So my guess is, every person that clicked on this blog is thinking, “What the heck is this chick talking about?” “Ellen isn’t a nurse, and she really has nothing to do with healthcare whatsoever?” Well here’s the deal. Ellen could teach a better lesson than most nursing professors that I know! How, you ask? Just listen up!
When I first became a nurse, I remember being so excited to step foot on that floor with those two powerful letters behind my name that I worked SO hard for, RN. I was pumped to be on my own and taking a team of patients. I was going to be working alongside amazing people, helping each other out, and making an impact on people’s lives! Sounds great, right? The reality of it all is this isn’t how it was. I had my good days, but I had a lot of bad ones. It wasn’t even that my patients were difficult or that I didn’t feel competent, it was how the other nurses were. The negative attitudes and complaining. The pointing of fingers. The “not having each other’s back.” It was so crazy! This professional world slowly became “not so professional.”
I remember one day specifically that I had got off work and was so defeated from being reprimanded by my manager for something little that had happened. Not only had I worked a full night, but I had to have this discussion with her as I was going home to sleep! There was no thank you for all of the other good things that I had done. It was simply to discuss the wrong-doing. I apologized, brushed it off, and went home.
I slept until about 3pm and woke up like I always did. I had been feeling so defeated and tired from all of the run around at work, and dealing with the negativity. I flipped on the TV and the Ellen Show was on! I have been a fan of Ellen for quite some time, and I always caught her show when I could!
(This was a contest I entered for Ellen’s World Domination Theme Song back in college and I made it on her YouTube! Hah! I was 20!)
In natural Ellen fashion, she was honoring an amazing teacher for the beautiful things she had done for her community. Her show always gave me the “feel goods” and inspired me to want to be a giver!I remember thinking that day, “You know Kels, it’s doesn’t have to be like this. Work doesn’t have to be miserable. You have the ability to make a difference and BE different!”
That mindset set was a game changer. I wanted to be like Ellen in my profession. I didn’t have the money to give away lots of things, but I had the attitude and heart to make a difference! That’s about the time that this blog began.
People love Ellen for many reasons. It’s not because she’s married to some rich, famous sugar-daddy who showcases her as a trophy wife (okay but Portia is pretty cool)! It’s not because she has some angelic voice that she shares with the world (We left that to Beyoncé and Adele)! And it’s not because she she owns lots of businesses and has her own towers named after her (She ain’t Trumpin)! It’s because she has a sense of humor about life and is full of kindness! And sadly, that makes you stand out in today’s world! Because we don’t have enough of it! THIS is why people love Ellen!
So now we get to the nursing! What I’ve come to realize in my short 3 years of nursing is that nursing school prepares you to safely take care of patients, but it’s does not teach you how to take care of your fellow nurses and bedside manner! That is a HUGE aspect of nursing that affects us every single day! Kindness is something that we always need more of. Giving, supporting, loving, and having each other’s backs is essential. After years of watching Ellen, witnessing her giving heart, and watching her receive a Humanitarian award for just being a flipping beautiful person to so many others, I was not only inspired, but I have come up with what I like to call “TETON”: The Ellen Theory Of Nursing!
Not only do I feel this is imperative to grasp and understand in the nursing world, but I feel this is applicable to EVERY singing human being on the face of this planet! Hold on to your britches, folks and soak this up!
1. Having a Sense of Humor
Nursing is a ridiculous job! We are asked to scoop poop and touch/cleanup things that people wouldn’t for millions of dollars! You HAVE to laugh about your job with each other! Otherwise you will HATE what you do! People always say, “I don’t know how you like doing ….(fill in the blank!)” I DON’T like scooping poop and suctioning things…I don’t it because I CARE! It’s part of my job, and I take pride in knowing I am helping! I suck it up (literally) and do it! And then I laugh about it! You have to have a sense of humor to survive and Ellen will be the first to tell you that!
2. Working Hard and Never Giving Up!
Ellen went through a lot in life prior to being where she is now! She had a ton of setbacks and criticism along the way! She had a show canceled and her career threatened because of staying true to who she was! I admire this woman so much! She persevered and never gave up! I’m sure she could have easily thrown in the flag, and she didn’t! She surrounded herself with people who believed in her, and kept at it! She believed in herself! There is definitely multiple lessons to be learned in this, but the biggest one is to work hard and remember where you have been! Acknowledge the things in life you have overcome before and know that you can get through what you’re going through now! You will also be able to give back and treat people the way you wanted to be treated while going through those hard times! Be you, work hard, and NEVER give up!
3. Laugh, Dance, and Have Fun!
A lot of people struggle with feeling anxious and stressed from work. You might feel on edge and that you can’t let down because everything is so serious! This is only going to hurt you! It’s important to take our job seriously, as we are dealing with lives, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun at work! Laughing is the best medicine and doing it with your co-workers creates a great bond! This ultimately helps to foster a team on your unit! I found myself almost in tears the other day in the ER as some of the nurses were impersonating (in a kind way) the doctors on the unit! Listening to someone with a foreign accent impersonate a southern gentleman interpreting heart rhythms is QUITE funny, to say the least! And yes, dancing at work is permissible too…within reason! I saw a video go viral of some nurses doing the Cupid Shuffle at a huddle! You know they will never forget that day, and it was such a fun moment to be a part of! Don’t forget to HAVE fun! Ellen knows A LOT about this!
4. Kindness
I want to wrap up TETON on somewhat of a serious note. I know that Ellen has a lot of fun in her life, but I think what she wants more than to make people laugh, is to be kind to one another! This job can be so draining. The physical and emotional demands it asks of us are crazy! We can get so tied up and stressed, that we sometimes can snap on each other. I want you guys to change your mindset. Catch yourself when you feel that negativity creeping in. Be a helping hand to your fellow nurse who is drowning in her difficult care assignment. Hug a nurse who you can tell is struggling with personal issues. Ask how you can help someone! Go out of your way to sit down and talk with your patients, even if that puts you behind in charting. Practice building a team on your unit, and openly talk about team work! Encourage each other! THANK each other! Do something positive in your day for someone else….This profession can hold a lot of negativity because of how thin we can be spread. We feel helpless and tend to take it out on each other. Remember how important kindness is, and what it means to you! We need to be supporting, encouraging, and loving on our nurses, old and new! Be a difference maker and BE KIND!
As you see can see, I think TETON needs to be implemented into EVERY hospital and facility in The U.S.! The Ellen Theory on Nursing is a GAME CHANGER! If we can focus on even just 2 of these principles every shift, I think it will make for a more satisfying and fulfilling job!
I know Ellen is not a nurse, but she is a beautiful person! Part of the success in this job (and any job at that) is being a kind and beautiful human being. People see a difference in you, and they will respond to you differently as well. It never hurts to laugh, and it NEVER hurts to be kind! I want to thank Ellen for Inspiring this world and myself to spread love, kindness, and encouragement to others and in my profession of nursing! I’m thankful to be in a profession that allows me to practice this every day!
In the words of Ellen,
Your Heart Is Mine,
Kelsey
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I teach Nurses how to have less stress, more money, and better health by creating healthy boundaries in their career, landing their dream job, and learning to how to negotiate like a BOSS!
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