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Thursday, May 31, 2012

Weekly Inspirational Quote

For awhile last year, I posted a weekly inspirational quote. I was drawn to quotes that particularly resonated with me during this time of transition and career change. 

I think that this summer break from nursing school may be a good time to re-start posting quotes...inspirational quotes on career change, choices, living an authentic life, being true to your dreams if possible, perseverance, determination...you get the idea!!!   A bit of inspiration or motivation can never hurt.

Enjoy!

"Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely."
                                                     -- Karen Kaiser Clark

Monday, May 28, 2012

A Photo Can Save a Life





http://www.aphotocansavealife.com/

Sometimes, 'red eye' coming up in your kids' photos can be a good thing, even if it is not a feature most photographers wish to see!  It is actually a very, very good thing to happen, as it indicates healthy eyes.  If 'white eye' shows up, that's not so good...time to call the doctor asap...read on...

The following text and the above photo are from the http://www.aphotocansavealife.com/ website, and I quote:

"Retinoblastoma is a rare form of eye cancer that's 98% curable if detected early. Children up to age 5 should be screened. It's easy. Simply take a flash photo of your child. Where you'd normally see the “red spot” effect in the eye, Retinoblastoma can show up as a white spot. And that's a sign that you should visit your doctor.
For more information, visit RBsociety.ca and learn to look for white eye."

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Summer blogging - health communication and more!

So here I am, back in the corporate world for almost a month now, continuing my professional career.  My first year of nursing school is finished, and school will resume in September.  That leaves a few months to fill, where I don't have nursing school to write about. 

I really enjoy writing, and don't want to stop updating my blog over the summer.  Therefore, I've decided that in the coming months, I will write about health.  I am a so-called 'communications professional' -- I've been in the communications field my entire career.  I've mentioned before that I love the idea of combining my communications skills with the medical field.  So I will be a "medical communicator" writer over the summer.  There is so much medical information that I want people to be aware of, and here is my platform.

Also, I am planning to write about a topic that is consistent with this blog's purpose -- to help encourage people who want to make a mid-life career change.  I seem to constantly be coming across interesting articles and blogs that talk about the issues involved about making a career change.  About personal satisfaction in what you do, (or at least liking and enjoying what your work is!).  About gathering up the courage, despite the 'golden handcuffs', that keep so many people from making a change.  About the fear of transition and the unknown, and staying put, even though one may be profoundly unhappy where they're at, and about the negative health effects such a scenario that can bring on.

Finally, I also plan to write about gratitude.  About voluntary simplicity.  About enjoying life, not just planning to live, or wanting to change -- but simply about enjoying what you have, right here, right now.

So stay tuned.  There are many interesting blog entries to come over the summer.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Medical Animation - Heal: ghOst Production's 2009 Orthopedic Demo Reel

How about orthopaedics as a specialty, anyone?  I'd always heard it referenced to as 'medical carpentry', and now I completely see why that reference is valid!  It is simply fascinating to see what orthopaedic surgeons can do, and how they can help injured people.  (And even Michaelangelo knew better than to paint the Sistine Chapel without using an elaborate scaffolding system!!!)

ghOst Productions have a whole series of animated shorts, on various medical specialties and body systems.  It is so well done!!!



On a completely unrelated note, I just want to say that I received some shocking medical news about somebody I indirectly know.  I won't go into any details here, but she is in intensive care right this minute, fighting for her life.  Her loving husband and two young daughters are waiting for her full and complete recovery, as is a very special little boy. 

I have great hope for her full recovery, given that she was able to communicate after she was revived by paramedics, and because she was breathing on her own. That tells me key parts of the brain (that we studied in such detail in neuro-anatomy and neuro-physiology classes!) were still functioning.  Time will tell, but I truly believe in her full recovery.

Life is so precious and fragile.  Tell someone you care about what you appreciate about them Hug them.  Reach out.  Don't put it off.  Life's too unpredictable to put it off.  Be grateful.  Show your love.

Future Nurse Kate

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Happy Mother's Day

I want to wish all Moms everywhere, (nurses or not!), a very Happy Mother's Day.

Mothers fill a special, unique and irreplacable role, unlike any other.

On this day that I am celebrating Motherhood, sharing a most special day with my three precious children, my heart goes out to the some 150,000,000 (or more) orphans around the world.

Education. Awareness. Compassion. Love.

Please check out the following sites, and let your hearts and souls be touched by their plight.

http://www.projecthopeful.org/

http://reecesrainbow.org/

http://theblessingofverity.com/

These sites don't even begin to skim the surface of the orphan crisis, but at least it is a start.

To quote Mother Teresa, someone whom I greatly admire and respect:

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
Mother Teresa

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.  Mother Teresa
That's all it takes.  Do a little bit to help.  Help change one life.  I know I cannot save the world.  But I know I can do my part to help out.
And I know for certain that when I am finally a nurse, I will be volunteering my time and my medical skills, in Eastern Europe with these precious children.  Yet another reason to be making this career change.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

International Nurses Day!

I want to say "Happy International Nurses Day" to all the nurses, and future nurses, everywhere.

When mentioning "international", my little blog has had quite the international audience since its launch a year and a half ago.  Although I just have a very basic tracking system, and I don't know who is actually visiting my blog, I do know that so far it has had visitors from 83 countries!!!  Now that's international! :-)

I haven't really promoted it, or tried to get it "out there" in the blogosphere...mostly because I didn't know if I'd stick to updating it.  This is post #150, so I think it is well established in my routine.  It's been mostly word of mouth that people have found out about it, but somehow other people are stumbling across it.  Maybe my url has been tagged and promoted by various 'shady' means and visitors may be somewhat disappointed when they visit my blog.  Who knows.  LOL!  But somebody seems to be reading it.

All I know is that I enjoy writing this blog, it is a great way to keep memories of an extraordinary experience in my life, and who knows, maybe, just maybe, it may inspire someone else who wants to make a career change, but is hesitant to do so for a plethora of reasons -- I know that well, as I've lived it (and to a certain extent, am still living it).

Here's to nurses everywhere!!!

My list of visitor countries:

Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Bangladesh
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Cambodia 
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Latvia
Lebanon
Lithuania
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Macedonia (FYROM)
Malaysia                                                                       
Mexico
Morocco
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Norway
Pakistan
Panama
Philippines
Poland
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Ukraine
UK                                                                     
USA
Venezuela
Vietnam