GO FLOYD!

My husband & I are of the irregular crowd. We don't watch football, don't have a fav baseball or basketball team.

Come July 1st each year, or at least the past seven years, we have holed up in our home, shut the telephone off, accepted no visitors until the end of July. It's the TDF. Thank God for Tivo because we can now some type of semblance of a life and can fast forward through all commercials.

Here is Floyd Landis winning stage 17. Never thought we'd be cheering Phonak, but for us Americans, it is NOT about the team, it is about the athlete. These are the most disciplined athletes of any sports, and do not rival anybody (except a few olympic athletes we have here.) Lance should have won at least 5 ESPY's for Athlete of the Year, but alas, it is the US: Our priorities are different (it is more about who can tiptoe through a touchdown more creatively..)

So, here is Floyd with his AMAZING personal story, maybe his last TDF, nothing to lose, coming back after 8min down the day before, poised to hit his fav event, the 53mile (I think) time trial later today. OMG, the hospital where I work doesn't have OLN!!! I have to keep a computer up and running with the live commentary.

I must multitask while at work today! LOL!

Looking to the Future

Ok, before I off to my little hole to study for my OB test, which is Monday. I must ask for some help and thoughtful opinions from Blog-Land:

I interviewed at Hospital "A" this afternoon for a scholarship I applied for. It pays for my full tuition (nursing school time only, so 4 semesters since I was in the transition program from paramedic,) all my books, uniforms, etc. It is not need-based, meaning my household income doesn't factor in. Hospital "A" is, actually, where I work currently. In the Emergency Department. Here's the thing. If I accept this scholarship, I must commit to 2 years after I graduate.

• Pros: I already know the "system," and what the hospital expects of me, I get about a $6000-$6500 payment from them (geez, pays for school!) I might be able to work directly into the ED if my department head OK's it (she has already said she would consider it on a 6 month probationary period instead of the standard 3 months. She not a fan of hiring new grads directly into the department, but again, I know my wasy around as a paramedic.) And, it is only 2 years. I will almost be vested at that place by the time I am done. They have WONDERFUL benefits, and it is a beautiful place to work. Pt ratios are relatively low, too, and its a fairly new hospital. And, I would know where I was going to be come June of '07...
• Cons: I commit myself to 2 years early in the game. Hubby states I might be able to find a better sign-on bonus with another place. I might have to go to med-surg for a while first. I might have to work nights...it is more about what positions are open at my time of graduation. I am not sure yet about ED for me, either. I liked hospice, community health, and a few other things. I have seen the most in my critical care settings, because, well, it's where I spend most of my time, and I don't see as much time for hand-holding and healing the patient, teaching the patient, if you know what I mean. And, my hubby also says I cannot "keep my options open" by taking the scholarship.

I also have other scholarship opportunities on deck. This is the first place I heard from this Summer after having applied for almost 20 scholarships around June 1. But, many of them are need-based, and with our family income I am not sure if I am considered "needy enough" (I feel rather needy, though!) Who knows, I might get some of them, and there is at least 1 which offers the same deal: full scholarship, without a 2 year commitment somewhere.

So, of you out there who are lurkers that can shed some light on this type of situation, I humbly ask for your comments...

Community Health Clinical

One word: unexpected.

I visited the County Health Department and shadowed a community health nurse for a few hours. I have seen a certain amount of nursing, but I guess I have been missing a part of it. My ED where I work has some pretty amazing nurses, don't get me wrong, but the objective of patient advocate can easily be lost when you are within the process of sheer numbers of patients, "treating and streeting", trauma and critical care. What I saw today was a nurse who just plain loves people: she knew the life stories of her patients...thay had grown up in front of her. Everyone got hugs, pats, and so much teaching and time for everyone that needed it. No question remained when the patients left from their prenatal care visits. She told me she had previously work in home health, where it is all about educating the patients as well.

I had assumed the Health Dept would be an even-rougher place than the dog-eat-dog ED. I had assumed completely wrong.

Something such as this is the direction I wish to go....I just have still too many paths in front of me to choose!