Uniform! Finally :D

So I got a pretty awesome package delivered to the hospital the other day - my uniforms! Now I have 5 days worth of clothes to wear to work instead of 2. That means less washing! Which is the best part of having a uniform by far. And it's also pretty good not having to think about what to wear, and feeling like I actually now work for Queensland Health :D Although I still don't have an ID card, something to do with the new template not being available since Torres and Northern Peninsula Hospital and Health Service amalgamated with Cape York HHS to become the Torres-Cape HHS.

Pinafore and blouse

Culottes, so comfortable. Remind me of
primary school!

A-Line skirt

The Winds of Zenadth

 

Tuesday 9 September - Friday 12th was the Torres Straight cultural festival, named the Winds of Zenadth. Don't ask me what Zenadth is... a google search has not helped me :/ The Winds of Zenadth only occurs every two years, alternating with the music festival on TI, so I was pretty lucky to be here just at the right time. I worked the opening night, but managed to just have enough time to walk down and get some dinner - I had to wait in line for about 20mins! I had my dinner break at 6ish, and even though it was suppose to start at 4pm, not much was happening! That night I had a bean curry, which was kind of like chili con carne, and very tasty :)

 

After work I came home and some of the other girls from Groupshare had brought me some turtle and vegetables to try. Yes that says turtle and I had a little bit. The turtle and veg were cooked underground, and had this horrible smoky taste that I didn't like one bit. So I didn't eat much. The vegetables were cooked in the same manner and had the same smokiness as an after taste. Even though they were in a coconut milk sauce, which was nice, the smokiness came out and I couldn't eat that either!
 

Turtle. The dark greenish stuff on the bottom left piece is fat :/
 

I had Wednesday and Thursday off work, but didn't get to see much of the singing and dancing until Thursday because on Wednesday I had dinner with some of the other nurses. We all brought a plate of food and had a great feast :) The next night I was invited to another dinner, but declined as Thursday would be my last chance to experience the cultural fest, as I was working Friday afternoon/evening. That night I went and watched some of the dancing and singing, and bought myself some local art :)



 

 

Cutest turtle - would have loved to have bought him, but he's
too big :( Check out the artists website for how he makes them:
www.ninosabatino.com.au

The mini ones didn't look quite as cute

 

Dancing and singing :)

 

My dinner - Seemur Chicken. ALL the stalls were selling it,
so I decided it must be the thing to eat. Was quite nice -
chicken in a soy sauce with vermicelli noodles and rice

The first time I've had ice-cream in about 6 weeks!

 

 



Some more singing and dancing :)

 

Bought the bowl to put my shells in that I got from
Goods Island - plan to collect some more

Dugongs - from the same guy who made
the turtles

Turtles :)
 

Friday morning before work I rode up with a friend to watch the parade. Locals from each of the different islands had decorated their cars with weaved palm leaves and flowers, and were singing as they walked along. For lunch I had a meat pie and lamington (very cultural - haha!). And then it was off to work for public holiday rates ;)

 

The parade... I may have dropped my pie :P

 

Picture in the Paper

Well I have managed to get my picture in the paper after less then two months on TI! The picture was from the Wongai Ball (see previous post). I suppose when you live on such a small island the chances of being in the paper are higher - just like your chances of running into someone you know are much higher. Happens all the time :P

Wongai Ball

Saturday 30th August I went, with a group of about 8, to the Wongai Ball held at the Port Kennedy Association Hall, which raises money for the local Catholic School. The wongai is a native plant, sort of like a plum, but apparently tastes like dates. I haven't tried it - they didn't have any at the ball. There is a legend that states if you eat the fruit of the wongai on TI you will always be destined to return. I had a great time at the ball, until I got stepped on with a high heel. My foot is still sore! And has a nice bruise as well :/

Dinner was great - it was a Asian/Torres Strait style buffet, including a mix of things like fried rice, sweet and sour pork, a curry of some description and my new favourite, numus. This is an islander way of preparing fish, kind of like a cerviche, where the fish is 'cooked' in vinegar and lime juice and flavoured with garlic, onion, chili and coconut milk. YUM!

Pretty decorations on the ceiling

Wine out of a flashing cocktail glass -
just because!

 

New Wheels

On Saturday 30th August I headed over to Horn Island again to visit the nurse educator and to pick up her spare bike. Now I have a set of wheels to get me around TI until October when my bike come up with Reece (Can't wait to see this guy - miss him so much!!). The bike is a bit small for me, and the nuts and bolts need tightening - at the moment the handle bars are upside down :/ But it is better then nothing and so much quicker then walking!

 

Grad Study Day 1

Tomorrow marks one month since I started my grad year (and subsequently yesterday marked one month since I arrived on TI). It has gone so quick!! On Thursday 28th August we had a Graduate Study Day, which was great. First we learnt about communication techniques (such as SBAR) and how to escalate our concerns to achieve a desired action using the PACE acronym. Then it was time for morning tea - the nurse educator made a great  zucchini slice, yum!

After morning we had a practical session learning how to insert  different types of airway tubes (see pics), followed by a session on understanding different types of heart rhythms and the actions that should be taken depending on whether they are shockable or not (note: only ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia are shockable. A defibrillator is not useful for 'flat-line' as you see you TV!). After that it was time for lunch.



Endotracheal Tube (http://intensivecare.hsnet.nsw.gov.au/intubation)

Laryngeal Mask Airway (http://almostadoctor.co.uk/content/systems/-respiratory-system/skills-and-procedures/airway-support)

Geudel airway - keeps the tongue from
blocking the airway
(http://www.anesthesiamyths.com/breathing-tube/)

Nasopharyngeal Airways

     
Following lunch it was back to the classroom, where we learnt about the importance of timely, accurate and concise note-taking. We were given some real life examples of patient notes that weren't overly useful. This session showed that patient notes need to be completed accurately because 'it it's not written, it didn't happen'. For afternoon tea I made upside down pineapple cake. It was the first time I had ever made it, and it was delicious - here's the link to the recipe if you want to try it at home: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/27762/upside+down+pineapple+cake
 

Sunsets, Schnitzels and Social Shindigs

Since I got here I have been quite sociable, making new friends and going to theme nights. So far we have had games night, pizza night and wine night. And of course I have also gone camping and to watch the sunset. Last night I went up the hill again to watch the sunset. Unfortunately no photos this time, but it was a completely different sunset, with only a very thin layer of cloud giving more of a rainbow effect. As it got darker it's really amazing to see how different the stars appear up on the hill compared to sea level. With all the light pollution blocking them out you can hardly see any :(

After if got dark we went down to meet some other peeps at the Grand Hotel for $10 Schnitzel and drinks. It was rather huge! After the Grand closed we went to the Federal, but it was also closed, and then the Torres (Australia's Top Pub) where I just had a glass of water, chatted with one of the 'older' grad nurses and an Argentinian who works at the Ibis and also listened to some rather horrible karaoke :/

 

Sunset over the Water

Orientation - First day of 'work'

Well had my first day of 'work' today - orientation. It was as good as any orientation could be - we watched the fire safety DVD AGAIN (for about the millionth time), got set up with our passwords, and manual handling, etc. Orientation goes until the end of the week, and we have a cultural program on Thursday. There is a whole sheet of other stuff that we have to do online as well, each with its own timeframe of when it has to be completed. Thinking I might get a start on it ASAP, then it's done :)

Haven't been doing much the last couple of days. Just settling in and finding my way around, by running around the island - have been for three runs in the last three days :) At the moment I've just been doing short/slower runs to wear in my new shoes and see how my knee is. It seems to be holding up OK! I've been going between 3:30 and 4:30pm. It's been warm, but the breeze helps a bit. Except when you're running into it :@ Yesterday I went and sussed out the pool/gym complex on my run, so I'm thinking of going there tomorrow and joining up. Here is a pic from my run today :)

The sun sets later up here then in Brisbane at about 6.30pm, instead of 5.30. So it always gets to about 6pm and I'm surprised by how late it is. The sun doesn't rise much later up though, only about 20 minutes behind Brisbane. But I do have block out curtains, which is good as the light from the police station shines in all night otherwise. I think I must live in the safest part on the whole island, surrounded by the hospital and the police station :P Well that is all for now, might see if I can do some training!

A Little Tour and My First Food Shop

The nurses I'm living with took me on a tour of the island this morning and to the local grocery store - the IBIS which stands for Islanders Board of Industry and Service. It was very lucky and convenient that we had the use of a car, so was a great way to get my bearings and do a bit of a starter shop. This place is sooo beautiful. Here are some photos from my phone.

  

 

My first shopping receipt - $100 doesn't go far. But I did buy about 18 portions of meat, in that BBQ pack, so it's not so bad I guess. And as I'm not paying for rent, electricity, or water, and get a remoteness allowance, it all makes up for it!

 

 

A Plane, A Bus and A Ferry..

Well actually it was a car ride to the airport, two planes from Brisbane - Cairns - Horn Island. A bus to the ferry, ferry from Horn Island to Thursday Island, bus to the hospital and then a very short (1 minute) walk to my new home! So, after leaving Reece's just before 7am, I finally arrived 'home' some time between 4.30 and 5pm. Was a long day! The goodbye at the airport wasn't too bad, there were no tears! Although I had shed plenty during the week :(

My flights were unremarkable,  but I did have two seats to myself on both flights. That was nice as it meant I could stretch out a little :). Upon arrival at Horn Island I got very nervous, but the man at the Rebel ferry services was very nice and my name was on the manifest! (Which meant I wasn't stranded on Horn Island). I arrived at the hospital and got my key and starter food pack. The food pack consisted of a loaf of wholemeal bread, long life milk, tea and coffee, some spreads, mini cereal packets and 3 pieces of fruit. I was very lucky that one of the other nurses kindly offered to cook dinner for me. And it was delicious!

I am in the 'Groupshare' house, room number 15. It is awesome being only about a minute to the hospital!! My room is huge and has it's own ensuite. I share a fridge with one other nurse andd there is a shared kitchen between four of us, with a more communal lounge room. I also have my own little balcony, from which I can see the water (even if it is just glimpses through the trees) :)

The weather is much warmer then Brisbane - I am back in shorts and t-shirt. But it's not too bad. I have the balcony door open, but no fan or a/c as of yet. I'll wait till it gets a bit more humid before that comes on. Tomorrow the other nurses have offered to take me on a little tour of the island and to the IBIS supermarket. It is only open from 0900-1300 on the weekends, so I was obviously too late to go shopping when I arrived.

Anyway, I am exhausted. I'll leave you with some pics of this beautiful place, and then I'm going to bed!

Cloud that I thought looked like a duck

Ferry to TI

So Beautiful

So much space