In This Update
- Good-Bye Emergency Department – Hello Education!
- Having a Predictable Schedule
Ever since I started writing this blog, I never missed an update. Until now. In fact, I missed two updates. Thinking of the words of the son of my dear friend Libby, who just passed away from chemo complications a couple weeks ago: “Life is difficult, life is hard”. The last few months have been brutal, putting me in a constant state of anxiety and depression. But I am trying hard to overcome this, the effect of this unprecedented pandemic has had on my mental health, Ralf’s setbacks, finding my way in a new job, then having to travel to Germany for a family emergency… it is just getting a bit much.
Good-Bye Emergency Department – Hello Education!
But let me start by recapping the month of June – my last weeks as ED nurse during this COVID-19 pandemic. Ironically, I got the new job as Simulation Coordinator already back at the beginning of March. However, due to the dire circumstances, I was on hold until June 22nd. I admit that after the first COVID wave somewhat subsided, things were less scary and dangerous during the first part of the month. It was about two weeks after Florida loosened the restrictions and opened the bars again, when almost overnight we experienced a consistent influx of sick Corona patients. I remember the day I was in triage, shortly before my transfer, where I was more exposed to COVID in this one 12-hours shift than during the past three weeks!!! It was scary! And those Covid patients weren’t old or compromised, they were in their mid-twenties! I remember that bartender who couldn’t finish a single sentence because he was so short of breath, with a fever of 103. I was locked in with that 27-year old guy for over an hour, doing blood cultures, EKG, and trying to keep him stable until I transferred him to the ICU. Same day, I cared for a 25-year old girl, who went to the bar with friends for a drink… and on and on it went. It was amazing to see the obvious pattern. So many people just got careless, acting as if the pandemic was over and there was no need for masks or social distancing. And I get it: I have been more than depressed with what life has become. I am mourning the freedom to go to the movies, or a restaurant, hug my friends, or go grocery shopping without fear of a deadly disease that has taken over the world. But I have seen the truth, the sick, the repercussion of letting your guard down. And it’s not just about me: what if I take that virus home to Ralf?
However, just as the second COVID-19 wave was taking off, I finally got to my new destination: The Education department as the new Simulation Coordinator – a job I was very much looking forward to! During most of my graduate education, I was fascinated by and focused on healthcare simulation. Now all the hard work finally paid off, and on June 19th, I worked my last day in the Emergency Department. This was a bitter-sweet moment: I always wanted to be an Emergency Nurse, and I consider myself very lucky that I got to open up a brand-new Emergency Department at the VA Hospital in Lake Nona in 2015. But now it was time to say good-bye…
Natalie 
Cindy 
Jonathan & Gary 
Joel 
Jodie 
Angie 
Bergie 
Diane 
Dr. Velez 
Bonnie
Fast forward to June 22nd, 2020: the day I was finally starting my new position as Simulation Coordinator at the VA Hospital in Lake Nona! Here’s to a new chapter in my nursing path! But I must say, the last day in the ED was quite emotional, and I will miss my patients and my peeps for sure…
Traded my locker... 
...for an office
I admit, I was pretty nervous on my first day, not knowing what to expect. The good think is that I have been around the Orlando VA for so long that I know my way around – as well as a lot of people. What was “unique” about this position was the fact that the previous Simulation Coordinator had been gone for almost a year, and even before that, the lab wasn’t quiet utilized as intended. And the madness of the pandemic, when stuff was just taken from the Simulation Lab, never to be seen again, made my job an even bigger challenge.
Having a Predictable Schedule
With my new job came also a predictable schedule: Monday through Friday, 0800-1630, weekends and holidays off! I also got a government laptop to work from home if need be, which added a new layer of flexibility (extremely important feature as I found out in July…). So, Ralf and I went on some outings on my days off – and it was so much less stressful all around. No more fear of exposure, no more 12-hours shifts, coming home late… I didn’t realize how much of a difference this would make.
We explored the north entrance of the Lake Lizzie Preserve on a rainy day, then the south entrance the following weekend. We also went for a bike ride at Triple N Ranch, were I haven’t been in so long. It reminded me what outdoor adventures in Florida during summer time always have in common: LOTS of water, and lots of turtle activity!
Triple N Ranch 
Oh, we also finally got out new juicer....
.... And new "pets"!
