Though we may try to avoid telling people on the trail, the fact is that Emily and I are both nurses. We currently work in a Trauma ICU at a Level One Trauma center, which basically means the sickest of the sick. Most nights are spent on our feet anywhere from 8-12 hours of our 12 hour shifts. When I first started training, my friend Molly told me I would be ahead of the game since so much of what we are working towards is time on our legs. I don’t think it really hit me what that meant until the past few weeks. We have been training 6-7 days a week and I work 3 12-hour night shifts a week. That math means there is no avoiding working out before and after intense shifts. Critical care nursing isn’t just physically exhausting (e.g. turning 600lb patients), it is incredibly mentally exhausting. We use a lot of critical thinking, are constantly doing calculations in our heads, and are titrating and bolusing life saving (and potentially fatal) medications. You can’t really let down your guard or relax while at work. All of this tends to add up to tired, sad-sack koalas and pandas at the end of the day.
Which brings me back to the training part. Continue reading
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