Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Your Long-Overdue Update

Hello to all my faithful blogees.  I know it has been quite a while since my last post, but hopefully you will understand what with the move and all.  We are finally getting settled in our new home and are loving the improvement in weather from Washington State.  I started at my new hospital over the weekend, and I feel a little like a new grad again, because nearly all the equipment is different, many of the meds are different (I had never even heard of Norco before) and so many of the policies and procedures are different that there is a huge learning curve.  That said, I love my coworkers so far and I can't argue with the pay raise (more than 1.5 times my previous salary with only a modest cost of living change).

Perhaps the biggest change is going from a 3:1 patient ratio to a 4:1 ratio.  I thought that I had to run before, now I have to fly.  One of my coworkers told me about her old ER out east where they would work 6 or even 7 patients per nurse.  I'm the kind of nurse that really enjoys taking the time talking with my patients and learning who they are and what they need.  So far in this new place, I feel like I only have time to run from task to task and then I'm getting a new ambulance.  I'm confident that I will adapt and everything will go okay, but it is still a big change and makes me feel just a little overwhelmed so far.

I'll try to get back to doing more regular blog updating, but bear with me as we finish getting everything settled and getting to know our new area... and lounging by the pool soaking up the sun.  I have a tan for the first time in years.  It's very nice.


5 comments:

Gina said...

Just remember: tanned skin means that all those skin cells on the top committed suicide to save the ones underneath.

That said, all of us are glad that all of you are happy in your new city.

*~Dani~* said...

Glad to hear the move went well!

amna said...

Hi Kirst, I'm so happy that things work out good in your favor and you are happy. God Bless you always..take care and much love!

I'm also very busy lately with work and my moving, it's so stressful but it will be over soon.

Tracey said...

Glad to hear that things are well and that you are settled in Braden. You will get used to the new pace.

danielle said...

When we first moved out here - one of the places I applied to made me take a test. When I turned it in, I told them I was sorry - I didnt think I did very well - but I hadnt even heard of most of the drugs they had on the test!!!