My New Couches

This is more for my parents and Aunt Tammi but you all can see it too! I bought furniture for my very empty apartment. I currently only have my bedroom stuff so my living room is a little boring and empty. But in a few weeks I will be able to stretch out on my new ASHLEY couches! I am so stoked! My cousin Allison, who lives nearby in VA, came with to help judge the color and comfort level of the different options. I had no idea that picking furniture was such a big deal. I did not really set in until we were in the store that I got the couches that these bad boys were going to have to last me for a while. Decorating and getting furniture is an investment so I hope these really do look good in my place as I am stuck with them for a long while.

Anyone else find it odd that Malibu had snow before I did out here in DC?

I have recently been asked rather frequently why the Army Nurse Corps (ANC) and not a civilian hospital. While I believe there are many answers to this I thought I would simply share with you the mission statement and vision of the ANC with a hope that you might better understand why I would not be content at a civilian hospital.

Mission : To provide nursing leadership and high quality nursing care during war, peacetime or humanitarian operations, in support of the mission of the Army Medical Department and professional military medical health system.

Vision: The Army Nurse Corps will advance professional nursing as:
- the premier, professional nursing organization in the world
- a leader in research, education, and innovative healthcare delivery
- the authority in wellness promotion and building healthy communities

I would encourage you to check out the Army Nurse Corps website (click here) to see more of why I believe in what I am doing.

Ward 46

I wanted to give you an idea of what my floor is like here at Walter Reed. I reported tdoay. We did not do much, just a quick tour of the floor and met with my Head Nurse for a few minutes. Next week we finish up some training and then prepare to use our fursing degrees!

CARDIOTHORACIC SURGICAL STEPDOWN UNIT (WARD 46)
Ward 46 is a 14-bed stepdown surgical care unit providing pre-operative and post-operative care to cardiothoracic surgical patients.
Care provided includes the evaluation and surgical treatment of cardiac (acquired and congenital), pulmonary, esophageal, mediastinal, and general chest diseases.
Care is provided to eligible health care recipients of both sexes and all ages. The predominant population are adults (to include the elderly). Infants, toddlers and pre-school children represent the typical pediatric population served, with school age children and adolescents on an infrequent basis.
Operating 24 hours a day, it is organized to prepare patients and families for cardiothoracic surgery, to provide the environment, equipment and personnel necessary to recognize complications and problems which threaten life, prolong recovery, or cause unnecessary harm or pain, and to prepare the patients and families for discharge and follow-up care.

For more informaiton about other units click here and then follow links to "Clinical Departments".

Touring DC

I am in the midst of orientation here at Walter Reed (WRAMC). Last week we attended briefings regarding the history of WRAMC and a few regarding safety. This week we will be attending briefings held by Nursing Education and Staff Development (NESD). On Friday, we all formally report to our floors. I am not sure when we will begin our preceptorships but I am hoping soon. I am looking forward to finally putting my education to work.

But more importantly, I have been touring around DC. It has been great! My cousin Allison is in Las Vegas for work so I have been checking out the sites by myself. (Which is kind of nice as I can go at my own pace.) I am hoping to soon get info regarding tours of the White House, Capitol Building, and many others. The picture is from the Vietnam Wall with a reflection of the Washington Monument hidden in side. It has been great "touring" weather the past few days. We have been hanging in the mid-60s (sorry all you LA friends who have been in the 40s). I heard that we will soon be back to the cold temps so I am trying to take advantage of all the warm weather that I can.

Still unpacking

Unpacking is so tedious! I had no idea. When moving to and from school it was just whatever I could fit in my car. Now I had whatever was in my bedroom at my parent’s house to find a place for. Slowly but surely it is all coming together. I am down to the last few things and have been to the store to pick up some essentials. I even bought a hair dryer! Yes my friends, I am a proud owner of a hair dryer. I think mine broke in the summer of 2001. (That concludes your random fact for the day.)

My living/dining room is pretty bare as I have no furniture for it yet. I am hoping to hit up a garage sale or two to find some “nice” pieces. It will probably take a while before I actually sit and eat “with my grown-up manners” at a table in my own home. If you are eager to jump on a plane and see the sites of DC you are always welcome. Just know that you may be on the floor if you come in the next few months.

I start formal orientation tomorrow. While I am eager to start working on my floor, it has been nice not having to get up early. I report to my floor on Jan 19 to begin working on my floor (Ward 46 – Cardiac Step-down in the Critical Care Department). I was told that you can Google Walter Reed and get info on my floor through their site. Does anyone else find it strange that we use ‘Google’ as a verb now?

Anyway, I am enjoying DC so far. I have been checking out the sites and taking my time walking around. I would love it if any of you would want to come for a visit. I would probably still have to work a few days but there is so much to do around here that I know you could entertain yourself. I will let you know when I have more furniture so your stay will be much more comfortable.

Moved In!

The rumors are true. I now live Maryland. I have an apartment with two bedroom with two full bathrooms that I share with Rebecca Spencer. It is a pretty nice set up. It is a little bare at the moment as I do not have much furniture but in a few months it should be all set up. Rebecca is currently at Fort Sam taking the same course that I just completed. She will be there until March and then return out here. I cannot wait. While I am sure that I will enjoy this time alone in the apartment, it is always nice to come home to friends and family.

Moving in was strange but awesome! I got the apartment today and had the movers come with all my stuff from my parent’s house in CA. Box after box was brought in. I am not so sure that all my bedroom furniture will fit in my room, but that may be just because of all the boxes all over the floor. I had no idea that I had so much stuff. I got a new bed too. I have never had a new mattress before. It is great. I am looking forward to snuggling in it tonight!

I am eager to get out to Target and the Commissary to pick up some important items for the apartment (soap, toilet paper, food, cleaning supplies, etc.), you know the basics.

The picture is what it looks like today with all the boxes stacked on the living room floor. It is a mess! I am not a fan of messes so it will be interesting to see how I handle it getting messier as I begin to unpack and put things away.