The Adventures of a "Not-So-Traveled" Travel Nurse

The experiences of a travel nurse and the lessons that she learns along the way.

The Great Plains (Chapter 5)

It has been a hard push to continue to work towards our facility goals and get ready for the holidays while being away from home. So much so, that I have found myself worn completely down, and sick. I have a tendency to delay seeking care for illness. I come by that naturally. With my mom’s use of home remedies and my dad’s philosophy that “everything has to run its course”, we rarely went to the doctor or sought medical treatment when I was a kid. Thankfully, I have a dear friend at home in Texas who knows my pattern and can come in clutch when a girl needs some help (I have crawled to her door more than once on “my deathbed” with pneumonia). She is always ready for a teledoc visit when I need one, so hopefully I will be on the mend soon.

We continue to wait patiently for our latest CMS ratings while being in full fledged holiday spirit (see pic of Wookie with the Grinch). He has dressed as Santa and the Grinch at this facility and the residents and staff love it. He has continued to bring joy to everyone and was excited when one of the residents had their own dog for a visit. Her name was Cocoa and she was adorable. They were friends immediately, and now Wookie looks for her everywhere, hoping that she has returned for another visit. He is in desperate need of a grooming appointment (starting to look like a used poodle), but he doesn’t have an appointment for two more weeks. Just another challenge with traveling around….we do the best we can.

It is hard to believe that I have only 30 days left on this assignment. I am not certain what is next. I have accepted a tentative offer for a permanent position close to home, but there is still uncertainty with it. Due to the position, a salary determination is made by a professional board and is based on multiple factors including experience, education, certifications, etc. I am currently going through the credentialing process, and will make my decision based on the compensation that is offered. It has wonderful benefits and an incredible paid time off package, which is what matters the most to us, but it still has to make sense, so we will see…. And of course, the above all question -Can Wookie come, too?

ANorthington

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2 responses to “The Great Plains (Chapter 5)”

  1. Libby Hull Avatar
    Libby Hull

    Enjoyed the Great Plains Adventures! Congrats on the new pup, sounds great. I wondered if I could ask a few questions… Do you have a Masters or Doctorate? In What?
    Are you working in a longterm care facility?
    I am an old RN, retired, I take care of my sister, 10 yrs older than I with progressive Dementia, I got her to move to an Assisted Living place in April and after difficult beginning she adapted pretty well. Dec 1 she fell and broke her leg, she was alone in her room, so we have no idea how it happened, compound fx. In ER the used sedation to straighten the 2 bones and the next am she had orthopedic surgery. Post op when I left her after 2 days she pulled out her IV and removed her cast and surgical dressing, after that we did not leave her alone. She can’t even remember she broke her leg, she went t a PAM rehab for 8 days, but I provided sitters 24 hrs to prevent another fall. She is back at assisted living now, with full time sitters, until she can bear weight on that leg. Her body is improving but her mind is so much worse, I am looking at Memory care at this point and finally considering DNR. Any input you may have would be appreciated.
    I’ve enjoyed reading your adventures, would you ever do a vlog. I would love to hear you read your articles… thanks for all you share. I enjoy the clinical aspects as well as family and pets.

    Reply
    1. ANorthington Avatar
      ANorthington

      Hi Libby! I have a Master’s Degree in Nursing. I currently work in a long-term care facility. This sounds like the familiar but tragic journey with dementia. If the fracture/surgery that you refer to was this month, your sister may still be having some effects from anesthesia, which would mean that her current mental state may still improve a little bit. However, my experience with dementia and falls/injury/surgery, is that the disease seems to progress rapidly after a trauma. Most memory care units only accept residents that are in a certain phase of dementia- usually still ambulatory and not bed/chair bound. Thus, the dilemma for finding specialized care. I don’t know if any if this helps, but I pray that you find the answers that you need, and most of all, I pray for you to have peace, comfort, and strength because the dementia journey is not for the faint of heart.

      Reply

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