Tag: health
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A Change for the Better
It can be hard to make a change. I graduated nursing school in the middle of COVID, having gone back after my kids were older and my ex and I had separated. I worked full-time in retail and then hospital pharmacies, going to nursing school part-time. After working for about a year on my unit,…
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Palliative Care vs Hospice Care
“Aren’t palliative and hospice the same thing?” No, they are different, but do share similarities! While both palliative patients and hospice patients are facing life-threatening illnesses, a palliative patient can still be receiving curative treatments. Hospice patients, meanwhile, are no longer receiving curative treatments. Palliative Care Both palliative and hospice care are holistic, taking the…
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Let Me Tell You About Shep
He was a good boy. Really. Yes, he wanted to herd anything and everything. He would eat whole sticks of butter and chewing gum with xylitol (which would have to come back up). He’d steal whole sandwiches when you weren’t looking. But he was always up for an adventure. He would go walking with you…
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Understanding Common Chemotherapy Side Effects (Part 1)
There are a wide range of side effects associated with chemotherapy treatments. Some are serious while others are more a nuisance. Here’s a look at seven common side effects and ways to cope. Fatigue Fatigue, or tiredness, is one of the most common complaints that I hear from patients. Depending on the treatment regimen, there…
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Pandemic Adaptations
I graduated from nursing school in the middle of the pandemic. Started my nursing career working on a PCU unit, watching people yank their bipap masks off in the middle of the night because they were so confused by hypoxia. To say that I adapted would be somewhat accurate, I suppose. Like everyone, I coped…
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Morning Rituals, and That Precious First Hour
In the morning, I typically do the same things: When I wake up, I often pray before I even get out of bed. I get up and make my bed, before I’m even awake lol (it’s better to do it and get it over with!) I go down and drink my coffee (that I program…
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Chemotherapy Versus Targeted Therapy Versus Immunotherapy- What’s the Difference?
As a chemo nurse, I hear it all the time. My patient will see me come up to their infusion chair with my gown on, double gloving, grabbing a face shield, and ask- “Is this my chemotherapy? Or is this the other one? The immuno one?” I get it. It can be confusing! Patients often…
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A Vocational Call… to the Convent
So, it didn’t happen when I was five. I didn’t want to be anything then. I was just vibing in my kindergarten class with Mrs. Lewis (best kindergarten teacher ever), cutting out construction paper with those giant, rounded plastic kiddie scissors that literally don’t cut anything. But let me backtrack. By kindergarten, I should add,…
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Understanding
“What’s something most people don’t understand?” Something most people don’t understand is how much things can change in an instant. Or maybe it’s more like people choose not to recognize this. It’s easier to think that “it will never happen to me.” I see a lot of patients on a weekly basis who are getting…
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How often do you say no?
“How often do you “say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?” I say “no” daily, in more than one way… By making my own coffee, I’m saying “no” to pricier coffee bar coffees. I have been diligent with making dinner, usually 6 nights a week, saying “no” to take-out and restaurant dinners.…
