Eating on the go: Product review for nurses

 

*Disclaimer: This product and containers were provided free of charge. The blogger is in no way affiliated with balanceddaylunchkit.com. All opinions are of his own, and is under no obligation to promote or defend the product in question.*

As everyone knows, I’m a commuter student with lunch-packing challenges. (Read my previous post here on ‘Packing my bags‘) I noticed in the Scrubs Magazine fall 2011 print edition a page on getting organized (page 16 if you’re interested). We also have a page dedicated on our website to ‘The Organized Nurse‘.

I read about the product ‘Three Squares in One’. They have a ‘lunch bag’ of sorts they call the ’12-Hour Shift Bag’. I found it so intriguing I contacted the company to see if I could try it out. The were nice enough to provide me with the bag as well as the food containers that fit inside! Needless to say I was acting like a kid in a candy store.

I have always promoted healthy eating. Bring a lunch and leave the money at home. So I’ve been trying to find a lunch bag that can do that very thing, but can provide me with meals over the course of the day. So the 12-Hour Shift Bag seemed like the answer to all my woes.

After using (and abusing) it for work and school over the past couple weeks I’m ready to share my findings. It definitely touts a large capacity for storing any and everything. It has two main compartments that are individually insulated. So you could potentially have one ‘hot’ and one ‘cold’ meal. It actually has the two sides labeled ‘One’ and ‘Two’. I initially found that entertaining, but then I utilized the labeling more than I ever thought I would whenever I would go hunting for my food.

The containers they provided fit perfectly (as they should I guess). They had a nice seal-locking mechanism on them that ensured your food’s freshness. Something I really liked. Especially with the wear and tear I gave it. My food never spilled.

I loved the little zippered ‘compartments provided on each ‘flap’. You could store napkins, utensils or even pre-packaged snacks in those nifty pockets. And once again they were still insulated. Within each ‘side’ there were small elastic Velcro straps provided. I later realized these could be utilized to secure containers as well as secure and cooling device you may utilize (like the blue ice cooling blocks). In addition there was also an additional compartment with a magnetized flap for additional storage space.

It definitely held up to the rugged wear and tear. I swung that thing over my shoulder and across my back numerous times throughout a single day. The adjustable strap was key! And the straps were attached to the main unit by metal clasps, which was nice. This way the strap doesn’t tether away from the main unit.

Space was not an issue. There was plenty of room to bring just about anything. The two main compartments, the zippered pockets in the flaps, and then the additional zippered outside pockets on both sides made for easy portability.

While it was a large bag, it seems that you could compress or collapse one side of the bag if you wanted to, if you were only needing one side for those shorter days (or shifts).

Here are my bulleted highlights of this product:

PROS:

• Ample storage space with deep pockets
• Well compartmentalized
• Zippered flap for utensil storage
• Individual insulation is great for bringing hot & cold meals
• Ability to secure items within the compartments
• Option to collapse one side to only utilize half the bag
• Strong and sturdy adjustable carrying strap
• Aesthetically pleasing for both men and women
• Labeling of each side compartment

CONS:

• Very bulky at times to carry
• When fully pack – can be quite heavy

Overall grade: A

I don’t think there is a ‘perfect’ lunch bag out there, but this comes about as close as you can get. It has enough options available to suit just about any and every need for those nurses looking to pack their meals for the long shift. The name of the product says it all. I highly recommend this product.

I would like to extend a special thank you to Kathi Blackwell from Balanced Day Bags Inc. for her generosity in providing this product.

*Disclaimer: This product and containers were provided free of charge. The blogger is in no way affiliated with balanceddaylunchkit.com. All opinions are of his own, and is under no obligation to promote or defend the product in question.*

Eating on the go: Product review for nurses | Scrubs – The Leading Lifestyle Nursing Magazine Featuring Inspirational and Informational Nursing Articles

I’ve been told it’s hard to get into nursing school these days. There are waiting lists just to ‘hope’ you qualify for an interview. And then the interview doesn’t guarantee your acceptance. I’ve heard these waiting lists are years long.

The process from start to finish can be challenging to say the least.

I remember my interview (way back then). The interview began with answering a question given to you on a piece of paper. The question asked, “Who do you look up to? / Who was/is your hero?” (Sorry I don’t remember the exact wording).

I had a rush of so many thoughts. What the heck kind of interview is this? I thought this was about nursing??

I calmly answered with what I felt was my motivation.

Michael Jordan.

I can’t say I know the true story (who does). But we all know the tale about how the ‘greatest’ player ever to walk on to the basketball court was cut from his high school  basketball team. Yes. He was told he wasn’t good enough to be a part of the team.

A heavy blow to many-a-teenage ego. The story goes that he went home, locked himself into his room and cried.

Of course that isn’t the end of the story (otherwise we’d have no idea who Michael Jordan is??). After the ‘cut’ and the crying. He began a journey that we all still talk about to this day. He is still the measuring tool of how ‘good’ someone plays basketball.

So. I chose Mr. Jordan because he never quit. He failed, but he never quit.

That is the key to success. That is the key to getting what you want (out of life) and for your career. While you may very well fail, that does not mean you are a failure. It simply means you have to regroup, re-evaluate, and try harder.

If you want to be a nurse, then make the commitment. If you don’t get into the school of your choice, try again. Try other schools. Try distance education. Talk to local nurses and find out what you have to do. What ever you do, keep trying. Don’t quit.

As a nurse, I’ll take one dedicated, hard working, passionate individual over a thousand spoon-fed lackey’s any day.

You will fail along your journey. I guarantee it. The only difference between those current nursing students and you – is they didn’t let failure stop them.

Life = Risk

I stumbled upon this awesome video about the desire to be successful.

Diesel Crew – Muscle Building, Athletic Development, Strength Training » Daily Inspiration – Never Quit, No Regrets

I thought this was a great ‘no fluff’ way of describing the key to success. It tells a wonderful ‘tale’. The video talks about:

Wanting to succeed as bad as you want to breathe

It’s about sacrifice. How BAD do you want it (success). Sacrificing those things you covet the most, giving those things up in order to work hard enough to gain the chance or the opportunity.

Sleep is for those people who are broke

How much is sleep worth to you? Is it worth more than your desire to succeed? Oh, and after you achieve your success, are you going to rest?

I remember when I made the decision to become a nurse. I made some sacrifices that definitely hurt my ego (back then).

• I moved back in with my folks at the ripe age of 30
• I borrowed money from my folks to pay for classes I needed
• I worked a full-time job, while taking part-time classes, just to complete my pre-requisites for nursing school
• My full-time job was 30 miles away from home and 40 miles away from school
• I lost a lot of sleep studying

That was just to gain an interview. After the interview and decision process I waited an additional 9 months before nursing school started.

I worked full-time, stayed with my folks for the majority of my nursing education. I attended an accelerated program, so no breaks during the summer and I finished in 18 months.

I made more sacrifices while in school. While all my friends were enjoying the summer, I remember ‘boarding’ up my windows during a hot 4th of July weekend to study for a big exam that next week. That particular weekend sticks out the most, since it was tough to do. Oh yeah – I lost even more sleep while in nursing school.

When someone asks me how hard nursing school was, I always answer with a question, “How easy do you want it to be?”

Usually their answer tells me how much they really want to be a nurse (or how the idea of being a nurse might be interesting).

Nursing school was not easy. Being a nurse is not easy. And now being a Graduate student working towards my CRNP, nope, it’s not easy.

But nothing worthwhile ever was.

How bad do you want (success) it?

So we place them in different levels of isolation precautions to minimize if not eliminate this possibility. We don the endless combination of gloves, gown and mask all for the sake of sterility and safety. Everything that is in the room stays in the room, and no object can come into the room and then leave the room due to the potential for spreading the infection.

All of our supplies are ‘isolated’.

We segregate anything we would need as well as have specially made supplies that go on the ‘isolation cart’ to care for these patients. Everything from the gloves, gown, mask and all other predicted supplies needed.

Including the ‘let’s pretend-play’ stethoscope.

Oh, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The stethoscope that looks like it was stolen from the ‘Playskool’ catalog shelves. It even comes in the wonderful ‘Playskool’ colors of chalk-white and mustard-yellow.

I’m all for increasing our patient safety – but don’t you think these things should actually do the job they are made for?? It’s a stethoscope right? So conventional wisdom would have you believe that you should listen to heart and lung sounds with this ‘toy’ instrument right?

Wrong.

Have you ever TRIED listening to a patient’s heart or lungs with those darn things? Using that stethoscope is about as effective as banging your head against a wall to burn calories. While both get the job done, it’s a horribly painful and ineffective way of getting results.

Those darn yellow plastic stethoscopes in isolation rooms. Am I alone on this?

Playskool Nursing originally posted on Scrubs Magazine|The Nurse’s Guide To Good Living

• I don’t  care how long you have been a nurse.
• I don’t care how long you have not been a nurse.
• I care how well you treat your patients
• I care how well you treat my patients
• I care how well you work with others.
• Equality and fairness is not a standard you get to set, it is a standard we all get to follow.
• Perfume and Cologne. Is THAT much really necessary? Just a splash will do.
• I don’t want to hear how you’ve always done it.
• I don’t want to hear how you’ve never done it.
• I can learn from you as much as you can learn from me. Let’s try.
• Just because you’ve never heard of it, doesn’t mean it’s not better.
• Just because you’ve never seen it, doesn’t mean it’s not better.
• There is more than one ‘style’ of nursing.
• Learning is the only process that is constant in Nursing.
• You will NEVER know everything.
• Hanging up on me in mid-conversation doesn’t make the issue go away.
• No. Not in front of the patient. We can talk somewhere else.
• Raising the level of your voice does not cause me to listen any more intently.
• Raising the level of your voice does not make your message sound any clearer.
• Increasing your “bitchassness” does not solve problems, it only creates them.
• Increasing your “bitchassness” does not lessen the stress level in the room.
• Passive-aggressiveness does not excuse your in-action.
• If your job is so bad, go find a new and better one. At least you have a job.
• Can’t find a better job?, then keep your complaints to yourself. At least you still have a job.
• Pointing a finger at someone else causes you to point 4 more fingers back at yourself.
• The last time I checked, we all graduated high school. Can we act accordingly please?
• Just because it wasn’t done YOUR way, does not mean it was the WRONG way.
• We all have a life outside of work. Sanity helps me keep the two separate.
• Trust is something earned, not something taken.
• Is it my fault you are having a bad day?
• We all have a job to do, and someone to answer to.
• We have all had THAT bad day. Don’t act as if your bad day is something special.
• We are in this together, otherwise we won’t survive.

Sorry. I’ve been carrying this stuff around for a while now. Care to add to the list?

In celebration of being a nurse, I thought I would share and/or re-post some of my more favorite and popular ‘nursing’ posts of the next couple of days.

Lately I have been talking and blogging nothing but fitness, health and wellness, but I never stopped being or working as a nurse.

My ‘nurse’ blogging has taken a land slide because I did not want my ‘nurse’ blogging to be nothing but the bad stuff, the negative stuff (complaining, rumor, gossip, finger pointing, etc)

I want to share and re-share (for those who have been around) my favorite thoughts and blog posts about me and my nursing world.

If you have any suggestions or recommendations for good ‘nursing’ reading (ergo blog posts, articles, websites) please feel free to leave a comment so that we all can benefit.

Thanks for joining.

Carpe Diem

There is no turning back now. It’s official. I’m a student (again). I’m a student for the 4th time.

As of yesterday the journey to my Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) has begun.

So here’s a little history.

I already HAVE one Bachelor’s degree. I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise and Sport Science with a concentration in Athletic Training. As most of you know, I’m not actively practicing as an ATC these days. I am a full-time RN.

Being a nurse and the nursing field is actually my 3rd career. Yes, you read that right, 3rd career.

Quick rewind of my career and education:

• Entered college as an Engineering major
• Dropped Engineering major after 2 yrs – started Exercise Sport Science
• Graduated after 5 more years of school
• During college and after graduation worked for Retail chain
• First year post graduation continued work in Retail as well as did per diem personal training
• First couple jobs as an ATC was horrible due to low pay.
• Left ATC world, back to retail world for better pay. Became a manager for 2 yrs.
• Realized how much I did not like the life of retail – back to ATC
• ATC for another couple years – got hurt as well as kindly reminded of lifestyle and lack of pay
• Applied for nursing school. Back to school (2nd time) to finish pre-req’s for RN diploma school
• RN diploma school (3rd time) – graduated
• Working as Full-time RN – now delving back into personal training
• Seeking Bachelor’s in Nursing to ensure long-term career placement and advancement. (4th time)

Whew.

Yes, it’s been a long journey and there doesn’t seem to be an end. This time around my BSN won’t take too long since I already HAVE a Bachelor’s in a health related field.

Luckily I will only need a total of 3 semesters. 3 semesters later I will attain my Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.

Woo Hoo.

Wish me luck.

I still want to blog about my nursing world, just don’t know how it will work into my current blog’s state of affairs?

I thought about creating another blog? But that would be such a hassle.

I guess I’ll keep on blogging here although the darn name and theme will confuse the heck out of my visitors. I have visitors from the fitness and exercise world, then I have my nurse and health care world visitors.

I wish I could find a happy medium.

Maybe I jumped the gun by changing my domain name?? Grr.

I would love to hear suggestions from my readers (the few I have).

1. What do you think about my new domain name forward/change from the mystrongmedicine to blog.bethenextstep?
2. Where should I blog about fitness?
3. Where should I blog about nursing?
4. Should I separate my blogging themes or keep them all in one place?
5. Should I go back to mystrongmedicine.com? Or keep blog.bethenextstep.com?
6. Is my blog more and more confusing these days?

I truly look forward to any and all suggestions. If not through the comments, please send me an email. I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for sticking around my merry-go round-like blog.

Carpe Diem

I was on Twitter today (big surprise). One of my Tweets I follow, Robert Fraser (@rdfraser) is a fellow nurse who is making every attempt to change the face of nursing in the most positive manner (and so far he’s doing a damn fine job).

Today he shared a video through one of his tweets on Twitter that touched on my FAVORITE subject : Nursing Stereotypes!

It’s a tad bit long (over 10minutes), but worth watching. I have touched on this subject many times in my blogging. How ironic that the today my guest post on nursing stereotypes was published as well.

Today was a good day for my world of nursing.

Please, if you have the time, watch the short video clip on how we are never ‘just a nurse’.

Thanks again Robert!

Carpe Diem