Hello World. Welcome to my little corner of the internet. Lets get into it, shall we.

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word vulnerability as, “the quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.”

In my life, the risk of physical harm is quite low. I am incredibly fortunate to live in a sweet little neighborhood, in a quiet little coastal city, in a (relatively) peaceful country, far away from the dangers that some people in the world must contend with on a daily basis. Speaking from a place of acknowledged privilege and good fortune, my choice to carve out a little space for myself on the internet is not one that places me in a vulnerable position, at least not physically speaking.

Creating a virtual space to share my thoughts and offer services online won’t open my life up to physical harm, but as the Oxford definition states above, the physical risk of harm is only one component of vulnerability. As a mental health advocate, I would be remiss if I didn’t discuss the emotional side of vulnerability. Sharing my struggles, triumphs, and life’s desires candidly is not something that comes easily to me. And I can’t help but acknowledge the deep level of vulnerability I feel as I embark upon this journey. That said, vulnerability is an important part of the process of growth, so here we go.

Working as a nurse in allopathic medicine since 2011, I’ve always felt that something was missing. A lack of acknowledgment of the humanness of the patients we serve, with too much of a focus on someone’s diagnosis and too little focus on the patients themselves as human beings. As someone who is an admitted health and wellness nerd, I have struggled with the juxtaposition of the lifestyle I lead at home and its stark contrast to the model of care practiced in much of Western medicine. Over the course of my nursing career, I’ve been encouraged to see more of a focus on holistic care making its way into the traditional, allopathic medical model, but there is still a long way to go.

Knowing the importance of being the change you wish to see in the world, I have been searching for a way to integrate more holistic modalities into the care I provide to my patients. For years I have felt a calling to further my education, the problem was I wasn’t sure how to go about pursuing additional training. Would graduate school be my best option? Should I pursue individual trainings and certifications? For a while, I was lost and searching for a path towards the kind of nursing I knew in my heart I was meant to provide.

When I discovered nurse coaching through the Integrative Nurse Coach Academy I was overjoyed. Nurse coaching is such a lovely fusion of all of the things I love the most. It incorporates self-awareness, deep-listening, awareness practices, and so much more into the care that nurses provide to patients every day. Though I am only two months into the integrative nurse coaching program, I have already learned so much and already feel much more in alignment with the kind of nurse I’d like to be moving forward. I’ve finally grasped the importance of slowing down and truly listening to my patients, taking time to be with them, in the moment, just as they are. I cannot wait to share with all of you, what I learn along my nurse coaching journey.

In closing, I would like to take a moment to reflect on a quote from the mother of nursing, Florence Nightingale “Unless we are making progress in our nursing every year, every month, every week, take my word for it we are going back.” I am thankful to have found a community of like-minded nurses who share my vision for the future of nursing, here is to making progress every single day.