The contest was created to thank nurses for the long hours they put in offering comfort and healing to patients and families. Winners can use the $1,000 prize any way they wish: hitting the town in a rented limousine, hosting a party, or taking a relaxing day at the spa. They are only limited by their imagination. Kendra, who is dedicated to making life better for others, is taking time to rejuvenate and visit family in Colorado.
Kendra is the assistant director of Health at Evergreen Community of Johnson County, Kansas nursing home, where she has worked the past eight years. She has a passion for assisting individuals that have Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. “I really want to make a difference for people; just making them happy and increasing their quality of life,” said Kendra. “I love my job and can’t picture myself anywhere else.”
“California Casualty protects American heroes, and we want to show our appreciation to the men and women who take care of America,’” said California Casualty Sr. Vice President, Mike McCormick.
“I don’t do this job for appreciation or recognition,” Kendra said. “However, appreciation and recognition is nice.”
The winning has just begun; there will be three more $1,000 Nurses Night Out awards given this year by California Casualty. The entry deadline for the next drawing is June 17, 2016, with a winner announced in July. Complete rules, information and the entry form can be found at www.nursesnight.com.
Other important deadlines are:
September 16, with the third quarter winner announced in October
December 9, with the fourth quarter winner announced before the end of the year
Entrants must be 18 years old. Residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New York and Wisconsin are not eligible, and winners must be currently employed as or retired as a nurse (RN or LPN) or be a member of the Ohio Nurses Association or the Oregon Nurses Association.
Most of us love to get the morning (or evening if you work shifts) started with a good cup of coffee or tea. As you go through your day, have you noticed just how many mugs have a slogan or saying on them. It seems that what’s on our cup often gives a glimpse of who we are and what we think.
After doing a little research, we’ve assembled a list of some of the best sayings we’ve found on nurse’s mugs:
Nurse: the first person you see after saying “hold my beer and watch this”
How I take your temperature is directly related to how nice you are to me
On a scale of 1 to 10, rate the pain of coming to work
NURSES: We can’t fix stupid, but we can sedate it
Caffeine PO Q4H PRN
RN (Rescue Ninja)
I’m a Nurse, what’s your superpower
What happens in clinicals stays in clinicals
Yes I’m a nurse – no I don’t want to look at it
Behind every stable, well-adjusted nurse….is a patient waiting to change that before the shift is over
DO NOT make me use my nurse voice
Nurses are here to save your butt not kiss it
Don’t mess with me, I’M A NURSE: I get paid to stab people with sharp objects
I’ve seen it, smelled it, touched it, heard it, stepped in it – Retired Nurse
I hate being sexy but I’m a nurse so I can’t help it
Do us a favor, stop watching Dr. Oz
Run, the Joint Commission is coming
What’s on your favorite mug? Feel free to share it with us.
And, just like a comforting cup of hot coffee, California Casualty is a perfect complement to your day. We’ve been protecting American heroes for over 60 years providing auto and home insurance matched to your professional lifestyle. That means these exclusive benefits not available to the general public:
Waived or reduced deductibles for vandalism or damage to your vehicle parked at work
Rates guaranteed for a full year (not six months)
Free identity theft protection with each policy
Multiple payment options including EZ Pay and holiday or summer skips
Superior customer service satisfaction rating – 99 percent with claims satisfaction of 96 percent
There is nothing more heartwarming than spending the holidays surrounded by friends and family sharing wonderful meals, presents and stories. But for many families, their loved one is away working in a hospital or care facility meeting the needs of others and trying to spread a little holiday cheer. As we celebrate the holidays, let’s not forget the men and women who sacrifice to provide hope and healing for so many. While most businesses might be closed for Christmas and New Year’s Day, hospitals and care facilities aren’t; sickness, aging and accidental injuries don’t take a day off, and neither do those charged with providing care.
I was amazed by the loving spirit I observed during the year I worked at our local hospital, but never more impressed than when the holidays came. The corridors echoed with ho-ho-hos and many of the staff adorned themselves with ornaments and Santa hats. While it can be tough to be away from the family during a major holiday, here are some ideas for nurses and other care providers that can make the day better:
Be festive at work – it will raise your spirits and those around you, including patients
Play holiday music
Share a holiday potluck or meal
Take heart that you are helping those who must be in the facility to smile and know someone cares
Be thankful that you get to go home to your family and friends when your shift ends
Celebrate the holiday with our friends or family on a different day
The rest of us can make those holiday shifts a little brighter for care givers and their patients:
Bring some baked goods for the staff
Deliver some thank you cards
Find ways to volunteer at hospitals and care facilities
You know what DTaP, APA, BBP, CVA, FMPS and MI stand for.
You learned that Stable is not one of the four conditions of a patient which are: Critical, Serious, Fair and Good.
Discussions of mucus were one of the daily dinner table conversations.
You learned to dread full moon nights and what kind of mood your nurse-parent would be in the next day.
Scrubs were considered every-day attire.
You laugh at needles, catheters and don’t freak out anytime anyone slips on latex gloves.
You constantly heard, “from one to ten, what’s your pain level?”
You were regularly awakened from a dead sleep because your breathing patterns were a little too close to Cheyne-Stokes rhythm or sounded like severe apnea.
You were taught to carry four extra pens and to keep track of every one of them.
You got used to daily “bathroom visits” to check your BM.
There was nothing you could do that would gross out your nurse mom or dad.
The last place you were allowed to go when you were sick was to see a doctor.
Most people assume nurses live healthy lives, but that isn’t always the case. The challenge posed by long hours, demanding shifts, and stressful encounters often leaves nurses worn out, and healthy eating sometimes takes a back seat in favor of easy eating.
Instead of stopping by the nearest fast-food restaurant on the way home from your next shift, think about the importance of eating well.
Tips and tricks for healthy eating
As a nurse, you need to commit to three things in order to take care of yourself: regular exercise, adequate sleep, and a balanced diet. Each of these feeds off the other, naturally, but you could argue that a balanced diet is the most important.
Here are some of the most vital tips for maintaining a healthy, balanced diet while pursuing the responsibilities of a busy nurse.
Never skip a meal. When you’re working an eight- or 12-hour shift, it can be too easy to skip a meal. However, you mustn’t forget how important it is to eat regularly. Not only do meals dispel hunger, but they’re also essential for giving you energy and focus. Instead of relying on your stomach to tell you when it’s time to eat, make a habit of eating a small meal every four to six hours whenever you’re on call.
Don’t binge eat. As a result of skipping a meal, you may try to overcompensate by binging on a single large meal. Unfortunately, your body doesn’t operate this way. It can’t handle so many calories at one time. If you do happen to miss a meal, simply move on and make a point of not missing another.
Slow down. When a shift is super-hectic or busy, it can be challenging to relax during a break. But try to avoid rushing your meals. Your body needs time to digest the food you give it, and rushed eating can lead to heartburn and an upset stomach.
Avoid vending machine food. Vending machine food is quick, easy, and convenient, you know it’s rarely good for you. To combat the temptation to purchase junk food out of machines, bring your own snacks with you to work. Not only are your healthy alternatives good for you, but you’ll save money in the long run.
Cut back on fat and sugar. You have to cut back on saturated fats, processed foods, and items that have a high sugar content. Not only do these increase your chances of developing heart disease in the future, but they can also cause you to feel groggy in the present.
Drink plenty of water. Mayo Clinic suggests female nurses need around nine cups of non-caffeinated beverages per day, while men need roughly 13 cups. Though these are merely guidelines, you should aim to hit these marks as a bare minimum. Not only does water keep you energized and healthy, but it also enables your body to flush harmful toxins out of its systems.
Get plenty of rest. Did you know that sleep-deprived people tend to be hungrier than those who get adequate amounts of rest? By getting seven to eight hours of sleep per night, you’ll end up being less hungry during the day.
Go for superfoods. When you don’t have a ton of time to plan and cook meals, it’s a smart move to pack as much vitamins and nutrients into your food selections as possible. For optimal results, shoot for a diet that’s rich in superfoods such as kale, nuts, sweet potatoes, spinach, and yogurt. Other wise choices include wild salmon, almonds, avocado, and organic coconut oil.
California Casualty auto insurance for nurses
At California Casualty, we believe in providing individuals with quality insurance at competitive prices. We specifically cater to nurses, teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. For information on specific policies and the many benefits we afford our holders, please contact us today!
