This is the start of many entries into our blog. I have accepted a position at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) working with the trauma program. Many of you may say, WHOA!, how do you go from working in downtown Los Angeles to Landstuhl, Germany.
Well it all started at the Society of Trauma Nurses conference in New Orleans on April 10 2008. No, I think it actually started when we touched down in London this past winter for vacation... but anyways, my mom and I were eating lunch while listening to the annual awards being given out. An award was presented to a Kathie Martin who happened to be at the table next to us. While she was walking up to the podium my mom and I decided she looked like a genuinely nice person and was obviously admired by her table-mates/colleagues. After lunch, there was a choice of lectures; Trauma through the Eyes of Children (important but I wasn't that interested), Telemedicine (not interested), Blast injury (high possibility), Advocacy 101 (needed but I try to avoid politics at every chance), and Oral Abstracts (very appealing considering I have an idea for a case study article). I debated for a few minutes but three reasons drove my choice. One, California Hospital Medical Center (my current home) has a catchment area that includes South Central LA and we continue to have the second highest amount of penetrating trauma in the county, about 30% of our trauma volume. Second, Kathie Martin was the speaker. Third, every other talk about Military trauma has intrigued and inspired me as well as made me shed a few tears.
As soon as the talk started I was one of an extremely captivated audience. As Kathie spoke with such confidence but compassion I thought to myself, "What can I do to help these soldiers and how can I learn more from this inspiring teacher?" Well someone must have read my mind and after the presentation was concluded, they asked if there were any open positions. All I heard was "yes" and I was in day dreaming mode for the rest of the day. I wanted to call my husband, Jake and just start discussing my wild idea. But I forced my mind to remain there at the conference. After all, I was there to be learning, not day dreaming and I already had an awesome job at a great hospital with loving people. Over the next day I thought about approaching Kathie to discuss open positions at her hospital but I didn't. I really wanted to discuss it with Jake first on account of me being a dreamer and a little impulsive.
The conference finished and I flew back to Los Angeles trying to forget about Germany and be thankful for our wonderful house and the job that made me get up out of bed every morning. After Jake picked me up at the airport, I had to consciously suppress the urge to blurt out my crazy idea and suggest we start packing that night. I was actually successful for a few minutes, when I just couldn't hold it in another second. To my surprise, Jake was ready to start packing as well. By the end of the week I had typed my first email and sent it to Kathie Martin in Landstuhl Germany.
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2015-10-14
9 years ago
