When you’re Frustrated with Work, but Still Have to Clock in…
Ahh, hating your job—a tale as old as time! Whether your vitriol is directed at management’s unbearable demands or the fact that you haven’t gotten a raise since Obama was in office, we’ve all been there. The feeling of dread as you silence your alarm and just lay there for a few more minutes. The force needed to peel yourself out of bed and put on a smile to face the day. We do so much to pour ourselves into something that, in the grand scheme, gives so little. How depressing, right?
Well, this was written to take away some of that depression; I can’t grab you by the badge reel and whisk you away to freedom at the moment, but I can tell you this—things are getting better. Believe it (after all, they say whatever you believe is true). Life is all about ebb-and-flow and in times like this, it’s important to remember that your dissatisfaction is temporary.
You know the energy that you would usually use to secretly bawl your eyes out in the med room or trash talk the unit? Transmute that into the FIRE needed to get your butt somewhere better! Learn how to let things go when it’s out of your control and redirect your focus to a new and improved start. We may not be able to change those annoying wenches on the job, but we can for sure change our circumstances. So drop the fear, pick up some courage, and take baby steps—you’ve got this!
Rise of the “Insta-Nurse”: Let’s Start Drawing Some Lines…
For over a decade now, social media has blossomed into this ever-present, chaotic neutral entity that has formed a symbiotic relationship with its users. A person and their profile are so intertwined, that even employers and the government run social media searches!
While this feels wildly intrusive, we’ve accepted the fact that that’ s just how things go now. It’s normal to post your location, what you had for lunch, and the fact that your niece peed her Halloween costume. Almost anything, really. But just because it’s normal, doesn’t mean it should be done. This especially goes for work posts! People have gotten increasingly comfortable with not only mentioning what they do, but where and when they do it. So much so, that entire profiles and trends are centered around a person’s job; enter the “nurse influencer“.
If one looks beyond the cute tumblers and the “I’m a Nurse, What’s Your Superpower?“ regalia, they’ll notice something deeper about most of these influencers; no foresight! Certain posts over the years, and even more recently, have raised many brows. Describing patient “icks“, revealing subtle ways to get back at unsavory patients, and ragging on visiting families are some of the many examples of nurses sticking their foot in their mouths or sounding down-right cringey.
Don’t be that nurse! If you must post at or about your job, be mindful and think a couple steps ahead. How far could this reach? Am I violating anything (including yourself)? Will I still be able to get a job? Am I being petty? Should this stay in the group chat? If all your questions lead to you still being okay with your post, have at it!
Always remember; live in the present, but plan for the future. Your stability is more important than likes and “going viral“ (people go viral for free, at least get paid for it once it gets big LOL). Be smart in these internet streets, have social media boundaries, and happy posting!
When Nursing gets…spooky 0__0
Sometimes, things do go “bump” in the night while on the clock. Some may brush it off and others may deny, but we all must face this fact: there’s more than meets the eye in nursing. We work in a very interesting field where we see many sides of one person, including the sides that make our hair stand up! From visiting a patient in their eerie home to dealing with the aftershock of post mortem care, nurses are exposed to a lot of different energies that may affect the care being provided.
So to combat uneasy vibes and any ghouls that may be lurking around, here’s a few ways to keep your calm in creepy situations and continue practicing with confidence!
Take a deep breath and evaluate the situation: Get centered and put your thinking cap on! Is it possible that any environmental factors (creaky infrastructure, pests, wind) are causing the creep?
Get spiritual: If you believe in a higher power, get connected! Whether you call it “prayer“ or “meditation“, talk to your higher source and ask for guidance and strength if you’re scared!
Get charmed: Have a special item that brings you luck or comfort? Use it at work (if it’s small enough, of course)! Charms can keep us grounded and serve a mental token that we are safe!
Confide in others: Share your experience regardless of what others may think—nine times out of ten, your coworkers are in the same boat as you! Opening up about your experiences builds a sense of support and validation that you are in your right mind.
Make peace and retrain your brain: Not all paranormal activity is malicious! Once you realize this fact, your experience will change for the better! Think of “Casper” as the bodega cat that hangs around from time to time. They may cause a little stir, but they mean no harm!
If all else fails, leave: You bring you to the job—if you can’t function, then the job can’t be done! Not only would you be doing a disservice to yourself, but to the patient as well, Be honest with yourself and start planning your exit. Remember, you are of sound mind and nothing is worth your sanity!
Hopefully these tips will help you push through the HALLOWday season! (tee-hee, see what I did there?)
Thanks for reading and happy nursing!
Nursing and Finance: Make it make cents
Okay, so boom: You’ve just graduated school, passed NCLEX, and now you’ve been working your new nursing career for a few weeks. That wonderful Friday rolls around your bank account has been blessed with more money than you’ve ever made at one job. Now that you’ve come into this small fortune (that will only increase with time), what is a nurse to do?
Almost every new nurse has experienced “burning pocket“ syndrome. All this liquid income magically gives us the urge to spend like never before. Saw a designer bag you like? It’s yours! Extravagant dinner for you and your friends? No worries, you’ll get the tab! The list of frivolous spending goes on until you find yourself having to pick up extra shifts to support your habits.
Slowly becoming a slave to your finances can make your career especially hellish. In addition to mounting anxiety, your relationships and health can be affected! So to save yourself from gut issues and stress grays, here are a few tips to help you avoid money pitfalls and get back to enjoying your life!
Get to Know Your Money: How does your money come to you? How much is taxed? Are you a 1099’r? Knowing the ins and outs of your dollar will serve as a great base in your financial journey!
Get to Know *Yourself* through your money: Are you an emotional spender? Do you like to show your wealth? Are you generous even when you don’t have it? Learning how our spending habits are influenced by our environment and actions can help place boundaries on our money!
Pay Yourself: Don’t you do all the work around here? Cut yourself at least 10% of your check and tuck it into savings, researched investments, or any other buckets you may have. You’ve earned it!
What is Your “Why“? Keeping your end goal in mind (i.e. saving for a car, launching a new business, vacation) will be your compass on the path to happy finances. What will keep you on the right track?
Educate Yourself: The age-old adage, “Knowledge is power“ always rings true! How are you to build and control your wealth without knowing the first thing about it? Youtube is an amazing tool to help get your started! Try searching “finance tips“.
Take a Look at Your Circle: To some degree, birds of a feather do indeed flock together. How do your friends and family treat and think about money? Have you picked up any spending habits or limiting beliefs from them? You don’t have to dump your crew altogether, but consider connecting with those that share your goals. Who knows, maybe you’ll positively impact your friends and family with what you learned!
Get an advisor: Behind every great player is an even greater coach! As you embark on this journey to better finances, you need a person to help you understand the surrounding financial environment (i.e. markets, recessions, etc) and help make the best moves for your money goals.
Plan for the Future: Allow your money to make more of itself! Build a strong nest egg through researching retirement options (IRAs, 401Ks, etc) and other investment opportunities that best align with your life goals. Your advisor can certainly help with this!
With these useful tips, you are sure to get back on track and breathe a little easier when the first rolls around! Remember, you work hard and deserve to live comfortably without breaking the bank!
Happy financing!
Nursing: A key to the door of infinite possibilities
By and large, nursing school sells a one-dimensional dream about this career. You get hired by a hospital, start working bedside for a few years then go back to school because…well, that’s just what nurses do and your favorite professor convinced you to. Then you might teach or do some other run-of-the-mill nurse job until you retire. Sounds so fun, right? (not)
However, to the surprise of many people, nursing is extremely versatile! So much so that you’ll never have to go back to school or do direct patient care again! The first step to molding nursing to your liking is admitting dissatisfaction and seeking a plan. This pairing is important because while many people agree to not liking what they do, most aren’t willing to put in the work to change their situation.
The second step is getting creative and taking risks (yes, that includes leaving your comfort zone). In the words of that one internet post, “In order to get something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do things you’ve never done“. Think more abstractly about nursing and consider all the realms that you can marry with this field! For instance, like cruises? Yup, you guessed it, “shipboard nursing" is a thing. A proponent of aesthetics? Med-spa nursing is a thing, too! In addition to getting creative, get connected! Networking with those in your realm of interest can give you a better sense of what to expect and will help you further determine the best fit!
The third and most important step is *cue the meditation music* changing your mindset! Through your journey of creating the career you want, you will have challenging moments that will make you question everything. Always hold on to your vision and never think your goals are unattainable!
Want to skip the remixed nurse jobs altogether and move into non-medical territory? Use nursing as an investment tool! It’s no secret that nursing is a lucrative field, so take advantage of that! Put the BBL pricing on hold and instead, start looking into what your passion needs to thrive! Once that’s established, nurture it with the profits from your main job and the fruits of your investments will surely blossom!
Cheers to new beginnings and thanks for reading!
Sorry Kevin Gates, I *Do* Get Tired: How Elevate RN Came to Be
It all begins with an idea.
After five years in school and only being a few months into my new career, I was simply fed up. Going into this, I knew the work wouldn’t be “easy” per se, but I didn’t take into account how mentally and emotionally taxing nursing could get. My excitement slowly turned to indifference as shift-in and shift-out, I was scrambling between up to 6 patients, dealing with annoying inconveniences, and trying not to get poop on my shoe. I knew there had to be better, but since I was less than a year in, I was told there weren’t many options for nurses like me.
There’s this philosophy that new nurses must get their start in med-surg and climb the ranks, no matter how grueling, until they reach their goal. But why? I was determined to gain control of the career I worked so hard to start and I refused to let the status quo dictate my direction. So with that drive, I took the leap of faith! Nine months in, I began applying for any position that interested me regardless of required experience. Soon after, I got a call-back from a position that required two years of experience and guess who still got the job?!
I let go of fear and broke that glass ceiling that keeps nurses, new and seasoned, trapped in a box. By implementing a mix of confidence, deep knowing, and a desire to exit before sockin’ a b***h, I was able to go from being tired to triumphant in a matter of months! I finally learned how to take charge of my future and I’ll never feel bad for doing it!
The lessons from this journey are the lifeforce of ElevateRN and why I’m determined to transform the thinking and practices of new and student nurses! You don’t have to work to death or be unhappy to be successful! Once you take your power back and bet on yourself, you’ll never lose again.