Frederick, Maryland

Chapter Two
Second Assignment: Frederick, Maryland
Dates: July 11th- October 8th, 2005
Address: 133 Willowdale Drive
Unit 21
Frederick, MD 21702
The Residences at the Manor
Hospital: Frederick Memorial Hospital

I was originally holding out for Boston, Massachusetts, but they weren’t interviewing because they were deciding whether they were going to strike or not. So I thought of Baltimore, but they wanted someone with Antepartum experience. So, then I interviewed with Frederick on my last night of work at Gulf Coast. Cutting it a little close?? I think so! I am so glad I got to go there. Frederick is so gorgeous. It is surrounded by mountains and the downtown area is very pretty. There are trees all the way down the road coming in over the street. The roads are very winding up into the mountains. So fun to drive around and explore.

It was a long ride up there. (Boy will that seem like a short trip later!) Luckily my dad was with me or it would have been very boring. We stopped and stayed with my Aunt Nell and then went the rest of the way the next day. We had to go to Baltimore first so I could get my temporary Maryland Nursing License. Then we came over to Frederick. It's not a very long drive form Baltimore to Frederick, only about 45 minutes. We checked into the Sleep Inn and explored the surrounding areas: Charles Town (casino), Gettysburg, and of course Frederick. My dad took the bus home after I got settled into my apartment.

It was very confusing driving around Frederick. I drove around in many circles until I finally figured out where all the different roads go. Lots of one way streets!! I could never figure out which direction I wanted to go. I think I just about had a figured out when it was time to leave!

Unfortunately, I forgot to ask about what I needed to bring with me since the Panama City assignment’s housing had everything I needed. When I got there, the only thing in the apartment was furniture. I had to go out and buy a new TV (15” LCD screen), bedding, dishes, pots and pans, microwave, and toaster. Oh well, never hurts to have all new things.

Frederick was a good assignment. I met a lot of nice people there. I went shopping and had dinner with Gina Parker a few times. Unfortunately I lost touch with her. I also went on a date with a guy from Frederick. Turns out he wasn’t for me! Oh well, all you can do is try.

Frederick Memorial had a 26 bed unit that was pretty well staffed. There were lots of nice nurses there. They also used Meditech for charting, although a different version. It turned out to be a good assignment. The hospital provided the scrubs for this assignment.

I explored Baltimore’s Inner Harbor while I was there. I took the duck tour, so I was able to see Baltimore from the streets as well as the harbor. I shopped my way up to Hershey, PA to see the chocolate factory. I went to Annapolis, Chesapeake Beach, Hagerstown, College Park (Moe’s), Gettysburg, Harrisburg and other small towns. Maryland and Pennsylvania are very pretty in the summer and fall.

I also took a train ride up to Atlantic City with Aunt Nell, didn’t win, but still had lots of fun trying. Then I took a train up to Boston, which I fell in love with immediately. I am hoping to get an assignment there before I am done! I stopped in NYC on my way back. Explored Central Park; finally found the zoo and saw the penguins! I also went to a NY Mets game at Shea Stadium. The Mets lost to the Colorado Rockies, but it was fun anyway! I walked around Boston and New York so much my legs and feet hurt so bad I could barely walk! Apparently I walked so much that I walked through the pain. It was great exploring the cities. Plus, that was my first long train ride. It took 8 hours to get to Boston from Baltimore. The train is the way to go if you have the time! The seats are much bigger and you can get up and walk around whenever you want, unlike an airplane!