Flu Prevention for All!
Posted January 25th, 2018
Karen Arnold-Korzeniowski, BSN, RN
Flu season is here. It comes every year and it can be a challenge for professionals to predict how widespread the flu will be each year, or how well the vaccine will work for those who receive it. However, one thing never changes. There are ways that you can prevent the flu from spreading. Get […]
Emotions: A Side Effect of Cancer
Posted January 12th, 2018
Karen Arnold-Korzeniowski, BSN, RN
A few weeks ago, former vice president Joe Biden was on The View. During his interview he spoke with Meghan McCain, whose father, Senator John McCain, is currently battling a glioblastoma diagnosis. Joe Biden’s son died of a glioblastoma. She began to speak about her father and began to cry. As Meghan apologized for becoming […]
Celebrating The Holidays From A Hospital Bed
Posted December 7th, 2017
Karen Arnold-Korzeniowski, BSN, RN
During my years working as a floor nurse, I spent a fair share of my holidays working. The holidays are a time for bringing family and friends together to celebrate the season. You may think this is not possible from a hospital bed but with a little bit of help, I promise you its possible. […]
Self-Preservation
Posted November 30th, 2017
Karen Arnold-Korzeniowski, BSN, RN
In my adult life I have spent time as a nurse, a patient, and as a caregiver of a family member, or all three at once. I’ve come to learn that self-preservation can be useful in all three situations. Self-preservation, according to Merriam-Webster, is “preservation of oneself from destruction or harm.” This definition might sound […]
The Great American Smokeout
Posted November 16th, 2017
Karen Arnold-Korzeniowski, BSN, RN
On the third Thursday of November each year, the American Cancer Society hosts The Great American Smokeout. This event encourages smokers to use this day as a jumping off point to quit smoking and tobacco use. Tobacco use is the “single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world.” (cancer.org) Keep in […]
National Hospice and Palliative Care Month
Posted November 13th, 2017
Karen Arnold-Korzeniowski, BSN, RN
November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. The theme this year is “It’s about how you live.” A primary goal of palliative and hospice care is to help a patient be comfortable and more able to enjoy life. I think there tends to be a negative impression of hospice and palliative care so I’m […]
Reflections Of A “Retired” Floor Nurse
Posted October 20th, 2017
Karen Arnold-Korzeniowski, BSN, RN
More recently, I have been reflecting on my time spent as a floor nurse. I know that on many levels I needed a break from the highly intense job that I was in, but I wouldn’t change my first experience as a nurse for anything. Those eight years both taught and reinforced invaluable life lessons. […]
A Sea of Pink
Posted October 5th, 2017
Karen Arnold-Korzeniowski, BSN, RN
The month of October is a sea of pink. This sea of pink can bring about anxiety amongst those with a history of breast cancer, those being treated, those with a family history, survivors living with metastatic cancer, and so on. In an attempt to allay some of that anxiety, here are some facts about […]
Use the Good Lip Balm
Posted September 21st, 2017
Karen Arnold-Korzeniowski, BSN, RN
A few months ago a family member was diagnosed with incurable, but treatable cancer. She was hospitalized when she was diagnosed and stayed in the hospital while starting her treatment. Every imaging test she had showed more metastasis, and the bad news didn’t seem to end for about 5 days straight. It was very challenging […]
Are you breaking up with me?
Posted August 1st, 2017
Karen Arnold-Korzeniowski, BSN, RN
While receiving cancer treatment as an outpatient, you are often spending much of your time at appointments, getting tests and scans and receiving treatment. You will be spending your days with physicians (medical specialists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, etc), physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, assistants, techs, social workers, counselors, and the list can go on and […]