Rose Castren:  

April 2019. 61...sixty-one...they say it's just a number, I certainly don't feel it. I've been working as a bedside hospital nurse here in Ventura thirty-six years now. I'm older than the parents of some of my co-workers. The young nurses once asked me what Woodstock was like?! I replied," Just how old do you think I am?!" Somewhere along the line I've developed nerves of steel, sort of wish I had that when I was younger but thankful it finally arrived. I've seen people pass away right in front of me, my own husband was looking right at me when he took his last breath, I was lucky to have been married to the most wonderful man who was a great teacher and inspiration to me. I experienced so many wonderful memories, travel times that I know I would have never sought out without him by my side. So looking to the future I shall stay working for just a few more years then on to the next chapter. But for now I shall stay a nurse on the graveyard shift. ( not for the weak at heart) but certainly the best place to be in my life. I am lucky to have my siblings close to me, wonderful friends and unbelievably inspiring co-workers who make my job just a little easier. April 6th, 2021 It's been a year since covid 19 hit our area. In reflection I remember thinking, "Did I pick a profession in which I could possibly lose my life?!" Initially it was very scary going to work. As we walked in you could see the concern on other nurse"s faces as we walked into the hospital. How many of us were going to survive this? I'm happy to say all of us survived. So many other hospital workers were not so lucky. It definitely brought out the best and the worst in some co-workers. I know terror is what caused so many to bow out of trying to care for covid patients. Some used pre-existing conditions as an excuse. But they were the exception. I"m proud of so many of us who forged ahead. One day as I was getting ready to go to work I opened the garage door and there were my neighbors waving, clapping and cheering me as I went to work. I had never been so proud to be a nurse as I was that day. It was a lovely gesture. Now a year later, the numbers are down. You can feel the relief in all of us at work knowing we have turned the corner, I was lucky to have received my first vaccine in December 2020, the second January 12th 2021. I saw something on Instagram which sums it up: " The most prominent side effect of receiving the vaccine is the inability to shut up about getting the covid vaccine". Makes me laugh every time! August 4th, 2021 Well here comes the second wave. Most of us hoped that we were out of the woods, now we're getting the young adults, the ones who think they are invincible. Yeah, that philosophy never works. The numbers are still down at my hospital but we had our first covid on my floor in a very long time. some are having to dig out the PAPR hoods for the isolation. I'm lucky, just need a N95 mask and a shield. Some are coming in positive but asymptomatic. That is to say they are there for another reason, are tested for surgery and come up positive. I find it hard to understand not getting the vaccine. They say the unvaccinated are the reason why this second surge is occurring, enough said. We have lost a few co-workers.... one man in maintenance, one lab technician and a CNA with whom I worked with in the 90's. he had health probl...Expand for more