RANDOM STUFF

Several "firsts" happened to me today while I was running out at the battlefield. I almost landed on a box turtle on my way down a hill. I generally keep a close eye on the trail in front of me because I know there are poisonous snakes out there and if I were bitten, it would be at least a 30-minute walk back to my car. Needless to say, I try to avoid such a situation by keeping a weary eye out in front of me. However, a turtle wasn't on my list of things to watch out for. Subsequently, it took me a little while longer to stop, and by the time I did, I was about 3 feet away from him. One more step and him and the dirt stuck to the bottom of my right shoe would have been close friends. Judging by the defensive position he took against my right shoe, I think he understood the gravity of the situation. Another rare sight was a person. I don’t often see anyone else out while I'm running, but sure enough, there he was, an older man, probably in his early 60's just taking a stroll in the woods. From the look of his physique, I could tell he needed the exercise. And last by not least, I saw a wild turkey meandering about along the trail. This is the first time I have seen this, and it totally caught me off guard. Unfortunately, I didn't get a very close look at him.

In other news, my out going POC for ROTC nursing is super nice. She sent all of us a goodbye email and some advice for our future as Army nurses. I thought I'd share it with you.

THINGS I LEARNED ALONG THE WAY by CPT Mary B. Smith (mhopster@hotmail.com)

-Have a five year plan; don’t let others dictate your path.
-Be flexible, take the crappy assignment and eventually you WILL be rewarded. Siemper Gumby! as COL Driscoll always said.
-If you want a trial by fire and a lot of anguish, let them rush you through your preceptorship, you know your limitations and it is your license.
-Make sure you look at your ORB once a month, your stuff can disappear and other people’s stuff appear in its place.
-Update your DA photo which each promotion.
- Don’t wait for boards to do updates, you file will be screened for other jobs and you need to be ready.
-Always make sure your goals/dream assignments are listed on your OER by your Senior rater, you cannot receive if you do not ask.
-Fight for your subordinates but if a COL tries to blackball you for it, back down. Either she/he or you will move on eventually and if you are outnumbered by colonels you’ve lost.
-Stay in shape, seen others not pass hght/wght and you don’t want that misery.
-Take your leave! The world will not end if you are gone for two weeks and your sanity will remain intact.
-Know there will be times that you are understaffed and overwhelmed and it will be the person to your left and right who help you hold it together.
-Make friends in the Education department and check for TDY courses there.
-If you are stationed in Korea, take the 30 day mid-tour leave and go to Australia for me, still kick myself about that one.
-Never eat your lunch standing up, take the five minutes to sit down and eat.
-Have a sense of humor, there are going to be some messed up things in nursing (i.e., changing an incontinent patient for the fifth time) and it is either laugh or cry.
-You will have patients that die, both expected and unexpected, but if one says he isn’t sure about his surgery or has concerns, take him back off that stretcher and call the doctor.
-There’s a reason a soap opera is called General Hospital, try not to gossip.
-Do extra duties, you’ll get face time with the leadership and meet people, doesn’t hurt come OER time!
- Go to the field. It can be a pain in the *&^ but oh the stories you will have and heck, if you don’t go to the field there is no difference from civilian nursing.
-And finally, care about, not just for, your patients. If you find yourself hostile towards them you are suffering burnout and you need another position or career.


And lastly, this Sunday I will be heading back up to Cedarville to work a nursing summer camp (I can't wait!). Pray for the campers, that God will help them make wise decisions about their futures and if nursing is the occupation they truly desire to do. Pray for me, Jess, and Eva, that we will be godly influences on the campers, and that we wont get burnt out. And also pray for safe travel for everyone involved, including me as I make the 7-hour trip up north in my new truck.
Till next time…