LIVEALITTLE

Wow. I was an ER nurse today. I didn't do much work but I am utterly exhausted. I have the coolest preceptor ever because she involves me in everything she does, she loves to travel and she's an overachiever. I am surely going to get a good foundation training with her. I have to remember to stow some bars into my pocket though coz we didn't get to lunch until 3p. I have to remember to pee also.
The amount of paperwork and coordination with other work groups (technicians, doctors, lab) are huge. ER nurses need to think 5 steps ahead and even predict what the doctors may order. My mind was still processing the admission procedure when my preceptor discharged the patient hours later! Thank goodness we have a windows-based system because the rest of the hospital is on DOS!
I did have a funny incident today. I had to get a patient a new dinner because he did not eat fish. When I returned later with a chicken dinner, he argued with me stating that I had brought another fish dinner. Upon further inspection the dinners were surely very similiar in appearance. We dissected the dinners though and unanimously proclaimed that the fish dinner was flakier than the chicken and that both probably tasted like chicken also.
I think I will like this place. I can't wait to be a pro and know exactly what needs to be done for each patient even before they walk in the door.

Today I started my first day of hospital orientation at Jersey City Medical Center. It's also day #1 of the dream I set out to accomplish when I quit the corporate world on July 20, 2005. I can't imagine life ANY better because I am going to be an ER nurse of the Trauma Center of a Magnet Hospital with a mere 10 minute walking commute. Already I am fantasizing about how I want to grow with this hospital. Everything feels SO right. I wish I can bottle my feelings for others to experience this very energizing sensation of empowerment and euphoria that comes with fulfilling a dream. It took me 5 years minus 14 days and the goal has been worth every second of the fantastic (although sometimes arduous) journey. It's nice to know that even in this horrible economy, passion can still make you stand out and dreams can still come true.

Although a weekend in Hershey Park, Pennsylvania wasn't quite the ideal follow-up to Haiti I wanted, I surprised even myself with the ease in which I readjusted to the fast food, stuff-your-face American life... or maybe its this new appreciation for my loving, accepting family.
I've always been a do-whatever-I-want-whenever-I-want new-aged-woman. I flitted in and out of the house whenever I pleased without real commitments to anything in particular. When I quit my corporate job and flew to Australia to be a nurse 5 years ago, I insensitively dumped all my stuff in my mom's garage and in my brother's basement with the intention to never return. When I prematurely returned in August 2009 (I changed my mind), my family (with a new addition!) welcomed me back with wide-open arms into their home and since have only made me 100% inclusive of their doings and been 1000% supportive of me in my 8 month unemployment slump and other antics (including the compost bin). I am truly fortunate to have such a wonderful, perfect family. I just hope that I will be able reciprocate all the kindness they have (and continue) to bestow upon me.