Never Far From My Mind

This blog is an important part of my work identity. I post about interesting health topics and news about nursing issues - and yet sometimes I let it sit untouched for a few months at a time. And I feel guilty when that happens.

Sometimes I wonder why I allow that to happen. It's not that I don't think about the blog because I do. Many mornings when I sit at my computer to start my work day (which can be as early as 4:30 a.m., as today), I have the best of intentions to post that day, but it doesn't happen.

What is the point of a blog like this? When I began it over eight years ago, it was to bring attention to my work, my ability to write about health issues in a friendly and engaging way. It was to build a brand, in a way. And it worked. I developed a great following of readers and I get many on-ofs, people who find this blog because they are looking for a specific issue. Clients have also found me through the blog and I've sent potential clients here so they can see my unedited writing style.

A lot has happened since I posted my first piece in 2007. My husband and I sold our big house in the suburbs and we moved back into the city proper. I fell (on moving day!) and dislocated my shoulder, which put me out of commission working clinically. Up until then, I'd still been working part-time for a while as a clinical resource nurse. My full-time freelance career took off, and I'm doing what I love.

I have two "anchor clients," non-profit organizations for whom I write site content, among other things. And I have many clients who use my services to write for online or print journals, online content, newsletters, and more. Oh, and don't forget my book, Just the Right Dose! That was a major accomplishment and I'm proud of it.

A side part of my success is I get many emails from nurses who want to get into writing. I love helping them if I can. I don't mind responding by email, giving them a quick run down of how I got to where I am today, along with some advice. I do have a pet peeve though. Would you believe that the majority of those who write to me to ask for information or advice don't even bother to acknowledge that I responded? Nothing. It's not everyone. I've gotten some delightful thank you notes back. Sadly though, they are in the minority. A very small minority.

Some of my fellow writers have gotten pretty upset about that lack of courtesy and no longer offer advice when asked. They charge a consulting fee. I understand their point of view; I don't agree with it, but I understand it. Anyway, that was a little side track rant. ;-)

So, what was the point of this post? A sort of welcome back to myself, I think. It's time to get back on the blogging track. When I see that certain blog posts are read regularly, despite how long ago they were written, and when I get email from people telling me that they learned something important because of one of my posts, I know that this blog is important. It has good information. So here we go again, after another short hiatus, we're back!

Named a top 50 nursing blog

It's always nice to be recognized. Every so often, I get a message from a website or organization that tells me that my blog has been recognized as a valuable resource, either for nurses or for the general public. That means people are reading it - and they like the information I've been posting. Sometimes they even give me a cool badge that I put on my blog for a while. ;-)

I received an email this morning, telling me that Marijke: Nurse turned writer was listed in 50 Top Nursing Blogs, over at Top RN to BSN. What I like about these lists is they introduce me to blogs I don't know about. While there are some that are already familiar to me, it's always fun to discover new ones. And these lists help other people find me, so it's a win-win situation.

Do you have a favorite list of blogs that you turn to when you're looking for new blogs to follow? 

What The Nurse Writer Is Up To These Days

Busy, busy! Posts have been slow because my work life has been keeping me busy. Here's a quick fly-by post to explain what's been happening for those who have been asking:

I am still the Director of Content over at Sepsis Alliance (part-time), an organization that is dedicated to educating the public and healthcare professionals about sepsis. It's frightening how few people know about sepsis, yet it touches so many lives.

In addition to working with SA, this past May, I started working with the Partnership for Palliative Care as their Content Strategist (also part-time). As a nurse who worked in hospice nurse, this particular organization is doing work that I strongly believe in. It also has the same challenges that Sepsis Alliance has in some ways. The word "sepsis" is not known by many in North America and many who have heard the word don't know what it means. "Palliative care" faces the same issue. Not many people know exactly what it is. They may confuse it with "hospice," which isn't really correct. Hospice is end-of-life care, while palliative care is supportive care that can - and should - be given to anyone who has a life-threatening or serious illness or condition, to help them live as good a life as possible. Palliative care is also given at end-of-life, but it's not solely about end-of-life care.

I've been also been actively marketing my book, Just the Right Dose: Your Smart Guide to Prescription Medicines & How to Take Them Safely. It's a long-term project, trying to get this book in front of people who may need it - which is really just about anyone! I'm hoping that this book will be the first in a series; I have other ideas in mind. But first, we need to get this book out there. It's gotten great feedback from healthcare professionals and people who know little about medicine and health-related issues. If you take any type of medicines, I encourage you to have a look at the book. And if you have read the book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.com or .ca. The more reviews there, the more visible it gets when people look for certain types of books.


And then there's my regular writing. I've been writing some articles, paid blog posts, and more.

If you have any ideas you would like to see me cover in this blog, leave it in the comments, and I'll see what I can do. I want to write about topics that you are curious about.

The oldest working nurse in US gets a surprise birthday party

Many nurses can't wait until they get to retirement age. Some even leave before that magical age, usually either 60 or 65 years old. But every so often, we hear about a nurse who really doesn't want to leave the profession. He or she enjoys it and likes going to work, making a difference in the lives of their patients and their families.

What is the oldest age you've ever heard of when it comes to a nurse who is still actively working? Seventy? Eighty? How about 90?

On May 8, 2015, Florence "SeeSee" Rigney celebrated her 90th birthday - while she was at work. She is the oldest working nurse in the U.S. today. Rigney works two days per week at Tacoma General Hospital in Washington, where she sets up the operating room. She only gave up direct patient care two years ago, when she was 88.

Watch this video to see the surprise birthday bash Rigney's coworkers threw for her.




Nurses? How old do you plan to be when you retire?