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My Slightly Chaotic Life

Balancing Life, Children and Chaos

Lifestyle

My Life (so far) as a Nurse

February 22, 2018 Comment : 1

Asa new nurse, you have no idea the things you will encounter or what you will learn. Here is what I have learned (so far) for the nursing students and the new nurses and even for some of the long term nurses.

I struggled for many years, as many do, with trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. It took me 6 years and a (semi) useless Bachelor’s degree in sociology to realize I wanted to pursue nursing. My mother is a nurse and for the majority of my life she has worked in the emergency department. You would think that would drive at least one of her children to pursue a career in nursing but I honestly had no interest when I was a fresh out of high school college student. In fact I thought I wanted to be a lawyer, which on particularly hard days at work as a nurse, I wish I had continued down that path. So at the age of 26 I went back to school to pursue my nursing degree.

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My badge from my first nursing job

It’s been almost 4 years since I started working as a full-time nurse. This Saturday, February 24th, will be 4 years exactly since I started my nursing career which also happens to coincide with my  birthday. I started out as a brand new, eager to learn nurse on a medical surgical unit at a large hospital 45 minutes from home. After about a 1 1/2 years I felt I was ready for a new challenge and transitioned to the cardiac cath lab at the same hospital. While the hours were amazing for a nurse (Monday through Friday 630a-4p, no weekends, no holidays), I quickly realized hearts were not my thing after 6 months. I decided to make a jump and leave the hospital I started out at, transitioning to a smaller hospital 10 minutes from home in the Emergency Department which actually happened to be the hospital my mother worked at, and continues to work, for many years. It’s now been 2 years and I have no regrets about my decision to make this change. It’s been a journey and I have learned many important things that they don’t necessarily teach you in nursing school.

  • You will never stop learning

There are days still where I have absolutely no clue what I am doing. The wonderful thing about working in the Emergency Department is that you will see just about everything come through the doors. I have seen countless heart attacks, cardiac arrests, strokes, kidney stones and even a couple of births. It’s an adrenaline rush that can’t be described when something critical rolls into a treatment room. At the same time it can be incredibly scary especially when it’s something you have never seen before or not often enough in order to be comfortable taking care of that patient. I will never pretend like I know everything nor will I never stop asking for help if I feel I am in over my head with a patient because I believe that there is always a chance to learn something new.

  • The loses will hurt

One important thing I learned soon after starting as a nurse was that people aren’t invincible. You will never be able to save everyone and when you lose a patient that loss will stay with you and sometimes even keep you up at night. I still remember the first patient that unexpectedly died on me. I spent days thinking about what I missed or could have done for that patient that I didn’t do and lost countless hours of sleep. When I talked to a friend about it they advised that sometimes people die and there is nothing we can do to stop it or change it and reassured me that it was in no way my fault. While this is an incredibly powerless feeling to watch life slip away it is something that I have learned to accept. The deaths still take their toll on me but I pay my respects, mourn the loss and move forward because that’s what you have to do in nursing.

  • Nursing is a thankless job

I have been yelled at, called several inappropriate names, spit at, hit, kicked and unfortunately even peed on. I didn’t go into this field thinking that patient’s would be grateful for the care they received because the majority of people will not be thankful. In fact,  when the doctor doesn’t give them what they want (narcotics) or they have to wait for a long period of time (welcome to the Emergency Department) before being seen it somehow becomes the nurse’s fault. No matter how hard you try, some people find any and every excuse to complain whether it be about the care that they received or the time they had to wait. Despite this, I will still continue to try each and every shift to provide the best care I can because nursing is not about receiving a thank you.

  • Nursing can be extremely rewarding

Yes there are many difficult times in this line of work but there are some moments that are extremely rewarding. I have held the hand of a dying patient, comforted a child who was sick, have done everything in my power to make a patient with extreme pain from a fractured extremity more comfortable and have even watched a mom bring a new baby into the world. Those moments make me feel good and make me feel as though I made a small difference in that patient’s life, even if it was just for a moment. The patients that leave in better health then when they came in or when you hear a positive outcome on a patient that was critical and ended up being shipped out to a larger facility make the craziness and stress of the job worth it.

  • You will make amazing friends

I have met the best people working in this field and in fact some of my closest friends have been ones that I have met because they were my coworkers. While it may be hard to find times to actually hang out (thank you random nursing schedules) you don’t have to censor the things that you say. My non nursing friends tend to get grossed out when I talk about my job while my nursing friends consider it par for the course. These are the people that you can depend on during working hours and non working hours. They will also be the ones to listen to you when you want to complain about work life as well as your home life. If I never went into nursing then I would never have met these amazing people and my life would be a little emptier without them.

  • Following in your mother’s footsteps is hard

My mother is an incredible mother, grandmother, friend and yes, even a nurse. My mother worked for many years at the hospital that I wok at currently, even in the same department. Some of my coworkers were her coworkers which can be extremely difficult to live up to. I always hear about how smart and intuitive my mother is when it comes to this profession from co-workers, doctors and even EMTs that have worked with her. I am proud of my mom and I am so lucky to be her daughter but sometimes it can be hard at work to form my own identity separate  from my mother.

I’m only 4 years into this career and I know I still have a lot to learn about myself and this field. I love my job and I am excited for what it has in store for me and where it will take me through the next 4 years of my life.

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Our children, School and Their Safety
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My 33rd Birthday and 33 Weeks Pregnant

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  1. Donna Zimmerman says

    March 10, 2018 at 2:28 pm

    Thank you❤️Mom

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Danielle. I'm a mom, girlfriend and ED nurse. I love sharing my honest take on all things mom as well as life!

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Missed miscarriage. Something I wasn’t prepared Missed miscarriage.

Something I wasn’t prepared for, something I didn’t even know was possible until it happened to me. Something I have thought about for the past couple weeks. Essentially my body still thinks it’s pregnant even though there is no fetal heart activity and so I sit here, after my D&C with all these emotions coursing through me. 

I’m sad. Sad for the little life that never really grew and I will never know. 

I’m disappointed. Disappointed in my body for not doing what it should have done on its own and having to sit with this while I waited to be scheduled for a D&C.

I’m upset. I’m upset that this happened to me. Upset that it has to happen to any woman. 

Finally, I’m pissed. Pissed that I had to go through this alone. That I had to sit in that ultrasound room alone because of the office policy of no visitors. That my husband couldn’t be there when they told me that my baby no longer has a heartbeat and having to make the decision about what to do by myself. I’m pissed that people can go to bars, restaurants and pack themselves into the mall but I couldn’t have someone there to hold my hand while I was delivered news that would turn my entire world upside down. 

It just doesn’t make sense. None of it makes sense.
I debated even sharing this sine miscarriage is such a taboo topic, but a lot of people have reached out to see if I’m ok and I don’t want to pretend it didn’t exist as well as to let others know that they aren’t alone during this time even when all they feel is alone. 

I took this photo the day I found out I was pregnant, hoping to share it eventually but instead I’ll share it now.
Trying out a new hair growth system thanks to @bon Trying out a new hair growth system thanks to @bondiboost which is giving my hair the boost it needs to grow long and thick! Seriously their hair growth line is exactly what your hair needs if your looking to grow those locks out! 

This year @bondiboost turns 3 and they are gifting you 30% off their entire site! That means 30% off anything site wide with the code BBTurns3 so make sure to stock up on all your fave Bondiboost products or give them a try now with this amazing savings! 
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#bondiboostpartner 
#boostyourroots 
#bondiboostus 
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Read that again. 
No matter how crappy you think your day is going to be; wake up and set you mind to a more positive way of thinking. 
I can’t tell you how many times this thought process has gotten me through rough days at work, with the kids or even when I’m just feeling incredibly overwhelmed. 

Tell me how do you create a beautiful mindset? 
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#positivewords 
#motivationalquotesdaily 
#lifewithkids
AD: Balancing my mind and my immune system these d AD: Balancing my mind and my immune system these days. As a busy mom it’s so important that I keep a healthy immune system because moms don’t get days off! 

Bonus: supporting my gut health as well with products that contain @epicorimmune. It’s a POSTbiotic. Haven’t heard of that before? So, PRObiotics in your gut eat fibers (PREbiotics) in order to make beneficial metabolites. Well, POSTbiotics contain those metabolites and delivers them directly to your gut. 

Currently using @countrylifevitamins Gut Connection ImmuneBalance™ powered by @epicorimmune. You can find @countrylifevitamins online at the link in my bio. 

How are you balancing your mind and body these days?

#livemorehealthydays #EpiCorImmune 
#EpiCor 
#healthylivingtips

https://lnk2.io/wLKXFhK
Rainy day here today but this little corner of Ave Rainy day here today but this little corner of Avery’s bedroom looks so cozy. 

I’m so thankful to have passed on my love for reading to both my children and here are some of Avery’s favorite books on display. Beekle, Raz & Benz and Strictly no Elephants are Avery’s favs and we read them on repeat every night. I’ll link the books in my stories. 

What books do your kids love?
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#lifewithatoddler 
#toddlermomlife 
#momlife 
#motherhoodalive 
#motherhoodlife
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Getting photos with the kids is hard and the majority of the time I’m doing it by myself. 
I rely on my camera, tripod and timer to snap these shots and anyone who knows this method can relate to it taking many shots to get something resembling what your initial idea was. 
Pretty happy to have finally caught this one and not ashamed to admit there was some bribery involved.

Share your tips with getting photos with your kids in the comments! 
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#mommyandme
#momswithcameras 
#momswithstyle 
#honestmommin 
#lifewithlittles
Easter is coming up and if your like me; you want Easter is coming up and if your like me; you want to create something (most likely last minute) that your kids will love but doesn’t cost a fortune. Well I am here to say Easter basket’s don’t have to be expensive! 

In fact: you can create a fun Easter basket for your kiddos that is inexpensive (and last minute if that’s your thing). 
Things I grabbed for Avery’s basket this year:
1. Chalk (Target dollar spot)
2. Sunglasses 
3. Water bottle 
4. Bubble wands
5. Socks (because what kid doesn’t love socks)
6. Plastic eggs with candy and coins 
7. Chocolate bunny 
8. Spring outfit 

For inspo on older kid’s Easter Basket ideas, make sure to check out my latest blog post (link in bio). 

That’s it! Quick, easy and the total cost was minimal. 
Bunny pictured from last year because my child does not need anymore stuffed animals.

What fun things do you do for Easter?
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#easterbasket 
#easterbasketideas 
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3 years ago, this little one came into this world 3 years ago, this little one came into this world in a whirlwind and has kept us guessing and on our toes ever since. 
She loves reading, hiking, riding her bike, jumping on and off a thing, playing with her siblings and friends and Paw Patrol. 
Happy birthday Avery; life is that much better and just a little crazier with you around and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 
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#birthdayvibes 
#toddlermom 
#toddlerstyle 
#threeyearsold 
#mylittleloves
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Missed miscarriage. Something I wasn’t prepared Missed miscarriage.

Something I wasn’t prepared for, something I didn’t even know was possible until it happened to me. Something I have thought about for the past couple weeks. Essentially my body still thinks it’s pregnant even though there is no fetal heart activity and so I sit here, after my D&C with all these emotions coursing through me. 

I’m sad. Sad for the little life that never really grew and I will never know. 

I’m disappointed. Disappointed in my body for not doing what it should have done on its own and having to sit with this while I waited to be scheduled for a D&C.

I’m upset. I’m upset that this happened to me. Upset that it has to happen to any woman. 

Finally, I’m pissed. Pissed that I had to go through this alone. That I had to sit in that ultrasound room alone because of the office policy of no visitors. That my husband couldn’t be there when they told me that my baby no longer has a heartbeat and having to make the decision about what to do by myself. I’m pissed that people can go to bars, restaurants and pack themselves into the mall but I couldn’t have someone there to hold my hand while I was delivered news that would turn my entire world upside down. 

It just doesn’t make sense. None of it makes sense.
I debated even sharing this sine miscarriage is such a taboo topic, but a lot of people have reached out to see if I’m ok and I don’t want to pretend it didn’t exist as well as to let others know that they aren’t alone during this time even when all they feel is alone. 

I took this photo the day I found out I was pregnant, hoping to share it eventually but instead I’ll share it now.
Trying out a new hair growth system thanks to @bon Trying out a new hair growth system thanks to @bondiboost which is giving my hair the boost it needs to grow long and thick! Seriously their hair growth line is exactly what your hair needs if your looking to grow those locks out! 

This year @bondiboost turns 3 and they are gifting you 30% off their entire site! That means 30% off anything site wide with the code BBTurns3 so make sure to stock up on all your fave Bondiboost products or give them a try now with this amazing savings! 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#bondiboostpartner 
#boostyourroots 
#bondiboostus 
#haircaretips 
#momhair
“A beautiful day starts with a beautiful mindset “A beautiful day starts with a beautiful mindset” - unknown 
Read that again. 
No matter how crappy you think your day is going to be; wake up and set you mind to a more positive way of thinking. 
I can’t tell you how many times this thought process has gotten me through rough days at work, with the kids or even when I’m just feeling incredibly overwhelmed. 

Tell me how do you create a beautiful mindset? 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#positivewords 
#motivationalquotesdaily 
#lifewithkids
AD: Balancing my mind and my immune system these d AD: Balancing my mind and my immune system these days. As a busy mom it’s so important that I keep a healthy immune system because moms don’t get days off! 

Bonus: supporting my gut health as well with products that contain @epicorimmune. It’s a POSTbiotic. Haven’t heard of that before? So, PRObiotics in your gut eat fibers (PREbiotics) in order to make beneficial metabolites. Well, POSTbiotics contain those metabolites and delivers them directly to your gut. 

Currently using @countrylifevitamins Gut Connection ImmuneBalance™ powered by @epicorimmune. You can find @countrylifevitamins online at the link in my bio. 

How are you balancing your mind and body these days?

#livemorehealthydays #EpiCorImmune 
#EpiCor 
#healthylivingtips

https://lnk2.io/wLKXFhK
Rainy day here today but this little corner of Ave Rainy day here today but this little corner of Avery’s bedroom looks so cozy. 

I’m so thankful to have passed on my love for reading to both my children and here are some of Avery’s favorite books on display. Beekle, Raz & Benz and Strictly no Elephants are Avery’s favs and we read them on repeat every night. I’ll link the books in my stories. 

What books do your kids love?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#lifewithatoddler 
#toddlermomlife 
#momlife 
#motherhoodalive 
#motherhoodlife
I couldn’t go another day without having this sw I couldn’t go another day without having this sweet photo of both my kids and myself on my feed. 

Getting photos with the kids is hard and the majority of the time I’m doing it by myself. 
I rely on my camera, tripod and timer to snap these shots and anyone who knows this method can relate to it taking many shots to get something resembling what your initial idea was. 
Pretty happy to have finally caught this one and not ashamed to admit there was some bribery involved.

Share your tips with getting photos with your kids in the comments! 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#mommyandme
#momswithcameras 
#momswithstyle 
#honestmommin 
#lifewithlittles
Easter is coming up and if your like me; you want Easter is coming up and if your like me; you want to create something (most likely last minute) that your kids will love but doesn’t cost a fortune. Well I am here to say Easter basket’s don’t have to be expensive! 

In fact: you can create a fun Easter basket for your kiddos that is inexpensive (and last minute if that’s your thing). 
Things I grabbed for Avery’s basket this year:
1. Chalk (Target dollar spot)
2. Sunglasses 
3. Water bottle 
4. Bubble wands
5. Socks (because what kid doesn’t love socks)
6. Plastic eggs with candy and coins 
7. Chocolate bunny 
8. Spring outfit 

For inspo on older kid’s Easter Basket ideas, make sure to check out my latest blog post (link in bio). 

That’s it! Quick, easy and the total cost was minimal. 
Bunny pictured from last year because my child does not need anymore stuffed animals.

What fun things do you do for Easter?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#easterbasket 
#easterbasketideas 
#toddlerhood 
#easterbaskets 
#busymomlife
3 years ago, this little one came into this world 3 years ago, this little one came into this world in a whirlwind and has kept us guessing and on our toes ever since. 
She loves reading, hiking, riding her bike, jumping on and off a thing, playing with her siblings and friends and Paw Patrol. 
Happy birthday Avery; life is that much better and just a little crazier with you around and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#birthdayvibes 
#toddlermom 
#toddlerstyle 
#threeyearsold 
#mylittleloves
Follow Me on Instagram
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