Contract #6

74  shifts down.....3 to go. 

I have been in LA now since Sept, with 3 weeks off in December. I timed my contracts in a way that would allow me to take Christmas off between the first and second contracts. I planned to go home, pickup shifts, and visit my fam for Christmas….but things don't always go according to plan. 

We had a death in the family shortly before Christmas so while I did get to visit my family, it was peppered with grief, and left me in no position to pick up shifts. Given the lifestyle that travel nursing demands, I'm just thankful I was able to be there with my family at that time. 

I always planned to extend my contract at CHLA if things went well. I like doing 2 contracts a year, during the cold months.... so doing them back to back gives me more time at home because it eliminates the extra 2 weeks at the beginning of the second contract when I would have to get compliance done. I extended for an additional 12 weeks at almost the same pay. The rate dropped a bit, but the stipends increased in Jan, so the difference in pay is minimal (thanks to the amazing team at Lead Health) and I was able to keep my housing, which you all know is my LEAST favorite part of starting a new assignment. 

It took me about 8 weeks, maybe 9…..to actually feel comfortable on the unit. Stark contrast to the 3 shifts it took in Marin on my last assignment. The difference between showing up over qualified vs borderline under qualified.

This is a 60 bed level 4 unit in a children's hospital, which means we get everything I learned about during my advanced neonatal certification almost a decade ago......... but never got to see IRL. We get preemies as well, but preemies with significant complications and absolutely no "feeder growers"...those kids go to the floors as soon as they are able.

Lots of genetic anomalies I have never heard of, GI stuff like omphaloceles, TEF, EA, CDH, pre/post op cases, serious cardiac conditions, trachs, gtubes, Carpe diem, ECMO ….(travelers do not get ecmo here but they do get acuity) the list goes on. I even floated to CTICU on my first dayshift!, where we were pushing adenosine 8 minutes into my shift. And last week I floated to PICU where I was utilising my shiny new PALS certificate in the first hour, having to bag my patient. It has been intense.

The learning curve was straight up hill, and I'm not gonna lie, I struggled. I have really been pushed out of my comfort zone here and I have learned SO much. But I also have had shifts where I felt totally incompetent and wanted to just give up. There is something very humbling about having to look up all your patients' conditions a decade into your career. I was able to switch to dayshift after about 7 weeks…..so just as I was getting comfortable with the flow on nights……but I will always choose dayshift if I can…my brain works WAY better. Switching to days meant learning day shift duties. Trach tie/dressing changes, G-tube changes, rounds with different providers, off unit stuff like MRIs etc....but no more sterile line changes!

Every time I start a new contract, I am faced with a set/certain level of overwhelm that comes with starting any new job, that I am certain is exacerbated by my self diagnosed ADHD ….. finding where to park, trying to remember door codes and locker combos, remembering people's names and their roles, learning new policies and procedures and adjusting to the flow of the unit. In the past, I have always been able to fall back on, “the babies are the same”.....these babies are not the same.

I chose to stay, embrace the experience, and expand my skillset. Now when I get a critical airway patient, or care for a patient with an omphalocele, encephalocele, multiple drips, dressing changes, traches etc... I actually feel comfortable. I grew in the discomfort, and even though I am exhausted, it has been worth it. I would even do it again.

On top of all the "new new", I also had to learn a whole new charting system. Cerner is not my favorite. 

The shock and awe on the nurses faces when I tell them we were still paper charting up until a couple years ago is priceless...... I only know EPIC….. I guess not anymore, but I do know with absolute certainty that I WAY prefer EPIC over Cerner.

I have done a little exploring, seen the main attractions, but mostly have been a couch potato on my days off. I was going to the gym on the regular for the first several months, but I haven't had the energy lately. The thought of fighting LA traffic for any reason usually keeps me pretty close to home, plus I am usually so completely drained after my 3 12s that walking around the block a few times with zoey is enough action for me on days off. It rained a little last month but the coldest days were mostly sunny, around 15-20 degrees (60's to 70s) so that has been amazing. Definitely warmer than Northern Cali at this time last year, and certainly warmer than Edmonton. 

After seeing how California nurses are treated….even better than Canada….with my ratios being 1:1 or 1:2 max, always having resource nurses (yes plural) available, not missing one break, and that OT after 8 hrs….it's going to be tough to push myself to go elsewhere….But I still have a few licenses that I haven't used, and a few places I would love to see. During the entire 25 weeks, I had 1 shift cancelled (that I still got paid for because my hours are guaranteed), and have only been floated twice......which in my opinion is really good!

My mom came for a visit this month which was SOOOO nice and needed. I am actually really going to miss it here. I love my little place, I love Burbank, and the weather is way closer to what I am looking for long term. Feeling the warm sun on my face in the middle of February is something I would never take for granted.

I have officially been a travel nurse for 2 years now and am on my 6th contract. I have paid off close to all of my >100k debt while still managing to take off an average of 3 months per year, so I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. I so appreciate the flexibility and freedom this work offers, on top of expanding my skills as an RN.

This time next week I will be back in Canada,...but as usual, I am already planning my next adventure 😊