She sang

"It ain't over until the fat lady sings." --Ralph Carpenter

Finally, I got the call. I'll never forget the date: the only job offer in my career that happened in January.

Let the adventures begin.

On the cusp

Yes, months have passed since I've been here. It's been busy. The year has been monumental.

Since the solar eclipse, I've been busy getting my program at the Hotel ready for inspection. In October, the inspectors came. They came to see my program, because Washington doesn't have one, and if they didn't see mine, we'd get written up.

Three words: Blew them away. When I started this gig, the regional boss always glossed over what I did. Since said boss left, and we're still awaiting a replacement, the local Manglement decided that maybe, just maybe I might be able to show them how we do what we do in the Hotel. We did.

We came. We saw. We kicked some serious butt. The Hotel crew stepped up to help me get the stages set (because we have issues, but they are in process), clean, prep and know what to expect. I briefed staff so they'd know the basics of what the inspectors might ask them. Then I showed them a good time (and a marketing package unlike any other). I got patients involved (because they are part of the inspection, too) and all my people shined.

We got kudos in the official report, which, to me, validated the work. It validated why we have to work as a team. It validated that we care about patients and always want to do more.

I sent lots of thank you notes. My entire team got one. My nurse compatriots in other departments got their own special kudos. Why? Because they need it. They are new and they need to know they are doing a good job. My patients got thanks, too.  You have to remember who helps you, and acknowledge it regularly.

In October, we finished our official year, and it was the best ever (no kidding). We saw more patients in the SU than ever.

Last month, I finished my gig on my rehab committee. I had fun. I wasn't nervous any more talking to thousands. It does get easier, even with a script.

Today, I'm awaiting my next adventure. I'm going to leave rehab sometime soon, but it will never leave me. I carry a song in my heart, and lots of memories of the Hotel and all the characters along the way.

May your New Year be filled with health and happiness, wherever life's journeys take you.

Until next time, I bid you adieu....

Weekend fun...for a while anyway

Yes, RehabRN goes retro. Really wish Dahey and I took ourselves to the beach for this anniversary.
Will still celebrate nevertheless...cheers. This retro tune just got into my head after Dahey told me about his morning adventures talking to a character who knows this guy...

Adieu to one of the best

Kim from Emergiblog has hung up the closing sign.

Thanks Kim for giving us some of the best of the nursing blogosphere posts and for bringing Change of Shift to life.

Best wishes on your next adventures in RL!

Heaven is a place on earth...

But it's sure not here in RehabLand! It's been so hot lately that some of the locals are taking to cooking outdoors: frying eggs and bacon on the sidewalk, and baking cookies on the dashboard.

When life hands you lemons...stay tuned for radiator chicken next (that's what Dahey's asking for.)

Too bad my commute isn't 50 miles longer...

A little flippant

That's the word of the day today and kind of my philosophy of the moment. The conference is over. I achieved my goal of presenting. I proved a few things to the folks I work with.

And now, I hit the road. Traveling partner and I had a good time, despite the fact, that in many ways we are polar opposites. In many other ways, however, we are alike. We are adventurous and we enjoy meeting people and seeing the world.

Now it's off to home, then work, then decompression....stay tuned.

The long and winding road

Do you ever wonder how in the world you ended up where you are now? I do all the time.

I know there are a lot of folks out there in this worsening economy who say, "I need a job that lasts like a healthcare one." For them, I'd like to pass along a few things about my experience.

First of all, yes, healthcare is indeed a necessity. Unlike sales or marketing or computers, everyone needs to have access to a doctor and/or hospital. With that access comes access to a variety of other assorted healthcare professionals, namely nurses.

Nurses are in a lot of places from schools to hospitals to local, state and federal health agencies. Nurses do lots and lots of paperwork in addition to doing patient assessment, administering drugs, general patient care and patient education.

Second, before you go jumping into the nursing school pool, be prepared to wait. Some nursing schools have waiting lists of two or more years. Do your homework!

One of the best books I've encountered that discusses many of the nursing specialties out there is Opportunities to Care: The Pfizer Guide to Careers in Nursing. It has a general overview of issues in nursing and a general overview of the role of nurse in the healthcare setting, as well as career planning and words of wisdom. The most valuable part is that it has lots of little vignettes that describe different specialties. (Shameless plug: you can find the rehabilitation nursing story on page 132 in Chapter 27.)

Third, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention something that LaTonia Denise Wright is always talking about in her blog, My 2 cents. Please, please, please consult a lawyer if you have any legal issues in your past. You might go out and get a degree in nursing, but no school on earth will guarantee that your state will license you if you have certain convictions, which is why you need to get an attorney who knows what will and will not work in your state before you start. Your state Board of Nursing is out to protect the public, not your investment in nursing school.

Finally, if visiting hospitals, talking to people and checking out the nursing program of your choice and its statistics and everything else I've mentioned above hasn't scared you away, and you've got all your prereqs in order, dive in. It's an experience you'll never forget.

Welcome to my little blog!

Howdy all!

I'm a recent graduate of a large private institution in the Midwest. My other blog described my trek through an accelerated nursing program, but since I'm no longer a student, I thought it would be better, to start fresh in a new blog.

I hope you'll enjoy this adventure along with me.