workplace by coworkers, assistants, managers and support staff. This stage can lead to physical health problems such as headaches and stomach ulcers, elevated blood pressure. A decrease in the immune system may occur, increasing susceptibility to colds and flu. This stage is increasingly difficult to manage because the loss of interest in healthy coping skills and relaxation. There may be an increase in poor coping skills in this stage, such as drugs, alcohol or stress eating.

This second stage, compounded with the negativity and dark humor can lead to the third stage of compassion fatigue.

3.The third stage is anger. Resentment toward peers, manager for percieved lack of support. Frustration toward patients and their family members. Lack of satisfaction in job. Mentally measuring your self worth by your “internal job satisfaction barometer”. Thoughts wrestling with idealism and dissillusionment of the health care field. Percieved barriers to completing job tasks and questioning self in career choice. Underlying this anger is self doubt.

4.The fourth stage is the recovery stage. this is the stage of hope and regeneration.This is the journey of discovering the balance between the reality of the job and the ideals you had when you started your career. The fouth stage allows one to follow the journey of self acceptance and self love. Possibly redefining your disenchantment and disillusionment of your career choice. This is the space you create to enjoy the things that rejuvenate you and allow you to recover from the exposure to career stress. Remembering your initial reasons for joining the health care team, to help! Your next shift starts with a renewed sense of purpose. There is something inside you that keeps you on this path in healthcare and you start your shift refreshed.

These four stages are different from what I have read in my research. Awareness when things start to sour in you attitude and work performance can help you stop the process of the four stages of compassion fatigue and encourage you to create space, recovery and self acceptance.

©2009-2015 Works of AnnChristine Warneka, BSN,RN. Ann Warneka is the Executive Director of Nurse Guardian, LLC. Ann is a Life Coach and professional speaker specializing in Health care and care giver Life ownership. Nurse Guardian offers professional seminars on Training the Trainer in Health Care Compassion Fatigue Management and Total Life Ownership. Nurse Guardian can be reached at nurseguardian@gmail.com, nurseguardian.blogspot.com, Life Coaching can be done face to face via Skype.com from anywhere in the world.

Giving back to health care Article XVIII

2009-04-24T01:02:00.000-07:00

I started my Nursing career with my BSN degree clutched tightly in my hand. The other hand held a tissue, wiping the tears of relief from passing the NCLEX. Hired as a brand new nurse at a hospital in Cleveland, Ohio called Mt Sinai. Mt. Sinai Medical Center was a 400+ bed, level 1 trauma center, teaching hospital. ( the hospital since closed around 1997) I was given the gift of taking clear direction with my Nursing Career.

While on a new employee tour, I observed a nurse recruiter leading the tour, congratulate a fellow RN coworker on her promotion. I will never forget the comment she made. The coworker replied to the congratulations: “ I am honored to have this new position because nursing has given so much to me, now I can give back to nursing.”

What a refreshing perspective on Nursing, the art of Nursing and giving back to the profession! How do you give back to the profession of Nursing? Upon hearing the quote stated above, I have decided and made a commitment to build my career to support Nurses and professionals struggling with Compassion Fatigue. I decided to learn and receive lessons from health care professionals to be in the position to give back to the profession.
Identify your gifts and talents and share what you have to your field and expertise in Nursing,Your unit and your facility. Believe that your view on the world and the health care system can bring about changes.

Plan past your Compassion Fatigue. Compassion Fatigue is real and as you work though the process be gentle with yourself. Continue to look for opportunities to create a new focus in your career. Find a focus in nursing to replace the lost spark for your profession. Can you get involved in Evidenced Based Practice at your hospital? Is there a better way to give IV insulin? Is there a better way to monitor blood sugar? Find something to research with Evidence Based Practice and find the resources in your facility. There is Evidenced Based Practice that requires unit research to focus the study on. You could enhance the way policies and procedures are done at your facility by identifying an EBP need.

Can you help transition your workplace to “ Go Green”? There is also a transition occurring for health care facilities to “ Go Green” using less toxic chemicals for cleaning. Computer technology and medical records charting is another field that will be growing in the next decade.

Continue to focus on your education and Continuing Education Programs. Get involved with the Nursing Association of your medical specialty. WWW.discovernursing.com. One RN I know suggests going to a conference hosted away from your facility. Hosted by an organization that you may not usually be involved with or have regular exposure. Apply what you learn and bring the information back to your specialty.

Finally, review your career, Create a plan for your career goals, assist yourself in working through Compassion Fatigue. Learn all available options for your next career move.
Do you need to transition off the floor to the ICU? Do you need to transition away from direct patient care? Talk to nurses in the Risk Department or QA department at your facility to discover other fields in Nursing. It is your life.. your life is waiting for you to fully live it.

1Copyright 2009-2010, Works of AnnChristine Warneka, BSN,RN
AnnChristine BSN,RN works as an author and life coach, offering seminars on Compassion Fatigue, Test Anxiety as well as Life Ownership. She lives and works in Phoenix, AZ Visit her blogg or contact her at contacted at www.Nurseguardian.com. email: nurseguardian@gmail.com. Phone: 602-516-6800.