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Nicole
“So,areyoureallygoing to do this?” asked Monica, my floor supervisor.
I nodded. “It’s time.”
“Are you ready, then?”
“Just about. I need to grab some things from my locker and make sure I haven’t left anything to rot in the fridge,” I said.
“Please stop by my office before you head out. I have some paperwork for you to fill out.
“Always the paperwork,” I grumbled to myself. I preferred the actual nursing part of being a nurse.
I shoved my spare scrubs and extra shoes into a bag and grabbed my coat and purse out of the locker. Taking a last look around, I walked slowly down the hall toward Monica’s office. I smiled and waved to a couple of the nurses who worked the evening shift.
Monica’s door was closed, so I rapped lightly and poked my head in.
“Come on in. Here’s the paperwork. Sign where indicated.” Monica pushed the papers toward me and leaned back in her chair. She tucked some stragglers into the bun on top of her head. I wasn’t sure why she was still here as she usually worked normal business hours, not the 7:00 to 7:00 shifts we floor nurses worked.
She looked at me with a serious face. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I said firmly. I’ve given this a lot of thought. I do like New York City and this hospital, but I’m young and single, and this is the best time for me to see more of this country.” I cringed inwardly when I said the wordsingle.
“Being a travel nurse will allow me to visit places I’ve never been and maybe decide where I’d like to eventually settle down. And you know the pay will be better,” I added. “Can’t say no to that when my rent keeps increasing. The cost of living here is ridiculous.”
Monica sighed. “I get it. I’m just sorry to lose you. You’ve done a great job here—you’re skilled, dependable, and the patients like you. You’re the right amount of light-hearted yet no-nonsense the patients seem to appreciate.”
“You’re trying to break me down and make me cry, aren’t you?” I asked suspiciously. “Well, it’s not going to work. I’m tough as nails. I’m a nurse, you know.”
Monica laughed and raised her hands in mock defeat.
“But thank you,” I added softly as I signed the last page and got up to leave.
“I’ll walk you out, Nicole.”
I nodded, and we walked down the hall toward the elevator. I inhaled the familiar hospital scent and wondered if the next one would smell exactly the same.
Without warning, Monica grabbed my arm and detoured me into the breakroom.
“Surprise!”
I looked around, startled. All of the day nurses, some of the techs, and a few doctors were gathered. I spied some red punch and a big chocolate sheet cake that read,Happy Travels Nicole!The words were surrounded by frosted hearts of all colors and sizes.
“Just a little going away party for you, dear,” the charge nurse said as she pushed her glasses up her nose and handed me a knife to cut the cake.
“Speech, speech!” a few people called out in jest.
I raised the knife to my mouth like a microphone. “I’d like to thank the Academy….”
Laughter rang out, and I continued. “To be serious…I want to say what an honor it’s been to know and work with you all. I’ve learned so much while I’ve been here, and I wish I could take you with me. But mostly…I wish I could have cake every night for dinner.”
There was more laughter and some applause, and I got busy cutting the cake before anyone could see the tears forming in my eyes. I resolutely blinked them back. I would miss my coworkers.
I wasn’t naive. I knew it would be harder to make friends at other hospitals since I would only be at each one temporarily. Good thing I was outgoing and ready to meet lots of new people over the next year or two.
What was really going to be satisfying was knowing I would be needed at each new hospital. I would help shore up weak areas, maybe lend support at a rural hospital that was temporarily losing a nurse to maternity or paternity leave, or even assist with some epidemic or other crisis. I loved being wanted. That was probably the biggest reason why I became a nurse. It was my jam.