You know you're a nurse in Alaska when...

1. 4 thought this could be a fun topic and people could share their experiences about living and working in AK... for example
   
   You go from being a new grad to charge nurse in three months.
   
   Your hospital runs on generator power more often than not.
   
   The patient you just triaged has a complaint of "fish finger"
   
   A patient just brought you some smoked salmon.
   
   The patient explains the reason they are late to their appointment because "well the plane crash landed in a village and we had to wait for another one to arrive".
   
   Another reason to be late "we stopped to fish along the way"

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2. 12 Comments

   Comment
3. 
   #1 9

   Mar 31, '13 by tewdles

   You know you are an Alaskan nurse when you keep a .44 in your nursing bag to protect yourself from the wolves, moose, and bears in your patients yard.
   
   I just got a brand new shiny Smith and Wesson...should the holster be white or pink?
4. 
   #2 1

   Apr 2, '13 by smilealot

   Nice! I kinda like white.
5. 
   #3 1

   Apr 11, '13 by PacesFerryBSN

   You all make me want to go to Alaska!
6. 
   #4 1

   Apr 20, '13 by Scooby-Dooby-Doo

   I second PacesFerry. I'm curious to see what's out there.
   What's a "fish finger" anyway? (not the food)
7. 
   #5 0

   May 19, '13 by aachavez

   Im also curious what fish finger is....
   
   Im looking at travel nursing, with a strong interest in AK (in Tampa now), Im excited!
8. 
   #6 0

   May 27, '13 by amoLucia

   Funny post - my sister worked in Maine. Had a lot of fish bites and/or fishing hook injuries there. Maybe that's the answer?
9. 
   #7 0

   Nov 25, '13 by Nonetheless

   At first I looked into Alaska as a last resort because the job market sucks where I am-- but this stuff sounds exciting.
   
   I now find myself dreaming of the rugged Alaskan life (lol I probably sound completely ignorant about Alaska).
   
   Who knows, I may end up in Alaska and fulfill my fantasy of being a super outdoorsy adventurer who sees cool things at the hospital as a nurse and saves lives.
10. 
    #8 1

    Jan 5, '14 by rotteluvr31

    You know you're an Alaskan nurse when the only way to see your patients for a home visit is by ferry or plane.
    
    Or the trip includes a snow machine or four-wheeler, depending on the season.
11. 
    #9 0

    Sep 3, '14 by ToniDaTyga, ASN

    You know you're in Alaska when you are wearing a North Face jacket, a rabbit fur Mad Bomber hat, and Carhartt cold weather gloves in August.
12. 
    #10 0

    Sep 5, '14 by toomuchbaloney

    Nah...in August we are still wearing shorts and flip flops, it rarely snows much before October below the arctic circle and below 7000 ft.
13. 
    #11 0

    Sep 5, '14 by toomuchbaloney

    As far as I am aware, "fish finger" is an infection secondary to handling fresh fish with bare hands
14. 
    #12 0

    Sep 16, '14 by kagarciaRN, BSN

    As an endoscopy nurse, I found myself getting called in for salmon, caribou, and moose meat food bolus. Gross!

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