2011 Round-up

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Since it's getting close to the end of 2011, I thought it fitting for me to post a round-up of people, places and events that occured during the year.

I've worked in three locations this year.  Here is a summary of each:

• Kansas City, MO ~ North Kansas City Hospital
• High nurse patient ratio's 1:8
• Largest unit I've ever worked on at 52 beds
• Traveler friendly on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best: 6/10
• Busy...busy....busy!

• Providence, RI
• Average nurse patient ratio's 1:5-6
• 20 some bed unit
• Traveler friendly: 9/10 (These nurses were very welcoming)
• Nice slow easy work pace

• Chicago, IL
• Average nurse patient ratio's 1-5-6
• 20 something bed unit
• Traveler friendly: 5/10
• Moderately busy but not overwhelming

Places that I've traveled (I'll include my travel nursing locations here as well)

• Kansas City, MO
• Tons to see and do
• Surprised me on it's diversity
• COLD (I was here in winter)
• I would consider going back (during warmer months)
• New Orleans, LA
• Traveled here twice this year.  Once for MG and again for French Quarter Fest
• Always love NOLA
• I WILL go back.
• Minnieapolis, MN
• Surprisingly fun city
• Always something fun to do/see
• Would go back to explore more
• Louisville, KY
• Stayed here with a friend to recouperate from surgery
• Somewhat of a home away from home for me
• Visited with friends and family
• I'll always come back due to family in the area.
• Road Trip across Pennsylvania (twice)
• Loved the covered bridges
• People were helpful and friendly
• Great comfort food
• Hated Hershey, PA
• Hoboken, NJ
• Went to see Carlo's Bakery (for Trinity)
• Small town feel with all of the big city ammenities
• Would love to go back
• Providence, RI
• Got robbed twice
• First place I lived was ghetto...moved into hotel
• People at work were the only redeeming quality
• Would return but have to find a good spot to live
• Chicago, IL
• Always tons to do/see
• COLD (winter in Chicago...not smartest choice)
• Live too far from the 'city'
• Would return if I could live closer to downtown.

So it looks like I managed about 8 states.  Not too bad for a girl that had two surgeries this year and was down and out for a good two months.

No international travel this year which is a bit disappointing but I'm heading to South America in February....so how is a girl to complain?

Where did you go in 2011?  What was your favorite and why?  Have you been to any of the places I went in 2011?  If so, were your impresssions different?

Sharing the Windy City

Being a Travel Nurse is a ton of fun.  The ability to travel to new cities and live there as a local is the draw that kept me traveling for the last 7 years.  The best part, however is being able to share the new city with others.  This weekend, I got to share the city with my daughter; Trinity. 

We braved temperatures in the teens, bundled up like little snowmen and went out to explore the city.  The 'cloud gate', State street lights, watched the ice skaters, and of course I drank lots of coffee. 

I've been able to intice Trinity to enjoy the theater and we saw one of the most interesting performances that I think I've seen to date.  "Let My People Come".

 This play was originally performed in NYC in the '70's and was controversial at that time.  Wow....I can see why!  It was an amazing exploration of sexuality, both personal and societal .   I can only imagine how this was accepted (or not) in the '70's when the general public was pretty prudish when it comes to sexuality, nudity, and alternative life-styles.  It was raw, vulgar, emotional, and engaging.  If you can step outside of societies boundaries and go with an open mind.....it's eye-opening.


The train ride back home was nearly as engaging as the play.  Between the drunk blond that everyone was afraid was going to hurl on the train, the old black man screaming about "I paid $45 dollar for a cheesecake", the egotistical romeo sitting behind us, and the banter between the other sober passengers; it was a riot.  I think I laughed nearly as much on the ride home as I did during the play; maybe more.
There is an improv show somewhere here in Chicago that I had read about the is based on personal experiences on the  "L".  It sounded interesting before this engaging trip but now I think it's a must see while here in the city.  (Remind me to put this on my 'to-do' list).

Livin' life and enjoying Chicago....

How does one become a Travel Nurse?

A friend asked me today "How does one become a travel nurse?" I have given it some consideration and come to the following step-by-step instructions:

1. Divorce your husband. If you choose not to divorce him, realize that he will probably divorce you before your finished with Nursing School.

2. Give custody of your children to your parents or another responsible adult. If you think you'll have time for Nursing School and KIDS....think again.

3. Aclimate yourself to sleeping only 2-4 hours a day. Between the reading assignments, the studying for exams, clinicals, and two to three part-time jobs...this is all the sleep your going to get. If you did not follow steps 1 and 2 then plan on 1-3 hours of sleep.

4. Take a seminar on self-esteem. If anything can break a persons self-esteem it's nursing instructors.

5. Prepare for failure.

Wow....I wrote the above back in 2005 and never finished or published it.  I think the thoughts listed above are still quite correct.  In addition, I would add the following.

1.  Get two SOLID years of experience in your specialty before you even consider travel nursing.  Your going to be thrown to the wolves when you arrive in a new hospital because "your making the big bucks" so everyone thinks you should work harder to "earn your pay".

2.  Work as a car salesman for at least a year to get your haggling/negotiating skills in check; your going to need them when dealing with all the recruiters and different companies out there.

3.  Buy a good pair of shoes.  This isn't just for Travel Nurses, but nurses everywhere.

4.  Gather a good amount of emergency cash in your savings account.  If you want the reasons for this; just read:   The Recent Drama   or   Just a Simple or Not So Simple Rant

5.  Go with an open mind and an adventurous spirit and enjoy your surroundings.

6.  When things get hard, remember:  IT's only 13 Weeks!!

The Recent Drama

I thought that the reasons for my going into travel nursing was to get as far away from the drama as possible. Well...somehow it isn't working. The past several weeks have been interesting to say the least. On June 23rd I received a note on my apartment door that my company had three days to pay my rent. Now, call me niave but I thought that since my company was taking money out of my weekly checks for housing that the housing cost's were actually being taken care of....silly me!! So, I contacted my company and they assured me that the issue was being taken care of and the rent was being sent federal express to the apartment complex. End of story....right?

Not quite...around the 2nd of July I recieved a letter from the court that the apartment complex is taking my company to court and is giving me a notice to vacate the premises. Again I phoned my company and this time they played stupid...claiming ignorance of the subject. I filled them in and forwarded a copy of the court paperwork to them and again was assured tthat the issue would be resolved promptly.

Here I sit almost a week later and I still dont know if I'm going to get escorted out of my apartment due to an eviction. I have been mulling it over in my mind and am not sure what path I should take in the matter.

Option #1 Hang out here and hope that the company pays the rent so that I dont get evicted or hope that I can finish my assignment prior to being evicted.

Option #2 Find another assignment in the Socal area and move into a new apartment and start a new contract, extending my time here in California by about 6-7 weeks.

Option #3 Tuck my tail between my legs and run home crying to "daddy"

I am planning to make some phone calls this morning and find out what is transpiring on the side of my company and see if they have yet to pay the rent. I have consulted with an attorney (or tried to) and going to try again tomorrow to get ahold of her to determine my best recourse. I would like to make this company "pay" for the undue stress that they have caused me and my family but of course....the good guy doesn't always win like they say. So....sitting and waiting....