Susan Allison-Dean
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Why Nurses Become Nurses

11/19/2013

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There is no sugar coating it.  Being a Nurse is not for the faint hearted.   There are long hours, potentially long nights, 24-7-365 days of the year.  Nurses see things most people only experience in TV dramas that are edited of the really gruesome things that can occur.  Nurses exchange precious time with their family and friends on holidays and weekends to help people who rely on their skills, compassion and advocacy.  So why do they do it?

I myself became a nurse at the suggestion of my mother, “You like science and people, and it’s a good profession if you want to have kids.”

I practiced nursing for over 13 years and taught at Yale University as an adjunct professor.  There is always something to learn, you never get bored as a nurse.  You learn a base of knowledge that you can always apply to yourself and others.  Most of all, while we think that nurses help patients, and they do, the lessons learned about life from the patients that we care for are the best rewards.

In my debut novel, I Know You’re There, Jill Bradley, the nurse protagonist asks herself why she became a nurse when she is in a fatal accident after volunteering to work an extra shift at the community hospital she works at outside New York City.  Her mother, Helen, knows exactly why and when Jill decided to become a nurse, but has been reluctant to share the information with her.  Not knowing, could threaten Jill’s life.  The story digs into the past, while Jill struggles to go forward hoping to find the answer.

I would like to know why other nurses chose the profession of nursing.  When did you first know this was your calling?  Was there an event that inspired you to go into the profession?  If you’re a nurse and would like to share your story, please email me at susanallisondean@aol.com.  If I choose your submission, with your permission, I will feature it on my blog and give you a $50 gift card to your favorite bookstore.

In an era where jobs can be hard to find, nursing is a worthwhile profession to look into.  It offers a plethora of opportunities.  And as I like to say, “Once you’ve been a nurse, you can do anything.”


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Fun Ideas For Caribbean Book Club Meeting

11/14/2013

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It’s your turn to host your book club meeting.  You’re looking to do something different.  Fun.  You choose I Know You’re There  as the book you and your group will read. 

The night of your book club arrives; you’ve prepared an assortment of Caribbean treats, the curry aroma is intoxicating.  The pineapple slices drip their juice into the bowl surrounded by round slices of kiwi on top.  The blender has a full bowl of ice next to it, mango and of course, plenty of rum.  The stage is set, now for the music.

When your guests enter your home whether it is on a snowy, cold February night or a hot, sweltering day in July, you want them to instantly pick up the Caribbean vibe you are trying to create.  You want them to leave their troubles behind, just as Jill Bradley, the protagonist in the story, did and experience a place of letting go and feeling irie. 

So what tunes do you play?  The King of Reggae, Bob Marley, immediately comes to mind.  Some favorites include Is This Love, Three Little Birds and Jamming.  Mix that with a little American Tropicana, Jimmy Buffett.  Songs like Boat Drinks, Margaretville and the new duet with Zac Brown, Knee Deep make escaping their worries sound plausible.  From across the pond, UB40, has some classics they’ll remember.   Red, Red, Wine, Reggae Music, Kingston Town, and I Got You Babe will have them jamming in no time.

Once you’ve set the mood, your guests have had a drink, a bite to eat, their ready to relax and chat about the book.  What issues in the book did they relate to?  When they feel the need to escape from their problems, what do they do?  Did they learn anything new about nursing?  They laugh, they share, maybe even some end up shedding tears.  It’s all good.

The evening ends with coffee and rum coconut cake.  Your friends rave that this was the best book club ever!  How are they going to top this?  You hug the last guest as she leaves through your front door.  You close it, go to the music and turn it on loud and dance in your living room. 

I Know You're There is Susan Allison-Dean's debut novel.  To schedule a book club appearance in person or via Skype, please contact Sue at susanallisondean@aol.com.  


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Brighten Your Life!  Plant Some Bulbs

11/11/2013

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Do you find yourself ready for bed and it’s only 7:30 pm?  As the days get shorter and the nights longer, many of us slide into a more dormant state like a perennial plant disappearing for winter.  November is a prime season in many areas, however, to plant flower bulbs as a sign of beautiful days yet to come.

Amaryllis:  Now is a perfect time to pot up amaryllis bulbs in simple clay pots or big urns to bring life and color to your indoor spaces.  Growing Amaryllis is easy, here is a simple how to video.  

Spring Blooming Bulbs:  If you hurry before the ground freezes hard, you can still get some spring blooming bulbs planted in your outdoor garden.  Tulips, crocus, allium and my personal favorite daffodils come in all different colors and kick off the spring with a bang when they bloom.  To learn what varieties are available and what will work best in your garden check out Dig, Drop, Done.

Looking for a bulb source?  Check out Colorblends or your local garden center. 

For those who LOVE flowers and especially spring blooming bulbs, plan a trip now to Amsterdam in April or  early May.  The Keukenoff gardens are a must see on any gardeners’ bucket list. 

Do you enjoy gardening?  I do too.  I have weaved my love of gardening in my novel, I Know You’re There, now available in print and e-book format.  I hope you enjoy it! 


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Grab Your Surfboard, Blackfish Is Making Waves!

11/7/2013

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How do you feel after watching Blackfish?  Enraged, horrified, maybe even guilty since you took your children to Seaworld? You’re not alone.  I saw the documentary over the summer in a movie theater.  The reactions of the crowd leaving the theater after the show were powerful.  Some people looked stunned.

If Blackfish awakened something inside you and you want to become a voice for change in what we call ‘entertainment’, for the orcas and other wild animals in captivity, there are a lot of ways to get involved.   Being a voice for animals doesn’t make you a crazy cat lady.  The majority of American’s have a companion pet of some sort in their home.  The majority of Americans are kind hearted.  So here are ten ideas to start with, from simple ways to more complex, of how you can can involved.

1.  Like Blackfish on Facebook

2.  Follow @blackfishmovie on Twitter, and @Voice_OT_Orcas.  Search the hashtag #Blackfish. There is a whole array of other tweeters who are engaged in making a difference. 

3.  Join the campaign asking Macy’s to eliminate the Seaworld float from this year’s Thanksgiving day parade.

4.  Get kids involved; let’s hope the next generation will do better than ours. Check out what these high school students at Point Loma High School made: Video  and these grammar school kids: Video

5.  Blackfish will be available on DVD and Blue Ray 11/12/13 on Amazon.com.  It is already available for download on itunes.  Order the documentary and view it at PTA meetings, Girls Scouts, Boy Scout, Church Groups, anywhere that you think it will enlighten minds.

6.  Visit animal rescue organizations and sanctuaries instead of marine parks and circuses where wild animals are held and exploited for ‘entertainment’.  Here's an example of one for Tigers & Lions: Carolina Tiger Rescue

7.  Watch the dolphin version of Blackfish, The Cove.

8.  Planning a vacation?  Visit somewhere that doesn’t hold whales and dolphins in captivity for entertainment: North Carolina Beaches have pods of dolphins that swim free right along the shore.  If you think that doesn’t sound as fun as swimming with them in a pool, you haven’t been there to experience the excitement amongst the crowd as they go by. Countries India, CostaRica, Hungary, Chile, Croatia have banned captive programs, and the UK and Brazil currently do not have any. There are many well-organized programs that will introduce you to marine mammals in the wild in a safe, humane way.

9.  Organize a Walk against captivity like the one held on Turks & Caicos this past September.

10.  Use your influence to spread the word.  As a writer, and someone who is passionate about whales and dolphins, I integrated issues and facts about cetaceans in my novel, I Know You’re There.  What avenues do you have to increase the awareness of these magnificent beings?


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