So, I am going to take this blog in two parts, the good and the bad.
Lets start with the bad.
If you have been following along in my journey over the last 2.5 years of Travel Nursing, you know that I am all about sharing the reality that comes along with this job! These last couple weeks have tested me mentally and emotionally. I have been bullied during EVERY contract! Whether by staff, doctors, and believe it or not, by other Travel Nurses, this behavior is universal no matter where I have gone!
It is indescribably hard to be new to a department every couple of months! Although it is still Endoscopy, every department has different ways of doing things and I have to learn quickly and adapt. I understand that I will not be perfect, and that I will forget something that I am now responsible for that was never responsible for in the past. And even though I understand that I won’t be perfect right away, others do not. This contract, I made a mistake… I forgot a step that is usually done by the tech, but here it is the nurses responsibility. A simple question, “did you put the trap on?” while thinking to myself, “cause I forgot to come do it” was all it took. It happened during one of my first weeks here and thats all it took to make me a target. I have grown tough skin in my 12 years of nursing, and I remain professional even to those who are not professional in return. But as a Traveler, the bully just hurts my heart so much more because the reality is, I don’t have to be here- I chose to be here.
Now for the good.
With every contract, I have gained knowledge and grown professionally as an Endoscopy Nurse!
Some departments, I have trained their nurses in skills they hadn’t learned yet. Teaching has always been rewarding to me and to provide knowledge and skillsets to other nurses is one of the greatest gifts I can give to a department as a travel nurse! Knowing that I am leaving a department better than how it was when I arrived, is priceless!
But, gaining knowledge myself as a travel nurse, this was almost unheard of before I started this contract! A department does not want to take the time to train a Travel Nurse in procedures that they are not already familiar with! Most managers will not hire a traveler if they do not already possess that knowledge they need to work independently in their department. This department does advanced cases that I have NEVER in my career performed. During my interview, I was asked about my experience with these advanced cases and I was very honest with my answer! The manager said that as long as I could work independently for the most basic endoscopy procedures, that was fine and that she just wouldn’t assign me to advanced rooms during my contract. Fast forward a couple of weeks after my arrival, and they are providing me with exposure and subsequent training in these advanced cases. Now, I say training, but it was pretty much the most basic “see one, do one” training you can get, but I was able to catch on very quickly and am now one of the departments lead advanced nurses. Drs ask for me by name for their rooms and this is the greatest honor a procedure nurse can receive!
With the generosity of this department, I have been able to gain 3 new advanced cases to add to my endoscopy resume and can not be more grateful to a manager and charge nurse who sees the potential in me and allows me to make the most of this contract! I secretly know that they trained me because they are hoping I sign on as a staff nurse, but still, for a department to train a Traveler- that’s rare!
I have also grown in my independence. I have mentioned my frustration with having to run the inpatient procedures by myself before, but I am learning how to perform the role of both tech and nurse simultaneously. Learning how to prioritize my time while performing multiple roles has made me a stronger nurse and given me confidence in the tech role! The skill to multitask effectively is learned and I am definitely learning.
Being grateful for the stress of learning and not resentful is also a learned skill- and I am learning that too!
Keep following along as I continue with Contract #7 and this crazy amazing travel nurse adventure.
