Personal Update from Your Church Nurse

Wow, it’s been so long since I’ve posted here. Over a year! But it’s never been far from my mind. In the over-a-year since I’ve written, here’s what’s happened:

1) Job Change: I started a new position as an Ambulatory Care Manager with a large, local hospital system hospital system in my area. 

Why the shift? 

I’ve wanted to delve into primary care for some time, with prevention and education being something I’ve wanted to learn more about. And as much as I loved my position and working Oncology, I wanted to be able to expand my knowledge base to a much more general population. And believe me, in the last year, I have learned SO MUCH. 

The other is that I’ve constantly struggled with restlessness. Maybe it was the 7 year itch (is that what people call it?). I’d been working in the same place for almost 8 years. After discussions with my husband and family, some research, and some craziness… I bit the bullet, sent out applications, and decided to leave. I still miss the people I work with. But I’m also so grateful for this new experience. 

2) My family is getting older! My kids, though young, have made it clear that they demand attention (lols). I found myself unsatisfied with the schedule, the commute, the lack of time with my husband and children, and the lack of time to deal with my own needs. So I decided to apply for a position that was at least partially virtual. I work from home 3 days a week, and twice weekly I work at a large practice. The physical labor is not as demanding, and I can actually water my garden in the morning! Although life is still busy (as evidenced by the lack of blog writing), I feel like I have a little more room to breathe. 

Now… what’s next? 

For the blog… I’m not sure. I want to continue writing. I truly have learned so much, and I want to find ways to bring that here. And the vision is still there, the desire to work as a nurse in my faith community, the desire to bring shalom into and through the local church and its members through compassionate, empathetic health and wellness support. I want to walk with God in ministering to his people through the stewardship of our physical wellness. However, I am stymied by a lack of imagination on my part, as I feel so busy it’s difficult to feel creative. I’m also anticipating adding more craziness to my life because (drumroll…!)

I will be starting an online Family Nurse Practioner program come January of 2024. I actually didn’t plan this when I changed jobs. I honestly thought I’d stay here for a few years before going back to school. But a few factors came into play that played into this decision. 

The first is that a conversation with an acquaintance triggered some serious conversations and research into my options for schooling. It led to prayers, question marks, and mild panic. But it also led me back to the fact that I’d always planned to go back to school, and after expanding my own learning through this job change, I wanted to continue the process of self-education and invest myself in pursuing a professional degree and position that would keep expanding on that. 

It also helps that I have a very supportive family, a husband who assures me we’ll make it all work, and grandparents who will be helping along the way. I have also realized I now have many of the skills, tools, and community I need to keep me sane during this journey, and for that I have a great and growing gratefulness. 

So…

What will Your Church Nurse look like a year from now? 

Probably lacking sleep, drinking coffee by the gallon, and mental health having gone through the window. But I’m also excited. Lord help me, I’m excited by the challenge, by the potential, and by the hope. But hopefully, it won’t be another year before another entry. SO… let me ask you: what is something you’ve been wanting to learn more about regarding your own health and wellness? What would you like to talk to Your Church Nurse about? Leave me a comment or send me a message down below!