First Impressions

So tonight was my first day of work on my own. For those of you who don't know as a travel nurse I go to new facilities every 13 weeks or so to work. I went through the hospital orientation, 2 days with a preceptor and then I was ready to get to work. So tonight, like I said, was my first night alone. I got report. Sounded like it was gonna be a pretty chill, uneventful shift. So there I was talking to my patients mom. I had assessed my patient, given her some medications, and made a plan for the night. I was standing in the doorway listening to her mom tell me a bit about the patients history. We were talking for quite awhile. I started getting kinda hot...ignored it kept listening... started feeling a little dizzy but didn't want to be rude and interupt, maybe my vision started getting a little blurry. I decided it was time to step away, get some water sit down. So I interrupted and said I needed to step out for a minute. Ummmm that was the last thing I remember before hitting the ground. Yep thats right. So apparently as I turned to leave I ended up passing out. I went down to my knees. I think the mom caught me so I didn't hit my head. So I was laying there and could hear the mom running out to the nurses station saying something about nurse and down. Suddenly there were more people in the room and I was coming to. I tried to get up with the help of another nurse. Guess I wasn't ready as I felt myself going down again I heard people calling Code blue... code blue... ( that is what they call in a hospital when someone goes into cardiac or respiratory arrest. Basically it calls overhead for the whole hospital to hear and gets all the big important people in the room STAT) I remember trying to say no... no... no code blue I'm fine. Well I must not have been because the next thing I knew I was in the bed with a ridiculous amount of people in the room hovering over me. What a way to meet all the new residents and such:) Anyways they kept asking if I was ok. I think I was mostly just embarrassed. What a way to show your competency at a new job:) The PICU doctor insisted I go to the ER even though I looked ok. So I got to take a little tour down to the Emergency Department. I felt so silly bein wheeled off the unit. All the nurses and staff were there looking at me all sympathetically. I thought well I haven't met most of you yet but I will be known as the traveler that passed out from here on out. Got checked out in the ER. Ran some tests, everything was fine. Guess I just wanted to check out the brand new facility and play with the awesome tv/movie/internet/game system they have for patients. It got me a even longer weekend! No work til Monday:) So that was the excitment of the night. Made my poor roomate come out and get me because they wouldn't let me drive home. My poor patient looked a little freaked out. They had to take her out of the room. Guess its not normal to have your nurse become the patient in your bed:) So there you have it. I knew LA Childrens was gonna be exciting and challenging. Just didn't realize I was gonna be the one causing all the excitement!!

Next Chapter:)

So its been awhile since I've posted. Too long really. So much has happened in the last few weeks. I had a great break in between assignments:) First was driving from Denver to Salt Lake. My awesome friend Maren flew to Denver just to drive with me. We had many adventures including suicidal bugs and being stuck in traffic and almost resorting to cooking ramen noodles on the hood of my car in fear we might starve before traffic got moving again. I understand that was a run on sentence:)
            Salt Lake City was a blast. I have so many good friends there. I had a spa day with some good friends, lunch poolside with my work buddies, country dancing with my sister and friends, not to mention time with these cuties:)



Add caption



I think its safe to say these girls missed me almost as much as I missed them. Little Elizabeth who said my name for the first time... ok she called me CA my last day before I left for Denver....started calling me Onca as soon as she saw me. She called me Onca all week and was always trying to show me something. It made my week!!

After Salt Lake Jessica joined me in the long drive to Mesa. It was 118 as we were driving in. Miss AZ, not sure if I miss the heat. I got to spend the week with my family. We had a BBQ on the 4th. I got to help one of my best friends paint her and her husbands new home. Love being around friends and family. My next adventure was awaiting. 

    So unfortunately I had to make the drive to California by myself. Anyone who knows me was a little concerned about that. I tend to get tired at the wheel pretty quickly. No worries though:) I made it safe and sound. Learned a few lessons on the way. Never leave the gas pump unattended. Yep thats right. I have never done that before.... and what happens the time I do?? The gas pump decides to overfill my tank by 6 gallons. So that meant gas pouring out of my tank surrounding my car and spreading. Not only did it cost me an extra $20 but also the embarrassment of everyone behind me in line at the gas station whispering "Theres a sign up saying don't leave your car unattended, Doesn't she know you aren't supposed to do that? tsk tsk." I also learned to trust your instinct and stop to go to the restroom when you need to. You never know when you will get stuck in another traffic jam and have to hold it for another hour cuz there isn't a tall enough bush in sight. 

   Anyways I made it. My new home. At least until November 19th. I drove here and met my new roomate. A girl I met on the LDS housing website who offered up her living room until I found a place to stay. I was a little nervous about that. Its worked out awesome. She put up a airmattress in her living room and said I could stay as long as I'de like. We get along great and have been experiencing LA together. I think I found a place to move into the 1st of August. It will probably be an hour commute (even though the hospital is only 10 miles away). LA traffic is a real treat. I have learned to deal with it. My Bishops wife advised to to accept it as a new part of my life and not let it get to me. I think the beautiful sunny weather, beach nearby, and fun things to do are gonna make up for it!! My new place is right by the temple and the ward building so I think thats a good trade off!! So far the ward seems like its gonna be a lot of fun. Lots of people here for summer internships. So I was supwe nervous about moving to LA. I have a very creative imaginiation. I pictured driving to work with gang bangers on either side, homeless people lining the streets. I pictured myself living in shady neighborhoods with drug deals and dangers on every corner. I pictured myself getting lost with my stupid GPS and getting into rough neighborhoods fearing being hijacked or worse. As far as the hospital I pictured any horrible scene that I have ever watched on ER or Greys Anatomy being daily occurances. I don't know what I was thinking. Seriously I have issues. Work is awesome:) Haven't seen any drivebys or felt threatened in any way. My imaginaton makes me laugh:) So that is life lately. The adventures as of late. You will have to read my next blog on first impressions. Hopefully it will make you laugh:)