Castro Valley

We're now down to less than two days left here in Castro Valley.  I can hardly believe it!

I started out on this journey with a lot of excitement.  Trekking across the country, stopping at awesome landmarks throughout the West, and coming to a whole new place I'd never been to be a travel nurse.  It all seemed so exciting, and it was!  But once we got started into the reality of it, it was really hard.  Throw the Holidays into the mix, and it made for a pretty difficult first month and a half.  I'm not complaining or looking for sympathy-- it's just the way it was.  I never really questioned why I did this, but I did find myself wondering just how long I would last in this business.

Of course, I'm still asking that same question.  I am finding myself wishing I had a place to just settle and live.  But I still have that urge to move on, so on I go.  I'm so excited about Spokane.  This next assignment definitely looks to be a bit more of a challenge.  It actually sounds quite similar to my job back home.  I'm kind of ready for a new challenge (though I may be eating those words in a few weeks) because this assignment has kind of dumbed me down a bit.

I will miss little Castro Valley and the rest of the Bay Area (I heart SF).  Highlights include visiting Muir Woods, Golden Gate Bridge (duh), walking the hills of SF, getting lost in the city, and eating at lots of new and different restaurants (Source--vegetarian--was my fav!).  Perhaps more than anything, I will miss Philz Coffee.  Oh, Philz, why can't I take you with me?  As for Castro Valley, I'll miss our little apartment we called home for three months.  I'll miss late night dinners at Shari's Pies.  I'll most especially miss my walks and runs around Lake Chabot.  I blew off a lot of steam on those trails, and got into the best shape I've been in for a long time thanks to those ridiculous hills!  Spokane, I'm ready for you!

Quite possibly the biggest highlight of them all would be Allison visiting for week a couple weeks ago!    We had so much fun.  I even got to do a few of the touristy things a second time, plus some new fun experiences as well.  It all just worked out perfectly with my schedule and hers.  Now she has to come to Spokane!

It's already been such a great growing experience.  I can't wait to start the next one!

2013

I can hardly believe that 2013 has come to an end.  What a year!  I've got NYE off for the first time EVER since becoming a nurse, but conveniently I'm stuck all the way out in California where I don't know many people outside of my roommate who is at work.  But it's kind of nice to just spend the evening thinking about the past year---how I've grown---and my aspirations for 2014.

So here's a recap of all the big things that happened to me this year.

In January, I got my little kitty Aberforth!  I was so excited to bring him home and introduce him to Albus.  The two didn't get along very well at first, but eventually became like brothers.  January tends to be a very boring month in which very little happens.

Skipping to March, I went on my very first cruise--- with the Disney Cruise Line!  I would definitely say that this was the BEST vacation I've ever been on.  I'd never really had that "resort" experience before, and from what I've heard since then, DCL is the top of the line cruise line.  Don't think I'll ever cruise with anyone else!  After the cruise, sadly I lost my kitty Albus after he swallowed over 20 hair ties.  It was a very sad experience, especially because I felt so responsible.

In April I suffered a back injury which put me in the ER.  I had a lot of realizations about my health during the time after, but didn't really know what to do or how to deal with them at the time.  The following month while visiting family in Illinois, I saw a picture of myself that somebody had taken, and hardly recognized it.  It was then that I knew I had to take my health seriously, realizing that I was now closer to 30 than I was to 20... and I knew that I didn't want the way I was to be as good as it was gonna get.  (That's a really tough realization, by the way)  Anyway, it was the best thing I could ever have done for myself.  My summer was very much devoted to taking care of myself and learning how to be healthy.

Of course, another week in July was spent at Camp Kulaqua as camp nurse with Allison!  This year was unique as a church had a big outbreak of lice.  But it helped that Holly T was a part of that church, meaning we got to hang out with her a lot!

My sister Hannah and I took a fun trip to Charleston, SC in August with one of her friends.  I came away, wondering how we could have lived so close to such a cool city and I'd never been there before. I still think it's a place I would love to live.

In September I went to Universal Studios for a fun weekend with Bela and her family.  We had just gotten our California licenses at that time, and were working on finding assignments out here.

And in October, I went on another Disney Cruise with Allison!  This was a very last minute plan, and we decided to do it because I was about to be doing travel nursing, and she was about to move to St. Louis.  One last hurrah, if you will.  It was a BLAST!  Less than a week after getting home, I left for the great state of California!  It was a road trip that took all of six days from October 30, ending November 4.  Four days total of driving.  If you've read my blog at all recently, there's not a whole lot else to tell about what's happened since.

Travel nursing has been the right decision, for sure.  I try to see it as an adventure, even if it isn't always the way that I expected it to be.  It's hard to believe we've been out here for two months already... soon it will be time to find another assignment!

2013 was a great one!  Here's to 2014--- hopefully another GREAT year!

Finally Seeing SF

Well, tonight it's back to work.  But I've had a good few nights off.  The first day, as it always is with night shift, was spent mostly being lazy in front of the computer with Netflix on.  Yesterday Bela and I decided to drive my car into San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge, and visit Muir Woods to see the Redwood trees!  Definitely one of the coolest experiences I've had yet!

^^^Just driving through SF, I thought all the wires were really interesting.

 ^^^We went to a cool place called Fred's Coffee Shop in Sausalito.  Here is a spinach and feta cheese omelette with potatoes and toast.  Delish!

^^^We went to Muir Woods and got to see the Redwood trees!  Something that has always been on my bucket list, and I'm glad I can cross that off!  I think I'll definitely go back to see them again sometime.  Beautiful.  And so quiet and peaceful. 

^^^We got to see the Golden Gate Bridge!  We walked about half of it, and drove over it as well.  Pretty cool!

We went to a cool coffee shop called Philz Coffee.  Not the greatest service, but I think I had the best coffee I've ever had in my life there.  It was called Philtered Soul.

So, things with work are still pretty stressful.  I'm still really anxious about going in tonight, and have had some interesting and somewhat unpleasant experiences with some of the staff there.  But we are definitely trying to make the most of our days off, and that is honestly what travel nursing is about.  We knew it would be stressful going in... maybe not quite as stressful as it's been.  But we definitely were preparing ourselves for the worst when we started this.  Somehow it has still been more stressful than I expected.  Anyway, after tomorrow night I'll have completed my first full week on my own, and maybe I'll feel better about things then... we shall see.

Settling into Life Here

I've now had two nights on the floor by myself off of orientation.  Things are still hard.  I do feel like I am figuring out the charting, but I am really missing the support system that I'm used to at my old job.  Not to mention I still haven't felt like myself back on the floor.  I know I am a good nurse.  I have been told that by many people, yet since starting out here in California I have just felt really off.  I don't know why, but I just don't feel like the old Nurse Nat when I'm taking care of my patients.  Not that I'm being a bad nurse... I just don't feel like the good nurse I know I am.  I'm hoping I start to feel like my old self soon...

I've been really trying hard to leave the stress of work at work.  I actually had gotten really good at that back home, but out here it just seems to permeate everything.  So, I'm working on that.  Bela and I work mostly opposite schedules, which hasn't helped since often when I'm off she has to work.  We did both have yesterday off, so we took the evening to set up our Wifi (THAT was a whole fiasco in and of itself!) and went out to dinner at Fuddruckers.  We were both craving a good burger.  Since we have been making fires in our apartment most nights cause of the cold, we decided to make s'mores last night.  Delish!  And after FINALLY getting the Wifi set up, we watched Parks and Recreation on Netflix.  Yes, I have gotten Bela addicted to it.  Best show ever!

Here is the delicious s'more I ate last night. 

On my walk this morning, I decided to walk an extra large hill.  The hills here in the Bay Area are killer, but the views are beautiful as a result!  Totally worth it!  Not to mention I'm getting into better shape.  Hadn't been doing too great of a job since traveling out here with my eating or my exercising.  And I just feel like crap when I'm not eating right and exercising.

 There's a part of the trail I walk that I think looks like an enchanted forest.  I took some pictures.

Doesn't that look like it belongs in Narnia?

So overall I would say things are going well.  Of course I'm stressed, but I'm working on that.  I have been a little homesick at times.  Just for familiarity of home.  I never thought I'd miss my home town, but at times I do.  Though I know I will probably never live there again, it will always be home to me.  But I am loving being in a new place also and exploring it.  Tomorrow we plan on taking another trip into SF, this time hopefully to see the Golden Gate Bridge.  The weather has been pretty rainy since yesterday though, so hopefully things will work out.

A little better today...

Things are looking a little brighter today.  I thought that with yesterday's somewhat depressing post, I'd better write another update today so nobody is too worried... ;)

Yes, it is still hard.  Part of why I feel better is I've also been off of work the past two nights.  Tomorrow night I have to go back in and be on my own on the floor.  Honestly, the biggest issue for me there is that I'm completely new to this system of charting.  I'm just not used to it.  The patient care is the same, of course.  But when you can hardly figure out the computer system it just puts you behind on everything else in general, which makes it really hard.  Not to mention the support system just isn't the same for a travel nurse on the floor as it is for a permanent nurse on the floor.

Anyway.  Yes, I've been off today.  Bela had to work tonight, 3-11:30, so I am currently sitting at a coffee shop (Peet's Coffee and Tea... nice to have something besides Starbucks!  Though I do still love Starbucks...) for internet since we still don't have any at the apartment.

I took a really nice walk today.  A couple of days ago on a walk, I decided to go a little bit further and discovered a beautiful park with rolling hills and beautiful views.  Today I decided to walk that park.  Let me tell you, a walk sounds like a nice, leisurely activity, and it was to a point.  But those hills were KILLER!  I've never walked anything like that before unless it was a hiking trip.  Not to mention the weather here is just cold all the time.  By the end my hands were numb and I could barely move them.  I decided that I needed some warm workout clothes (never needed that before), so I found some nice fleece jackets at Ross.  Gonna need to get some gloves too... definitely wasn't expecting this kind of weather in California!

Thankfully, things are looking up today.  I know that's easy to say when I'm relaxing in a coffee shop, and we'll see how I feel tomorrow when I'm walking into work at 2300.  I'm praying for it to be not so overwhelming... we shall see!

This has been a really rough week.

Reality is definitely setting in.  We got our furniture delivered to our apartment this week.  Now it feels like home.  But things are settling, and we are definitely feeling the reality of our situation.  We have finished our two whopping days of orientation on the floors we will be working on, and both feel so inadequately prepared for what is to come.  Especially Bela, as she has to work day shift and it is SO much crazier than nights.

Travel nurses are just not treated very nicely.  I knew that before going in, but I just didn't think it would be this hard.  The expectations are incredibly high (this is why you should ALWAYS make sure you have plenty of experience before starting) and the training incredibly insufficient.  The charting is different than anything I've ever used, and I have to learn that on top of learning two whole new units, dealing with new co-workers, and charge nurses in general who just don't give a crap about how you're doing.  Because although we are here to help the hospital out, we are essentially on our own.

Anyway, outside of work I really love it here.  We have met some really wonderful people, who I think will be so helpful in helping us to not feel so sad about our circumstances.  I think we are also just going to have it rough for a couple of weeks until we get a little more acclimated to things.

Right now we are just sitting in Starbucks drinking our peppermint mochas, listening to the cheery Bing Crosby music in the background, and trying our best to be positive about things.  I do think that things will get better... it's just gonna be a rough road to get there.

I'm in California!

Hello from California!

It has been a SUPER DUPER BUSY week and a half.

For a better update than I can provide here (and mainly for lack of time, as I'm currently sitting at a cute diner called Shari's Pies since I have no wifi), I will send you over to mine and Bela's blog about our travels.  Right HERE! (The link is also on the right side of the blog under blogs I follow, in case you want to just follow that blog.... between Bela and I, there will probably be a lot more detailed updates there!)

I will say that California has been so different than anything I ever expected.

We have run into the kindest, friendliest people ever.  And we are from the south!  I feel so lucky to be where I am right now.  It is definitely really scary, but it's where I'm supposed to be.  And it's not been a walk in the park, either.

We finally got settled into our apartment today.  It really hit me then.  This whole last week and a half have seemed like whirlwind of excitement, travels, new job, meeting people, etc.  Then we got to the apartment, things were quiet-- and I looked around and realized this is it.  I'm 3000+ miles away from home.  And I felt homesick, I really did.  It passed after a few minutes, but I know it will come and go in waves over the next few weeks.  Especially as the Holidays are approaching.  Thankfully I have my best friend Bela here, and we can both be homesick together and hopefully cheer each other up.

With all of that, I still know that I am in the right place.  That I'm where I'm supposed to be, doing what I'm supposed to be doing.  And I'm scared.  This new job scares me.  It will be very similar as far as the nursing bit goes, but their computer charting system is incredibly daunting and something I will have to learn very quickly.  Any prayers and good thoughts are appreciated.

I will try to be back here more often for updates.  Here's hoping for a great first full week of work, and meeting more great people!

Soon to be a California Girl...

Well, the day has almost arrived.  After a super stressful two days of paperwork-gathering, immunization-getting, shopping, and packing, the day has finally almost made it here.  Honestly I thought we weren't going to get everything done in time and we wouldn't be able to go.  We had that much paperwork to do in such a short amount of time.  But it got done, thank goodness!

In the morning, Bela and I are packing our things in my car and starting our drive to California.

I am so excited for this opportunity.  Honestly, I don't think that the reality has set in.  At all.

It's like I'm just going on a really cool road trip.  Not traveling to a place where I'll be staying for the next three months, and then after that on to another place.... it just hasn't registered yet.

Would be thankful for any prayers, good thoughts, etc, as we make our drive this week!  It'll be a whirlwind!

Exciting Changes

It has been an eventful past ten days.

First of all, I got back on Thursday from a 4-night Bahamian cruise on the Disney Dream!  What a blast!  I will eventually post pictures, but that isn't even the half of what has been so eventful.

I have kept it pretty quiet, but since July I have been pursuing travel nursing with my friend, Bela.  I got my California license in September and began the process of getting my ACLS certification.  We got in touch with a travel nurse agency and began the process of sending our information, speaking with our recruiter, and submitting ourselves for assignments.  That was a process, let me tell you.

We got offered a job about ten days ago in San Leandro, California.  We were SO excited.  We would both be working evenings, 3-11:30.  We both put in our two weeks notice, told them our date we were available, and waited to sign our contracts.  This time period was when I left for my Disney cruise.  I had planned to check my e-mail Monday night to see if there was anything else I needed to do.  We found out that day that San Leandro was out of the question because they would not negotiate the start date and needed us out there a week earlier than we could get there.

We were upset, but we both contacted our bosses (I had to e-mail mine) and worked out getting off a week earlier.  All this time in the back of my mind, I was thinking we were screwed if things fell through.  But all they needed was for us to be there earlier, so we thought we were in the clear.  Only to find out the next day that they had pursued other candidates and we had missed the boat.

Needless to say, I was really upset.  I felt like here I had not only quit my job, but I had quit a whole week earlier for something that completely fell through!  We spoke with our recruiter and she very diligently kept looking for jobs, but nothing seemed hopeful.

One popped up in Castro Valley, California, however.  It wasn't really the ideal situation compared to the other one, but we asked her to go ahead and submit us.  We found out that I had the wrong computer charting experience and they required me to have one I had never used before.  However, thanks to my recruiter, by the end of the day we were both given offers and now we are set to leave this Wednesday for our first travel assignment!

Let me tell you, it has been a major emotional roller coaster.  From excitement for a new job, to the low of the prospect of unemployment (which, let me tell you, were a really rough couple of days), and then back to more excitement-- it's about been more stress than I can handle.

Because it was all so last minute, I didn't get much of a chance to say good-bye to my co-workers.  Or really even much closure as far as work is concerned.  It's like I was employed by them like always, then went on vacation, and came home and worked a few more days.  And now I'm done.  It's hard to believe that after four years of working there, that's it.  I will definitely miss my co-workers.

I have so much packing, paperwork, and last-minute shopping to do.  It's definitely more than a little overwhelming.  Hopefully by Wednesday, we will be all set to start off on our first travel assignment!  Can't wait to tell you all about it here!