Otherwise shared with my students as the “Bloomin’ Onion” theory of self-care advocacy and health care reform…one may need to visit an Outback Steakhouse, and get the visual…and one might as well enjoy..the spicy sauce…my weakness.

So here it is, the beginning of the “bloomin onion”, first section…for those that prefer science, less metaphorical…the Critical Connection Paradigm, introduction- as expressed by the Quantum Nursologist.

Finishing touches of the Graphic Design of “the BIG Picture”

Hi, all…

While it can be a daunting task, (and Quantum Leap) to pull together all the aspects of “Pathophysiology made incredibly easy” using the Quantum Nursology approach, we will press on with the knowledge we need to fast forward the tape to the end.

What is unfolding before us, is an opportunity to grasp some very complex concepts, and apply it to the clinical scenario’s (the presentation to our client populations) and then plan the “patient/client- centred “quality of life defined” care plan that we wish to achieve”.

Incorporating the Nursing Process, is helpful, just that when you determine a “nursing diagnosis” ask yourself, “was this designed or defined, by or for the patient?”

Moving on to the interventions…again, what gets written down…is it coming from a “standardized care plan”, a textbook, and internet site…or was it a collaborative “creation” from critical thinking and client input…(lots of subjective data, clients story, perception…or that of the family. To think in terms of “whole Person health” we must include the families input and the family profile…this is why you are doing the “geno-grams…and “eco-maps”, if you have started that yet.

When you get to the part where you incorporate the “Family”, you are then ready to explore the BIG “B”

Under the B- blood disorders may be big,…but the biggest of all are

Behavioural Consequences…aka Bad Habits, aka Bad Lifestyle choices

Think about this for a bit and reflect what are some of these Lifestyle Choices and what are the consequences

For example, what are the potential consequences of smoking…the triad of BIG “C”
Cancer, COPD, and Cardio/Cerebro-vascular Disease (peripheral vascular disease is big also especially in the presence of Diabetes. Smoking with Diabetes…”the prolonged suicide”

Now, begin to pull in the ABC’s and D…

Under the A- Anemia, Atrial Fib, Arrythmias, Asthma, etc, with the BIG A-
Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)- Angina, Chest pain, and Acute Myocardial Infarction –Heart Attack

Will you come across some one with BIG ABCD- you just this week have.
Take the Lifestyle Factor-the Bad Habits- little or no exercise, poor eating habits (high animal fat diet, poutine anyone?, with BURGER AND BEER)
ADD smoking, lots of poor choices of how to manage stress (self-medicating with MORE BEER….more than one glass of wine…prescription meds and/or street drugs)
Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Frustration, Hatred, “angst”…all very unhealthy for us it turns out.

Add Sleep Deprivation…and/or Sleep Apnea- not good.

No one wants Cancer, should never wish it on your enemy ( again, should we choose to have enemies?)
Cancer is with us and in us…if you were not aware…it does not come as a constituent of cigarette smoke…the constituents in smoke…”trigger” the promotion of Cancerous potentiated cells…yes these were not foreign cells, they were with us and changed and multiplied, often by exposure unknown, but MOST OFTEN as a consequence of Behaviour or Choice, within that Lifestyle Factor category (Nutrition is much bigger than we every imaged…Ecological/Environmental/Chemical consequences are bigger than we thought, also.

So we can’t live in a bubble…but, while the “Boy in the Bubble” brought attention to, it has so much to do with a healthy Immune system, yes? (Strong suggestion, begin now your sturdy of Psychoneuroimmunology…and the impacts of stress..on glandular function- psychoneuroendocrinology- on metabolism ( appreciate the role in Metabolic Syndrome)

So where do we get this healthy immune system…start with never getting angry, choose not to make enemies, express Love, at all times…even in face of threat, discrimination or unfair treatment….Get Quality Sleep…choose Quality food choices…lots of fruits and vegetable (pure water content foods)- cut back on the “Junk Food” and “junk animal sourced products”- why do we eat cheese- cause we love cheese- or the food guide promotes the “calcium rich foods of the “dairy group” above all other calcium rich foods- and again cause we love cheese (Pizza, Kraft dinner, Poutine, and Mozzarella sticks (either in the take along pack or on pub night “deep fried Mozzarella,….mmmmm)

So did I just name the 4 food groups for many a University student…oh that would be stereotyping, should not do that…making false assumptions…not socially responsible.

Okay then, what have we learned here…hopefully about Lifestlye related consequences and the HUGE potential impact of Health Promotion Education…BIG, big role for the Nurse, regardless of setting. To expand the role of the nurse in Case Management, Nurse Practitioner…or any other Advanced Practice Role not yet named or titled…we all would benefit personally from diving deeper into Health promotion and disease/illness and/or injury prevention. Obesity on the dramatic rise in children should be alarming and should be a “call to action”…there is a HUGE need for health promotion within schools and families.

There is much bigger role for nursing in Mental Health and Mental Health Settings, inclusive of Children’s Mental health, Addiction Centres, and with the impoverished and/or homeless. Homelessness is a Health Problem, Use or Abuse of Drugs/and
Or Alcohol…is a Health Problem…in need of Health Promotion Specialists of Nursing Orientation.

To be “the Best Nurse Possible”, which we all should aspire to be…we must enact our own ways of living and how we approach the solutions to these “Critical Connections”, what is the manifestation of Quantum Nursology.

Begin with preparatory work on, “Zen and the Art of Nursing”…see in the pages section as to what this is defined as, what it is all about…and how it will bring substantive change to you, and your perception of “Role of the Nurse”.

To capture the “essence of zen” and blend/integrate or Fuse (much like the essence of Yoga -union), with the “essence of Nursing” which some have described as “caring”…it will be helpful to conceptualize what was offered up in eastern thought, in particular, the Tao. Rather than expand (and try as I might to explain the Tao, to you or the rest of the world, I cannot claim such a feat is possible, especially back to a Taoist Monk)…I offer my fusion/yoga conceptualization…the orange grove.

If you pause for a moment the “potential essence” of the orange grove. Brings life, abundant life, in the form of more oranges if seeds planted, from but one orange…imagine planting and harvesting successfully the seeds of just one orange tree over it’s lifetime…and then take this to represent the prevention of ill health for all those that each an orange each day of their lifetime. (more than just the Anti-oxidant effect of Vitamin C in citrus fruits)…and the fibre of the ‘whole orange-minus the peel the fibre is disease preventing also- and why I say, eat- rather than drink just the juice.

Back to appreciation of the “life” potential of each orange…it is the life potential within each seed that is so profound…from just one seed, lies the dormant potential of yet, another orange grove…and it’s unlimited potential…for infinity and beyond.

Just as it could never be correct in saying that today there are 6.5 billion people on this planet, because as I write this, hundreds more are born, thousands more conceived, with the potential to conceive millions and billions more.

You alone…have vast potential to conceive of ideas, concepts and innovative approaches to make change in your life, in your chosen profession and of greatest purpose, potential to impact in positive ways the lives (and deaths) of others.

BE aware, BE prepared, BE the change you wish to see in the world.

Dave