A new curveball has been thrown at me. I've been gearing myself up to dothis travel nursing thing, talked to my managers, etc, have even thought through how I could juggle things (While visiting Tonya & Sophia in Cincinnati, I was really impressed with their hospital and the proximity to home, and figured, it'd be nice to travel so close to home, especially if our census ever recovers here)... Anyway, I was approached, again, to sign up to join the transport team. I've been asked by both managers, ate least two NNPs, and several of my fellow coworkers have said I should. I have definitely thought about it, considered it, but the idea of beign out there, completely responsible for the patient, is overwhelming. Obviously I wouldn't ever be completely alone. Respiratory always goes with the RN, and depending on how sick the kiddo is, a NNP sometimes goes too. If the NNP doesn't go, I'd have a phone and contact with my NNP or Doc at all times; but it's still nerve-racking.
I was suckered in. Speaking with a couple of coworkers that are also signed up to take the transport classes, I decided to just jump in. So, I am signed up to take the three 8-hr classes in June and then I'll go through competencies and then I'll get to take a few runs with an NNP until I am comfortable going out on my own.
The benefits of being a Transport Nurse? I'll get paid time and a half while I'm out on transport, I'll get to perform some new skills, and I'll get the experience that I can't get on a regular basis just being at the bedside. Plus, it looks good on the resume.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
going occasional
We are losing a lot of employees right now: a couple quit, one is going occasional. This made it good timing that I talk to my managers about my plan to travel nurse. I was really nervous, not sure how much information to tell and how much to hold back. One of the ladies who is full time and is going to occasional said it was a good time to ask because there were some openings.
I talked with both of my managers and though they were less than thrilled about losing me to an occasional position, they were understanding of my need to do this now while I am young, single and without kids. They both understood that we only get one life and we have to make the most of it.
After talking to them, it made me even more scared and nervous that this thing is really going to happen. It still doesn't seem real and probably won't until it really happens. Now I need to get on the ball with looking up and researching travel companies so I can be ready for my first assignment come September.
I talked with both of my managers and though they were less than thrilled about losing me to an occasional position, they were understanding of my need to do this now while I am young, single and without kids. They both understood that we only get one life and we have to make the most of it.
After talking to them, it made me even more scared and nervous that this thing is really going to happen. It still doesn't seem real and probably won't until it really happens. Now I need to get on the ball with looking up and researching travel companies so I can be ready for my first assignment come September.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
awaiting information
While I was visiting family in Texas, one of my cousins reminded me of their friend, M, who travel nursed before settling down with a husband and son in Houston. They gave me her email address so I could get in touch with her and find out all that I could from her experiences. I emailed her and am waiting for her to respond. All I know from my cousins is that she travelled for a couple years, spent some time in Seattle and earned somewhere between $140-170,000 each year. Each year.
Well, that definitely helps in the decision making. Travels to places all over the United States. Getting to see how other Neonatal ICUs work. And making a ton of money in the process. Sold.
Now if only I could get Covenant to let me go occasional so I will have a place to work when I decide to stop traveling.
Well, that definitely helps in the decision making. Travels to places all over the United States. Getting to see how other Neonatal ICUs work. And making a ton of money in the process. Sold.
Now if only I could get Covenant to let me go occasional so I will have a place to work when I decide to stop traveling.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
life decisions
I am truly thinking about travel nursing. A coworker of mine is waiting until she's been in the NICU for a year (in August) so that she can go travel and I am really thinking/planning to go with her. There are so many details to be worked out, but, I am young, I should do this. It scares me. Traveling to new places, working in new hospitals where I don't know the doctors, RTs and fellow nurses. But if we go together, maybe it won't be so scary. I am also concerned, as I always am, about how it'd affect my chances of finding a husband. But, I can't live my life waiting for that to happen. God will take care of that, I'll take care of babies and experience cities all over the country.
To start with, I'd really like to travel to my old hospital. It'd make for an easier transition into the whole travel thing, without being scared/worried/anxious about a "new" hospital. Although I am sure much has changed in the two years since I've worked there, I know there are a ton of familiar faces to make it less scary.
I will keep this idea in my prayers and see where God wants me to go. I already know I am using the skills He gave me, and I know my purpose in this life is my nursing career with my babies, but besides that, I am waiting for Him to take the lead.
In the meantime, I don't want to stop working towards my BSN so I am going to start looking at completely online RN to BSN programs so I can continue my education regardless of my location. If this all goes through, I'll actually be able to use this blog as I originally intended it to be used for.... Traveling Ashley. :)
To start with, I'd really like to travel to my old hospital. It'd make for an easier transition into the whole travel thing, without being scared/worried/anxious about a "new" hospital. Although I am sure much has changed in the two years since I've worked there, I know there are a ton of familiar faces to make it less scary.
I will keep this idea in my prayers and see where God wants me to go. I already know I am using the skills He gave me, and I know my purpose in this life is my nursing career with my babies, but besides that, I am waiting for Him to take the lead.
In the meantime, I don't want to stop working towards my BSN so I am going to start looking at completely online RN to BSN programs so I can continue my education regardless of my location. If this all goes through, I'll actually be able to use this blog as I originally intended it to be used for.... Traveling Ashley. :)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
primary
It's been a really long time since I've had a primary. Actually, it's been since Ella Christine, back in the summer of 2008, right before I moved back to MI.
I wasn't going to take "I" on as a primary. His parents were a little too much for me. They are young. They are like a lot of parents in that they don't fully grasp the fact that their infant is in an ICU. I=Intensive, but many parents forget that fact. I can understand it to a point- no one ever wants their baby in an ICU. And I understand blocking out the ugly parts of life. Still, we educate parents on good and bad stimulation for their babies and these two just didn't seem to be getting it. After the first two days of having "I", I told my roommate (who was to be in the same nursery as myself for the 3 day stretch) that I loved little "I", and would love to primary him, but I didn't think I could handle the parents.
"I" had had surgery three days prior to this. On my first day of having him, we turned off his IV pain meds and extubated him. He did fantastically, but was obviously in a lot of pain, was hungry, and we couldn't hold him.
On the third day, his parents came him and were getting better at not overstimulating him. I was assessing him and he was laying there calmly while I did so. The parents remarked at how well he did when I was here. They didn't like the other nurses that had had him, they ignored him while he cried (per parents), and he just did so well with me. They told me I was his favorite nurse and they really liked it when I had him. I bonded with them as I assisted them in checking his temperature and changing his diaper for the first time. I signed up, later that day, to be his primary.
A few days later, I had him again. Mom came in and was happy to see I was there. A family member came with and while she was holding, Mom talked to the family member saying that "Ashley is his favorite nurse, he does so well when she's here".
This is why I do my job. This is what makes me happy, gives me a purpose in life. I know why God has put me here, it's to make the worst moments in a new mother's life, easier, better, smoother.
I wasn't going to take "I" on as a primary. His parents were a little too much for me. They are young. They are like a lot of parents in that they don't fully grasp the fact that their infant is in an ICU. I=Intensive, but many parents forget that fact. I can understand it to a point- no one ever wants their baby in an ICU. And I understand blocking out the ugly parts of life. Still, we educate parents on good and bad stimulation for their babies and these two just didn't seem to be getting it. After the first two days of having "I", I told my roommate (who was to be in the same nursery as myself for the 3 day stretch) that I loved little "I", and would love to primary him, but I didn't think I could handle the parents.
"I" had had surgery three days prior to this. On my first day of having him, we turned off his IV pain meds and extubated him. He did fantastically, but was obviously in a lot of pain, was hungry, and we couldn't hold him.
On the third day, his parents came him and were getting better at not overstimulating him. I was assessing him and he was laying there calmly while I did so. The parents remarked at how well he did when I was here. They didn't like the other nurses that had had him, they ignored him while he cried (per parents), and he just did so well with me. They told me I was his favorite nurse and they really liked it when I had him. I bonded with them as I assisted them in checking his temperature and changing his diaper for the first time. I signed up, later that day, to be his primary.
A few days later, I had him again. Mom came in and was happy to see I was there. A family member came with and while she was holding, Mom talked to the family member saying that "Ashley is his favorite nurse, he does so well when she's here".
This is why I do my job. This is what makes me happy, gives me a purpose in life. I know why God has put me here, it's to make the worst moments in a new mother's life, easier, better, smoother.
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