So, I'm a nurse now...

I got busy and let this blog fall by the wayside during nursing school. I think that might be a fairly common pattern for those trying to blog their ways through school!

I graduated from my associates of nursing program in May of 2014, had my license by July, and started my first nursing job on a mixed med-surg/tele floor in August 2014. I worked there for a year and a half (first half nights, second half days), and then requested a facility transfer to a hospital closer to where I live. I now work night shift on a step down unit---have only been there 3 months. I like my crew. I'm hoping to switch back to days eventually, although the pace of nights is pleasant.

At one point I applied for a labor and delivery position at the same hospital. I was pretty excited about it, thinking it would be a key in for eventual move toward NICU. My interviewers realized that too, because I'd been talking to a bunch of people, and they decided to go with someone whose dream was actually L&D. Fair enough. I'm now glad I didn't go that direction. I still think I'd like to work in the NICU at some point, but maybe as part of the float pool at first (get my NRP and STABLE certifications).

I have been working on an online program for my BSN. Two semesters down, and I have one more class to complete before the degree will be done. I've already switched over to the bridge program for a masters of education in nursing. I think I want to teach nursing at the local community college down the road. It will probably take several years to get there, although I could have my M.S. within the next year and a half if I keep up at my current pace.

There were definitely some struggles in my first year of nursing. I'm not going to dwell on them now. Mostly not in the actual care of patients! I may get into them later.

For now, I'm happy to have a stable job near home with coworkers I like and a three-12's schedule that allows for a fair amount of time off.

Internship in ED this fall

During our 3rd (of 4) semester, my class was given the opportunity to apply for internships with some of our local hospitals. We get 1 unit of course credit for the experience, and it's a good networking opportunity as well as a way to get more hands on skills and experience.

We put in our application (a cover letter, a resume) to a person in the education department of a group of hospitals, told her which unit was our 1st, 2nd, 3rd preference, etc and then waited to hear back. I said emergency department first, NICU second, ICU third. We've gotten to do "outrotations" from clinical to some other areas in the department. So, so far, I've seen med surg, ICU, ED, Peds, mother-baby, NICU, L&D and OR. The outrotations that I was the most excited about so far have been the emergency dept and NICU. I was torn about which to put first, however the hospital that was offering a NICU internship was quite a bit farther away. Also, I thought I'd get a better broad experience and wider variety of skills in the ED.

I had an interview with the ED department manager over the summer. I believe ED was the only department that actually had us students come in person for an interview; the others were phone interviews. Three of us got placed in the ED at this hospital. During our third semester of the RN program, we have 2 days of regular school clinical every other week, so I'm doing one day per week at the internship only on the weeks I don't have normal clinical. The requirement for the course credit is that we do 54 hours of hands on time, but with the department director's consent, we can do more. It's unpaid.

 I had my first day there this past Monday. What a blast. I was there for about 8 hours, and had about that many patients. I was working directly with an ER nurse that is a graduate of my program. I got to see a dressing type I hadn't done before on a finger wound, do lots of glucoscans, discontinue IV's, do assessments on a wide variety of patients, lots of urinalysis, talk with someone who had just tried to commit suicide, prime IV lines (we are not allowed to actually *give* any medications at the internship), do patient education.

I left really excited about becoming a nurse, and hopeful that maybe at some point I could become an ED nurse. It think the variety is really the excitement for me. And the faster pace. On the med surg floor, it can sometimes feel like babysitting. Morning assessment, morning meds, hygiene care, morning treatments, nursing interventions, noon meds, more hygiene care. Some people really like it because it's a more wholistic experience with the patient. At this point in my student life though it feels really good to just be exposed to *a lot* of different situations, even if I don't get the same depth I would if I were following the same 3 patients all day.

I'm sad I won't be going back for another week and a half; I've got a lot of stuff to do in the mean time. Had a quiz today, an exam is tomorrow in my neuro class, we're covering IV push meds in lab on Friday, and I'm back at normal clinical for two days in a row at the beginning of next week. So I'll stay busy. But I'm really excited about going back to intern again!

Accepted a new job. RELIEF.

Two days ago I accepted a new job (within the same company) and put in my 2 weeks notice at my current position. My current supervisor at the receptionist job asked if I would be willing to fill in sometimes if needed and I said I'd be glad to.

My new gig will be full time, 40 hours per week, with benefits. I will be spending part of that time as a personal care assistant, and part of it as a medication technician. They are starting me at $11 per hour. I will have benefits after 90 days. Huge. Sigh. Of Relief. If I have to cut down to half time during nursing school (likely) I should be able to at least get back on a COBRA continuation again. Another plus? They provide the uniforms. One less ongoing expense to worry about.

I had two interviews for the job. The first one felt like a hole in one. Totally rocked it. Had no doubt I was going to get an offer. The second was a little rockier but I felt like the decision had already been made on their part by that point. I also talked to the other place I was considering, the paid CNA training program, that day, and there was promise there, but I decided to go with the med tech job for two main reasons:

(1) the paid CNA training gig would have only been $8.70 an hour (vs $11)
(2) if I decide it would be useful to have my CNA license after all, I will be able to apply for that after my first semester of nursing school, which, assuming I get in, is only 11 months away.
(3) I like that I will be spending at least part of my time as a medication technician, which requires some state-mandated training (another thing to add to the ol' resume).

During the interview, the manager said that if I ended up getting into nursing school they would be able to work with me on hours as well. I don't know what kind of course schedule I will have during the first semester of nursing school. I know it won't be a good idea to work full time, even if I am tempted to. Have to wait and see.

I am just a little bit concerned about my pre-employment physical, which is happening next Friday afternoon. I already had one for the receptionist position but because I will be on my feet more and stuff they are having me do another one. I also need to get my TB records together again, and all that jazz. It may be about time to renew my first aid training again as well. They will pay for all that if necessary.

I know that this job will be more physically taxing than my current one, but it should be GREAT preparation for my nursing career. And probably being on my feet all day will help me slim down.

So, again, whew.

Senior Living Community Receptionist Position

Another catch-up post to stay up-to-date on my job search.

About 4 months ago I had seen a receptionist position posted on craigslist at a senior living community. Honestly, I barely remember applying for it. It was with the same company that I have applied to be an activities director, a caregiver, or a medication technician at various points in the past year.

A couple of weeks ago they called me up and asked if I was still looking for work. I guess they had hired someone around the time I turned in the application, but she had only been working for a month or so when she had to move out of town or family reasons. Okay, yes -- I was still looking for work, and yes, I could come in for an interview.

I had a (not so close, but friendly) acquaintance who happens to work in the same place, and she called me up when she found out about my interview to tell me more about the position, the people who work there, what hours they were trying to cover, and any questions she thought they might ask me during the interview. This helped boost my confidence a lot; none of the questions I was asked were exactly the same but I took what questions she brought up and thought of some of my own and actually wrote down what I thought would be good answers that were true for me the night before the interview for practice.

The interview went really well. I felt like skipping when I left. The lady who interviewed me seemed super-nice, and I felt I'd been able to come across as their best pick for the job. About 2 hours after I left, I got another call from them asking me to come in for a second interview. The time they wanted me to come conflicted with a scheduled office appointment and tutoring appointment, but I juggled my schedule around and told them yes.

I felt a little less confident after the second interview, but again, warm feelings about the people who were involved (3 of them this time: the CEO of the company, the lady from the first interview who's a manager, and the lead receptionist).

A couple of days went by, and I started to think, well, I guess since I haven't heard anything I must have flubbed the second interview; maybe I was too informal or something. Maybe they chose someone else. I kept expecting to get a form letter in the mail saying "thank you so much for your application but..."

However, that night, two days after the interview, that friend who works there called me about 11pm, sounding a little drunk to be honest, and told me that they had loved me at both the interviews, that they were super excited about hiring me, and went on and on about the things they liked about me. It sounded like a done deal. Whew.

But now it's been a full week since that 2nd interview and I still haven't heard anything from the company. Maybe tomorrow will be the day.

It's another part time gig, so no benefits. About 24 hours per week. My friend that works there makes $9 per hour but she thought they'd start me at a higher wage (she sounded bitter about that, so I'm not sure if I should tell her if they do).

When I'd talked myself into the idea that I hadn't gotten the job, I was thinking, okay, well maybe that's not a bad thing; it leaves my schedule open for a better, full-time job. But I do hope I get it.

In either case, it was nice to get some positive feedback after all the run-around I feel like I've been getting on the job hunt for the last year.

Interview Today at Memory Care Facility

Last week on Wednesday night I started an application for a local in-home health care company. They called me the next day and asked me to clarify what my experience wass working in health care. I explained that I had helped care for both of my grandmothers in the last years of their life, that I had worked part time helping an elderly blind woman with her housekeeping and correspondence, and that I voluntarily assisted a wheelchair using older man with M.S. in a boarding house I used to live in; helped him with dressing, showering, toileting, bed changes, etc. The woman on the phone said that family experience doesn't count for anything, and that I wasn't experienced enough for the position. She was kind of mean about it. I understand if they want someone with more formal training, but geez, at least be kind about it. Maybe they get a lot of inquiries from people with zero experience and it gets tiring.

So last night I checked craigslist again to see if there were new open positions in health care and there were two new postings in elder care, one for a medication technician and the other for a caregiver. They were both "apply in person", so this morning I went to each of them and filled out an application. The first one I went to (the medication tech position) called me about 20 minutes after I left and asked if I could come in for an interview on the same day. Sure, I said. So 2 hours later I was there for my interview, which really only lasted about 10 minutes.

They asked me to tell them about myself, what I considered my best trait to be, and one weakness. I wasn't in top form but I think I came across well enough. One of them asked me more specifics about my experience, if I had ever handed out medications before. I said I had, but only to individuals. So they said it might be better to start me off as a caregiver for a couple of months and then I could reapply for medication tech once I was familiar with the facility and the residents. They said they usually hire from within for the med tech position. I was agreeable to that. We talked about schedules, and they said they would look more specifically at their schedule needs and give me a call. I felt like I got the job when I was leaving. But they didn't specify *when* they would call which makes me a little nervous. Maybe I should have looked up common medications used for alzheimers and dementia patients before I went to the interview. They did say that the med tech job was pretty stressful.

Caregiving only pays $9 per hour, but I would have more consistent hours, they said I could pick up more shifts if I wanted when people call in sick or want the day off, and I think if I get it and can start the job soon, I would still be able to squeeze in 200 hours by the time I turn in my nursing school application. 200 hours of employment in health care gets you only an extra 5 points on the application, but so long as I need more work and income anyway, this would be a good fit.

I haven't heard back from either hospital on volunteer service yet. It has been about a week since I turned in my applications. I don't think I explained the 2nd hospital here... the first one I applied to I found out they have mandatory all day orientation for new volunteers, only on the first Wednesday of each month. I just can't do that until the semester is over; I have a lab class on Wednesday mornings. so I put in a second application at another hospital in town; I'm not sure exactly what their requirements are.

...and further frustration.

Yesterday I got a call from one of the elderly care facilities I applied to work for as a caregiver. They asked me if I could come in for an interview in the next few days. I was scheduled to work this afternoon but I thought, hey, why not... this is going to be my lucky break that starts turning things around! (when did I start considering the opportunity to help old people with hygiene a "lucky break"?)

So I took the afternoon off work -- I probably would have anyway, as I'm really not feeling well, came down with bronchitis last weekend. But I did my best to scrape myself together, went to my lab class in the morning, and was planning to go for my interview at 3.

However, on my way home from campus to change into my interview clothes and pretty up, I got a second call from them saying they had already found someone, and not to bother coming in after all.

This is so frustrating :(

There is another community college teaching position up. It's full time, somewhat outside of my subject area, and though it doesn't say so in the posting, according to my lab instructor they are looking for someone to be full time in "north county" which is about an hour from where I live. I don't see doing that commute 5 days per week, even if I could land the job.

I had to take some money out of my retirement savings this month to cover rent. I'm hoping the IRS won't charge me 10% off the top for an early distribution because I am an (over) half time student.

I haven't done that cardiac arrhythmia class yet, still... I'm just feeling kind of hopeless. Maybe that should be my goal for this weekend so I can start applying for tech monitor jobs at hospitals, too.

Interview #2, pathology lab

Today's interview was checking out my practical skills. Pipetting, organization, following verbal directions, etc. I breezed through most of that alright. I did make one small mistake, spreading the bacteria around the first quadrant with the swab rather than the loop (I swear we did this regularly in micro class, maybe for lack of supplies)... and the woman who was checking my skills said she probably just forgot to say it. She told me I had done great at the end. I kept expecting there to be a trick in there somewhere, like a mis-match in labels or something that I was supposed to catch. But there wasn't anything like that. They had me talk to the lab manager afterward. He was already the main guy that I had spoken with during a phone interview for the same position last summer. He told me that the only reason they didn't ask me for a second interview then was because I was still out of state at the time. I really think I am going to get this one. He did say that my "salary requirements" (from my application) were higher than they usually pay new hires, but that maybe he could compromise some since I have an M.S. and most new hires do not. He said they usually pay new hires $15 per hour. From what I have heard, that is about the same as day-shift monitor techs make, so if he's going to come a little higher then there's no reason to complete the cardiac arrhythmia training right now. I do think that phlebotomists make more, which is a little disconcerting since the position I'm applying for *requires* a bachelors degree in science, while a phlebotomist might have only one semester at community college. Community college teaching would have been much better pay, but didn't work out this time. I hope hope hope I can get this job.

When I got home from the interview, which lasted about 2 hours (!), I had lunch, helped my dad with some home repair type stuff for a couple of hours, and then watched some online t.v. and took a nap. Since I've been up again I've been fairly antsy and industrious, getting all sorts of chores done. I think it is nervous energy.

Second interview next Tuesday

I had my interview at the pathology lab this morning, and it went very well. I did say "shitty" once by accident. I don't know where that came from; I never curse. Oops. I had said something like their company has a good reputation in the community, and they asked me about that, and I explained that when my doctor was having me get blood drawn, he told me not to go to the other lab in town because they were *bleep* compared to this company. I must have just been nervous or something. But I felt pretty comfortable talking to the 3 people that interviewed me and they seemed excited about hiring me, and maybe even moreso because I am planning on becoming a nurse.

After I came back home, a couple hours later I got a phone call asking if I could come in next Tuesday for a "hands on" portion of the interview. They told me this morning that this would be the procedure... they want to make sure that, in their words, "you look good on paper, you look good in the interview, but can you use a pipette?" So I'll have to make sure and be in a calm, precise mood that morning, and not have too much coffee!

I feel really good about this possibility. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for now.

Job Interview = HOPE!

While I was upstairs doing some home repair type stuff this morning, a woman called from the pathology lab I just applied to a few days ago and left a message on my phone about scheduling an interview. I called back and we're going to meet tomorrow morning at nine. It is lab assistant type work, probably less pay than I made right out of college, but at this point sounds like an excellent opportunity. And hopefully would work as "medical experience" for my nursing school application. I won't be working with patients directly, I don't think, but it is a medical lab. So.... crossing my fingers and my toes, and ironing my interview pants (hope they still fit after my recent weight loss), and GOSH wouldn't it be nice to start the new year with a new job?!