A Few Close Calls

Aside from meeting a ridiculous amount of people from all over, one of the coolest things about travel nursing is the amount of places I have gotten to visit.  Never did I think I'd walk across the Golden Gate Bridge or sink my toes in the sand of a San Diego beach.  I love how I can say I've seen the Yankees, Giants, Padres, Athletics, Phillies, and Red Sox play on their home field (I'm determined to continue to lengthen that list).  Sofia and I packed our months full of adventure - filling up in wine country to losing money in Vegas, dancing at a rodeo to driving through the Smokies.

Traveling has given me a little extra kick to get out and do things.  This new sense of adventure has sort of taken over and I reluctantly admit, it has also gotten me into some sticky situations.  Not to be over dramatic, but perhaps near death situations would be a fair description...Thankfully I have somehow made it out alive, which just goes to prove that the adventures can continue - right?

Here are a few instances where I found myself a tad outside my comfort zone.  Somehow I not only managed, but I also learned a little bit about myself and my surroundings.

Haiti #1 - We were working in a tent hospital with very few resources at hand.  Babies shared bili lights and computer charting was nonexistent.  We ran out of oxygen one night and were told - what we had was what we got.  MacGyver nursing suddenly became a part of me - I am forever grateful.

 

Haiti #2 - The tent hospital had since transitioned to an actual building.  They had opened up a clinic along with the inpatient wards that already existed.  About three days into the trip, we were told by the physician in charge that the election was going to happen during the week and it may get a little dicey around the hospital.  No sooner, we were hanging out on the roof of the building watching the clouds of smoke rise from the fires that were set along the city streets in response to the election.  It was so unsettled outside the hospital gates that they shut down the clinic and were quite strict about who came in/out.  They also completely shut down the airport - nobody was to come in or out of Haiti!  We didn't know how long these new arrangements were going to last, so to say we were a bit nervous would be quite an understatement.  I even had somebody turn and say to me, "Don't worry, you guys will make it home by Christmas."  Seriously?!?! Not really comforting words at that moment.  In the midst of all the rioting, however, the Haitian nurses still made the hour long walk so they could come and work a full day - and not once did I hear a complaint.  That week I learned, among other things, how lucky I am to live in an area that is free of the violence that I was witness to.  I saw the dedication in the work of the volunteers and Haitian staff despite the feelings of uneasiness and fear that was shared by all.

WCWS - I have always wanted to go to Oklahoma City to see the Women's College World Series - it's just been one of those things on my long bucket list.  This year I decided was the perfect chance.  I tried to recruit a couple friends for the road trip but couldn't quite convince them.  A couple years ago, I would have just thrown the idea out and told myself - eh, maybe another time.  Needless to say, I've changed a little bit.  I went ahead and bought the tickets and mapped out my trip.  I had heard about the tornadoes and knew that Moore, OK was close to the city, but I think I was trying to kid myself into thinking it wasn't thaaaat close.  Once I made my way into OK, I figured out real quick that I was in Tornado Alley...alone.  Give me a hurricane or a blizzard - I know what to do, a tornado - no clue.  I've heard sirens go off before, but until that trip I had never heard the "freight train" wind that people often speak of.  Well friends, it's true - that's exactly what it sounds like.  I found myself "taking cover" in a basement of a public building.  That was quite an experience.  I thoroughly enjoyed the games, but I think maybe next time I would rather skip out on the tornado business.  During that little solo road trip of mine, I learned how to survive another test from Mother Nature.  I was also able to witness the sense of community felt by all the survivors of the previous tornadoes that bombarded that area.  The devastation was intense, but the support that each person displayed was remarkable.

 

TN Tubing - This one, you just need to go to Laura's blog: http://lauranemeth.blogspot.com/2013/07/heading-more-east.html.
She described our day very well.  I hate to admit, but we were those girls who you look at and say, "Why the heck didn't they have life jackets and helmets on?!?!"  We had a couple of close calls on that little river trip - but somehow we survived to talk about them.  I learned that no matter how scary that mountain man may look, sometimes ya just gotta ask him for directions - as long as you are with two others.  That way, if anything goes wrong, chances of survival are much greater - there is always strength in numbers.    :)

Firefighter or Nurse

It wasn't until I was well into the Elms College tour that I had officially decided that I wanted to become a nurse.  I grew up the youngest of four girls, so very seldom was I ever the one to take care of somebody else.  Instead of getting babysitting jobs like all of my sisters I was out playing sports and working at restaurants and golf courses.  So when it was time to really start thinking about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life I had to do a little soul searching.  My fourth grade dream of becoming a firefighter was not really an option anymore - there's no way I could carry all the equipment.  I stopped growing (height-wise anyway) once I hit 5'3" so a sports superstar was out the window.  What on earth was even left??

I had been fairly outgoing as a child and enjoyed pulling smiles out of people - my awkward sarcasm has definitely continued to help me in that department.  I've also been quite the nerd, so I knew something in science would eventually peak my interest.  As I meandered through high school, possible occupations floated through my mind.  Multiple family members - grandparents, aunts, and cousins, have/had worked in the medical field, but it wasn't ever a topic of conversation.  I can't really say "my Grandmother was a nurse so I followed suit," it's more along the lines of, "my Grandmother worked her butt off and was an amazing woman with a kind heart."  That's what I wanted to be.

So back to Elms; I walked into the gym where professors from each department were manning their assigned tables.  I wandered up to the nursing table, introduced myself to the professor and sifted through some of the handouts that were free for the taking.  I had mentioned that I was interested in the medical field, but still unsure where to go from there.  Without missing a beat she said, "Well doctors can heal the patients, but the nurses know the patients."  That was the last push I needed - I was going to be a nurse.

Don't worry, I'm not bashing any physician and I'm certainly not glorifying the work that nurses do, but I do want to share how happy I am with one of my first grown up decisions.  Prior to college, of course my outlook on what nursing was all about was a bit skewed.  Thankfully I haven't had to experience an extended hospital stay, so aside from the dramatic TV series that I always have gotten sucked into, I had little to go on.  Well as different as real life nursing was from TV nursing, it came second to how different student nursing was from the real thing.  Maybe it's because while in school we're so focused on the tests, grades, and just staying awake during the long lectures.  Or maybe it's because everything was so new - which made it exciting and nerve-racking all at the same time.  Whatever the reason, it's nice to know I have so far survived both...

Once I got through the whole school part I went right into the Pediatric ICU.  Why - I still ask myself that same question sometimes.  Working in a PICU has without a doubt tested me.  It's been the worst and best thing for me.  First of all, the nerd part of me is in its glory, I mean there is a ridiculous amount to learn, and although there are some slow nights, overall treatments are developing so quickly and frequently that there is always something new.  I can truly be a lifelong learner in such an environment which is weirdly exciting. 

The people I've had the privilege to work with are probably one of the top reasons why I love my job.  When people say, "You work in a PICU, how do you do it?"  My response is always the same; "When it's good, it's really good - and when it's bad, it's awful.  But the people I work with are what make it okay."  I think to work in the medical field you have to be able to tolerate a few things - blood, needles, crying, etc.  To work in the PICU - you just have to have a little "crazy" in you.  I mean c'mon, who chooses to work with sick children?  Crazy people.  Add night shift to that mix - it's just a whole other breed. 

Somehow I've found that I am quite comfortable in that mix of people.  After all, a fellow nurse is the only one that can laugh at the Bridesmaids reference just used to describe a fecal explosion that occurred in the room you just walked out of.  He's the only one that can give a pick me up pep talk before walking into a room that will help you refrain from shaking the adult responsible for putting that child in the hospital in the first place, and instead exude compassion and empathy.  She's the only one that can tell by the look in your eye (because you're gowned, gloved, and have a mask on), that you will need back up if the doctor doesn't get the line in in the next two minutes.  My fellow nurses are the only ones that understand how therapeutic it is to grab a carb loaded breakfast after a ridiculously trying shift.  It's okay to swear and cry and laugh and yell about the night because they're the ones that just "get it."

Patients and their families are what make up the most important part of nursing for me.  Not to get all mushy, of course I hate seeing families go through these experiences, but it feels good that I get to be part of that.  I get to use what I went to school for, to do my part in helping them get on their way.  I mentioned it has been the best and worst thing for me; best thing because I have seen ridiculously amazing outcomes.  Patients fight, and against all odds, get better.  I have seen families come together in times of crisis and I have seen overwhelming joy in parents' eyes when they find out their child will be okay.  I'm sure you can imagine why it could be the worst thing - it's not always smiles and roses.  (That's where the coworkers come in - otherwise I would have left this job a long time ago).  I hate to admit it, but I have become a bit jaded since I've worked in the ICU.  I guess I'd rather use the word guarded - that doesn't sound as harsh.  It's difficult for me to see things and not have the dreaded feeling that the other shoe will drop.  Thankfully, kids are insanely resilient and just want to get better - so that shoe doesn't always fall, which makes for a very good day.

So why, if there is so much heartache and headache in the PICU, do I keep going back?  Why can I come back twelve hours later to the same place I was peed on, puked on, pooped on, yelled at, and hit?  Why would I come back to a place where I have to double check everything before I give it?  Because that smile that snuck out of the shy 3 year old is priceless.  The quiet thank you from the reserved teenager actually sounds like a million words flooding out.  The look on the parents face when they get to snuggle their little peanut now that they're extubated is amazing.  And the jokes a coworker is bound to crack during the next shift is totally worth it.  I go back because I somehow find joy in what I do.  Who knows, maybe someday I'll get to marry a firefighter.  :)

The Congo?

Some time had passed and I made a surprise little road trip from TN to CT to celebrate Easter with my family.  It was that weekend that I got the initial email from Mercy Ships saying that I had been accepted to serve.  I'm sure those of you who know me can hear some of the choice words that may have snuck out of my mouth.  I was all smiles, but that overwhelming panic also managed its way into my mind.  Before I could let it take over, I shared the good news with my family and they seemed to welcome the verbal diarrhea that often accompanies my excitement. 

Multiple conversations took place with my parents, sisters, and friends.  We talked about where I'd be going, how long I'd be away, what the weather would be like, how was I - the world's worst packer - going to decide what I wanted to bring vs. what I needed to bring.  After everybody else got their fill of "Mercy Ship talk," my mind continued to race.  I've been a PICU nurse for five years and, sure I've had a fair share of experiences, but I am well aware that there is plenty more to learn - so I couldn't help but question, will what I know be enough?  What are the working conditions on the ship?  What will three months of cabin life be like?  What are the living conditions off the ship?  I wonder where the other volunteers will be from, and have they done other mission work before this?  How did they find out about Mercy Ships?  I was experiencing full blown flight of ideas.

In addition to my flight of ideas, I've also had days of panic and days of excitement.  I suppose this is a pretty normal response - well at least normal for me haha.  The neat thing though is, as the days creep by and it gets closer to boarding that ship, the excitement continues to build.  One of the ways I've continued to fuel that excitement is to do a little more research about what Laura Jo and I are getting ourselves into.

 Some fun facts about Mercy Ships:

• "Mercy Ships, a global charity, has operated a fleet of hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.  Following the 2000-year-old model of Jesus, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor, mobilizing people and resources worldwide"
• "The Africa Mercy is the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship, and is dedicated to the continent of Africa"
• The crew consists of more than 400 volunteers representing over 75 countries
• There is a total of 78 patient beds
• Some of the surgeries performed include cataract removal, lens implants, orthopedic surgeries, cleft lip and palate repairs, facial reconstruction, tumor removals, and obstetric fistula repairs

Information from www.mercyships.org

Things to know about the Congo:

• The Republic of the Congo is not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• It is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers
• Fun comparison fact - it is slightly smaller than Montana
• French is the official language
• Estimated population is 4,492,689
• Life expectancy 55.6 years
• Physician density: 0.1 physician/1000 population (from 2007)
• Hospital bed density: 1.6 beds/1000 population (from 2005)

Information from the CIA World Factbook

 



Pointe-Noire here we come!

 



Gypsy Nursing

Shortly after I got back from Haiti, Sofia convinced me to look into travel nursing.  In college I had given it some thought, but NEVER thought I'd have the guts to actually go through with it.  Once I realized I could survive Haiti, I figured a hospital in the States probably would be manageable.  We pretty much decided in January (shortly after we got back from a riot filled Haiti trip) that we'd start traveling.  By February, our applications were sent in, we quit our jobs, and were waiting anxiously to hear from our recruiter.  Sofia and I quickly came up with a little list of places we thought would be neat to see and began our insanely fun journey.  As with any crazy transition, I was a bit on the nervous side - I mean I used to get anxious sleeping over friends' houses, how was I going to handle three months in a new state, new job, new apartment? 

It wasn't long until we each had a brief phone interview from a hospital out in San Francisco - we were going to California!  Go big or go home, right?  So now we knew where we were headed, how were we going to get there?  I hate to admit my materialistic side, but I just have to say, I thoroughly enjoy cruising around in my Jeep Wrangler.  The second I step in it, I am in a good mood.  I knew that no matter what, that good ol Jeep would be making the long road trip to CA.  I have since upgraded a little bit, but here's the original "Max."

Thank goodness my Dad is the ultimate car packer, he somehow helped fit three months worth of "stuff" for two 20-something year old girls.  Sure, we didn't have the best visibility through the back and side windows...actually we had no visibility - but the nondriver became the much needed backup navigator.  Sorry Sof that we were so squished, and the ride was a bit bumpy - but thanks for not making me part with Max.  :) 

Hey - it made for some pretty good stories right?  And the zipper windows are clutch when keys get magically locked inside.

Nursing Application: Tape fixes everything!  

Here are a few shots from the road - palm trees, fake buildings along the highway, dust storms - ya know the norm.

My favorite though...while Sofia was navigating through the borderline tornado weather in the great state of TN I said, "Haha, look over there, doesn't it look like there's a guy huddled in the bed of that truck...wait a second - it is a guy!!!"

Sofia introduced me to a lot of firsts:

 

 I still can't believe some of the places we've been and landscapes we've seen. 

 The people we've met along the way have definitely helped me realize that this was the best career move I have made yet.

It's easy to say I've learned a lot about nursing, I mean adapting to multiple hospitals doesn't give you much of a choice.  But more importantly, I have learned quite a bit about what makes me tick.  It's been a fun ride so far and I can't wait to see what's in store for me next.



Turtle Power!