Overdue Update

 This week has been super busy: I started orientation via zoom as a new hire at RUMC this past Monday (fun fact, this day also happened to be the first day of school and my team and I along with many others around the world experienced zoom crash on us. I mean, let's be real, this was bound to happen at some point). The next day, I hit the ground running and went with the COVID Rapid Response Team to a long-term facility in Lakeview where we tested the residents and staff for COVID. Not going to lie, it was shocking to hear that the number of residents had decreased from 66 to 40-something since March; basically, about a third of the long-term residents had passed away from the virus. Woah, right? On Thursday, my team and I went to an encampment site (locations around the city where homeless individuals set up camp) and partnered with DFSS, Salvation Army, and Haymarket. We provided testing and believe me when I say that I'm NEVER ever going to complain about wearing one cloth mask. It's uncomfortable, but is it as uncomfortable as wearing an N95, surgical mask on top of the N95, face shield, yellow PPE gown in 95 degree weather outside? Nope. Not at all. I felt like an MMA fighter trying to lose water weight. Still, I'm thankful that we have the PPE to protect ourselves as we go from site to site. Word has it that my team and I will start testing staff in different corporations and I think the Chicago Symphony Orchestra even reached out to my boss to see if we could go and test the CSO staff members. 

All this to say, I'm thankful. I'm thankful to provide these services to vulnerable and high-risk populations. I'm thankful that for now, I've found my niche in nursing. I love the flexible scheduling, my badass team, the adrenaline rush of having a new site "secured" for testing (we are working closely with the Department of Public Health), the variety of places around Chicago I have the opportunity to go to.

How strange to look back to even the beginning of this year when I found myself confused and apathetic regarding nursing. I marvel at God's timing and how ultimately, it is an honor to trust him and simply walk with the Lord. So, cheers to what's up ahead. And to whoever reads this blog, if you could lift up a prayer that I don't get 'rona, that would be appreciated!