At the beginning of June, I decided I wanted to do travel nursing. I broke up with my boyfriend and the city I was born and raised in was feeling so small.
Almost 8 years ago my nursing journey began. I was forced to become a boomer-rang kid and return home after finally getting my first degree (associate of business). If you remember, in 2014 we were coming out of a recession and this degree did me no favors. I was under- and over-qualified for everything! Even Starbucks wouldn't hire me...
So home I went. And I fell back in love with my dear New Orleans. We had a great relationship. I loved all the fun she had to offer, and even the dangerous parts of her city gave me little leaps of excitement (don't tell my mom).
I finally went back to school and became a nurse! Woohoo! I graduated in December 2019 and was SO excited to be SPECIFICALLY a New Orleans nurse! I even drunkenly exclaimed how excited I was on Bourbon Street as we waited for the fleur de lis to drop in the Quarter...there's a video and if I find it I'll post it.
Then covid hit. I worked nights and couldn't see my people because covid/night shift schedules. Then in October 2020, I decided I'd have major life-changing (and saving) weight loss surgery. As if I couldn't get any more dramatic, soon after my surgery I started my official dive into the world of Labor and Delivery.
Fast forward a year and some months, I'm healthy. I feel good. I start dating.
I met this super cute guy, fell in love, and realized he wasn't it. We had planned to travel together. He was able to do travel contract-type jobs with his profession and I would do travel nursing.
For some reason, a few weeks before we broke up, I felt the urge to do it now. Not to wait until January 2023 like I planned...
When we broke up, it was like the spur from a cowboy's heel into my side..."GO! Get out now! The world awaits you!"
So I did.
I applied for a few local-ish places and didn't get any of them.
Then New Jersey called. And, I mean, if you can't get close to home why not go as far away as you can?!
Go big or go home, right??
After a little deliberation (and I mean like 10min), I accepted the job. I immediately started looking for somewhere to live.
Lo-and-behold! I find a furnished one-bedroom apartment TWO MINUTES from the hospital. So amazing! I quickly filled out the application and signed the lease. I sent the money; it was all done and set.
My parents agreed to drive with me (2 and a half days of driving...) to my new home. My job started July 18 so I wanted to be there and get set up July 15.
We left July 13, and about halfway through the first day, I got an email saying that the landlord was going to back out my lease (refund me) unless I paid 2nd month's rent now because he had someone who would pay the 3 months up front! I was devastated! I tried to call the "real estate agent" and emailed the "landlord" frantically hoping they would have mercy on me since I didn't have anymore money to give them since I wouldn't get paid for another two weeks!
Then all communication stopped. They disappeared. Never heard from them again.
I had been scammed.
I frantically found a new place. Didn't care much about what it was, just wanted cheap, safe, and real.
And, let me tell you, I got JUST that. A literal basement room that was likely once storage, a shower stall, a toilet closet, and 4 or 5 housemates all over 50 that don't speak English. Fun times, yall. I also share the "bathroom" with two of these women.
To put it in persepective, I was using the restroom the other day and a housemate came home with groceries. She placed the groceries on the ground outside her room. I couldn't get out the bathroom until she moved the groceries because it was blocking the door. I have also hit my hands on the ceiling multiple times now....
So my searching adventures continue to find a new home for the next few months. There's plenty of promising areas I've been scouting and have appointments with.
Now onto the "How's the job?"
It's awful. Like..GOD-AWFUL. These people never left the 80s in style and in practice. Routine episiotomies (google it) and "just because" c-sections. It's a doctor culture- the doctors are always right and they don't work WITH the nurses, they run the unit. They make all the calls and don't care what the nurses or patients have to say.
Needless to say, I will not be renewing at this hospital. But, I do believe God brought me here. Through all the pain and frustration of being scammed and walking into a unit stuck in the cave man days of labor and delivery (actually, the cavemen probably did it better because they didn't know they could cut things that shouldn't be cut...), I know I'm here for a reason.
The only thing that has been constant for me this last week is the desire to worship God. I usually blast my Halsey Pandora station when I'm emotional or throw some Stevie Nicks on. But this last week has been my trusty Lauren Daigle Pandora with the other hipstery artists like NeedtoBreathe, Mumford and Sons, and some others mixed in. Just purely chill time with God when I'm driving, and I drive a lot right now!
Bottom line, this is an adventure. Every mishap. Every tear (I cry a lot in frustration). Every heart ache. Everything is an adventure. The laughter I let out when the perfect song comes on the radio for my mood. The overwhelming feeling of trying to figure out the damn transit system...and then seeing a glimmer of hope as small bits click. All adventure.
And isn't that my goal in life? Adventure?
Until next week, I'll keep laughing hard when I laugh, I'll keep the tissues near for the tears, and I'll keep my heart focused on Who brought me here.
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