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First Year NP

Managing Life's Demands

Published January 31, 2013 3:24 PM by Anne-Marie Gitchel
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Well, as you guys know, I've passed boards and have already accepted a position in an acute care setting. I actually started yesterday and am so excited! So far I've been in orientation and the anticipation of actually rounding and caring for patients is killing me! I start rounding next week and am really looking forward to sharing this journey with you guys.

So I've debated and debated on what my topic for this blog was going to be and I finally figured it out. I have gone from working three 12-hour shifts as a registered nurse to working five 8-hour shifts. Yep. You guessed it. I work banker's hours. Monday-Friday from 8-5.

Sounds nice, huh? Well, you factor in the 1+ hour drive there and another hour home (I live in Northern MI and with all the snow storms, lately it's pushing 2 hours each way) I'm gone from home from at least 7am-6pm. So here's my dilemma and I would LOVE to get feedback from my readers on this! When do you take care of YOU?

I'm getting up at 4 so I can have time to do 30 minutes on the elliptical before I get my two rug rats up and get them ready for school and out the door. I have exactly enough time to do that and barely make it to work on time. I am super OCD and not having time to keep my house clean is making me more stressed out and I feel that I am not able to do my wifely and motherly things that I'm used to doing.

So that's my excuse as to why I'm not exercising and eating the way that I'm used to! What's your excuse, and more importantly, what can WE do to remedy this situation? We are practitioners here! We preach to our patients about the lifestyles that protect our hearts, minds and bodies and then we go to and get McDonald's on our way to or from work and pass out at night after a glass of wine from exhaustion.

Now what does that say for ourselves? I'm really looking for feedback here. This is a great spot to network and get our creative juices flowing so that we can better ourselves, which in turn is going to be beneficial for not only our family, but our patients as well!

Since I'm the blogger, I guess I technically should be the first one to throw out some ideas. Like I said earlier, I'm "kind of" OCD (not technically, but just funny about cluttery areas and germs) and I am, you guessed it, a Virgo. For those of you that don't keep up with that kind of information (well, I don't either. I just know I fit the bill), virgos are very "Type A."

Control freak (raising hand), consistent (raising hand again) and outgoing (Who? Me? Nooo). So one area that is of high importance for me is organization. Since we're on the topic of a lack of time, I have figured out that maintaining organization really helps with an overall increase in my free time. About a year ago I discovered a website called Cozi (you can access it from here:http://www.cozi.com/live-simply?redir=home) that is AMAZING for organizing everything from your schedule to your shopping lists to your recipes! It has an app that you can put lists on and they transfer over automatically to your spouse's phone on their list! That's right! No more excuses about not having the notes!

So, there's my first idea for you guys so that you can give yourself a little extra free time. Now, what do you have for me? I look forward to hearing your responses and I'm REALLY looking forward to sharing my journey ahead in regards to being a new NP!

posted by Anne-Marie Gitchel
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3 comments
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Hi Anne-Marie,

  Thanks so much for taking the time to blog during your first year as an NP. I'm sure it will be therapuetic for you as well as for others that take the time to read what you are sharing. I know the "Managing Life's Demands" brought a tear to my eye. Do take Susan's advice and enjoy your family in the evening (what little is left by the end of your work day). I have a teenager and I think back to all the times I was at home but my mind was still working on something that had to do with work and that took even more of my time away from being with her. They do grow so fast, so enjoy them as much as you can.     On another note, thank you Susan for mentioning about how drainging precepting can be. I just completed a 5 week preceptorship for a student. I had no idea how much energy that would take.
Gerri, Family Practice - APRN, Methodist Family Medicine February 23, 2013 7:31 AM
Sturgis KY

And I thought it was just me getting old after working in the psych NP role for 15 years.  You are describing work/life balance.  When you commit to an advanced practice role in direct clinical practice 9 to 5 may be the schedule but that is not what you end up working.  If you add a long commute you do end up having close to a 12 hour work day.  My advice, and I'm Virgo too, is lessen your expectations of yourself.  Forget about getting much else done during the week after work except for your family obligations.  Take out & frozen meals are acceptable.  Just try to make it healthy.  I have limited my professional organization commitments.  I don't serve on boards & won't accept invitations to run for office. I have seen an increase in the severity of the patient issues I manage day to day.  It does drain you.  Rewarding but draining.   I no longer precept students.  I hate that because they need good experiences.  It's vital to have balance. Balance for me is a commitment to yoga at least twice a week.  You must practice self care or you will burn out  I can guarantee!

Susan, Adult Psych - PMHNP, Private Office February 19, 2013 5:57 PM
Fort Worth TX

Hi Annmarie,

                   That is a hard day to get through.My sympathies. When you have done your best you may not go home with your why answered but at least you know the team did whatever they could do to bring him back.It is never easy to accept death at such a young age. Don't beat yourself up. You will find yourself being extra cautious and that is OK. After all we are nurses and patient champions.Best of luck!
Providence Pottoore, Pediatrics - RN,FNP,CEN,CPEN February 17, 2013 4:44 PM
Yonkers NY

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