Last days at Memorial
Part of this move is saying good bye to what is comfortable to us. Max and I started working at Memorial in October 2014. There have been good times and bad, but for the past 6 years it has been a constant in our lives.
We both started on combined general/IMC floors. This gave us both a unique opportunity to learn the skills of a general floor along with some of the critical care aspects of an intermediate floor.
Max knew from the beginning that he wanted to go to ICU eventually. He applied in August 2015 and transferred in September 2015 to 2C ICU. Immediately after he came to the unit he found out that it was transitioning into a neuro ICU (it had been just surgical/trauma previously).
After a little less than a year I started to feel antsy on my floor. I was precepting new grad nurses and was also in charge. I felt like I had reached my highest potential on the unit and I was looking to try new things. I was discussing this with one of the house supervisors and he suggested PACU to me as a viable alternative to ICU. One of my co-workers on 2E had already transferred there and really liked it so I decided to try it. I applied and transferred in November 2015.
Eileen, Brittany and I on my last day on 2E med Claire and I- last day working together.
I felt like a fish out of water in PACU for the first year or so. I also remember feeling extremely guilty that I had essentially abandoned my other floor in time of need. From talking with others these are extremely normal feelings. One of my biggest lessons that I learned from Memorial is that staffing is not your fault and you just have to make the best of bad situations. Also at the end of the day you have to do whats best for you- and not feel guilty about it.
My preceptor in PACU was Amanda and I feel so lucky that I got to be her one and only protege (for now). She ended up becoming one of my favorite co-workers. One of the things I loved about PACU was the team aspect- for the most part we were all very close and would help each other out, not only with patients but with life advice as well.
PACU ended up being the perfect place for me to gain confidence, enhance my nursing skills and begin to prepare me for transitioning into an advanced practice provider.
I swear we do actually take care of patients and not just play with snapchat filters all day
I also loved spending time with my co-workers outside of work
Carmela and I did 4th of July yoga at the state capitol
Like any place I had to say good bye to some pretty awesome co workers over the years
We celebrated our 5 year anniversary last year- we didn't get to go to the employee dinner because of Covid.
2C helped Max to develop his skills and become a better nurse. Although he was disappointed that CRNA school never lined up for him, he also was able to step up, gain more confidence and eventually become a preceptor for the unit (as well as unit prankster).
COVID changed alot for our units- Max's more than mine because his became a COVID ICU for a bit.
The end of an era
Inevitably life changes and we must continue to move forward. Our plan is to take travel jobs in WA using the skills we learned in PACU/ICU until we are able to find something more permanent. I'll update with how that all goes. But I am confident that we will be ok.
On my last week I tried to get as many pictures with coworkers as I could- despite some of their protests. I was so touched that they threw me potluck graduation party.
(P.S. If you have not nice comments about mask wearing please keep them to yourself)
Max's last day
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