No More Dreadful ICU Shifts.... Nurses it Doesn't Have To Be Hard!!!!

It's 5:20 a.m., and your alarm goes off, causing an aching pain in your ears. You have to change to the sound of that damn alarm, but you keep forgetting. You sit on your bed, hoping today will be better than yesterday. You recall the patient's sister yelling, "Isn't this what you get paid to do!" after she sensed you were annoyed by the patient who kept hitting the call light all day. You were in that room at least 20 times yesterday, and this patient is alert, oriented, and independent. You walk to the bathroom, and the light pierces your eyes; who the hell made it so damn bright? The hot shower finally awakes you. You quickly pull your hair back and slip on those blue scrubs you had for years. Geeze, you need to buy new ones, and these are getting small, or am I getting big?

You hop in your car and start driving 40 minutes to work. Hey, it must be a good day. There's no traffic! Shit! You left your lunch behind. Now you have two options: eat with unhelpful nurses who think they know everything or try the awful cafeteria. Well, they did place a new Starbucks down there. That might be okay throughout the day. You walk into work as the shift changes. You need to get the report from another nurse. The nurse you handed off last night got floated to another unit. As you receive report, the nurse shares updated social media stories and family drama, but nothing related to the patient's condition. As you stand there with a blank stare, you wonder why the patient wasn't discharged last night as planned.

You decide to ignore the bad report. You sit at your computer, take a breath, and search for updates. After less than 3 minutes of sitting down, you hear a familiar voice. "Excuse me, aren't you the nurse from yesterday?" My brother needs something.......

As you brace yourself for the impact of his demands, He asks for help in the bathroom. You, of course, proceed to help him, thinking..why couldn't she help him? Hell, he doesn't even need help. He's here for abdominal pain, and his scope was benign. This guy should've gone home. Oh, what the hell. It's your third shift, and you got four days off. Lord, you need this break as you sit back down to finish exploring the chart and taking notes. The charge nurse walks up to you and says, "You'll get the first admission. The emergency room will call soon to give you report". You ask if she has any information about the patient. She responds, "I think it's a DKA, but not a real one." You think, what do you mean not a real one? .. She continues, "They want to admit to the unit just in case and start him on an insulin drip."

WTF?? Well, is his gap closed? She says, "I don't know. I didn't look into it. Just make sure you have your phone on you." You think to yourself. I have to get rid of this guy in room 5 ASAP. I can't cater to him, do hourly blood sugar checks, and manage an insulin drip. Where is the intensivist? You page the intenvisit line but get a resident who says they will be coming around soon. Hell, you don't even know how to do a discharge.. we never discharge from the ICU.. oh lord...

The ER nurse calls and gives you report and says the patient is stable and pleasant. His blood sugar is 800, and he has no abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting. Additionally, his anion gap is almost closed, and they started the insulin drip down there. As soon as you hang up the phone, the patient is already wheeling in, moaning that his stomach hurts. His sheets were covered in dried vomit. It looked like he hadn't changed his clothes in days. The IV line is kinked, and the pump won't stop beeping because the battery is low. You and your coworkers help the patient to the new, clean bed, and you proceed with the admission...

The patient said he was allergic to everything and only Dilaudid would help. You look at the patient without judgment and think to yourself... I got to get out of here! You call the resident for a STAT order for pain control to calm your patient, who is growing irritable. While pulling the medicine from the pyxis, you hear a tap on the glass door...Excuse, nurse, my brother would like his coffee warmed up...

The tapping on the glass door becomes a constant beat. You suddenly have a clear moment. This isn't the life you envisioned. Yes, you chose nursing to make a difference, but not at the expense of your peace. You want balance and a peaceful workplace without constant noise and demands.

In a scary, exciting moment, you make a choice that will change everything.

You can escape the chaos and make a calming haven—You decide to open a medical spa.

In the days after, you give all your passion and skill to this dream. Instead of hospital hallways, you are in peaceful rooms. You wear professional clothes instead of scrubs, and the fast pace is replaced with a slower, healthier rhythm. You build a sanctuary not just for your clients but for yourself.

Your journey wasn't just a flight from a world of stress but a purposeful stride into a healing space. The medical spa you imagined was more than just a place. It was a mission to bring balance to body and mind and offer a moment of calm in a busy world. And as you put together this sanctuary, your dedication to patient care found a new home.

At your medical spa, the harmony you cultivate is palpable. You design it to be a place where every element—from the soothing colors on the walls to the scent that lingers in the air—speaks to a deeper sense of healing. You find fulfillment in every smile of relief, in the gratitude of those who come seeking not just aesthetic enhancement but a respite for their souls.

Starting a medical spa was a symphony of challenges, but with your expertise and resilience, you composed a masterpiece. As a nurse, you brought your caring nature, attention to detail, and compassion to your spa. It resonated with people. They noticed a peaceful atmosphere, excellent care, and a friendly greeting when they arrived. 

The community responded. They came. They saw. They relaxed. And they returned, bringing friends and spreading the word. Your medical spa became a haven in the neighborhood, and from there, its reputation grew.

And grow it did! The business grew and eventually made an incredible $1.4 million in a year. It was a testament to your vision, hard work, and the gap you filled in the lives of those seeking care and comfort. The success story was not just about numbers. It was about each person leaving your medical spa feeling better, brighter, and more peaceful.

But how did you scale this dream into a thriving enterprise? The strategy, the planning, the learning—a tale of transformation as inspiring as any.

The story isn't mine to tell, though. It's yours. You can share this incredible journey and reveal the steps, the setbacks, and the soaring moments by inviting others to hear your story at medbizacademy.com. There, you can unveil how you turned a world of care into a career of profound impact and impressive profit. So, to those who've felt that same tapping on the shoulder, who yearn for a whisper of change—join the story and see how such a journey unfolds. The next chapter begins with you.

-Jakeyla Reed, DNP
Founder of the Medspa Biz Academy