The last 10

And all of a sudden.....I am down to 10 shifts left in Seattle WA

The time seemed to slow down a bit since I moved out of the ghetto and into the forest,  then all of a sudden, BAM, time to start looking for a new contract. I was offered an extension here....on more than one occasion....and I had to give it alot of thought actually, because the unit has been so great! The staff here have all been very welcoming, and even though we are working short alot of the time (nothing new), everyone really pulls together to help each other out. This is something I have appreciated so much, since so much of what I was doing daily was just a little bit foreign. I do feel a pang of guilt leaving, knowing how short staffed they are, but it was that pang, my loyalty, that kept me tied to my own unhappiness in my past....I have to be loyal to my dreams, my own goals..... and there are still so many places I want to see.....they will find other bodies....

First of all the stuff that was the same:

the babies- a healthy baby in Washington state looks the same as a healthy baby in Canada, and when things start to go south.... samesies. 

they did team rounds here as well with all the multidisciplinary geniuses, and just like back home.... we never really knew when they were gonna happen. 

Alot of the action happens at the bedside and the RN is usually in the lead, or assisting....imaging, teaching, rounds, blood work, line insertions, intubation, extubation....the fun stuff

The nurses take care of each other. I never felt uncomfortable asking questions, or answering them when I was no longer the newest traveller. 

There was always a charge nurse on each floor (NICU is 3 floors here), or at least one for each Level of care...usually a "TAP" nurse, and an admit nurse...sometimes we went without a TAP if we were short

There were ALOT of travel nurses, some that have been there extending for a LONG time, and they utilize peds flex nurses who float between all the small human units and help where needed. I loved our regular peds flex, she was SUPER knowledgeable and very friendly and also a traveller.

As for differences, there were a few minor practice differences

measuring girth and residuals on all babies

feeding protocols were different and took a little bit for me to wrap my brain around

they use WAY more different types of formula, have milk techs to mix up feeds, rarely had a baby fed via pump, and the feeding pumps drove me a little batty on occasion.....milks were never co checked by another RN, that's what the scanner was for, and milk came up as a PRN med on the MAR. Every baby on level 3 had thier own milk fridge, and on level 2, the fridge was only shared within each pod. 

We did a shift huddle every morning where the charge filled us in on the all the stats of the entire unit, changes on the way, and anything significant that was going down that day... expected deliveries, discharges etc

Lately, it hasn't been totally uncommon to have 4 babies on Level 2 - this sucks and is not ideal, but they do try to avoid it all costs...

We change TPN lines every day, only clear fluids go for 4 days. I never saw a sterile line change.....

They do way more PICCs than umbi lines, and for blood work and IV starts, the go to is not hand or head, and never via drip

We did our own gasses at the bedside using I-Stat

The shift starts at 7, you go to huddle at exactly 7 and start getting report around 705....some days I didn't leave until 740 depending on the babies. Back home, your relief wanted to be walking out the door by 715 at the latest. 

Obviously the pay was different. As a travel nurse, I took home over 3x the money as I was making at home, but before you get all excited.... no benefits, no PTO, first to float (only 2 times the entire contract) and I still have to pay bills back home... duplicating expenses.

Would I recommend this facility? A million times, yes. I am usually dead by the end of my shift, BUT the one time my assignment felt unsafe (immediate post op gastroschisis closure on several drips, also NAS, split into a different pod with another NAS plus one more IUGR on resp support) vs just heavy.... my charge jumped in right away and shifted stuff around. It is a busy level 4 unit, with 70 something beds and a huge variety of patients....They care about the patients here, and they take care of each other. Swedish First Hill set the bar pretty high as my first US assignment, and even though I will be moving on at the end of my contract, I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to be here. 

I have loved Washington State. Seattle is not my favorite, but I am learning that I am not much of a big city gal. First of all....way too people-y... but the surrounding areas here.... Snoqualamie, Woodinville, Leavenworth, even  where I am currently living... are all VERY beautiful. I have enjoyed several hikes, lots of waterfalls, fun on the lake, and  a whole lot of fresh air. The weather reminds me alot of Vancouver BC....lots of rain, lots of grey, but when that sun comes out.....damn girl! The last few days have been mid 30's (celcius) and pretty humid. 

Whats next.....

Well the thing with having options is....I get to decide. I turned down that full time position in Hawaii because I wanted to travel, so that is the plan. I currently have my NY, TX, MN, WA licences, and have been granted EMSA authority in CA. My permanent licence for Cali wont be in for a while, and I am guessing a least a couple months for my temp by the time they get all my documents, so there are only a few hospitals accepting nurses on the EMSA....emergency licence  (which has been extended indefinitely FYI...."for the duration of the emergency") but with "flu" season coming up, I am pretty sure more of the hospital systems will be accepting it. Cali or NY for the fall?......TBD

I absolutely love my recruiter at Lead Health and he is WORKING for me these days. We connect every couple days, and he's watching postings daily. He knows what my goals, and must haves are, is always totally transparent about jobs, pay, and facilities......and I am very hopeful that we will continue to work together for my next contract and beyond. Right now I am closely watching the California coast, preferably somewhere beachy in SoCal, but am open to whatever comes up. Believe it or not, even though I only have a few weeks left, it is still too early to be looking for Sept starts. Another week or so, and things will start to line up. 

I have one more little road trip planned while I am here, down the Oregon coast, barely into Cali to get my prints done for my licence....its way faster to get these done in state vs mailing in a hard card, so Crescent city it is in a week from now. Then, so far....the plan is to head back to Alberta for a week or two before making my way back across the border AGAIN to either the east or west coast.

They say you never know unless you try.... now I know... as crazy, unpredictable, and chaotic this lifestyle can be....it is 100 percent for me....I am challenged to be versatile, creative, and flexible on the daily....I get to meet new people, see new things, and be the captain of my own ship. I don't ever feel totally bored because even 9 weeks in, I am still learning daily. I have been reminded, away from the inevitible politics that come with being a full time staff nurse, that I absolutely love this career. Travel nursing has taken the focus off of the job, the tasks, the mundane..... and put it back on my love for my career, my patients....AND I am getting to travel!!! I havent dreaded going in to work once......So here's to a whole bunch of unknowns, staying open and positive, and embracing the adventure of whatever is coming next.

xoxo

Alana 

Foot Officially in Door!

I made it!

After driving for 17 hours, I finally made it to Washington state. 

For those of you that are also on this crazy journey, thinking about travel nursing to the states, I absolutely encourage you to keep pursuing it. It took me 11 months from the time I started my application with CGFNS, before I set foot in the US with a contract. For some of you it may be faster, and others, it may be a longer road, but from my perspective, it is SO worth it. 

I have been working at my NICU job in Seattle for 3 weeks (this coming Friday), but I got to Washington almost 3 weeks before my first day on the unit. 2 weeks before my actual start date..... WHY??

Well it's not as easy as just crossing the border and showing up for work. (ugh I WISH)

The TN Visa 

We need authorization to work here, which mean we need a TN VISA...It is really just a stamp in my passport that says I meet all of the requirements set forth by the trade NAFTA agreement. I didn't have to make an appointment with border security where I crossed, but I have heard some people have had to. I was warned this interview process could take several hours. When I got to the border, I basically told the agent that I was there to apply for my TN Visa.... yes, apply... which means there is potential to be rejected if you don't have all your documents in order. Luckily, I almost always over prepare, so I whipped out my trusty 12 dollar file folder from staples, with all my travel nursing stuff in it, and went inside. I had to provide.... 

- a copy of my contract from my agency 

- a specific TN letter from my agency on company letterhead that outlined my start and end dates, my hourly and blended rate (that's my hourly plus stipends), the hospital and unit that I would be working on and the hours per week I would be working, it also had to include all of my agencies info....address, contact info etc. 

- a copy of my RN degree

- my original WA RN licence

- my visa screen from CGFNS

- my passport of course 

- the details/ address of where I would be staying

- on top of this, I had to fill out a form that itemized the details of my actual job into percentages, like how much is direct patient care, education, etc. 

-I had to pay a fee of 45 ish USD

The agent made copies of all of my documents, clarified a few things, and stapled my I-9 to the inside of my passport, stamped me and sent me on my way. The whole thing took around an hour, but what a relief when that was finally done!!! I am the kind of person that gets nervous getting pulled over by a cop even if I haven't done anything wrong, lol so, I was happy to be on American soil and through with that process.....I am sure it will be easier next time.....because as soon as my contract ends, my TN expires and even if I extend with the same agency/facility, I will have to go through the whole application process again. 

I drove the last 3.5 hours to Renton to find my new home away from home. SUCH a beautiful drive. I will say, I love how pretty this state is. I was in awe the whole time.... the roads are so SMOOTH!! 

SOOOO green....even more trees than Vancouver, BC. I love it here. I get why it's called the evergreen state. 

I made it to my long stay hotel, checked into my room and was immediately overwhelmed. The elevators smell so bad, like musty old guy, my room was on the bottom floor, looking at the closed pool... and as easy as I was trying to be, I could not imagine spending 3 months in that room. I asked at the front for a different one... and eventually was accomodated to a top floor room in the building on the other side of the parking lot..... not much better.... but it was something.

 The clientele in this place are questionable at best, almost scary at worst. My first trip to walmart for dog food was eye opening..... pretty sure there was a drug deal going down in the parking lot, and I actually parked my car, got out, looked around, got right back in and found a different spot. My googly eyes for Washington were getting yanked open to the reality of the hood I was in....I was a bit disappointed honestly......

BUT 

I signed up for this... the adventure of it, the uncertainty, the new experiences... so I did what I always do... I looked for things to appreciate. I haven't been back to that Walmart since, and the sketchy guys in my building are more sketchy looking than actually any threat. It is what it is. I have my own space with all the things I need, my commute to work is painless, and there is a tonne of green space for my little travel buddy.

Getting my SSN 

The next huge step after getting a TN Visa, is applying for and actually receiving your Social security number. This was HUGE, because as Canadians, there are certain states we can't even apply to be licensed in without it, I absolutely needed it before I started work, and once I got it, it was mine for life....that little number opens a tonne of doors for me. 

I actually called the office closest to where I was staying before I even left Canada to ensure I wouldn't need an appointment. If you have been following along, you know that when I got my first contract in Minnesota, I had to make an appointment, and couldn't get in for 6 weeks due to COVID... which likely contributed to the later cancellation of that contract. No appointment needed!! Phew. The office opened at 9, I got there at 8 and there was already a lineup....only 3 other people, but by the time they opened, the line was winding around the building!!! Soooo go early!! I was in and out within 20 minutes once they finally opened. They actually have to say "no personal weapons, guns pepper spray, or knives."

.. the guy ahead of me had to go put something away in his car......

They asked for :

my birth certificate

my tn visa

my Canadian passport 

the address I was staying at 

and I had to sign a few forms that declared I wasn't applying for anyone else, that I had never applied before etc... 

I went on Monday, 13 days before my start date. Luckily my place allows mail delivery, so I was able to get the card sent there, and I had it within one week! so fast!! I actually cried when I opened it. Everything was FINALLY coming together.. I was, and am..... so unbelievably thankful that I am crazy enough to believe in myself, in my ability to create the life I want....and that I am actually living it. 

I had a trip to Portland planned with my son that I bought him for Christmas, so while I was waiting to start work, we had an amazing trip to Oregon. I have crossed the border 7 times this year and I am going again in a couple weeks. I can not imagine doing this one without a car.... Kelowna was ok... I made it work... but not here. I am ALWAYS on the go, exploring, chasing waterfalls, taking road trips... actually....

I am currently sitting in quaint lodge in Leavenworth... 3 hours from Renton.... so SUPER thankful I was able to get some wheels before starting this one. I also had to do the in person skills sessions for both NRP and BLS, and both of those were a bit of a drive away. 

The learning curve is 90 degrees...straight up

I went from paper charting to all online charting. 

Lab values are different here

what we chart is different

rounds are different

the culture is similar, but different

the hours are different

breaks are different

supplies are different

..... the babies are the same thank god... 

assessments are mostly the same with the addition of a few things. 

My brain was on fire from the very beginning with 19 hours of online modules/orientation. Thankfully we were just about to roll out the same charting system back home, so I had already completed 658 million modules for it.

But it is a whole different beast in practice... I am getting better every shift, but I still feel slow as molasses.... which is a hard pill to swallow for a gal that prides herself on her time management skills.....Ego has no place in travel nursing though, so check that at the door. 

Finding my flow 

I am starting to establish some small routines that help me feel a sense of normalcy while I'm here, like I found my "home gym" because training is something I can always count on to make me feel good, and it gives me a bit of structure, I have my favorite Fred Myers for groceries, I know where to get the good pink wine, the best thai  food, and I have even been able to connect with some really rad fellow travel nurses. I have a day locker at work that I like to use, and I am almost GPS free on my way to and from work.... which is a big deal for me lol, AND I found a lash tech I love, PHEW.

I am really making an effort to maximize my days off. As much as I love money, I am here for the travel aspect more than anything, so I make a real effort to do something new every chance I get....sometimes that means chasing waterfalls, and sometimes it means finding the best dog friendly pub. I almost picked up an extra shift last week, but got cancelled for my memorial day shift, so the extra just ended up being regular. The days are so long anyways.... I do love my old 8 hour day life, but I wouldn't want to have to go in 5 or 6 days a week in this beautiful state. It really does remind me of BC a bit... but on steroids.... like there is so much moss, and dense forsest......its refreshing.... and so beautiful....and  rainy.... Everyone keeps talking about how beautiful the summer is here, and the housing costs reflect that, but so far, the nicest days have been the ones that I am inside working. Rain or shine, I am loving playing outside here. 

As for the facilty, the agency... well that's for next time 

xoxox

Alana....like banana... not AlaYna.....we are working on this....

Almost a Wrap!

I can't even believe I only have 6 shifts left in Kelowna!!!! The time has gone pretty fast, for the most part. I think having company part way through really helped with that, but it still feels like it's been a super quick 8 weeks. 

I've REALLY enjoyed my time here. The unit was great, mostly familiar, so no huge learning curve, and the staff were always welcoming, and appreciative. It has been super therapeutic to be surrounded by nature as well. From facing a snowstorm and -15 on my first walk home, to basking in +12 by the beach today, I've also seen Kelowna go through some changes. Softening, getting warmer, livelier. And at the same time, I've felt those little adjustments in myself also. 

What was once a huge unknown, a blind step in the direction of my desires, has easily become a knowing.....an understanding....a soft acceptance if you will, that THIS IS the right path for me. I love so much about travel nursing, and I feel so blessed to have had such a perfect detour on my way to the states. 

It's not all been easy by any means. Getting around with no car sucks here, and trying to get a rental was often impossible. I've put in ALOT of steps, including walking to and from the grocery store every week. When my mom and son weren't here, it was really just me and my dog, so as much as I love being on my own, I did feel a pang of loneliness here and there, more so in the beginning. I've worked so many more night shifts than I would prefer, but that's where the need was, and as beautiful as it is here, I still find myself craving the next town. 

There have been a few developments on my USA stuff in the past several weeks, including FINALLY getting my NY license!! Washington came through as well, and a potential permanent position opened up in Hawaii which is pretty rare, so I have a few things on the go right now. 

I have plans to be in Portland with my son at the end of April, so have been trying to line something up for WA, since I'll be in the neighborhood, but up until the last couple days, I've still been way too early to start looking for that time frame. Which is kind of good, because jobs have just become super scarce. I've attempted to submit a couple of times through Trusted, but the jobs close before they even get around to submitting me. I did interview for a WA position but I believe my start date was too far out, so I'm still looking. In the mean time I'm also being submitted to the job in Hawaii, because as much as I want to be traveling, my end goal was always Hawaii, so if the opportunity presents itself, I have to at least get more information so I can weigh my options, right? 

Just yesterday I saw the first posting for an early may start in WA, so it's going to be time to start submitting soon!!. I think about the fact that I may be heading to the states to get started on my next contract in a month, and I think of ALL the stuff I have going on between now and then.........I get tired just thinking of it. The day after I get home, I have a couple of day shifts at the Alex, then my in person EPIC training, another shift, then off to Mexico to work on my tan for a week. By the time I'm back I'm hoping to have a position lined up, and potentially heading to WA, TX, or NY to get set up before my weekend in Portland with my kiddo at the end of April

It's alot. Lol. Right now I'm just relishing in the free time of this final stretch of 5 off before going into 3 nights 2 off 3 nights, fly home.... I had thought I had reserved a car for this week, but apparently I didn't complete the reservation, so I'm just taking it easy, close to home, reflecting on the past couple months, and enjoying the quiet while I have it. 

Things I wish I brought: 

🗨Cleaning supplies in small doses, dishwasher and laundry pods, some all purpose spray cleaner, a few magic erasers, extra kitchen garbage bags

Things I brought that I never used: 

🗨Leg warmers

🗨so many gym clothes

🗨hair curling wand 

🗨going out boots (chose my nikes every time) 

What I learned: 

🗨I value solitude and peace more than anything lately 

🗨Nature really is medicine 

🗨Just because something has always been done a certain way doesn't mean it's right 

🗨All units struggle, no matter how small 

🗨Nicu nurses really are the greatest humans 

🗨Kindness goes a long way 

🗨I still hate relying on public transit 

XOXO 

Alana

Catching up, Changing course, and Getting my travel feet wet.

So I guess it has been a while since I checked in here....well it sure feels like it has been just based on the amount of stuff that has happened....

Only days after my last post, there were some pretty big changes in my life. My relationship ended 😞, my car completely kicked the bucket💀, on top of my contract being cancelled.... it was alot. 

I spent the month of January feeling all the things, trying to come up with a new game plan for travel nursing since it became glaringly obvious that Minnesota was not going to work out, no matter which angle I came at it from....and just trying to find my footing again, all while living out of suitcases at my mom's....not ideal but life happens I guess, and she's a pretty rad roomate, not gonna lie. 

 My Arizona licence FINALLY came through, after waiting 13 weeks for my fingerprint checks to be processed and that turned out to be a GIANT waste of time and money.... I do not reccommend. My license was issued..... and expired the same day, because I live out of country... so I have a license number, but it is considered "inactive" until I can provide them a TN visa...so I can't get a job without an active license and I need a job in order to get a tn visa.... so... ugh, a big waste. 

........I needed a new plan....again. 

 I talked to New York again and at that point they were still processing applications from May....mine was sent in October.... so I knew that one was a ways off. I reached out to a senior recruiter at Cross Country at the advice of several Canadian travel nurses currently working in the States. She ended up submitting me for a job at Minnesota Childrens', that almost immediately was put "on hold".... this usually means they have over hired, or they have alot of applicants and don't want any more resume's. Since there are only a couple of different hospital groups in Minnesota, and we already discovered that all of Fairview Health was saying no to international nurses, it was our last shot. Crickets for almost 2 weeks before I decided I needed to take action. I gave up on Minnesota.

On Jan 13, I applied to both Texas and Washington. I know girls that were able to get into Texas, and I was also talking to a recruiter at Tailored Staffing, and he said Texas was super easy to get into, that they would hire me with a ssn pending and I could start while waiting for that. He also has experience placing Canadians and says almost all his Canadian nurses go through Texas first.

My recruiter at Cross Country told me not to bother with Texas.... just depends who you talk to I guess.

The application process for Texas was pretty straight forward and they utilize the nurse portal, identical to Arizona, which I quite like because you can actually see the documents you have uploaded, what is pending, and message them right on the portal. I had to write an exam for Texas on practice standards for the state, but it was open book and there was lots of time to do it. I didn't study at all, and only got one wrong. My Texas license came through quite quick! I applied Jan 13 and my temp license was issued Feb 4! So just over 3 weeks....even faster than Minnesota I think. So I have a temporary license, pending fingerprint checks, until June. For Texas, they want you to do your fingerprints at a livescan place, and you have to be in the USA to do that. Where ever I end up in April/May, I can stop in at one of the approved places, and have prints done for Texas, and my license will then be permanent. Easy Peasy. 

The application for Washington was a bit more complex. I applied on line. There are only options for applying by exam, applying by endorsement, or internationally educated.... I fit both of those last 2 categories, so I had to make a few phone calls. On top of that, I was told by my recruiter at cross country, that I shouldn't need the CES from CGFNS since I already had another US license....I heard mixed things about this online from other nurses applying to WA, so I had to be sure. When I called, the woman I spoke with looked into it, and said that if applying by endorsement as a Canadian, I had to fill out the internationally educated application, and where it asks if I am required to provide a CES, check no, because it only applies to internationally educated nurses outside Canada and the Phillipenes. Sweet....

So that's what I did... I then recieved an email from them stating that because I am internationally educated, I was required to provide a CES....ugh.......

So I emailed back and said that I was told that because I already have a US license, this was not required.... She told me that I needed to fill out an endorsement application and had me print and fill out that application, and email it back to her...which I did. I also had to provide my original license in the province I passed the NCLEX, a Nursys for MN, and any other current license....which I did.... then I waited. 

A couple of weeks later, I recieved an email stating that they needed me to send my license from my original province, as well as my NURSYS and I had 30 days to do so before my application would be discarded.....ugh... so I called again. I also replied to that email with screen shots of all the confirmation emails I had recieved that showed clearly what dates those documents were sent. When I called, I was told that it could be the case that they just hadn't processed it yet....Which didn't seem right considering it had been 3 weeks since my nursys was sent and that is emailed to them immediately... so I gave it a week and called back JUST to confirm they had indeed recieved everything. The staff I spoke to this day, was the nicest by far, and she looked into it, saw it there online, told me she was attaching it to my file, and sending a work order for it to be processed....and that she was also going to send an email to ensure it got done....a girl after my own heart lol.... no estimate on how long it might take though.... nothing yet.

I realized my life was feeling super unsettled, I had alot to process, and I really just needed a break. I reached out to select medical connections, a travel agency within Canada that I had talked to previously, to see if there were any NICU openings in BC...Travel Nursing in Canada is not like travel nursing in the USA, the pay in Alberta is pretty hard to beat... BUT like I said, I needed a change of scenery pretty bad.... She told me she did have an opening in Kelowna!! I told her I could commit to 8 weeks, and she submitted me....within a few hours, she called me back to tell me I was booked! 

Everything felt like it was happening pretty quick all of a sudden... my start date was 2 weeks out and I had to find accommodation, book a flight, and mentally prepare for this adventure. I am writing this today from my temporary home in Kelowna, staring at the mountains, right accross the street from the lake, having completed my first week as a travel nurse....and I feel AWESOME. I am doing 12's again but my schedule is super nice....at least for Febuary...I am walking distance to work...and to everything else I need, and I am getting lots of chill time with Zoey. So it's not the states....but it IS a travel assignment which is good for my resume, and it is BC which is good for my soul. 

I am on days off right now, it's my Sunday, and 2 days ago I decided it was time to check in with New York again....knowing what I would hear on the other end of the phone....."We are currently processing applications from July"....sigh.."ok, so maybe 3 more months?" ..."yes, potentially"..."ok, thanks so much, bye bye". I saw that coming. 

 Yesterday, I woke up to an email from Comparative Ed simply stating 

"your education has been approved"

...WHAT?!! seriously??? I literally just talked to you guys, but AMAZING!! I immediately called the nursing department to see what happens next and was told I am now eligible to sit for the nclex... umm excuse me?? 

no no no.... I already wrote the nclex... I paid cgfns 360 bucks US to send a cvs that should include all my education including the nclex confirmation... he said he was going to have to transfer me to processing to figure it out because according to the application he was looking at, it looked like I had to write the NCLEX.....uuugggghhh, ok FINE transfer me please and thank you 

 "there are 86 callers ahead of you".....this is the department you can only speak to on Tuesdays and Thursdays... I mean, maybe if they were open a couple more days a week perhaps they wouldn't have to deal with hundreds of phone calls. 

1 hr and 32 minutes I waited on hold until I was disconnected going down the elevator in my building!! you gotta be kidding me... I also recieved an email from this department at this point stating I could now register for the NCLEX... I replied, hoping it would get through, explaining my situation. 

"there are 68 callers ahead of you".....here we go again....except this time I was smart and I used the stairs....there were only 17 callers ahead of me when zoey decided it was time to go outside...I managed the stairs last time without dropping the call, and yet....for some reason, my stupid phone dropped the call again..... 

at this point, the office was only going to be open for 1 more hour, so my hopes of even getting through at all were pretty slim...I checked my email. 

They had replied "please send your full name and dob so we can look into your file" I sent it, and a detailed description of the process I had already gone through with my application, and I called back.

"there are 56 callers ahead of you".... no way they were going to answer more than 1 call per minute, but I waited anyways... what harm could it do.... and I was still going about my day anyways...when it hit 445 New York time, there were 30 callers ahead of me, and the recording just came on "our offices are now closed, please call back during normal business hours"... oh well, that's that. The hold music isn't even enjoyable so I regret that choice. I checked my email.

"Hello, I apologize for all the confusion and trouble. I looked up your file and found the NCLEX passing report from Canada sent with your CGFNS. I updated your file and sent it to be licensed. It should take around 1-2 weeks due to the high volume of applicants at this time. Take Care"

One to Two weeks??? Girl I have waited 6 months! 2 weeks is nothing! lol. Needless to say, I am very happy with this outcome. I don't have it in hand yet, but it's being processed and on the way. I am definatly planning/hoping to go to New York in the fall, and it looks like Texas or Washington for April/May.....home for summer...home hunting I suppose...

 It's all coming together, and now that I am here, getting actual travel experience in a somewhat familiar setting, I am thankful everything has worked out the way it has. It's always in retrospect isn't it? 1 week down 7 to go. 

Xo 

Alana 

Emotional Whiplash

Where do I even start??? 

I'm sitting here, gutted, confused, and so frustrated. I signed my first contract on Dec 5, was ready to go for Dec 13, but the facility made me a Dec 27 start. Still exciting. I ran around like a bloody chicken with my head cut off trying to meet onboarding deadlines....which I did! Including bloodwork that was almost impossible to get and writing exams not even relevant to NICU.I held up my end, but the ball was definitely dropped on the other side. 

For several weeks the facility and the company were very wishy washy about what I would need in order to start, and the facility even stated they had meetings scheduled to discuss this, which never actually took place, so it started to get very stressful. All of this over the Christmas holidays, after I had already given up my staff position with sick time, holiday pay etc.... I was fully invested. I was told last week that the facility had decided to go ahead with international nurses and they were just ironing out the details!!! Finally some answers.... swiftly followed by.... we still don't know what the extra requirements will be....and then to:  the only new requirement will be a visa screen!!! Are you getting nauseous from all the back and forth yet ??? I sure am....but still Yay because  I have a visa screen so no problem! 🤢

 Just before this point I had requested to have my start date changed because I still hadn't been cleared 100 percent to start from the facility. I waited and waited to hear back. After a few frustrating days, I finally got word that "the facility has stated you can start the Monday after your file gets full clearance and they have adjusted your start date in the system to Jan 10!!!" Amazing, I need to start booking stuff!!! Finally!!! 

That message came through at 1130 at night yesterday and by noon today I was told that not having a ssn still might impact my ability to start..... what in the actual eff???? I thought the whole point of this rigamaroll was deal with the fact that I don't yet have that???? 

 Starting to feel super confused, and stressed, but still hopeful that my international background check would satisfy the state requirements....but after waiting on hold for 3 hours to book my flight out, I got the call that after all of this..... the facility had just decided to cancel the contract. Literally the worst thing that can happen to a travel nurse. You might think.... well at least you hadn't left yet, but actually that's not true......had I left.... I would have been approved for my TN Visa, would have been able to keep my appointment with the social security office, and would never have to be in this position again..... but instead, I'm back to square one..... only now, if I don't book an assignment within a week or 2 of that appointment, I will need to reschedule the appointment, and be back in the same boat of waiting a million years to get in. 

It really should not be so hard for us and the more I am dealing with this, the more my inner advocate is being triggered. There has to be a better way. Especially since according to the ssn office, and the USA government, there is literally no reason an employer should not allow me to work while I wait for my ssn..... but somehow the hospital systems, the facilities....they don't understand that. What gives?? Makes no sense in the midst of a pandemic in which Minnesota is losing the battle by the way, to turn down a fully qualified, highly experienced RN due to a technicality.....a requirement that the government itself says there is a 90 day grace period to obtain..... 

So now what?? 

I don't even know anymore, but 

I have reached out to the team at Trusted to see if a start date after my ssn appointment would be doable and so I'll see what they say. They encouraged me to keep applying to other postings in Minnesota, which there are zero of so that's not helpful...   I messaged the unit manager to let her know the facility had canceled me and to thank her for the opportunity, and I've started looking to other agencies that actually have some experience with this process. My Arizona license is still pending so maybe something will come up there, but for right now, there is alot that I can't control.....again. I have emotional whiplash from the constant back and forth of this facility, and now I've signed 2 contracts, and haven't even left my hometown. I'm not happy, and having a hard time even being hopeful at this point. Maybe I need a time out....on the beach.....somewhere hot....with bottomless margaritas..... who's with me?

xoxo 

Alana 

Expect the Unexpected: Delays, Red Tape, and Sacrifices I won't make again

So.......I signed my first travel contract on Dec 3, 2021 with a start date of Dec 27. This meant I was going to have to give up Christmas with my son, which I only get every other year, that I would be in a new Country, alone, on Christmas....not even working that weekend, just waiting to start. I had come to terms with this, since that was the start date I was given, and I have been ready to get this show on the road for what seems like, so long already. On Dec 4, I reached out to my unit manager, as well as my onboarding specialist, to confirm that I would be able to start work while I waited for my ssn appointment.

According to Trusted, as long as I had my I-94, and a signed contract along with my Canadian passport, I was cleared on their end. However.... over the next couple of days I heard back from the unit manager stating that she was unsure if I would be able to start without it......ugh

I was planning to fly out on Dec 19.... yesterday... to finish up some compliance tasks and to get my bearings before I jumped into this new job. I gave notice at my staff job and changed my status to casual. Thankfully I held off on booking any flights or accommodations until I had a solid answer. 

The entire week of Dec 6-10 I was told by my team at Trusted that they had been trying to contact the facility, struggling to get through, that they were unable to connect or get any solid answers.... so I just kept waiting....and waiting......and waiting... 

As I have mentioned in previous posts, literally nothing happens on weekends with this stuff. These decisions are for the Mon-Fri crew and so any movement seems to be at a snails pace. I try to stay positive, to trust the timing, to remember that there are 4 or 5 people/ departments between me and the unit, but it is SO hard. I start feeling irritated.... we both agreed to this contract, knowing I didn't yet have my ssn, so why is it even a question? I only wanted to confirm that it was going to be ok, and now part of me wonders if I should have just showed up and not said anything. I didn't want to be that risky though, and I'm glad we are working through this. Maybe it will be WAY easier for the next Canadian trying to work at this specific hospital. 

Dec 13 comes and I finally decide to bite the bullet and take my doggie in for her international health certificate. A 200 dollar piece of paper with 30 day expiry date.... still hoping that this week will bring some answers..... I scrambled to get some final bloodwork done so if things got delayed, it wouldn't be due to my negligence. As a nurse, we sometimes have to be tested for TB. In Canada, we typically do this via a skin test. You get a tiny injection just under the skin, then go back and have it looked at 48 hours later. A 2 step skin test... I was informed that this facility would want 2 2 step tests, which meant 4 total appointments and 5 days in which to complete them if that was the route I was going.....a bit excessive if you ask me. So I opted for the blood test instead. So many travel nurses talk about this test as being way easier than the skin test.....it's not.

I had to make an appointment with a Dr in order to get the requisition for this test, and when I got to the lab, I was told it was a pretty rare test and they didn't have the right tubes, but was told I could go to the lab at my work...Ugh, ok.... so I went to the lab at work before my shift. There, I was told I would need to make an appointment, and that my Dr would need to get special approval from the virologist on call in order to request that test. ok.... so I called my Dr. and asked her (well I had to ask through the receptionist because the Dr's don't just take phone calls) to get the special approval, to fax it to the lab at my work, and made an appointment for the next day. As I was waiting to be seen, the lab tech came out and said "did you know you need to pay for this test"... yes, I said, I just wasn't told how much. She went on to explain that they have no way to bill me there, and she would have to make a call.....I did finally get the test done, apparently they will mail me the bill, which my company will pay for, and I was able to see my results online within a few days. With this test done, all my compliance was done, and days ahead of schedule....but still no word from the facility if I can actually start working as planned. 

With only 6 days left before I had planned to fly out, and still no news, I emailed the unit manager to let her know that we had been trying, but that there had been some issues getting any kind of info from the hospital end. She was frustrated as well, and within an hour of emailing her, I got an update from Trusted that the facility was planning to meet about this specifically the next morning. FINALLY... SOMETHING. 

A little bit of excitement crept back in, and I felt like I might actually be able to pull this off timing wise. Tuesday came and went.....crickets..... and Wednesday too. Did they even have this meeting? Am I just being strung along here?? Why is it so difficult? Trusted is technically my employer and they have cleared me, why is the facility struggling so much?? On Thursday, 3 days before I anticipated leaving, I was told that the facility was going to meet on the following Monday. A week before my contracted start date, and a day after I wanted to arrive. So the meeting that was meant to happen on Tuesday....didn't. 

Will today's meeting actually take place??? I really really hope so.

Meanwhile, it's still Christmas time...I still went casual at my job, and on top of a plethora of other personal issues, I am now faced with a delayed start date as a best case scenario. I am missing Christmas with my kiddo for nothing, a sacrifice I will never make ever again, and I still don't know what the next couple of weeks will bring. 

It is not all bad though!

I feel like I have just been handed one of the most important lessons of travel nursing, without even having to travel anywhere..... Expect the Unexpected, and accept that so much is out of your control. I feel like I have been in a vice the last couple of weeks, just waiting... and so much of that stress is because I chose to accept a contract that would require me to travel over the holidays....So that's on me...I didn't anticipate the sloth paced communication, the unfamiliarity of international nurse requirements from the facilities HR dept, and so much red tape......Not knowing if I will be home for Christmas or not, has caused extra stress for everyone around me, has taken so much of my attention away from being in the present moment, and no matter how badly I want answers or how irritated I get, that somehow doesn't speed things up. 

 I did everything right. Rushed around to make sure I had test results in time, even wrote a prophecy exam completely unrelated to my specialty because the facility required it, met all my deadlines on time, for once had all my ducks in a row.... and that wasn't enough. Even though I did everything in my power to ensure things went smooth, as my onboarding team keeps telling me "we are really at the mercy of the facility here, and are waiting on them". I asked Friday for a pushed start date since it is because of the facility that I am not able to start on time. So far all I have heard is that we are now looking at a Jan start, just no set date as of yet. Until I hear back, everything is still kind of up in the air, which is super uncomfortable for me, but a valuable lesson in both patience, and presence. 

Happy Holidays 

xoxo

My First Contract!

I feel like I'm just holding my breath, waiting......not sure if, when I finally exhale, it will be a sigh of relief, or of disappointment. 

I signed my first travel contract yesterday! After 7 months of going through all the motions, collecting paperwork, hours and hours on the phone with different agencies, regulatory bodies, immigration people, and 3 different license applications.... we finally crossed that line into Travel Nursing! 

So why do I feel so stressed???? 

On Thursday I received a phone call from the unit manager at one of the hospitals I had applied to through Trusted Health. This phone call coming literally moments after I had taken myself onto my back step, to enjoy the warmth of the sun in the chilly winter air. To really just breath, relax, and be grateful. I took a few deep breaths, felt the sun hit my face, heard a few chickadees playing in the trees. I closed my eyes. "Everything is working out for me". A mantra I have on repeat, especially in times of stress or unexpected events. My phone rang. The caller ID read "Minnesota". 

It had been 3 weeks since I had started applying with Trusted, and 4 days since I submitted myself to this particular job. I was starting to feel defeated. I asked the powers that be for "a little break....something to keep me positive". Funny how slow time goes when you are waiting for something totally out of your control. Apparently they heard me. 

It had also been 2 weeks since the recruiter at AYA had submitted me to a position that I never had a chance of getting. She strung me along none the less. Stating that my application was still in the running, each day getting closer... "3 applicants still being reviewed and you are one of them" 2 applicants left".... until that same day, after having a great conversation with my new potential manager, she updated me that this particular hospital won't take nurses without a ssn. A pretty important tidbit since she knew I didn't have one yet. A question that should have been directed to the vendor before, or immediately after my submission. Not 2 weeks later after she told me straight up I was being considered. Considering most of my interactions with this particular individual seemed to leave a bad taste in my mouth, this was the last straw for me. There are far too many agencies and recruiters out there to stay loyal to someone you don't trust. I don't see myself working with this company anytime in the near future, but it's true what they say.... the recruiter is more important than the agency.

The hospital is located in Edina Minnesota, a place I had never heard of, but turns out to be only 15 min from downtown Minneapolis. The unit sounds amazing! Much smaller than where I am, and the babies are a bit more stable than the 23 weekers we sometimes see here. A tight knit group of staff who never leave, where they don't have a constant influx of travelers. In fact, I will be the first one in a couple of years. People tend to stay where they are happy, so this a good sign as far as I am concerned. And on top of all that, the manager sounds so nice, supportive, and I could easily see myself doing great here. She told me at the end of the call that she would reach out to my company and extend the offer! 

I am not even joking when I tell you guys that it only took a couple of hours for me to start questioning my sanity. Did I really just get my first travel job? Maybe I misunderstood? Is this really happening? It just seemed too easy considering the amount of energy I had to invest before I was at this stage. Could the really hard stuff be over?? 

I messaged my nurse advocate at Trusted to fill her in, and within 24 hours they had recieved the offer and my contract was signed by the end of that day. I called the social security office in Minneapolis to see how to go about getting my SSN upon arrival. Another big step in my travel nurse journey. 

Everything I have read online states you can go in with the required documents, apply in person, and that's it. The woman on the phone told me a different story however......

She stated that I could only go to the particular office that I was calling, that I would need an interview and that an appointment was required. The soonest available time was Jan 26!! That's no good. Not when I'm contracted to start work Dec 27. 

I could feel my whole body tense up. After all of this effort, money and time invested, was this going to impact my ability to work?? 

Disappointment started to set in. Along with alot of other negative thoughts. I felt...trapped, defeated, but not hopeless. 

I immediately emailed my soon to be manager to let her know the situation and to inquire if I would be able to work while waiting for that number, and tried to keep the faith. Meanwhile scouring the internet to find out what the actual requirements are. So it turns out there is a 90 day grace period for new US  employees, but I believe ultimately it's up to HR. She replied and told me she would reach out to them and her recruiter person. 

It was about an hour after that email went out that Trusted recieved the offer, and that came from the hospitals recruiter person, so I assume that I have the ok as far as HR is concerned, otherwise I don't think they would have sent that offer. However, I still haven't heard back from the unit manager, so this is still a big question mark, a big, heavy one with alot of things riding on the answer. Send good vibes please  

On top of that, I received my onboarding instructions from Trusted, and among all the timed competency exams, the health documents, the covid questionnaires, I am asked to provide a SSN. 

I have been working with trusted every step along the way to be able to work with them as a Canadian. Nothing is really formatted for us on their site, but I love the values, the staff, the model.....so I kept with it, and they kept supporting me, making little adjustments, submitting me manually for jobs, responding with happy emojis and patience every single time......so I am cautiously optimistic that they will continue with this super supportive model, and allow me to provide my SSN as soon as I get it. 

The other little bump is getting my AHA BLS. As I've previously told you guys, it's impossible to get this certification in Canada. I reccomend anyone looking into travel nursing , to book your required certs on your next trip to the US so you aren't in the same boat as me. I completed part of it online and am booked for my in person skills session for the week I arrive. Luckily my onboarding docs are not due until a few days after I arrive, and I'm already booked in to the skills session for it. 

I will be anxiously awaiting confirmation from my potential new manager, as well as from  Trusted health regarding the SSN situation. I'm currently 50 percent ridiculously excited, and 50 percent cautiously optimistic. Should be an interesting week! Never in my life have looked forward to Monday so many weeks in a row. 

Xo

Alana