Lessons Learned on 3 East

Next month will mark two years since I started working on 3 East, Avera McKennan's Transplant and Oncology Unit.  This job has challenged and shaped me into the nurse I am today.  Even though I do not consider myself experienced, I have much more knowledge and confidence than when I first started.  Through lots of tears and sleepless nights, God has taught me that worry and stress are more harmful than helpful.  In addition, my worries are evidence of my lack of trust in God.  Here are a few valuable lessons that God has taught me during my time on 3 East.  Some of these are related to nursing, and some are simply life lessons.

1.  Despite how overwhelmed I may feel at work, it is good to remember that every shift will eventually end.

2.  God often uses other people to meet our needs.  For example, I have gone through seasons when I have dreaded going to work because I feared that I would be unable to perform well and take the best care of my patients.  This was especially true when I was first on my own after orientation, and right after I completed my training to care for organ transplant and chemo patients.  I feared that I would need to ask other nurses for help.  I feared that they would be too busy to help me, or that they would think I was a bad nurse for needing help.  The Lord provided just the assistance I needed during those times through other nurses.  He taught me that I am not made to be self-reliant.  None of us are.  I came to see that we have a great team of nurses on 3 East.  There is give and take with every shift.  Some days I'm the helper, other days I'm the one needing help.

3.  After overcoming some extremely intense and high-stress days at work, I gradually found that it takes bigger trials to make me feel stressed.  This is true inside and outside of the hospital.  Although I still have times when I fall prey to having worries and concerns about life and the future, I have become stronger at resisting these anxious thoughts.  This has been a huge blessing in my life because God says not to worry, and when I follow this command life is much more enjoyable.  Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God."

4.  I have learned that the challenges and problems in my life are very menial compared to needing dialysis three times a week, having cancer or needing to come into the hospital every day for an infusion (just to name a few).  Having good physical health is easy to take for granted, and caring for my patients has renewed my thankfulness for the healthy body that God has given me.


On Easter Sunday, Dan and I went up to Edgerton to be with my family, and to celebrate the March birthdays (my dad and our nephew Landan).  For Landan's birthday we gave him a white cat, which is actually for my brother's feed lot.  The cat came from Dan's parents' farm, and we kept him in our bathroom in a box overnight.  He wasn't too keen on that :)

Kennedy peeking out of her box.

 On May 10 Dan graduates from Dordt, and then we are off to Pella!  We had a little craft time this week and made a paper chain with one link for each day before we move.  Dan's long arms worked better than mine for holding it to get a picture :)

 

 

May the Lord fill your day with his grace and his peace.

With love,
Leah