Finding My Way

I am currently sitting at a coffee shop at W 81st and Broadway reflecting on this adventure. Donald is at his hospital orientation. As we feared my background check did not clear in time, so I will be a lady of leisure until March 19th. Most would welcome this break in work, but for me it’s going to be a challenge.  I got hired for my first job at 15 years old, and have been working since then. I love nursing, but God must have known that my heart needed a break. Everything happens for a reason. Nursing is exhausting, especially when the resources needed to provide excellent patient care aren’t there. One of my colleges sent me an article today called “We’re Working Nurses to Death” by Jason Silerstein . The title intrigued me immediately, but the article even more so.  This topic is a frequent topic of discussion at work. These words really stood out to me,  

“Minimum is maximum staffing,” Letvak says. “We don’t have any easy days anymore. If the [patient load] is low, which happens all the time, they send the nurses home, instead of them having a light afternoon. How few do we need? That’s all that you’re getting. Every time you are at work, it is a bad day. There really isn’t a chance of having a lighter day anymore.”     

To Read the full article, click here. 

Enough of my rambling, I could talk for hours on the things that need to change in healthcare. I really do love nursing, it’s a special gift to be able to help someone when they are their most vulnerable. I look forward to being able to start my job in March, but for now I will just mill about keeping myself busy. It 25 degrees here, definably not used to this cold. The wind is different here, its unforgiving… its brutal. My cheeks feel wind chapped from yesterday’s exploring.  

Don and I scouted out the laundry services, grocery stores, and a pharmacy. Everything ended up being on our block! There is something to be said about not having to drive to get to where you need to be especially since I absolutely hate driving. All you here about is NYC is the subway system, but don’t let that fool you, I feel the bus is the best kept secret!  

In the morning we walked down the street, made copies of our nursing license and got on the subway to head uptown, all within one block from the apartment. We went to explore the facility we would be working at, but along the way we stopped at Columbia University. Being on the campus, in the courtyard, you suddenly felt immediately smarter. The buildings were massive, there must have been 100 stairs leading up to the library. The Facility we will be working out was pristine and grand! I Couldn’t help but be a little sad that he would get to be there tomorrow without me.  

We walked back from the hospital and stopped at our first Trader Joe’s. What a unique store. When we went to check out there were no less than 100 people in line. I told Don “Lets ditch this buggy” I assumed this line would take at least an hour. We are used to waiting in line at Walmart and Kroger type places where there are usually less that 4 people on register. When I say we waited in line less than 15 minuets, I am not exaggerating.  There was a woman standing on a stool directing the crowd to open registers, not a second was wasted. The moment a cashier was done checking out, their hand went up and we were directed toward them. I was really impressed with the store. We ended up walking all the way home down Columbus Ave.  

After some hours at home we ventured out again. I wanted a Cupcake, but not just any cupcake, a Sprinkles cupcake. You might recall from our other post that on our Nevada / California trip that we discovered the fluffy deliciousness that is Sprinkles Cupcakes, so I was on a mission! The Location ended up being right next to Madison Square Garden. The cupcake was delicious but the area was super touristy. We get to refer to outsiders as tourist now! We live here! We explored The Chelsea Market. Not many of you know, but it was in the Chelsea district that Don and I made the decision that we would live in NYC one day. We were still dating at the time, but we were already making big plans for our future. It was getting colder, we were exhausted, our watches showed we had walked 21,000 steps so we headed home.  

I finally had my “what are we doing here” meltdown. The apartment is small, we are hot, the dogs are hot, the bed is small, but most of all I was going to be alone tomorrow. I am fine alone, I guess just NYC alone. The largess of the situation was finally settling in. At 1AM I cried, I cried a lot. Sometimes all you need is a really good cry. Don consoled me, and felt better. I was finally able to go to sleep around 2AM. Don woke me up around 6AM because he was getting ready for work.  

I pray he has a good day at work. I pray I have a good day on my solo adventure. My plan for today is get myself to venture to midtown to target. Our shower head broke amongst other things that we need. Also, lets me honest for minute, Target reminds me of home. So here I go. I clicked play on my Memphis playlist, flipped up my headphones, and headed for a sense of home.