Thank you for the poem you wrote about me, while I was very sick and in the hospital in April, 2008. Wanted to let you know I am doing much better now and will be going back to the Dr. this coming Friday. Hoping he will let me go back to work. It was a blessing to have met you and just wanted to thank you for your prayers and kind words. Christopher (Chris) Long
REPLY to: Chris (Chris, If you would like, you may view my Articles Page and you will see the poem and story I wrote about you...It is entitled "My Child's Face")
It is a true joy to hear from you...Thank you for sharing your kind words with me...I am thrilled that you are getting better with each new day...I have been praying for you and will continue to pray for you...You and your mother blessed me more than words can say...Oh the awesome wonder of God's amazing gifts...
Chris, I would like to share with you that I had shared your poem with a young woman who is an instuctor at Piedmont Technical College...She worked previously with me at Self, and I have known her around 16 years...She did not know who the poem was about, but she did so appreciate the poem and why I wrote it...From the poem, I was asked by Lisa to be the Guest Speaker at the Pinning Ceremony at Piedmont Technical College this month...She asked that I write about The Journey in Nursing...This was such a great blessing for me to be able to share some things I have learned over my 33 years of nursing to help younger nurses who are beginnig their careers...Thank you for being a part of life...
I will add what I shared with the new nurses below...The poem would not have been written nor would I have had the opportunity to share my thoughts on nursing with the new graduates without you and your mother...Please do share this with you mother...You both richly blessed my life...Please do keep in touch and let me know how you are doing...May God walk with you daily...Blessings...Juanita Pittman-Brown
(This story is posted on my site with www.faithwriters.com) National Nurses Week 2008 by Juanita Brown 05/24/08
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NATIONAL NURSES WEEK
May 6 – 12, 2008
National Nurses Week
At the invitation of
Lisa B. Speach, RN, MSN, FNP,
I spoke at the Pinning Ceremony for the new Nurses at Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, S.C., on May 7, 2008...
This was such a great honor and brought great joy to my soul…It gave me an opportunity to share with the new nurses and others in attendance my thoughts on the journey of nursing...
I would like to share with you
the thoughts I shared with the new nurses on the journey of nursing
The Journey of Nursing
EDUCATION
Remember that learning is an on-going process throughout a nursing career
Keep your skills up to date for you cannot give what you do not have
Use the tools given to you in your education for they often will direct and protect when difficulties arise
Remember that training takes over when uncertainty enters in
OTHERS
Respect and protect the rights of others
Remember that but for the grace of God the patient or their significant others could be you and will be you in time
Accept others without judgment
Listen to others, consider their thoughts, decide for yourself, and hold yourself accountable for the choices you make
Remember that you will become the model for others to follow
Keep compassion, understanding, and love for others as tender treasures for they will found you when your may flounder
Remember that but for the grace of God the patient or their significant others could be you and will be you in time
Know yourself, accept others, strive for perfection even though it is unattainable for if you do not try your goals are not high enough
Allow others space when they are smiling or when they are crying for respect and freedom will allow them to grow and you to be an accepting and comforting source for those in need
SELF
Maintain a positive attitude and add not to negativity
Listen with your heart
Speak with consideration and kindness
Nurture your spirit for you cannot give what you do not have
Keep yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy for to serve in wholeness requires a whole you
Keep your life simple
Learn who you are and hold yourself to the highest standards
Remember that you can observe change, accept change, and create change
Remember that everyday is not only an opportunity but also an obligation to live with integrity, honesty, and compassion
Embrace change as you would a friend
Be vigilant and truthful
Hold yourself to the highest standards
Use silence to your advantage for wisdom needs time to think
WORK
Realize that any system in which you work may not be perfect, but it is the one you have -- You may not be able to make it perfect, but you can be a part of it and make it the best that it can be
Lead with integrity and follow with respect
Respect those in authority even if you may not agree and be supportive of their role and direction
Give your very best each day you are on duty for it is the foundation of your tomorrow
Maintain a professional demeanor at all times
Realize that a smile is a small but powerful tool
Avoid gossip for it is undermining and a waste of the gift of time
Remember that at the end of your career that you would like to shine as brightly as you do on the first day you step into the arena of life
Be a positive force at every opportunity and refrain from negativity for the light of who you are will make the world a brighter place
Remember that team-work is kind collaboration
Remember that everyone be they patient, staff, administration, or any others you encounter have had a different journey than you and are who they are just as you are who you are -- Allow them to be themselves for then you will find freedom in being you
Remember that one day you will be on the other side of professional care and that you would like then to receive what you have given
Remember that there are all levels of abilities and capabilities in nursing and to be understanding and accepting of others -- help others grow and be supportive for there are none who have arrived at perfection, but we can all travel the road together and help each other along the way
Keep in mind that nursing is a life-long career often and you want to be as proud to be a nurse at the end as you are at the beginning
Help the younger nurses who cross your path for once you were in their shoes – respect those who have made nursing a career for they have served, survived and given of their lives
©
If you are a nurse, may you blessed; if you have helped a nurse become a nurse, may you be blessed; if you are the recipient of a nurse's care, may you be blessed...
May 7, 2008
Juanita Pittman-Brown, RN
Chris Long
on
May 25, 2008