While many people fear and dread the idea of air travel, I consider myself a pro. I've got some mad skills.
Security check and shoe removal-no problem.
Stowing carry-on with a line of people waiting-like a boss.
Navigating the tiny airplane bathroom while hitting turbulence-well, lets just say I do a better job than Chris Farley did in the movie "Tommy Boy" (if you have never seen this movie, first, shame on you. Now click here).
My first flight ever, almost a year to the day after September 11th, suffered a lighting strike, airport changes, and a mad dash through the O'Hare airport with an unfortunate (and embarrassing) fall on a moving walkway. After that experience, everything else is a piece of cake. Having traveled a great deal solo in the last year, I've had my share of interesting experiences while flying that make for great stories when I land. This last trip to Boston was no exception.
It being only a few days after the major snowstorm hit New England, I was prepared for delays along the way. I sat in the waiting area after clearing the security check at the La Crosse airport and began chatting with a woman sitting across from me. After a few minutes, we were informed that the flight leaving Chicago to pick us up was running over 30 minutes behind. Being an experienced traveler and knowing the O'Hare airport very well, I know that you never give yourself less than an hour layover. For many reasons. This woman did not know this rule. She had only a 20 minute layover and with a 30 minute delay before every leaving the ground, she was going to miss her connecting flight. I gave her a sympathetic smile and thought, live and learn.
Once we landed in Chicago, I had an hour remaining of my layover time. I grabbed a bite to eat and made it to my gate with plenty of time. Again, the flight take-off was delayed. The pilot informed us that despite the late start, the flight plan had been changed and our landing time would remain the same as originally scheduled. About a half an hour before landing, the pilot informed us that we were on a "hold" due to heavy air traffic coming into the Boston airport. This resulted in another 30 minutes of circling before finally landing.
Now, usually when the plane comes to a stop at the gate, passengers take it as a signal to get up and start the race to get their carry-on out of the overhead bins and claim a spot in the aisle to exit the plane. Not on this flight. The flight attendants came rushing down the aisle, insisting that everyone remain in their seats because law enforcement was coming on the plane. My first thought, and I would imagine that of all my fellow passengers, who did it and what did they do? Did someone mess with the smoke detector in the bathroom? Look at one of the flight attendants wrong? These days, who knows! Two officers boarded the plane and announced the name of the person of interest. For almost a minute, no one moved. I don't think anyone took a breath. We were all waiting for said person to arise from their seat and make their way to the front. Finally, someone stood up. It just so happened the gentleman in question was sitting right next to me! He looked around at all of us surrounding him as if he were pleading for help. We all just looked back at him, all thinking the same thing, "dude, what did you do?" He made his way up the aisle toward the officers who promptly removed him from the plane. When we all finally made it off the plane, we saw the man surrounded by about six armed police at the entrance to the gate.
After all that, it was hard to believe that my return flights would lend nearly as much excitement. That was a mistake. That has now become a new rule, never believe when flying that it can't get more interesting. It always can.
The return flight from Boston to Chicago was turbulent and spent wedged between a snoring woman and a rather smelly Russian man, but otherwise uneventful. It was when the plane touched down, around 4:30pm and the flight attendants gave passengers clearance to use their cell phones that things got interesting. I decided to check my phone for any texts I might have missed in-flight. I noticed I had a voicemail. Before the plane ever made it to the gate I found out that my connecting flight to La Crosse had been cancelled. Yep, American Airlines decided it would be okay to inform me of this via voicemail. Awesome. But they so politely rescheduled me for another flight leaving at 8:30. The next morning.
I de-boarded the plane as quickly as I could and rushed to the first ticketing desk I could. I was told my flight had indeed been cancelled, "due to weather." I looked out the windows to a semi-clear sky with no precipitation of any kind. The lady at the desk said it was a preemptive cancellation because there was the possibility of a large snow storm. Seriously? I thought I was back in the midwest, since when are we afraid of a little snow? She placed me on standby for the next flight to La Crosse, in four hours, along with about 40 other people who were supposed to be on the same flight. So I sat, disgruntled, at the gate for my standby flight. I surveyed the crowd sitting around me and quickly learned that pretty much everyone else was in the same boat I was. I made the acquaintance of a few people around me and after about 15 minutes we had formulated a plan: to get the hell out of Chicago whatever way possible. Four resourceful Wisconsin women, a few phone calls, and a lot of determination got us all on our way out of Chicago. By plane? No. By train? No. We rented a car, split the difference among all of us and drove the 268 miles, or four and a half hours home. In rush hour traffic no less! As it turned out, I work with one of the women at the hospital. The other two were a grandmother/daughter duo. We took turns driving, chatting the whole way. We never even turned the radio on, the long trip went by in a flash.
Quirky travel experiences aside, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to New England, as I always do. A post about a few of my adventures is yet to come!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Anniversary
February 13th, 2012
It was on that date that I started this adventure of travel nursing, the day that changed my life in so many ways. Looking back, it is so hard to believe it has already been a year since I took that deep breath, walked into my boss' office, and gave her my notice. A year ago that I started packing my bags, loading my car, and preparing for the 1300 mile journey across the country. At the time, I would never have guessed the ways in which my life would be altered, all because of one singular decision: to travel.
February 11th was the day I arrived in Exeter, NH to start my assignment and the 13th was my first day on the job. How fitting that a yer later I am right back where I started. Yes, you read correctly, I am back in New Hampshire again for a visit, with my plane landing on February 11th. Did I plan it this way, no. But I never would have thought a year ago I would be back in this place, albeit for very different reasons. I guess it speaks volumes to the hold this place and these people have cast on me.
It is difficult to quantify all the changes that have happened, all the people I have met, and least of all, the places I have seen. But, in some attempt to sum up my year of travel nursing, I sifted through the many photos and videos of my adventures on the road to post some of my favorites. Hopefully they are some of your favorites as well!
A history lesson in Salem, Mass visiting the witch trials memorial site and later taking in the literary history of the Little Women house. 
It was on that date that I started this adventure of travel nursing, the day that changed my life in so many ways. Looking back, it is so hard to believe it has already been a year since I took that deep breath, walked into my boss' office, and gave her my notice. A year ago that I started packing my bags, loading my car, and preparing for the 1300 mile journey across the country. At the time, I would never have guessed the ways in which my life would be altered, all because of one singular decision: to travel.
February 11th was the day I arrived in Exeter, NH to start my assignment and the 13th was my first day on the job. How fitting that a yer later I am right back where I started. Yes, you read correctly, I am back in New Hampshire again for a visit, with my plane landing on February 11th. Did I plan it this way, no. But I never would have thought a year ago I would be back in this place, albeit for very different reasons. I guess it speaks volumes to the hold this place and these people have cast on me.
It is difficult to quantify all the changes that have happened, all the people I have met, and least of all, the places I have seen. But, in some attempt to sum up my year of travel nursing, I sifted through the many photos and videos of my adventures on the road to post some of my favorites. Hopefully they are some of your favorites as well!
A history lesson in Salem, Mass visiting the witch trials memorial site and later taking in the literary history of the Little Women house. 
Getting swept away in the sand at the beach in Gloucester, Mass
Taking in some art at the Museum of Fine Art on my first ever trip to Boston.
Flowers and oysters filled my second trip to Boston with my ever amazing landlords Jeff and Cindy.
St. Patty's day in Boston proved to be quite the experience with all those Irish running about!
The infamous Beaver Brook Trail sign in post at the trail head. This trail is still on my list to complete!
Wilton Falls. Just a small town on a back road in NH, who knew this beauty was hiding?
Getting soaked and soaking up the sights in Bar Harbor, Maine.
The cruise with my ladies in Portsmouth, NH
Fresh lobster with Val and Shelley in Wells, Maine
Niagara Falls with Mom, quite the sight to see.
Feeling like I could see clearly for the first time with my new camera, Mark!
Spending a beautiful day with the amazing Gray family.
Fall in New England. Nuff said.
The infamous "layer" cake!
Door County with Mom.
And the adventure that started it all, road tripping with Helga.
It is amazing to reflect on all that I have done in a year's time, but bittersweet as well. While I continue to rehabilitate my injured back, there are no guarantees at this point that I will ever be able to travel nurse again, or ever be a bedside nurse again. It is painful to think of such a scenerio. But, in the same token, there are far worse scenarios I could be in. Not many people are blessed in the ways I have been. This past year has been by far the most enriching of my adult life. I am walking away with so many gifts, I can't even begin to take inventory. I'm not sure what will become of this blog as I am unsure what will become of my life and career. But thanks to all those who have come along on this roller coaster the past year.
Monday, February 4, 2013
New England: Take Three
Shortly after my return from New Hampshire in October, I booked tickets for a two week vacation to go back. It gave me something to look forward to; something to get me through the injections, chiropractor appointments, and countless painful days. I began the countdown, eagerly awaiting the day in December that I would be re-united with my friends.
I didn't have major plans for my time there, didn't have anywhere in particular I wanted to go, but had a long list of people I wanted to see. But, while my friends were working or otherwise busy with their lives, I made my way back to a few of my favorite places.
My first day included a return to Nubble Point lighthouse in York, Maine. This was the same lighthouse that Sarah (aka: Helga) and I visited on my first day in New England back in February. So, it holds many memories for me. It was a beautiful day, sunny with a few stray clouds streaking the sky.
After my stop at the lighthouse, I made my way to the Cliff Walk. My friend Laura originally introduced me to this hidden gem in York. Known mostly to locals, the Cliff Walk is flanked by the ocean on one side and large mansion-esque homes on the other. Most of the homes along the ocean are owned by wealthy families, some passed down over generations. With my visit being so late in the year, most of them were vacant, some even with their windows boarded up for the winter.
I didn't have major plans for my time there, didn't have anywhere in particular I wanted to go, but had a long list of people I wanted to see. But, while my friends were working or otherwise busy with their lives, I made my way back to a few of my favorite places. My first day included a return to Nubble Point lighthouse in York, Maine. This was the same lighthouse that Sarah (aka: Helga) and I visited on my first day in New England back in February. So, it holds many memories for me. It was a beautiful day, sunny with a few stray clouds streaking the sky.
After my stop at the lighthouse, I made my way to the Cliff Walk. My friend Laura originally introduced me to this hidden gem in York. Known mostly to locals, the Cliff Walk is flanked by the ocean on one side and large mansion-esque homes on the other. Most of the homes along the ocean are owned by wealthy families, some passed down over generations. With my visit being so late in the year, most of them were vacant, some even with their windows boarded up for the winter. 
Side note: I've been working on this post for over a month! These are the only photos the site is allowing me to upload! I figured a few were better than none. I will continue to work on it and intend to post another entry with more photos and more about my two weeks of bliss in New England!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Notes on Nursing: What it is and what it is not
Since the blogger website is still giving me a hard time uploading photos, I figured I would post a boring text only entry!
In the last century and a half, the identify of a nurse has been redefined countless times by the media, society, and by nurses themselves. Most television dramas depict us to be absent minded idiots chasing the cute doctors (trust me, most doctors are not that cute). Most of society, including patients, see us as med school drop outs who couldn't cut it as a physician or as the sexy pin up nurses you see at Halloween parties (something many nurses are guilty of perpetuating themselves by dressing that way). It is easy to see why nurses have struggled to cement themselves as educated practitioners with all the stereotypes working against us. I'm not going to say that the role of the nurse has not progressed by leaps and bounds and I'm not going to say that we are never appreciated or respected. In fact, for many years, including this year, nurses were ranked #1 among other professions as the most trustworthy. The only year they were not was in 2001, when firefighters took the number one spot. But, in order to understand how the profession has gotten where it has, a fair evaluation of its past is necessary. I won't bore you with the entire history, just the highlights!
One entire semester of my undergraduate degree was dedicated to the history of nursing. At the time, I didn't absorb much. But since graduating, I've brushed up on my nursing history and now find it interesting. According to legend, the first nurse was Phoebe. Mentioned in Romans 16:1, St. Paul sent Phoebe to Rome to attend to men and women. Although she was the first, Phoebe is not the first nurse that comes to mind for most. Florence Nightingale is without a doubt the most "known" nurse in the profession's history. Considered the founder of modern nursing, in the 1850's Nightingale set out to reform the care of British soldiers after witnessing the horrific conditions in which they were cared for. She determined there were essentials of care that nurses must take into consideration to ensure the health and wellness of patients. She details these "rules" of nursing in her book Notes on Nursing: What it is and What it is Not.
Over the past few months I have been paging through this book in my spare moments. I am surprised how many times Nightingale is spot on in her assessments of nursing care. Many of her insights are still emphasized in practice today. The importance of cleanliness, adequate air exchange in patient rooms, and the influence of sleep on pain perception. Based on her writings, Nightingale was a pistol. On more than one occasion, she refers to doctors as "ill-informed medical men." A woman after my own heart. The thing I find so revolutionary about Nightingale is she speaks of nursing as its own entity. She describes the responsibility of the nurse as something beyond taking and carrying out physician orders. Instead, the knowledge that nurses possessed was something doctors knew nothing of.
Much like the profession of nursing, each individual nurse redefines their idea of a nurse over the course of their career. They make their own list of what a nurse is and what a nurse is not. Traveling has provided me ample opportunity to revise and add to my own list. Here's a few examples from my every growing, constantly changing list.
In the last century and a half, the identify of a nurse has been redefined countless times by the media, society, and by nurses themselves. Most television dramas depict us to be absent minded idiots chasing the cute doctors (trust me, most doctors are not that cute). Most of society, including patients, see us as med school drop outs who couldn't cut it as a physician or as the sexy pin up nurses you see at Halloween parties (something many nurses are guilty of perpetuating themselves by dressing that way). It is easy to see why nurses have struggled to cement themselves as educated practitioners with all the stereotypes working against us. I'm not going to say that the role of the nurse has not progressed by leaps and bounds and I'm not going to say that we are never appreciated or respected. In fact, for many years, including this year, nurses were ranked #1 among other professions as the most trustworthy. The only year they were not was in 2001, when firefighters took the number one spot. But, in order to understand how the profession has gotten where it has, a fair evaluation of its past is necessary. I won't bore you with the entire history, just the highlights!
One entire semester of my undergraduate degree was dedicated to the history of nursing. At the time, I didn't absorb much. But since graduating, I've brushed up on my nursing history and now find it interesting. According to legend, the first nurse was Phoebe. Mentioned in Romans 16:1, St. Paul sent Phoebe to Rome to attend to men and women. Although she was the first, Phoebe is not the first nurse that comes to mind for most. Florence Nightingale is without a doubt the most "known" nurse in the profession's history. Considered the founder of modern nursing, in the 1850's Nightingale set out to reform the care of British soldiers after witnessing the horrific conditions in which they were cared for. She determined there were essentials of care that nurses must take into consideration to ensure the health and wellness of patients. She details these "rules" of nursing in her book Notes on Nursing: What it is and What it is Not.
Over the past few months I have been paging through this book in my spare moments. I am surprised how many times Nightingale is spot on in her assessments of nursing care. Many of her insights are still emphasized in practice today. The importance of cleanliness, adequate air exchange in patient rooms, and the influence of sleep on pain perception. Based on her writings, Nightingale was a pistol. On more than one occasion, she refers to doctors as "ill-informed medical men." A woman after my own heart. The thing I find so revolutionary about Nightingale is she speaks of nursing as its own entity. She describes the responsibility of the nurse as something beyond taking and carrying out physician orders. Instead, the knowledge that nurses possessed was something doctors knew nothing of.
Much like the profession of nursing, each individual nurse redefines their idea of a nurse over the course of their career. They make their own list of what a nurse is and what a nurse is not. Traveling has provided me ample opportunity to revise and add to my own list. Here's a few examples from my every growing, constantly changing list.
What a nurse is:
An educated practitioner
Someone with the skills to potentially save a life
Someone with the skills to potentially save a life
The calm before, during and after the storm
A shoulder to cry on/A hand to hold
Dedicated/passionate/compassionate
The person who often saves you from the ignorance of others or, sometimes, yourself
Someone who is taking time away from their own family to take care of yours
Human, they make mistakes too you know
What a nurse is not:
Mindless
A punching bag
A waitress/concierge/maid/coffee maker
"just" a nurse
prideful/arrogant/boastful (these may be characteristics better labeled as "what a nurse should not be")
Human, they make mistakes too you know
What a nurse is not:
Mindless
A punching bag
A waitress/concierge/maid/coffee maker
"just" a nurse
prideful/arrogant/boastful (these may be characteristics better labeled as "what a nurse should not be")
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Glitch!
My apologies! I have been working on posting pictures from my December trip to New England on the blog, but the website is having some technical difficulties. I have been unable to upload pictures to my blog posts for the past few weeks. Please bear with me while I try to work on getting new blog entries posted!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
What does 2013 have in store?
The New Year is upon us, despite the Myan prediction hooplah. Such is the time for reflections on the past year's events and predictions and hopes for the year in front of us.
New Year's doesn't tend to rank high on my list of celebrated holidays. Maybe its because I don't make resolutions. Perhaps its because as a person in the medical field, holidays tend to take on less significance. They become just another day of work. So, not surprisingly, I worked today! However, I did take some time to think about all the changes in my life over the last year and how significant it has been in who I have become today. It was a year filled with major life changes, new adventures, and new friends.
Last year on New Year's day, I made the decision to become a travel nurse after much deliberation. As I wrote in a previous blog (click here to read), I found reinforcement for my decision in a rather odd place: my 2012 horoscope. I'm a person who rarely reads their horoscope and puts little faith in such things, or at least I didn't until this year. In summary, the prediction for my 2012 year involved a new career that included extensive travel. Crazy accurate, right? So, when I saw the link on my Yahoo home page for my 2013 horoscope, how could I not click?!
What does 2013 have in store for me?
New Year's doesn't tend to rank high on my list of celebrated holidays. Maybe its because I don't make resolutions. Perhaps its because as a person in the medical field, holidays tend to take on less significance. They become just another day of work. So, not surprisingly, I worked today! However, I did take some time to think about all the changes in my life over the last year and how significant it has been in who I have become today. It was a year filled with major life changes, new adventures, and new friends.
Last year on New Year's day, I made the decision to become a travel nurse after much deliberation. As I wrote in a previous blog (click here to read), I found reinforcement for my decision in a rather odd place: my 2012 horoscope. I'm a person who rarely reads their horoscope and puts little faith in such things, or at least I didn't until this year. In summary, the prediction for my 2012 year involved a new career that included extensive travel. Crazy accurate, right? So, when I saw the link on my Yahoo home page for my 2013 horoscope, how could I not click?!
What does 2013 have in store for me?
2012 brought a breakthrough or two to your career zone and now in 2013 the restless surge continues. Now that Saturn has finally moved out of your work and health sector for good, you will feel a great weight lift off your shoulders with the burden of daily demands and never-ending deadlines.This is the year to use that restless energy and take a risk to merge your passion and your work. You have been promising yourself for years that you would break out of the comfort of the familiar to pursue something more satisfying on a soul level even if it meant sacrificing the security of a paycheck. Well now is the time, Taurus. With the south node of the Moon pushing you out of the stagnation zone and into new and passionate territory, how can you possibly remain stuck? Something infinitely more gratifying is waiting for you on the other side of your current status quo, it's just up to you to make the leap.
I guess I had best prepare for more changes, new risks to take, and hopefully, even more happiness in 2013. Hopefully this means healing for my back injury and more traveling! I wish you all a healthy, happy new year and that all your dreams for the coming year come true!
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Life Moves On
Yes, yes it does.
Life continues moving forward and we as humans, are perilous to stop it. Could true success in one's existence be measured by the ability to let go of yesterday, make the most of today, and prepare for tomorrow? Perhaps. But, what does this have to do with my blog, or lack thereof in recent weeks?
Since my contract ended in October, I have put traveling on hold in an attempt to mend my injured back. I had to put my work on the back burner, to stop doing what I love most. In essence, I thought I was putting my entire life on hold. But, as I have learned, life does not stop to wait for you to accomplish the things you want. It charges forward, unaffected.
My career has always comprised a large part of who I am as a person. The last four years of my life have been focused on developing my career. Nothing wrong with that, right? (not if you ask some of my family members, "when are you getting married????") So, what does a career-minded person do when said career is put on hold?
Learn to live.
The past few weeks have been filled with visits with family, quality time with friends, and hopefully, healing. My back injury is hopefully turning a corner, or so my chiropractor says. I have not been fully released to traveling nationally again, but am looking into a few possible local short term assignments to get me back into the saddle again (I will post more details on this as they develop). I spent Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family, many that I have not seen in a year. I spent a joyous two weeks at the beginning of the month with my "family" in New England. And while thoughts of relocating to New Hampshire have begun to work their way into my mind, for now, I realize my priority is to stay put and get my health in order. So, fret not my Wisconsin friends, I'm not going anywhere, yet.
Life continues moving forward and we as humans, are perilous to stop it. Could true success in one's existence be measured by the ability to let go of yesterday, make the most of today, and prepare for tomorrow? Perhaps. But, what does this have to do with my blog, or lack thereof in recent weeks?
Since my contract ended in October, I have put traveling on hold in an attempt to mend my injured back. I had to put my work on the back burner, to stop doing what I love most. In essence, I thought I was putting my entire life on hold. But, as I have learned, life does not stop to wait for you to accomplish the things you want. It charges forward, unaffected.
My career has always comprised a large part of who I am as a person. The last four years of my life have been focused on developing my career. Nothing wrong with that, right? (not if you ask some of my family members, "when are you getting married????") So, what does a career-minded person do when said career is put on hold?
Learn to live.
The past few weeks have been filled with visits with family, quality time with friends, and hopefully, healing. My back injury is hopefully turning a corner, or so my chiropractor says. I have not been fully released to traveling nationally again, but am looking into a few possible local short term assignments to get me back into the saddle again (I will post more details on this as they develop). I spent Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family, many that I have not seen in a year. I spent a joyous two weeks at the beginning of the month with my "family" in New England. And while thoughts of relocating to New Hampshire have begun to work their way into my mind, for now, I realize my priority is to stay put and get my health in order. So, fret not my Wisconsin friends, I'm not going anywhere, yet.
I still have photos to edit from my trip to New England and hope to start working on them soon. But, for now, I will leave you with a few photos from the Green Bay Botanical Garden Christmas light show. I wish you and your family a safe and peaceful holiday season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)