My Nursing Career Flourishes

One of the great things about being a nurse in a small town is that you really get a broad range of experience.  In the ICU that I worked we took care of many different kinds of patients and learned many modalities.  I earned my Critical Care Certification (CCRN) and gained vast knowledge and experience during that process.  We took care of open heart, cardiac arterial balloon pump, intracranial monitoring, ventilator, dialysis patients and much more.  When I decided to move to Phoenix, Arizona there was a nursing shortage and it was easy for me to obtain employment before I left Michigan.  I decided to take a position in an outpatient dialysis facility and I also worked in many of the hospital's ICU's part time.  Nursing was much different in Phoenix than where I came from.  Nursing was much more specialized.  After about a year I was offered a position with a group of Nephrologist that I became acquainted with from working in the dialysis facility.  I was to start a home dialysis program teaching patients to do peritoneal dialysis out of one of the physicians offices. I also traveled with the physicians to Native American Reservations where I would teach the patients how to do home peritoneal dialysis.  We would travel in one of the physician's airplanes to different reservations in Parker and Winslow, Arizona.  I would also train patients at the Pima Reservation in Scottsdale, Arizona.  It was very busy and very rewarding at the same time. I studied and passed my Certified Nephrology Nursing (CNN) exam and received that certification also which added to my credentialing. The physicians I worked for decided to sell their programs to a larger dialysis company in the area and I became part of the acquisition.  The physicians requested that I assume the role of the entire Home Dialysis Programs of both companies.  I became the Home Dialysis Clinical Manager of a 150 patient Home Dialysis Program with 5 nursing staff members.  A new facility was built with an entire wing for our combined programs.  It was really quite nice and I was very honored to be recommended for such a position.


Home Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter

Night Time Cycler

The above pictures show how patients would do home dialysis either single bags four times a day or a cycler was used so that patients could do their dialysis while they were sleeping.  These patients did much better on home dialysis because this type of dialysis is more normal to their own kidney function.  The patients dialyze continuously 24-7 so they felt much better and could carry on with their lives more normally.  The company that we contracted with that makes the equipment and supplies offered me a position as a clinical consultant for the western United States.  I was so excited!  I could travel and help to educate nurses and physicians about the benefits of  home dialysis for their patients.  I stayed in this position for about two years and it was wonderful.  I really enjoyed helping to grow this modality across the Western US.  Then they offered me a Clinical Managers position where I would manage all the Western Clinical Consultants.  This position put me more in the corporate realm which was ok but I really missed connecting with the nurses and the patients. A couple of years later the sales position opened up in Arizona and after much convincing that I, a Registered Nurse with a two year nursing degree could do the job, I got it.  I had developed very good relationships with the area nephrologist and nurses in Arizona so it was easy for me to slip into the sales position.  I just helped them to understand peritoneal dialysis better and how they can help the patients succeed at home to be healthier and happier. It was a win win for all of us.  Within one year I won the Presidents Club award for top sales and couple years later won the Distinguished Sales Award for three consecutive years of top sales.  I really did not sell anything!  I just helped them to help their patients!  I continued to do well in the sales position but I still missed the patient contact.  I was happy but stressed working in the sales environment with all the pressure to meet the numbers and the quotas.  I decided to seek out alternative help.  I went to an acupuncturist and I loved it.  I felt so much better. She suggested some changes to my lifestyle and it really worked. I said I can do this!  So I enrolled at the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture to work on my next career part time while I still worked my sales job!  It took three and half years to finish my Masters Degree in Oriental Medicine and Herbology.  I passed my boards, so I thought I would just set up my acupuncture practice and I would be golden!  That is not exactly what happened.  KARMA!

Off to Phoenix!

My father had moved to Phoenix in 1982 with my step mother and 2 of her sons, still in high school, upon retirement from working in the factory for 30 years.  He was just 49 when he retired and was ready to enjoy his life.  About 2 years before his retirement he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and was hospitalized a couple of times.  The doctors treated him conservatively with oral chemo and he responded well. He went into remission and was doing very well.  We had thought with his age and now going into retirement that he would be ok.  About 2 years after moving to Phoenix, the Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma came back with a vengeance. He was in quite a bit of pain, losing weight and had some bleeding problems due to spleen involvement.  I was quite concerned for him so I decided to move to Phoenix to be with my Dad to support him and my step family.  As a Registered Nurse, I was lucky that I could get licensed in another state and move pretty easily.  I applied for positioned while I was still in Michigan and received and offer from a large dialysis company in Phoenix, so I took it.
Why could I leave so easily?  Growing up in Flint, Michigan and the way my life evolved was challenging at best.  Of course there were good times but there was also not so good times.  I experienced what most people do.  I went to college, dated, had family and friends, married, divorced, had physical, mental and emotional issues that I dealt with the best I could.  I was weary of my life in Michigan. I was ready for a change.  Ready to move on from what was created due to the karma that I accumulated.  Did I know about Karma at that time?  No, I did not.  Did I know it would just follow me to Phoenix?  No, I did not.  Is that not what we do before we awaken?  Yes. Was it the best move I could have made?  Yes, for my soul journey!  My father passed 1989 at the young age 56 years old from complications of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  Many years later in 2009, I would finally connect my spiritual father, Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha.  What a life changing experience to connect with your spiritual father and teacher.  We search long and hard for true happiness and we do not always understand what are the blockages.  I could finally receive some guidance and help!
I truly thank my physical father and my soul for bringing me to Phoenix.  If I stayed in Flint, Michigan, I know now that things would not have turned out well for me.  I am very grateful!

This is a picture of my father and me.  He was just then having the beginning symptoms of the Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  I love you Dad and very grateful to you for all the blessings and lessons you have given to me in this lifetime!  Rest well.

Welcome to my blog: My Soul Healing Miracle Journey for Creating a Soul Healing Business

Hello, My name is Debra Manning.  I currently own and operate a Holistic Health Center in Phoenix, Arizona called Rejuvenate Center.  It has been quite a journey getting to this point.  I would like to share with you what I have learned and how I have learned it over the next few blogs.
It all started when I lived in Flint, Michigan in 1973, where I graduated high school and not knowing what I really wanted to do, I went off to college at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. I wandered around campus for
about 2 years really not knowing why I was even

there.  I finally went back home and the universe then had plans for me.  I needed to get training in something that I could make a living.  At that time there was a great nursing shortage so I entered into Nursing School at Mott College.  I first became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) so I could get a job quickly to make my way in the world and continued right on to be a Registered Nurse (RN).  I did general medical floor nursing in the beginning and when I became a RN to went to work in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).  I saw a lot of pain and suffering of the patients as well as the family members.  Even though, I saw all of this, it was not new to me.  Growing up in a dysfunctional environment and having many family members that had major health issues it almost seemed normal to me in some way.  I just tried to help the best that I could to help the patients rest comfortably and support the family members.  Knowing what I know now after more than 30 years working in the healing professions, that was not even close to what was actually needed by me to truly help others. 
The pictures on this blog are of the actual hospital and ICU where I spent the early years of my nursing profession.  Next bog:  Off to Phoenix!