February 11, 2025 • 24 mins
The Peace & Prosperity Podcast is a bi-weekly conversation with Jason Phillips, LCSW, licensed therapist and confidence expert in Raleigh, NC, discussing all things related to self-love and self-confidence, and how we can improve ourselves personally and professionally.
What does it take to thrive in the high-stakes world of nursing? Join Jason for an insightful conversation with his cousin Isaac, a registered nurse with 17 years of ICU experience. From community mental health to mastering MICU, neurotrauma, and surgical ICU, Isaac shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, offering encouragement to those navigating healthcare challenges.
We also tackle workplace mental health, the power of a strong support system, and strategies for managing high-functioning anxiety. Tune in for practical insights, and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe—let us know what topics you’d love to hear next!
To stay connected with Jason and learn about coaching, connect with Jason on social media:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jphillipsmsw/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jphillipsmsw
Visit Jason's website for a consultation:
Website -https://www.jasonlphillips.com
To book Jason to speak to your team or organization:
https://peaceprosperitycoaching.hbportal.co/public/660d8068c9d2d600253b215b/1-Inquiry
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to another episode of the Peace and
Prosperity Podcast.
I got somebody special in heretoday.
Y'all Got my real blood cousinIsaac.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Sting what up cuz hey , what's up, man, Good seeing
you Good seeing you.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Right, right, right.
So, before we get into it, man,I'm excited to have you on the
podcast for a number of reasons.
One, you're the first familymember on the podcast.
But second, man, your story,what you've been able to
accomplish, how you've been ableto accomplish everything in
your profession as a registerednurse, like, we're going to get
(00:42):
into all of that, because mystory, you know, I got a little
background in health care, right, right, like, as far as like
physical or medical health care,but you, you took it much
further and beyond.
So, man, just really happy tohave you here.
Thank you, I appreciate that.
I appreciate it's good to behere introduce yourself, like
let everybody know who you are.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
My name's Isaac.
I am an RN.
I've been in the healthcarefield for about 17 years,
started off right out of highschool and just went into it and
just never looked back.
So as far as my resume go, I'vebeen in ICU setting.
I've been in the med-surg,setting All of the ICUs MICU,
(01:26):
neurotrauma ICU, surgical ICUand I floated all over the
hospital in different settingsand it really just take a lot of
joy and I take a lot of.
Really, for me it's an honor tojust be able to just take care
of patients, because you justgot to do what you love and I
really enjoy what I do and beingin healthcare has been very
(01:49):
rewarding for me and managingpatients, taking care of
patients, have been veryrewarding for me and I'm happy
to do it and happy to keep doingit.
And as long as I'm able to doit, I'm going to keep doing it.
Yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Yes, sir, so let's get into it.
So I know you are in now, butthat's not where you started,
correct?
Where did you?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
start.
I started in community mentalhealth, working in group homes,
and in group homes it's usuallythose who are born with a
disability and it's more so amental, mental disability, that
we, that I, took care of and Idid that with a number of years
(02:32):
uh, because I actually we did ittogether yeah, right, right,
that's all we, we did ittogether.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
You know, you got me a job there in 06, I believe I
think it was 06, 2006.
I worked there, man, and causeyou were already working there,
you told me to go up there andthey hired me and I mean, that
was a different experience,y'all.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
You know, working in healthcare, you know it's
different as a therapist, butactually as a patient care
technician or a home health aid,we were hands-on, we were
hands-on, I think, yeah, we werehands-on and I feel like that's
the best experience too you'reable to get and further gain and
(03:28):
for me, having that thephysical and the emotional and
just being there and having asense of understanding of where
I'm going with being able toassist these patients, it really
helps out and it makes meunderstand because I can read a
book and I can get the clinicalportion of it and the knowledge
and the book smart portion of it.
But without that hands-onexperience to physically be able
(03:48):
to help a patient, then a lotof people they don't know it's
more like they get the books andhaving that physical part of it
it definitely makes a world ofa difference.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
So you started at the home health aid or patient care
technician.
We were passing medications, wewere cleaning, we were doing a
lot of you know, direct carewith with the patients.
Now what led you to say I wantto continue to work with people
and help people, but in adifferent capacity.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I just I wanted more, like I wanted more.
I wanted to do more for people,even though I was doing the
direct care with patients, whichI'm still doing.
But I feel like I wanted theknowledge.
I wanted the knowledge.
I wanted to help people on adifferent level, like I wanted
to be able to have my ownautonomy, and usually in the ICU
(04:41):
, that's what you get and it wassomething that just kind of
filled out for me.
I mean, it was one of thosethings where I had the
opportunity and I had to do soand that's what I did so.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
The reason, one of the reasons why I wanted to have
you on is because you have aunique journey from you know, as
far as your career inhealthcare.
I feel like people who arelistening, who may be at the
either the nurse's assistantstage, the patient care
technician stage.
They may aspire to become aregistered nurse too, but may
(05:15):
feel like, well, I'm too old orit's a lot of schooling.
Where do I find the time?
Like, did you run into any ofthose obstacles or how did that
work for you?
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I did.
One was finding the time.
That was like another hurdle,because we all have our lives
that we have to live.
We have kids we have to do, wehave bills we have to pay and we
have a job we have to work, andthat was a real struggle for me
.
So I had to literally make timefor this and I told myself,
like I have to make time, I feellike if you focus on what you
(05:51):
want to do in life and youreally focus hard and you follow
your dream, you'll get there.
You will get there.
So it was a struggle.
It definitely was a struggle.
Making the time was a struggle.
Getting into the program, Imean to schooling, making time
for school, that will that'sanother thing, I mean.
I mean you just have to justkeep going at it.
(06:12):
Don't give up.
Follow your dreams.
If you want to do something,don't give up.
If you're an age age is anumber I've been in school with
people who are in their 50s whowant to go to school for nursing
, and they followed their dreams.
If you have a passion for thehealthcare profession and you
want to do this, do it Like it'sthere.
It's your calling.
(06:32):
If your passion is there, I waslike the dream and everything
will follow.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Like, just you know, do it.
So yeah, let me put somecontext around it, because we're
the same age 38.
You've been at RM for how longI've been in RM?
For about four years.
Four years so when we were homehealth aides or patient care
techs, we were making $8 and $8and 35 cents.
(06:58):
So you know like we can laughat it now, but your check wasn't
really good unless you workeddoubles or sometimes triples and
you definitely wanted to work aholiday.
We're coming off a holiday now.
We like now we try to, you know, not work a holiday or black
ops.
No, no, no, no.
Back then we were trying towork a holiday so we can get the
(07:20):
triple time or the double time,so that we can have a decent
check.
So when you think about puttingin that work, so you cause you
worked all the way throughthrough school, right, did you
take off or how did that?
How did that look for you?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Yeah, I worked all the way through school.
They, they said that you werenot supposed to work or you're
supposed to decrease your hours,but there was no way.
I mean, because the nursingprogram is very, very demanding.
It's demanding of you and I cansee why they tell you not to
work or pretty much decreaseyour hours.
But it was a struggle to kindof get through there and like,
(07:54):
like, like you said, like whenthere was ever a shift that was
like a holiday, I wanted to pickup those shifts for the
holidays because I needed theextra cash, because I had to pay
for school and I had to pay forfood, like it was.
I mean, it was a struggle, likeit really was a struggle
financially.
I didn't have it.
That's why I worked and it Istruggled all the way through
(08:14):
financially for nursing school.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Man, because you went to nursing school.
We're from Michigan, you stilllive in Michigan, but you went
to school the first time was itin Ohio.
Where were you at?
Because I remember you had acommute.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
So yeah, the first school it was in Moreau.
It was probably maybe 30minutes okay from ohio, maybe a
little bit less, maybe 20 or so,and it was a nice commute.
I would commute from flint allthe way to morrow to go to
school because I lived in grand,grand, blank, right, okay, so
you and so it was.
It was a nice little drive, butthat's that determination, like
(08:53):
I, I, that's something I wanted, that I was passionate about,
but it definitely was a commute.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Man, do you remember any times where you were like
before you either got intonursing school or during nursing
school, where you wanted togive up?
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Yes, it was.
I think it's been times where Ididn't have any money.
I was broke, I didn't have anymoney.
I wanted to just stop and belike, nope, I don't want to do
it.
I just wanted to just work so Ican pay for things.
(09:32):
But I found a way that you know,I was taking, like cash loans
out to buy food and put gas inmy vehicles to get back and
forth to school, and I knewthere was a pot of gold at the
end of that rainbow.
So I felt like if I just keepgoing at it, eventually I'll
reach that pot of gold, man.
So you was broke, broke, I wasbroke broke, I didn't have.
(09:56):
When I tell you I was broke, myaccount was like in a negative
and I was taking loans out tocover that balance in my account
until my next paycheck, whichwas a small paycheck because I
couldn't really work muchbecause I had to go to school
Monday through Friday almost,and so it was a struggle, just
kind of like putting food on thetable and you know gas and you
know paying bills.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Is stress and burnout taking a toll on your company's
productivity and morale?
Are you looking for ways toimprove your employees' mental
health and wellness?
If so, it's time to invest inmental health support for your
workplace.
As a mental health expert andspeaker, I provide solutions for
(10:41):
creating a happier, healthierand more productive workplace.
This includes a range ofservices to help your employees
cope with stress, anxiety andother mental health challenges.
I facilitate workshops andpresentations designed
specifically to help youremployees develop resiliency,
(11:03):
manage stress and reduce burnout.
So, while wait, make mentalhealth and wellness a priority
in your workplace today andcontact us so we can support you
all.
All right, let's get back tothe episode.
Did anybody know, like I didn'tknow, you were struggling?
(11:24):
I mean, I knew we all hadfinancial challenges, but I
didn't know you were.
You know, hit it like that.
Did you tell anybody?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
No, I didn't tell anybody, because one I guess I
felt that I was ashamed toreally tell people that
financially I didn't have it,because being a man, you're
supposed to be able to help andprovide and do things on your
own and stand on your own twofeet.
And now I look back at it, Iwish I would have said a little
(11:55):
bit more.
But I have family, my dad.
He probably would have helpedout, but I wanted to do it on my
own.
I wanted to be like, okay, youcan do this, you can do this.
And so I just pushed forwardand I look for other financial
opportunities to be able to paythe bills that needed to be paid
.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Man, that's a good point.
You know, as men, we go throughstuff and we don't let people
know.
We don't like to let peopleknow.
We need that support.
What kept you going?
Like was there a person, orlike inspiration, like what kept
you going?
I mean you were going through alot.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Well, yeah, it was.
You know, god, among otherthings, you know that that was
one.
God, among other things, youknow that was one and I had my
dad and my family and Minerva,which is my long-term girlfriend
.
She definitely was there for methrough all of it, through the
difficult times, through thestruggles, through the emotional
(12:48):
stress.
She was there to kind of help,support and yeah, she did a lot
for me and I'm reallyappreciative of that and that
kept me moving.
That kept me on my feet.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Yeah, I know many.
She's wonderful and having apartner there for you makes the
world of difference Real quick.
Let's talk about some of theemotional challenges that you
may have went through duringthat time where you were in
school and how having thatsupport helped you.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
So being in school it's always stressful because
they put a lot on you,especially in nursing school,
because nursing school you'repretty much managing people's
lives.
So having to take home with youand you having all this stress
and you also dealing with thestressors at home, like I said,
you have your bills you have topay, you have food you have to
(13:41):
put on the table, and all ofthat in one is just to me it was
a lot to handle.
It was to the point where I'mlike something has to give.
But knowing that I had Minervain my corner, it definitely
helped out a lot Because eventhough I didn't have much and
she was working to help out asmuch as she could, it definitely
(14:04):
helped me come a long way fromwhere I was to where I am now.
She was the kind of like therock to kind of lean on, to kind
of help move me through thedifficult times and the
challenges, especially innursing school.
And I feel bad because she'sseen the stress that I was under
and she know the 12 hours thatI was in the basement and.
(14:26):
I was almost isolated in acorner, but I had to do it
because I had to study and thenI'll come out and I was tired
and it was always, and it wasthings that would happen around
the house if something wouldbreak or something would flood
and I would have to fix it.
So that's another stressoradded on top of what I was
already going through.
But she kind of made way andshe kind of did the lead work
(14:47):
for me when I needed the thingsto get done and it helped out a
lot.
So having that support systemand having that emotional
support person that's there foryou, it helps out a lot, man.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
I'm so glad you mentioned that.
Like one of my friends fromcollege, he always talked about
how he needs some support goingthrough school and working.
And he was dead serious and youknow, being married Carol's an
excellent support.
Like having that support man.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Oh yeah, Helps a lot.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Definitely.
So I want to fast forward.
So you go through.
You know the grueling nursingprogram, but then there were
challenges throughout thenursing program, right?
Speaker 2 (15:25):
oh yeah, oh yeah, definitely, oh yeah like talk,
to just pick one of thechallenges outside of the
financial challenges, but likein the program that you had to
get over or hurdle through, Ithink one of which are it's to
me, I feel like, if, oh, it's soto me, I feel like, if, oh,
it's so many, but one that Iwould have to say would probably
(15:46):
be my classmates, and that'sone you're like classmate.
What do you mean classmates?
Well, I'm the.
I was the type of guy in nursingschool that if I got a subject
that I had to work on with agroup and we had a deadline to
complete it, I wanted to be theone to just get that subject out
of the way.
I would do my research, I wouldwrite up my I'll find my
(16:08):
articles I would write up mypaper and I would have my
portion of it done.
The problem I had the hurdle Ihad with it is trying to find
the.
My teammates who were with meon this project complete theirs
within a reasonable time so thatwe can put it all together and
view it before the deadline.
Well, that didn't happen untilwhere it was maybe like a day
(16:31):
before the deadline, and I felt,though I was one of the people
who was completing their projecton top of mine's as well, so I
was doing other people work.
So that was one hurdle.
It was like working with peoplewhen you wanted something done.
It's you know the old saying ifyou want something done, do it
yourself.
But, then I feel like if I'mdoing it for them, then I'm
(16:53):
giving them that good grade.
But I look at it you have to dowhat you have to do in order to
pass, and that's what I wantedto do.
I wanted to get past it.
So that was a hurdle andobstacle I had to overcome, and
you know.
I made, do what needed to bedone, and it was tough, yeah, so
you.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
So let's fast forward .
So then you graduate nursingschool and now you get a chance
to start working in the field.
Yes, but during that time.
So you graduate nursing schooland now you get a chance to work
in the field, but during thistime COVID hits.
Yes, so you become a brand newnurse right in the like.
(17:29):
Did you, did you start in thehospital right at COVID, like,
how did that work?
What did it look like?
Speaker 2 (17:33):
during COVID I did.
It was one of those thingswhere I thought do I want to do?
I even want to be a nurse atthis point?
Is this this?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
something.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
I want to do.
And I started right in thehospital.
I was already in the ICU unitworking before I was even a
nurse working as a nurse tech,so I already had the experience
and I already knew the layout.
So when I got into, when Ifinished nursing, before I even
took my boards, I was aregistered nurse.
(18:03):
So, I didn't even take an exam.
They just gave me a license topractice nursing and that's what
I did.
So I hit the ground running andit was an experience I won't
forget.
It was especially dealing withthe unknown and COVID at the
time COVID-19 at the time wasunknown.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
So you were in the thick of it In Michigan, which
was one of the states that theygot hit the hardest.
Oh yeah, like I I still hearabout it today where y'all were
getting burnt out.
Like I was talking to a friendof mine.
She said you know when youwould get home, you burn your
clothes, not burn your clothes.
Take off your clothes, uh,leave them at the door.
Were you doing any of that?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
for for me uh yes, I was I was.
I have a detached garage, sowhat I would do is I would I
would get take off all theclothes, all the way to my
underwear and it was cold atthat time.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Right, I would go from.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I would go from my garage to my house, directly
into the shower, the shower up,and all my items I had with me,
from a cell phone to wallet, Iwould spray that down with
disinfect spray, because it waslike I said, it was the unknown,
we didn't know.
So, yeah we, we did someextreme things just to be, uh,
protected and then.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
But you also went into like travel nursing kind of
pretty soon too, didn't you?
I did, I did, I.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
December of 2020 is when I actually did the travel.
Nursing it was.
I had the opportunity, it wasone of those lucrative
opportunities and I decided totake it man.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
So this is where you figured out, like you know, what
it was worth it is, that whenit clicked, or when was it for
you when you said this is it wasworth it all the stress and
anxiety?
Speaker 2 (19:49):
I think it clicked right.
It clicked when I got thatfirst travel page it wasn't 8,
35 an hour, no more that's right, it wasn't 8 $8.35 an hour.
It definitely clicked and like.
I said if you do what you love,it comes naturally, so for me.
I love what I was doing, so itcame naturally.
(20:11):
So, financially, the money, thecompensation came naturally to
me and so it was really good.
The travel nurse was reallygood to me and I, you know, I
met new friends, I gotexperience to travel.
Everything was good.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Nursing was good, so speak to.
I know we have some peoplelistening man like that, are
like struggling, they want morefor themselves.
They've been in the field for awhile, Like you've been in the
field for a while but they'renot sure how to take that next
step.
What would you say to thatperson?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Just keep going.
Don't stop.
If there's resources available,I would utilize those resources
.
Don't give up.
Keep going.
Utilize those resources.
If you keep pushing at it,eventually something will fall
in place, and it will.
I mean me.
I used every single resourcethat I could find possible to
(21:09):
accomplish what I accomplishedand it helped out a lot, even if
it's from a family member or aloved one who's willing to help
you take that next step.
And if your heart is in therein nursing, you'll definitely
get it.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
So use those resources there in nursing,
you'll definitely get it, so usethose resources.
So, before we wrap up, I wantto ask you to break this down
real quick Resume.
I want you to break down fromwhere you started, at Home
Lifestyles, we can say you don'thave to give all the details of
where you work, but just thetitles up to where you are now.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Right.
So I started off HomeLifestyles, which is group
homework.
I went from group homework,which is a personal care
attendant or assistant, to ahome health aide working at a
home care service.
I went from home care serviceto doing a private duty.
(22:01):
I did a private duty for anumber of years and in between
there I still was a littleundecisive.
I did a little dental assistingon the side, but it was still
with patient care, never givingup my home healthcare work
because I worked multiple jobs.
From there I went into anursing assistant program, I
(22:23):
went into an LPN program and Iwent into an RN program.
Now I am an RN, so I neverdropped the ball.
I kept it rolling.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
And throughout that time you graduated.
We are fellow graduates from auniversity of Michigan yes, so I
mean it was a lot.
Graduates from uh university ofmichigan yes, that's right.
So I mean it was a lot.
It was a lot.
We could be all all day, man,cuz, man, I love you cuz.
I love you too, cuz, and reallyappreciate you, man taking the
time out.
We don't get a chance to talkmuch because you always at work,
but that's why I had to haveyou on and definitely will have
(22:58):
you back y'all.
if you need a nurse, I don'tknow, isaac is busy but, I'm
trying to talk to him about, youknow, carving some time out for
some consultations or somethingof that nature.
So just feel free to stay closeto the page and I'll put all
this information in the shownotes.
Thank y'all, be blessed.
Thanks, guys.
(23:19):
Thank you all for listening toanother episode of the Peace and
Prosperity podcast.
Again, if you are feeling like,hey, I'm experiencing high
functioning anxiety, don't beatyourself up about it.
It is OK.
We all experience anxiety fromtime to time, and I gave you a
(23:41):
couple of things that you can doon your own, and I gave you a
couple of things that you can doon your own, but don't hesitate
to reach out to a professionalto better manage what you're
going through.
Ok, and lastly, make sure, ifyou have not like share,
subscribe to the podcast andsend this out to a friend, and
if you want to hear certainepisodes or have certain
(24:04):
conversations, let me know.
You can shoot me a DM or justleave a review and I will
definitely follow up.
All right, y'all be blessed,peace.
Welcome to another episode of the Peace and
Prosperity Podcast.
I got somebody special in heretoday.
Y'all Got my real blood cousinIsaac.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Sting what up cuz hey , what's up, man, Good seeing
you Good seeing you.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Right, right, right.
So, before we get into it, man,I'm excited to have you on the
podcast for a number of reasons.
One, you're the first familymember on the podcast.
But second, man, your story,what you've been able to
accomplish, how you've been ableto accomplish everything in
your profession as a registerednurse, like, we're going to get
(00:42):
into all of that, because mystory, you know, I got a little
background in health care, right, right, like, as far as like
physical or medical health care,but you, you took it much
further and beyond.
So, man, just really happy tohave you here.
Thank you, I appreciate that.
I appreciate it's good to behere introduce yourself, like
let everybody know who you are.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
My name's Isaac.
I am an RN.
I've been in the healthcarefield for about 17 years,
started off right out of highschool and just went into it and
just never looked back.
So as far as my resume go, I'vebeen in ICU setting.
I've been in the med-surg,setting All of the ICUs MICU,
(01:26):
neurotrauma ICU, surgical ICUand I floated all over the
hospital in different settingsand it really just take a lot of
joy and I take a lot of.
Really, for me it's an honor tojust be able to just take care
of patients, because you justgot to do what you love and I
really enjoy what I do and beingin healthcare has been very
(01:49):
rewarding for me and managingpatients, taking care of
patients, have been veryrewarding for me and I'm happy
to do it and happy to keep doingit.
And as long as I'm able to doit, I'm going to keep doing it.
Yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Yes, sir, so let's get into it.
So I know you are in now, butthat's not where you started,
correct?
Where did you?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
start.
I started in community mentalhealth, working in group homes,
and in group homes it's usuallythose who are born with a
disability and it's more so amental, mental disability, that
we, that I, took care of and Idid that with a number of years
(02:32):
uh, because I actually we did ittogether yeah, right, right,
that's all we, we did ittogether.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
You know, you got me a job there in 06, I believe I
think it was 06, 2006.
I worked there, man, and causeyou were already working there,
you told me to go up there andthey hired me and I mean, that
was a different experience,y'all.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
You know, working in healthcare, you know it's
different as a therapist, butactually as a patient care
technician or a home health aid,we were hands-on, we were
hands-on, I think, yeah, we werehands-on and I feel like that's
the best experience too you'reable to get and further gain and
(03:28):
for me, having that thephysical and the emotional and
just being there and having asense of understanding of where
I'm going with being able toassist these patients, it really
helps out and it makes meunderstand because I can read a
book and I can get the clinicalportion of it and the knowledge
and the book smart portion of it.
But without that hands-onexperience to physically be able
(03:48):
to help a patient, then a lotof people they don't know it's
more like they get the books andhaving that physical part of it
it definitely makes a world ofa difference.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
So you started at the home health aid or patient care
technician.
We were passing medications, wewere cleaning, we were doing a
lot of you know, direct carewith with the patients.
Now what led you to say I wantto continue to work with people
and help people, but in adifferent capacity.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I just I wanted more, like I wanted more.
I wanted to do more for people,even though I was doing the
direct care with patients, whichI'm still doing.
But I feel like I wanted theknowledge.
I wanted the knowledge.
I wanted to help people on adifferent level, like I wanted
to be able to have my ownautonomy, and usually in the ICU
(04:41):
, that's what you get and it wassomething that just kind of
filled out for me.
I mean, it was one of thosethings where I had the
opportunity and I had to do soand that's what I did so.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
The reason, one of the reasons why I wanted to have
you on is because you have aunique journey from you know, as
far as your career inhealthcare.
I feel like people who arelistening, who may be at the
either the nurse's assistantstage, the patient care
technician stage.
They may aspire to become aregistered nurse too, but may
(05:15):
feel like, well, I'm too old orit's a lot of schooling.
Where do I find the time?
Like, did you run into any ofthose obstacles or how did that
work for you?
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I did.
One was finding the time.
That was like another hurdle,because we all have our lives
that we have to live.
We have kids we have to do, wehave bills we have to pay and we
have a job we have to work, andthat was a real struggle for me
.
So I had to literally make timefor this and I told myself,
like I have to make time, I feellike if you focus on what you
(05:51):
want to do in life and youreally focus hard and you follow
your dream, you'll get there.
You will get there.
So it was a struggle.
It definitely was a struggle.
Making the time was a struggle.
Getting into the program, Imean to schooling, making time
for school, that will that'sanother thing, I mean.
I mean you just have to justkeep going at it.
(06:12):
Don't give up.
Follow your dreams.
If you want to do something,don't give up.
If you're an age age is anumber I've been in school with
people who are in their 50s whowant to go to school for nursing
, and they followed their dreams.
If you have a passion for thehealthcare profession and you
want to do this, do it Like it'sthere.
It's your calling.
(06:32):
If your passion is there, I waslike the dream and everything
will follow.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Like, just you know, do it.
So yeah, let me put somecontext around it, because we're
the same age 38.
You've been at RM for how longI've been in RM?
For about four years.
Four years so when we were homehealth aides or patient care
techs, we were making $8 and $8and 35 cents.
(06:58):
So you know like we can laughat it now, but your check wasn't
really good unless you workeddoubles or sometimes triples and
you definitely wanted to work aholiday.
We're coming off a holiday now.
We like now we try to, you know, not work a holiday or black
ops.
No, no, no, no.
Back then we were trying towork a holiday so we can get the
(07:20):
triple time or the double time,so that we can have a decent
check.
So when you think about puttingin that work, so you cause you
worked all the way throughthrough school, right, did you
take off or how did that?
How did that look for you?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Yeah, I worked all the way through school.
They, they said that you werenot supposed to work or you're
supposed to decrease your hours,but there was no way.
I mean, because the nursingprogram is very, very demanding.
It's demanding of you and I cansee why they tell you not to
work or pretty much decreaseyour hours.
But it was a struggle to kindof get through there and like,
(07:54):
like, like you said, like whenthere was ever a shift that was
like a holiday, I wanted to pickup those shifts for the
holidays because I needed theextra cash, because I had to pay
for school and I had to pay forfood, like it was.
I mean, it was a struggle, likeit really was a struggle
financially.
I didn't have it.
That's why I worked and it Istruggled all the way through
(08:14):
financially for nursing school.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Man, because you went to nursing school.
We're from Michigan, you stilllive in Michigan, but you went
to school the first time was itin Ohio.
Where were you at?
Because I remember you had acommute.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
So yeah, the first school it was in Moreau.
It was probably maybe 30minutes okay from ohio, maybe a
little bit less, maybe 20 or so,and it was a nice commute.
I would commute from flint allthe way to morrow to go to
school because I lived in grand,grand, blank, right, okay, so
you and so it was.
It was a nice little drive, butthat's that determination, like
(08:53):
I, I, that's something I wanted, that I was passionate about,
but it definitely was a commute.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Man, do you remember any times where you were like
before you either got intonursing school or during nursing
school, where you wanted togive up?
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Yes, it was.
I think it's been times where Ididn't have any money.
I was broke, I didn't have anymoney.
I wanted to just stop and belike, nope, I don't want to do
it.
I just wanted to just work so Ican pay for things.
(09:32):
But I found a way that you know,I was taking, like cash loans
out to buy food and put gas inmy vehicles to get back and
forth to school, and I knewthere was a pot of gold at the
end of that rainbow.
So I felt like if I just keepgoing at it, eventually I'll
reach that pot of gold, man.
So you was broke, broke, I wasbroke broke, I didn't have.
(09:56):
When I tell you I was broke, myaccount was like in a negative
and I was taking loans out tocover that balance in my account
until my next paycheck, whichwas a small paycheck because I
couldn't really work muchbecause I had to go to school
Monday through Friday almost,and so it was a struggle, just
kind of like putting food on thetable and you know gas and you
know paying bills.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Is stress and burnout taking a toll on your company's
productivity and morale?
Are you looking for ways toimprove your employees' mental
health and wellness?
If so, it's time to invest inmental health support for your
workplace.
As a mental health expert andspeaker, I provide solutions for
(10:41):
creating a happier, healthierand more productive workplace.
This includes a range ofservices to help your employees
cope with stress, anxiety andother mental health challenges.
I facilitate workshops andpresentations designed
specifically to help youremployees develop resiliency,
(11:03):
manage stress and reduce burnout.
So, while wait, make mentalhealth and wellness a priority
in your workplace today andcontact us so we can support you
all.
All right, let's get back tothe episode.
Did anybody know, like I didn'tknow, you were struggling?
(11:24):
I mean, I knew we all hadfinancial challenges, but I
didn't know you were.
You know, hit it like that.
Did you tell anybody?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
No, I didn't tell anybody, because one I guess I
felt that I was ashamed toreally tell people that
financially I didn't have it,because being a man, you're
supposed to be able to help andprovide and do things on your
own and stand on your own twofeet.
And now I look back at it, Iwish I would have said a little
(11:55):
bit more.
But I have family, my dad.
He probably would have helpedout, but I wanted to do it on my
own.
I wanted to be like, okay, youcan do this, you can do this.
And so I just pushed forwardand I look for other financial
opportunities to be able to paythe bills that needed to be paid
.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Man, that's a good point.
You know, as men, we go throughstuff and we don't let people
know.
We don't like to let peopleknow.
We need that support.
What kept you going?
Like was there a person, orlike inspiration, like what kept
you going?
I mean you were going through alot.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Well, yeah, it was.
You know, god, among otherthings, you know that that was
one.
God, among other things, youknow that was one and I had my
dad and my family and Minerva,which is my long-term girlfriend
.
She definitely was there for methrough all of it, through the
difficult times, through thestruggles, through the emotional
(12:48):
stress.
She was there to kind of help,support and yeah, she did a lot
for me and I'm reallyappreciative of that and that
kept me moving.
That kept me on my feet.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Yeah, I know many.
She's wonderful and having apartner there for you makes the
world of difference Real quick.
Let's talk about some of theemotional challenges that you
may have went through duringthat time where you were in
school and how having thatsupport helped you.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
So being in school it's always stressful because
they put a lot on you,especially in nursing school,
because nursing school you'repretty much managing people's
lives.
So having to take home with youand you having all this stress
and you also dealing with thestressors at home, like I said,
you have your bills you have topay, you have food you have to
(13:41):
put on the table, and all ofthat in one is just to me it was
a lot to handle.
It was to the point where I'mlike something has to give.
But knowing that I had Minervain my corner, it definitely
helped out a lot Because eventhough I didn't have much and
she was working to help out asmuch as she could, it definitely
(14:04):
helped me come a long way fromwhere I was to where I am now.
She was the kind of like therock to kind of lean on, to kind
of help move me through thedifficult times and the
challenges, especially innursing school.
And I feel bad because she'sseen the stress that I was under
and she know the 12 hours thatI was in the basement and.
(14:26):
I was almost isolated in acorner, but I had to do it
because I had to study and thenI'll come out and I was tired
and it was always, and it wasthings that would happen around
the house if something wouldbreak or something would flood
and I would have to fix it.
So that's another stressoradded on top of what I was
already going through.
But she kind of made way andshe kind of did the lead work
(14:47):
for me when I needed the thingsto get done and it helped out a
lot.
So having that support systemand having that emotional
support person that's there foryou, it helps out a lot, man.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
I'm so glad you mentioned that.
Like one of my friends fromcollege, he always talked about
how he needs some support goingthrough school and working.
And he was dead serious and youknow, being married Carol's an
excellent support.
Like having that support man.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Oh yeah, Helps a lot.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Definitely.
So I want to fast forward.
So you go through.
You know the grueling nursingprogram, but then there were
challenges throughout thenursing program, right?
Speaker 2 (15:25):
oh yeah, oh yeah, definitely, oh yeah like talk,
to just pick one of thechallenges outside of the
financial challenges, but likein the program that you had to
get over or hurdle through, Ithink one of which are it's to
me, I feel like, if, oh, it's soto me, I feel like, if, oh,
it's so many, but one that Iwould have to say would probably
(15:46):
be my classmates, and that'sone you're like classmate.
What do you mean classmates?
Well, I'm the.
I was the type of guy in nursingschool that if I got a subject
that I had to work on with agroup and we had a deadline to
complete it, I wanted to be theone to just get that subject out
of the way.
I would do my research, I wouldwrite up my I'll find my
(16:08):
articles I would write up mypaper and I would have my
portion of it done.
The problem I had the hurdle Ihad with it is trying to find
the.
My teammates who were with meon this project complete theirs
within a reasonable time so thatwe can put it all together and
view it before the deadline.
Well, that didn't happen untilwhere it was maybe like a day
(16:31):
before the deadline, and I felt,though I was one of the people
who was completing their projecton top of mine's as well, so I
was doing other people work.
So that was one hurdle.
It was like working with peoplewhen you wanted something done.
It's you know the old saying ifyou want something done, do it
yourself.
But, then I feel like if I'mdoing it for them, then I'm
(16:53):
giving them that good grade.
But I look at it you have to dowhat you have to do in order to
pass, and that's what I wantedto do.
I wanted to get past it.
So that was a hurdle andobstacle I had to overcome, and
you know.
I made, do what needed to bedone, and it was tough, yeah, so
you.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
So let's fast forward .
So then you graduate nursingschool and now you get a chance
to start working in the field.
Yes, but during that time.
So you graduate nursing schooland now you get a chance to work
in the field, but during thistime COVID hits.
Yes, so you become a brand newnurse right in the like.
(17:29):
Did you, did you start in thehospital right at COVID, like,
how did that work?
What did it look like?
Speaker 2 (17:33):
during COVID I did.
It was one of those thingswhere I thought do I want to do?
I even want to be a nurse atthis point?
Is this this?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
something.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
I want to do.
And I started right in thehospital.
I was already in the ICU unitworking before I was even a
nurse working as a nurse tech,so I already had the experience
and I already knew the layout.
So when I got into, when Ifinished nursing, before I even
took my boards, I was aregistered nurse.
(18:03):
So, I didn't even take an exam.
They just gave me a license topractice nursing and that's what
I did.
So I hit the ground running andit was an experience I won't
forget.
It was especially dealing withthe unknown and COVID at the
time COVID-19 at the time wasunknown.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
So you were in the thick of it In Michigan, which
was one of the states that theygot hit the hardest.
Oh yeah, like I I still hearabout it today where y'all were
getting burnt out.
Like I was talking to a friendof mine.
She said you know when youwould get home, you burn your
clothes, not burn your clothes.
Take off your clothes, uh,leave them at the door.
Were you doing any of that?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
for for me uh yes, I was I was.
I have a detached garage, sowhat I would do is I would I
would get take off all theclothes, all the way to my
underwear and it was cold atthat time.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Right, I would go from.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I would go from my garage to my house, directly
into the shower, the shower up,and all my items I had with me,
from a cell phone to wallet, Iwould spray that down with
disinfect spray, because it waslike I said, it was the unknown,
we didn't know.
So, yeah we, we did someextreme things just to be, uh,
protected and then.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
But you also went into like travel nursing kind of
pretty soon too, didn't you?
I did, I did, I.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
December of 2020 is when I actually did the travel.
Nursing it was.
I had the opportunity, it wasone of those lucrative
opportunities and I decided totake it man.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
So this is where you figured out, like you know, what
it was worth it is, that whenit clicked, or when was it for
you when you said this is it wasworth it all the stress and
anxiety?
Speaker 2 (19:49):
I think it clicked right.
It clicked when I got thatfirst travel page it wasn't 8,
35 an hour, no more that's right, it wasn't 8 $8.35 an hour.
It definitely clicked and like.
I said if you do what you love,it comes naturally, so for me.
I love what I was doing, so itcame naturally.
(20:11):
So, financially, the money, thecompensation came naturally to
me and so it was really good.
The travel nurse was reallygood to me and I, you know, I
met new friends, I gotexperience to travel.
Everything was good.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Nursing was good, so speak to.
I know we have some peoplelistening man like that, are
like struggling, they want morefor themselves.
They've been in the field for awhile, Like you've been in the
field for a while but they'renot sure how to take that next
step.
What would you say to thatperson?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Just keep going.
Don't stop.
If there's resources available,I would utilize those resources
.
Don't give up.
Keep going.
Utilize those resources.
If you keep pushing at it,eventually something will fall
in place, and it will.
I mean me.
I used every single resourcethat I could find possible to
(21:09):
accomplish what I accomplishedand it helped out a lot, even if
it's from a family member or aloved one who's willing to help
you take that next step.
And if your heart is in therein nursing, you'll definitely
get it.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
So use those resources there in nursing,
you'll definitely get it, so usethose resources.
So, before we wrap up, I wantto ask you to break this down
real quick Resume.
I want you to break down fromwhere you started, at Home
Lifestyles, we can say you don'thave to give all the details of
where you work, but just thetitles up to where you are now.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Right.
So I started off HomeLifestyles, which is group
homework.
I went from group homework,which is a personal care
attendant or assistant, to ahome health aide working at a
home care service.
I went from home care serviceto doing a private duty.
(22:01):
I did a private duty for anumber of years and in between
there I still was a littleundecisive.
I did a little dental assistingon the side, but it was still
with patient care, never givingup my home healthcare work
because I worked multiple jobs.
From there I went into anursing assistant program, I
(22:23):
went into an LPN program and Iwent into an RN program.
Now I am an RN, so I neverdropped the ball.
I kept it rolling.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
And throughout that time you graduated.
We are fellow graduates from auniversity of Michigan yes, so I
mean it was a lot.
Graduates from uh university ofmichigan yes, that's right.
So I mean it was a lot.
It was a lot.
We could be all all day, man,cuz, man, I love you cuz.
I love you too, cuz, and reallyappreciate you, man taking the
time out.
We don't get a chance to talkmuch because you always at work,
but that's why I had to haveyou on and definitely will have
(22:58):
you back y'all.
if you need a nurse, I don'tknow, isaac is busy but, I'm
trying to talk to him about, youknow, carving some time out for
some consultations or somethingof that nature.
So just feel free to stay closeto the page and I'll put all
this information in the shownotes.
Thank y'all, be blessed.
Thanks, guys.
(23:19):
Thank you all for listening toanother episode of the Peace and
Prosperity podcast.
Again, if you are feeling like,hey, I'm experiencing high
functioning anxiety, don't beatyourself up about it.
It is OK.
We all experience anxiety fromtime to time, and I gave you a
(23:41):
couple of things that you can doon your own, and I gave you a
couple of things that you can doon your own, but don't hesitate
to reach out to a professionalto better manage what you're
going through.
Ok, and lastly, make sure, ifyou have not like share,
subscribe to the podcast andsend this out to a friend, and
if you want to hear certainepisodes or have certain
(24:04):
conversations, let me know.
You can shoot me a DM or justleave a review and I will
definitely follow up.
All right, y'all be blessed,peace.
Popular Podcasts
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com