148 miles

Update: still training in my new job as a Transport Nurse. The other day I went on two different transports to two hospitals very far away from my home base. I counted it out. We went roughly 148 miles that day. The helicopter was out of service, so it was all via ambulance. There’s a certain rhythm to an ambulance driving down the road. It reminds me of the sound of really hard hitting taps on a sprung floor, like the sound that Savion Glover makes when he hits good choreography. You can feel the rhythm, kind of like listening to Taiko drumming in competition with the sounds of the heart. I sometimes wonder if the heart follow the other tempo, or does it keep it’s own?

I am starting to feel like I am finding my own groove. It’s a little difficult because I have literally only gone on one transport with each nurse I’ve worked with. Everyone has their own flow, their own voice. Everyone does each task just a little differently. Even though I am nervous to work on my own, I am also excited because once I am there, I can finally find my own groove and voice.

One thing I am finding is that each call is a completely new experience. This isn’t any different than a night in med-surg or PICU but it’s always a little jarring. One of my favorite facets of being a nurse is that you never quite know what you’re going to get, much like that famous box of chocolates. Some hate this part, but me? I enjoy a good challenge. And that’s what I’ve given myself this year… a challenge. It’s a pattern for me really. I like to challenge myself. Become a professional dancer? Absolutely! Work three jobs while doing it? Great! Nursing school? Sure! Pediatric med-surg? Okay! Transfer to ICU? Yup! Transport nursing? Wowza!

This is true in all aspects of my life. Always will be. There is a quote out there that has my name on it, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” This gem from 23 year old Mar isn’t always true. This really was in reference to drinking canned Margaritas or going out on a date with the hot tour guide just because your sister/friend wants you too. It is NOT in reference to life choices. If you want something, do it!

This is why I love being a mentor to new nurses. I have one mentee who dreams of becoming a SICU/Trauma Nurse. She can totally do it. I remember one year ago, she was nervous about calling RRTs (rapid response team, if you need help with a sick patient), and now she can assess her patients swiftly and prioritize quickly. It’s important to me to let the next generation of nurses, like her, know that those 148 miles are doable. It seems like a long way right now, but challenge yourself, and soon those miles will seem like nothing at all.