Knock knock... Exactlywatt

I am old now

2011-01-23T16:22:00.000-08:00

You know you are old when...

You get annoyed that there are so many teenagers in the mall.
You can say, "I remember when we didn't have computers and ... took a lot longer to do."
You start worrying about looking too old. You're deathly afraid of wrinkles, and you start to worry when you don't get carded for drinks.
You would rather spend Saturday night inside so you can feel rested in the morning.
Shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond is the highlight of your week.
Wearing clothes that are comfortable matter a lot more than looking good.

Well, I am twenty-six. Relative to how old I was, this feel quite old. It's a transitional stage for me. I have spent most of my life feeling young, and now I am at the cusp of leaving my youth. I cannot say that I will leave it willingly, but I will welcome the opportunities experience and time will give me. I miss the attention of youth, but that is superficial and at the end of the day does not matter. I look forward to the confidence age will bring me.

My New Year's Goal

Cook more.
Exercise, and get the BF to do so because he keeps complaining about how tight his jeans are.
Surf on facebook less. I spend too much time on that website.
Blog : )

Should you care that your neighbor has health insurance?

2009-07-22T18:52:00.000-07:00

The United States' sense of individualism has brought about a culture of ambition, innovation, and much success. However, that attitude also explains why the U.S. is the only industrialized nation not to have some form of universal health care.

What is wrong with not having universal health care?

Rise in Health Care Cost for Acute Cases

For the 47 million Americans who don't have health insurance, they will most often not see the doctor until they are the sickest. Acute cases are the most expensive health care expense. For those who do have health insurance, more preventative measures to prevent critical ailments is much more cost-efficient than waiting for an incident to happen. If Americans were insured in prenatal care, screenings for cancer, vaccinations, etc., it would be a more proactive model that would lead to a healthier population and would cut costs.

Lack of Security

When I graduated from college, I no longer qualified for the student insurance I was using. My parents were pressuring me to find a job soon so that way I could get medical benefits again. This situation applies for the children of parents of small businesses who don't have a form of health insurance, and those who would like to retire but is worried about an ailing spouse. I know all of these people. It is a scary feeling knowing that if something happens, one will just have to cover the costs and there is no certain net that will catch one if one's health declines. Universal health care will give people that net; a net that says, "your health matters, and it is not a privilege but a necessity".

A Need for a Change in the System

The United States has the most advanced technology and innovative methods in the world for health care. The U.S. spends the most out of any nation. However, the U.S. ranks 30th in the world for health expectancy. The U.S. offers great health care...for those who can afford it. There is a wide gap between those with health insurance and can afford it, and those who cannot. Those who cannot afford it or who do not have it are not living as long as those who do.

Should you care that there are 47 million who don't have health insurance? Americans' attitudes tend to focus on the self and not on the community. However, with a change in this mindset for something as pertinent as health would improve the overall quality of our community and our nation.

References

http://depts.washington.edu/eqhlth/

Something Meaningful vs Something Convenient

2009-07-21T13:54:00.000-07:00

I decided to pursue studying nursing because I wanted to do something that I thought matters and was meaningful. Since then I have been happy with my decision to pursue my career in health care. However, there are not days when I rethink my decision because I miss things that I did not think I would miss lacking foresight.

I miss...

-weekends off
-evenings off

When reflecting on what matters, is it better to do what matters or what is convenient? I do miss an active social life, that has been floundering more than flourishing. However, I do have pride in what I chose to do. It is challenging, and it is something that not anyone can do.

I chose the more difficult path, and I would look back thinking it was the best thing I have ever done.

A Completele, Utterly, Unromantic Story

2009-01-18T00:38:00.001-08:00

There are fewer things that are more unromantic than meeting on the internet...such as, arranged marriages, mail-order brides, marrying one's daughter to their uncle making her his fourth wife...etc. But yes, meeting on the internet does not sound like it will be the next big chick flick blockbuster of the summer. Well, this is not an article how these movies, Disney, or chick lit drive women to have unrealistic expectations of love, this is about how I fell in love.

When I first met Nick I thought he had a nice smile and he was easy to talk to. We met up for coffee, which turned into dinner, and it ended with him driving me home. We came from completely different backgrounds, which made me wonder what we even talked about. I vaguely recall talking to him about Japanese music that I enjoyed, only to learn later that he listened to no international music.

He was...a foodie, a consultant, a shopper, appreciated all things Japanese (minus the music), and had economic republican tendencies. .
I was... fresh out of school and broke, a nurse, enjoyed dancing and world music, and had socialist healthcare reform ideals.

It's funny I envisioned myself being with someone much like myself, and I learned that it took someone with much more emotional intelligence than I to make a relationship with myself function. : /

I guess what we're good at is that we are considerate of each other, our friends, and family. We prioritize correctly when it comes to people who matter and work. We discuss, we make compromises, and we take care of each other. It's been a relationship of trust, love, and at the end of the day...fun.

The first time I knew that I loved him was when he was going through his CD collection, and he was excited about telling me the stories behind his mix CDs and listening to the songs. He was so happy just listening to his old music, and I was just happy to be there with him.

Doing Something Right

2008-04-25T13:12:00.001-07:00

I had a difficult week last week.

My patient had total parenteral nutrition, a flexiseal, nasogastric tube, and a foley.

His flexiseal kept coming out leaving him sitting his own poop, and he wouldn't tell anyone.

I put it back in a total of three times...each time he squirmed in anguish and pain and groaned. Nobody likes anything up their rectum. And then finally it stayed in side him.

The next day the day shift nurse took his foley out and by my shift he still didn't pee. I had to put the foley back in. : /

He was uncircumcised so just finding the urethra was difficult...haha. And then in went the foley....no urine. curious.

I took my patient to the commode and he peed. Yay, no more need for a foley. Yay for accomplishments.

By the third day that I had him he told me he missed me.

Really?
after all that?

I must be doing something right.