By Lexy Vreeland Well, we made it to 2021. I think if we learned anything in this last year it’s perseverance. Life has a way of testing us. Just when things seem to hard or impossible, we find a way to overcome and grow. To me perseverance is the ability keep moving forward, even when times get tough. I believe personal growth occurs during tough times and times of adversity. The path to my goals has not always been easy, but I persevered. Goal setting becomes very important during times of hardship — it’s the cliché “light at the end of […]

By Lexy Vreeland Stress levels are at an all-time high in 2020, because, well … it’s 2020! In addition to the environmental stressors that are out there, we also face our own personal struggles and stressors. I am currently transitioning from being an ICU nurse to an emergency room behavioral health nurse while also studying in the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program. I am so excited about my new position and being a graduate student, but man, can it get stressful. I manage this stress through exercise and dedicating time to being active. A healthy way to lose the stress and find clarity I have learned that taking care of my mental health improves […]

By Lexy Vreeland A “why” serves as a beacon of light, guiding you toward your dreams and success. Establishing your why will help guide you through difficult times. My why stems from my childhood. I always admired my mother (who is also a nurse) and her passion for the nursing profession. The care she showed for her patients was contagious, and I never considered another profession. I knew that nursing was my calling. What I didn’t know as I was completing my undergraduate program was my love for psychology. I grew up helping my parents care for my autistic brother, […]