Why Lessons of the Cards?

Lessons of the Cards---A guide for Health Professionals is dedicated to three registered nurses who blazed the trail before me, Emma Binder, Alma Binder and Darlena Stanford Voegele. Each of these women in their own way inspired me to a career of serving others, easing pain and suffering, and empowering patients with information. From the age of three, my steps to nursing were clearly defined. These powerful, capable women exemplified opportunity and options. They set the example and mentored me. Priceless gifts.

Initial advice from people,” in the know,” was to limit my audience. I chose nurses, because that is my village, vantagepoint, and source of stories. Another sage recommended further limiting the scope to new grads or burned-out battleaxes. Finally, my daughter, a therapist, did a pre-edit and called in a huff declaring how much she resonated with what I was writing until I dropped the “nurse bomb” and she felt excluded, disenfranchised. With her reflections, I expanded the book to include any professional providing healthcare. Since the launch of the book, others, from all walks of life have shared how the lessons impact their career journey - teacher to custodian, real estate agent to salesman.

You may be wondering how the metaphor of a deck of cards and card language was chosen as the framework for the book. Raised in a family who believed the black and red playing cards were a tool of the devil; they were never in our home. During my college years, I learned to play a few games and realized these were simply pieces of paper with pictures.  While dating my future husband, we nearly broke up over his ruthless, cut-throat playing of gin. It became apparent either love him and never play cards– or play cards and leave.

The first lesson of the cards, “Every Day, Life Deals a New Hand,” emerged during our three children’s teenage years. They were filled with the “what if” questions. If I go to this college or that, will my life be different? If I take this major or that, what will happen --- and on it went. Suddenly it occurred to me how much our lives are like a poker hand with 5 cards. They are dealt, we play. We cannot do more than our best. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, sometimes we draw. We cannot predict the future, nor remedy a poor past hand, we can only play our best for today. The upside is, tomorrow we get another hand.

Shortly thereafter I was given the honor of speaking the commencement address for pediatric nurse residents.  I used my first lesson and added two, “The Rules Change; the Cards Don’t” and “Integrity: Determine to be a Great Player Instead of a Cheat.” Several weeks later, I was invited to share an encouraging message with the Emergency Department Staff. We added, “A Poker Face has its Place,” and “You Can’t Cure Everyone; You Can Heal Many. The day a young man rushed up to me in a hallway, pulled out his wallet, retrieved his ‘card’ and stated he used this message often to guide his decision making and personal practice, I knew I had been dealt a very special hand.

The book contains 10 indispensable lessons essential to the art of healing; all hidden in a deck of playing cards. Simple keys to rekindle the spirit, remind us of our calling and reaffirming our gift of caring.