I, like many women out there, like to shop. I also like a bargain and rarely buy unless I think I have gotten a “deal,” so shopping has been difficult lately. It might be what I’m shopping for—a house, some furniture—or simply my perception of a deal!
The area where I am house hunting has weathered the financial storm pretty well, looking at it from my side of the fence. I hear stories from people who live here that most home prices have fallen more than a hundred thousand dollars, but they still seem pretty pricey to me!
The issue is the elementary school. It’s rated at the top in the state and I firmly believe it has helped maintain property values, because people want to start their children off here. I refuse to move my kids from this school, as they have settled in nicely, love their teachers and are thriving in the before- and after-school care program. And what a program! They’re taking TaeKwon-Do, participating in science clubs and my girl has attended two sessions of cooking classes—all this in addition to homework assistance (run by the teachers) and an excellent staff! Needless to say, we are not changing schools, so the search continues. So far, I have seen several homes I like, but none I love and, since this is, potentially, a home we will live in for several years, I want to love it!
One thing I did manage to buy yesterday—a new car! I had been driving a 2001 Suburban, which I loved and hated to give up. It was comfortable, old enough that I had ceased caring about the kids eating in it, and I knew how it responded in most conditions. It responded poorly. It was not a four-wheel drive, and it had a tendency to slip-slide on almost anything. Having been built in 2001, it lacked any significant safety equipment for the rear seat, where my most important riders sit.
All of these drawbacks led to some pretty white-knuckled drives down from the mountains. Many days, I was thankful for the heavy traffic, because it kept speeds down and I could drive slow, not feeling pressured to push the limits of my aging ’burb! So, last night the kids and I headed off to see our friendly Ford dealer and we are now the proud owners of a new 2010 Explorer—old body style, truck frame, all the bells and whistles for safety and heated seats! We are pretty darn excited!
But—out of the mouths of babes—my boy just told me, “Mom, you should have bought the more expensive thing first; the house, then the car.” Thanks, son. Maybe you will stay home today while I go out and test our new toy, driving to the mountains! We will table the home search for a few weeks; we have nothing but time!
For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Keepin' on bloggin'
Maintaining this blog often competes with other priorities—cleaning house and grocery-shopping, to name two. I am so thankful to Sigma Theta Tau International for providing this forum and for Jim Mattson, editor of Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), who ensures that what I say makes sense and helps keep me on track. A couple times, he has sent an e-mail asking if I plan to continue posting, a very polite way of encouraging me to get typing!
So, recently, in the midst of a rare Saturday morning without my children, I managed to write three posts and even looked over the blog design and statistics. I had no idea there was a way to see how many people had accessed the site and where they were from. I was pleasantly surprised to see there have been more than a thousand hits since my blog was created almost two years ago. Now, I realize that really isn't much when compared to many others out there, but it gave me a little lift to think of all those people reading what I write.
What was fascinating to me was all the foreign countries where people access my blog: Malta, South Africa, China. What do those people think when they look at what I write? Why did they land on this page? Are they nurses? Are they looking for information on Afghanistan? Are they Americans living abroad or are they native to those places?
I also took time to update the “blogs I am following” link (click on "Lori" under "Contributors" in the right-hand column) and was a little sad to see that some people had stopped posting blog entries. One of the soldiers on the team we replaced had stopped updating his blog when he returned home from Afghanistan, in the summer of 2009. I enjoyed his writing and hope he has returned to the “peace-loving lifestyle” he was so looking forward to.
I also added a favorite website—“The Pioneer Woman.” If you’ve never visited the site, I encourage you to check it out. Several months had passed since I had last viewed it but, after receiving her cookbook for Christmas, I plan to become a regular again. Her humorous reflections on farm living always lift my spirits. I also—finally—updated the link to Meg’s blog, “Soup is not a finger food.” Meg is an old friend who frequently has a sassy way to state the obvious. Reading her posts brings a smile to my face, as I remember the days I spent hanging out in the ’hood.
For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.
So, recently, in the midst of a rare Saturday morning without my children, I managed to write three posts and even looked over the blog design and statistics. I had no idea there was a way to see how many people had accessed the site and where they were from. I was pleasantly surprised to see there have been more than a thousand hits since my blog was created almost two years ago. Now, I realize that really isn't much when compared to many others out there, but it gave me a little lift to think of all those people reading what I write.
What was fascinating to me was all the foreign countries where people access my blog: Malta, South Africa, China. What do those people think when they look at what I write? Why did they land on this page? Are they nurses? Are they looking for information on Afghanistan? Are they Americans living abroad or are they native to those places?
I also took time to update the “blogs I am following” link (click on "Lori" under "Contributors" in the right-hand column) and was a little sad to see that some people had stopped posting blog entries. One of the soldiers on the team we replaced had stopped updating his blog when he returned home from Afghanistan, in the summer of 2009. I enjoyed his writing and hope he has returned to the “peace-loving lifestyle” he was so looking forward to.
I also added a favorite website—“The Pioneer Woman.” If you’ve never visited the site, I encourage you to check it out. Several months had passed since I had last viewed it but, after receiving her cookbook for Christmas, I plan to become a regular again. Her humorous reflections on farm living always lift my spirits. I also—finally—updated the link to Meg’s blog, “Soup is not a finger food.” Meg is an old friend who frequently has a sassy way to state the obvious. Reading her posts brings a smile to my face, as I remember the days I spent hanging out in the ’hood.
For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Greener pastures
Many of us who spend the majority of our time in military medicine see private practice as so much better. No inspector general visits, no “working for the man” and no threat of deployment. We often feel as though, with meeting access demands, completing medical evaluation boards and fulfilling all the required military training (frequently on our own time because of patient care demands) with no end in sight, we are on a hamster wheel.. But, as two of my good friends have discovered, the grass is not always greener!
One of my friends, a physician, left the military to join a large group practice connected to a large hospital. He enjoys the time off, choosing his own hours, and the increased time he haswith his family, but he is considering rejoining the Air Force, because he senses something is missing. There is no camaraderie within the practice, and he misses feeling that he is serving a greater purpose. He still has pressure to see patients and sees changes to insurance reimbursement limits as potentially detrimental to private practice. He also realizes the impact of walking away from the retirement money. As he puts it, “I still work for the man; it is just a different man and I get to choose the clothes I wear to work!”
Another friend left the military just a few years short of retirement. She was dissatisfied with future assignment opportunities and wanted her spouse to have stability in his non-military career. After a recent move, she struggled to find a job. Medical-provider positions are not typically listed in a newspaper and she almost resorted to going door-to-door or hiring a headhunter. Now, working in a practice she enjoys, she can still tell stories that would make most of us military medical members’ toes curl! She discovered the medical assistant wasn’t wiping her exam tables after every patient, and my friend recently returned to work after a vacation to discover she was double booked and, because a colleague unexpectedly needed time off, had been volunteered to take on that provider’s schedule.
So, on those days when I feel like the hamster wheel is more challenging than usual, I remind myself that the grass is not always greener. When it comes to medicine, you can change the clothes you wear to work or the “man” you work for, but that elusive “perfect” job or practice may not exist. Sometimes, you have to find the “perfect” where you are and focus on that; and hope you don't fall off the wheel!
For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI).
One of my friends, a physician, left the military to join a large group practice connected to a large hospital. He enjoys the time off, choosing his own hours, and the increased time he haswith his family, but he is considering rejoining the Air Force, because he senses something is missing. There is no camaraderie within the practice, and he misses feeling that he is serving a greater purpose. He still has pressure to see patients and sees changes to insurance reimbursement limits as potentially detrimental to private practice. He also realizes the impact of walking away from the retirement money. As he puts it, “I still work for the man; it is just a different man and I get to choose the clothes I wear to work!”
Another friend left the military just a few years short of retirement. She was dissatisfied with future assignment opportunities and wanted her spouse to have stability in his non-military career. After a recent move, she struggled to find a job. Medical-provider positions are not typically listed in a newspaper and she almost resorted to going door-to-door or hiring a headhunter. Now, working in a practice she enjoys, she can still tell stories that would make most of us military medical members’ toes curl! She discovered the medical assistant wasn’t wiping her exam tables after every patient, and my friend recently returned to work after a vacation to discover she was double booked and, because a colleague unexpectedly needed time off, had been volunteered to take on that provider’s schedule.
So, on those days when I feel like the hamster wheel is more challenging than usual, I remind myself that the grass is not always greener. When it comes to medicine, you can change the clothes you wear to work or the “man” you work for, but that elusive “perfect” job or practice may not exist. Sometimes, you have to find the “perfect” where you are and focus on that; and hope you don't fall off the wheel!
For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI).
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Inspection stressors
When I returned to work in Texas after deployment in Afghanistan, my co-workers were in the midst of a visit from the medical arm of the U.S. Air Force Inspector General Office. This routine occurrence creates much extra work and sleepless nights as people “spin” and stress. I was honestly relieved a bit to have been gone and to have missed much of the craziness. Well, guess what. When I arrived here at my new assignment, I learned that the same inspection was scheduled for this month!
I got the unusual opportunity of experiencing this nerve-racking event twice in nine months! I actually consider my self pretty lucky. As a newbie to the flight, I was not put in charge of any programs and just had the opportunity to use my knowledge and experience to create a much-needed operating instruction and review of about 400 records. I never even talked to an inspector and thoroughly enjoyed staying in the background, seeing patients all week while others showcased the excellent programs. And, at the outbrief, it was awesome to see people who had worked so hard be recognized and rewarded for their effort. I am pretty sure it is frowned upon for me to post inspection specifics or results, so let’s just say they won’t be back for a few years, and leave it at that!!
A very good friend of mine left the Air Force a few years ago to venture out into the cold, uncertain world of private practice. She and I were talking last week and laughing over the stress of these inspections, but she did have a good point. These routine inspections, while trying and often disruptive to our true responsibility of patient care, force us to maintain standards not always followed on the “outside.” We have a very strict infection control program. We wipe exam tables and room surfaces after each patient, regardless of the reason for the visit or soilage. We have specific protocols in place with regard to who responds in an emergency and, in case of a building evacuation, have little signs that go on doors to indicate that a room has been checked and cleared. We also have a plan in place for how to respond to patients if the power goes out.
My friend has found that many of these precautions do not exist in the typical, small, outpatient office. When she asked her office manager, “What about when we get inspected?” the manager looked at her like she was speaking a foreign language, and said, “By who? We don’t get inspected by anyone.” So, my friend bought her own wipes and wipes her own tables because, after years of working under strict military guidelines, anything else just seems wrong. So, while inspections are stressful, trying, nerve-racking and, at times, disruptive, they verify we are providing safe, competent care to our beneficiaries.
To the members of this wonderful medical group, congratulations on an outstanding job!
For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.
I got the unusual opportunity of experiencing this nerve-racking event twice in nine months! I actually consider my self pretty lucky. As a newbie to the flight, I was not put in charge of any programs and just had the opportunity to use my knowledge and experience to create a much-needed operating instruction and review of about 400 records. I never even talked to an inspector and thoroughly enjoyed staying in the background, seeing patients all week while others showcased the excellent programs. And, at the outbrief, it was awesome to see people who had worked so hard be recognized and rewarded for their effort. I am pretty sure it is frowned upon for me to post inspection specifics or results, so let’s just say they won’t be back for a few years, and leave it at that!!
A very good friend of mine left the Air Force a few years ago to venture out into the cold, uncertain world of private practice. She and I were talking last week and laughing over the stress of these inspections, but she did have a good point. These routine inspections, while trying and often disruptive to our true responsibility of patient care, force us to maintain standards not always followed on the “outside.” We have a very strict infection control program. We wipe exam tables and room surfaces after each patient, regardless of the reason for the visit or soilage. We have specific protocols in place with regard to who responds in an emergency and, in case of a building evacuation, have little signs that go on doors to indicate that a room has been checked and cleared. We also have a plan in place for how to respond to patients if the power goes out.
My friend has found that many of these precautions do not exist in the typical, small, outpatient office. When she asked her office manager, “What about when we get inspected?” the manager looked at her like she was speaking a foreign language, and said, “By who? We don’t get inspected by anyone.” So, my friend bought her own wipes and wipes her own tables because, after years of working under strict military guidelines, anything else just seems wrong. So, while inspections are stressful, trying, nerve-racking and, at times, disruptive, they verify we are providing safe, competent care to our beneficiaries.
To the members of this wonderful medical group, congratulations on an outstanding job!
For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Year's confession
I love this time of the year, and not because of the gift giving and a few extra days off. I love the concept of a new time, the opportunity to purge my life—and my closet—of things no longer of benefit. I admit I am a bit of a mess maker. You can easily trace my path through the house after we get home in the evenings. I shed a jacket here, drop my purse there and, often, my boots are found in front of the coffee table. I usually just leave things where they are, knowing full well I can just retrieve them as I leave the next morning.
Mail tends to pile up—most is junk anyway—and, once I do open things, they are frequently left in the “to be filed” basket in the kitchen. Oh, and I lose my car keys almost daily. I know, I should put them in the same place every time I come home, and sometimes I do, but then I drop the mail on top of them!
But, for a few weeks in January, I am cured of my mess-making ways and I make a stab at organization, actually opening the mail and even getting to work on time. I spent the first two days of 2011 putting away Christmas, which led to cleaning up the storage room and—finally—flattening the last of the empty boxes from the move last summer. I cleaned out both kids’ rooms, convincing them to give away a few toys that they have outgrown. And, thanks to my Dad’s help, I disposed of the two TVs that died last month. Finally, shocker of all shockers, I even did something that those who have worked with me will never believe, I cleaned off my desk! I have to admit it was prompted a little by our pending inspection but, knowing it was my last workday of 2010 did put me in that cleaning spirit.
As much as I love all this cleaning and purging, I honestly don’t make a list of New Year’s resolutions. It just puts too much pressure on me, and I am too much a perfectionist—yes, even a mess maker can be a perfectionist—I feel guilty when I don’t manage to succeed at achieving all the goals on my list. But, I will admit, there are a few thoughts spinning around in my head:
For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.
Mail tends to pile up—most is junk anyway—and, once I do open things, they are frequently left in the “to be filed” basket in the kitchen. Oh, and I lose my car keys almost daily. I know, I should put them in the same place every time I come home, and sometimes I do, but then I drop the mail on top of them!
But, for a few weeks in January, I am cured of my mess-making ways and I make a stab at organization, actually opening the mail and even getting to work on time. I spent the first two days of 2011 putting away Christmas, which led to cleaning up the storage room and—finally—flattening the last of the empty boxes from the move last summer. I cleaned out both kids’ rooms, convincing them to give away a few toys that they have outgrown. And, thanks to my Dad’s help, I disposed of the two TVs that died last month. Finally, shocker of all shockers, I even did something that those who have worked with me will never believe, I cleaned off my desk! I have to admit it was prompted a little by our pending inspection but, knowing it was my last workday of 2010 did put me in that cleaning spirit.
As much as I love all this cleaning and purging, I honestly don’t make a list of New Year’s resolutions. It just puts too much pressure on me, and I am too much a perfectionist—yes, even a mess maker can be a perfectionist—I feel guilty when I don’t manage to succeed at achieving all the goals on my list. But, I will admit, there are a few thoughts spinning around in my head:
- Lose that five pounds I put on over the holidays, mainly due to the yummy no-cook peanut butter fudge I just had to make—three times.
- Keep squirreling away money to ease the burden when I buy a house this spring. I “graduate” from Financial Peace University in a few weeks, and am doing my best to “live like no one else.”
- Read my Bible more. After I finished the Essential 100, I got lazy with this. Anyone know another good reading plan to keep me on task?
- Pick up as I go, in an effort to keep the mess to a minimum—at work (at least until after the inspection), at home and, maybe, even in my car.
- And, finally, I want to make it here more often, to more consistently put the jumble of words in my mind down on “paper.”
For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Thanksgiving ... a little late
I have to admit I have been having so much fun enjoying all I have to be thankful for that I have put off blogging about it! My family descended on our new home a week ago, and everyone has yet to leave. Thankfully, we have been having so much fun that the time has flown by, and the kids and I are bummed that it all has to end this evening! Then, it is back to school and work, with just three short weeks until it all starts again.
I feel as though all I am thankful for this year is so obvious—a loving family, two sweet and happy kids, a job I enjoy and a new church in which all three of us feel so welcome. Then, there's all our new friends and the start of ski/snowboard season! Here is what others said around the table Thursday evening when we sat down to a HUGE spread:
I am thankful for:
I think that says it all!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone (a little late).
For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.
I feel as though all I am thankful for this year is so obvious—a loving family, two sweet and happy kids, a job I enjoy and a new church in which all three of us feel so welcome. Then, there's all our new friends and the start of ski/snowboard season! Here is what others said around the table Thursday evening when we sat down to a HUGE spread:
I am thankful for:
- God, family, friends, a good school and everything. JCH, 12 years
- My family being together for thanksgiving, good health of everyone in the family and my church's development. JWT, 66 years
- Love in our family, being together, new starts and being forgiven. BH, 42 years
- Jesus, family, jobs, good health, being together, Maggie. LMH, 42 years
- For spending this beautiful Thanksgiving with all my family, for good health, for God giving us this wonderful time together. NKT, 66 years
- Family, friends, shelter, freedom of religion, food. JAH, 13 years
- Family, friends, food, clothes, shelter, and that all of you are in my life! SNA, 9 years
- Cars. CCA, 7 years
- Everything. JNH, 9 years
I think that says it all!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone (a little late).
For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
When words hurt
My daughter’s school is doing a special series on bullying—appropriate as another child recently took her life in what appears to be a bullying-related incident. My girl just finished a book that describes a situation in which each student had to draw a names of a fellow student, and then, after a few weeks, sit face to face with that partner and give him or her a series of compliments. The book’s title character discovered that a “mean girl” was actually very resourceful, brave and dedicated to her family.
This led to a discussion about why it is so easy to believe the negative things people say to us—those hurtful things that keep us awake at night, questioning our self-worth, rather than having faith in all the kind things people say. At age 9, my girl was already aware of this—that mean words hit harder and affect her more than all the kind words she hears every day. We spent some time talking about her positive qualities, and how to handle a bully who can only see the negative in life and in the people around him or her.
After getting my daughter in bed, the conversation stuck with me and today, as we celebrate Veterans Day in the United States, continues to touch me even more. For so many veterans, their service has been sullied by the attitudes of their fellow citizens and, sometimes, even their families. So many people seem to forget we don’t join the military because we have a vision of destroying lives; we do it because of the commitment we have to our country, for the camaraderie with our military family and, sometimes, for the money, the latter not such much but, in a failing economy, it’s a job.
So, today and every day you can, thank a veteran and know it may take lots of kind words and thanks to overcome the negativity they may have suffered over the years. Many service members (and their families) have paid prices we can never imagine in an effort to protect the freedoms we all hold so dear.
For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.
This led to a discussion about why it is so easy to believe the negative things people say to us—those hurtful things that keep us awake at night, questioning our self-worth, rather than having faith in all the kind things people say. At age 9, my girl was already aware of this—that mean words hit harder and affect her more than all the kind words she hears every day. We spent some time talking about her positive qualities, and how to handle a bully who can only see the negative in life and in the people around him or her.
After getting my daughter in bed, the conversation stuck with me and today, as we celebrate Veterans Day in the United States, continues to touch me even more. For so many veterans, their service has been sullied by the attitudes of their fellow citizens and, sometimes, even their families. So many people seem to forget we don’t join the military because we have a vision of destroying lives; we do it because of the commitment we have to our country, for the camaraderie with our military family and, sometimes, for the money, the latter not such much but, in a failing economy, it’s a job.
So, today and every day you can, thank a veteran and know it may take lots of kind words and thanks to overcome the negativity they may have suffered over the years. Many service members (and their families) have paid prices we can never imagine in an effort to protect the freedoms we all hold so dear.
For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.
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