Redirection

So often life throws us a curveball, whether it's leading us away from our comfort zone or placing us in a rough patch when we've been on even ground for a while. My job obviously consists of traveling, but not just traveling across the country as you may think. I also travel between hospitals and I float between units within the same hospital. I rather enjoy the flexibility and experience that comes from this stipulation per my contract. It gives me freedom to use my skills and allows the ability to acquire more through new enterprises.

After working 2 nights on the same unit the other night, I went to the same hospital on the same unit with my same patients. I was in my comfort zone, ready for an "easy" night. At 1900, (7pm in military time, the beginning of shift) after writing information on the same patients I had and getting ready for report from the day shift, I was told I was being floated to another unit. Ok, that's fine. I ask why and was told another nurse was feeling sick. Ok, that's too bad. But who will take my assignment? Well another nurse was being called in who usually works ICU and refused to be floated to anywhere but the unit I was working (PCU or Progressive Care Unit, ICU stepdown). This is what makes me upset. I like floating and don't mind it, in fact, I embrace it. Why not gain new knowledge and skills? Why not broaden your horizons and open your mind? It stinks that I had to be floated even though I was the best nurse for the job having the continuity with the same patients for 3 nights in a row, knowing their histories, illnesses, likes, dislikes, and needs.

So, without complaint, I went to the other unit (of which I've not been before) and got a new assignment. There were a few things I wasn't as familiar with, but am always comfortable asking questions when faced with new challenges. The nurses were nice enough and I went about my night as usual. Things were going fine, but I was missing the nurses and the flow of PCU. As I sat down to chart after getting patients and medications settled, to my astonishment I met another nurse working for the same traveling company. I was excited to be able to swap stories and commiserate over our assignments, recent experiences, and traveling in general. We hit it off and decided to hang out (travelers usually group together because of the camaraderie of shared experiences and similar backgrounds).

After a hike, pictures, food, and drinks, I've made a new friend. Maybe it wasn't so bad to be floated, maybe I'm grateful for a stubborn nurse who refuses assignments, maybe I'm grateful for a break in routine, maybe it's not just maybe, but I really am thankful for a night that brought me a new friend, regardless of how it began.

Change is frequently not as easily accepted. Even as I speak about floating and traveling, change still scares me, but I try to let my excitement shine through more than my fright. I try to embrace it because life is dynamic. In the same sense, so is nursing. It started with Florence Nightingale founding the idea of cleanliness and has now led to robotic surgeries and medicine that has the power to heal. I encourage everyone to embrace the changes that life brings. Some changes may not be for the better, but frequently you'll be surprised at how change is empowering, exciting, and influential.

With much love,
K

P.S. A few shots from the hike.

 <sun over the lake>

 <new friend, A>

 <from the top of the hike next to the glacier>

 <needs no words>

 <overlooking city of Golden>

<Denver skyline>

Six for Saturday

So, obviously I didn't get around to writing a "Five for Friday" blog, but I really wanted to. I've decided instead to start writing a "Six for Saturday" if I missed Friday. It works.

1. Making random friends on a plane from Chicago to Denver, finding out they're originally from Coeur d' Alene, ID, realizing you have a bunch in common, and actually hanging out with them in Denver.

2. Working at 3 different hospitals in 4 days! I can't express how much I enjoy this opportunity to explore new areas and learn different ways of doing things. My flexibility and adaptability is astonishing even to me and I'm so excited to see where it will take me in the future. I'm ever so thankful for the many blessings coming my way (or have come my way in the past) and the solid foundation I learned at Kishwaukee College, working at Valley Hospital, and gathering from my mother. (She's my inspiration).

3. Being excited to go to the church tomorrow right next to our place and watch the 49ers play afterwards!

4. R willingly making every meal at any time of the day (this consists of me eating breakfast at 5pm and making me lunch for 3am). Sure I make things occasionally, but he has single-handedly (and gladly) fed us for the month we've been here to my utter joy!

5. Low: Excessive flooding in this area endangering lives, homes, and workplaces. (This unfortunate weather disaster caused us to cancel our plans for a hike this weekend in Estes Park) :(

6. High: Not actually being endangered ourselves by the flooding, but still receiving an outpouring of concern from family and friends. You're the best! Thanks for reading, supporting, and loving!

With much love,
K

Covenant

Almost every day we’ve been here we’ve seen a rainbow. (I’m sure you couldn’t tell by the magnitude of rainbow pictures flowing through this blog and Facebook). In the Bible, the rainbow is significant of the covenant made by God to Noah after flooding the Earth. (Read Genesis Chapter 5:9-22, Chapters 7,8, 9:1-19 for the whole story). “Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there by a flood to destroy the earth” Genesis 9:11 was God’s promise. It intrigues me seeing so many rainbows. Is God reminding us of His covenant? Is He saying, “Hey you guys are looking pretty evil, remember what I did before? But since I’m a loving God, I will keep my covenant and not flood the Earth again.”

 We are a society of sinners, evildoers; greedy for what we don’t have and ungrateful for what we do. We keep pushing God out of our schools, our workplace, even our churches, but especially our lives. Is it so hard to realize that pushing Him further away causes more grief and suffering? Surely, as a Christian, I do not feel that I am immune to any trials that may come my way, in fact, they may come more often as a testament to my faith. But facing these trials without the Lord’s hand guiding me would be unbearable. How much pain and suffering are the lost feeling during their trials without Jesus to support them, without the knowledge of the cross and the suffering He bore for them?

Rainbows are a constant reminder (since they’re seen so frequently here) that we are not perfect and after eating the fruit we never were again. We have learned so little during our time here, but there is still so much to do. Use the rainbows you see or just a beautiful blue sky to be reminded that we are not alone, that we are loved and cared for by a mighty, merciful, and gracious God. Would you not want this love to encompass all? To say that we’re all facing our own demons in life is true, whether it is money, drugs, sex, or food, we all need grace. I encourage you to share this knowledge of a living God, to share His covenant with us so many ages ago, as I strive to do the same in my own life. He is willing to save us, if only we seek Him.

With much love,

Kristi

Brighter

As an RN, I often feel unappreciated, taken advantage of, or taken for granted. We are spit on, puked on, peed on, pooped on, and a host of other bodily functions are thrown at us, but we are also treated with disrespect, apathy, unkindness, and without regard to our own feelings. (I honestly don’t mind the bodily functions as much as I do the unkind words and actions). My approach is most frequently “killing them with kindness.” I try to not take anything to heart because I ultimately realize patients are sick, tired, hurting, and lonely. Too often as caregivers we bear the brunt of these feelings. Many times we do not understand the depth of their pain, frequently it goes beyond the surgical incision, beyond the chronic back pain to the heart of the matter—a distraught past with innumerable and indescribable pains full of demons and tragedy. If we only knew what events steered the course of another’s life, we may be a little hesitant to judge, we may be more empathetic, we may just love instead of loathe.

 Last night was my first night working at another hospital in this area. It was in a very affluent area with a demographic of rich white people. There were designated rooms meant specifically for those willing to pay extra to have the ultimate of luxuries during their hospital stay, including a personal chef for one meal a day and a comfy robe for traversing the halls with their IV pole. I must admit I didn’t like this hospital nearly as much as the other I’ve frequented whose population consists of the poorer and less educated. The staff of the former hospital mentioned act more pretentious, more righteous, and are simply, less kind. The patients are typically even more so. The staff at the latter hospital are gracious, freely giving of their time and help, and immediately friendly. The patients, although having less, give more. Although these hospitals seem different, they have numerous similarities. Take the patient who calls out or is confused. The co-worker who is ready and willing to help. The RT who is kind on the phone and willing to teach. Ultimately, the patients matter—regardless of socioeconomic status, education, and treatment of others. They are the ones sick, they are the ones hurting, they are the reason I became an RN.

Referring back to my first paragraph, I had a patient last night in incredible pain which caused her to moan and cry. Nothing was helping. I tried my best and consoled her, rubbed her back, offered heating pads, repositioned her, and certainly gave the pain meds she was allowed. I did what I could and tried to leave her alone to finally get some much needed rest for healing. At first I wanted to roll my eyes at her outward expression of pain and childish behavior, but here was a woman clearly in pain, slightly confused, and unable to control herself. Who was I to judge? How did I know what she was going through? She needed help and wasn’t that the reason I was there? In the morning, after several rounds of pain medicine and other attempts at pain control, her husband came to the desk with tears in his eyes and hugged me. He hugged me and said, “This was the best night she’s had in 2 months, thank you.” I walked with him to her room hand in hand and talked with his wife. She looked marvelous. She was smiling and not moaning. She was rested and not haggard. He hugged me again and kissed me on the cheek, still trying to fight back tears. He told me I was an angel. I almost wept with him.

I have been fortunate enough to never have the feeling of, “why am I doing this?” It is because of these chance encounters. It is because of a renewal of faith in the profession I chose and which I think, chose me.  It is because, at the end of the day, maybe I made a little bit of a difference in some stranger’s life, whether I saved their life, helped their pain, smiled at them, or held their hand, I made a little difference and that’s all it takes.

My hope is that everyone will try to make a difference for someone. You never know the demons another is facing. All too often it only takes a smile, a wave, a kind word, a hug, love. To brighten someone’s day, may just brighten yours.

Wishing you brighter days and kinder words,

K

New Beginnings

R and I have had some great opportunities for new beginnings in the past several months. I've already started work at a hospital I enjoy and this week will be going to a new hospital for more adventures. I'm excited and anxious at the same time, who knows what this new location will have in store for me.

R had an interview today to be an "Academic Coach," or math tutor, and aced it. He got the job and his new beginning! We're excited and now he has something that will keep his mind fresh and his resume without holes. If you know of anyone who needs help with math, he is able to do tutoring over Skype, so will be able to teach anyone from anywhere. Just let us know! :)

We're hoping that our trip leads to other new beginnings: friendships, jobs, cuisine, housing, states, adventures, and experiences.

With much love,
K

P.S. Go 49ers!

Bunnies, Bodies, and Books

Due to some unfortunate call-offs these past few days, R and I have had time to explore. We love going on walks around our place and finding neat things to do/see. On each and every walk we see at least 1 rabbit. This is such a strange phenomenon. Where are all these rabbits coming from? Why are they living in nearby business park shrubbery? I don't mean to be crude, but I guess it goes along with the old saying, "doing it like rabbits." We rather enjoy these wildlife sightings in the midst of a very urban area.

(Lone bunny, they usually travel in packs)

Along with bunny sightings, we found a park close by that is filled with wooden exercise equipment. We're trying to get in shape and since we're 1 mile high we thought, "Sure, why not? Let's exercise our butts off (literally) where there's less oxygen, so that's it's at least twice as hard." We're managing and this little park is an incentive. We jog looking like newborn calves run there and do a few circuits then walk run home. I think I'm finally acclimated to the atmosphere and R probably did  2 weeks ago. Slow and steady wins the race.

We also traveled 30 minutes to the closest Culvers to fix a craving of mine. Once there, the owner took our order and we got to talking and found out she's originally from Sycamore, IL and owns the Culvers there! It certainly is a small world. My spirits were brightened after our trip since I was feeling down about not being able to work. This trip certainly won't help our body venture, but sometimes the mind needs to be boosted instead.

Today we walked to the library in the 90 degree heat with no shade in sight. We're official nerds after being super excited to get library cards so we can read more books! I really enjoyed reading Killing Kennedy and have been looking for Killing Lincoln several places, so I thought the library would be a sure spot. Of course someone had it checked out, so I decided on something else and bought the book online. We're enjoying cold drinks at a coffee shop after our hot walk and hopefully I'll be able to work tonight!

Fingers crossed,
K