Your Temple , Your Destiny, Your Greatness

Charge Nurse 2016-2019    
ER Critical Care/ Trauma Level III    
Nursing Chronicle  
 
This narrative was written back in 2019, yet it resonates still in my heart here today.  
      
The temple of life, it guides you, it defines you, and it grounds you. Positive energy and a soulful lifestyle will transfer into the afterlife.        
        
As a Charge Nurse, I have seen my fair share of people when they are at their crossroads in life. Mental or a major Medical crisis have brought them into my existence. Placing their livelihood at the throne of my care.        
        
I could not stress the importance of keeping the human mind, as well as the human body in its pureness state. In reference to that statement. Love the skin you are in, take care of the skin you are in.        
This world is plagued with so many adversities we must all face at some point in our life; silent addictions, sex addictions, enslaved to recreations drugs, or the stress of life and its related issues in general. The destroying mechanics, within one’s life, which has repercussions, mainly as you get older.        
        
A typical day for a Charge Nurse depending on the floor/or unit you are assigned to assist. You will sit in and converse among other staff members to provide ultima and quality care to any patient; the LPNs, and the Patients Care Assistants make up this wonderful dynamic.          
I am really amazed, at the young patients, whose life has been cut short, not by Father Time, but by bad decisions, or neglectful lifestyle choices.        
        
Drugs, and no, I am not speaking in reference to medications prescribed by a physician. Unfortunately, I am placing emphasis on the limelight recreational drugs. From, Heroin, Crack, Cocaine, Crystal Meth, and that’s just to name a few.          
        
So many lives have been lost for that all time high. An addiction of the mind, which becomes, more of a sickness of the heart, a spirally pain, rather than an uplifting pleasure. If you have never seen a person who has overdosed on an Opiate and rushed into the ER. You are faced with a hectic environment, overworked, and underprivileged crew; all acting on impulse and adrenaline. A staff dealing at best, with no medical history, other than the presented circumstances. In the blink of an eye, patients are given one, or sometimes another injection of, Narcan just to restart their life.        
        
If that is your centered demoralizing world, then you have not experienced the flip side of living life for the greater good.  
      
In this society, parents who have befallen to addictive drugs, is such a sadden occurrence within their life. For such a zombie existence, without seeking some form of counseling. You make innocent children a product of the social service system, rushed into foster care, or placing some families on the path, as someone special once upon a time, stated, the village of the Invisible People. And the last time I checked, there are no color barriers or gender preferences.        
        
I was compelled to write this article as a reminder how blessed and fortunate I am to be accounted for. Before I went on vacation, there was an incident that came across my path. Without violating privacy. A rather frail gentleman was admitted for Hepatitis, Cirrhosis of the Liver, and Stage Four Liver Failure. He went on to explain to me, with sadden jaundiced eyes, and a heavy heart, if he had one wish at the moment, it was for him to have taken better care of himself; no excessive drinking, or IV drug usage, and regrets he never gave his life to Christ.        
        
In these perilous days and times, we all must take care of ourselves, and surround ourselves with good people. Positive people in life who have the best interest of our heart.        
        
That saying does ring tree, Birds of a Feather does Flock together. Therefore, make sure you soar with someone who will take your mind higher, keep you grounded in faith, or cushion your falls; mental, emotionally, and spiritually.        
        
Someone once noted, why I am not a fan of the, I will say, the arts here; in other words, why I do not have more fans, moreso, a lover of self.    
      
I had to really think about such an unjust statement. At the time I called it an unfounded assassination of my character, forgiven, but words never forgotten. However, my response, had I got the time to address that person privately. I would have stood proudly to say, as a Charge Nurse.        
        
My fans are the universe, without color barriers, or the inequality of man and woman. If I had one chance to convey the meaning to be someone else’s fan, I would have to say; I am your fan, when I’m up on a transporting gurney; I’m pumping your chest with compressions, while you are being rolled into the ER Trauma Center, placing a resuscitating bag over your mouth to continue the breaths of life. I am your fan when you are bloody, and Universal Precautions has no time to matter. I am your fan when I am holding your hand; when you are struggling to breathe, your life knocking on death’s door. I am your fan when I’m holding onto a bent knee when life is pushing through into existence, cheering on your moment in time. I am your fan with comforting hands and silent tears quoting Psalm 23 over still waters, when a cherished life has quietly slipped away. I am your loudest cheering fan, patting you on the back after witnessing you take first steps with a prosthetic leg(s) due to diabetes or some form of disease. I am your sadden fan when flowing beautiful hair has fallen out your scalp; reminding you that you are still beautiful within, and to keep fighting. I am your sympathetic fan when I’m unwrapping, cleaning, and then rewrapping ulcerative wounds. I am a fan, of self. The comments signed once I get home after a day of being in nurse mode for eight hours, sometimes twelve, or a double shift until coverage is found, and only after sitting down to sigh can I appreciate my small part in society        
        
As divinity appreciation, and its beautiful powers that be, whispers in my ear, job well done, that’s all the accolades as a fan I will ever need in this lifetime.  
 
 
In remembrance to all the lives who have come under gun violence within these last two weeks.  I came upon this narrative I wrote on the back of an itemized medical supply receipt when I was counting pills on a Crash Cart… wow.. those days working in a hospital setting will always be my best memories due to the challenge, the raw adrenaline, the fatigue, overstressed, and always understanding, no sleep, no time for lunches, and springing into action once that ambulance pulls up... and the relief in patient’s eyes after my team have calmed their fears, the good old days when I felt my profession really matter the most.  

SKC, BSN, DON