Blogging Hiatus

Hello out there! Sadly our computer died two weeks ago so we are not connected to the blogging world. Fortunately I got a 3-year service warranty when I purchased it (only 70 days left) so we are sending it in to get fixed. Right now we are checking email and blogs when we can at the library or school.

I got a job in February at a long-term care/skilled nursing facility. Half of the building is for people just out of the hospital who still have a medical need but who no longer qualify for hospital stay. On many of these patients I am doing normal hospital care like trach suctioning, tube feedings, wound changes, health assessments, medication and disease education. They are all working with physical therapy to increase strength and mobility so they can go home safely in 2 weeks to 3 months. The other half of the building are long-term residents, ranging in age and needs. I work at this facility 2-4 days a week (8-10 hour days depending on what happens that day). It is a very busy job and I am running the entire time. For 60+ residents there are 2 nurses (one for each side). The CNA (nursing aids) are responsible for assisting the residents get in and out of bed, get dressed, toileting, and what not. The nurse (me) is responsible for any treatments.

In Portland and most places, hospitals are not in need of nurses. The economic crash has kept many nurses from retiring and hospitals are not expanding their employee pool to pay the training required for newly graduated nurses. But I wanted some hospital work experience to expand my qualifications. Many of my friends from my graduating class have either moved out of Portland or are still looking for a job. Rather than get denied at the hospitals in Portland I looked outside the city area. I got another job at Tillamook hospital. Tillamook is home to the Tillamook cheese factory and is coastal town. It is a 1 hour 20 minute drive from our apartment to the hospital. They are training me for 3 months (I get a full patient load with another experienced nurse so I can ask questions and get help whenever I need it). I am working 3 12-hour shifts a week while I train then I will switch to part-time. I emailed the Relief Society president and found a basement of a member's house where I sleep if I work several days in a row. So I wake up at 4 AM, drive to Tillamook, work from 6:45 AM-7:15 PM, go to the basement and sleep, wake up at 6 AM, work from 6:45-7:15, then drive home to Portland, go to sleep, wake up at 6 AM and go to my other job. One month down, two months to go.

Needless to say, I am super busy. I figured it would be easier to explain my absence on the blog than via phone.

Wish you all the best!

Erica