NAzNA Member Spotlight My name is Gemma O’Donnell and I would like to share a little bit about why I became a nurse and why I joined the ANA. I have been an ANA and AZNA member for the past 3 years. I currently serve as Secretary for the Northern Arizona AZNA chapter. I have been a nurse for over 40 years. I chose nursing as a career because I loved my work as a nurse’s aide in long-term care and I was impressed by the caring and compassionate nurses I worked with. After graduation, I worked in the hospital setting in various venues-med surg, telemetry, Post-Partum, neurology, orthopedics, and as a float nurse. But I was eventually drawn back to the nursing home environment. I believe I am pulled toward gerontology because while I was growing up, my elderly grandfather lived with us. He was a diabetic and invalid. I was only 13 years old when I was charged with emptying his urinal, helping him get dressed, and setting him up at the kitchen table with his washbasin, razor, shaving cream, and towels. After I cleaned up the table once he was washed and shaved, I then made his breakfast for him. All before I went to school in the morning. I learned a lot about elderly care while helping him with his needs. I believe that he is the reason I feel so comfortable being around older adults. I love being a nurse. I have gotten to do so much over the years, have met so many wonderful people, and have learned a great deal from them. I especially enjoyed working as an MDS (Minimum Data Set) Coordinator in skilled nursing homes. This is when I worked with an interdisciplinary team as a care manager. In this role, I assessed the resident clinically and then interviewed the family, the occupational therapist, speech therapist, physical therapist, dietitian, social worker, the nurse’s aides caring for the resident, and even housekeeping. Once I obtained the entire picture of the resident, I inputted the data into our electronic database and submitted it to CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). This is how our facility was paid by CMS. It was very rewarding work. I currently teach at NAU in the school of nursing. I work with so many amazing and talented people there. My greatest joy is serving my nursing students and guiding them to be successful in their coursework. My personal philosophy is that if my student is successful, then their patients will be successful. I truly enjoy my membership with the ANA. One of the greatest gifts I get from being a member of the ANA is the ability to receive notifications of the current legislation that is happening and the ease at which I can send a letter to my congressperson about my stance through the support of the ANA. I also appreciate the AZNA text messages (RNConnect) I receive for my own mental self-care. I have enjoyed networking with outstanding people within AZNA, including Selina Bliss, Dawna Cato, Leanne Prenovost, Wendy Knefelkamp, and Madi Moyer. I get to be on the AZNA committee for Fallen Nurses and support this worthwhile effort which pays tribute to our AZ nurses who have died. Nursing is my world and I get to do what I love within the ANA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlF09dAy0a0

Hello and Happy Spring - #RN Connect 3/21/2022 1815 - SPRING is a time for new growth. Reflect on how you can grow personally and professionally What goals can you set for growth in this season? - How about suggestions for one seed to plant for your personal growth or growing your self care personally which will give you a great foundation for your professional growth - I am committing to myself first and am giving myself 30 minutes every day for reading a book or a sewing project something I want to do and is not on my list of chores per se - Every night before bed I take 5 minutes and determine what time in the next day I will give myself my 30 minutes - This process has given me such more inspiration and energy to get the chores completed - I feel lighter in my heart and soul and brain when I know I will have time just for me to be free in my own creative or restorative way - Give it a try - maybe just 1 x or 2 x or 3 x a week to start - please let us know what your experience is - May you have a blessed and peaceful Spring!

Happy last day of February to all - Let's take a moment today to remember that we never fail we simply re assess and make a new plan and move on - We start each day with gratitude for anything and everything we can think of and especially with self compassion and joy. What did you do today to remember what is most important to you? I woke up and meditated and it felt so good to start fresh again. I petted my cat and reminded myself that all is well in the world. Remembering others in Ukraine and elsewhere and sending my love and attention to them in a daily thought and prayer knowing I have no control and can only be a beacon of love and kindness - I cannot take it on my shoulders, I cannot solve the problem I don't have any power at all in that situation - What I can do is hold awareness - and take a moment or two each day and hold each and every person who may be involved and the Earth and the creatures in the area with love and respect. By holding awareness and sending energy of peace and kindness and hope I am able to feel that I am not ignoring or burying my head in the sand nor am I paralyzed and demoralized and worried. I don't know how or why any of this is happening all I can do is be aware and one minute at a time and move through my day and be kind to myself and all others i interact with. Therefore, I don't have to take on the pain and misery and worry and concern - I can focus and be clear and have the effect of a joyful life. What do you think? How to you cope? Share if you can we can all use a helping hand.

Excerpt from newsletter below - Personal Challenge - Drop in once a week and share your self care journey - when one of us succeeds we all benefit and make it easier for the rest of us!  We are better Together! Susanne

 

Secretary: Susanne One Love, BSN, RN In nursing there can be so much pressure to do it right and to know it all. When pandemic or crises occur, the feeling of being overwhelmed can rise and feel like the tide rushing in or it can feel like being battered by waves. Nurses have a foundation to support themselves and others at all times with grounding and peace. The nursing process. We all use it and take it for granted as "our job.” When the nursing process is applied to selfcare, feelings of being overwhelmed and fear can be replaced with peace and direction. The nursing process is -assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation Assessment: awareness starts here- be cognizant of your stressors Plan: Plan your days 1, 2 and 3. 1. Every day meditate for 10-20 minutes first thing in the morning. Set a timer. Sit and breathe. Let the thoughts wander by. When timer ends, get up and go about your day. 2. Plan 15 minutes for yourself in the middle of your day. Take a walk. Look out the window. Devote this time to you. 3. At end of the day after dinner or at bedtime, take 15 minutes and journal your thoughts and get them out of your head. Or write down 5 things you appreciate about anyone or anything. Give yourself 15 minutes of nothing to do. Breathe for 15 minutes. Diagnosis: Ask yourself-what do I need to do to feel calm and at peace? Take three deep slow breaths. This may be all you need to create some space between you and a perceived problem. Implementation: Start slow-first week only meditate daily; 2nd week add 15 min middle of daybreak and 3rd week add evening relax 15 min. Or spice it up and do at least one thing a day for a week and add a second daily thing when it feels good. If you fail one day, pick it up again the next day. Make a commitment for self-care. Make a commitment to care for yourself as you care for others. The sooner you start the sooner you feel better! And others will notice. Evaluation- Share your thoughts, triumphs, and feelings of defeat with others and revel in the good feeling of camaraderie as we normalize self-care into a daily nursing practice! Check out Northern Arizona Chapter blog on the AZNA website chapter page as we write about how it feels for selfcare! Blog address: Arizona Nurses Association Community (aznurse.org) Looking forward to sharing your successes!