Tuesday, September 16, 2008

CARING REALLY IS CURING

YOUR PATIENTS DO NOT CARE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE
The quote above was stated in class today by my teacher. She wanted each of us to go around the room and explain what we thought about the quote and wanted to know if we thought there was any truth to the age old question, is caring really curing? I feel so strongly about this topic that I just had to share some of my thoughts...
A little over a year ago (when I was very green in nursing) I explained to a good friend of mine (who is a very intelligent heathcare provider) that I really did believe that "caring was curing" and that I always wanted to be able to express to my patients how much I really care about my job and what I am doing. My seasoned friend then laughed at me and said, "I don't care what you think, that cuddly feeling that you have will soon wear off, and before you know it you will just be going through the motions. You will have no time to give a crap about your patients." I welcomed his seasoned thoughts, and really, really hoped that what he was telling me would not be true, Maybe I would be different, maybe I would still love my job and my patients for years to come??
Today when my teacher asked this question I just sat there and smiled. It is true!! "CARING IS CURING" and any nurse who does not have time to hold their patients hand while their hurting or say a prayer with them before they go to surgery or needs to find a new job!! I love my patients, I love what I do, and I love being a "caring" individual!

Monday, September 15, 2008

IT'S A EXCITING DAY

What a happy and holy fashion it is that those who love one another should rest on the same pillow. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

IT IS A VERY EXCITING DAY IN THE GANNON HOUSEHOLD. D.J. STARTED HIS NEW JOB TODAY, WHICH AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, IS ALLOWING HIM TO BE ON DAY SHIFT! FOR THE FIRST WHOLE YEAR OF OUR MARRIAGE D.J. HAS WORKED NIGHTS, AND OF COURSE I WORK 12 HOUR DAYS IN M'BORO. DUE TO A MISMATCH IN SCHEDULES IT LEFT LITTLE TIME FOR D.J. AND I TO ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE, AS COUPLES OFTEN DO. I THINK SOMETIMES WE TAKE FOR GRANTED THE TIME THAT WE GET TO SPEND WITH OUR LOVED ONES AND OFTEN DO NOT EVEN REALIZED HOW TRULY BLESSED WE ARE TO HAVE THEM IN OUR PRESENCE ON A DAILY BASIS. SO FOR NOW D.J. AND I ARE PLANNING OUT DINNERS, EVENING WALKS, AND TIMING OUR FAVORITE TV SHOWS TOGETHER :) SUCH A LITTLE THING TO MOST, BUT SUCH AND AMAZING THING FOR ME AND D.J.

WITH THAT SAID I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY CONGRATS TO MY SWEET HUSBAND FOR STEPPING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND TAKING THAT COURAGEOUS STEP TO DO SOMETHING THAT HE TRULY LOVES TO DO.

D.J. YOU ARE SUCH A INSPIRTION TO ME. THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME THAT NO MATTER HOW OLD I AM THAT I AM STILL YOUNG ENOUGH TO BE WHO I WANT TO BE AND DO WHAT I WANT TO DO. YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO WAKE UP EVERY MORINING AND BE TICKLED TO DEATH ABOUT WHERE I AM GOING, FOR THAT, I THANK YOU AND LOVE YOU.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

OUR LITTLE PIONEER











"The difference between the old football player and the new football player is the jersey. The old football player cared about the name on the front. The new football cares about the name on the back. ~Steve Garvey








This past weekend D.J. and I traveled to Sparta to watch our favorite Pioneer, Chase. The game was an absolute HOOT!! Chase and all of his little Pioneer teamates played their little hearts out. There is nothing better than watching 4 and 5 year old's run as fast as they can, in the wrong direction, only to be tickled to death that they made it the designated "touchdown" area. Here are some pictures of the future WCHS Pioneer Football team.








Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Smile Award




My sweet little friend Ashley picked me as one of her recipient's for the smile award!! Ashley thank you so much for choosing me. You are such a amazingly talented young lady who is heading in all the right directions!! May your spirit always be filled with blessings from above!


So with that being said, I will now list the rules of passing this award to the next recipient:
1. The recipient must link back to the awards creator.
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must choose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself.
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award.
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------**CHARACTERISTICS FOR THE SMILE AWARD**
*Must display a cheerful attitude( not necessarily at all times-we are all human)
*Must love one another
*Must make mistakes
*Must learn from others
*Must be a positive contributor to the blog world
*Must love life*Must love kids
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOW MY RECIPENTS FOR THE SMILE AWARD ARE...
Ms. Krista Kelley
Mrs. Lacey Jones
Mrs. Lindsey Matheney
Mrs. Jessica Higgins
Mrs. Toree Craven

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

SEMESTER # UNO

Well, Its week number 2 of graduate school and I still have a smile on my face. Although the first week was complete chaos, I am now feeling the calm after the storm and am starting to get into the groove of things. I am already noticing the subtle differences between a baccalaureate program and a masters program. When I was working on my BSN it was very intense, and very structured. There was no veering off the nursing track, and no entertaining of new ideas or though processes. So far my classes, although very time consuming, are pretty laid back with lots of discussions, papers, and presentations. Opinions about particular subjects are welcomed by all and are discussed by many. Each teacher encourages each individual student to think out of the box and use their own critical thinking skills to formulate new nursing theories while incorporating them into their practice. This semester I am taking Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Role Development, and Advanced Educational Process for Nurses. Although each of these classes encompass their own challenges the Advanced Education class has been pretty challenging for me. Never have I, ever have I, taken any sort of educational class. I have always known that along with my Nurse Practitioner degree that I also wanted the freedom to be able to teach upper division nursing. So along with my FNP degree I will also be working on obtaining my certification to teach. Along with that certification comes many classes on basically, how to be a teacher. My first assignment for this class is to quote, unquote:

"come up with an imaginary college, then come up with a nursing class that you would like to teach. Once nursing class is decided upon make syllabus for that class including, class overview, class goal, class objectives, outline of class, week by week schedule and so on. Next make a power point presentation (because you will be teaching this class to you peers), along with conducting a 100 question test that will be formulated by you (me)."

WOW, I could not believe she was serious!! I can talk to about the role of cell membranes and nuclear receptors in determining the response to hormones all day long, but coming up with a syllabus?? Sheesh!! If anyone has in words of advice please send them my way.

Monday, September 1, 2008




ITS FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE, AND LIKE MOST OF YOU D.J. AND I ARE EXCITED ABOUT ANOTHER EXCITING SEASON. HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYS TONIGHT'S BIG GAME~ GO VOLS!!!