Loving Medicine And Vitamin D

I read something about health care every morning. I remember saying a couple of years ago in the midst of total stress and burnout that I never wanted to be a nurse and yet everyday I am still reading everything I can get my hands on that pertains to health.   Medicine fascinates me and I am happy to be a nurse.

I am amazed at the articles pertaining to doctor burnout.  It seems to be a real problem as health care professionals are expected to see more patients and generate more profits for our over paid CEOs of Medical Centers.  What happened to health care and compassion.  Even without the pressure of the corporate world, practicing medicine can burn you out.  I know I have been there as a nurse.  The last job I had was caregiver for family members.  It was 24hrs/7 days a week.  It was something that had to be done and they are still here with me and give me kisses all the time for taking good care of them.  And they realize the toll it took on me.  The last job I had outside of my home as a nurse in the real world also burned me out.  I was affected by the death of all the people that I cared for on an alzheimer's unit.  It was a daunting experience of watching people loose their minds to a horrible disease.  It was hard work and I had to be able to comfort not only the patients but their families, as they watched their loved ones slip away.  My soul was really broken after that job. I wish I had an answer of how to keep the burnout from occurring.  I guess the only thing you can do is take a leave of absence to care for your own mental health.

What has happened to the health care reform.  It seems to me that it is all about the politicians proving each other wrong rather than helping us get the care we need.  My husband and I have good health insurance at a nice high price to pay.  There are some perks like yearly well visits and vaccines that are fully covered without co-pays.  And yet the total out of pocket for the year has gotten out of reach for a lot of people.  We had one trip to the hospital last year and we had to get a loan for it, because three days cost us our out of pocket for the year which is a lot. I was shocked at the room rate per day and it was not the Ritz Carlton.  A routine test that cost $1500 just three years ago is now $3000 dollars.  As we age the chances of a hospital stay per year increase and it is scary.  Our insurance plan does not have a health savings account.  I have taken upon my self to try and make my own savings plan for health care.  It seems to get a little harder each year as the cost of the health care is growing by leaps and bounds.  Will congress please get over your egos and pass something that will lower the cost.  Please help us all quit worrying about whether the next trip to the hospital will cause bankruptcy.

So spring is here and we actually have had some days of sunshine and warm temperatures.  I hear the sound of lawn mowers and how sweet the sound.   Soon there will be flowers and flip flop weather.  I love the sunshine and Vitamin D.  They should name it the happy hormone.

I was excited to see that the LLS had news of a clinical trial that will be researching Vitamin D and Rituxan on patients with follicular lymphoma.  I also think that Vitamin D is another smile from god.  It keeps our plants and flowers healthy and us too.  Hope the trial is a great success!

Life is beautiful !!
Elizabeth:)