nursingforsocialjustice

Turning 40 is around the corner and so, I am deeply reflecting on where I am in life. Is this a mid-life crisis? Maybe. These are decisions that I made in my life: 1) birth 4 kids in 5 years 2) Live in the Lower Mainland BC 3) Start a…

History books are great. Have you ever wondered how the hospital system started in North America? Well look no more. The book The Care of Strangers by Charles E. Rosenberg explains it. The 19th century was a wild ride of Centralization of hospitals, professionalization of medicine, and physicians firmly embedding…

Waiting for a break in the waves to get back to the shore. When does this feeling of not feeling like I’m doing enough end? It’s an internal struggle. Hopefully? Maybe I should CBT it. Love, Michelle D. P.s. check out that giant pumpkin! What a marvel of nature.

The seasons, they are changing. Another school year has started. Another month to question my life choice and ask, what are my internal and external means of validation? What is a PhD anyway? Is is just another 4-7 years of school? Is it a way to make a contribution to…

Writing this blog is an exercise in reflexivity. One time I attended a workshop and the attitude of the presenter towards human beings left a lasting impression on me. The presenter approached every human they met with respect. It did not have to be earned. They did not have to…

Sometimes it seems like communities of healthcare practice are so far away from each other. There’s an important conversation happening right now about safe supply, decriminalization and legalization of currently illicit substances. It’s important to nurses (all nurses, but especially nurses who work on mental health and substance use specific…

We aren’t in this alone. Don’t forget that. Doing the right thing is complex. So many things are not quick decisions. Sometimes I feel emotionally crushed by the constant realization that I’m caught up in the capitalist machine and a seemingly unending desire to accumulate more (money, things, happiness, love,…

Is it possible to work together and collaborate instead of competing? Like, as a central value framework? We work harder to be better than others. Or, do we work harder to make the world better for others? When I have a lot on my metaphorical plate the way I cope…

Have you ever made a vision-board? I haven’t but I think it’s kind of an interesting idea to sit down and brainstorm a personal vision, visually construct it and use it to focus one’s life. Is it novel to think that individuals can benefit from creating a tangible mission, vision…

Yesterday I took my oldest child on a practice walk to her new middle school. She asked me about how my school was going. I said to her, “one day when you are grown up you will look back at this time and talk about when your mom and dad…