75% off Dickies Scrubs on Black Friday only?!

         Did you know that lobster, seal, and swans were the main entrees at the first Thanksgiving meal? There were NO turkeys, and NO SPOONS present during that first meal in 1621 among the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians. True story! Google it. Why am I telling you this? I’m not sure. I thought it would be a cool ice breaker before I started with the real sentiment and dropped the bomb on you. Plus, now you have something interesting to share with your drunken Uncle Reuben today as he hogs all the gravy today at the table.

       So you’re either diligently working on the unit, slaving in the kitchen, or strategically plotting your shopping routes for tomorrow’s retail madness in order save 34% on a bunch of “stuff” that will probably be long forgotten about in the months to follow. ‘Murica! You’re tired, you’re hungry, and you’re cranky. (At least I am, so roll with me here.) Now let’s pause for a minute. We know today is Thanksgiving. We know the song and dance. The traditions. The expectations. The obligations. And we do it. We do it all. And we don’t ask “Why?” But perhaps today, in the midst of our own perceived chaos, we should ask, “why?” Why am I doing this? Why not just do something different for a change? Why does Uncle Reuben always have to be so ungrateful? Why me?

     In his book “Start With Why,” Simon Sinek says people are inspired to take action and be a part of something bigger than themselves when they understand the WHY behind what they’re doing. When they see how it connects to their own core purposes and beliefs. This thought forms the basis of our AACN theme for 2017-2018, Guided by Why. Now here comes the bomb. Do you all recall when we learned about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in nursing school? That pyramid diagram where Basic Physiological Needs are at the bottom and Self-Actualization is at the top? The inherent ability assumed in asking “why” in this context means that we have satisfied the basic level needs and have reached-or are attempting to reach the highest level in the hierarchy.

     The ability we possess to provide care to critically ill patients today assumes many things: we have mental fortitude, we have physical capabilities, we have health, we have a career path, we have a purpose. The ability we possess to cook and/or share a meal with our families today assumes many things: we have food, we have shelter, we have family. The ability we possess to shop for the upcoming holiday season assumes many things: we have money, we have people in our lives to shop for, we have the capacity to love one another. Either way you spin it, there are countless things we have to be truly thankful for today, and every day. Now go tell THAT to Uncle Reuben.

     On behalf of the AACN IE Chapter, I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

Nicholas McGowan

President, AACN IE Chapter

P.S. About the Scrubs- Does anyone know where I can get some tomorrow? Drop a comment below.   : )