The Code of Silence in Prison works well when followed to the tee! Be scared, small, tall or thick as a wall, STFU or get STFU!!!

"All my life I had to fight!" One of the most believable lines in "The Color Purple." I wanted to slap her in the face and say, "And you betta mo fight in you to the end, bitch!" Child, girlfriend let me tell you about how you have to be Ms. Celie, Squeal, and Sophia! Sophia! You have the always in the cut looking and hustling Celie. Then comes Squeal, pretty and outgoing to some opinions. Of course the next one is Sophia !Sophia! Sophia! She is the most dominant, loudest, ruthless and will stomp with the rest of them, child!! That was my gurrrrl! "I said, HELL NO!" She even repeated it without flinching! As you can see they were all different in personalities! Sophia would be my ride or die friend, Squeal would get us the drinks and Celie, well she is quiet as a mouse and could sit amongst the so called "higher ups" and "mediocre ups" and just "up to no good." She seems harmless lessen she git huself a blade! You really do have all these personalities on your job! Don't worry they will come to you! The thing is to be personable, but mostly observation with great listening skills then repeat and start all over again with everybody more than once. Say nothing until you need the blade. Make your presence known and stand firm on it! Don't change who you are to fit in and that's that! Beware of those personalities around you at all times.

Protecting the ESSENTIALS is ESSENTIAL! Did you know that if you are sued by a patient CRIMINALLY that the company you give 100% for will not represent you? Why? You are now a CRIMINAL and the company will not associate themselves with you! However, if you are sued CIVILLY, you are covered. The COMPANY can't give away their billion dollar for profits honey! Unless, you are a CEOOO'S of companies that is...uh oh!

In prison there are predators and prey even when it comes to nurses. I just call them vultures! LOL!! Nurses can be as ruthless as any prisoner. Don't get it twisted because there are some bitches! I want you to know a couple of things before you step into the pit or turn down the wrong hall and step in something you cant get rid of immediately or sometimes never! Listen to the rules people because they are designed to protect them from you!! As for me they are implemented by me, for me, with me to surround me and the inmates, predator or prey along with the vulture nurses will know inmediately what I will and will not tolerate. NEXT!

Karen, Karen, KAREN! Why are you touching me with your nasty fingers? I'm not a pet at the petting zoo any longer!! Stop it!!! Why do you feel so entitled to touch me without me saying so? The next time you will feel my fingers going across your face! Try me!!

Learn now if you are a student nurse, thinking about becoming one or currently are a nurse. You must have thicker skin! You will have to deal with so many things and it can be aggravating to your health! I will tell you my experiences and hopes you'll learn quickly on how to deescalate the "anger." I'm working on my facial expressions. Its challenging because I know my looks also stops people from saying too much more. I'm no bully, but you will never bully me! Let's Go!

I knew I shouldn't have taken this assignment! I know now to listen to my "guts." At the beginning of travel nursing I encountered many ignorant people in professional positions that didn't care how I was treated. Even today they exist! This Manager had a conversation, overheard on purpose, by me from earhustling. I grew angry because this so called professional "Manager" didn't check this redneck Charge nurse. Never shut up when you know something is wrong dealing with you or someone that looks like you. A traveling "nigger" are words that's vindictive, intentional with a purpose. The hospital should have a zero tolerance policy. I quit that contract that day and they knew it because I told them. I informed my traveling agency and that was that! Yes, I was called a Traveling "Nigger." Guess what, "I am still one of those words...Figure it out!!

Some things you should never tolerate at anytime! Disrespectful coworkers, patients and their families to your bosses and even your own family. You will give them the buisness when they do it! I am such a person that excels in that 101 class "What did you just say to me?" You see at times with this career choice it will could cause hatred towards you. Why? Because you have a certain power as a nurse that rules over other staff members. I've warn people to be nice towards your nurses because that person can make your hospital stay wonderful or the most hated one. It can get pretty bad when you or a family member comes in contact with a nurse and immediately start giving them hell. I am always trying to make sure my patients feel great because being in the hospital sucks! I know because I've been on both sides. The nurses I received care from was the worst after a surgery that was very unexpected, but I had no choice in the matter! Remember, Caucasians, mainly women are the majority in this field and especially in rural or near bustling cities. Being bothered by their ignorance is sad to say stays the same no matter the region of any and all states, but when I am caring for patients that look like me. I don't and shouldn't expect the familar disrespect from Caucasians. Well, let me tell you a story about the greasy, nasty and scaring the white nurses patient. I guess she forgot that when you give it you best expect it back! Let's go!

A lesson learned by myself a long time ago told to me by my mom. I had to move back home at the age of 17 and of course my mom welcomed me back. We sat down to talk and she said, "As long as I am alive you will have a place to go, but what will happen if I were no longer living?" I went into an immediate thought of MY MOM! DEAD! Then she said, "You are at the age where you better figure it out because NOBODY is coming to save you, not even me one day." It was an awakening moment so I now tell my patients the same thing. Some will get it and some won't, but at the end of the day. It is only you that will continue paddling the boat or die of some ailment in life. So, get it together or life will continue to beat you up.

This day was normal. I had needy patients, hanging blood and chemo while running potassium and magnesium. Families coming in complaining that no one has been in to see there loved ones and had to be corrected. Once the Caucasian Charge Nurse reminded the family member(s) numerous of times as to who I AM. Then the real hate would start, but not my Hillbilly patient!!! He was a man of country, mountainy slang and down home sitting on his front porch drinking lemonade type patient. He was a lesson learned and one to teach!! His Turpentine was a cure for everything except it was killing even with a "snippet," of it. His wife was as slow as beans cooking in a crockpot, but she sat by her man. They were unbelievable as a couple anf he was great as my patient that day! Come on in and listen!!!