Jean, RN

I’d like to start off by saying how truly flattered I was and am to be asked to write with this blog.  I’ve admired the diversity in content and the nursing/healthcare related issues this blog has brought to my attention that I wouldn’t likely be aware of otherwise. I never mentioned to J Doe that I knew about the blog as I wanted to respect the desire to remain anonymous as had been written about and I didn’t want to skew or change the material if J knew someone knew. I also liked trying to figure out who the nurses behaving badly were! I’ve worked with the J Doe since I was a pre-grad nursing student. The early years where I once called a code blue for a patient peacefully sleeping with a lengthy run of reperfusion V-Tach post thrombolytic, and I neglected to actually check the patient and shouted (I mean shouted) CODE BLUE, as the patient woke up and looked at me, then I yelled, pleading after to “CANCEL CODE BLUE, I DIDN’T MEAN IT” as it sounded overhead through the hospital. I must have come a long way!

I’m nervous in many ways but excited to finally put “pen to paper” or fingers to keys, the thoughts, feelings, and sometimes discontent you could say, that can surround Emergency Nursing and discuss issues that I’m sure transcend all of our careers no matter where we practice.  I often just let those ideas float away into the depths of my brain never to be shared or only to discuss them with my spouse and close nursing friends. The idea of sharing them with the internet blogging world is pretty amazing and equally terrifying.

A few things about myself:

I grew up in Suburbia and went into Nursing directly out of high school, starting at 17.  I still look 17.

I did my Bachelor of Health Science Degree in Nursing in an Ontario University and thought most of it was a waste of time, not focusing on the core courses and skills we would truly need. I once petitioned for more clinical time each week (2-3 days/week instead of 1 in our 2^nd year) and was informed I needed to stop being a trouble maker. I think I was labelled from then on.

I’ve been working at Acme Regional in the ED since I graduated. I had an exceptional preceptor and mentor and feel thankful for learning from someone who truly enjoys teaching. I truly admire those who can be great teachers and hope to teach at the bedside myself one day once I feel that I won’t create a monster.

I look forward to meeting new and interesting individuals within the nursing blogosphere with various backgrounds, views and opinions. You are all an inspiration.