The Adjustment Period (Month 1 in review)

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." – Alan Cohen

     There is a difference between thinking something will be difficult and experiencing the difficulty.  All changes in life - moving, a new job, graduating, etc - require an 'adjustment period.'  My adjustment period for this rotation lasted about a month and was pretty rough!  Difficulty managing paperwork, miscommunications with coworkers, and just generally adjusting to grown up life (you know, bills, bills, bill!).  
      I would love to say I handled this all gracefully, but that would be a lie. I'm eternally grateful to the friends and family who have listened to me complain endlessly about my job, how stressful it is, and how tiring it is, and how frustrated I am.  And I'm also so so grateful to my coworkers who have supported me, put up with my tears and frustrations and taken the time to teach me.  And lastly, to the clinical specialist with my travel company, who has been wonderful at listening to me complain and helping me develop strategies!
     Over the last month I have cried, complained, and swore. I've had trouble getting myself to come into work.  I've had days where my boss seemed honestly completely surprised when I walked in the room in the morning because she wasn't sure if I would return.  I have called up plenty of people sobbing on the phone, feeling like I can't do this job.  Here is the great part though - I've learned that I can do this job.  I feel more capable than I thought I would and I get better with every patient I see.  I also feel like having a rough start to travel jobs makes me extra prepared and hopefully will make me really appreciate more comfortable travel jobs in the future.
     I've been really challenged in this setting for many reasons.  I think any first job has it's stressors, and time management will always be one for me.  Learning to management my time to maintain productivity has been difficult when I would much rather focus on patient care.  I think that I'm finally getting the hang of it and have reached a point where I'm managing to both give great care and be productive for my boss!  Another challenge for me is just the sadness of working with the elderly population and especially with those who have dementia.  I'm also challenged by seeing patients who are much more disabled than I am used to seeing outside of a hospital setting.  Lastly, I find RUG levels and the pressure they create really challenging.
     I think that an adjustment period will always be part of being a travel therapist, but I hope that I get better at it as time goes on and that it takes me less and less time to adjust.

     Though work is still difficult sometimes, and there are long days, I am handling it better and some days even like it!  I'm doing something important and helping people and at the end of the day that is what is important.  With any luck, I will title the next period of time "The Honeymoon Period" (though knowing me, soon to be followed by "The Boredom Period")