Hi all!
Sorry for the long delay in blog posts... I've been working so much and really haven't gotten to do the exploring I had hoped to be able to do. I have only had a few days off here and there, and those days were spent relaxing and then preparing for the next few days of work. Also not having my own vehicle makes things difficult too. Especially in Thompson. I'm very hesitant to go for a walk anywhere really, even in day light. Because here in Thompson, the drunks are out 24/7. The weekends don't matter and day or night doesn't matter. There are also quite a few homeless too, hanging out in front of grocery stores or the mall and Wal Mart. I don't think anything would happen, and I'm sure if I lived up here, I'd get over it quickly, but still being new to the area makes it a little scary. Luckily, we are given taxi slips at work for transportation. I have met some of the nicest people by taking taxis. Most of the drivers are friendly and chatty and are quite used to transporting hospital staff. One driver in particular has been so great to me, given me his card so I can call him directly and get the same car and driver every time. I tell him a few days in advance what my schedule is like, or on the way home from a shift, I will mention I work days tomorrow and he will be at the door step by 0715 and call to let me know he is there. Or when I get off night shifts he's already sitting waiting at the hospital for me to come out. I didn't think it would be a big deal or handy to have the same driver all the time, but you really get to know someone in those 5-10min chats 4 times a week or more and they don't mind sitting and waiting a few minutes while you grab a coffee or stand in line at the post office. Many drivers have warned us (a co worker had an apartment across the hall from mine so when we worked we would travel together) to not walk at nights, especially in our area it seems. The complex is near the beer store, liquor mart, homeless shelter and a few bars. The streets are just littered with drunk people a lot of the time. So its not the safest place per se, but it has been good so far. My taxi driver drops me off nice n close to the doors, and waits until I am in the building before driving away. I didn't think I'd care about having a different driver all the time, but having this one all the time has been really nice, very reliable and one less worry off my shoulders!
As for work, what a difference than home!! Just one completely different population of patients. A LOT A LOT A LOT of drunks or people experiencing withdrawals, TB is quite common up here (and scares me, considering at home this seems VERY rare), assaults with or without a weapon which is very, very, sad. It has become quite evident to me that you really don't need a weapon more than a persons hands or feet to cause significant damage. Some other interesting things I've seen up here, and even down in Virden too, were some Iron Deficient Anemia and on the other end of things, Iron OD's. I'm learning a lot!! I love how agency nursing is only going to further my nursing experience. I've also been able to start my first #16G IV! The biggest I've done! I love IV's and drawing blood.
The staff are so awesome too, questions are never discouraged and I'm not afraid to say I haven't dealt with something or ask for help with something unfamiliar to me. I've learned about ART lines and how to set those up for docs. The docs here are wonderful too, fun to be around and very knowledgeable and will explain things willingly. It really feels like one big team and works that way. I've enjoyed my time here and have been told to either A) sign on permanently and move up here or B) take a casual position and come up whenever I want too. It's a nice thing to hear, but I still have some traveling I want to do! But I've definitely considered signing on casual and coming up here every now and then when I'm through with the agency thing! They still pay for travel and accommodations and I'd be able to make my own hours. Sweet deal huh?
I've been working nights lately, and Sunday night I happened to look out the window probably around 0300 and it was a friggin' BLIZZARD out there!! It has stuck too.... It's gotten cold and snowy and a frigid wind! Everyone who's been here long term has commented on how this is so unusual and that normally there's tons of snow by now and I should consider myself lucky! LOL. So this snow has really gotten me into the Christmas spirit already...... It's crazy! I bought my first Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks today, and am currently downloading Christmas Vacation to watch at bedtime and blogging to Christmas music! Don't judge me...! LOL.
I'm missing everyone at home!! I will be home late on December 1!! I've met some really wonderful people here, other agency nurses and co workers who have moved up here from other areas. It seems to be a great spot to save some money and get a northern living allowance and also gain some really good experience in this busy ER! I've gone to dinner a few times with co workers and watched some hockey games, and on Halloween we dressed up as inmates in orange and black and the docs had hats and were our wardens (picture below!) LOL. It was a fun bunch! I'm hopefully going to rent a car this weekend and go for a bit of a drive and check out some waterfalls co workers have recommended and maybe even Paint Lake. Hopefully see some Northern Lights too!! I haven't caught them yet! Its hard to see out my windows at night as there are big flood lights shining in. I'm also hopefully going to get up to Churchill before the Polar Bears go away!! If not this time, definitely on a different trip. That place sounds amazing!
So, unfortunately I don't really have any fun photos for you guys... My poor camera has been collecting dust with a lack of things to photograph LOL. Here are some photos of what it looks like tonight walking from the Laundromat across the street. It certainly is slick!! and cold!! I hope everyone is doing well back home! I miss you all, and really miss my kitty, Molly! I will be home soon though! December 1st is not too far away! which also means neither is Christmas! Hope everyone's getting some shopping done! If not, I'll be up for some shopping when I get home!
See you all SOON!! I miss you all!!! xoxoxoxoxox!
Sorry for the long delay in blog posts... I've been working so much and really haven't gotten to do the exploring I had hoped to be able to do. I have only had a few days off here and there, and those days were spent relaxing and then preparing for the next few days of work. Also not having my own vehicle makes things difficult too. Especially in Thompson. I'm very hesitant to go for a walk anywhere really, even in day light. Because here in Thompson, the drunks are out 24/7. The weekends don't matter and day or night doesn't matter. There are also quite a few homeless too, hanging out in front of grocery stores or the mall and Wal Mart. I don't think anything would happen, and I'm sure if I lived up here, I'd get over it quickly, but still being new to the area makes it a little scary. Luckily, we are given taxi slips at work for transportation. I have met some of the nicest people by taking taxis. Most of the drivers are friendly and chatty and are quite used to transporting hospital staff. One driver in particular has been so great to me, given me his card so I can call him directly and get the same car and driver every time. I tell him a few days in advance what my schedule is like, or on the way home from a shift, I will mention I work days tomorrow and he will be at the door step by 0715 and call to let me know he is there. Or when I get off night shifts he's already sitting waiting at the hospital for me to come out. I didn't think it would be a big deal or handy to have the same driver all the time, but you really get to know someone in those 5-10min chats 4 times a week or more and they don't mind sitting and waiting a few minutes while you grab a coffee or stand in line at the post office. Many drivers have warned us (a co worker had an apartment across the hall from mine so when we worked we would travel together) to not walk at nights, especially in our area it seems. The complex is near the beer store, liquor mart, homeless shelter and a few bars. The streets are just littered with drunk people a lot of the time. So its not the safest place per se, but it has been good so far. My taxi driver drops me off nice n close to the doors, and waits until I am in the building before driving away. I didn't think I'd care about having a different driver all the time, but having this one all the time has been really nice, very reliable and one less worry off my shoulders!
As for work, what a difference than home!! Just one completely different population of patients. A LOT A LOT A LOT of drunks or people experiencing withdrawals, TB is quite common up here (and scares me, considering at home this seems VERY rare), assaults with or without a weapon which is very, very, sad. It has become quite evident to me that you really don't need a weapon more than a persons hands or feet to cause significant damage. Some other interesting things I've seen up here, and even down in Virden too, were some Iron Deficient Anemia and on the other end of things, Iron OD's. I'm learning a lot!! I love how agency nursing is only going to further my nursing experience. I've also been able to start my first #16G IV! The biggest I've done! I love IV's and drawing blood.
The staff are so awesome too, questions are never discouraged and I'm not afraid to say I haven't dealt with something or ask for help with something unfamiliar to me. I've learned about ART lines and how to set those up for docs. The docs here are wonderful too, fun to be around and very knowledgeable and will explain things willingly. It really feels like one big team and works that way. I've enjoyed my time here and have been told to either A) sign on permanently and move up here or B) take a casual position and come up whenever I want too. It's a nice thing to hear, but I still have some traveling I want to do! But I've definitely considered signing on casual and coming up here every now and then when I'm through with the agency thing! They still pay for travel and accommodations and I'd be able to make my own hours. Sweet deal huh?
I've been working nights lately, and Sunday night I happened to look out the window probably around 0300 and it was a friggin' BLIZZARD out there!! It has stuck too.... It's gotten cold and snowy and a frigid wind! Everyone who's been here long term has commented on how this is so unusual and that normally there's tons of snow by now and I should consider myself lucky! LOL. So this snow has really gotten me into the Christmas spirit already...... It's crazy! I bought my first Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks today, and am currently downloading Christmas Vacation to watch at bedtime and blogging to Christmas music! Don't judge me...! LOL.
I'm missing everyone at home!! I will be home late on December 1!! I've met some really wonderful people here, other agency nurses and co workers who have moved up here from other areas. It seems to be a great spot to save some money and get a northern living allowance and also gain some really good experience in this busy ER! I've gone to dinner a few times with co workers and watched some hockey games, and on Halloween we dressed up as inmates in orange and black and the docs had hats and were our wardens (picture below!) LOL. It was a fun bunch! I'm hopefully going to rent a car this weekend and go for a bit of a drive and check out some waterfalls co workers have recommended and maybe even Paint Lake. Hopefully see some Northern Lights too!! I haven't caught them yet! Its hard to see out my windows at night as there are big flood lights shining in. I'm also hopefully going to get up to Churchill before the Polar Bears go away!! If not this time, definitely on a different trip. That place sounds amazing!
So, unfortunately I don't really have any fun photos for you guys... My poor camera has been collecting dust with a lack of things to photograph LOL. Here are some photos of what it looks like tonight walking from the Laundromat across the street. It certainly is slick!! and cold!! I hope everyone is doing well back home! I miss you all, and really miss my kitty, Molly! I will be home soon though! December 1st is not too far away! which also means neither is Christmas! Hope everyone's getting some shopping done! If not, I'll be up for some shopping when I get home!
See you all SOON!! I miss you all!!! xoxoxoxoxox!