Ica Felichi

Throwback to my first time flying to California 🏝️🛩️

Today I had the opportunity to step into the Pre-op nursing world, and it honestly left an impression on me.

As a Med-Surg nurse, I asked my department for support in rebuilding my confidence with peripheral IV insertions. I’ve done them before, but in my previous hospital there was an IV therapy team, and before coming to the U.S., it had been nearly 10 years since I was regularly at the bedside. I knew I needed to prove to myself that the skill was still there.

Fast forward to today, I was assigned to the Pre-op department, where IV starts are a constant part of the workflow before patients head into the OR. Being there, observing, practicing, and immersing myself in that environment was such a valuable experience.

More than anything, I found myself genuinely appreciating the pace, the focus, and the role Pre-op nurses play in setting the tone for a patient’s surgical journey. It’s been on my mind ever since I left.

Grateful for the chance to grow, relearn, and maybe even discover a new direction along the way.

What people don’t realize when you’re living abroad while they’re watching you online back home:

1. Bills don’t stop.
2. You’re seeing the highlights, not the sacrifices.
3. People work twice as hard.
4. Homesickness hits at the most random times.
5. Everything is on you.
6. Treating yourself
7. Time zones create distance.
8. They see the dollar, not the story.
9. It’s not always glamorous.
Some days are just work, stress, and trying to make it through.
10. You’re building a life, not just “living a dream.”

Golden Gate🌁 This is gonna be a golden 💰 year 💛