SOAP note Titus 2:3-4

After spending my day in hospital orientation discussing SOAP notes with younger nurses, I became inspired to do a twist on a SOAP note for my weekly Bible verse. I am finding that I am not very good with taking the time to hide God's Word in my heart on my own as an adult. I do work with my kids to memorize their scriptures for their Sabbath school classes, but for myself, well, I'm embarrassed to admit that I can't remember when's the last time I worked to commit a Scripture to memory. I have quiet time in the morning and read a devotional book for soccer moms, but I have to again admit that by the time lunch rolls around, I might not remember what scripture I read that morning. Lately, I've also been taking a little while on Monday nights to plan for the week - meals, kids' activities, chores. I've also been enjoying some extra devotional time with A Woman's Walk from Crosswalk. This allows me to take one Scripture and really spend the week chewing on it.

This week's SOAP note:

(S) Scripture: "Likewise, teach the elder women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love..." Titus 2:3-4

(O) Observation: In my own life, I see that I am in many different positions to influence people that I am in charge of. Whether it be my children or my co-workers, my interactions with others need to be reflecting of Jesus's love, not my own sinful nature.

(A) Application: As a nurse, I work in a field that is mostly women. It is highly competitive and very much like high school at times. It is often said that nurses, "eat their young" because nurses tend to have little tolerance for younger, inexperienced nurses. I witnessed that first hand today at hospital orientation. An 18 year old Certified Nurses Assistant was sitting at my table (along with 8 other health care professionals). We were served lunch and she didn't eat her chicken. As we were all talking about the food, someone remarked that she hadn't touched her chicken and she remarked back that she was daddy's little girl and he still cuts her meat for her, so she wasn't sure how to cut it. Her immaturity came through many times this morning on many different occasions, and I could tell that the moment she spoke, she often times regretted what she had to say. (How many of us haven't been there?). I could also tell that many of the other seasoned nurses were getting a little tired of the constant interrupting or our young CNA. About halfway through the day, I ended up taking the young lady under my wing and making sure she knew who her nurse manager is, and if she had directions to her branch of the hospital. Turns out she just moved here from New York and is in an unstable relationship with her boyfriend and is hoping to start nursing school soon. I was able to tell her about the college affiliated with the hospital and hopefully give her some much-needed guidance. When I think back to when I was a Nurse Tech and going to school, I would have loved for someone to take me under their wing. One of the things I am really hoping for with my new position is to find a mentor that can help guide my career over the next few years. I'm also hoping that my position in Administration can help me to be a mentor and positively influence potentially great nurses that might otherwise give up and run away because of the back-biting and gossip that so often accompanies women-dominated fields.

(P) Prayer: Lord, you know where best to use me. Please help me to be reverent in the way that I live. Help me to walk away from the gossip, not in an accusatory manor, but in a way that my behavior might help others to seek Your way. Amen

On another note, my new friend, Rachel, has inspired me. I'm off to go underline this scripture and make a quick note in my Bible.