Now that I am home, I have more time for family and fun:) We headed up to Oak Run for a family BBQ at the home of John Henry and Kansas Simonis.

Aunts and uncles traveled from Martinez to Redding for a weekend of catching up on the family stories, looking at old pictures and enjoying each others company.

We toured the Snow Mountain Spring Water plant located nearby....600 gallons an hour of pure spring water.....WOW! Fun day, great people, beautiful country.....it's good to be home!

Good-bye Clearlake

To end on a positive note, these are the things I will miss.....
nice deliveries with Dr Fordham, Dr Shepherd and Sharon CNM......
my trailer park friends....
waking up and looking out my window at beautiful Clear Lake......
driving through all the gorgeous vineyards......
some very sweet patients.........
Leslie's big heart.........and her yummy food:)......
being entertained by Bill........
Tiffany's positive attitude........
Karen's beautiful eyelashes and personality to match......
Kathie's energy.........
Alecia's sense of humor...........
the always kind words of Chris and Kariann..........
Sherretha's sarcasm (oh we do think alike!).....
Penny's raunchy stories.......
the smell of lavender when Debby enters the room......
Leeann's ability to find ANYTHING on the internet......
heart to heart talks with Darlene.........
"squirt gun" fights with Sharon.......
I will miss all the laughs, but I will always have the memories:)

Last night.....

Well, I just had my last delivery in Clearlake and it was one of those really good ones where mom's teeth are all rotten from years of meth use and her other three children have been removed by CPS, but she's "going to try to keep this one". NO coping skills whatsoever.....swearing like a sailor......slamming her hand against the bed rail....holding her breath.....all while her 12 family members who are packed in the room with us just stand there and stare at her while they tell stories of their own deliveries. Of course one of them has a toddler with her that she is letting crawl around on the NASTY hospital floor, crying because he is tired and it is 10 o'clock at night! Get me out of here!

Final Week

This is the last week of my assignment in Clearlake. The ending is always bittersweet.......I'm glad to have a break for the summer to just work my part-time job, but I will miss the wonderful new friends I have made here. The staff here have made me feel so welcome, just like I am part of the family. I plan to spend some time blogging about my hometown and my job at home over the summer. Redding is such a beautiful northern California town with so much to offer. I am also anxious to use my RV for some true recreation, not just to live in while I am working! Of course that will have to wait until I get my water leak repaired which I have temporarily remedied with some duct tape and a large ziplock baggie:)

My heart is full..........

This week I was nominated for and won the 2009 Values in Action Award at Mercy Medical Center. This is among the highest of honors bestowed upon CHW employees and leaders for their contributions to CHW's health care ministry. Tears filled my eyes as I listened to all of the nomination stories about the 32 employees considered for this award. I am proud to work in a place where I am surrounded by such caring, giving people and I am touched to be recognized in this way.

appreciation

The following is an excerpt from a patient satisfaction survey elicited by the hospital where I work in my hometown.......What do you feel needs to be improved at our hospital? "Nothing! My nurse Wendy was the best! I have had 5 children & she is the nurse I will always remember. She is wonderful."
Thank you,
J.G

This is why I do what I do! Having that kind of impact on someone's life fills my heart with joy:)

Travel Nurse's Bible

I just finished reading this invaluable travel nurse guide written by David Morrison RN who has been a traveler himself for over a decade. It's like having a best friend who is a traveling nurse and shares all of his secrets with you! I wish I had read it BEFORE taking my first assignment, as it may have saved me a lot of anguish dealing with the agency I was contracted with. He covers every topic you can imagine from choosing an agency to housing issues to tax tips to how to get out of a bad situation. If you are currently a traveler, or think you might travel someday, get yourself a copy NOW. TravelNursesBible.com