The Days When I'm Not a Nurse

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Why I Stopped Blogging and Why I Want to Start Back Up

January 17, 2015 by Anna

Hey friends!

I bet you thought I died or went into a coma or left the country or something.

But if you follow me on FB or IG (@ anna_the_nurse), you’ve probably been able to see that I’m still alive and doing stuff and things.

So… not that I’ve established that I’m still around, let me explain whats been going on.

Reasons I stopped blogging:

1. No time.  Or I wasn’t delegating time to do it. And while I felt sorta guilty about it, I also gave myself permission to just live life and not have to worry about documenting it later. It’s been nice.

2. Changes at work. My nursing department has been without a manager since February of 2014. We had an interim manager who was helping us out so I spent extra time at work assisting in a unit supervisor role- doing time cards, schedules, performing preceptor coordinator duties, unit representative to different meetings… I continued working my three 12-hour shifts while doing that, so I was averaging 4 days a week at the hospital. THEN, mid-December, I was blessed with the opportunity to actually transition into the nurse manager position! It still feels weird saying that I’m a manager. Now I’m 5 days a week, 8-ish hours a day (and when I say “8,” I mean that in the loosest of terms. I just finished a 50+ hour work week).

nurse managerI’m thrilled to be in a leadership role, I guess I didn’t think it would happen quite this fast! Now I have an office and business cards and a 5-hole puncher and all sorts of adult things. #insane

For those who are curious, I manage a 10-bed Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. I’m a “working manager” which basically means I’m able to help out on the floor as needed, but I’m not pre-assigned to work the floor. So I still get to do SOME traditional nursing, but I’m turning more into an office nurse who goes to meetings and responds to emails for the majority of the day. Except it’s a lot more important than I’m making it sound.

3. I’m on wordpress now. *gulp* It’s intimidating and it’s going to take some getting used to.

4. Feeling Overwhelmed. I was trying to bite off more than I could chew in the sense of trying to do product reviews/link-ups/etc. I just need to blog for ME and when I feel like it, not because I feel obligated to.

Why I want to start up again:

1. I’ve missed all the friends I’ve made through my blog! (Hi!!!!! How are all of you doing??) I’ve continued to follow several of you but reading MaLyn’s Blog in particular makes me wish I were a better, more consistent writer. It’s one thing to wish it and another to do it, so here I am, giving it a whirl. Thanks for inspiring me MaLyn. :)

2. Did you notice my new and improved blog design? Curtsy of  Jim Bob (my brother in law) with the header created by Alyx. Having a new blog-scape makes me want to use it!

3. Now that I have a fairly predicable work schedule with evenings and weekends free, I have the potential to delegate blog time if I want. That’s the theory.

I’m not sure where I’m taking this blog. Obviously, as a manager, I want to be careful about what I post when it comes to being a nurse. But I guess I already was pretty careful since I know my mom reads this blog. :) I suppose it’ll still be my little space to talk about my life/hobbies/nursey related topics.

So. I’m off to go enjoy my day off. I’m thinking movie theater to watch Into the Woods (because Mo likes war movies, not fairy tale movies), taking down Christmas decorations (it was about to become a Martin Luther King Day Tree) and running some stuff to the post office. It’s about to get all sorts of productive over here.

Mo and Anna 2015

 

Have a great weekend!

 

 

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Nurses Week Day 3- Win Nabee Compression Socks!

May 8, 2014 by Anna

Day 3 of Nurses Week is a good one.
You can win Nabee compression socks!
I have 4 pairs of these beauties and they are amazing! You can read my review of them here.

May 8
One lucky reader is going to get 2 pairs of their very own! Thanks to Brian at Nabee Socks and happy Nurses Week to him. :) 

Enter to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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a very last minute gift guide: for the nurse

December 23, 2013 by Anna

I usually do a couple gift guides during the holiday season, but this year the time has completely escaped me. So, here’s my attempt to squeeze in one before Christmas comes. Even though most of you are probably done with your Christmas shopping. right? Since this is more or less a nursing blog, here’s a gift guide for the nurse in your life:

One could also use this gift guide to get ideas on how to spend that Christmas cash. :)

2013 gift guide: for the nurse

1. Pretty Strips ($6.50 for 8)- The humble band-aid got a makeover. These are latex free washi tape bandages and they come in so many cute designs and colors! As a nurse, I’d love to have these on hand.

2. Pill earrings (5.25)- I’ve been on a studs kick lately because I like wearing them to work. How perfect are these?

3. Stethoscope bling ($7.50-$9.99)- CharMED is a San Diego based company that adds a little sparkle to the stethoscope.They’re easy to wipe off with alcohol when you clean your stethoscope and they make it easy to identify your stethoscope from your co-workers’. (I have this one).
*$1 shipping now through Christmas!

4. Badge holder ($4-$18. Most around $7)- Every nurse has to wear a badge. Why not make it fun? Badge Blooms is another etsy shop that has exactly 1061 different kinds of badge reels… so there’s an awfully good chance you’ll be able to find the perfect one. On the off chance you can’t find ‘the one,’ the shop owner takes custom orders. (I especially like the brain, octopus, band-aid, heart, and stethoscope)

5. Lumbar mug ($12)- Quirky. Nurses will love this.

6. Compression socks ($29.99)- I’ve posted about these socks before, but they made it onto the 2013 list because they really are amazing! Perfect for nurses who spend 12 hour shifts on their feet! Nabee Socks is a business that was started by a fellow ICU nurse out in Washington D.C.

7. Prescription for Natural Cures ($20 paperback)- An acquaintance recently recommended this book and I’m planning on checking it out. I’m a fan of western medicine and all, but I’ll take all the help I can get!

8. Pill-o (free downloadable pattern)- This makes me wish so hard that I were crafty. I’d have these pillows scattered all over the place.

9. First Aid kit ($48)- This is super classy. And made in the USA.

10. Hand Sanitizer (currently $1.75 each or 5 for $5)- Being the germ conscious people that we are, hand sanitizer makes the perfect stocking stuffer.

2 days till Christmas!!

ps. Here’s last year’s gift guide.

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Someone won a pair of Dasnkos….

September 27, 2013 by Anna

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congrats Jill! You will look smokin’ hot in whatever shoes you pick! I’m sending you an e-mail to get details right now. :)

If you’re curious, here’s a little pie chart to show you which shoes people liked the most:

Is my nerd showing yet? 
So, Franka and Tabitha were the winners by far. You all have excellent taste. :)
Thanks again to Dansko for this fantastic giveaway! 

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there’s more where this came from…

August 14, 2013 by Anna

Watermelon on Make A Gif
…more reunion pictures, that is.
(coming soon!)
My family is awesome.

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Giveaway winners!

April 22, 2013 by Anna

a Rafflecopter giveaway
(from this giveaway)
Expect an e-mail from me soon, ladies! :) and congrats! 

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No, we did not go to New Zealand.

April 6, 2013 by Anna

We found a hobbit hole here in Nampa. 
So of course I had my 6 foot 4 inch husband go and stand next to it so I could take a picture. 
and now we’re done house hunting!
*I joke. 

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I’m going to miss the sun…

July 12, 2012 by Anna

Today was my last day shift. 

so I brought donuts, as a little ‘thank you’ to my preceptor.

later, my [confused] 67 year old patient begged me for a kiss.
or to sit on his lap.
I told him, since he just had his chest cut open for heart surgery, that’s the last thing he’d want.
he promptly told me that he didn’t have surgery down there, so it was ok.

starting next week I’ll be a night owl.
feel free to text me in all wee hours of the night, there’s an excellent chance I’ll be awake.

ps. I write articles on a weekly basis for LA Family online magazine. CLICK HERE to read the latest one (about my never-ending search for a hobby).

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Happy weekend!

June 29, 2012 by Anna

Happy Friday, readers. :)
I’m working 11am-11pm today. 
we call it ‘maximum heart exposure.’
I’m going to be off orientation soon at my new job, so I’m trying to get as much experience with the fresh post-open-heart-surgery patients as I can. 
Here’s to a late night. 
I’ll be out on the bike Saturday, if I can wake up by 10. 
The husband and I will probably try and watch a little Tour de France (starts tomorrow!)
What are YOUR plans?? 
[nature calls, even on bike rides]

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shout out to some of the lovely ladies who swap buttons with me

June 29, 2012 by Anna

Like I mentioned earlier this week, I want to take some time to show my gratitude to a few of the ladies who have swapped buttons with me over the last few months! 
Let me introduce you.

Alyx- Every Day is a New Adventure 
Hey! I’m Alyx – a recent expat turned culture shocked American, wife to an amazing man, amazon woman, bookworm, pillow hog, and grammar nazi. I blog over here. It’s a little ole lifestyle blog where I share funny stories, ridiculous anecdotes, and my everyday adventures. I think I’m hilarious, but why don’t you clickety-click on over and see for yourself? 

Allison- Nestful of Love
Hi, I’m Allison! I blog over at Nestful of love where I talk about my life as a teacher and wife to my high school sweetheart. You may also hear a little bit lot about my 2 furbabies Bear and Sawyer. I have a love for anything that calls for a little creativity so I post a lot of recipes (you will learn quickly that I am obsessed with The Pioneer Woman) and do it yourself projects. I call Cincinnati home and enjoy exploring my city and all it has to offer. I’d love for you to stop by and say hi!

Ali- Our Happily Ever After

Hey all! I’m Ali from Our Happily Ever After! I live in AZ with my hubster Andrew and this month we’re gonna be welcoming our first kid into the world! A baby girl named Aurora and we couldn’t be more excited! Our blog is about life, craziness, and the little things that make life happy 😉 Come visit and if ya like it, stay awhile!


Stormy- Life’s A Dance
Hey ladies! I’m Stormy and I blog over at  Life’s A Dance.
I’m a Wisconsin girl born and bred. I love being dressed up in heels and pearls but will jump in a waist deep mud pit to rescue cows or ATV’s if needed. 
Been there. Done that. No sweat. 
By day I’m a Registered Nurse on an insanely busy Medical floor. 
At night I’m a daughter, sister, friend, puppy momma, and wedding planning bride-to-be. 
I’ve known my fiance since I was about 8 years old. 
Yes, 8 years old. For real. 
We got engaged on Christmas Day 2011 and will be married 09.15.12! 
I love country music, sunshine, anything with pearls and monograms, margaritas, photography, chocolate, Target, Christmas time, and reality television. I would LOVE it if you 
stopped over and said hello!
Peace, sweet cheeks!


Sheila- The FailteHouse

Hi there! I’m Sheila and I blog over at The FailteHouse. I am a twenty-something adventurist and aspiring photographer who happens to live on an island, where I have happily hosted about 70 visitors last year (All friends and family, I am not running a hostel here!). On that note, my blog is dedicated to telling the stories of my amazing island visitors, giving you a little bit of morning “coffee” inspiration, and to the DREAM AWAKE series, filled with inspiring interviews and highlights from fellow bloggers and dreamers who are chasing their dreams and living life to the fullest. Most importantly, the FailteHouse is a place where we choose Joy each day! So come on over, because I can’t wait to meet you and hear all about your story!


Sarah: Charting New Territory 

Charting New Territory is an almost too honest blog about my experience as a new RN. Having just exited nursing school, the realization that the real world is nothing like what we were taught, has been quite shocking. I use my blog to chronicle my experiences in and  out of the hospital. Being married to the military was hard enough, throw in a new career on top of that, and you have chaos! 


Allie- Paper Notes

Hello, I’m Allie! Adrenaline junkie, but afraid of open water. Passion for photography though I never take enough photos. Newly engaged but still feel like I’m playing house. City girl with no sense of direction. Cat lady…and I have no shame. Oh! – And I’m the writer (or mastermind – whichever you prefer) behind the blog Paper Notes. It’s a collection of anything and everything, from fashion, art, and design to little bits about my life or just whatever I happen to be obsessing over at that moment. It’s kinda like no holds barred, except minus the death grips. (Gotta keep it interesting:) Feel free to stop on by and say hi, I’d love to meet you! 
——————————————————————————–
Thank you ladies!!! 
love your guts! 


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Hello! My name is Anna. My husband's name is Mo. I am a nurse. He is a bike mechanic. We reside in Idaho. We do things. Read More…

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