The Age of Aquarius...

Since I missed most note-worth occasions, Happy Thanksgiving, New Year, Martin Luther King Jr Day, Australia Day, Merry Christmas Happy Hanukkah to all!!

I'd say 2010 was a bit of a "transitional" year, and while I'm still as lost as ever in my goals, I can safely say I have come out a bit wiser- I now know that if it weren't for that little thing we call "money-" I would have seen far more of this world! Alas now, it's time to concentrate on saving, planning, and dreaming of the next big adventure- while enjoying this one!

There's still far too much of this land to see, and I'm slowly checking things off the list- However, next month, despite the new "budget" I (sort of) placed myself on, the ultimate journey will be reached with a 3500 km train to Perth, Western Australia. Hopefully 36 hours in a train seat, surrounded by Australia's finest will give me an idea just what this country is all about...

In less exciting news, began work in the ED (Emergency Department, not Erectile Dysfunction) and now I can say "why do people complain so much about socialized medicine?!" I don't see a problem with breaking your hip and getting treated with analgesia, an x-ray, a diagnosis, maybe traction, and then surgery? And for "free" (so they say....) Or showing up to triage and saying "I want sleeping tablets because I'm stressed" and receiving exactly that and a home visit from a psychiatrist??

Someone please tell me the problem! The problem in taking care of not only one's citizens, but of human beings?

I can also safely say there are those who abuse the system- the drunk 30-something who wets their pants in their bed because they are so drunk, all while not being compliant to ANY advice given... Or the "I have had pain for two months, and now it's 3am and I need to see a doctor RIGHT NOW." But in the end, I enjoy treating and helping people who need it.

So for now, Cheers to 2011- for another fun, healthy, crazy year!!!!

Happy Re-Birthday!

Life has a funny way of moving forward, all at once!

It wasn't many weeks ago, I started to feel like I hadn't accomplished anything I wanted to accomplish in Australia, however what was I doing to make that happen?? Many many days of frustration followed, and asking for signs, anything to point me in the right direction!

This quote from the book "Eleven Minutes" made me stop dead in my tracks. I don't think it's just referring to meeting a love, but it refers to life in general.

"...I realize I didn't go into that cafe by chance; really important meetings are planned by the souls long before the bodies see each other. Generally speaking, these meetings occur when we reach a limit, when we need to die and be reborn emotionally. These meetings are waiting for us, but more often than not, we avoid them happening. If we are desperate, though, if we have nothing to lose, or if we are full of enthusiasm for life, then the unknown reveals itself, and our universe changes direction." -Paul Coelho

So my meeting came at Splendour in the Grass, a music festival in Woodford, Queensland. Seeing the natural beauty of Australia outside the city was breath of fresh air from the city life I have been living this past year! Three days of incredible music, inspiring artists, and great new friends showed me that Australia was going to be my home for a bit longer.

Upon returning to Melbourne, I decided also for the first time in a year to make a career-based decision rather than a "what is the most fun thing to do?" decision. So Emergency Department here I come! New hospital, new position, new experiences. Time for my career to experience a rebirth!

But, none of this change will come before a flash trip back to Dakota, where it all began! I cannot wait!!! :) :) :)

I have to say:
"Good for you, Minnesota!"

Minnesota, my liberal neighbor in the United States, has always been a bit more progressive in some areas of politics. I have to say the news of 12,000 nurses protesting working conditions in Minnesota disturbs me, however it's about time the needs of nurses and patients are looked at closely. I cringe to think who was looking after the thousands of patients in Minnesota hospitals on June 10.

It's unfortunate it takes nurses walking off the job for administrators to take notice. Nurses are the heart of health care across the world, and things simply do not work if nurses aren't there.

We all love our jobs, otherwise we wouldn't be there. It's not about money, but rather patient safety. (And our own sanity!). And our patients deserve proper nurse:patient ratios just as much as nurses deserve better working conditions. The worst feeling as a nurse is walking away, two hours past the end of your shift, and realizing you couldn't even complete tasks which were meant to be completed because you didn't have time- and you didn't even have a break all day!

So people who think our system is fine- you're wrong! People who think our large "not-for-profit" hospitals, aren't "for-profit-" I urge you to look at your facts. Anyone who walks into a US hospital and sees the lobby with a grand piano and staircase and thinks that is OK is misguided. The most basic patient care needs aren't always met.

So I'm not happy that nurses were away from their jobs June 10. And I'm even more disturbed it took more weeks of negotiations to come to an agreement. These are YOUR family members we are looking after.

I hope people of the USA realize that we are in trouble if things don't change. Obama's plan will not solve the problem. But something has to change. Let's insure more of our citizens and promote primary prevention- catch diseases before they turn into multisystem problems. Make our population a little healthier. That will ease the burden of the healthcare system just a little.

WE CAN ALL DO OUR PART!!!!!!!

Oh the comforts of home....

Things I can NOT get down under.......

Mama Jean (not in human form, only skype form)

Taco Bell

Old Navy clothes for $5

Fast food (well i can, but it's socially unacceptable)

Bud Light

 - on that note, a beer for under $8

Summer in June! :) 

Orbit Wintergreen Gum

Target without a period at the end of it. (Look up Target Australia)

What I can get instead:

Lots of emails and skpye from Jean 

Umago Mexican Pita

Not-so-cheap clothes.... 

Macca's (only allowed when ill or hungover)

Little Creatures for $9 a pint

Winter in June!

Extra Gum

Target Period. 

Oh the simple things in life!

Hello winter- and welcome to the Southern Hemisphere!

Well I survived the worst illness I have ever had. Ever. Thank you, K. Rudd and the rest of Australian's government, for your generous sick leave. 

Now, I am back, better than ever. Ready to take on Mebourne's winter....

Notable points of an Australian Autumn/Winter:

- Lack of central heating. Layering of clothes X4 necessary. 

- Absence of snow. What is a winter without snow? Amateurs... 

-  Rain Rain Rain Rain Rain, 5 minutes of sunlight, Rain Rain 

- Notable increase of stroke patients presenting to Royal Melbourne....

- Ugg boots... they really are needed in Australia. Who knew you'd need more than Haivaianas?

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around a cold, dreary July... 

Antidotes for Winter:

Festivals 

Gumboots

Coffee

Arcadia Cafe Eggs

Nights at the pub followed by 8K "Fun" Runs

AFL, or "Footie"

Rugby

More nights at the pub....

However... Mark my words. The next Australian summer, I will be oceanside! 

Nurses make the worst patients...

A bad throat infection (Streptococcus) exacerbated by pre menstrual symptoms is not a good way to start the week. One could say I finally got a taste of my own medicine- a little Augmentin, Dr. Peter promised me would kill the pus ulcers that had invaded my mouth within 24 hours. "You need 4 things: Rest, fluids, Panadol, and this antibiotic."

Now, 43 hours later (yes, I am counting) I am waiting for the magical antibiotic to gather up enough strength in my body to start killing those WBC's....

In the meantime, I will sustain myself on Nurofen, Panadol, Callipo Pops, and bananas....   

Nurses really do make the worst patients!

And to my fellow Americans:

With the passage of the Healthcare Reform, I urge you to consider all angles of the bill. I also urge you to be happy we can extend healthcare cover to 32 million more deserving Americans. 

This is going to be a long, long process. It won't be perfect after 5, 10, or even 20 years. This bill may not be the answer. However, if healthcare continues to run the way it does, we will all be broke, sick, and unable to provide for ourselves. 

Everyone deserves healthcare. Even the "bum" who sits at home and doesn't exercise. It's not your job to change him. It's your job to worry about yourself. It's your job to take care of yourself. And to be greatful you aren't the bum on the couch!

I don't know if this is the answer. What I don't like is that hospitals in the US are becoming more like hotels, and less like places where people's basic and complex healthcare needs are met. 

So please, let's just open our minds, and realize this is a long process. And the healthcare workers of this country will never ever let there be a time where good medicine is not practiced!