Freelance Writer in the Making

I am here, I have always been here, just waiting to shine.

I am a nurse and have been since graduation in Aug 1999 after a one year college course.

I started our in LTC in a Nursing Home in Bowmanville Ontario Canada 🇨🇦. How things have changed over these last 23 years, the job, the pay, the politics of it all.

The pay, I started in LTC and it was less the $16/hour, then in the Mental Health hospital portion of my career in 2000 I was up to just under $19/hour and then moving on to LHC in Whitby Ontario I started making just under $20/hour. Almost 20 years later, with the increase in my Scope of practice as an RPN, that practically matches that of the RN bachelor of Nursing I was finally at almost $32/hour.

But let's be real, money is not everything when it comes to happiness and love of a job. No it was time to move on, to many years in hospital setting that had gone from enjoyable to dread in a pandemic COVID 19 of 2020. Health care has changed, and well not exactly for the better, because it's a business. Yes the advances in medical history have come a long way.

So back to 🙂 happiness. We are a special kind of person, a nurse that is. We care for the ill, their families and usually each other. That is, if your lucky to make true nurse friends over the years. I have made some, but I have as well lost some, the ones who, well really are not your friend, team player or who really don't have your back. It happens, it does, as it can happen in any career or in life in general.

So I have been a nurse for almost 23 years, 24 years if you count the year of schooling. Well I do count that year, because I was in it.

I have been caring for many people, patients and residents during these years. Long-term care, mental health in seniors, LTC rehab, and stroke rehab, and now here I am, back in LTC in a Nursing Home in Whitby.

Up to the elbows of learning, hands on experience and assignments. Her I am now at the age of 49, close to what I would love to consider nearing retirement at age 55. BUT lets be honest I think I will work longer, should this continue to be my path. A healer/Nurse, A mom and A wife and some where in there trying to find myself again.

Who am I, What am I, what is my identity. Great question, a quest I am on, a never ending learning experience.

There are so many experiences I have had a long the way. The Good, bad, sad and frustrating to say the least. Caring for someones loved one is difficult at times, watching someone you become close with, die. Seeing seniors with cognitive concerns, their personal expressions that can be a challenge. Families and residents who no matter their age, not being able to come to terms with aging. Not being able to understand we all die, at least it seems some of the time. It is hard, difficult to help to show families and the loved ones, that we'll at 98 it can and most likely is normal to be weak, more tired and help them understand that, 'yes your mom is 98 years old, she can walk, talk, feed herself and looks great, and needs some help washing and dressing.' They just unfortunately don't always understand or except that MOM is aging and is weaker. I will continue my quest to Health and Healing, helping my Residents and their families and be an ear to listen, I will continue to reassure and give guidance 🙏 ❤️, and when able be there.

I am a nurse, on a quest to find myself again. To better myself.

I listen to podcasts, and do research to what it is to be a freelance writer as well. This is my Blog, and I hope to write as often as life let's me. I look forward to sharing more of ME..... advice .... and what ever comes to mind that I think readers might enjoy reading. I have heard many great quotes of encouragement from podcasts on how to "Respond and not React to a situation." (From Bob Proctor -RIP Feb 4th 2022)

To react to something gives the other person the power, to respond gives you the power in a situation. Great words. 👍 Thank you