Do you want to pay fewer taxes, go fishing or get/keep a job?

            On March 6, 1945 I was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. My mother saw my eye defects before the doctor saw them. What it was called back then I am not sure, but now it is known as coloboma—which comes from the Greek word meaning “curtailed”. The word is used to describe conditions where normal tissue in or around the eye is missing from birth.

Since graduating from Beverly Hospital School of Nursing in 1965, I have worked fulltime at many different jobs, owned a temporary nursing agency and now have my own business providing Hypnosis, Reiki and Emotional Freedom Technique. 

Until 2000, I had good corrected vision in both eyes. Then I was diagnosed with cataracts as a result of 30 years of smoking. Yes, smoking can cause cataracts—back then I was never warned and even stopping smoking 15 years earlier and it didn’t help— the damage was already done.

When I went for an interview at a nursing home I recognized “trouble” when I could not see the application well enough to complete it. I went home and went into a depression, not wanting to see or speak to any of my friends. I soon realized I had a choice— I could stay depressed or get help. I realized when you make the choice to take control and take action the fear drops away. Fear is a result of inaction.

            A call to my state department of low vision (services for the blind and visually impaired) resulted in a visit the next morning and delivery of a free zoom text program for my computer and large labels for my keyboard.  A job coach came to the house the next day.   As luck would have it, just before she arrived a flyer showed up in the mail with information about a company looking for night nurses to do telephone triage. I thought— this sounds perfect!  When you take action the universe provides everything that you need to succeed. You only have to learn how to recognize it.

The coach helped me rework my resume. She prepared everything for me, coached me on how to handle the interview and drove me to the agency. The next day I had the job. After accepting the position, I told the agency that I had low vision and the state department of low vision would be providing all the necessary tools to assist me free of charge. I have been there over 4 years and love the job.

My business is also thriving and I am always looking at new avenues to apply my skills using Hypnosis and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Many of my sessions can be done by telephone so in the event that I can no longer do nursing triage—I will have a good income.

When I was diagnosed as legally blind, which I waited to do because I was in denial, I found out that in Nashua, NH when you are legally blind you can get half of your property tax taken off and a FREE FISHING LICENSE! So for 2 weeks I was walking around the house saying “You know GOD I would rather pay my full property tax and get my vision back”…. Besides I don’t like to fish.

Nurses with disabilities should consider holistic nursing. A nurse with low vision or hearing loss can be a hypnotist or Reiki Master.  Our intentions as caregivers can be very strong and so enhanced when we take the holistic approach. Visit the web site of The American Holistic Nurses Association for more information http://www.ahna.org.

For those of you who are already nurses, you need to know that you have an incredible set of skills that can be applied many different ways. It is like a tapestry where you weave your skills in with your challenge to produce a work of art.

 For those of you who are considering nursing and have been told it cannot be done find a different way, create a new way and never take “no” for an answer unless it is your decision. All no means is next opportunity! Ask for help from people who will encourage you every step of the way. Be only in the presence of those who are a positive influence. Einstein said” Matter is energy”. My dear friend and mentor Pat Crilly says “It’s energy that matters” If you think it you can create it.

 Susan Nordemo, RN, CH, Reiki Master Teacher lives in New Hampshire. Her business is called Monarch Healthcoaching  http://www.monarchhealthcoaching.com. She continues to do telephone triage with Ali Care Medical Management. Susan can be reached at sue@monarchhealthcoaching.com.

Read more about Susan in chapter 14 of “The Exceptional Nurse: Tales from the trenches of truly resilient nurses working with disabilities” edited by Donna Maheady, EdD, ARNP. https://a.co/d/dgdj8aF

So, do you want to pay fewer taxes, go fishing or get/keep a job?

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