juli_garton

April 28th, 2016 marks the One Year Anniversary of Lux Travel Nurse Inc!!

I began earning my first $1 by entering into a facility working as an RN for my own agency on this very day, just one year before. What started as myself, being the Only employee, has grown to 12 Nurses working in contracts and per diem at 7 facilities, and a total of 13 employees!! Whaaaaaat?????

It took a grueling 18 months to get my agency up and running which included a lot of determination, delegation, time management and research to make it happen. If you only KNEW!!! This wasn’t a simple task, you don’t just toss up a Travel Nurse Agency overnight. Placing Nurses into one of the most well known and respected buildings on the planet, Hospitals and LTC facilities, was quite a feat! I’ve seen just about everything that I imagined could happen, most certainly did happen in this first year.

I have learned so much, and some of which I didn’t realize prior to starting! Good thing I didn’t know, I may not have done it. But for whatever reason I was put on this path to be where I’m at today by pushing through some really strong brick walls to get here. “Oh, there’s a wall there? Or a slammed door?” I just simply busted them down and walked right through because there truly was no stopping me. The more negativity I faced the more “No’s” I heard, the harder I would push.

There’s a slang I’ve used  that I took from a co worker during my travel days, “Yes, I invented Walnuts”. That’s what everyone thought I was trying to convey when I would tell them I’m going to open a Travel Nurse Agency. Necks tilted, eyes bulged, eyebrows up to the heavens looking at me as if I had lost my mind. I knew I could do it, I wanted this Agency, I wanted to work for myself, and I wanted this to be an extension of my Nursing Career.

I had some amazing years as a travel nurse and know first hand what it’s like to enter a facility and work like you’ve been there forever. There’s no other job on this earth that can compare to travel nursing. It’s rewarding and offers a change of pace for the ‘burned out’ nurse who can have options to work at various facilities. I am so grateful to have a successful business! Through Faith and Perseverance, I turned this idea to start my Own Agency into Reality!

I’m looking forward to the years ahead with Lux Travel Nurse, my Pride and Joy, and what I worked so hard to start! I will continue assisting facilities and providing nurses with options, flexibility and great pay. What’s next to come? My plans are to take all of my efforts, experience and knowledge, all of my note taking, and all of the OMG moments and put it down to include the Scrapes, Bruises and Love into the form of Book.  Because if I can do it? Work for myself and hire a few Awesome nurses to work with me, then so can anyone else!  Stay Tuned!!!!

Is there such a thing as an Elevator to Success? Because I don’t mind taking the stairs at-all.

Think back to the moment you decided to go into nursing. What was the drive that put you there? Was it the idea of a faced paced Emergency Room, or becoming a Neonatal Intensive Care  Unit Nurse caring for premature babies, Long Term Care facility caring for the elderly, or just the thought of being a nursing professional that offers a wide variety of positions and expertise in many fields of healthcare?

Who was your focus group when you entered into nursing school? Who was your mentor? Whether RN, LPN or CNA, everyone had a purpose in becoming a nurse. What were your career goals? Were you even sure? Or did you think you would stay put in one place forever and never branch out?

At a certain point in everyone’s nursing career we have all questioned ourselves. Burn-Out being the #1 cause of either walking away from nursing, or furthering your education and looking for other forms of Nursing Leadership in hopes of leaving the clinical environment.

This blog isn’t about giving anyone advice or some sort of idea on how to transform your career into your ideal work environment, rather than focusing on where you’re at now. Developing social skills to promote a better working atmosphere and helping You to feel successful in your current position.

Keepin’ it Classy

We are Nurses and without a doubt, we have Many co-workers to contend with. In this environment comes a buffet of  different personalities  and some of those don’t play well together. It’s a Fact that we are hard on each other’s skills, knowledge, work ethic, sustainability (they’ll NEVER make it) and the list goes on and on…

How do you see yourself professionally? If you’re entered into daily conversation of complaining, here’s what they’re really saying, “Here they come, what are they going to do wrong today?” or, “Here they come, what are they going to Bitch about today?” I’m just keeping it real. Who do you look up to?

Do you look up to those who are accountable? The Less is More person can be very appealing to co-workers. Those that are being accountable to their jobs, their patients, their co-workers, themselves, the ones you can approach that you trust with your concerns, the ones who have a dilemma and go right to the source and not hash it out in the break-room. I’ve been a nurse a long time,  and I’ve BEEN in the Break Room.

Keep it classy, you’ll gain much more respect and your job will be more fulfilling in the process. This is our career as nurses, we need to treat the nursing profession with pride and respect. Be helpful to others, ask questions if you’re unsure, don’t offer advice, take a listening approach, assist when you see there’s a need, make it a learning experience instead of an “I’ll Show You!” experience. I wouldn’t offer advice to a Track Coach on how to win the meet, and I wouldn’t expect to receive nursing advice from them in return!

Stay within your limits and knowledge. And when offering help, Keep it Classy in your delivery. It’s your sub-conscience speaking (we all have one), listen to it.

Workplace Gossip

Think about the number of times you’ve witnessed or taken part in workplace gossip. What did you get out of it? Does it help to get through the day? It doesn’t necessarily take the spot light off of you, it really can put you on Blast. We’ve all done it and we will all continue to do it because we’re NURSES!

We sometimes don’t like each other, we definitely don’t like that Doctor, and Administration? Uuuugh…somebody should Fire them all!! Start at the top and chop that whole tree down!

It causes pure misery and nurses will leave in droves based on opinions of others. Does that help? No, then you’re left with a skeleton crew and now working 60 hours a week to cover your needs. Take Gossip seriously, try not to engage in ill-intended criticism that’s meant to hurt, more than help.

How Far Do You Want To Go In Your Career?

Well, that all depends on how you want to present yourself to others. BE yourself, but be mindful of what your ultimate goals are. Make a career plan with specific goals and timelines of when you expect to have them accomplished. Stay focused on that path, don’t let the BUMPS in the road discourage or instill doubt or fear into your plan.

To sum up, your own idea of success for yourself is what will ultimately bring you happiness. Sometimes as simple as just being happy at work is enough of a goal to work towards. Who enjoys being Dreadful of going to work day in and day out? Then don’t GO!  GET back to a career plan and make yourself happy and successful. And of course there’s always Plan B, wait until you hit the lottery then Everyone’s worries will be gone Forever!! We chose this career, how happy we are and what we do with it is our decision. Do whatever it takes.

Psst, there’s no elevator. Plan on taking the stairs.

We were lucky to have an Aunt marry into our family who was from the Philippines and shared with us this Recipe that we have been making for many years. It’s perfect for holiday entertaining, but easy enough to make all year round.

You can find most of the ingredients in a local grocery store, but the rice sticks and spring egg roll wrappers (I call Lumpia wrappers), will be found in Oriental markets. I keep the wrappers in the freezer and defrost before using.

Before starting:

*Place 1/2 package of rice noodles in water for about 1 hour. You will then drain them and using kitchen scissors cut them into smaller strips approximately 2-3 inches long.

Filling:

*2 lbs. ground beef (cooked and drained)

*1 lb. pork sausage (cooked and drained)

*One medium onion (cooked with meat mixture)

Do NOT add salt to the above (Soy Sauce gets added later)

*Rice Noodles (soaked in water, then drained)

*1 can of Green Beans

*1/2 c. – 3/4 c. Soy Sauce

Mix all ingredients together into large bowl. Use a knife or pizza  cutter to cut the ingredients together to allow for easier rolling!

Begin with 2 Large Tablespoons of filling into Lumpia Wrapper and finish like you would an egg roll.

I then wrap it a Second Time! I’ve made these several times and found wrapping twice, it holds better and fry’s up crispier for the end product.

Edges are sealed with a cornstarch and water mixture

After all of the Lumpia are sealed, place them seam size down onto wax paper and allow edges to dry completely to avoid them coming apart. Keep covered with saran wrap and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Fry the Lumpia (starting with seam side down) in olive oil or vegetable oil turning once and browned on both sides then drain on paper towels.

Use Sriracha Hot Sauce, Chili Garlic Sauce or Sweet Chili Sauce for dipping. Mix them all together or use separately and place in dipping condiment tray.

You can store the fried Lumpia in the refrigerator and re-heat IF there are any leftovers.

Happy Holidays!!!

Many Memes are generated during the holiday season proclaiming Negativity on working over the Holiday’s. It’s annoying for healthcare professionals! Too many Rants online, just embrace it because we really have no choice.

Nurses are not exempt from working Holiday’s as a matter of fact, one of the first things that is discussed when you begin a new position is that you are expected to cover weekends and holidays. It’s all part of the profession, we are prepared and never give it a second thought.

We as nurses tend to look at the “Bright Side” to working a holiday.  And after years in this profession, I decided to list:

The Top 5 Reasons Nurses LOVE to work Holiday’s

#5  Money.

Not usually the #1 reason to like working a holiday but it’s a good enough reason to work. It can add an additional Time and 1/2 to your pay check. Who doesn’t need a little extra money? This meme is the most Shared of them all. And very true, nursing is a career but to think we went into it for the money is Wrong. The reality is, the extra income for holiday pay is ‘nice’ but it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. Besides nurses plan ahead, it’s spent before we make it 🙂 Let’s be honest…

#4  Festive.

Most and I will quote “most” co-workers and visiting family members are in a festive mood. Some will bring in food and a pot luck ensues in the break room in some situations. The mood is usually upbeat because WHY complain? We’re already here! Besides, interesting things happen on holidays so the chances of becoming bored are usually very Low.

#3 Patient Care

You never know who’s life you will touch during the holiday. Many families are unable to visit and simply touching the life of someone or giving them an encouraging hug and spreading Holiday Cheer will be enough to bring smiles to your patients. Smiles are contagious, so spread the Cheer it can only affect you as a nurse in a positive way.

#2 No Cooking

You don’t have to cook, so the mess is at someone else’s house. You get to go home after your shift to a clean Kitchen!

#1 Avoid Annoying Family Members

Maybe it was your family’s turn to join some unpleasant In-Laws, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, or extended family’s house for the holiday. The good stand-by “I’m a nurse, I have to work” always covers those situations and you can rest at ease! Except if you choose to work every holiday, then “I’m a nurse, I have to work” will still cover, and is always the best Excuse anyone can use!

Happy Holiday’s Everyone!!

Fall marks the beginning of  “Soup Season” for many. This recipe is super easy and is the ultimate definition of comfort food!

Crockpot Loaded Baked Potato Soup

• 5 pounds of russet potatoes
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 5 Tbs. minced garlic
• 8 cups of chicken broth
• 16 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 Tbs. salt
• black pepper to taste
• garnish: green onions, shredded cheese, and diced bacon

Dice russet potatoes and place in 7 qt. casserole dish. Add onion, garlic, seasoning and chicken broth. Cover and Cook on High for 6 hours.

*Stir in the 16 oz. of Cream Cheese into crock pot just before serving.

Garnish with Shredded Cheese, Green Onions and Bacon. ENJOY!

BBQ! They have some of the best, but it wasn’t what I was Expecting at-all.

I traveled to Greenville, NC in the fall of 2011 and worked at a facility called Vidant Medical Center. At the time I was there it was Pitt County Memorial and then changed to University Health Systems during my assignment and is now known as the above. A teaching hospital for Brody School of Medicine, and employs over 8,000 staff, it was “one” the Hardest jobs I’ve ever had in my life. I’ve never taken off so many orders in a 12 hour shift (many times ended up to be 15 hours) for 2 critical patients in the ICU. Thanks mostly to the medical students who enjoyed ‘writing orders’ along with their primary’s. The patients were the sickest of the sick in 5 counties or more that would get flown in by the droves. I’ve never heard of “Blood Cancer” and I’ve never seen a person on a vent with a Hgb of .5 either. I literally Fell into my apartment each day after work from complete exhaustion ‘truly’.

I was a long way from home, but I ran into a former co-worker of mine from back in the ‘day’ while I was there which made it nice for me! Plus the food was really, really good. Which I packed on couple LB’s during my time there I believe.

There were 2 amazing restaurants that I frequented during my stay. First one, the Famous B’s BBQ which has no phone, and when they run out of BBQ, they close the doors. Simple as that. And Parker’s BBQ which is where I ordered my First BBQ sandwich to go and was hooked.

I reached into the paper bag to grab my BBQ sandwich (which I was expecting it to be Piping Hot and loaded with BBQ sauce that I am used to) and the sandwich was cold, wrapped in paper and I thought WHAT is this?!

This is Eastern Carolina BBQ Ya’ll! Their sauce is a clear vinegar base with red pepper flakes and seasonings that is poured onto the all day long roasted pulled pork. Now what, I was wanting this thick red BBQ sauce and I was SO BUMMED! I wasn’t going to run back out somewhere and find some comfort food after I got all the way back to my apartment.  Then I took the first bite. WOW! Now that’s NC, this is home of the Pirates ! This community is proud of their team, their legacy and their BBQ.

I ate about 50 BBQ’s while I was there. I didn’t cook much, just ate BBQ’s and Cake Pops from Starbucks (It’s what I lived one) trying to stay alive at work where it truly nearly killed me. I wasn’t exactly in Disneyland if you know what I mean (The happiest place on earth). Whoo! Difficult, Difficult assignment definitely in the top 2!

But for anyone who’s never had the pleasure of going to B’s, Parker’s or the Southern East Coast, make this at home you won’t be disappointed. This sauce will be a fixture in my refrigerator forever!!  It’s that ridiculously great.

Pulled Pork BBQ with Hush Puppies (the sauce comes later)

The Pork Rub:

1 T. black pepper

2 Tsp. cayenne pepper

2 T. chili powder

2 T. dark brown sugar

1 T. dried oregano

4 T. paprika

2 T. table salt

1 T. sugar

1 T. white ground pepper

Rub onto pork shoulder roast, wrap with saran wrap up to 6 hours in refrigerator before slow roasting over Wood or on low in Crock Pot (in this case) for 8 hours.

NC Vinegar Sauce! This is what makes it EAST Coast BBQ

2 C. apple cider vinegar

2 T. dark brown sugar

1 T. ketchup

1 T. Texas Pete’s Hot Sauce

1 Tsp. red pepper flakes

1 Tsp. ground black pepper

1 Tsp. salt

Place all ingredients together and bring to boil. Whisk until sugar is dissolved completely. Remove from Heat and allow to cool at room temperature.

Keep sauce refrigerated in jar or in squeeze bottle and let rest in fridge one day before serving (keeps up to 2 weeks)

This gets Poured over the cooked pulled pork before placing on sandwich. So wonderful!!!

Coleslaw:

8 C. shredded cabbage and carrot (3 carrots and 1/2 L. cabbage)

1/2 C. sour cream

1/2 C. mayo

2 T. vinegar

4 T. sugar

3/4 Tsp. salt

1 Tsp. black pepper

Combine together and Chill for 45 minutes

Hush Puppies:

1/2 C. flour

1/2 C. cornmeal

1/2 Tsp. salt

1/4 Tsp. baking soda

1 Large egg

1/2 C. buttermilk

Vegetable oil for Frying

Combine flour, cornmeal, salt and baking soda into bowl. Make a well in the center of mixture, whisk together egg and buttermilk and add the wet into the dry well. Mix thoroughly and drop by heaping spoonfuls into oil.

Fry batches for 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

Place pulled pork onto sandwich bun, cover pork with NC Red Pepper Vinegar Sauce, top with Slaw. Add hush puppies to the side and Enjoy. Drink the vinegar sauce straight from the jar, or keep in refrigerator up to 2 weeks to put on EVERYTHING. Best BBQ sandwich ever!

In Honor of the Diamond Classic  75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally  I have to pay Homage to my home state, my stomping grounds and my community. I’ve been an attendee to this classic rally for most of my life after all, it’s in my family’s backyard. I rented our house out to bikers for a number of years and took my biker family camping 11 miles away during the event to Whoop it up in Sturgis at Hog Heaven Campground.

Our great friends from San Bernadino, CA would ride out every single year and together we would camp, cook, and party. Dusta and Al Dalton made our years of camping some of the most memorable moments in our life. We truly Love them as family and this recipe that Dusta made for us for the first time about 20 years ago, was an Annual meal at the campsite. I’ve made this many, many times over the years and this year being a Diamond Classic Rally Event, I had to share. It is with Great Pleasure I present to You:

BIKER MEATLOAF (Feeds EVERYONE) no matter how many people are around…

3 lbs. ground beef (I usually used 5-7 during Rally)

1 onion

1 green pepper

sleeve of Ritz crackers

2 eggs

Season Salt (to taste)

Worchestershire Sauce (to taste)

Mix all ingredients and Begin the Bread Wrapping Process for the Charcoal Grill:

Layer bread slices on tin foil

Press 1/2 the meat mixture onto first layer

Fill with hashbrowns (about 2 cups and 1 cup cheddar cheese)

Top remaining meat mixture and cover with additional bread slices

Wrap entire meatloaf securely with foil

Place on Charcoal Grill for 1 hour

FLIP and cook for additional hour

The bread will be toasted, maybe even slightly burned taking in all the grease from  the hamburger! Break open and Serve!

THROWBACK from Rally’s Past (not in Order) Beginning with Hog Heaven’s Fixture for Many Years, Jimmy Van Zant: And Ending in Loving Memory of Al Dalton

In Loving Memory of our Dear Friend Al Dalton We Love and Miss You

This time of Year “Especially” Good Man, Good Friend, Good to our kids and Family Always…

STARBUCKS! Is Everywhere…Thank Goodness because we are Travel Nurses, and we need to keep it Wide Eyed and Alert.

When traveling across country, I’m always on the look out for a Starbucks. If you have time and want to experiment on making a favorite drink or dessert, here’s a couple of recipes to make at home. Thank you to my daughter Jacqueline Garton for whipping up 2 of my Fav’s, Caramel Machiatto and Birthday Cake Pops.

Need to keep the caffeine plentiful and available! As nurses, no matter if you’re day shift or night shift, a 3 0’clock  sweet tooth Always needs dealt with. Make a bunch of birthday cake pops and take to work to share,  It’s a nice and less expensive way to indulge in a Starbucks Favorite.

Ingredients for Pops:

Birthday Cake Pops:

Follow instructions on a white cake mix and cook as directed.

Scoop out the baked cake into a bowl and mix with fork

Add  in 3/4 c. of cream cheese frosting and mix thoroughly

Roll into balls and let chill in fridge for up to 1 hour until firm

Melt package of white chocolate chips in double boiler until creamy, add Red food coloring to desired color

WORK FAST

Dip the chilled cake balls using cake pop sticks into the white chocolate and add sprinkles then let cool on wax paper

Store in Refrigerator up to 3 days or Freezer up to one Month

Ingredients for Coffee:

Caramel Machiatto:

Brew coffee

Drizzled caramel in cup plus 2 tbs. and Add:

Ice

Chilled Coffee

Splash of milk

1/4 tsp. vanilla

Top with Whip Cream and Caramel Sauce

Sweet Tooth Handled 🙂 Thanks Jac

I traveled to Florida in November of 2004 after the devastation of Hurricane’s Charley, Ivan, Francis and Jeanne. My husband who is an entrepreneur Welder ‘aka’ Garton’s Welding was asked to come assist in some of the devastation that had occurred in the Central Florida area causing billions of dollars in damage. I wanted to GO, I have family there and thought, what is this Travel Nursing all about??

I actually got my job through Nurses RX (which is Also owned by AMN), I ‘cold called’ this nearly new facility on my own and got the job at the facility known as  Weusthoff Medical Center in Melbourne, FL. I came from Sturgis, SD and because I was from the Midwest I was told by the Nurse Recruiter, “We know you’ve never traveled before but you Midwesterners have an amazing work ethic, let’s give you a go.” I had worked at Sturgis Regional Hospital for 4 years and was leaving the comforts of amazing staff to embark on what would the beginning of where I’m at today!

I was Terrified! I took the job as an ER nurse only to be told in orientation they would move me to the ICU. WHAT? You have a ‘new’ traveler, who has worked in a small ER (busy) but nothing like what I was literally thrown into.  I was so Nervous, but worked with some amazing people there and stayed at that facility for 26 weeks!

What was supposed to be just-that…a 26 week tour ended up to be 4 years there settling into the most Fabulous job of all time at Cape Canaveral Hospital . That was my “Main Job” but I also did Agency work and did many shifts in Daytona Beach (that hospital has since been renamed and I can’t find it!)  as well as floating via Agency to their “Main Hospital” Holmes Regional Medical Center. So, I danced between Daytona, Cocoa Beach and Melbourne during all of those years. Always a new experience when leaving the comforts of Cape Canaveral but I don’t know, I worked like a crazy person! And I played just as hard.

When we arrived in Cocoa Beach the first place I remember eating at was this little place sitting on the sand with views of the Atlantic Ocean called Taco City. I could Not Believe they could stuff that much cheese into a taco. The shells were fried, lots of lettuce and tomato’s, the ‘norm’ you could say but they were so Fabulous. They don’t have a picture of the 2 beef taco plate on their website that I could never eat alone, but below is the recipe re-make of that menu item, along with an ADD-On modification!

2 Beef Taco Plate:

Here’s ALL the Ingredients you will need

Homemade Tortillas!

Just buy this brand shown below , all you need to do is add water (per directions), let rise, roll out and brown each side 30 seconds on a cast iron skillet (keep in damp t-towel) until ready for use and then store in Ziploc baggies. SIMPLE! (Work Smarter Not Harder!) Amazing Tortillas!

Homemade Guacamole:

4 Avacoadoes (ripe, peeled and mix with fork)

1 medium tomato (de-seeded) and chopped

1 medium lime (juiced)

1/2 purple onion chopped

Sea Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix all together!

Homemade Vermicelli (NOT part of the Taco City Plate, but I always make this as a side with ALL Mexican Food)

One bag of Fideo (7 oz. Bag) do NOT try to double this recipe, this makes More than a family of 8 could even eat as a side dish

one diced yellow onion

2 cans of Mexican stewed tomatoes

1 Large box of Swanson’s Chicken Stock Broth

2 Corn in husks

2 tsp. of Cumin

4 Tbls. Olive Oil

Brown the Fideo and chopped onion with Olive Oil in pan until Fideo is browned

Cook the corn on the grill or boil in hot water and remove corn from husks

Pour in the rest of the ingredients: Corn, Chicken Stock, Tomato’s  (except the cumin) and Bring to a Boil! Then turn down, Cover and Simmer for 30-45 minutes. When it’s done, Add the Cumin. (I don’t know why I wait to do that, I just do) Then let sit on stove for another 30 minutes with the heat off to thicken before serving! Best side dish in the World.

Brown the Hamburger seasoned with only Salt, Pepper and yellow Onion then fill the tortillas.

Return them to the cast iron skillet and brown in olive oil on both sides, using a toothpick to hold the browned hamburger inside the tortilla.

Assemble the plate and top the tacos with shredded lettuce and cheese!

Always make a homemade Salsa and add the homemade guacamole to the side, DONE! I should charge my family for this 🙂