5 West Nursing

There’s nothing like the thrill and excitement of flying to get your adrenalin pumping.

If you’ve flown before, you probably know what I mean. The sudden acceleration you experience when the airplane is given the “cleared for takeoff” by the control tower… the sensation of being pressed down in your seat while it finally lifts off the ground and does it’s safety climb until you reach 35,000 feet.

You gaze out the window and see everything shrink as you get to the top of the world. Cars and trucks look like ants crawling freeways that stretch for miles on end. Homes and high rise buildings look like game pieces on “Monopoly”. You suddenly get a bird’s eyeview and you start seeing things you’ve never seen before, or at least you never knew that they exist, until you get to a higher vantage point. All of a sudden, the world seems to reveal itself in a whole new way, and then you get the “bigger picture” of things. You see things in a different perspective and your horizon literally broadens. You’re attitude change and you suddenly find yourself “open” to a whole new world of possibilities… and all of a sudden, you see the world in a different light, and you know you’ve grown from that experience.

It’s been more than 1.5 years since I boarded the plane to come to MMC for the first time, and let me tell you, it’s quite an experience. Time flies when you’re having fun, and for the last year and a half, it sure has been for me. I remember the first few months starting out (and I’m sure most of you do), the sheer agony of adjusting to a new situation, new “friends”, seeing things I’ve never seen before, and sucking up to the frustration of doing things that seem to make  no sense at all, has been the most humbling experience anyone can go through.

Despite all these, I consider myself blessed to be surrounded by the fine people that make up 5 West… The “Flash”, who zips through work like (you guessed it) a flash, “Terrific” CNAs and nurses that always lend a helping hand, “Dan the Man” who has been most helpful in any situation, “Hot Rod” and “Nikon Joe” I call the dynamic duo, with 5 West’s “Crowning Glory” who leadership and tenacity I admire. “Angel” who livens things up, and not to mention “Sarah Lee” who you can depend on. Cheryl (our fairly new addition) who’s kindness and gentle nature just complements the 5 West team (we have to find her a name), “Kenny G” and “Tony the Tiger”, dependability as solid as a rock… Danny our director, who I would say has done a lot of good for the unit, and the rest of the staff, too numerous to mention, but nevertheless, makes a big difference to 5 West.

You are the people that I am honored to be around with, the people who have in a way, “lifted” me up to a higher vantage point… the people who, through your expertise and experience, have broadened my horizon, and opened up the world in a whole different light, and this is something not a lot of people are privileged to experience. Although we have many differences, we are still 5 West, and I’m proud to be part of this awesome team, and together… sky’s the limit.