My First Day at Tuba City

What a long and difficult and exciting day all wrapped up into one.

I awake at 5:45 AM after a somewhat decent night of sleep and got ready for my day.  I looked outside and to my surprise there was another 12 inches of snow!  The road was not clear so I hurried up and got ready to leave extra early.  I had planned to leave at 6:30 AM to arrive there at 8 but I ended up leaving at 6.  The roads were terrible and I could not even go more than 10 to 20 miles per hour. My car is not very snow and ice friendly that is for sure.

It took me two and a half hours to arrive to the hospital and I was so glad that everyone was running behind, schools were closed as the snowfall in Tuba City was uncommon and they only got 4 to 6 inches.

I arrive and find a parking spot until I could ask where it is I am to park and I grab my materials and head towards the building.  I went to take a picture, but the camera batteries were low so I will have to get one next trip.  The building looked like a large schhol like a high school size all one level.  There were trailers that were labeled clinics, etc so I found the first person with a hospital identification badge and asked which direction to the Pediatrics wing. I was quickly and politely given directions and I was on my way.  I arrived on the unit and went to the nurses station.  There was two nurses standing taling and a girl behind the desk who appeared to be the secretary.  I introduced myself and said I was looking for.... I am wondering how to really talk about work without violating the privacy of my co-workers... I think I may just give them either initials or codenames or something... will work that out.  Well the two nurses greeted me and welcomed me and stated that my supervisor was expecting me that she was off the unit and I could wait with them for her.  They were so nice.  They asked how my drive was and seemed to know a little about me already.  One nurse has been there for 14 months of her two year contract and is from Kentucky... the other has been there six weeks of her two year contract and she is from Puerto Rico. The secretary who are called MSA's is a nice young lady from the reservation as are the day and night CNA's.  After about ten minutes of introductions and chatter my supervisor arrives and hugs me and welcomes me. She says lets walk, get some coffee and chat.  She even bought me a huge cup as I declined her to buy me breakfast. We went to the conference room and we talked like we had known each other forever not just 2 weeks. I had spoke with her when I interviewed for this position.  She is great a previous traveller herself, she is very understanding and accomodating to the needs of her staff.  She explained that most of the nurses here are contract nurses!  We then finished our chat coffee and then she gave me the hospital tour and we headed top start the dreaded paperwork process.  I got my ID badge made and then got the orientation packet.  Went to get drug tested which I had been holding my pee for 3 hours!!!  Come to find out they have a different method of testing that I had not seen nor heard of. They say it is cheaper and easier to administer... it was a cheek swab. It was this plastic blue stick with a white tab on the end which you hold on the inside of your cheek for two minutes... easy enough.  As I was standing there holding this thing to my cheek... the Nursing Recruiter for the hospital and the man who offered me the job arrived and was chatting with me... he thought I had a lollipop!  He was very nice and welcomed me... everyone all day would be this polite even the patients and families!  We then head to education and signed up for Nursing orientation class which will be next Wednesday so I could at least take the medication test so I could work prior to the class it was a requirement to do patient care... Easy, done got 100 percent!  I also got signed up to renew my certifications which will be needing renewal while here. My CPR for health care, Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Life Support.  These are all essential to work in critical care areas.

After all that paperwork and two folders of other stuff to read and complete, we headed back to the unit and I got paired with nurse Kentucky.  She should me the unit, the paperwork, the charts, equipment and we even went to see the two babies whom we would be caring for.  The unit can hold 15 children. Currently there are lots of RSV babies being treated as this is the season and once the season has passed there will be lots of post op kids and orthopedic kids from the skate park injuries.  I got a little history on the area and it was sad to know that many of the families here live in remote areas, on dirt floors, no heat/electricity or running water.  Many of the kids stay with an Aunt or Grandparent at the bedside as the mother has to be home to care for upwards of 18 other children.

I spent the rest of the day going between a few patients, helping out where I could, reading materials and meeting doctors and staff members.  The Pediatrician who was on today was very nice and we spoke at length... he has been here for 17 years after leaving medical school in Virginia.  There are many surgical residents here who do a rotation and they staff Guard members as well.

During our lunch I decided to move my car and take a quick drive around the city.  I noticed it was hard to see much with all the snow but they have two Mc Donald's within a mile, a Taco Bell and a KFC.  They have a movie theater which has two movies playing and I went into the grocery store and bought some apples and gum.  There are dogs everywhere!  They are called the "res dogs".

Once I returned from my lunch I was given a gift from Kentucky... she bought me a stick of Cherry Chap-stick!  She said "Welcome to Tuba City! You will need this so let me be the one to get you started! This item is essential as the winds and air will keep those lips dry."  I must have used that Chap-stick all day.

The rest of the day was interesting but dragged on as I was really tired and the higher elevations here drain you.

It took me only one hour and 15 minutes to arrive home and there was a nice surprise on my door from my landlord. She paid for me a gym membership and arranged for my driveway to be cleared while I am here and the weather is bad. Also she left me the mailbox key so I can get mail while I am here!

I also started my diet today. I am doing the Extreme Fat Smash Diet and my goal is to lose 30 pounds in the 90 days.  I think that is realistic as it is only 10 pounds per month about 2.5 pounds per week. I drove and ate my first meal... well fruit!  The diet went well today with the exception of I did not get the fourth meal in as I was so exhausted from the long day!

So as for my goals today I think I completed them all except unpacking... I am ready to get offline, eat my salad and veg in front of the television and go to bed.  I work again Wednesday night so I am off tomorrow for some much needed rest. I feel like I have been running for two weeks.

Goals for tomorrow:
1. Sleep in
2. Go to the gym
3. Unpack

Until tomorrow....