46 - Harlee Miller: Human Embodiment of Joy

Join relatively recent new grad nurse and Wyoming, and Battle Ground, Washington native Honored Guest Harlee Miller as she chats about her family (including the host?), her self-care routine, the touching story why she went into nursing, how she ended up in L&D, dealing with patient death, deriving joy from sorrow, being a nurse tech, not getting into nursing school the first time, working during nursing school, her experience with nurses "eating" their young, and more!

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Transcript

0:01

Welcome to this episode of Feeding Our Young. I am very excited for this episode because it's the first time I get to interview a fellow family member. Yes, I asked so many people, do you have someone in your family that's in healthcare? That is a common question, as you've heard on this podcast. And yet I myself don't have anybody in my family that's in healthcare. That was just a me thing. Until now. I'd like to introduce everybody. You've already heard her name in the intro. So Eric Miller introducing my cousin, Harlee Miller. Harlee, how are you today? I'm doing great, cuz. Thanks for asking. Okay, I have to like, so legit, this was a work thing. For some reason, I started calling her cuz. She's like, yeah, cuz, we're cuz. And then it just took, everybody at work was like, wait, you guys are related? Yeah. makes so much sense. da -da -da -da. So, I don't know, it's our, like, right? We're related by, like, our third mother's cousin's aunt's uncle's dog's owner or something? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The Miller Family Union. This year's was amazing, by the way. I just... my gosh. I know I was so glad they brought those back. It was fantastic. although Uncle Jeb, I was surprised that Uncle Jeb was not there this year, so. yeah, he's in a better place now. all right. With that, rest in peace, Uncle Jeb. Let's stop talking about him and get to the star of the show, which is cousin Harlee Miller. Harlee, would you like to do the honors of introducing yourself? Let us know. Where's home for you? Where are you from? Where did you graduate? And when did you graduate? Well, I am originally from Wyoming and we moved over to Battle Ground, Washington when I was about five. And then I decided to go to school over in Pullman. So I did two years of undergrad there and then I got into nursing school at WSU and did two years in Spokane. And now I'm here. I bought a house here and I love it here. So I'm as one could say stuck. At least joyfully stuck, right? Now of course I know you're from Wyoming because you know the family reunions and whatnot But if I didn't I'd be shocked to hear that so you moved over to Washington at a very young age And so do you still have family back in Wyoming is all your family here? What is that? Yes, so actually all my family except my dad and stepmom are over in Wyoming. My grandma, my grandpa, my other grandma, my mom, my brother, all of them over in Wyoming. I go and visit there quite often actually. I just got back. I just was there for six days and I went over and introduced the boyfriend to all the family members and that's how that went. No, how did that go? Inquiring minds wanna know! It went really good. Everybody, I think, would probably adopt him over me. Yes. Yep. Well, I mean, that's the highest like form of honor, right? Like if anything else. You can name drop here if you want to name drop your significant other. I hope his name is Davis. Davis, aww, Davis, the entire Miller clan is watching you, so you better watch it, bub, better watch it. No, that's awesome, that's so amazing. So, and I'm sorry, when did you graduate from Wazoo again? I graduated December of 2020 right at the, you know, brinkst of COVID. So that was interesting to say the least, especially being in healthcare. No kidding. You were one of those nurses that, for lack of better terms, basically knew nothing other than having your face covered with a mask during your entire career. basically. Yes, yep. And I was a CNA before I became a nurse. And so I got to do that. I was over at Holy Family on the medical oncology floor for a year. And I did that during nursing school. And then I was a nurse tech also through nursing school. And I got to be on the ortho trauma floor, the tele floor. And then I went to labor and delivery. And then I did the labor and delivery. for Over at Holy Family. Yeah. and where is it that you are practicing now? I am currently at labor and delivery at Sacred Heart. Yes, at the birthplace. love it, love it, love it. And we are so glad to have you here. It's like... love it. I love going to work. I never have a day where I wake up and say, ugh, I have to go to work. And I cannot stress this enough to the listening audience. Knowing Harlee is like a whole otherworldly experience. Like she legitimately, I'm like, I've texted her before and said, I know you have bad days. And the reason why I know that is because you're a human. However, what the heck? Cause we never see it. Like she is always ready to rock and roll. I want to be like my cousin when I grow up. It's official, it's on record now. So Harlee, before we get diving into you some more, What are the three words you would use to describe nursing school, having graduated not so long I would definitely say difficult. Hmm a common refrain Mm -hmm. Life -changing. Yes, and... rewarding. Yes, awesome. Three very appropriate words and we'll let you unpack that at the end of your episode as far as why you picked those three words. But in the meantime, let's get to know Harlee some more. So we kind of touched on the family. Let's just get to know you. What are the things that make Harlee tick? What do you like to do when you're not, when you weren't consumed with nursing school and now not, you know, working all these extra hours at work? I definitely love my self -care days, my free time. In the summertime, I love to go paddle boarding or go boating with my friends. I just like to honestly grab a good book. That's one thing I missed in nursing school. I never got to read something other than healthcare related, which is great and all, but some days. Sometimes I just want to read a good romance and just sit outside in the sun. It's, it, we'll say that the nursing books were definitely not, I, and being an instructor, I just would not qualify those as good reading. I don't think anybody would. Yeah. so I love to read. I definitely love a cozy little, you know, day inside watching a good TV show that's binge worthy. Grey's Anatomy, but you know, life is not like Grey's Anatomy, but one can wish. And then in the winter time, I love to go snowboarding. I love to go tubing. Just kind of outdoor activities. I love to go hiking, hang out with friends. Yeah. I love it. I absolutely love it. I love that you're able to find time for all these things. Have you ever traveled before? If so, where and where has been your favorite place to travel? Yes, so after I graduated nursing school, I made it a pact to at least go on two vacations a year. One would call me a world traveler. People think I never work, but that's the glory of nursing. You can only work three days a week and then you can just do whatever you want for the other days. And it's great. I recently just went to the Dominican Republic. That was interesting. It's definitely so like, eye opening to see a third world country. And then I've been to Mexico quite a bit. Where else have I been? I'm actually going to Portugal in October for two weeks. Yeah, that should be fun. When I get back to work, I'm not sure I'll know how to work, but it just, you know, it's like riding a bike. just, you just pick it back up. Yeah. brief reorientation, it's fine. It's fine. Yeah. yep. And then I like to go on little road trips. Like we just went to Wyoming. Before that we went to Seattle for a couple of days. So yeah, just like to travel around. I would love to go to Bali. That's next on my list. Yes. Yes. Perfect. So, why nursing? Harlee, where did that come in to be? So, back when I was eight years old, I had a neighbor. So I moved to my house when I was five, and I was the little girl that I'm sure you can imagine. I would just walk up to a stranger and say, hi, I'm Harlee Miller, I, you know, I liked the color pink, and I love to do this, this, and this, and they're like, okay, you know, where's your parents? Yeah, yeah, and my mom's, know, like, Harlee. stop talking and I'm like, gosh, okay. But I actually, moved in next door to this cute little old couple and they actually never had kids. And he was probably, I think he was like, I don't know, late 60s. And one would think that's weird nowadays, but he was not a weird old man. was like so nice and we had just moved away from my grandparents, which I was at their house every day. So it kind of was like a feel for my grandparents. And My mom got to trust them, got to know them, and he would come pick me up from the bus stop every day, and my mom would get home at like five o 'clock. So he just watched me after school. And we had a matching pair of overalls, and we would do projects in the garage, and do coloring books, and all this stuff. And his name was Buddy. And one day, was seven years old, and I got off the bus stop, and my mom was there to get me. And I was like... what's going on and she's like, well, buddy's sick. He's in the hospital and you know, I'd never had anybody die around me. didn't know anything about that. And so she's like, we're going to go to the hospital and visit buddy. So we went to the hospital and he was like super sick in the house. And at the time I had no idea, like, you know, but he had stage four lung cancer, never smoked a day in his life. Like the most nicest man and he did not deserve any of this, but They think it was probably from when he was in the war. so I just sat at his little bed and I just watched the nurses take care of him. I don't know, like the relationship that the nurses had with Buddy and he was just a nice old man and they were, you know, caring towards him and all this stuff. And I remember looking at him and he's like, Harlee, did you figure out what you want to do with your life? You know, being a seven year old, I probably wanted to, you know, go be in the circus or something crazy. In that moment when he asked me that, I said, I wanna do what these ladies do. I wanna take care of somebody and change somebody's life. so he's like, you should be a nurse. And I'm like, I'm gonna be a nurse, know, seven years old. Yeah, right. yep. I'm already accepted to nursing school. yep, pretty impressive. And so. Then he got into the hospice and he didn't want to die in the hospital so they actually brought him home and he was in his living room in the hospital bed and every day I was over there. mean from right when I woke up, right when I went to bed I was over there helping take care of him and it was my birthday actually and he was like, he couldn't even talk anymore but I was like, you know, crying at his bedside. I'm like... please don't die on my birthday. That would be so horrible. So it actually is so crazy. He passed away at like 12, 10, like on the day after my birthday. Yep, yep. And then after that I was like, you know what? I'm gonna be a nurse. And I got into high school and I took the health science career classes and I was like, maybe I wanna do dental stuff instead. So I kind of went lean towards that a little bit more. And then my stepmom, she actually was a charge nurse over at the Byrne Center in Portland for like 20 years. And she's like, Harlee, think you need to do nursing. Like you said you were gonna do it, I think you need to do it. And I'm like, I don't know, I don't know. And then I went and shadowed her and I was like, all right, you're right, this is what I'm supposed to do. So I actually did running start during high school and I took all the prereqs and then I... went on to wazoo and did a little bit more prerequisites and then I got into nursing school. Yeah, I know. Nobody knows that, I'm usually the jokester, but I actually do have a serious story. Yep, mm -hmm, yep. where does the L&D component come in? So I loved being a CNA. It was awesome. I loved the old people. was like, I actually got in trouble quite a bit. The nurses would call me and like, where are you? And I'm like, I'm chatting with, you know, the guy in 323. And they're like, yeah. I'm like, Gerald needed me to help him with his dentures, okay? But they're like, you need to stop chatting. I'm like, all right, whatever. So I loved being a CNA and Shawna, the manager of the nurse tech program, she's like, Harlee, you need to be a nurse tech, because I got into nursing school. And I'm like, I just, I don't know. I don't want to leave my job. I loved the nurses. I loved the managers. I loved the patients. she's like, Harlee, I'm serious. You got to be a nurse tech. I'm like, nah. Well, I applied. I literally put my application in at like 1150 at night, the day it was due. And she's like, how are they? And I'm like, whatever. So I interviewed, got the job, and she put me on the trauma ortho floor. And it was, again, old people. loved it. But it was a different aspect, because you could do the actual catheter placements and med passes and the nursing aspect of it. And I was like, OK, all right. I kind of like this. And then my next round to be moved. I was like, I need more adrenaline. I need more. And Shawna was like, well, I don't think you'd do good in the emergency department. And I'm like, why not? She's like, I think you'd be taken advantage of. You don't really say no very well. And I agreed. mean, I was like, like, you know, the people who are drug addicts, I'm always like, they can do better. This is their time. They're gonna do great. And then they're, you know, they, you know, but. So she's like, I think you do really well in labor and delivery. And I'm like, all right. mean, yeah, look at her. I loved, like, loved hospice. I love old people. I was like, let's do the other ass, but at the other end of it, you know, like bringing life into the world. Yeah. So I went to labor and delivery. You know, everybody on the other floors got me so scared because they're like, they're so intimidating. They, they, you know, you know, just like your pocket eat, their gum. And I'm like, all right, I can do it. So I went to Leibbrandt Delivery and absolutely fell in love. Just observing how the nurses, typically they're one -on -one, but they can have two patients, they just are so, they care about their patient and they're so, I don't know how to explain it. They basically think of their patient as a family member and they treat their patient how they would want their family to be treated. And I loved that. And they were super like, friendly with the doctors, they didn't get scared to call the doctor, they were like, personable with the doctors and it just was like, okay, I think this is where I'm supposed to be. Yeah, yeah. yeah, and I did my nurse tech there before I did my clinicals in labor and delivery. And it just, to watch like a birth, I know everybody says like, it's so great and awesome. I'm like, this is like. life -changing. This is so wonderful. Like to bring a life and joy into somebody's world. It was so endearing and I just absolutely fell in love. Yeah. I tell my students, like you are literally part of somebody's miracle and they'll never forget you. They may forget your name, they may not, but they will never forget you in that moment because you are in one of the most intense, painful, miraculous moments in this person's life. Yep, and don't get me wrong. I always say my job is 90 -10. There's the awful 10 % that's so horrible and death and little babies don't deserve to die before they live, but it's part of the job and you have to realize that. And my first ever demise actually was a full term demise and it was awful. I mean, it was horrible. And I still talk to that patient to this day. She... She texts me every year that it was that baby's birthday and just thanks me. And like, just is so, it just gives you goosebumps. Like, you can be a part of somebody's great day and you can also be a part of somebody's awful day, but still mean something, like something to them. Yeah, yep. And I actually got to help deliver her rainbow baby, which was so awesome. It was awesome, yes. for those that don't know, a rainbow baby is... It is when a mom loses a baby and then has a baby after that loss. Yeah. I love that we have like, so you you have the baby footprints that we do in black ink, but the rainbow babies, we have rainbow ink. It's just a lovely thing. so I, without, obviously you don't need to get into the details of the whole thing, but if you don't mind just being a little vulnerable, obviously that had to have been very difficult to go through as a nurse. Was that, was that your first demise? Yeah. actually close to my first, like, being off of orientation by myself. Mm -hmm. Yeah. Harlee, how did you navigate that tough moment and time afterwards? It was, I mean, it was difficult. Like when you go into the situation you want to obviously, I mean, you're a human and you have a heart and you're doing this job because you care for people and it's, you're not gonna like not be able to cry. That's just, and I tell my patients that from the beginning. I'm like, I have a huge heart and it's, I always like put my life, put my shoes like how yours are and I'm like, okay, well. If I was in this situation, how would I feel? How would I want to be treated? And I always warn my patients. I'm like, I'm probably going to cry. And I would never outcry the patient, I was like, like, if I need to take a second to step out, I will have somebody come, like, relieve me, you know? And it actually, like, me and that patient cried together, and it was great, and whatever. And then going home that night, I just remember I was like, you try to leave work at the door. right before you get into your house. But with those things, like you just replay it over and over in your head and you're like, okay, how am I going to like sleep tonight? You know what I mean? And honestly, this is gonna sound crazy, but George Strait has always been like, I love George Strait. And so I honestly, when I got off of work, I probably shouldn't have done this because I was dead tired, but. I just drove around and listened to George Strait songs on repeat and just cried a little bit. And then I went and got in the shower at home, cried in the shower. And then I went to bed and that's just how I, that's just how I like, you know, relieved that moment. Yeah. and I think that's amazing because a lot of people look for like the most complicated way of, know, well you need to, you know, well maybe, and maybe you do, maybe you need to get counseling, maybe you need to do this, maybe you need to do that, but sometimes it is as simple as I'm gonna just let it out. You know, Pizonk, that was my motto, I had one motto, and that was this, it was celebrate with those who celebrate, mourn with those who mourn, and let the emotions out. And I figured as long as I did those three things, I could do it indefinitely. Turns out, there's even, you can have all the great support and all the everything and you still reach a limit. But that just like what you're saying, like if you guys run into a difficult situation, whether it's at nursing school or fresh on the job or whatever the case may be, whether it's a patient demise or you made your first med error and you're just beating yourself up about it, whatever it is that you go through. take that moment to reflect. I feel like that is a way, it's not a paper, it's not anything you submitted, it was you getting in the car listening to George Strait and bawling your eyes out. But it's an opportunity to reflect on the moment, what happened, the family, you're role in it, yeah? For sure, yeah, yep. And she actually, it was a crazy thing. I got to discharge her the next day. And I was like, we have these chimes at work and we can ring them saying a baby was born. And I was like, your baby was born. it just still, I mean, the baby still deserves to be celebrated. And so I kind of convinced her, I'm like, we should ring the bells. Like, think that would, not that it's ending the moment or, know. fixing the moment at all, but I'm like, I think it would be good to do. So I wheeled her over to the bells and her mom recorded a video and all this stuff and she posted it on TikTok and she never like asked me, I was just in the video and all I did was like rub her back and say, job mom and you know, and the TikTok ended up getting like 9 million views. I was getting messages from people I went to high school with that moved to Missouri. Is this you in this video? I'm like, holy cow, that is crazy. Yeah. to think that that life was celebrated by nine million people. You know what I mean? that just gets me. Okay, no, no, no. It's too early to cry in this episode. I ain't doing that. Harlee, that's amazing. That's amazing. All right, let's pull it around. Let's pull it around. Let's work backwards, because we're talking about your job. You had just come off orientation. Now you've been there four years almost at the time of this recording. What advice do you have for nursing students, et cetera? What did it look like for you to get that job, to obtain that job, interview? And any advice you have as far as navigating the waters of a new job? I would definitely say if you have the opportunity, do nurse teching. That was probably my number one biggest advice. I wasn't gonna take it, but I am so thankful that I did because it truly got me my job. The floors that you can be a nurse tech on, it's basically like a working interview. I mean, you show what you can do, you get to know the nurses, you get to be helpful, you get to... learn and absorb so much information. And the more stuff that you learn during that, the less like stuff you basically have to learn during your orientation, which you know the unit, you know the people, you basically just have to learn how to chart as a nurse. And honestly, when I did my nurse teching in labor and delivery, it was during summer. So I was like, this is where I want to be. And so I'm gonna do full -time nurse teching during the summer. I worked three 12s every week, just like a nurse would. And I basically devoted myself to kind of be like a, in lack of better terms, like a kiss. I don't want to say the bad word, but you know what I'm gonna say. There you go. Yeah, yeah. And I'm like, I'm totally gonna just. suck up to all these nurses, know, do whatever. I don't care. Like if I have to clean blood off of the floor, I'm gonna do it because I wanna work on this floor. You know what I mean? And it, I mean, it paid off in the long run. I, in October, I got my practicum there. So I got to do my practicum and I loved my practicum instructor. We are preceptor. We did, I was on nights, but. during my practicum, the manager was like, hey, I've been hearing from all these nurses, like if I don't hire you, they're gonna send a death note out to, you know, get me. And I'm like, perfect, it works. I'm like, whatever I did, it worked. And so I actually got hired in October and I didn't graduate until December. So it was so nice to graduate and not have the stress of having to find a job. or having to be on a unit that I didn't know or having to meet new people, which I still love to do, but I'm like, it takes a lot of stress away. so honestly, biggest advice is if you can be a nurse tech. Yes, yep. mean, conversely, that is also like if you aren't putting forth 100 % of your effort on that job, they're gonna see that as well. And so, yeah, I mean, like just to have that, it's basically that entire nurse tech experience for you is your interview, right? That's what I'm feeling. it is, yeah. And if you don't prove yourself, the manager's like, eh. And while I was a nurse tech, I did make a couple errors, things that as a nurse, if you made, I'm sure would probably have more repercussions, but that's what humbles you and makes you learn and you're not gonna do those things again. So, yeah. Yeah, yeah. And that's awesome to be able to do that in a safer environment than having to experience that for the first time under your own license as a nurse, trying to impress people. I mean, not impress, but you know what I mean. Like you just don't want to make any enemies very early on in your career, that's for sure. So then dialing it back to nursing school then, you know, you've got this career, you've loved it. Now before that, you come to Wazoo. and you knew you wanted to be a nurse right away. So you do wazoo for the first two years and then spoken campus for the nursing school portion of it. Yes. Okay. And so when you get into nursing school, I mean, you seem like and sounds like from a very early age have been a very outgoing individual, very extroverted, very not afraid to talk to people. So coming into nursing school, what did you love most about nursing school? How did you make that adjustment? Well, nursing school was a beast in itself. mean, I didn't get in my first time, or I didn't even get an interview the first time. I applied for nursing school and I had a 3 .6 GPA. I mean, I had volunteered at Kindred Hospice. I did all the things I was supposed to do. I did everything right, except to get a B plus in statistics. I didn't get an interview the first time and I was like, Great, like what am I to do now? So I retook two classes that I got in A - and I just retook them over the summer online and they said getting your CNA license would help. So I did that and then I patiently waited for an email saying that I got an interview for nursing school which I thank goodness did. Because I was like all I need is the interview. I could totally sweet talk them, I could beg, I'm like I just need to get into nursing school. Get me in the door. Yes, and so I got an interview the second time. And so I went in there, I brought like a huge portfolio, which they didn't even look at, but you know what? It's fine. So got into nursing school and my whole entire life changed. It was school, school, school, no personal life. I totally devoted myself to school. I lived over in Cheney because I had friends that were going to Eastern and I didn't know anybody that was going to Spokane because my cohort that I was with when I was applying to nursing school the first time, most of my friends had gotten in the first time and I didn't. So I didn't know anybody and I'm like, great, I have to start this whole program. I know not a single soul and I need a study buddy. You know what I mean? So I... Went there the first day and I met this group of friends and they just seemed like they knew what they were doing and I was like, these seem like the type of people I wanna hang out with. So I instantly became friends with them, formed a study group and I seriously for two years devoted my life to school, school, school and all my friends were like, what are you doing? Like, let's go to this party tonight. I'm like, I can't, I gotta study. Which honestly, Those two years seemed like the longest time of my life, but now looking back, I'm like, I wouldn't have done anything different. Those two years went by so quick, and the fact that it has got me where I am now, I'm like, look at what I get to do now. I get to make good money, I get to take care of people for a living, and I get to play a lot. yeah. Yep, yep. Yeah. I mean, there's the old, and it's kind of cliche, but there's the old saying that the days are long, but the years are short. Usually that's in describing parenthood, right? Like you're talking about, man, in those moments, you're like, in nursing school, it feels like it will never ever end. And then it does, and then you're there. You're just, boom, it's done. And you're like, wow. And you look back on it, like now, like what you're doing. Four years later going, It was the quickest two years of my life, but probably didn't feel that way while you were in it, yeah? Awesome. What other good memories do you have from nursing school? What helped get you through nursing school? I definitely would say I had a lot of people, a lot of support getting me through nursing school. would say definitely make friends right off the get -go. Friends that you know are going to help you through school. It was kind of odd because my last semester was when COVID hit and so it all became online and that was like very hard to navigate because I'm definitely an in -person learner. And granted it was like a semester where half of it was your practicum, so it really honestly was fine. But I would say definitely get your core group, your core group, even if that's just one person. Like get somebody that you know you can study with and learn from. And when you don't understand something, figure it out before you get down the rabbit hole of, crap, I don't know, I don't know what to do now. Like if you don't know something, it's okay to not know it. go in to the TA's office or the professor's and just ask for help. Understand it because in pre -reqs, you could remember it, take the test, and then forget it. In nursing school, you can't do that. You can't just be like, this is how the heart works, and then, I'm gonna forget it, and then go take care of a patient. It doesn't work like that. People's lives are in your hands. can't just... Learn it, forget it, it doesn't work like that. I mean, you gotta know it. Yep. Yeah. Any particular challenges that you faced either in nursing school or in life in general, and if so, how did you overcome those challenges? I would definitely say like I put myself through school through scholarships and that was difficult in of itself, but I was the girl who I had to mean I had to work during nursing school the first day you get into orientation at nursing school they say you don't work don't work at all like devote yourself to nursing school and I'm like, okay That's not realistic for me. Like I don't have I mean, I obviously have family support and all that but I'm like they can't like, you know, front my rent. So I was like, crap, I gotta figure out way to pay for my rent still and, you know, spend$20 at the grocery store a week. Mm -hmm, mm -hmm. Definitely, that was hard because I was a full -time CNA before I got into nursing school. And so I had to talk to my managers there and I'm like, I still need this job, but I have to go to nursing school and that's Monday, know, Monday through Sunday type of deal. But obviously you don't go to school Saturday and Sunday. So I would go to school and do all that stuff in clinicals Monday through Friday. And then I would work two 12 hour shifts Saturday, Sunday. And then, still have to go home and study right after working two 12 hour shifts. But that was definitely a struggle. I would say if you can't, if you don't need to work, don't do it. But if you do have to work, then being in a healthcare situation definitely helps just because of the fact that it's still in the world that you're trying to learn. Yeah. besides copious amounts of coffee. How do you, there it is ladies and gentlemen. Harlee's greatest secret. This energy is all natural. There is nothing. That is some pretty dang good water. So, how do you navigate a schedule like that? Like how do you stay motivated? There's enough, I know there's a lot of students that hear you say that and go. I can't even imagine adding, you know what I mean, like another hour or two, let alone two shifts of work. How did you, what would you say to that student? I would again say it's a short two years. seems like forever, it seems like you are just, you know, I was constantly sick. My immune system sucked. was constantly like, you know, sneezing and sick, but I just, you have to do it. You gotta just do it. And it's a short, it's a short two years. Yeah, increased pain over a shorter period of time. Yeah, you do what you gotta do. Any opportunity in nursing school or in your career early on or whatever the case may be, any time in your life that you have witnessed or been a part of that eating are young phenomena. would definitely say when I first got onto the floor as a nurse tech, the older nurses definitely sometimes treated me that way until you prove yourself, which again shouldn't be a thing. Everybody has to learn, everybody has to start somewhere and by scaring somebody and basically throwing them to the wolves isn't gonna... isn't going to help anybody in any situation. I would say that our unit kind of had that persona for a little bit just because we had a lot of older nurses. But with like management changes and honestly like turnover, I feel like our unit does a pretty good job now to like, you know, not eat our young. We accept our young with open arms and we're like, yay, we can teach you. how we want you to be taught. Yeah. Yeah. And that's what it takes. It takes people like you. It takes people like me. It takes everyone working together to say, just because we went through it doesn't mean you need to go through it or whatever the case may be. Like, I feel like that's part of why that exists. Yeah. Is, you know, that whole, mean, there was someone just a couple months ago that was like from one of our sides will remain in the birthplace. And they were like, no.-hmm. Yeah. No! Change it! Yeah. Yeah. Mm -hmm. man. Well, Harlee, man, I could talk to you for freaking ever. As you know, both of us are neither neither of us are shy when it comes to chatting. So that being said, before we wrap things up in our traditional manner. Is there anything, this is your moment, your time, whether it's to other nurses, other nursing students, what are the things, what would you want to make sure that they know having listened to your episode? Just know that sticking with something that you're super passionate about pays off and you just gotta do it. mean, as crappy and, you know, the S word as it is, you just gotta do it and it seriously pays off. would not change anything. Looking back, I would not change a thing. Like I now live a life that like... I go to the grocery store and I can buy whatever cheese I want to buy and not care. And that's the life that you want to live. And you get to go home every day and know that you changed somebody's life. That's also great too. Yeah. Under the cheese. Yeah. That's always my thing. Why do guys, why do you love being a nurse? I'm like, I can buy whatever cheese I want at the grocery store. There is, there's those, I mean, I don't want to be a cheese, there's not a lot of things I try to be a snob about, but cheese is one of them. For me, it's Tillamook. It has to be Tillamook. And I just, I don't, no, I don't do anything other than that. That's all there is to it. my goodness, first world problems, I know. Awesome. So wrapping things up, you chose three words to describe nursing school. You chose difficult, rewarding, and life -changing. Obviously you've touched on each of those three, but if you can expound on why you chose those three words to describe nursing school. Life changing just in the fact of, I mean, you're starting your life. You get to start on the career that you chose to take. I mean, life changing for me as in I've met so many amazing, wonderful people. I have made best friends. I've made work moms. I have about 50 of them. Whether that's wanted or not sometimes. I have like, experiences that I'll never forget. And whether I stick with labor and delivery forever, or I choose a different path, it's just awesome to know that you have made a difference in somebody's life. As well as your own. I mean, you're doing this for yourself too, right? Like you get to have this awesome job, and then you get to also have an awesome life. You get to go home to your kids, you get to go home, whether that be to your significant other, whatever it is. I would definitely say difficult just in the fact of, I mean, anything that's hard is rewarding. you have to go through the hard times and the hard stuff in order for it to pay off. Like, it's not gonna be easy. Anything that's easy is probably not great. So, you just gotta work hard and do it, and if this is what you wanna do, then do it. Just do it. Just do it. Nope, nope, no branding here. Just do it. Yes, and then I think that's about, I mean, yeah, rewarding just because you get to be a part of somebody else's life. Yeah. yeah. there's, mean, that just that simple sentence right there. You get to be a part of somebody's life, period. And in some of the more difficult times, like you talked about, some of the more high, you know, the high points of their life. But the point is you in in a timeline of someone's zero to whatever, 90 years of life. Here's this little moment where you get 12 hours with them, 24 hours with them, and and you get to interact with them and carry a piece of them with you and leave a piece of you with them. Mm and it's just, there's nothing like it. Nothing like it at all. Alright, so, I mean, I kind of touched on this, and maybe you just want to repeat what you said, or maybe something else comes to mind. What is going on in the background? I'm not too sure. I think it's Lindsey doing some bowl cleaning. Lindsey, welcome to the podcast. We're so glad you're here. She's making sourdough! He goes, what is going on in the background? I was like, wait a second, what is, it was like this rhythmic like pounding. I'm like, is someone at your door and mad? I don't understand what's going on. This is so awesome. This is, we're going to leave that in the episode. That's hilarious. I love it. We have Lindsey and we actually didn't have Lindsey's dog. What was Lindsey's dog's name again for everybody? Harriet. So Harriet didn't say hi. She said hi leading up to our initial recording and not once while you were talking. What a respectful dog. really tired. She's had a long day on the boat. It's rough. It's a ruff life. pun intended. anyway, so you may want to repeat something you already said, maybe not. But if, if nobody, if somebody just tuned out from minute zero till now, and they are just now listening, and they get to walk away with just one thing, if there was only one thing you wanted people to know in your episode, what would it be? Do the dang thing. There it is. Do the dang thing. Do it, just do nursing. You'll love it. You'll probably hate it during nursing school, but you'll love it in the end, I promise. Yes, yes, and yes. Harlee, thank you so much, cuz. I'm so glad that I got to sit down with you. Thank you for taking time out of your lovely Sunday to come inside and chew the fat with somebody. So, awesome. You have a... My honor, you have a great rest of your day, Bye. Okay, we'll talk to you later. Okay, bye.