12 Comments
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Brooke Bandel's avatar

Cunning, Hilarious, I didn’t understand 90% of the nurse lingo but LOVED

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Solena's avatar

honestly?? if you survived 90% ICU gibberish and still had fun, you’re stronger than half our patients post-extubation 😭🩺 thank you sm for reading love, that means the world!!

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Niomi Nicci, MA's avatar

My mom was an ET nurse for 35 years 12 hour shifts messed her back up. Now she is retired at home with her grand babies.

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Solena's avatar

Oh wow, Niomi—your mom sounds like a damn legend. 35 years in the trenches of emergency care… that’s not just dedication, that’s warriorship. 💔

Twelve-hour shifts have a way of quietly breaking down the strongest backs and softest hearts. I’m so glad she’s resting now, surrounded by grandbabies and peace. That’s the kind of ending we all deserve.

Please tell her a fellow nurse is lighting a little candle in her honor tonight. 🕯️💛

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Niomi Nicci, MA's avatar

Yes - OG can look at you and tell your sick 🤧 don’t make them like her anymore.

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Niomi Nicci, MA's avatar

How do you do your graphics ?

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Solena's avatar

Hey Niomi! ✨

I use Canva Pro and I basically just commit design crimes until something cries aesthetic.

I work in square format (2000x2000 px), use my rain-core palette (grays, blush, black, and a splash of ✨emotional damage✨), and I write directly in my style fonts—Special Elite for text, Signature for signing Solena.

Sometimes I stare at the screen for 2 hours rearranging a comma. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes and a good latte. It’s chaos. It’s art. It’s very caffeinated.

But! I also use Procreate on my iPad for extra texture, layering, sigil sketches, and when I want it to look like I summoned it in a storm instead of designed it. Sometimes I draw directly over the graphics if I’m feeling ✨possessed by the Muse of Maximalism✨.

Final step? I stare at it until it either makes me feel something or makes me mad enough to start over.

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Niomi Nicci, MA's avatar

Your the best - I’m a newbie so it’s a work in progress. Thanks a lot

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Mariah Etheridge's avatar

This was such a joy to read! The drama! The tension! The humor! I am so here for all of it 🫶🏼

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Solena's avatar

Mariah!! I could kiss your monitor (but like, consensually and with PPE). 💋

Honestly, the ICU is a reality show no one asked for and I’m just here documenting it like the emotionally unstable narrator I am. Thank you for reading through the blood pressure drops and the sarcasm spikes. Vol III might require a defibrillator. Stay tuned. ⚡️🫀

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Mariah Etheridge's avatar

I truly cannot wait!

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Solena's avatar

Thank you, Officer Sam! Appreciate you reading—Vol III’s already brewing in the chaos ward 🩺

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