Ponderings of a nurse

I never thought I would be thinking of a change in my nursing career. . . after all Labor and Delivery was the reason I became a nurse!  L&D was my passion!  I feel honored at every delivery I am present in . . . it is a magnificent event and so life changing.  To give birth to a child is a very intimate and personal time in a person's life and I am able to be a part of it.  The feeling of helping a human being enter this world is incredible! It doesn't seem possible that life could be transferred from two separate people to create a new life . . . it truly is a miracle!

However, I have been doing some thinking lately . . .

Change is important . . . without change life becomes stagnant and robotic.  Change is not easy . . in fact I both crave and hate it!  It stresses me out . . . yet gives me hope.  Nursing is such a career in which stagnation can lead to an uncompassionate and cynical healthcare provider.  As caring for other individuals is the basis of nursing there are few things worse than having a "burnt out" nurse.  In nursing school I witnessed the cruelty of a burnt out nurse first hand.  It was not pretty.  She humiliated her patients that depended upon her for the very most basic needs a human being can have.  I cringed at her inconsiderate words and behavior.  I vowed I would never behave in the way this woman did to any of my patients.

 . . . and thus my current introspection . . .

my current thoughts are leaning towards a career in the Operating Room . . . there is so much to learn and see with a complete different skill set than the one I currently possess.  The human body is an amazing machine.  To be able to see the inner workings of this machine would be "oober cool!" I have also been contemplating medical missions for years . . . I think being an OR nurse would render me a little more valuable in such a mission. 

life is interesting . . . it is unpredictable . . .fluid . . . I want to make sure my life matters. . . that I have provided something valuable to help others lead a better life. 
 

LRMC - my new place of employment

 

My new life here in Germany has begun as I am not settling in to my position as a Labor and Delivery nurse at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.  It has so far been a pretty great place to work!  There are definitely differences between the "civilian" hospital and the "military" hospital. . most being with charting.  I have some great co-workers and the physicians are actually pleasant!!  Imagine that! OB docs that are respectful of their fellow colleagues!  It is truly amazing to work on a unit that you are not constantly belittled by those you are working with.  I still have a lot of adjusting to do and I am sure that will take some time. . . but I am enjoying working my way into the fabric of this new position.  There are some great perks working here as well!  Not only is this the only military facility to include all three branches of military (army, navy and air force) but all wounded warriors from down range and around the world are seen here and LRMC.  It is a great honor to serve these warriors in any way possible!  We also get to meet some pretty cool people!  For the holiday visit this year I was able to meet several celebrities.  Kelly Pickler (one of the contestants in American Idol several years ago and is continuing quite successfully in her music career), Iliza Shlesinger (a comedian that recently was on "the last comic standing"), Ross Detwiler and Craig Stammen (both pitchers for the Washington Nationals), and Matt Hendricks (NHL hockey player from the Washington Capitals).

 

 

Moving. . . a long, LONG, way away . .

Tomorrow we set off on probably the biggest adventure of our short lives. . . we are moving to Landstuhl, Germany.  I know. . super CRAZY, right??  Sometimes I still can't believe it and will call Clayton up just to say "Wow!  We are moving to Germany!"

This great adventure started out with a little girl's dream to one day move to Europe after her 7th grade teacher, Mrs. Wilcox, would tell wondrous stories in history class of castles, gems, romance and wars.  That dream stuck with me my whole life and was reborn when my dear husband stated "Let's move to Europe" early last year.  "Are you serious?" I asked. "Because if you are serious, we will do it."  I immediately started looking for a way to make that possible but it wasn't until I found (with the help of a co-worker) the largest military hospital outside of the United States that the dream started to become a reality.  There were no positions available in the hospital and I had read online that there was a 3 year waiting list for civilians to get in, but I was determined.  I emailed the human resource department of the hospital with my resume and a simple letter stating my interest in any position that my qualifications were sufficient.  I received and e-mail from the director of Labor and Delivery at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center six months later.  I believe God greatly has his hand involved in this whole affair as I never applied for the job, never had an interview, and was offered the position on my first phone call from Germany.

It has been a long process and has not been completely smooth. . . forms, travis air force base, tests, passports, forms, phone calls, headaches, forms. . . did I say forms?? . . . but will be completely worth it I am sure.

Today I sit in my hotel room (as my house has been rented, my car left at the port over two weeks ago bound for Germany, all of my belongings on some European bound cargo ship, my dogs living with my parents) with nothing except for two suitcases and a computer.  I have conflicting emotions. . . excitement, apprehension, tad bit o'fear, joy. . . . my stomach doesn't quite feel right (although that could be from the delish chocolate cake I had for late night snack and breakfast) . . . I am excited and thrilled to see what God has in store for us.  Of course goodbyes are the hardest part. . we will be doing that most of the day, mixed in with some grandma Hammonds' homemade doughnuts :-)  Nothing like leaving the country in a complete sugar coma!  I love all of my family and friends and will miss you all dearly. . . please don't forget us in your prayers. . . I am sure we will need them . . .

4:12 AM

What is there to do at 4:12 in the morning when you can't sleep??? I have been working 12 hour pm shifts for the last three nights and as a result was extremely tired most of the day but have now found myself completely awake at 4:12 am. Since I cannot sleep, and none of my friends are awake to hang out with me on my night off, what is a girl to do???

I have been working on renewing my expired passport online for the last 15 min or so, have taken a benadryl to perhaps help me sleep, and have tossed and turned in bed for the last 3 hours prior to me getting up and coming downstairs to sit at the computer.

Anyone have any suggestions for me to do the next time I find myself without an ounce of sleepiness in the wee hours of the morning??

An Employee At Last!!

I am here to inform you all that I am no longer unemployed. I have received an offer of employment and have accepted the said offer to work at Lodi Memorial Hospital in the Medical/Surgical floor. This full time, night shift position was offered to me last Friday and I readily agreed to the conditions. Although I really wanted to work in Labor and Delivery, I feel that this position will allow me to develop as a nurse and provide me with much needed skills for my future. I am excited, yet nervous at the same time. I will start working this week and continue in my orientation to the hospital/floor for about 8 weeks. Lodi Memorial is only about 15 minutes away from home and is expanding to a brand new wing which will have all private rooms (said to be opening late next year). YAY!!!