What in the hell is Google Wave? Every time I think I have learned the newest technology, someone goes and makes something new. Here is the interesting part ... all this new technology is really amazing. As a teacher and a nurse - this new technology has some wonderful application considerations for patient teaching as well as class room teaching.
I am going to investigate this phenomena and report back here and tell you all about it. Of course - any of the 5 people that read my blog may feel free to tell us more too.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Here we go again ....
For those of you that follow this blog - my many thanks and my many apologoies for being so tardy in keeping this blog updated. Today, I announce a new resolution, this blog will be kept up and going - I promise. I have a lot to say, but up until now, I have not had a lot of time to say it.
I have finally finished my MSN and cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful it is to have this accomplishment under my belt. I have also started working as a full time nursing instructor for a local private college and LOVE IT! I love working with the students. For those of you that don't know this - students are the most awesome people in the world and I love teaching them and helping them achieve their goals.
Anyway - back to my promise. I will be on this blog and will begin to catch up with all my blogging sites and friends once again. Please forgive, but more importantly - please keep reading!
Love you all in blogger world.
I have finally finished my MSN and cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful it is to have this accomplishment under my belt. I have also started working as a full time nursing instructor for a local private college and LOVE IT! I love working with the students. For those of you that don't know this - students are the most awesome people in the world and I love teaching them and helping them achieve their goals.
Anyway - back to my promise. I will be on this blog and will begin to catch up with all my blogging sites and friends once again. Please forgive, but more importantly - please keep reading!
Love you all in blogger world.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
The End of a Long Journey
Today I enter the 2nd week of my last graduate level class. The journey is about to end and I will finally graduate with my MSN after three very long years. I am proud of myself, but also humbled by the education I have received. I have been in school for the last 13 years of my life. First to complete my associates degree in nursing, then my bachelor's degree and now the master's degree. My kids have really never known a time that their dad was not in school.
It was about 15 or 16 years ago that I decided I wanted to teach nursing. There were no road signs that led the way for me, rather, it was my pure determination to succeed that made my path. Every advisor I ever spoke to could never tell me what courses I needed or the best path to be able to teach. I relied on peer nurses and other nurses that taught to help me find the way through the classes I needed to take. During this journey, I moved from Florida to North Carolina. Just as I graduated with my BSN, I was told by the local colleges that I would need a master's to teach full time. I was totally disappointed that after finally finishing a bachelor's degree that I still could not teach.
Today, as I round the corner to a major life achievement for myself, I am once again being faced with an educational challenge. When I finally hold that MSNeD, will I be able to teach or will someone in an Ivory tower some where make a new rule that will send me back to school? In order to teach - everyone must have a doctorate. I am fearful that if that becomes the requirement - there will be one less teacher ... me! That does not mean that I will not go on for my doctorate eventually - what it means is that I am tired of the road blocks and lack of probable direction.
People want to know why there is a "shortage" of faculty in nursing - perhaps it is because there is no reasonable and time saving method to become degreed and credentialed. Every time you think you have reached where you need to be, the rules change.
Anyway - I digress from my original intent - to graduate! Can't beat that feeling of wonderful personal accomplishment - I guess I am a pretty smart guy after all.
It was about 15 or 16 years ago that I decided I wanted to teach nursing. There were no road signs that led the way for me, rather, it was my pure determination to succeed that made my path. Every advisor I ever spoke to could never tell me what courses I needed or the best path to be able to teach. I relied on peer nurses and other nurses that taught to help me find the way through the classes I needed to take. During this journey, I moved from Florida to North Carolina. Just as I graduated with my BSN, I was told by the local colleges that I would need a master's to teach full time. I was totally disappointed that after finally finishing a bachelor's degree that I still could not teach.
Today, as I round the corner to a major life achievement for myself, I am once again being faced with an educational challenge. When I finally hold that MSNeD, will I be able to teach or will someone in an Ivory tower some where make a new rule that will send me back to school? In order to teach - everyone must have a doctorate. I am fearful that if that becomes the requirement - there will be one less teacher ... me! That does not mean that I will not go on for my doctorate eventually - what it means is that I am tired of the road blocks and lack of probable direction.
People want to know why there is a "shortage" of faculty in nursing - perhaps it is because there is no reasonable and time saving method to become degreed and credentialed. Every time you think you have reached where you need to be, the rules change.
Anyway - I digress from my original intent - to graduate! Can't beat that feeling of wonderful personal accomplishment - I guess I am a pretty smart guy after all.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
A Change of Plans
For those that have been reading my blog - you know that I was working in a ICU for a rural hospital and also worked as an adjunct clinical instructor for a community college. Most also know that I am rounding out the completion of my graduate degree in nursing education. Whew! Ok - that helps me set the stage because I recently (almost 6 months now) accepted a position as a Nurse Educator for another rural hospital. The hospital never really had a nursing education department, so I was charged with the responsibility of developing this department from scratch.
In my humble opinion - how can a hospital exist without a nursing education department? For obvious reasons - I really can't go into any major detail about what happens when a hospital does not have a nursing education department. Suffice to say - bad things really do happen. Anyway, now I am charged with the responsibility of developing a fully integrated nursing education program of learning that includes the establishment of a nursing orientation, new graduate program and a program of on-going continuing education. It is very exciting, but also very overwhelming. It seems like they had no nursing education and now that they have a nurse educators, every educational need is urgent and a priority. That is the overwhelming part. The best part - being able to construct a nursing education department from the ground floor up and knowing that what you are doing is really laying an infrastructure to help nurses given patients better care. That is pretty awesome!
I will keep you informed of my journey. It should be very interesting to say the least.
In my humble opinion - how can a hospital exist without a nursing education department? For obvious reasons - I really can't go into any major detail about what happens when a hospital does not have a nursing education department. Suffice to say - bad things really do happen. Anyway, now I am charged with the responsibility of developing a fully integrated nursing education program of learning that includes the establishment of a nursing orientation, new graduate program and a program of on-going continuing education. It is very exciting, but also very overwhelming. It seems like they had no nursing education and now that they have a nurse educators, every educational need is urgent and a priority. That is the overwhelming part. The best part - being able to construct a nursing education department from the ground floor up and knowing that what you are doing is really laying an infrastructure to help nurses given patients better care. That is pretty awesome!
I will keep you informed of my journey. It should be very interesting to say the least.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Teenagers
Okay - so I am a parent of three teenagers. My youngest is 16, my middle is 17 and my oldest is 19. Soon, the months will all collide and they will be 17, 18 and 19. All through their life, it was a challenge. They were all born so close together that managing all their individual needs was pretty tough. But, through it all, I felt like a competent parent that did a great job. As a single father, there were times when I felt like I needed to give them more of me than I had, but always seemed to find the energy.
As the years past, I always felt connected to each of them; watching their budding personalities and seeing them grow into some really wonderful people. This bliss all ended when they turned 16.5 years old. Suddenly, I became this uncool guy that had "unreasonable" rules. I was mean, yelled alot and expected that they act like people that had manners. I mean, asking them to put a dish in the dishwasher was like congress declaring war.
Today, I find myself wondering why I became a parent. I was actually very happy to have children until the aliens came down from afar and stole them from me. My Friends tell me that they will return soon, around age 20. I am starting to see the return on my oldest who is on the verge of 20. Our relationship is almost back to normal. I asked her where she went and her response was "it is a secret - no parent is allowed to know where we go because they always return us." She said, you went their too when you were 16.5 and returned home when you were 20 but they made you forget." Perhaps she is right - I do remember times when I thought my parents were pretty uncool and wanted to spend every waking minute with my awesome and cool friends. I guess I never realized how traumatic it was on my parents or those that cared about me.
Anyway - I have made a decision as I journey through this right of passage as a parent - I will be glad when it is done and I have my normal kids back. I know they will be adults then, but at least I can see what they have become. I wonder though - will I still like them? Wow - that's a thought. I do know that I am ready for the teenage years to end. I only hope when my kids are parents and they have teenagers - they get to experience everything they have helped me experience as a parent of teenagers. I guess mom was right - pay back is really a bitch.
As the years past, I always felt connected to each of them; watching their budding personalities and seeing them grow into some really wonderful people. This bliss all ended when they turned 16.5 years old. Suddenly, I became this uncool guy that had "unreasonable" rules. I was mean, yelled alot and expected that they act like people that had manners. I mean, asking them to put a dish in the dishwasher was like congress declaring war.
Today, I find myself wondering why I became a parent. I was actually very happy to have children until the aliens came down from afar and stole them from me. My Friends tell me that they will return soon, around age 20. I am starting to see the return on my oldest who is on the verge of 20. Our relationship is almost back to normal. I asked her where she went and her response was "it is a secret - no parent is allowed to know where we go because they always return us." She said, you went their too when you were 16.5 and returned home when you were 20 but they made you forget." Perhaps she is right - I do remember times when I thought my parents were pretty uncool and wanted to spend every waking minute with my awesome and cool friends. I guess I never realized how traumatic it was on my parents or those that cared about me.
Anyway - I have made a decision as I journey through this right of passage as a parent - I will be glad when it is done and I have my normal kids back. I know they will be adults then, but at least I can see what they have become. I wonder though - will I still like them? Wow - that's a thought. I do know that I am ready for the teenage years to end. I only hope when my kids are parents and they have teenagers - they get to experience everything they have helped me experience as a parent of teenagers. I guess mom was right - pay back is really a bitch.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
A Simple Hard Working American Man
Dear President Bush and President - Elect Obama,
In light of the recent events with our economy and the millions of dollars our government is giving to failed Wall Street companies and the proposed additional millions of dollars to be given to other failing banks and companies, I would like to let you know my thoughts as an American and as a citizen of this great country.
First, as a free market society, it is the responsibility of the big companies to effectively and properly manage their budgets in an effort to remain in business. This means that a company must use it's financial resources wisely so that it can meet its financial obligations, and ultimately make a profit and stay in business. But, somehow, the companies that are needing financial assistance from our government have failed to meet this basic standard of operation. I believe a first year MBA graduate student would recognize when revenue was less than expenses and perhaps even take steps to either shore up revenue or simply reduce expenses to stay a float and in business. Yet, despite their rich salaries, the leadership of some of these financial institutions are unable to manage their books and stay a float. While I can understand that they made bad business decisions that are now impacting Americans, I don't understand why we (the taxpayer) should burden the poor business decisions of these organizations.
I believe we live in a free market society - this means that when one organization fails, another will rise in it's place and perhaps do a better job managing their financial affairs, stay in business and they may even offer a product that would be superior to the failed company. Yet - the government is preventing this failure with millions of dollars from taxpayers. I certainly understand the argument that if we allow these organizations to fail, it could ripple across the world and cause the entire world to fall into a deep recession. Wow - a global economy has some real bad drawbacks I guess!
Here I sit as a single, simple American man raising my family, paying my bills (at least most of them), sending my daughter to college, making my mortgage payment every month and working off my butt to have enough money to buy groceries. Yes gentleman, I am probably like a lot of Americans that go to work each day and try to make ends meet. Sometimes they do and if they don't, my family and I cut back until we have enough money to buy what we need and sometimes - what we want.
I was originally going to ask for a personal bailout for me, but, I am a bigger person that this. I work and do what I think is right. I will not be a victim or dependent on my government to support me. Nope - no bailout for me. I would suggest that before anymore money is sent to failing companies that you consider the plight of simple Americans like me and how hard we work to support the government's infrastructure. Don't just give our money away!
Thank you for taking the time to read the words of a simple American man. I really do appreciate the job you have and I know and pray that you (both of you) will do the right thing.
Sincerely,
A Simple American Man
In light of the recent events with our economy and the millions of dollars our government is giving to failed Wall Street companies and the proposed additional millions of dollars to be given to other failing banks and companies, I would like to let you know my thoughts as an American and as a citizen of this great country.
First, as a free market society, it is the responsibility of the big companies to effectively and properly manage their budgets in an effort to remain in business. This means that a company must use it's financial resources wisely so that it can meet its financial obligations, and ultimately make a profit and stay in business. But, somehow, the companies that are needing financial assistance from our government have failed to meet this basic standard of operation. I believe a first year MBA graduate student would recognize when revenue was less than expenses and perhaps even take steps to either shore up revenue or simply reduce expenses to stay a float and in business. Yet, despite their rich salaries, the leadership of some of these financial institutions are unable to manage their books and stay a float. While I can understand that they made bad business decisions that are now impacting Americans, I don't understand why we (the taxpayer) should burden the poor business decisions of these organizations.
I believe we live in a free market society - this means that when one organization fails, another will rise in it's place and perhaps do a better job managing their financial affairs, stay in business and they may even offer a product that would be superior to the failed company. Yet - the government is preventing this failure with millions of dollars from taxpayers. I certainly understand the argument that if we allow these organizations to fail, it could ripple across the world and cause the entire world to fall into a deep recession. Wow - a global economy has some real bad drawbacks I guess!
Here I sit as a single, simple American man raising my family, paying my bills (at least most of them), sending my daughter to college, making my mortgage payment every month and working off my butt to have enough money to buy groceries. Yes gentleman, I am probably like a lot of Americans that go to work each day and try to make ends meet. Sometimes they do and if they don't, my family and I cut back until we have enough money to buy what we need and sometimes - what we want.
I was originally going to ask for a personal bailout for me, but, I am a bigger person that this. I work and do what I think is right. I will not be a victim or dependent on my government to support me. Nope - no bailout for me. I would suggest that before anymore money is sent to failing companies that you consider the plight of simple Americans like me and how hard we work to support the government's infrastructure. Don't just give our money away!
Thank you for taking the time to read the words of a simple American man. I really do appreciate the job you have and I know and pray that you (both of you) will do the right thing.
Sincerely,
A Simple American Man
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
About Time
I bet most of you that follow my blog (maybe 5 people in total - ha!) have been wondering what happened to me. Well, the truth of the matter is that I lost my sign on and password and could not figure out how to sign back in. But - after several months of trying to locate my sign on - I finally found it. I now have it in a better place. So hopefully - I can keep blogging. Hope you all did not miss me too much. I will be back with some new stuff soon.
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