I haven’t wanted to put words down for quite some time. You see life happens and very often life can turn things upside down. Happiness is actually easy to find, just go get it! Motivation is key. So pick yourself up and have no regrets in this great life… 
One of my favorite quotes:
Joel Osteen
By Kimberly Keser
Will you give a piece of yourself? Over the years, I have told my family many times that I want to donate my organs if I should die. I often ask, why would you choose not to donate? For some individuals, they may not think about it or maybe they think donating an organ is just too risky. In fact, there are many misconceptions that exist about organ donation.
A family may believe that organs are harvested prematurely. You hear stories all the time about individuals that have been in a coma for years and then for some miraculous reason; they just wake it. Is there an answer for this. I am not sure. The individual or the family must give consent and sometimes this may be a difficult task.
There are also may be religious concerns. An individual may believe they must have their body intact in order to move onto the after life. Some religions may not allow organ donation at all.
These concerns need to be addressed on a case by case basis. Regardless of these potential issues organ donation is an important way for individuals to give and a way to help others.
Heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver, and intestines can be donated. In addition, you can donate your eyes, and other tissue, such as heart valves, cardiovascular tissue, bone, and soft musculoskeletal tissue, and skin.
There are not enough organs donated by deceased donors to supply the need of patients that are waiting on organs, so there are transplant teams that help living patients donate. An individual can donate a kidney, a portion of their liver, a portion of their lung, and even possibly a portion of their pancreas.
Donor families and recipients are anonymous. Basic information is often known, including approximate age, sex, and the state the individual lives in.
To register as an organ donor in Missouri you can register online or in person at your local Missouri Department of Revenue office.
Go to https://www.organdonor.gov/index.html
You can also add your name to the state’s donor registry every time you apply for or renew your Missouri driver’s license or state ID card.
Adding your name to the organ donor registry helps reinforce your commitment and can reduce confusion at the time of your death. Consent of your family is not required for donation but letting your family know about your decision to donate is important.
In many states, if you work in health care you can not address the option of organ donation if you are not certified through the American Board for Transplant Certification (ABTC) as a Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator (CPTC), Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinators (CCTC), Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse (CCTN), or Certified Transplant Preservationist (CTP). There are several requirements that allow individuals to be eligible. Most often experience and direct care with individuals that require organ transplantation.
I recently had a meeting with a couple of neurosurgeons and I posed the question to them. Do you plan on giving (by the way they do) ? But I actually went a step further and asked, “Do you promote donation? I posed this question because a neurosurgeon can often be involved with end of life care. The answer I received was somewhat shocking. I automatically assumed that the neurosurgeons may be the last chance for an individual to donate, but this is not necessarily the case. There are many individuals involved with organ donation, which includes individuals affiliated with the registry, nurses, physicians, etc.
I think organ donation is the best gift ever and you can continue giving after you are long gone. The most unselfish gift ever. What a wonderful way to help others. According to the Missouri donor site, you have the power to donate life. Currently 3,752,270 individuals are registered to donate as of May 15, 2018. I have actually been working on this posting for at least one month and I thought it would be posted in April but unfortunately, life got in the way.
I was on vacation in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina and I had a bicycle accident and I broke my shoulder. This may not sound too bad but you see I am a work-a-holic so it is a huge problem. Now, I have not been able to work. This has really caused me to reflect on what I am doing and if I am making a difference. Donation flashed momentarily in my mind while I was being evaluated after the accident. What if I hit my head and I actually have a concussion. Do I have a simple fracture or do I have something more serious? Is my vacation over or even my life? Will I donate?
So will you give…
If you have any topics that you are interested in or would like to hear about please let me know. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this blog.
Well, I finally got zapped this year by the flu. Actually, I am not sure that’s exactly what I had. But it sure felt like it. I felt so miserable, I called in for the first time in I cannot remember how long. That’s one for the record books. I slept a lot, took tylenol, and drank fluids like crazy. Of course, even though I was not at work, I thought of work often and I only had to miss one day of work, which was pretty significant for me. Of course, now I wonder who I could have possibly gotten the flu from. Was it the little girl I saw with a severe cough or the older gentleman, who had a fever, but did not know why. It does not really matter. All that matters now, is that I feel better. Did I say, thank goodness.
Flu, flu, flu. Have you been exposed to the flu? We sure are seeing or actually feeling a lot of the flu these days. The flu season started early this season and is affecting more and more people, especially the very young and the very old. Are you achy or do you have fever, nasal drainage, or other symptoms?
I felt compelled to write about the flu because it seems to be everywhere. You can not turn on the TV, listen to the radio, or talk with family or friends without the conversation coming up. Do you know anyone that has had the flu this year? Chances are you do and if you do, you know you should try to avoid them. The flu is spread via droplets that are created when individuals that have the flu cough, sneeze, or talk.
Just some tidbits about the flu: the flu or influenza was first discovered by studies on animal diseases in 1918. It was first observed in pigs by a veterinarian (J.S. Koen) and it was thought to be the same as the “Spanish Flu Pandemic” in 1918. The Spanish flu was the deadliest ever. About 500 million people were infected, about one-third of the world’s population, and it killed an estimated 20-50 million people world-wide.
What is the flu? The flu, aka influenza, as it is sometimes called, is a highly contagious virus that can be deadly, especially in high risk groups. The flu can last up to one to two weeks. Flu symptoms include:
According to the CDC, the flu has killed 63 children as of February 9, 2018. That is so scary, especially for new moms and the elderly, who are more at risk. They actually think this is one of the worst flu outbreaks on record to date.
How do you know if you have a flu or have a cold? Have you had this question this fall/winter season? In case you did not know, you can tell the difference. A cold typically starts with a sore throat, runny nose, and chest congestion and can last a few days up to one week.
The flu can begin in a different way. Often, the flu can start with vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms can be more severe and last longer and include headaches, fever, muscle aches, and feeling sore. High fevers >100.0 F are not unusual with the flu and can last several days.
You can also have muscle pain and fatigue with the flu that is severe lasting up to one week. If these symptoms last longer than one week you should see your medical provider. If symptoms persist you can ultimately get pneumonia, which if left untreated can be life threatening.
You can prevent the spread of the flu by remaining home if you are ill. The flu can be contagious for up to seven days. Things one should do:
Keeping a good immune system can help you stay well. Which means eating healthy and getting enough sleep are also key to staying healthy. It is also helpful to stay away from sick individuals.
By following these simple guidelines you will hopefully avoid the flu bug and stay healthy. Until next time…
http://www.vaccines.gov/diseases/flu/index.html
http://www.cdc.gove/dcs/ContactUS/Form
http://www.today.com/video/how-to-protect-yourself-and-your-family-from-the-flu-1154699331932?v=a
Hello all! Am I finally doing this? My first blog and the experience is amazing. I have wanted to start a blog for quite sometime. I feel as though I have made great efforts to try to be a motivator and innovator to others in my life, not to mention in my professional career. But am I really? I think one reaches a particular age and he or she starts reflecting on their life and what he or she has really accomplished. Why is that? Is it just a natural progression or is it inevitable that one becomes who they are? Or is one’s life actually mapped out for him or her by a higher power. I don’t know, maybe we just become more philosophical as we become more seasoned. And maybe I am having these thoughts because it is the dead of winter and I could possibly have a little “seasonal affective disorder.”
So what is seasonal affective disorder (SAD): It can be described as a recurrent, seasonal pattern of stress and at times depression and it can be exhibited in different ways. For some, their energy can be zapped and the ultimate result can be moodiness. “SAD” often starts in the fall months and can continue into the winter months. If I am sad for any reason (whether it is related to the possibility of seasonal affective disorder, or any other assumption), I exercise. I realize this may not work for everyone but it can be extremely helpful for me. I am forever trying to be careful on how and what I eat (you may or may not have not noticed, as one gets older, he or she may tend to gain weight). So what about exercise? Exercise has many health benefits including:
So obviously, exercise is not for everyone and if one decides to exercise, it should be slow at first and then be increased as tolerated. Fitness can feel great but like everything else, take it slow and be consistent. However, if exercise is uncomfortable or hurts, take a break. Of course, one should never exercise unless he or she has been cleared by his or her health care provider. Life should be enjoyed, which is not always easy when he or she is trying to be healthy by exercising, eating healthy, and making choices that are the best for him or her!
As I look out at the snow white lake I can’t help but wish that Lake of Egypt was still crystal blue and the family and I could be flying down the lake on the Sea-Doos with the sun beaming down and the water splashing in our faces.
How does one continuously improve themselves, while working every day and simultaneously being a wife and a mother. It seems so difficult to juggle everything. I often find myself making lists of items to complete. There are so many things that need to be done and very often not enough time in a day, or for that matter in a week, or a lifetime to get them all done. Thank goodness I am continuously working on becoming a motivator and an innovator.
Well, that’s it for my first blog post ever! I look forward to sharing experiences with nurses, friends, colleagues, and my family. Until next time.
Thanks for reading,
Kimberly
BLOG disclaimer: While I make every effort to use correct information, I am still learning. I will always verify all the facts but as always, life and facts may change. Medicine and nursing is a constantly changing science and art. Each nurse and/or provider may have a different way of doing things. I am really just presenting my views and opionins that will be as evidence-based, as possible. I welcome any comments, suggestions, or correction of errors. I receive no money from drug or device companies. By reading this blog, you agree not to use this blog as medical/nursing advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others, including but not limited to patients that you are treating. Consult your own medical provider for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the blog. Under no circumstances shall Kimberly A. Keser, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, any guests or contributors to the blog be responsible for damages arising from the use of the blog.
Nursing Me 