**Just to preface, this was written almost around the beginning of August. I just didn't post it. My feelings have changed, but I figured I'd still post it anyways.**
I'm twelve days away from California and maybe 28ish days from clinicals in a still-to-be-determined hospital. And in three days, some of the people in HR will be holding a meeting for those of us interns who are interested in future employment here. The reality of leaving Mayo, starting my fifth and final year of undergrad studies, and then entering into the world on my own is setting in BIG!
I feel like a kindergartener who feels pressured to stop using training wheels...Except now I'm almost 23 and maybe I should to drag out a toolbox and sort through all the wrenches and sockets and such, and start planning how I will take my training wheels off by graduation in May of this coming year. I've already considered the pros and cons of choosing between Minnesota and California to start off my career, and I can honestly say that I think I would be entirely content, and more probable, happy, living either place, especially if I find a solid church out here.
Now that I've got that of my chest, my next question has to do with what I value in life and about my scope of practice in nursing. To choose one location over the other is to sacrifice proximity with my blood family and my church family versus working at an institution where nursing seems like it's been boiled down into a science instead of an art. Every nursing student learns early on in their education how Florence Nightingale viewed the nursing profession: it is both an art and a science. It is an art in that it requires skill and coordination, in addition to the ability to individualize or adapt care to each patient. It is a science in that it deals with human physiology and how to impact it with different medicines and therapeutic interventions. Basically, I feel really conflicted right now. I'm an artist and a scientist and to deny one of those facets of me feels treasonous on a psychological level. I don't want to choose between having my cake and eating it. I'm praying for a fresh perspective in the upcoming weeks...My feelings will probably...undoubtedly change by the time I finish typing this post because that's just the transient nature of emotions. My rational side will kick in, I'm sure of it.
In the mean time, though, I've been talking with my big brother and my mom--two people who know my disdain for making big decisions. They listen attentively, reflect back to me what they hear, and then quiet down. Their rationale, ever unspoken, is completely evident to me and reminds me that I'm a conflicted mess of emotions. I'm excited, hesitant, scared, awkward, and who knows what else inside about this next phase. They know I must make this decision on my own. They deny themselves the personal satisfaction of telling me what's best because they know that telling me what to do doesn't ever work. Plus, it's to my advantage that they let me squirm in the discomfort because it's practice for other big decisions I'll need to make. I'm grateful for them and their wise silence (even though it makes me squirm).
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Crossroads Townhouse
Welcome to Crossroads!
Crossroads College is a tiny Christian college that Mayo is subsidizing and renting to Summer III's coming from out of town. It's hedged in by trees on all sides and has a smallish pond where you can catch glimpses of turtles and frogs. There's also a llama farm next door, too. (That part gets smelly on the plentiful hot, humid days.)
From what I've heard about the previous accommodations for S3's, it is much nicer and safer. Numerous co-workers have remarked to me about the other place being a "dump" and a very unsafe place..."A girl shouldn't walk alone over there" in that upper NE area of Rochester. To a girl who grew up in the suburbs of San Francisco and goes to college in Los Angeles, it's laughable. I think about my memories of sirens and the blue and red flashing lights surrounding the drug house down the street from my childhood home. I think of going into the Tenderloin of S.F. and seeing filthy souls dying on the sidewalk, lying under newspapers and men with PTSD hopping out of bushes and yelling at passersby. Then I think of the horrendous stories of some of my closest friends who grew up in inner-city L.A. Gunshots, drug busts, prostitution, holding a dying friend who got shanked in a parking lot. Crime is relative...To a predominantly upper middle class population, a few potheads, thefts, and beatings must seem scary.
Wow! That took a depressing turn, but then again, that's reality. Now, back to Crossroads...Below are a few pictures of the townhouse. There were six girls living in the townhouse, each with our own room, which provided enough privacy to do our own thing and get sleep when we worked different shifts. It had a living room, kitchen, bathrooms, and washer/dryer. I'm kinda embarrassed to show you just how bare my room is! I figured I'd forgo the frills for practicality. I could only take two pieces of checked luggage so, after considering my options, I thought clothes were more essential. I didn't count on spending too much time in my room, anyways!
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| The side of my townhouse. |
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| My one window |
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| The desk and chair where all the typing happens. |
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| Closet |
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| The Zumbro River parallels a lot of the trail system that goes past Crossroads. I like to run there because it's very peaceful and away from cars. |
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Corn: It's What Grows Here
Before getting out here, I didn't really think about what kind of land Minnesota had. Since getting out here, I've actually been shocked by the miles and miles of corn stretching on either side of the highways. It's been neat to see the shoots hardly higher than my ankles grow into stalks 6 feet tall since I got out here. Another surprise to me when I first got out here occurred while watching the evening news. Instead of Nasdaq and Dow stock updates, the newscaster told me that the price of a bushel of corn had dropped. I think I tipped my head to the side and had to think hard about why that should matter to me. Amused, I remembered, that I was in the middle of ag USA. Of course, it matters to farmers how much their corn is selling for!
By now you've picked up on my fascination with this farming region that lilts my beloved country music from nearly every radio. While at a motocross race this past weekend with my clinical coach's husband, I jumped on the opportunity to ask some questions about Minnesota farming. I figured the man was born and raised in here so he should be a reliable source. (For this post, I checked the facts online.)
The top four major cash crops are, in order: corn (~50%), soy beans (~30%), wheat (~7%), and sugar beets (~5%).
Before you go on assuming that the corn is the sweet kind that you and I pick up at the farmer's market or local grocery store, let me tell you the truth. These rows of corn that stretch in every direction is field corn. It is used in plastics and a bunch of other manufactured products.
Soy beans grow around the southern parts, too. Then there's wheat and alfalfa. Potatoes grow in the sandier northern Minnesota soil. And sugar beats, used to make sugar, grow in the western parts.
By now you've picked up on my fascination with this farming region that lilts my beloved country music from nearly every radio. While at a motocross race this past weekend with my clinical coach's husband, I jumped on the opportunity to ask some questions about Minnesota farming. I figured the man was born and raised in here so he should be a reliable source. (For this post, I checked the facts online.)
The top four major cash crops are, in order: corn (~50%), soy beans (~30%), wheat (~7%), and sugar beets (~5%).
Before you go on assuming that the corn is the sweet kind that you and I pick up at the farmer's market or local grocery store, let me tell you the truth. These rows of corn that stretch in every direction is field corn. It is used in plastics and a bunch of other manufactured products.
Soy beans grow around the southern parts, too. Then there's wheat and alfalfa. Potatoes grow in the sandier northern Minnesota soil. And sugar beats, used to make sugar, grow in the western parts.
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| Midwesterners are dutiful patriots compared to West Coasters. You won't struggle to find an American flag! |
Monday, July 25, 2011
Triple Threat
Nope. We're not talking basketball here. We're talking 12 hours...1900-0700...times three nights in a row...This is what it looks like for a newb night shifter:
Night #1: piece of cake because coffee and grahams make me happy!
Morning #1: can't sleep because it's too bright and there's a thunderstorm...watch a movie then read until 3 p.m. at which point I finally fall asleep for a couple hours before waking up again to get ready for work.
Night #2: feeling miserable but seeing friends on the unit energizes me a little. Rocky until midnight. A caramel latte fix and funky cafeteria scrambled eggs power me through till shift change.
Morning #2: sleep like a baby until 2p.m. Call some friends and get ready for work.
Night #3: sit and stare sessions with patients and coach Natasha. laugh giddily at anything that is remotely stupid/accidental and not funny unless you are sleep-deprived. Delay all responses...laugh again about how delayed my reactions are...and continue laughing.
Morning #3: I probably won't remember...carry me to my room and lay me down...Zzzzzzzz
Night #4 and next 2 days: Try to recover a normal sleep cycle.
Conclusion: Night shifts are rough on an insomniac and the night owl who can't stand sleeping away sunshine. It's perfect for students who need to study because of the extra lax downtime. The one thing that takes a little of the sting of working nights away is the added differential...I'm not entirely convinced, though...
Night #1: piece of cake because coffee and grahams make me happy!
Morning #1: can't sleep because it's too bright and there's a thunderstorm...watch a movie then read until 3 p.m. at which point I finally fall asleep for a couple hours before waking up again to get ready for work.
Night #2: feeling miserable but seeing friends on the unit energizes me a little. Rocky until midnight. A caramel latte fix and funky cafeteria scrambled eggs power me through till shift change.
Morning #2: sleep like a baby until 2p.m. Call some friends and get ready for work.
Night #3: sit and stare sessions with patients and coach Natasha. laugh giddily at anything that is remotely stupid/accidental and not funny unless you are sleep-deprived. Delay all responses...laugh again about how delayed my reactions are...and continue laughing.
Morning #3: I probably won't remember...carry me to my room and lay me down...Zzzzzzzz
Night #4 and next 2 days: Try to recover a normal sleep cycle.
Conclusion: Night shifts are rough on an insomniac and the night owl who can't stand sleeping away sunshine. It's perfect for students who need to study because of the extra lax downtime. The one thing that takes a little of the sting of working nights away is the added differential...I'm not entirely convinced, though...
A Cardiac Patient that Melts My Heart
Every once in a blue moon, I meet a patient whom I will never forget. They are the patients who make me smile heart and soul for years.
If I remember one patient from this summer, it will be a farmer and his country charm. He was a rapid recovery and we extubated within 3 hours of landing him on the unit. In between dozing and looking around the room to learn about his surroundings, we chatted. I learned that he was the hard-working type: up at 4 a.m. to read his morning paper and eat breakfast before sunrise so he could get to work. He had awakened right on time, even after the anesthesia/sedatives from his procedure. He was a man of few words, but his few words spoke volumes about the kind of man he is. He is peaceful and simple--appreciative of life and the "simple things," grounded in what he believes, humble, patient, polite, and respectful to all. His humble confidence and contentment were striking. Such qualities are rare in this country nowadays.
Around midnight his temporary pacemaker wasn't capturing. His heart paused for nearly 30 seconds and the episode repeated itself until the charge RN and Natasha solved the problem with a booster box (a device that gives extra juice to "jump start" the heart). With an endearing twang, he complained, "I feel like an ol' cow came up 'n' kicked me in the chest." He asked what had happened in the middle of the night, but he was still too sedated to understand. He had called himself "just a dumb farmboy who don't know nothin.'"
His easy country manner was already making an impression on me, but when this strong, reserved man in his mid-fifties looked me in the eye and called me, "ma'am," my heart melted. If I'm completely honest, my initial reaction was shock. Am I old enough to be a ma'am? His expressions were sincere and his gratitude deep for mine and Natasha's kindness. The man was a man of rare calibre--a balance of strength and tenderness--who stands head and shoulders above most. His honest humility and respect were more refreshing to me than a midsummer's night breeze under a starry sky. I earnestly hope to be something like him: a soul that brings refreshment and inspiration.
If I remember one patient from this summer, it will be a farmer and his country charm. He was a rapid recovery and we extubated within 3 hours of landing him on the unit. In between dozing and looking around the room to learn about his surroundings, we chatted. I learned that he was the hard-working type: up at 4 a.m. to read his morning paper and eat breakfast before sunrise so he could get to work. He had awakened right on time, even after the anesthesia/sedatives from his procedure. He was a man of few words, but his few words spoke volumes about the kind of man he is. He is peaceful and simple--appreciative of life and the "simple things," grounded in what he believes, humble, patient, polite, and respectful to all. His humble confidence and contentment were striking. Such qualities are rare in this country nowadays.
Around midnight his temporary pacemaker wasn't capturing. His heart paused for nearly 30 seconds and the episode repeated itself until the charge RN and Natasha solved the problem with a booster box (a device that gives extra juice to "jump start" the heart). With an endearing twang, he complained, "I feel like an ol' cow came up 'n' kicked me in the chest." He asked what had happened in the middle of the night, but he was still too sedated to understand. He had called himself "just a dumb farmboy who don't know nothin.'"
His easy country manner was already making an impression on me, but when this strong, reserved man in his mid-fifties looked me in the eye and called me, "ma'am," my heart melted. If I'm completely honest, my initial reaction was shock. Am I old enough to be a ma'am? His expressions were sincere and his gratitude deep for mine and Natasha's kindness. The man was a man of rare calibre--a balance of strength and tenderness--who stands head and shoulders above most. His honest humility and respect were more refreshing to me than a midsummer's night breeze under a starry sky. I earnestly hope to be something like him: a soul that brings refreshment and inspiration.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Minnesota Mundane
That's a strange title for a post, but I bet it does a good job piquing your interest! It may or may not be a play on the words of a coworker who introduced me to the smokescreen of "Minnesota Nice" weather.
What could possibly be mundane about Minnesota? Because I'm only visiting Minnesota for the summer, you're probably better off asking a native Minnesotan who doesn't think everything is new and exciting. Since I'm the one blogging, I'll answer the question for you in my own little way: Nothing that wouldn't be considered mundane in California, too. Luckily, mundane for me equates with time well spent!
In my down time, I've been working on:
What could possibly be mundane about Minnesota? Because I'm only visiting Minnesota for the summer, you're probably better off asking a native Minnesotan who doesn't think everything is new and exciting. Since I'm the one blogging, I'll answer the question for you in my own little way: Nothing that wouldn't be considered mundane in California, too. Luckily, mundane for me equates with time well spent!
In my down time, I've been working on:
- scholarship applications for the upcoming (LAST!!!!!!!) school year. That means writing essays about what I want to do with my life, my goals, my dreams, who has inspired me, what character traits I value, how I think current legislation on health care reform will impact my nursing career, and why I think I'm the most special person who deserves to be considered for [fill in organization's name]'s scholarship and would really benefit from the help.
- reviewing ECG's, meds, and other things for the N-CLEX and, more importantly, so I can be a better nurse after graduation.
- reading Eric and Leslie Ludy's book, Wrestling Prayer. It's not so much a how-to book as much as it is a description of what God-honoring prayer is. Maybe once I finish that, I'll get around to reading a book that my Aunt Debbie lent to me around Christmastime last year, Little Bee by Chris Cleave. I'm surprised at how little I've actually read so far this summer because I normally would be on to my third or fourth book by this point.
- walking the magical woodsy trails of Rochester after sundown just to watch fireflies and wondering why fireflies light up. Are they "thinking" of something? Are they surprised? What are they reacting to??? During the day, there are rabbits and all kinds of colorful birds: cardinals, blue birds, robins, woodpeckers with red crests, house finches, orioles, indigo buntings...
- researching hospitals (and their communities) that I'm considering for the future: UCSF, UCLA, City of Hope, John Muir, Huntington Hospital, CHOC, CHLA, Pres Intercommunity Hospital, Standford, Johns Hopkins, Duke, and, of course, the Mayo Clinic. All top-notch institutions. Most in California, but some on the East Coast and one in Minnesota.
- thinking about goals for CNSA this upcoming school year.
- planning my Minnesota outings........
- And, today it has meant staring out the window in amazement as 3-5 inches of rain/hour has fallen from the sky for a solid 5 hours....That's at least how much of it I've been awake for. (That's more of a joke...I don't spend much time thinking about that even though it's incredible by my California standards.)
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| The Rio Grande is outside my door! |
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| Notice the rain shooting out of the two drains on the townhouse and the "path" in the middle of the grass...it's really grass underneath all the runoff from the hill behind the townhouses. All of the asphalt is under 2+ inches of rain. |
Where Do I Start?
Welcome to my blog!
I was kinda slow getting this started, so I posted my adventures and thoughts about them out of the actual order in which they happened in. That said, below is the order I recommend for reading my posts if you want a more chronological, easy-to-understand plot. Otherwise, feel free to read in whatever order floats your boat! ~Alyssa
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Darn Effective PR
All you business major friends of mine, take note! What I'm about to share with you is a darn good lesson on PR.
First, I must confess with tongue in cheek that I don't usually like schmoozing and wining and dining. I'm not sure exactly why. However, in Mayo's case, I think my consent to this dance is due to my respect for its "character." Overarching is sincerity. They have sincere motives to meet the needs of their patients first and foremost. That means a commitment to constant quality improvement in every area. Quality in recruiting excellent and highly motivated staff, rewarding them for providing quality, and also providing a safe environment to work. Plus, another reason I see myself giving in is I know they know I know they are doing it. They aren't trying to pull lamb's wool over my eyes. They are open about it, not deceptive or self-serving in the egotistical sense. They pair a lack of cunning with humble confidence that if I don't like them and buy into their company, they will be better off without me. (The alternative is true, as well: If I do like them and become employed, they benefit.)
Mayo claims to treat their people well and so why wouldn't they do it for us interns! It's a great tactic. Think about it! Don't just tell the interns how well you treat your employees; show them! Give them similar perks, like discounts and free bus passes in addition to competitive pay. Give them a legit ID badge that actually works on card readers. Take them on historical tours of the area, get them socially connected, and feed them good food. Orient them to the inner workings of the company and be exceedingly helpful to them, but be absolutely sincere about it. And finally, ask for their input about the orientation process. Value their thoughts by asking them more specific questions and then adjusting the program to suit their needs as expressed.
In short, they utilize the 10-week internship as a trial run, an extended interview in which they get interns used to their MO, their systems, their people, and their product. In the process, they train future employees while weeding out the undesirables that don't fit into their business garden. They make us interns love them so we go home and rave about their excellency in customer and employee care! Positive public image, CHECK!
And there it is! Selfless sincerity is the key factor that drives the rest of your PR. Confidence and follow through should naturally come out of that key quality for effective PR! Obviously, it's working because I wouldn't be telling you that the guys in Mayo's HR and PR departments have got it down to a science!
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| 3 of the 6 roommates: Karina, Mary, and me |
First, I must confess with tongue in cheek that I don't usually like schmoozing and wining and dining. I'm not sure exactly why. However, in Mayo's case, I think my consent to this dance is due to my respect for its "character." Overarching is sincerity. They have sincere motives to meet the needs of their patients first and foremost. That means a commitment to constant quality improvement in every area. Quality in recruiting excellent and highly motivated staff, rewarding them for providing quality, and also providing a safe environment to work. Plus, another reason I see myself giving in is I know they know I know they are doing it. They aren't trying to pull lamb's wool over my eyes. They are open about it, not deceptive or self-serving in the egotistical sense. They pair a lack of cunning with humble confidence that if I don't like them and buy into their company, they will be better off without me. (The alternative is true, as well: If I do like them and become employed, they benefit.)
Mayo claims to treat their people well and so why wouldn't they do it for us interns! It's a great tactic. Think about it! Don't just tell the interns how well you treat your employees; show them! Give them similar perks, like discounts and free bus passes in addition to competitive pay. Give them a legit ID badge that actually works on card readers. Take them on historical tours of the area, get them socially connected, and feed them good food. Orient them to the inner workings of the company and be exceedingly helpful to them, but be absolutely sincere about it. And finally, ask for their input about the orientation process. Value their thoughts by asking them more specific questions and then adjusting the program to suit their needs as expressed. |
| Touring the downtown campus with the group. Rochester Methodist |
In short, they utilize the 10-week internship as a trial run, an extended interview in which they get interns used to their MO, their systems, their people, and their product. In the process, they train future employees while weeding out the undesirables that don't fit into their business garden. They make us interns love them so we go home and rave about their excellency in customer and employee care! Positive public image, CHECK!
And there it is! Selfless sincerity is the key factor that drives the rest of your PR. Confidence and follow through should naturally come out of that key quality for effective PR! Obviously, it's working because I wouldn't be telling you that the guys in Mayo's HR and PR departments have got it down to a science!
Just Living the Dream
What does it mean to work at Mayo? If you ask my co-worker Tyler (and any of his buddies), he indubitably will quip he is "livin' the dream." I couldn't define that for you...I'm pretty sure it's a half-hearted joke aimed and fired in mockery of the proverbial "American Dream". You know, the one about raising yourself up by the bootstraps, working hard, earning money at the job you love, and then settling down with the spouse of your dreams in the house of your dreams and having little ones who bring ineffable pride and joy to your heart. (Maybe he'll get around to actually explaining it by the end of the summer, but I'm not going to get my hopes up!) Anyways, Mayo takes really good care of their employees and anyone who works there won't tell you differently because they know that they wouldn't get half the treatment they get now working somewhere else!
For me, this summer pretty much is just living a dream. I constantly wake up from reverie feeling a need to test reality, to make sure that I'm taking it all in. Then, when I believe I am awake, I fall back into that peaceful dreamlike state to soak up its healing rays like the California...ahem...Minnesota sunshine.
The other night, I sat in the warm midnight air marveling at the journey I'm on. Fireflies dotted the black periphery and ribbits echoed in the darkness right before frogs dove into the pond. Then a doe tentatively crept out from the woods. Ever so elegantly, she lowered her head to the grass to eat. It was a perfect moment! One that captured the peacefulness and beauty that comes with intimacy with Christ and elicited some good wonderment. Specifically, I was wondering at what God is doing in my life, because, as you should have gathered by now, I feel like my time in Rochester has been so ideal that it feels like a dream much of the time. I held my breath often when I first got here. I was waiting for the ball to drop and something painful to happen, yet I have found only blessing and rest from previous turmoil. I was also wondering about a future here and friendships--those that would be lost and those that would be gained in leaving California.
Sounds like after five weeks, I'm finally past the culture shock and honeymoon phases of the adventure because such deep questions as the ones I've just mentioned are the hallmark of a soul confronting reality. If I move here, I probably won't have as many go-out-and-explore days. I'll be assimilating and working. The adventure and the growing won't stop, thankfully, but my reality will be...realer [Not sure what word I'm looking for but that one'll do...] as I confront the real world more on my own than ever before.
Enough of that pensive stuff! Here's some more objective stuff that you'll find interesting:
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| St. Mary's Hospital, the Francis Building entrance. I work in this hospital but in a different building. |
Where I Work:
I work in the Cardiac Surgery ICU, which is located in St. Mary's Hospital, the older of the two hospitals that comprise the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. It's a 25-bed unit that sees all ages, from newborns to centenarians. If I remember correctly, that makes it the largest unit and the only one that sees such a wide age range. It's one of the handful of cardiovascular-related units at Mayo's Rochester campuses.
The surgical patients we see undergo reconstructive/restorative procedures on their hearts: new heart valves, coronary bypasses, aortic aneurism repairs, ventricular assist devices (usually for severe heart failure), and patients on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). Occasionally, we get overflow patients from other units, for example, a couple weeks ago, one of my patients had sepsis and its myriad complications.
What I Do:
I work with a Clinical Coach every shift I'm on. Basically, they are RNs who teach me and help me hone my ability to think critically, practice physical assessments, give report and collaborate with other healthcare team members, and learn the computer-based charting interface. I'm not allowed to give medications, like during my clinical rotations for school, but it gives me more time to focus on the rationale for medications and other interventions. Unlike most other Summer III interns who have one or two coaches, I have four and they are absolutely great! I get the benefit of learning from their different strengths!
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| One of the unpredictable rainstorms I walked into after work during Week 1. I walked about 500 feet with an umbrella in hand, jumped a puddle at least 6-inches deep, and was soaked up to my knees! |
A Good Brew
Yesterday's bus ride to work made for the third time I've spilled coffee since I got here. The first time I had the bright idea of putting my travel mug in my purse. My purse looks okay because it's black, but all of my paperwork (schedule, class notes, EVERYTHING) has unmistakable brown stains that tend to elicit little jabs from everyone who sees them.
The second time, I spilled a few drops from my mug as I headed up the townhouse's stairs to my room. I was really thankful that the carpet is a perfectly matching mocha color.
And yesterday. Well, yesterday I surprised myself with a warm splash of good ole home brew as I sat next to my roommate Karina. It was my new favorite coffee on my new Asics track pants at 6:35am! I don't even remember what I was attempting to do before I so gracefully dumped my coffee all over my leg, my name badge, the seat...but I'm sure it wasn't important. Actually, now that I think about it, I was trying to send a text!
The point of this story is to share a discovery with the coffee lovers. You deserve your mug to be topped off for reading this far, after all!
Caribou Coffee rises to the top of my favorite coffees list! The classic Dunkin Donuts and the honest Seattle's Best, as delicious as they are, have been dethroned recently. The sad part of the story is that you have to special order it if you live in California because you can't find it anywhere.
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| And it's RA Certified, which means the harvesters are fairly compensated for their work! |
CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED: If you have coffee plans with me, make sure you have napkins and maybe a Tide pen with you! ;)
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