2.11.13 frustrated in fallon

2/11/13

frustrated in fallon

hey! Well, today was my first day in fallon at work at highland manor and… it was a bit overwhelming. First, I walked into work at 7:58 and then was introduced to the staff and began my first patient at 8. Yes, I was treating a patient within two minutes of stepping foot into the PT gym. There is a PT (Eric) and a PTA (Bobbi) along with a outpatient PT (Justina). And then me. I had a full caseload of 7 patients with 429 minutes. I also had to do training with the corporate office to learn how to use their documentation and billing system, which also took up my time. I was at work for 9 hours. I didn’t even get a schedule until I was a patient into it when I asked what her tx minutes were. I also had to write two assistant progress notes on patients I had just met. Talk about being a bit overwhelmed on my first day. It was a super cold morning and good thing I live so close to work. I got there in about five minutes because I was behind a large truck. I only took about a half hour lunch as well since I don’t really have a computer to myself to do billing/documentation on. I was only able to read through my instagram and half of my twitter feed! Haha. I really enjoyed some of the patients as they usually are the best part of work anyways. I had a couple tough patients, but overall it wasn’t so bad. They do have a lot of machines that the patients use almost like a regular gym. These machines are pretty state of the art and high tech. they play the TV on during the day which they have three flat screen huge TVs. It’s the only TV I’ll be able to watch anyways. I don’t usually watch a lot of TV but I do like it to relax. I’ll faithfully watch a few shows a week, but I did really miss having a TV last night when the Grammy’s were on. I live for the Grammy’s and other music award shows, but especially the Grammys because of all the live performances. Kelly won one and the band Fun also won, along with Adele. I missed so many performances and I can’t wait to watch the full program of it. I can’t believe that I don’t even have internet access or a TV or even cellular service as of this moment. If something were to happen, I wouldn’t be able to even call anybody, text, or send an email. This town is very frustrating! I would have to drive over to McD’s to access internet. Well, I did sit outside the facility today when I finished work and checked Facebook, Twitter, and my email in the cold night air. And then when I got too cold and hungry, I drove home and walked into my cigarette smelling apartment. I just keep telling myself that I am doing it for the money. I am broke and need the paycheck so I need to suck it up for 18 work days, well now 17, and get paid! Today’s experience also had me thinking that I might want to find a permanent job and stop traveling because it does take its toll on you. Having to learn a new system, new staff, new procedures, new nurses, a new facility is quite a lot. And having to do it every few months. Yes, the pay is well and you continue to venture into different and exciting places, for the most part, but you have to pick up and move. If I could find a place in vegas as a traveler or perm, it would be a hard offer to refuse since I have a friend and apartment. I thought it would be fun and different to go to a place where you don’t know anybody and settle down. The reality of it is not quite what I imagined. I miss knowing somebody. It wasn’t so bad in Turlock because there were two other travelers and the staff was really friendly and a bit younger. Here in Fallon, the staff is more middle aged although there are a few younger staff, but they have families. Although I would probably never hang out with the staff in Pahrump due to them having families, they are nice and friendly people. I know its premature since I just started, but I miss the past staff members I have worked with in Pahrump, Turlock, and especially Hale Nani. A day like today makes me want to move back home, or go back to a facility I went to. But, like they say, you only have regrets for the things you didn’t do and so I guess it IS a learning experience that I came out to live here in Fallon. I can say now that I either do or do not enjoy living here. I really thought a small town feel would be something that I would enjoy, but I miss a bit of the city life.  The familiarity of being home is so comforting, but gets boring and stagnant after a while. Life in Vegas is fun, cheap, and exciting. It’s just the job market that is poor and since it’s a popular travel destination near where we live the people aren’t always the nicest. I’m sure if we lived in a suburb not so near to the strip, we would find more peaceful drivers and less homelessness. After today I am also considering living in California as it is more populated with Asians. Its hard to be somewhere that you can’t express your culture with others or partake in it. Yes, there are Chinese restaurants wherever you go, but the quality is not the same. Like here, I bet the one Chinese restaurant I saw caters to the white population with their dishes. At least Pahrump had a decent Japanese restaurant just like Turlock did as well. I just wonder though, if I take a permanent position somewhere, what happens if I don’t really get along with the staff. I ‘m sure I’ll pretty much get along with them, but I would also like to hang out with them outside of work as I don’t have family or friends in the area. Taking on a permanent position does bring stability and so forth, but you’re locked in for at least a year. I know that I just need to take it day by day and then slowly figure out my options and go from there. But thank you for letting me vent out to you my frustrations and thoughts that my rambling head never ceases to stop. I would call to talk to somebody if I could, but oh, no service! Aahhhhh. You know what, I am now very appreciative of all the times I had cellular service. Or internet. Or wifi. Or a TV. Along with having a job and money. So this whole experience is just a lesson learned. And for that I know I have to be grateful. It’s just not favorable.

“The sun will rise….” and “everything happens for a reason…”