It's been awhile since I made a post here. It was easy to lose track since I'm currently working two jobs and going to school for my bachelors.

I was incredibly fortunate to not only get a job at a major hospital, but to also get a full time job at one. Even more so that it's a very fast paced high workload, acute care environment with ornery inner city patients. In a few months I've grown immensely. My bedside manner, helping upset patients and family, dealing with equipment shortages, Managing very acute ICU floors with several ventilator dependent patients. My coping strategies have grown immensely. Even in hospital wide emergency situations as I recently found out. The first month was really rough, the second was getting into my groove, now I'm thriving. I still have a lot to learn but I'm doing great where I'm at right now. I've made friends throughout the hospital- Nurses, fellow therapists. It's great to face the various challenges that come up as a team. People who rely on me and also tell me if I could do something better.

Working at my other job with patients who are long term is a wonderful experience as well. It allows a much better rapport with patients if you take care of them for months.
Using what is essentially home respiratory equipment is also a blast. Portable suction machines, LTVs, Oxygen concentrators, you name it.

The only major negative for me right now, is being so far from my family in CA. Also the oranges here are really truly awful. I wouldn't recommend them.