Starting May 6th 2014, she is hosting an event that is sounds fantastic. The event is called The Art of Nursing. The purpose of this online event is to help you “reconnect with your love of nursing”.

You can find out more about the event -and Elizabeth- HERE.

Enjoy!

Alicia-joy

Kimberly is a Public Health Nurse and Nursepreneur. When she’s not working you can find her writing on all things nursing career, marriage, family, friends, and faith related.  She lives with her husband in Sunny, FL and is already working on her next book: fiction! 

1. You are a nurse & an author. Is that correct?

Yes. I am a Public Health Nurse, Entrepreneur, and Writer.

2. What is your current nursing specialty?

My Public Health Nursing experiences range from Women’s Health nursing to home visiting. Currently I work for a regulatory agency.

3. You recently published a book, correct? What is the Title?

Yes. On October 3, 2013 I published my debut publication “What They Didn’t Teach You Or I In Nursing School : Lessons Learned Outside The Classroom.”

4. What is the book about?

What They Didn’t Teach You Or I In Nursing School: Lessons Learned Outside the Classroom provides insight and practical suggestions to topics like career navigation, negotiation, and recognition of the need for self-care and the real threat of burnout. While in school we did learn the basic such as  assessments, care plans, and discharge procedures; I found guidance regarding following a less traditional path in nursing and navigating it successfully lacking .

5. What made you decide to write this book? Why is this topic so important to you?

I wanted to give voice to those who are lost and struggling through nursing school. Those unsure of their niche because I felt that way before until I realized and embraced the lessons I provide in the book..

6. Who does this book help? Who should buy it?

What They Didn’t Teach You Or I In Nursing School: Lessons Learned Outside the Classroom helps anyone effected by nursing from patients to caregivers. We can all benefit from a message of hope and encouragement.

7. How was the book writing and publishing process?

Writing the book was easy. I knew what I felt God was giving me to say and how to say it. The publishing was a bit more challenging because it was my first work utilizing the CreateSpace platform. CreateSpace allows me to remain in control of my book while still giving me access to professionals when I need it.

8. What was the most challenging aspect?

The most challenging part was to not keep editing. A writer’s work is never done!

9. What has been the most rewarding aspect?

Seeing people from all walks of life purchasing my book and resonating with the overall message of hope, encouragement, and inspiration in their professional and personal careers. One reader said “all you need is God and this book” and “Get the book.” Another reader said “ I got my books in! Congrats again Reggie Ward (tell Kim). Everyone needs to go out and buy them…some of it relates to all career fields.”

10. For other nurses who are thinking about publishing a book, any words of wisdom/advice?

Do it! Once you have decided don’t wait. The time is now the world is waiting for what you have to say!

Also do your research to make sure your concepts new and unexpected, trust your instincts, and seek guidance from someone you admire that has published before. All these are keys to book success.

11. If you had to do it all over again, is there anything you would do differently?

Published sooner.

12. What’s up next for you career-wise? Anymore books? Anything else you would like to share?

On March 1 I will be doing a book signing at my Alma Maters nursing school’s entrepreneurial themed  reunion. I’m also working on the next book in my Nurse Life Lessons series and a work of fiction.

Find out more here: March 1 event

13. Where can people find your book? 

14. Where can people find out more about you or get in touch?

You can connect with her on Twitter: @RaquiWard, her blog: http://horizions.blogspot.com/, LinkedIn: Kimberly R. Ward or email her at raquiwardrn@gmail.com. She loves hearing from you.

And finally, right? Those first few years can be OH-MAN-MY NERVES-ARE-ON-EDGE-EVERY-SHIFT-WHAT-HAVE-I-GOTTEN-MYSELF-INTO-I-AM-SURE-THEY-DIDN’T-TEACH-US-THIS-IN-NURSING-SCHOOL. Can you relate?

But after a while I finally felt like I had mastered the most important nursing skills and felt confident and competent. Then a series of events led me to the shocking realization that I hadn’t mastered one of the most powerful life-and career- skills that exists.

Fast forward 4 years and a TON of experiences (that no school could ever teach) and here I am now. And I am about to share with you that VERY same powerful skill that changed my career and life. Find out what it is in today’s Audio Podcast. 

This Podcast also features another Extra income idea for nurses. If you’ve been following along, I kicked off a series of episodes to share guidance and inspiration to help you start earning income independent of your J-O-B. Hot stuff! Hope you are enjoying the series.

Click PLAY to listen, and then share with me in the comments if you want to earn extra income. Ask me any questions you have or share the next step you are going to take to make your purse (or wallet) a little fatter (because a heavy wallet is not such a bad thing).

Listening time: Less than 12 minutes

podcast 06 eifn wellness coaching income creation powerful skill

Mentioned in this episode:

• The most unique and comprehensive Nurse Writer Training Program that exists. This training walks you through 5 different ways you can use your nursing background to earn income from home. Yes ladies & gents, it’s all about writing for the internet (which means you don’t even have to do hair and makeup, don scrubs, or even get out of your jammies- you can do it right in your home).

• Nurses AND radio AND laughter, oh my!!! I will be a guest on the phenomenal internet radio show RNFM Radio on 9/30/13 @ 9pm ET. Join us! It’s going to be a blast. If you can’t join live, all episodes are recorded. What’s that you say? Never tuned in to RNFM Radio before? Well, you’re in for a treat. If you have tuned in before, you already know it’s a hot spot of inspiration, information, and fun.

• Got vision? Lori Radcliffe does and she’s sharing. Woohoo! I recently interviewed Nurse Visionary Lori ‘Miky’ Radcliffe, Fitness Nurse Consultant about that exciting nursing specialty that she is pioneering. You can listen to that interview here: http://mynursingbusiness.com/.

I wonder if, as a nurse, you have always believed that getting a massage is a luxury to be reserved for the rich or perhaps the seriously ill.

As a professional nurse, you are probably very aware of how you spend your money and no doubt have budgeted items to build up your own health.

I have a beautiful niece who is a nurse par excellence!

When she graduated, she got a job in a private practice but was frustrated with the limited amount of time she could have with each patient. It seems they wanted to rush patients through like cattle to get as many done as possible each day. Abigail, however, wanted to take more time with each patient. So she was frustrated.

Another great job became available – at a hospital this time. She applied for it and landed the job. This gal is really good at what she does.

But the last I heard, her stress levels are off the charts. This time, it is not the time constraints put on her, but rather a fellow nurse who is senior to her who makes her life miserable each day.

The stress is taking its toll on her body. It is time to de-stress and get healthier.

Can you identify with either of these problems she encountered?

What is a nurse like you to do to help relieve the stress and keep your body functioning well?

I recently wrote to my niece and asked her if she has tried massage therapy.

Massage therapy has so many benefits for all of us and especially for you as nurses.

Now, I am not a nurse, but I do run my own home business so spend a lot of time at my computer as well as juggling many stresses and deadlines. When I first scheduled a massage, I must admit that I felt a bit guilty for spending money that way. But I am big into natural health so I did it.

My massage therapist told me that I was getting a dowager’s hump as she massaged away on my back. She worked on the tension in my shoulders and neck and shared with me some exercises I could do to help.

I rescheduled . . . and continued on a monthly basis, though sometimes I would stop for 6 months or so, and then come back.

Guess what happened? As I continued with my massages, my dowager’s hump went totally away! I have very good posture and no sign of a dowager’s hump! You can see why I am such a proponent for massages.

Let me share with you 13 health benefits to keep in mind about massages:

Getting a massage . . .

1: Helps to pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation

2: Lowers stress levels

3. Increases and promotes joint flexibility

4. Promotes deeper breathing

5. Improves posture and can prevent dowager’s hump (that’s me!)

6. Enhances skin tone & skin health

7. Helps to relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles

8. Helps with mental alertness, better focus, and improved concentration

9. Helps to release endorphins, lessening depression and anxiety

10. Can reduce pain, especially back and neck.

11. Can result in a tranquil mind

12. Increases your self-awareness

13. Helps to satisfy your innate need for human touch

Do any of these benefits resonate with you?

Tips for making massage therapy a part of your health regime:

1. Commit to putting a monthly massage into your health program and budget.

2. Do your homework to find a good massage therapist. Ask for referrals from your friends, read reviews, and then try out a few. Don’t feel you have to stick with the first one you try. Try different ones so you can evaluate and decide who you fit best with their style and personality for establishing a long-term relationship.

3. Communicate well with your massage therapist. They can’t read your mind so be sure you let them know what you like or don’t like.

4. Be sure to drink a lot of water after your massage to rehydrate your body. A good masseuse will provide water for you.

5. Plan the rest of your day to be low-key so you can relax after your massage to continue to benefit.

Being someone in the health industry, it behooves you to be the best you can be. Consider adding in massage therapy soon.

I heard back from my niece and she has tried massage therapy and wishes she could do it more.

I hope you will try massage therapy soon too.

Photo Credit: Microsoft free images http://office.microsoft.com

About the Author: Amy Hagerup is a Health and Wellness educator who is passionate about helping others reach optimum health in their body, mind, and soul. A former missionary to Africa for 23 years, Amy teaches through her many stories to help bring change in her readers’ lives. An author, speaker, and coach, Amy is married to her hero, has five children, three children-in-love, and 12 grandchildren.

You can reach Amy Hagerup at her blog http://amyhagerup.com or her Amazon author’s page at http://dld.bz/cGQvA. 

My beautiful, bubbly, bright niece celebrated her 1st year in this world (with pink and white cake covering her face, tiny fingers, and her princess dress).

Her birthday party was just a few months ago.

This weekend, I went to visit her and found myself surprised (again) by just how much they grow….so fast.

Since her party, she is now ambling around unaided, babbling incessantly, and proclaiming ‘BRAVO’ with a big smile every time something exciting happens (which for a 15 month old, happens a lot).

Moments like this often make me think. A lot.

Even though I didn’t see her for a few months, she was still growing, babbling, learning away.

Whether I was there to witness her events or not.

Life goes on.

Highways & byways

So I am driving home from seeing her and I take the highway (it’s a long boring drive by the way)

And again, I am thinking about how cute she is and how much she has grown.

Before I know it, I am near my exit. To the point where I almost miss it.

How did that happen? I didn’t even notice the drive I was so busy in my head. I was on auto pilot.

I didn’t notice the huge isolated house that sits alone off of the highway about midway. That house always makes me wonder: who lives there?

I didn’t notice the cows grazing on the sides of the road that I usually wave at (ya, I wave at cows. Am I the only one?)

Here’s the thing:

Whether we pay attention to the shifting landscape or not, it is shifting.

Life.  Keeps.  Moving.  Even if you do not.

Are you on auto-pilot?

Ever worked a shift and felt you were on auto-pilot?

How about a week of shifts that you can barely remember the details. “Same stuff, different day”, right?

Do your days, weeks, months, years seem to blend into each other?

Maybe you have goals that aren’t being reached? Or places you would like to visit? Or changes in your career and life  you have thought of making?

But if you are an auto-pilot, complacently ambling from one day to the next, you get into a zone.

And you stay there.

Like your bed on a crispy cold morning…..It’s warm, familiar, comfortable…

And DANGEROUS.

While you  remain in that zone, the landscape, scenery, and most importantly TIME, is shifting by. Whether you act or not. 

So what dreams, goals, desires, change have you thought about making?

What CAN you do?

Understand that the longer you stay in complacency zone, the stickier that zone gets. It becomes real hard to finally DO SOMETHING.

So what can you do today?

Without doing anything drastic, decide today to commit to making ‘it’ happen.

Everything happens in steps.

Let’s say you want to start exercising & eating healthier. Don’t go overboard instantly with a plan that you won’t be able to keep up.

Start with one step and build momentum. What one step can you take today? Go for a walk, substitute a heavy meal with a salad, etc

Nursing career or specialty change on the brain? You don’t have to go wild and hand in your notice today (I am NOT advocating anything like that). Instead, just start researching alternatives, talking to people, updating your resume. Or at the very least, put it on your calendar to do something.

Once you take a step. Just one step. You are boldly making your way AWAY from the danger zone.

And that, my dear dahlings, deserves a huge BRAVO!!!!!

Alicia-joy

I am always surprised that people don’t realize how many options there are to earn extra income. The first step is to have an open mind and not limit yourself to earning income solely from a J-O-B.

Listen to the audio all about it!

podcast 05 creating income streams

In the podcast I mention just ONE type of writing oppotunity for nurses. I mention copywriting. But there are many different options. In fact, I have created a free online training where you can learn about FIVE, yes, FIVE different writing industries that nurses can explore and earn income in. Click here to access your training: Free Training

‘See’ you there,

Alicia-joy

Well, Transitions in Nursing is in Transition. No pun intended. (I just had to write that).

But things are-a-changing. Here’s how:

I am re-focusing the articles, podcasts, and videos here on the site. The overall theme will still be helping nurses in transition. But most  of the site will be geared towards 3 main topics:

*Career tips (alternative specialties, self-education, etc)

*Clarity (getting clear about your nursing and life goals)

*Cash flow (creative ideas for earning extra income)

It is always my goal to bring you informative tips and insights, without the boring industry jargon.

In the coming weeks, you may notice visual changes also. Ya, I am breaking the site a bit. Everything should still function well while we make the changes (fingers crossed). But things will look a little different. It’s all for the better. Plus I just love changing things up. Monotony encourages mediocrity. Yup, you can quote me on that.

What do you need to do?

Nothing. Just sit back , relax, and check back in for updates. Or make it super easy on yourself, by signing up in the SUBSCRIBE box on the right. You will receive updates straight to your email inbox. Isn’t the internet like magic?

That’s all for now. Wish me luck.

Alicia-joy

In Today’s podcast I interview Annette Tersigni AKA The Yoga Nurse.  Annette pioneered an entire specialty of nursing that centers around healing and wellness for both nurses and their patients. Her story is nothing short of inspiring.

In the podcast you’ll learn:

• How Annette Started a business by combining 2 passions (yoga & nursing)
• The benefits of yoga, stress relief, and overall wellness for nurses and our patients
• How to start taking steps toward a career path that feels ‘right’ for you at this moment
• Simple techniques to help you feel more relaxed and at ease throughout your day
• About a program where you can earn extra income or even become a nurse entrepreneur helping other health care providers

You can find out more about Annette and her amazing teachings and programs by clicking here.

Right click on the Play button below if you would like to download the MP3. Or simply click Play to listen now.

Annette Tersigni final

Click here to visit YogaNurse Medical Yoga.

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So it’s not so much your job you dislike, it’s the vampire-like vixens, I mean coworkers, who seem to suck energy from you faster than a jacked up JP Drain?

I am talking about the kind of work environment polluted with:

gossiping

backbiting

blaming

one-up-manship to upper management

and constant high school-like games.

Unfortunately, this type of behavior is all too common. But what happens when you feel it’s so bad that you are struggling to endure it?

When you find yourself talking to friends and family members for hours about particular coworkers who really get under your skin- you just may be in a toxic workplace.

When you get to work and the first thing you check is who is on shift with you – while praying in the back of your mind that negative Nellys aren’t on today – you just may be in a toxic workplace.

Now here’s the thing, working with a few toxic people, may not actually make the whole workplace toxic…It just FEELS that way to you.

You’re smart (you are on my website, so you must be ). So you already know that working in an emotionally toxic environment can literally make you sick. Energetically, emotionally, and physically. You’re a nurse. You know the correlation between your emotions and your body. That’s why it’s super important to get a handle on this. Telling yourself cliche’s like:

• “It is what it is”

or

• “I just have to deal with it”

So what’re you to do? Here’s my 4 step plan

Step 1: Step away from the gossip.

Gossip contributes to a negative environment. Think about it, most gossip is negative. It’s sensational by nature, so most gossip is about negative aspects/behavior of another person’s life. The more you entangle yourself in the “he-said-she-said”, the more wrapped up you are in the web of negativity. If you are a chief gossiper, you really have little room to criticize other toxic behavior. Gossiping is toxic also. But don’t feel bad.

If you want to change that habit, try going on a gossip free diet for 21 days. I once read the book The 4 Spiritual Laws of Prosperity by Edwene Gaines. The Author explains how she went on a “negativity”/”gossiping” diet for 21 days which changed her life. Give it a whirl and see how it goes. You know when you are starting to gossip, step away. Don’t be a part of that mix. When the conversation starts, excuse yourself. Quickly.

Step 2: Respond. Don’t react

We are reactive by nature. Something happens, we react. For every action there is an equal or opposite reaction right? Wrong. When it comes to interpersonal relations at the workplace, you are better of responding. Here’s the difference in responding and reacting:

You reacting:

Your in the hallway getting ready to go in to do an assessment, Toxina walks by and says something rude under her breath so nobody hears, but you heard it loud and clear. You stop what you are doing, look her dead in the face, and loudly ask her “what did you just say?” Or worse yet, you give her something back just as nasty as she gave you.

You responding:

Same scenario as above, but instead of reacting, you just quietly say “excuse me?” . To clarify what she said. Typically, Toxinas don’t have the courage to repeat their negativity. Or better yet, you ignore her. Then, if you feel it is serious enough that you do need to talk to her about the situation, choose to ask her about it later in a private situation. The advantage to that is you have had time. Time allows us to cool down. We have all done and said things in a split second that we regret later. Time is the key to responding over reacting.

Step 3: Have a cleansing routine

Just like you would for any other toxic substances. Even though you are staying away from the madness and not reacting, this doesn’t mean you are bottling up how you are feeling. Learning some healthy ways to ‘release’ are in order.

For example: Exercising, crafting, learning something new. Or my favorite release exercise of all  (no..it’s not what you are thinking): have a venting session. This is not a pity party…this is where you and a buddy will literally get it out. All of it. Give yourself permission to vent about the people, the situation, all of it. But put a time limit on it.

So say for example 10 minutes. For 10 minutes your friend is going to listen while you get it all out. I mean REALLY get it all out. Explain just how horrid the Toxina was today. How ridiculous she is. How she effects your mood & on & on.Your friend can just listen and maybe egg you on if desired. But when you’re done…you’re done. That’s it. Time to focus on something else.

Step 4: Transition

Since this entire site is for nurses who have decided they want a change, in my infinite wisdom, I am going to take a guess that you are not planning to stick around in this job.

So if you are planning to leave…make your plan and…. well…leave. Genius right?

As always, I am not saying to walk out of your job today. Only you can make a decision that sudden. But I am saying to start making a plan, and start taking action towards your goal….a different position.

A final note, when your knee deep in toxicity, remind yourself of a little statement I created to help you make it through:

PCAP – Positive Change is Absolutely Possible.

Alicia-joy

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This week’s self-care tip is to cherish your friends. We all have people in our lives who have been there with us through the good and the bad. It is so easy to get caught up in the daily grind that we forget to appreciate and cherish friends like this. But cherishing these friends makes your friendship stronger and is a fantastic reminder to yourself of the support you have in your life.

Take some time to enjoy your friendships. Schedule some face time. And I am not talking about the iPhone App called face time. I am talking about actual face to face time. With the prevalence of technology, it is easy to get consumed in the world of digital hangouts, text messages, and video chat. But real in-person connections can never be replaced by technology. If your friends are local, use that to your advantage and set aside time to do something interesting this week. If they are not local, then of course, use technology to connect. It’s your best option. Perhaps you can scheduled a Google hangout or Skype call. Or even better yet, make plans to see each other. That may just be motivation to take a trip someplace.

The point is to find time to really cherish your friendships this week. Let them know that you appreciate them. If you cannot connect in person, maybe send them a card or make some other relevant gesture that they would appreciate.Be grateful for them, enjoy them, and watch your relationships grow.

For more self care tips, see the self care tip page here.

Also, friend and fellow nurse blogger Keith Carlson offers care coaching and other tips and advice about caring for yourself. You can find out more by clicking here.