Jacqueline Vance, RN

OK, I’ll admit it. I am a huge fan of the AMC show, “The Walking Dead,” which incidentally had a blockbuster Season 5 premier Sunday. It’s really bizarre because I am a big weenie when it comes to scary movies.  I can’t even watch the previews for a horror movie on TV without hiding under a blanket.

But something about this show pulled me right in. Maybe it’s the intensity of character development, maybe the award winning acting, maybe the amazing make-up (yes, I would totally be a zombie extra if given the chance). But whatever it is, I’m mesmerized.

But what I am not a huge fan of is the “Walking Half-Dead” stumbling around our facilities. You know whom I’m speaking of. Those employees, consultants and even practitioners who think they are somewhat invincible and can work back-to-back shifts or 80-hour weeks and still think they are invulnerable, leaving the rest of us to pick up after their inevitable sleep deprived mistakes.

So let me lay this down, Nurse Jackie style. Zombies are not real. No one can be a “living” walking dead. Humans need sleep, down time, rest and life balance or they make mistakes.

In healthcare, to ignore this can be very costly! (As in costing human lives, just without the brain eating!)

So, with Halloween approaching and Día de los Muertos around the corner, go ahead and dress up and play a dead person, or honor one.  Just don’t stagger around “brainless” like an accident waiting to happen. That’s a real potential horror story! (Don’t make me hide under my blanket!)

Just keeping it real,

Nurse Jackie

The Real Nurse Jackie is written by Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC, a 2012 APEX Award of Excellence winner for Blog Writing. Vance is a real life long-term care nurse. A nationally respected nurse educator and past national LTC Nurse Administrator of the Year, she also is an accomplished stand-up comedienne. She has not starred in her own national television series — yet. The opinions supplied here are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of her employer or her professional affiliates.