Around the world and back again

Wednesday was my last day at UT Southwestern.

I’m moving on Monday. Starting a new job the following Monday.

It has been an interesting year. I learned a lot. I saw a lot. I’m grateful for the opportunities I was afforded, the people I worked with.

Cardiothoracic Surgery was interesting. Being on a surgery service was interesting. On day 3 of employment I realized how extremely different it was from critical care. People have a problem, we meet with them, make a plan to fix their problem, they come to the hospital, we fix their problem, they go home. Most of the time it was very cut and dry; in and out.  Challenges are found in schedules, insurance, and discharge plans.

I feel in the last few years that I have been around the world and back again. I have had some of the highest highs and some of the lowest lows. I have been filled with community and lonelier than I could imagine. I’ve learned about days and nights. I’ve been well rested and beyond exhausted.  I’ve lived on the prairie, in the mountains, in the big city. I’ve been to small churches and large churches, conservative churches and liberal churches. I’ve come to understand the value of organized religion but to deeply appreciate my own spirituality.

I’ve come to know who I am in a way that I never had before and to appreciate and love that more than I ever could have before.

I’ve come to value my family and true friends so very very much.

I’m going to work at Vanderbilt. I’ll be working nights in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. It’s a faculty appointment for the school of Medicine.

I’m moving to Nashville. I’m starting over; I’m going home.

Every new beginning starts from some other beginning’s end.