v-Fluence Blog

A (Hospital) Window into the Wireless World

Although working for v-Fluence means I spend my days with a laptop connected to a wireless network, I was largely unaware of how big the "world of wi-fi" actually is until just recently.

About three weeks ago, while in my third trimester of pregnancy and nowhere near my due date, I found myself admitted into the anti-partum unit of St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis for symptoms of pre-term labor. Hopeful as I had been that it would be a short stay, my doctors felt differently. In fact, they told me originally that I could plan to be there for the long haul, which meant up to 11 weeks in a small yellow and green hospital room complete with a nurse call button in the bathroom-an OK arrangement, but a far cry from my family's comfortable two-story in historic Alton, Ill.

Upon arriving and getting settled in room 563, I learned that the anti-partum unit is the only one in the hospital completely equipped with Wi-Fi. What a surprise (and a relief!) to find that my days wouldn't have to be spent watching Montel Williams and Ellen Degeneres, but could be spent earning my keep with v-Fluence!

This rather odd work arrangement got me thinking: If I can work while staying long-term in a Wi-Fi-enabled hospital room, where else could I possibly work once the baby comes and I am free?

I turned to my v-Fluence co-workers, the best sources for wireless information I know, to find out. I got some interesting answers when I asked, "Where is the most unique location you have worked?":

• Allyson has connected to wireless networks at cafe's in Paris, hammocks in Brazil and on beaches
• Kristina has worked from a Honda dealer's service department waiting room
• Bob has worked from a hospital restroom (I am proud to say I've not yet done that!)
• Christiana has worked from Central Park
• Rachel has worked while on a treadmill at her gym; and
• Stephanie has worked from McDonald's (I see great possibility for me here in the future as the mother of young children-a one-stop play and work place).

• This list is by no means complete. Local coffee shops, hotels and a few restaurants are staples among the variety of Wi-Fi work zones v-Fluence team members use regularly-as are the ubiquitous Starbucks locations (where I'm told Rob indulges in the occasional White Chocolate Mocha while getting his work done). My new-found interest in wireless work areas also revealed that many airlines will begin testing out Wi-Fi on their flights, many of them this year!

  The world of wireless is way more expansive than I ever imagined and knowing there are so many options opens up possibilities for me to balance my work and the needs of my soon-to-come second child, and Kylie, her two-year-old big sister.

  Although I am now home (finally!) and working comfortably from my own bed, it's nice to realize that my hospital stay-which brought its share of stress and made me long for a home-cooked meal-had a bright side: I left better equipped for the next chapter in my life as a working parent and v-Fluence team member.

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