Posted Tuesday, October 23, 2007 by Mark Krupinski
 Tis the season for goblins and ghosts, I am moved to write about nurse’s experiences with spirits! So many nurses have had experiences that it does make you believe…….
There is a lot of literature regarding near death experiences and of spirits. I would like to share stories I have heard over the years and of course some of my own.
My first experience with a spirit was when I worked nights in a Long Term Care unit. I was an LPN at the time and worked closely with the assistant. We both loved horror movies and enjoyed discussing our favorite scenes. As we were doing rounds, we noticed that the wet linen dangling over the cart side began to sway back and forth. At one point it stopped, then started on its own again! Later that morning a resident died. Was someone waiting and in the mean time having a little fun?
Another situation that I experienced was while working with a client in ICU. He was quite sick and very weak. All of a sudden he sat up and began talking to the end of his bed. I asked the client who he was talking too and he replied, “My Mom, Dad, and Brother Bruce, can’t you see them waiting for me?” One hour later the client coded and died.
As a float nurse, I worked on a very busy night on a surgical floor. The client I was caring for was very ill. He had 5 solutions running in and needed 2 IV pumps with standards. The alarms of one of the pumps kept sounding. After trouble shooting the pump without success, I went to exchange the pump. I programmed the new pump and after hitting start, it did not take long for the alarm to sound again! At this point my patience was running out so I said out loud “I really don’t have time for this.” The pump alarm sounded no more!
I would like to share one more of the many stories I have heard over the years. While working in the ER one quiet night, the staff were all sharing ghostly experiences. One of my favorite nurses shared that after an unsuccessful code she had a very ghostly experience. As she cleaned and prepared the body for family viewing, she saw a white, faint, glow rise from the body then dissipated.
Do spirits come to greet their loved ones? I love the thought!
So on a fall cool evening, during a full moon, have a get together and discuss your ghost stories!
From Co-Author:
Pam Stellmach
St. Cloud Campus
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Posted Wednesday, October 03, 2007 by Mark Krupinski
 In my position I often perform several interviews per week. I have been told that my interviewing techniques are often a bit unorthodox. I guess this is true since I tend not to ask typical interview questions found in “How to Interview” texts. My goal in any interview or dialog with a perfect stranger is to determine if my conversation buddy is passionate about life. Do they show enthusiasm about any particular subject? Do they cry when they see the ocean and feel the sand? Do they scream when their team makes a touch down and spill their beer on the person sitting next to them? Do they wax the paint off the ‘55 Chevy?
It is amazing to me that a person can advance through life and never really develop a love or passion for any one given event or thing. I often hear the response that my kids are my passion or that I work so much that I suppose work is my passion. While both of these are deemed acceptable responses I like to dig bit deeper to see what really makes a person tick!
Take a moment to reflect. What is the one thing that you enjoy doing? What would you consider your one passion? What gives you great joy?
My father loves to restore furniture. He is extremely slow and will work on one piece for months or years because the item must be restored to perfection. He will spend hours carving out of wood a missing piece on an old chair until it perfectly matches the original. Nothing delights him more than to gaze at a completed restoration and to hear the compliments from those that viewed the original broken and ugly, old discarded relic as a piece of junk. They will often pay a great deal of money for the restored and now cherished antique.
My mother loves to paint. She is extremely talented with both oils and watercolors. She spends hours at a time sitting or standing in front of an easel creating a work of art. In the beginning, it is simply canvas and paint. In the end, it is a painting deemed a work of art.
Not long ago I was performing a couple of interviews and had a new manager observing the process. The first candidate was so boring she nearly put herself to sleep. No matter how determined I was, I simply could not discover her passion. I knew after a few moments of conversation that our customers would not appreciate us choosing her to help develop their future careers. The second candidate entered the room with a bounce in her step and a smile that was contagious. We were immediately drawn into a conversation about baking pastries and owning a restaurant. What a delight she was! The observing manager remarked that she realized after meeting the second candidate what was missing with the first. The first candidate has not discovered her passion.
It is extremely important to exhibit your collection of skills as well as your accomplishments in education. But even more importantly, you must expound on your passions. Show the person performing the interview that you are human. You laugh, cry, work hard and you are passionate about life. In a world were competition is high for the perfect job, one must exude determination and a passion for being the best. I often ask the question, “is it important to you to be the best or the best that you can be?’ 90% of the candidates will respond that it is important to be “the best that you can be.” How does a company determine “the best that they can be?” That is a copout! No one can measure “the best that you can be.” However you quickly know who the best is. They win medals in the Olympics and trophies at the races and promotions in the workplace and people by their furniture and paintings.
People are watching you.
What's your passion? Let it show!!
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Posted Tuesday, August 28, 2007 by Mark Krupinski
 It seems everyone I meet lately is on a diet or is talking about the need to lose weight. Oddly enough these conversations usually occur while we are eating! A few evenings ago I listened to a nutritionist refer to the old cliché that “birds of a feather, flock together.” In other words, full-figured people are friends with other full-figured people. Maybe we should start an FFP Society. The only requirement to join would be that you bring a southern casserole or your grandmother’s favorite cake!
While I believe we should aspire to be a healthier nation, I am often amused by the numerous gimmicks and fad-diets. It really is quite simple! If you do not want to be a member of the FFP Society, Watch what you put in your mouth and get up off of the sofa. While I know personally that this is easier said than done, I also know that fad diets do not work and are often unhealthy.
For years physicians have placed diabetics on calorie counting regimens and have encouraged cardio strengthening. Reducing your caloric intake to 1,500 calories per day and participating in an exercise that increases your heart-rate above 100 bpm for 45 minutes four times per week will surly get you kicked out of the FFP Society.
I really love the FFP Society and have many friends and a partner that join me there often. But if I continue eating as I do, I will be forced to buy new clothes. So ladies and gentlemen starting today I am reducing my intake and stepping high on the streets in the neighborhood. Fellow society members I welcome you to join me. I will keep you posted on my progress.
Calories are the building blocks of weight control — burn 3,500 more calories than you take in, and you'll lose 1 pound. Get the scoop on all things caloric, and learn how to choose the right foods for your weight loss goals here.
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