master's degree

Hey all,
I've decided to go back to school and pursue a master's degree. I'm currently applying to a distance program in Kentucky called The Frontier School of Nurse Midwifery and Family Nursing. I will be applying to get my MSN in nurse midwifery. I love being a L&D nurse, but my heart is truly with the delivering aspect...it's amazing to be so integral in the birthing of a new life...so I have decided to put having my own children on hold until I finish school in approx. 3 years. Keep me in your prayers when you think of me.

Happy Nurses Week Everybody! can you believe it's been 2 years since we graduated!?

So, um, anybody's hospital hiring? Waiting tables is sort of losing it's charm...

Lemme know.
Josh
joshuajmcbride@gmail.com

The Lord's Work

hey everyone...it's been a while since anyone posted & I thought I'd send out a note to say hi and hopefully encourage you.

I have recently been somewhat frustrated with my job.....mostly because I feel like I want to be doing something more as a nurse than just passing out pain meds to surgical patients, making sure they can pee after I pull their foley, and that they can at least pass gas, if not go the extra mile and get them to poop post-op.

Oh the joys of a surgical floor...haha!

Yesterday I had this patient, and unfortunately she has become somewhat of a frequent flyer because of complications with the multiple surgeries she's had. We found out yesterday that it's looking like her cancer is back and her prognosis is poor. As I was walking out the door, purse and lunchbox in hand, the surgeon asked if I would round on her with him....which I just felt like I needed to be there to hear the news, so I went down to her room and was there as they faced overwhelming news. After he left I stayed and asked if I could pray with her and her husband. It was one of those moments when you can absolutely feel the presence of God and we all knew He was there with us. It was a truly amazing moment, and although it had been a long exhausting day, I was so blessed by having stayed there. When I was done praying, we were all in tears and she said, "Thank you. You are truly doing the Lord's work here."

It was a huge reminder that spiritual care is SOOO important, and if you can find those moments, it makes your whole day worth it.

So I encourage you, spread the love of Jesus to your patients, no matter where you work, because whether in the ED, ICU, L&D, or out in the "mission field" we are truly about the Lord's work.

Merry Christmas!

Hey Class of 2008! Just wanted to say hi and have a Merry Christmas!

Another Fun Report!

Remember the old Olympic skier, Peekaboo Street? Well, apparently her Olympic sponsors aren't paying the bills anymore... She is now an ICU nurse at Whittier Presbyterian.

Yesterday, I called the ICU to give report on my 49 year old septic patient and she picked up the phone, "Peekabo, ICU!"

Yep, you're welcome.

1 whole year....

so all through school and at the beginning of my new grad program everyone kept saying "it takes a year". I've been meaning to post this sooner, but time just flies....

anyways, my new grad program was an entire year, and we just finished a few weeks ago...and it got me thinking....wow, it's been that year everyone talked about. I still don't feel like I know everything, but I don't feel nauseated to walk into work....or to walk out. I think leaving was just as bad as going there for a while. I was always worried I'd forgotten something major and left a mess for the next shift.

Well those days are over and I feel like I know what I'm doing most days and I really love my job now.

How about you guys? How has the time we've been working changed things for you? Any big things you've learned this year that you'll take with you into the next?

I definitely learned not to sweat the small stuff. Sounds so silly, but the little things that used to stress me out are no longer a big deal and I have learned to prioritize things much better this year.