Think twice, it's not alright!

I think pictures of Jesus are awesome!  The dog feels perfectly comfortable in His presence.  What's wrong with that?  I will tell you in this blog....

The alarms have been sent out by several people in the health professions regarding conditions in the care settings and still the latest news from The Nursing Times announces an almost 1,000 reduction for the number of NHS nurses each month.  Conditions are improved with optimal nurse to patient ratios of 1:5 and the public needs to start demanding this level of care from their politicians for this to be mandated.  Please support nurses by contacting you State Representative or MP.  Mother Teresa said "Don't wait for leaders, do it alone, person to person."
Dr. David Drew had an untainted 37 year track record with the NHS and then found himself accused of "Gross Misconduct and Insubordination."  UHHHHH!!!!  What happened here?  His first occurrence that he was given a warning about was wishing a colleague a "Peaceful Christmas,"  and an email containing a quote by St. Ignatius of Loyola "To give and not count the cost."  To me this reflects these two examples reflect his good character and ethical principals.
He reported a consultant for discharging a baby with questionable injuries, who was killed by his step father a week later.  Then there were his complaints about inadequate staffing levels on the units and poor heating.
Sounds to me like he should have been commended not fired and have his license revoked!  Doesn't equivocate to gross misconduct and subordination but maybe felt like a pie in the face to the administration who didn't seem to be able to manage the operation of the hospital properly.
Maggy Hayward was presented with 46 charges following her revelations about the state of affairs at the institution where she worked as a nurse.  She had taken her complaints and documentation to the appropriate people but the abuse continued.  She eventually shared some video tapes with the BBC.  Her license was revoked and reinstated four years later.  She was awarded "Nurse of the Year" in 2008.
Kim Holt MD of Patients First was recently listed as one of the most influential women.  After being the target of bullying with an investigation denied but bullying was her experience when she tried to raise the alarm about unsafe conditions at a London hospital where she was employed and fired.  She went to the press with the story of her struggle to get changes implemented before Baby P (Peter Connelly) was killed in 2007.  Dr. Holt draws attention to the problems whistle blowers face and how the NHS respond with money to silence employees.  In fact 400 employees have been silenced with fifteen million pounds over the past three years.  Sounds like a chunk of change to me and could have been best put to use in paying wages to nurses.
I support nurses undergoing state board discipline because we live in a society that is built around the values of justice.  Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) has stated that a citizen is ten times more likely to be tried by a government agency than by a court.  We need to take note of this fact and whether things could be changed for nurses and doctors who are investigated.
Rep. Tony Shipley (R-TN) has taken stock of some problems with the TN SBRN and passed laws to oversee nurses related to suspensions, revocations, and fines.  Please ask your state representative to connect with Rep. Shipley and duplicate these two laws in your state.
My very best wishes are with you as you go through the process of an investigation or discipline.  Your mental outlook is hugely important and it's important to keep a positive frame of mind.  Always think positively and meditate daily.  Please check earlier articles for links that you may find helpful.  You will grow because of this experience and remember that it helps to uplift yourself as well as those you reach out to so join together in groups and support one another.  I recommend using www.meetup.com to connect.

Networking enables nurses to get the contacts needed to be successful in business.

 As nurses we have a propensity to be proactive for our patients and now we have to learn the arena in which to draw into our circle the people who can help us restructure our lives to earn the income we need for our life style and keeping the home fire burning so to speak.  I read a quote by Mandella recently that went something like this "Things seem impossible until it gets done."  So true when you are under investigation and you are unable to work it's an overwhelming situation and you are on unfamiliar territory.  But hears where your strengths will get you through.  As a nurse I'm certain that you had a repertoire of people and agencies that you could turn to for resources and information for your patients.  In the same way you can now start to get into the arena of the business world and learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.
Depending on your experience at home, school and in the work place with computers you may want to enroll at a local college and take basic classes.  I find a lap top works best for me and you can always check out I pads.  The smart phones are excellent if you feel comfortable with working with a smaller instrument but it allows you to keep a stead stream of incoming and outgoing contact with the links you choose.
A friend who runs a local library is able to generate income and survive in a time when many are being closed because she has engaged with artists who come and perform; writers who give talks and storytelling.  She has learned to be innovative and part of her marketing is going to have to involve the use of social media which is a challenge for her at this point.  I remember when I joined facebook and twitter how confusing it seemed and now am learning more about google circles and am getting ready to write a book and share more with different groups.
http://www.crowdfundingplanning.com/ provides solutions to raising the needed capital to start a business.  Perhaps you are really good at cake decorating for instance and can work on a business plan to reach customers.  Who do you want you ideal customer to be?  Perhaps you want to develop your own precipices that are organic and have less sugars for instance.  Geared toward children but keeping the calories lower and thus avoiding obesity.  Cakes for diabetics?  The ideas can be endless and once you follow your interests and hobbies and channel them into a business model that can provide income you will be able to join networks such as www.ewomennetwork.com which has local chapters throughout the US.
The basic premise of eWomen Network is that you do something helpful for someone else first.  This is my philosophy also and that is why I find good things keep coming back to me because you link and connect in the community when you give.  I mentioned volunteering at the Library before and that is where I have made so many beneficial connections and am able to work on projects and get the resources and support that I need. Reaching out to others not only helps others but is uplifting for our own being and soon you will have circles of people and goals outside of the sphere of nursing that your golden opportunities will shine before you!
Write daily positive affirmations about yourself and on a time line write out what you want to manifest in your life over the next six months, the next year and the next five years.  Be specific about the money you want to earn and start writing out the steps you need to take to make it happen.
Remember you are not alone and if others give you the cold shoulder because of the difficulties you face just let them go.  You are better off without them anyway and as Oprah says "Surround yourself with positive people."
Start writing your goals and networking on line and see how much things change for you!  Feel free to contact me lawrencerita511@gmail.com

The positive side of the coin...Change.

Most of us want to feel secure and know what life is about.  We build up a false sense of confidence based on what we think we are and miss who we really are and who we are becoming as we go through various changes.  Because we are inclined to want to control it's hard to fathom that it's okay to let go and let life take its course even when things get way out of control as is the feeling when there is a State Board Investigation.  I don't mean to say that you don't focus your attention and access all of the appropriate resources but find a space within yourself that says "It's going to be okay no matter what the outcome."  Sit back into the situation and try to relax.  You are navigating, or learning to navigate through an unknown legal system and naturally you will feel overwhelmed.  Try to envision the situation in the same proportion to your own size or another difficult circumstance in your life that you had to overcome.
I believe that a new life can result when the old one is cleared and sometimes this is what happens in life and there is no use in wasting your efforts in struggling against what is to be.  This quote expresses the right frame of mind to approach the change you face: "New beginnings often disguised as painful endings."~  Lao Tzu.  Know that there are infinite opportunities for personal grown even if a halt or end comes to your professional grown in your chosen profession.
Spend time journaling and reflect on your interests which might inspire you to take courses to prepare for another profession.  Make an appointment with a college counselor and take an aptitude test to direct you toward an appropriate area of study.  Be open to the changes and take the steps necessary to earn a living in another field.  Perhaps you are an entrepreneur and would benefit from a meeting with the Small Business Administration or program that inspires new business owners in your local university or community.  Do some research on line and spend your time constructively.
Write a list of things to accomplish this week and expand your horizons while dealing with the legal matters at hand.  Don't feel too overwhelmed to go on with your life because time is ticking by and your future will slip through your fingers if you hold your breath and wait.  Sometimes the State Boards will hold up a license for a very long time even though no action is being taken.  Be proactive and succeed.lawrencerita511@gmail.com