My Strong Medicine

The adventures of a male nurse navigating through life, staying fit, surviving the journey.

Archive for August, 2009

EXTRA! EXTRA!

Posted by Sean on August 5, 2009

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Read all about it…

Lot’s of things have been ‘happenin’ lately around here. When I say ‘here’ I mean my life inside and outside of work, as well as the ‘life’ of my good ole’ blog.

[Before I continue, no I'm not changing things up again. (WHEW)]

My first semester came and went. It flew by I must say. My feelings towards school changed as the semester progressed. I am now pretty darn excited to start my next semester and be one step (semester) closer to attaining my BSN! Unless there is something catastrophic, I will have my BSN by May 2010. Not bad for just starting May of this year. – Yes it helped that I already HAD ONE Bachelor’s degree.

Along the way I changed my plan of attack. I’m now completing my degree entirely online.

I found out the expensive hard way that I really should leave well alone. The big ‘change’ and master ‘plan’ I developed at the beginning of the summer bottomed out quickly. Not only did it take way too much money to get going, but once it started, the pay off was extremely disappointing.

I admit, it was a great learning experience. My hopes and intentions were shot down hard, but in the end it opened up many other great opportunities.

Along the way I ‘came out of the closet’ so-to-speak. I no longer hide behind a fake persona and pseudonym (an idea that some still can’t believe is me). And I ironically re-connected with a plethora of old friends via Facebook. Facebook was simply another ‘advertising’ avenue during the ‘master plan’. I ended up finding all kinds of old friends from high school as well as college, old co-workers from past jobs, etc. It was nothing but a great thing (tell that to my wife).

With that being said, I now have to watch my P’s and Q’s when blogging. I tend to speak my mind on my blog, the way I speak my mind in person (and at work). My mouth typing can be a tad abrasive and opinionated at times, so in keeping with the ‘complaint free‘ philosophy I’m being mindful of what I blog about. Of course I’m talking about pissing off co-workers, not violating HIPAA. So no matter how ‘crazy’ or ‘unbelievable’ or ‘WTF?!’ things may be at work… I really can’t or won’t be blogging about it. Even though I really wanna sometimes! Heh heh.

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Last, but certainly not least, more doors of opportunity are opening.

I have started the ball rolling on applying for entrance into the Master’s Program. I’m keeping my fingers crossed at this point, since the task of getting into any program is daunting and could lead to some seriously large expenses. So I’m keeping things sort of hush-hush. I’ll blog more about it as the process develops.

I’ll also be blogging officially for another website in the coming weeks! They were looking for a male nurse who blogs…. Hmmm. I sort of fit that description don’t you think?

I’ll give more details once the new website is launched. I will say this… I’m super-excited about it!

I think that’s enough for now.

Stay tuned!

Posted in health, random | Tagged: , , , | 12 Comments »

My Weekly Weak Sense of Humor

Posted by Sean on August 5, 2009

full of baloney

The obesity problem solved.

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I felt like delivering double the funny today.

Have a great day!

Carpe Diem

Posted in humor | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

It Takes Money To Make Money

Posted by Sean on August 4, 2009

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This is the old Jedi mind trick joke. Which came first? The chicken or the egg? This dichotomy is a mind-numbing time-space continuum like paradox that we all have experienced at one time or another.

For instance, everyone wants to earn a living. Most would like to increase their income. In order to increase your income you would need to increase your education. An increased education leads to a better paying job. Better paying job = increased income. How does one increase their education? Either by way of college or vocational school? And the last time I checked you had to pay for that education.

So in order to increase your income you need an increased income?

It’s a wicked circle isn’t it?

Posted in words of wisdom | Tagged: | 2 Comments »

Please Define ANYTHING Metal?

Posted by Sean on August 4, 2009

I guess they forgot something?

Posted in random | 6 Comments »

Changing the Shift of the Blogosphere

Posted by Sean on August 3, 2009

emergiblog

HAPPY 4TH ANNIVERSARY KIM!

OK. OK.. So it’s quite the play on words. But it gets the point across. I’m quite the ‘newbie’ on the blogosphere scene. I’ve only been contributing to the nursing blogosphere for just about a year now. In that year I have met a plethora of amazing and impressive people from all walks of life. Nursing as well as all avenues of the medical and health profession alike.

A fellow nurse blogger (med blogger) was kind enough to pass the word on and spread the wonderful news about Kim and her lil’ blog- Emergiblog. (For anyone that visits her blog.. It’s anything but little)

Kim is starting her 5th year, celebrating 4 great years on the blogosphere scene! This blog post is my way of celebrating her anniversary and saying ‘THANKS’!

Emergiblog is one of the ‘BIG’ blogs out there these days. It’s one of the most recognizable and well known nursing-medical blogs published today. It"s a nursing-themed blog, its content is created by a fellow nurse and the creator and blog do many-a-things to help promote health care and everything nursing!

In my opinion, Kim and her blog (Emergiblog) set the standard. I do my best to do my part, but Kim has made great strides and created great opportunities for all us nurse-blogging fools to follow.

She’s does her best to corral us up twice a month with her baby Change of Shift.

CoS

A kick-@ss blog carnival dedicated to nurses for nurses. This carnival spawns the interest for new and seasoned nurses who are interested in blogging. I can remember the first time I saw it. I thought this was the most awesome idea.

Unfortunately Change of Shift has been hitting a couple rough patches with a lag in submissions. (Sorry Kim, I’m guilty as charged)

Kim spreads the word past the nursing boundaries with constant contributions to Grand Rounds as well as being a contributing source for Dr. Val‘s wonderful website Better Health.

Kim always does her best to deliver a great message about nursing as well as educate us on Healthcare and all its current challenges. She recently been very active in spreading that knowledge.

Along the way we get some great rhetoric about those darn Notre Dame Irishman, NASCAR, and those ‘stinky’ Cleveland Browns. (Sorry Kim… Die-hard Pittsburgh Steeler fan here)

Keep up the great work Kim. I look forward to more years on the job as well as growing my blog and blogging skills with you along the way. I wanted to personally thank you for all that you’ve done. By the way… thanks for the blogroll link!

Thanks for helping light the match and spreading the fire!

Posted in health, random | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

NaBloPoMo

Posted by Sean on August 2, 2009

Well I did it. For the month of July I was able to submit a blog post everyday for the entire month of July. Whew!

I can’t say all of the blog posts were pretty. But I was able to post something of merit each day.

I must admit, it was actually quite difficult. Coming up with content everyday is challenging.

I decided to give the National Blog Posting Month a try. I stumbled upon their site a while back by pure accident and thought it was a novel idea. Heck, I took it as a challenge really.

If anything I added more shtuff to my blog’s sidebar. Being a member you get some nifty HTML badges to display on your blog as well as network badges to promote the ‘cause’.

Here is the July ‘Badge’ which you may have noticed on my sidebar:

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And here is the Network NaBloPoMo Badge:

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The Badge for August is kinda bleh. Not sure if I’ll post it:

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Either way I’m going to give it my best shot at posting daily. I’m just not sure with classes quickly approaching and my new job on the horizon that I’ll be able to post DAILY.

I will be posting as frequently as possible, just maybe not everyday.

I really don’t know how some people do it.

Heh heh.

Posted in random | Tagged: | 12 Comments »

Site Seeing

Posted by Sean on August 1, 2009

This is one of the many AMAZING sites you can see while traveling in the great state of Ohio. Did I mention there’s no state inspection requirement for your vehicle?
What your looking at is some sort of small buick-like sedan style car chasis plopped on top of the frame of a much larger ‘BIG FOOT’- style car. Can you say: “You might be a red neck”?
 
Just sayin’
 
Ahhh the beauties of the world. :)

Posted in random | 2 Comments »

The Benefits of Online Learning

Posted by Sean on August 1, 2009

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Well, my first semester back at school has come and gone. I must admit, I was overwhelmed at first. Shaking off the cobwebs from the back of my brain was quite a task. It’s amazing how much you ‘forget’.

It’s been 3 years since my last ‘formal’ class. I made an attempt at continuing my education towards my BSN, but due to time, money and just plain lack of interest, I bowed out.

Fast-forward three years and here we are again. This time around I had the time and the motivation.

With my previous educational history luck would have it I only have to take a handful of classes to attain my BSN, so that in itself was motivating enough.

So my first semester was this summer. The last time I took summer classes was in nursing school, so I must say I was a tad bummed that my summer would be spent in school – but it was a needed sacrifice to get things done. My summer semester consisted of online classes. Also something I was leery about. Leery, but not unfamiliar territory. The last time I was in school was also taking online classes.

I had forgotten I much I enjoyed the freedom and flexibility of online learning. It affords you a great amount of ‘wiggle room’ in regards to getting things done.

Everything remains the same as ‘real-time’ live classes except for the part where you have to physically show up for class. All you ‘classes’ come in the form of assignments and tasks which are all time-sensitive.

Most classes give you a syllabus that will outline what is due, when its due. Each assignment and task fits the needs of the class and it’s goals. Every assignment can or cannot build on the previous assignment. It is pseudo-cumulative, meaning that what you learned from the assignments in the beginning of the semester will have applications that will contribute to the completion of the class assignments at the end of the semester.

Here is my breakdown of deciding between the formal and online classes:

Pros:

  • You work at your own pace (great for the busy schedule lifestyle)
  • Can do school work ANYWHERE that allows computer/internet access (Laptops)
  • Everything is planned out ahead of time, so you know what needs done and when it needs done.
  • Don’t have to worry about sitting in a class for 45min up to 4 hrs!
  • Most of the time you don’t have to buy books – everything is online access
  • You can work ahead, allowing extra time when you need it.

Cons:

  • Have to have a good, sound, basic knowledge of computers and the internet (otherwise you struggle)
  • The immediacy of problem solving is not there – if you have a question it’s done by email
  • Waiting for responses can be time consuming (although chat clients can help)
  • At the mercy of your computer and the internet (slow computers/connections can be tough)
  • It is a tad more expensive per credit
  • No human to human interaction
  • Social aspect of school is not there.

The great thing about my first semester was I worked hard, and busted my butt in the beginning of the summer. I worked as far ahead as I could – and it paid off tremendously. I finished my semester almost a full month ahead of schedule (yes I busted my A@S).

So instead of being in school, finishing the summer semester with only a week break until fall semester starts back up – I have over a month break! SHHWEEET!

If anything else, the long break is worth any drawbacks to taking online classes. Case in point, my wife is taking summer classes as well and she’s in class all the way up to the day we leave for vacation!

Ever take online classes? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

http://friendfeed.com/bethenextstep/ea1cdb55/have-you-ever-taken-online-classes-good-or-bad-i-d?embed=1

Posted in health | Tagged: , | 12 Comments »

Let The Games Begin

Posted by Sean on August 1, 2009

Training camp has started.
Can anyone say ….
FOOTBALL!!!!!

Here we go STEELERS! Here we GO!

Posted in random | Leave a Comment »

 
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