The Worst Action IS Inaction

Paralyzed by fear unable to form a complete sentence she sat there staring at her computer. Type!Type! Type! But she could not will herself to do so..Type Type Type! The voice in her head grew louder. Type! Finally she had succumbed to her minds request.

Is this you? I know it me at times ..Paralyzed by the amount..time..energy... and effort it takes to write or take action so much so I just freeze. Yikes! 10 years from now I don't want to look back and think:  man wish I had taken the plunge on this. But sometimes well most of the time  we get in our own way. Paralyzed by making a mistake because we can't control mistakes. Nurses are notorious for this . Our profession makes us paranoid into perfectionism given the weight of our nursing duties. this perfectionism leads us to carry it in other aspects of our lives. " You're not holy ghost Jr" I can hear my mentor saying. And she's right.  You and I are not the Holy Sprint, God ,or any other supernatural being. Now the Holy Spirit can live inside us if we allow Him too but we are not omnipresent only God is. So let it go!!!!!

Let go of perfect and start living your life. Do your very best and let God handle the rest. 

How to Let Go and Let God:

1. Pray. A lot of heartache and anguish can be avoided by praying.
2. Trust the process. Trust that He heard your prayer.He with answer it according to His will. Live in that truth.
3. Give it time. Some things don't happen overnight or instanaeously!
4. Let it go. Once you do the above walk in the Light and live with love.

Take care,

~Raqui

Love Letters to a Nurses Soul: Take the plunge!!!!

Dear Nurse,

Well its been awhile seven months but who's counting. I've been sort of busy..you know having a baby and stuff but no bigggie. In my free time...that's an oxymoron in my time not spent with my child and family I've been taking the plunge lately. In business and life you have to go for the gusto. If you don't someone else will and next year you'll be sitting here reading about it. Lets not let that happen. We only live once on this planet and we might as well make the best of it. Stop waiting to live(tweet) the time is now. your time is now. Plan for your future now! Prepare for 2015 now. Do you see where I'm going with this. I believe in you but you need to believe in yourself. Lets make this year so freak-in awesome all we can do is look back and say wow I am blessed by all the amazing experiences I've had !Thank you God for my blessings!!!

Until next time 

Love,

Kimberly 

Love Letters to A Nurses Soul: Daily Diet

Hello Everyone Kimberly here. I have missed you all but I have been working behind the scenes on some things I hope you enjoy. One of them is my "Love Letters to a Nurses Soul" Project. I hope these love letters inspire, encourage, and give you hope.

Dear Nurse,

Today is the day you change your diet! No I"m not talking about from donuts to egg whites and spinach or from pizza to salmon and brown rice, although those may be good choices depending on your health. No, I'm suggesting you change your steady diet of negativity regarding yourself, your professional and personal realm to one of positivity.

No more facebook for hours on end or nurse forums that bash our profession rather than uplift it. No more self- discussion boards that have more negative than good. because really the mind is powerful and I for one need to set some boundaries. What we constantly consume we become. No matter how hard we try to scroll to the positive post or ignore that someone else seems to be living a bigger, better, more fulfilled life we must stop. You are worthy to be happy. Everyone is.The minute you recognize this is  the minute you will  begin to live.

I've seen you struggling trying to live up to expectations that were not meant for you. You are "fearfully and wonderfully made "-Psalm 139:14 and don't need to play second fiddle to anybody. So we need to detox. It will not be easy but in the end the results of you feeling happy, fulfilled and walking in your propose will be worth it.

Daily Diet Revamp:

1. I will pray instead of worry. Each time I get the inkling to worry I will instead pray over my situation. I realize praying and worrying are counterproductive.
2.  I pledge to Love myself fully and wonderfully just as God created me.
3. I speak life  into my situations. When negative thoughts arise I confront them with truth and past successful experiences and outcomes.
4.  I will limit my time and energy on trigger areas of my life rather that  mean spending only 1 hr on social media daily or not watching TV before I go to sleep.
5. Each day take out some time to be still and Know He is God. The God of the Heaven and Earth..there is nothing to hard for Him.

Love,

Kimberly

P.S. If you would like to read more about walking in your purpose, finding and achieving success, all through a spiritual and comedic lens check out my book "What They Didn't Teach You Or I In Nursing School: lessons Learned Outside The Classroom."  Thank you.

Holiday Rejuvination? No way!

I  must say I have met some awesome nurses online and in person. And Elizabeth is defiantly one of them! We have been collaborating with back and forth posts, radio, and guest collaborations. Below Elizabeth shares how to revamp your holidays. I love her practical and relatable advice that we can all easily incorporate in any holiday routine this season. Have a Happy Healthy Thanksgiving. ~Raqui :)

Nurses, 3 Ways to Rejuvenate Yourself and Your Health during the Holiday Season!

By Elizabeth Scala RN

Up here in Maryland with the chillier air, hats and jackets, and shorter days one thing is evident as I observe the hustle and bustle of my coworkers. The holiday season is upon us. And what does that mean? With the holidays, what usually comes hand-in-hand? You've got it:

Stress!

In fact I actually heard a woman in my office say: “Well, I looked at my calendar and I've only got three days to get this shopping done. If they (her grandchildren) don’t get me their lists soon- I guess they just don’t get what they want!”

Are you serious? Since when did the holidays become about going out, getting things off of a list, and not enjoying an ounce of the moment-to-moment joy?

As nurses we can also feel the holiday stress in another capacity:

On the job.

From lighter staffing due to holiday schedules to irritable patients who don’t want to be in the hospital for the holidays in the first place, nursing can be a demoralizing role during this time one wants to be most with family.

So what can we do about it? Because we know that nursing doesn't stop. The 24/7 care and compassion we share must go on. So how can we do it with a sense of joy and a hint of peace of mind?

 3 simple ways to rejuvenate yourself and your work during the holidays:

•        Get Creative. I’ll admit I was one of the saddest, most miserable nurses on my unit during holiday times. Being from NY and living in MD was tough as I missed my family and friends. Yet with the advancements in technology we don’t have to feel like we’re hundreds of miles apart. You can Skype, get on a Google Hangout, or find other creative ways to connect with family around the world. On top of that, tap into your artistic and childlike self. Go to a craft store and walk the aisles. Find something that brings out your holiday joy. Head home and turn on the holiday cheer while playfully creating your masterpiece.
•        Stay Healthy. The fastest way to feeling blue during the holiday hustle is a weak and compromised body. Body, mind, spirit, and emotion are all one. If you’re tired, poorly hydrated, or undernourished from nutrient weak foods you’re going to notice it in your emotions. Poor health equates to feelings of anxiety, sadness, and loneliness. Spruce up your health and enjoy an added benefit of some pep in your step as you walk into work to enjoy your patient care. 

•      Embrace Gratitude. This is the secret weapon behind all great rejuvenation. Our minds create our realities. What you experience outside in your environment is a mirror image of what you think and feel in your internal self. If you want a holiday filled with joy, peace, and love- it’s time to get grateful. Already practicing gratitude? A great way to up-level your routine is by, not only focusing on what you’re grateful for, but adding on a feeling. Here’s an example: Instead of ‘I’m grateful for my family’ you want to say something like: ‘I’m grateful for my family which makes me feel cheerful, safe, and full of love.’ 

Enjoy these simple strategies to rejuvenation and allow yourself to embrace your holidays this year and always. After all, happier staff makes for happier patients. Happier patients make for smoother work days. And I know we all want to enjoy our nursing work. Have a healthy and happy holiday everyone!

I’d love to hear how these tools worked for you, or if you have any others you’d like to add to the list. If you’re interested in finding out more, come visit me at www.livingsublimewellness.com. Sign up for my newsletter and receive my special gift, a 3-Part Video Series, “Here’s Time for Your Health”.

About the author:

Elizabeth “Coach” Scala, MSN/MBA, RN is passionate about helping healthcare professionals, nurses in particular, to embody holistic living and embrace self-care. Through her business, Living Sublime Wellness, she writes regularly on the topic of self-care, conducts wellness workshops, and offers both in-person and online seminars for busy nurses.

Elizabeth is a Certified Health and Wellness Coach and holds Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Master’s degrees in both Business and Nursing. Originally from Carmel, NY, she now lives in Baltimore, MD with her husband and two dogs. Visit http://www.livingsublimewellness.com for more information.

NNBA Review

Last month I attended the National Nurses In Business Association Conference! This was my first major conference of this type and debut for me as an entrepreneur. I met a lot of wonderful people and made hopefully life long connections. I also enjoyed some down time too! As a first timer and one of the newest  attendees environment, connecting, and confirmation stood out to me.
 

Environment
 

In my opinion where you have a conference is just as important as who you have there and the #NNBA organizers understand that. We stayed at the lovely Orlando Area Embassy Suites fitted with spacious rooms made to order omelets, water feature, business center, and spa/pool to name a few amenities. Every night I slept in a wonderful bed and was impressed with the cleanliness of the facilities.  It made for a relaxing reflective environment. 

Connecting

As I said I met a lot of intriguing, fascinating, and like minded people with a can do entrepreneurial and business spirit. It was nice to be apart of ; meeting legends of the online nursing world I would probably never meet under normal circumstance. It was even more humbling that they were real down to earth people. We  laughed,hugged, and reflected together.  I also meet everyday heroes and that was a treat in itself. If nothing else I hope these connections continue as friendships with us growing and supporting each other  in every step.

Confirmation
 

While I learned a lot about the different business opportunities I got confirmation on what I was already doing by trusting my gut. In fact at one point I started writing down  the lessons I learned before the conference with the ones repeated  at the NNBA. Now I have a blue print on what areas to focus on so that I may have a growing and thriving business. 

 

Tips for Newbies

•   Prepare before the conference with business cards, flyers, and ideas. You never know who you will meet and what opportunities will come to you. 
• Talk to someone who has attended the conference before and/or knows someone who is attending. I did both and this helped me take a lot of the guess work out on how to best prepare for whatever opportunities were awaiting me.
• Relax..be yourself!!!! The authentic you is much better than a pretender.
• Network in a way that plays to your strengths. For me this meant talking to conference attendees one on one building connections. 

All in all this was a wonderful first conference experince and I would love to attend next year as a speaker:)

Take Care,

~ Raqui

Raqui Thursdays: Dreams Come True

Tomorrow I will be on Living Sublime Wellness Radio: my first of many radio shows and  I just have to pinch myself ! Is it possible all my dreams are coming true? My goal was to publish a great book and get it into as many nurses hands as possible. The ultimate prize? selling it at my nursing school. But this journey has become so much more! I have meet great- inspiring people on and offline, received acceptance and opportunities I couldn't have imagined. But I'm not surprised. Why?  Because I moved in the faith and knowledge that Gods got my back. He birthed these ideas in me and has blessed them to succeed. I am in awe. Thank You.

For someone who went from no hope to  talking on  a wide reaching radio show I want to encourage you. What are your dreams? Now act on them. Waiting to live, waiting for perfect...what are you waiting for? The time is now this very instant! Don't wait another second on the would of, could of, should of's  of life. Those you will touch are waiting for you. From rejection to acceptance, from working at my dream job to publishing my first book: my core family and friends have been through it all and I am thankful for them for keeping me grounded and  helping not to take myself so seriously. What dreams are in store for you ? Leave them in the comments below or email me.
I would love to hear from you.

Take Care,

~Raqui

The Book IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello Everybody,

 I pray you all had an awesome Monday. As you know for the last month or so I've been ghost, finishing up my first book: What They Didn't Teach You Or I In Nursing School: Lessons Learned Outside The Classroom. Very exciting! I attended the National Nurses Business in Association 2013 Conference this weekend and hope to post about my experience as a first time attendee next week.

I just want to say I am so thankful for all of you. My loyal readers. I would appreciate it if you help me spread the word about the book. I hope all is well and we defiantly have to catch up soon. I will be buzzing around on and offline doing interviews; check out my first one here with Tina over at different types of nursing, posting book reviews, and radio? So cool. I hope you enjoy and show your support. When you buy the book or know someone who does send email me about your experience at raquiwardrn@gmail.com. I look forward to your feedback.

Take Care,

~Kimberly

Where's Raqui ?

Happy Tuesday!
I know it's been a while .. seems this is becoming theme lol. Anyways, thought I put to rest any rumors..imagined by me I might add :) that I'm done writing..since I have not been on here consistently.

While experiencing a personal tragedy I'm taking time to Take Care of my self - care needs. What good would I be to you if I didn't follow my own advice?

- While I'm "offline" here- I'll be on twitter @RaquiWard, Google +, Linked in


- Working on the Forthcoming book I've been talking about all year- What They Didn't Teach Your or I In Nursing School: Lessons Learned Outside The Classroom; for publication later this month. So excited. hope you enjoy it :)

Some lessons from the book include:

• Lesson #1- You Can Get Your Dream Job- I'm sure you've been told many times you can not, well I'm here to tell you why you can.

• Lesson #4 - Nursing Chooses You- You Don't Choose It!- This profession is not for the faint of heart or those seeking riches, fame, and adoration.  Although these may come you need to enter the profession with some realistic expectations

• Lesson # 9- Affirmation Comes From Home: The power of a good support network. Great nurses are made at home.

- And in addition expanding my freelance writing business. Contact me for any of your  freelance writing   needs. I specialize blog writing/content marketing in the areas of : women's health, public/community health, stress management, and health/wellness.

While we are on this break I hope your explore the blog as it is because next project after the book launch is moving this blog to a more hospitable environment where I have more freedom advertising wise to give you what you need, quality- not quantity. Connect with me on twitter @RaquiWard, leave me a comment here, or send me an email at raquiwardrn@gmail.com.  If you like what you see share , share, share, if it needs improvement tell me.

Take Care,

~ Raqui

Take Care : Boundaries

Happy Monday,
Let's start our week off right shall we?

OK- so as  promised how is the whole sleep thing going? Well, while I did manage to do all three tips I talked about at least once last week. my sleep has still been all over the place. On the days I worked out for the most part I slept well. One day this week I went to a  late movie and didn't get to bed until two hours past my usual bed time but amazingly I woke up "right as rain" the next morning...go figure. . The electronic free bedroom nights were awesome so that will continue. This week I will continue consistently making my sleep a priority and let you know how it's going. What's new with your self-care needs? How are your goals going? I would love to hear from you.  We are in this together and if there's anyway I can help I would be more than happy too.

Now that we have the formalities out the way, I really wanted to talk to you about boundaries. These are very important and very specific to your individual needs. You see in order to truly take care, you must know your limits. For some this may be easy for others not so much. Yesterday, at church taught me so much about my blurred boundaries...for instance you find  out who truly cares for you when times are rough. I'm sure you already knew this but work with me.  Also you can only truly help someone willing and able to help themselves. Doing the work for the person does not help; it only hinders them..sometimes I get myself into trouble with this because I want to help..again sure you already knew this. Lastly..no one and I mean no one can fault you for taking care of yourself. Some will try  but you should not feel guilty for protecting yourself. We cannot be all things to all people that's whats God is for, something I learned at church previously and  yesterday.

The point is boundaries re: your time, energy, effort, money, and love/devotion will determine if you end up feeling drained at the end of the day or refreshed and ready for more. I give you permission in case you needed it to take care of yourself. We must care for self before others. It is not wrong! In fact it is selfish not too because when people are truly depending on you for your help you will not have anything left to give from your depleted reserves.  Along the way I have learned a thing or two about boundaries that help me make my health spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and financially a priority . And while this is easier said than done  I strive to do it everyday. I hope this information helps you in some way.

Self-care boundaries:

1. Say no and mean it. A concept I learned from this book. There's nothing worst then saying no and then going back on your word. You loose because not only did you not want to participate in the activity in the first place it's more than likely taking time away from some enjoyable self-care activity.

2. "Automate the important" Our Pastor Bruce Moore introduced this concept one Sunday in-relation to tithes and offerings and I didn't get it until I had a a million and one "deadlines" real and imagined and the concept popped back into my head. If there is a way that your bills or tithing in our churches case can be automated, Do it! It will take the stress and the guess work out of something important to you. How many times have you woken up in the middle of the night thinking did I pay that bill or in my case did I move the tithe money into the account?

3. Plan and keep time to reflect/ rest. Sometimes you just need to unplug..its hard but Facebook is really a time suck and your health is more important then the latest tweet that you can easily look up. You owe it to yourself to keep the appointments/ dates you make with you. If  you're not keeping your appointments with you ...how will you keep appointments with others? Another concept learned from Pastor Moore.

4. Make sure those in your inner circle are on board. When I have spa day the whole house is put on notice what , when, how,and the duration of my self- care activities. This avoids my husband for instance saying "What's for dinner" in the middle of my pedicure.

5. Do not always be readily accessible/available. I'm not saying live on  a remote island where you never talk to family or friends but I am saying listen to your body and yourself and don't feel obligated to respond to every facebook message, text, call, or email until you're ready. This is a hard one for me to learn ...until I realized that those I connect with are doing it too.. In fact it allows you time to think and be genuine in what you say when you do respond.  And if someone has a problem with it..tough, you might want to reevaluate the relationship because anyone who cares for you will understand that sometimes you need your space. Confusion does not equal clarity. Be still and listen- Psalm 46:10.

How do you set boundaries that make your self-care needs a priority? I invite you to email me or leave  a message in the comments.

Take Care,

~ Raqui

Alternative Nursing Career: Nurse Coaching

Keith Carlson, RN, BSN, CPC

April,2013

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As the profession of coaching continues to develop and expand, many organizations and individuals are sharing their definition of what it means to be a coach in the 21^st-century. Additionally, various organizations are jockeying for position as the certifying bodies for a plethora of established and emerging coaching specialties.

The Emergence of The Nurse Coach
 

Within the world of coaching, the role of the “nurse coach” has gained traction among nurses, health care leaders, and organizations within the nursing profession. Although what it means to be a nurse coach is a notion still up for debate, many nurses have already embraced coaching as a career path, or they have added coaching skills as another tool in their professional toolbox.

The International Coaching Federation (ICF), a leader in the coaching field, defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”

The ICF definition hints that coaching is a partnership, and it indeed can involve a very creative process in which the coach assists clients in identifying goals, setting goals, and then examining the process by which these goals are met, not met, or refined. Unlike psychotherapy or counseling, coaches do not focus on pathology, diagnosis or treatment, but rather steer the conversation towards a goal-oriented process of self-discovery and personal change. That said, well-meaning coaches will refer clients with major mental illness or acute psychological conditions to qualified professionals for appropriate treatment.

The Nurse Coach Role

In the course of their education, training and professional experience, nurses inherently learn to use coaching techniques to empower patients towards decisions that maximize self-care and wellness. Nurses may use motivational interviewing and other techniques to assist patients in identifying their areas of challenge and develop strategies for change. Likewise, the nurse coach uses motivational techniques and skills to empower clients to set healthy and life-supporting personal and professional goals.

According to the American Holistic Nurse Credentialing Center (AHNCC), “the nurse coach role is defined as a skilled, purposeful, results-oriented, and structured relationship-centered interaction with clients provided by Registered Nurses in any setting or specialty area of practice for the purpose of promoting achievement of client goals. The Nurse Coach role integrates a holistic perspective and acknowledges that individual change begins from within before it can be manifested and sustained externally. The Nurse Coach role has roots in Florence Nightingale’s legacy, nursing history and theories, and the social sciences.”

Certification

Some nurses pursue certification as coaches through a variety of organizations that offer certification and training, including but not limited to life coaching, health and wellness coaching, spiritual coaching, group coaching, and career coaching.

Since coaching is not a profession requiring licensing or certification at this time, any individual with or without proper training can offer services as a coach. Consumers of coaching are advised to assess a prospective coach’s credentials and level of training, although some untrained coaches may indeed have personal experience and expertise gleaned through non-traditional avenues of study.

Coaching Continues to Grow
 
With the ever-increasing cost of healthcare, certain healthcare organizations (including insurance companies and hospitals) are hiring nurses to serve as wellness coaches for clients and patients. Coaching within the mainstream medical system is seen as a potential low-cost method for containing the cost of care, and organizations and insurance companies are realizing that nurses in particular are suited to such a role.

Meanwhile, many nurses—myself included—have sought certification and training as coaches through various organizations and certifying bodies (or not) and begun entrepreneurial ventures as professional coaches. As the field expands and the number of nurse coaches multiplies, specific trainings and certifications may be factors that distinguish one nurse coach from another, as well as the target market or client niche that individual coaches pursue.

There is no mistaking the fact that coaching has become part of the culture, and coaches are now offering a very wide variety of services and specialties. There is also no doubt that nurses have seen the writing on the wall and are jumping on the coaching bandwagon with great fervor and interest.

The coaching profession may not be for everyone, but many of us nurses are finding coaching to be a viable means to creating a stream of income apart from working within the mainstream healthcare system, while others are using coaching within that system itself.

Coaching will continue to grow, and nurses will certainly continue to explore the ways in which nursing and coaching intersect. And there is no doubt in my mind that the value of coaching for individuals, organizations and society as a whole will only continue to accelerate and expand in the years to come.

Keith Carlson, RN, BSN, CPC has been a nurse since 1996. He is the well-known blogger behind the award-winning nursing blog, Digital Doorway, and is the founder of Nurse Keith Coaching and NurseKeith.com. Keith is an editorial contributor for Working Nurse Magazine and LPNtoBSNonline.org, and has been a featured author in several non-fiction nursing books by Kaplan Publishing. Keith is the co-host and co-founder of RN.FM Radio, the newest Internet radio station devoted to the nursing profession. His passion as a coach is helping nurses find balance and satisfaction in their personal and professional lives by preventing burnout and
fostering optimal health and well-being.