Suzie's Blog

I sat down on couch yesterday afternoon to finish my leftovers from my Friday night out with my husband.  I took this opportunity to do a little television surfing.  The first show that I came to was the tail end of reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels.

I was just in time to catch the closing segment of Gene sitting on a couch with his girlfriend, Shannon Tweed.  She turns to him and asks him, “Do you know what happens to us after we die?”  He responds with, “Nothing.  We become worm food.”  Gene goes on to say, “That’s it and then it is someone else’s turn (to live).

“Wow”, I said to my self.  What a sad perspective for someone who seemingly has “it all.” 

As I finished my lunch, I reflected on his comments.  I know that the “rich and famous” are human and loved by God, too.  So, I said a little prayer for Mr. Simmons and his family.   I vowed to myself that I would continue to prayer for him. (Fact: Did you know he is a Israeli American?  He is one of God’s chosen people!)

Dear friends and family,
 
Nurses from One Love Nursing Ministries, along with others from our community have just returned from a ten-day mission trip to Jinotega and Managua, Nicaragua.  Our fuel was the Lord’s instruction to "Go, heal the sick, and tell them the Kingdom of God is near” (Luke10).  Our five makeshift ambulatory care clinics saw to the physical and spiritual needs of 497 Nicaraguans!  The real healing however, came to the 17 children and 13 adults who accepted Christ through a unique presentation of the Gospel (Thanks largely to Josie Cossey, our native Nicaraguan evangelist!)  We welcomed three new members into our Christian family during a visit to a Leprosy Colony in Managua.  These life-changing experiences are pressed into my heart for a lifetime.
     

Nurses are catalyst for healing.  Good nurses are always seeking to improve their skills and use the latest best practices to promote optimal health, expedite a recovery from illness or lessen the suffering of death for their patients.  The best medicine is the simplest and often most over looked.  It is the power of prayer.  It needs no special prescription or technique to work.

I have seen my prayers turn dire situations around for patients and families.  Regretfully, I admit I have let many opportunities to pray with and for my patients pass by though.  Sometimes, even after praying with them, I have shamefully not counted their good recovery as the handy work of God, as much as the miracle of modern medicine and good nursing care. 

Nurses are tough cookies, no doubt.  We are accustomed to functioning under a high degree of work related stress few understand outside of our profession.  It could be easy for any of us, especially those of us early in our careers, to allow the stressors of our health care environments to bring us to the brink of fear.  Because of this, I truly believe courage is a prerequisite for every nurse.  Does this mean a good nurse should never be afraid?  No.  It means we should press on despite our fears.  

I heard a sermon this Sunday on the premise of “what fills your heart will lead your life.”  It made me think about just how much we hear about “heart” in our day in and day out lives.   Hardly a day goes by without being subjected to a heart related cliché or two.  Of course, we all know that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.   How about the well worn “bless your heart” we use so often in the South?  No doubt, at just the mere suggestion, you can come up with a few of your own.

Heart symbols and mottos inundate our culture, also.   They lend shape to everything from jewelry to candy boxes.   Any business that wants to tug at our “heart-strings” is wise to use one.  They are the staples of marketing and product design in our nursing and medical worlds. 

One Love Nursing Ministries is no exception.  We have used a heart along with a cross to express that Christ is central to our mission.  Believe me, we tried other ways to convey this, but nothing else fit.  Everything else falls short when it comes to a heart (or a cross for that matter). 

A Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary definition of the metaphorical heart is a: the whole personality b: the emotional or moral as distinguished from the intellectual nature c: a generous disposition or compassion.

No wonder we use the heart so often to symbolize the profession of nursing.  It presents the art in the care we give.  It is the force behind our great work.

You must have the “heart” for others to be a true success in nursing.  Sure, we can make it though school, boards and the first few months, even years without it, but time is the true test.  The heart separates those who are nurses because it is a sure paycheck on an academic career ladder or it is a true calling.

What is at the core of a true legacy?  Well, think about it this way.  Think of someone who has affected your life personally and positively through your relationship with them.  Now, I am not talking about your hairdresser, but someone else who has made a difference in your life.  Guaranteed that at the core of this relationship is love- their love for you and your love for them.  This kind of love stands the test of time.  Legacy love is a commitment to the well being of others and not emotionally based.  The Bible calls love “the most excellent way.” 

After years of planning and organizing, the Merge Mentorship Program for nurses is finally under way.  For the past three weeks, I have been meeting with two expectant young nursing students, Vanessa and Sherer.  For me listening to reviews of their ever-expanding list of student responsibilities, observations of our nursing paradigm and trepidation of the “real world” after graduation is like a nostalgic flashback.  Little do they realize, I am greatly refreshed and inspired during this time with them.  Secretly, I am even more humbled.  I confess I have asked myself more than once, “What do I have to offer these bright young women?”  I know so many amazing nurses who are much more qualified academically and clinically to mentor than me.  The little voice inside my head has often whispered, “Who do I think I’m kidding?  I’m plain Suzie, RN.