My last post was two years ago! Overwhelmed with juggling work, school, and navigating COVID I can’t believe two years later I am just now getting around to blogging. I am finally finished with school which is such a relief! It was incredibly challenging trying to finish school during COVID. However, I am not the only one. Many, many nursing students trudged the road to finishing their degrees during the pandemic. Bless you ALL!! We did it!
Category Archives: Nursing
Gratitude
Waiting on my plane I had no idea what to expect as I was about to travel on a journey to the Dominican Republic. I watched the sunrise at the airport praying for a beautiful experience. It started with the sunrise.
When I boarded the plane I sat next to a young lady with a shaved head and I mask. I worried about myself getting sick! I didn’t know if this young girl was sick and I selfishly thought about myself and my trip. I didn’t want to be sick, for I had work to do! I was humbled when she started talking to me about herself. She sold everything she had and shaved her head because her sister who has been battling cancer was at the end of her journey. She was flying home to be with her. Her sister didn’t know that she was coming. She was so excited about surprising her! With her sisters illness and impending passing this young lady decided after 5 years of living in the states that it was time to go home.
This was the beginning of an amazing experience. I knew in that humbling moment my heart would be changed forever…….
Be Inspired,
Lisa Marie
Part II Coming soon……
As 2020 approaches it is a perfect time for personal, familial, spiritual, social, and professional reflection.
Ask yourself these simple questions about 2019:
1. PERSONAL REFLECTION
-Is there anything about myself that I feel I good about …that I want to continue in 2020?
-Is there anything about myself that I feel I would like to do differently in 2020?
– Is there anything about myself that I felt was challenging? And could I benefit from help and support from others in 2020?
2. FAMILIAL REFLECTION
-Is there anything about family relationships that I feel I good about that I want to continue in 2020?
-Is there anything about my family relationships that I feel I would like to change in 2020?
– Is there anything about my family relationships that I felt was challenging for me that I could benefit from help and support from others in 2020?
3. SPIRITUAL
-Is there anything about my spiritual practices that I feel I good about that I want to continue in 2020?
-Is there anything about my spiritual practices that I feel I would like to do differently in 2020?
– Is there anything about my spiritual practices that I felt was challenging? And could I benefit from help and support from others in 2020?
4. SOCIAL ACTIVITY
Is there anything about my social life practices that I feel I good about that I want to continue in 2020?
-Is there anything about my social life practices that I feel I would like to do differently in 2020?
– Is there anything about my social life practices that I felt were challenging and I could benefit from help and support from others in 2020?
5. PROFESSIONAL LIFE
LET ME PAUSE HERE AND SAY IF YOU DON’T HAVE A J.O.B OR IF YOU ARE RETIRED THIS STILL APPLIES TO YOU!
A professional life is what you choose to be engaged in…….whether its cooking, cleaning, art, volunteerism, knitting, crafts, mentoring, writing, working, working out, school, public speaking, etc.
Your passion as your profession!
You are NOT your job! You are not your career or lack of career.
YOU ARE YOUR PASSION
A special note to nurses……….Nurses – you are not your license. You are your passion.
Ask yourself here…..
– What was I passionate about in 2019?
-Do I want to take that same cause into 2020?
-Do I want to make my passion into a career or keep it separate?
-Do I want to do more with my passion or stay where I am?
-Do I want are need support from others to pursue my passion? If so, ask for it in 2020! This is your year!
These are important reflections for evaluating balance into our lives. We want to be whole, and connected. The opposite of addiction, depression, anxiety, and mental “unwellness” is connection to life in a balanced, healthy fashion.
Be Inspired,
Lisa Marie
It’s Time for Reflection
One Year Later…..
It’s been a year since my last blog! Almost to the day…..
I can’t believe how much has changed and how much I’ve accomplished! One great lesson I have learned this year is that I don’t give myself enough credit and honor for how hard I work. I almost have this expectation that I’m supposed to successful and work hard.
I am learning to honor myself by acknowledging my hard work and effort I put into my personal growth, my recovery, my work, my relationships, my teaching, my school work, the volunteer activities I participate in, etc.
I am deeply grateful for the desire, willingness, and effort I put forth every day of my life to be the best I can be. I want to show up to the world as ‘my best self’……..always.
Be Inspired 🙏🏼
Lisa Marie
Compassion Fatigue
Well, a lot has happened since my last blog post that’s for sure! Working for myself now, without guaranteed income, added stress to my life. I have been working day and night setting up my practice, putting systems and policies in place. All the while seeing patients daily. I am BURNED OUT! It is the Christmas holidays and I just want to sleep away the next few days. I have had NO motivation to put up a tree or do any shopping for that matter. I recognize compassion fatigue when I see it!
Recently, I started having difficulty sleeping. I was dreaming about my patients. Worrying specifically about two individuals. I care and sometimes I care too much! I don’t always know how to shut it off. Today I am going to relax with family and try to enjoy the holidays as much as I can before the New Year. I will spend some time resting, relaxing , and writing which is a great tool I use as a release. I will also pamper myself and sneak in a massage…….
How do you all deal/cope with compassion fatigue? Losing sleep over patients?
As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) I belong to a private supervision/support group that is so valuable! I would like to see other nurses form these groups. Mine had helped me so much. I am looking forward to bringing this topic to my group next month.
I would love to hear from you all! Thanks for the support!
Be Inspired,
Lisa Marie Walsh, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Why is Self-Care Important?
I recently opened my own practice. It was so scary for me! I am committed to teaching and supporting nurses. Opening my practice has given me the ability to precept more students. Teaching others reinforces what I know but also helps me grow as a nurse myself. It stretches me to continue to learn, research, and change my perspective even!
I must admit – it is taxing on me mentally. With that said -that is another benefit! It’s a benefit because it forces me to practice self care! I want and teach ALL my students about the importance of self care. Therefore, I practice what I preach!
I am looking forward to my self care weekend……
Why is self-care important? Well, we are told over and over because we give so much to others. Self-care is important for much more that that. It’s important for mental health wellness, emotional health wellness, and physical health wellness
How do you make sure you are doing self-care in all aspects of your life? Are you doing self-care in all these areas?
……..It ain’t just about a mani/pedi!
More blogs to come about these areas of self-care!!!
Be Inspired,
Lisa Marie Walsh, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Head & Heart
To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, us your heart.
Eleanor Roosevelt –
It’s been a while since I’ve written in this blog! Boy, have I been busy!
It’s been amazing to pursue my dreams and head towards my ultimate vision….
To be of maximum service to God and others.
Nursing is the ultimate vehicle for me to obtain my goals and live out my vision. I asked you, “what is your purpose, your vision, and your plan?”
Living life with purpose is hard work but ultimately fulfilling.
The Ripple Effect
Yesterday I received a heartfelt email from a previous student of mine that just reminded of the ripple effect. So, though I have not written a blog post in a while…..here I go.
I was asked to guest speak in an Ethics nursing class. I spoke about addiction, specifically, the addict suffering from the disease of addiction. The professor asked me to speak to the class because she felt as if her class really didn’t understand addiction. We certainly don’t teach nurses or doctors during their education process much about addiction, and more importantly how to care for patients and the families that suffer. I spoke to the class with all my passion and knowledge and tried to stimulate discussion. The class engaged very little and I wasn’t sure I made much of an impact. I wrapped up my presentation and was packing up when 3 students approached me privately with questions. One beautiful, innocent young lady approached me with tears in her eyes and shared with me that her family struggled with alcoholism and she wanted my advice on what to do. I gave her my suggestions and also gave her my business card and told her she could call me if she had any other questions. To my surprise my next group of mental health clinical students included this young lady. I was able to teach clinical to my students which included many group discussions on dealing with people with mental health issues. This student was very engaged, and though we weren’t at the best clinical site I hoped she and the other students were able to get something beneficial out of their experience. I received quite the heartfelt email yesterday that inspired this blog. She shared with me that she was able to use what she learned in clinical and from my presentation in her ethics class to show compassion for her father whom recently went to treatment for his alcoholism. She is very hopeful for her future with her family to live in acceptance, love, and compassion for her father and her family. So, the ripple effect…..where did it start? Not important ….but how far will it go, for that I pray…..
Be Inspired,
My student inspired me to write this post. This post is dedicated to her and her family. I pray for continued recovery within her family.
Lisa Marie Walsh
Nursing Inspiration 