Work update

(my office)

Most of you have heard me talk about my work, but in case you haven't, I'll tell you about my job.
I'm a nurse at a Skilled Nursing Center.  We have 60 beds; 30 are long term care, 30 are skilled rehab for people who need medical care or therapy before going home.  I've worked there for 31 years!  
I started when my kids were young and I worked on-call.  As they got older I worked different shifts to accommodate what was happening in our lives at the time.  For the last 6 years, I've been the unit manager/infection control nurse.  I've really enjoyed doing this.  I like having contact with our residents and their families, I enjoy working with our doctors and the other staff.  This job means that I have to take a turn at being on call.  When I started, it was one week on, 2 weeks off.  On call means you take calls for any medical issues, 24 hours a day.  It also means if someone calls in, or we are short a nurse, you have to go in and work.
Then Covid hit.

(me in my covid gear)

With Covid came lots more work for me.  Constant monitoring of residents, auditing of staff to make sure they are following the correct infection control measures, covid testing, and lots more documentation.  We've had covid in the building twice, and are just finishing the second round.  When that happens, work is miserable.  You can't stop and say hi to residents, if you are working in the covid unit, you can't come out, and wearing all that gear is miserable.
However, a worse side effect of covid is how many people are getting out of nursing.  We've had issues with shortages before, but what we are now dealing with is unheard of.  And it's all over the country, from what I'm told.  And the state surveyors have been clamping down more, although they tell us that everyone is having the same issue and can't find help.
So - because of this, I am now on call every other week, and those weeks have been brutal.  I am having to work the floor a lot, and have been called numerous times as I go to bed, to be told I need to get up and come to work. Then I have to stay to get my regular work done.  And worse, is telling my family that I can't do something, because I'm on call and will probably have to work.  I had a day recently that I was there for 18 hours.

But then - I got a message from someone who works in the office our doctors are from.  They had someone leaving and felt I would be a good fit.  I went in to talk to them, and they offered me a job on the spot.  Bob and I had been praying and felt there was clear leading to take it.  The person interviewing me even said she's been praying for me because she knew this would be a tough decision.
I said yes, and will be working 4 days a week, 8:30 to 5.  No weekends, no holidays and no on call!
I will stay and help at the facility for a while, but my last official day is Dec 2.  And this Sunday will be my last day on call.
I'm sad to leave because this place has been part of me for so long.  I've made so many friends, both staff, residents and their families, but am excited for something new, and also because it will be so much better for me and my family.