Rollins Lake

I've been kicked out of the trailer park!.......he he, never thought I would say that;) Actually, the Auburn Gold Country RV Park where I was staying (conveniently right across the street from the hospital), lost it's lease on the land and had to close suddenly. I have moved 17 miles away to Rollins Lake in Colfax, CA. A little further to drive, but it is beautiful out here! Unfortunately, after returning from a trip home, I found that someone had unplugged my power cable and I lost all the food in my refirigerator!!!!!!! After a stroll through the campground with my sweetie, it was soon forgotten. We are going to spend some time exploring the area this week.

Paulina's Last Night

Paulina has completed her 13 week assignment here and is returning to Nogales, AZ. I am going to miss her terribly, it definitely won't be the same without my fellow traveler. I hope to work with her again soon!

I bought a fifth-wheel trailer to live in while I am traveling. I finally got to move into it after a series of catastrophies, such as the delivery guy dropping all 15,000 lbs of it on his truck! To celebrate my move-in, the staff threw me a "trailer trash" party where we feasted on "pigs in a blanket", pork and beans, twinkies, ho-ho's, kool-aid, pork rinds, cheese whiz and other fine cuisine. Paulina helped me dress the part with a hat, glasses and a shot glass necklace!

There is another traveler here with me from Arizona. Her name is Paulina Grijalva and it is her first assignment as well. We have both learned so much together and it has been such a pleasure getting to know her.

Due to several nurses leaving recently, the night shift staff is pretty slim........only three nurses and two techs left! They are very happy to have Paulina and I here:)

The regular staff at the family birth center work 8 hour shifts, but the other traveler and I work 12 hours so we work 4 hours with the evening shift before we join the night shift. These are some of the staff on the evening shift.

Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, Auburn CA

I am currently on my first assignment in Auburn, CA at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, about three hours from my home. Being so close to home allows me to keep my regular part-time job at Mercy Medical Center in Redding, CA where I have worked as a labor and delivery nurse for the past 16 years. Originally I signed on for an 8 week assignment, but I love it here so much, I extended another 8 weeks. The hospital is small, only about a hundred beds, and the staff are so friendly and welcoming. They made feel right at home from the beginning. I miss my boys, but I am also enjoying making new friends and being closer to my parents in Truckee. Unfortunately, my boyfriend has been so busy selling his restaurants and tying up loose ends, he has not been able to accompany me on this assignment. There are some wonderful people that work here and they help keep from being too homesick. I have had some very nice deliveries here, one that I had to do myself as the doctor didn't make it in time. There is a great team atmoshphere in the family birth center. There is always another nurse, a tech and a respiratory therapist in the delivery room with you.....I've never had so much help before:) It is definitely going to be hard to leave here, the staff remind me every day that I COULD take a full-time job here! I am afraid they have spoiled me, I'm sure not all of my assignments will be this nice. What a great way to start my adventure!!!!
..............pictures coming soon.......................