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.

to CNA or not to CNA that is the question

So...I have finished my phlebotomy training, but it will be a while before I get my certification all ironed out with the state, and it could even longer before I'm able to nail down a job in that field, if at all.

The local college did not need me to teach any classes this term. They go to the faculty first, the graduate students next and *then* the part time pool by seniority, and between the low course offerings during winter and being the newest of the newbies, no luck for me.

I've still got my retirement home receptionist job, but that is only 19 hours per week, and at $10.50 an hour and no benefits, you do the math. No es bueno. Not getting by. So...

At the end of last week I saw that a caregiving facility I applied to almost a year ago for their in house CNA training program was starting a new training round at the end of January. I managed to get an application in the day after the announcement went out, and I put a lot of energy into my resume, references and cover letter, so I'm hoping I have a good chance there.

Secondly, I also put in an application to be a "medication technician" at a care facility across town from, but owned by the same company that I currently work for. The CEO at my current job found out pretty much immediately, asked me about it, and I explained the situation. It turns out they won't hire a non-CNA for meds passing, not really, but several days later he told me that I should apply to be a caregiver at yet another facility owned by the company. I put that application in tonight. It would be full time, so I would get benefits after 90 days. However, they do not have an in-house CNA program; I would not graduate to certified nursing assistant over time or have the job portability and pay raise that comes with it.

My inclination is that doing the CNA program at the un-related-to-my-current-job place may be the best opportunity long-term. I would have to find out pay rates, etc to be more confident in that statement, but even if I just stayed there 6 months, got my license, and then moved over to the hospital where they make twice as much, it would be totally worth it.

However, if I tell my current employer that I need more hours, they say, alright, here's an opportunity, and then I don't take it, that's a little awkward. Or what if it becomes a timing issue...what if my current employer says, okay, sure, let's start training you in the new job, and then *days* later I get word that I got into the on the job CNA training program?

I should call the on-the-job-CNA place tomorrow and ask if they have had a chance to review my application, and make sure there isn't any contract that mandates 1 year of FT work following training (as some places do), or anything like that. How can I carefully bring that one up, huh?

On-the-job-paid-CNA-training-thingy:
$8.70 per hour (lame)
3 months-ish to get CNA license
benefits, probably after 90 days
my friend who used to work there said the new company cut down on overtime possibilities
the last time I applied, when I met the teacher, I had a positive impression of her
After establishing my CNA license I could move somewhere that pays way more

Caregiver position with my current company
Pay unknown (maybe more than the other since I already have a history with the company?)
Benefits, but after 90 days
they are not set up to train someone who has little experience in caregiving, to my knowledge
No idea what hours they'd want me to work


When it comes down to it, I really don't need the CNA training if I'm going to be an RN in a couple of years anyway, but it might help me stay better afloat financially while in school...maybe....

Too many balls in the air!

My head is kind of swimming at the moment. Too many things to juggle and arrange and prioritize for this Fall.

(1) My boss at the tutorial center asked me to teach the supplemental instruction group for physiology this fall. The hours I would need to work for that directly conflict with the hours at my new job. It felt too soon (only 2 weeks in) to start asking for special shift considerations at the new place, so I turned my tutoring boss down.

(2) At my new job at the retirement home, one of my coworkers is going to be out for maternity leave for the next 3 months, so they are raising my hours to full time while she's gone, as well as having me put through paperwork (fingerprinting and physical) for one of their other facilities so that I can substitute there. This means (a) I will be working or volunteering *every* day of the week, including weekends (b) It's still more information to take in

(3) Various educational opportunities abound:

(a) Phlebotomy: I'm signed up for a class that would require me driving 50 minutes two nights per week and finding time in my schedule to accomplish externship hours on week days, also 50 minutes away, and well-rested and ready to be professional.

(b) Basic cardiac arrhythmia: A course necessary to apply for jobs as a monitor tech in a local hospital, which pays more than either of my current jobs and would probably let me have more flexible hours around my nursing school time about a year from now. I am signed up for a version of this class at the community college 50 minutes from here on Tuesday mornings (would require cutting back on tutoring hours and cost some money for tuition, textbook), and there is a possibility I could take it at the local hospital instead (would require approval of the hospital, probably free, might give me a better in for getting a job later, on Wednesdays but don't know what time yet.

(c) I have to stay in at least one class if I want to keep my tutoring job...maybe even 6 units worth? Not sure. Eeeek.

(d) I am also signed up for medical assisting at the local community college but that was just an "in case I don't have work" option, because it would require 3 or 4 days per week basically all day during Fall. However, I'm reluctant to drop it yet because I still have anxiety about being out of work and not being able to get the class back.

(e) the pre-nursing advisor suggested I sign up for the first in the series of nursing program classes, which they will let someone take if they have completed all the pre-reqs. There is an online option for this class, and I think there are still spots available, but should I take it now? Should I wait and take it in person when I start the program because most everyone else will be? Should it be my 1 class that I am taking this Fall if I need it to remain a tutor?

(f) I will probably hear from the 2nd in-nursing-home CNA program I applied to in August or September, and I will have to make a decision if I feel okay leaving my new job (at a time that would be difficult for them), and if it is worth it to get full time benefits/less pay/work nights/perhaps more flexibility/etc....(my health insurance from my last job runs out in 4 months)

Blahh....it's hard to keep track of everything.

I think.... I think at this point, I probably should be feeling more stable at my new retirement home job, and I should go ahead and drop the medical assisting course. And maybe I should sign up for the online version of the "nursing 101" class (that's not its actual title, I just can't remember right now).

Phew. I feel a little better just having laid it all out there. But I'm still kind of stressed.

Well that was sh*t timing.

One of the assisted living places I put in an application for a month ago, to do their paid CNA training program, called me for an interview just now. They said they had finally gotten around to checking my references and everything, and that they'd like to schedule an interview with their head nurse, CEO and someone else.

It would be for full time work, 4 hours training and 4 hours on the floor per day until training was over. Agh! Such a better opportunity than the one I just accepted, I think. But I felt responsible to the people that just hired me. So told the guy on the phone that I had just accepted another position last week. He said they'd keep my application on file, in the inactive section, and to please keep them in mind for the future.

Shoot!!! So frustrating. I found out I'm going to be making $10.50 an hour at the place I just accepted work, the receptionist position, while I'm pretty sure the CNA training program would have been minimum wage of 8. But full time work comes with health benefits. Geez.

All I could do was make the best decision I could at the time.

Then there's the other issue of the 2nd nursing home I applied for a CNA training position at -- that one said their summer class was full, but they were interested in me and would definitely call this fall when another class was starting. By then I will have worked at the receptionist job for what, 2 months maybe? Would I feel comfortable leaving then? Probably not.

I will just have to wait and see how it goes, I guess. But I am frustrated, can you tell?!

I got the job!

So, my new supervisor called me yesterday and told me they want to hire me. I don't know what my hourly rate will be yet, but I've got their weekly schedule of hours they want me to cover (it's about 24 I think) and next week I'm going to start working my tutoring appointments around fitting the new schedule.

It sounds like they called my current supervisor, and someone I put down from my last position (in graduate school) before that. I heard from both that they had gotten a call. And it turns out I didn't have anything to worry about.

Not the ideal, full time, with benefits job that I'd hoped for, but this should help a lot with the financial situation being able to have more hours, and more dependable hours.

Celebrating by going to an outdoor music concert tonight. Cheers!

Update on Job Status -- Receptionist Position

I still haven't heard anything back from the people I interviewed with recently for the receptionist position at the nursing home, but my current boss told me that they had called to ask about me. I guess that is a good sign. I get nervous thinking that they are calling around to that long list of previous employers I gave them. I think most of those folks would give me a positive review, but I know there's a chance one or two might not just to circumstances at the time, and it makes me nervous, that's all.

There is another woman who worked in the tutoring office last semester who is going to start the nursing program locally this fall. She came in briefly today to talk to our boss, and I asked her if she was excited about starting in August. She said, "Yes!...but I am a little nervous about what it will be like, with all that they put us through just to try and get in at all." She also said that she had bought her required uniforms, and that one of the required scrub shirts was like 50 bucks (the school has an embroidered insignia on there, but geez!!)

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.

Within Nursing Home CNA Training Program Applications

I haven't been keeping up to date on this blog as things happen as much as I'd like. Part of that reason is that I keep applying for jobs and not getting them, and it's a drag to write about those experiences. But this one has sort of a hopeful ending, so I'll share.

One of my classmates in physiology had told me that she interviewed at an elder care facility in a nearby town that had an in-house CNA training program. I hadn't been aware that these existed; I thought that you had to either just work for such places as a non-certified "caregiver" or else do the CNA education at the local community college and then go interview.

In these programs, if you can get in, they train you for the first 2-3 months (while paying you minimum wage) and then bump up your pay a dollar or so after you've been certified. I thought this would be a good way to get a foot in the door of the medical industry, as I haven't had much luck so far.

I looked online for every local program like that I could find, and called them all. Several of the programs that were listed online as having CNA training programs actually didn't, but I found a few that did. One of them had an application to fill out online; I did that right away and still haven't heard back about 2 months later. Two others required that you come pick up and fill out an application in person.

So I did that. One of the CNA teachers that called me back said in her message that I should ask for her once I was done filling out the application and she would come out and talk to me (ie informal interview). I felt like it went well; she seemed very kind and caring, and I had a good feeling about the whole thing. I still hadn't heard anything about 3 weeks later, so I sent a follow-up note, and an updated resume, just reiterating that I was still interested and expressing that I really appreciated her taking the time to show me around and it felt like a great atmosphere to work in.

She called me a couple days later and left a message on my phone that sounded really appreciative of the note; she said that I was exactly the kind of person that they were looking for, that my application looked great, but unfortunately all the spots had already been filled for the summer. She said they had over 70 applicants and they could only take 12. She told me that she would keep my follow-up letter with my application and indicated that I would be one of her first couple of choices for their fall class, and that she'd call me again then.

So that doesn't solve my immediate concerns about finding a good job and supporting myself, but it is good news. If I can make it through the summer financially, and get into that program, at least for the fall, I could have a year of full time income before nursing school starts, and a basic certification to fall back on. I could also probably continue to take side classes like phlebotomy in my time off if I wanted to.

The other application that I needed to fill out in person, I really put extreme care into filling it out thoroughly and precisely, and writing a nice cover letter to go with it. It feels like it's been longer, but I just checked my calendar and it has only been a couple of weeks since I turned that one in. The person who returned my call about that program said that they were going through the re-certification process for their teaching program and they hoped to be able to start another class in July. Here's hoping.

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.

Turning to Volunteer Work

About a week and a half ago now, I applied for another job, working front desk at an assisted living home. One of my walking buddies who works there let me know that the part time position was opening up, and I hoped that having that personal connection would get me an in, but apparently it didn't.

So I'm coming up on the end of March already (gasp! it's already the 23rd). If I want to show that I have some medical experience before the nursing school application process begins I need to get on that now, regardless of having an actual paid job in the field or not. It also is starting to seem like volunteer work may be necessary to get a foot in the door to a paid job. There was another opening at United Blood Services in the last couple of weeks but they specified that you could have no other time commitments (strike 1 against me, I'm a part time student) and that you needed a minimum of 6 months previous medical experience. No luck there for me.

One of the local hospitals has a formal volunteer program set up. I figure if I apply now, and I get lucky in terms of the whole orientation process going through in a timely manner (which it might not), it still will be quite a push to get 200 hours done by July 1st. If they do the scheduling like the humane society I used to volunteer with did it (all online, sign up for whatever shifts you want that are available), I could easily do 40ish hours over spring break, but they might not do it that way at all. We'll see.

I am going to go to the hospital and pick up an application tonight.

The nursing school I am applying to gives more credit in the application process for hours *worked* than for hours *volunteered* but there's not much I can do about that at this point other than keep applying, and in the mean time I should start the volunteer as a backup.

...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.

More Job Applications: Nursing Homes

I've put in two job applications for caregiver type positions at residential care for the elderly places in the last week. Both were advertised on CraigsList. The first was a reply by email application and I just sent them my resume and a cover letter. It was for a self-described "small" facility in town and they wanted someone who specifically could cover weekends.

The other position I applied for was in a moderate sized care facility in town that is known as one of the posher places like that locally. It looks really nice inside. They had openings for both full and part time, but I said I just wanted to work 20 hours per week on the days that I didn't have class.

I plan on keeping my tutoring job through the end of the semester (May) to build up a better job history, and then go for full time positions again, whether in the rest homes or maybe in the hospitals doing monitor tech work. I'm also still keeping an eye out for teaching positions.

I hope they don't just look at my resume, see that I have a couple degrees, declare me overqualified and move on. I need the money, and the experience. My application for a school loan at the community college was denied (the appeal, too) because I already have a degree/too many units. I need to get some more work hours in somewhere!

BTW, I got a 94% on the first physiology exam that I was posting about in the last entry. So far my average in the class is about 96%.

What now?

I had my first week of Spring semester last week. I am taking Human Physiology, and Psychology. I am not sure quite how it worked out but in my first B.S., I think it was my microbiology class that ended up fulfilling whatever requirement it was that people usually take Psych for in undergrad.

It turns out that the lecturer I am going to have this term for Physiology is the same one I had last term for Anatomy. However, she is using all of the same materials for the class from the woman who usually teaches it, and that teacher, I can tell is ultra organized. So that will help. I wasn't able to get back into the Psychology section I dropped for the new job that didn't work out (see last post) but I was able to add a different section for Thursday nights, 7-10pm. It uses the same book, which is a relief, and seems like it will be extremely, extremely easy.

I got my job back at the campus tutoring center, and adjusted my schedule so that I will only be working on Tuesday through Thursday, the same days I am on campus anyway for class. I am hoping because I will be starting at the beginning of the semester this time instead of part way through, and I know more what to expect, I can really get a good group of students established right off who will be consistent. 20 hours per week x 9 dollars an hour = 180 per week, or 720 minus taxes per month, but that is only if everyone shows up and my schedule is full.

My confidence in myself kind of took a hit with the whole fiasco at my last job. I know I need to get a second job but now I am not sure what to do. It would be nice to get something in health care... two possibilities there would be:

(a) work in a nursing home doing elder care
(b) finish my cardiac arrhythmia training and try for a tele monitor job at a local hospital

And another possibility I am considering now, mostly because they have medical benefits for part-timers is:

(a) Starbucks barista

I have to say that the Starbucks thing is kind of appealing. I could work my 3 days at the tutoring center, 3 days at the coffee shop, and end up with enough income to not be going in the hole every month and also be able to stop paying COBRA health insurance after 3 months. It might be kind of tiring to work 6 days per week but maybe this would be the best solution.

If I was able to get a tele monitor job, their shifts are 12 hours, and 3 shifts is considered full time. I don't know how flexible they might be about scheduling around a school schedule, or that might be a good possibility. The main thing holding me back from that is my confidence level. What if I'm not good at it, and what if I make a bad impression at one of the two local hospitals, and then once I'm done with nursing school and looking for jobs I won't feel comfortable going back? Maybe that's being ridiculous.

If I went for the tutoring + starbucks option, I doubt I would be able to fit in 200 hours of health care work experience before I turn in my nursing school application. I don't know.

Elder care could also be fine, it's just a matter of finding a job, as none are posted right now. Plus, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't throw in medical benefits for a part-timer so that would mean quitting my tutoring job and stuff or just doing part time and continuing on cobra still.

Lots to think about.

One bright ray of hope in all the gray: I ended up with an A (not even a minus) in Anatomy for last semester. I found out earlier this week but forgot to post it in all the chaos. That will help my application. I was right on the border at the end of the term, so I must have done pretty well on the final.

New Job = Stress

I feel like I have been doing alright at work so far. I'm not picking up on things perhaps as quickly as they would like me to, which is frustrating for both of us. The problem I've been having with the training I'm going through has to do with both speed, and organization. There are 10+ instruments that I need to learn, all with their individual techniques, quirks, trouble-shooting approaches, rules about paperwork, etc. And the way I am being trained, they are not teaching me about one instrument, letting me practice it, and then moving on to the next; we fly around the building from one instrument to the next gathering little bits of information along the way as we go and hopefully cover all bases by the end. And there is added pressure due to my trainer leaving to go to school and wanting to be out of the schedule as soon as possible.

By the end of next week I have to have passed several "competencies" with supervision. I am getting more confident with more practice, but it is all pretty stressful, and whenever I do something slightly out of line with procedure, I get barked at. Add to that the newness of being on my feet all day, regimented breaks for going to the bathroom or grabbing a snack, and rapidly changing day vs. night shifts that throw me for a loop, and I'm really hanging on by a thread sometimes.

So that gives you some background as to where I am at right now... *then* ...

I come in today, and get word that there may be some problem with me getting "approved" to take my pre-nursing physiology course this Spring, which starts next week. I registered for this class over two months ago. There almost no hope of switching to a different time/section at this point (all sections are full). When I put in my application for the job, I put in a very clear note compounded with the pdf application stating the times and days that I could not work due to my class. I also brought this up several times, with multiple people, including my supervisor, during both interview sessions, and everybody including him said it would be fine.

But when I met with him today, he acted as if this was some big surprise that I needed that time off for my class, expressed what an inconvenience this was to both himself and the rest of the lab, told me that it would not be allowed, intimated that I had been doing a shoddy job so far in my training, and expressed that my job was on the line over this scheduling issue. WTF!

I held it together in the meeting with him, asserted over and over again that this was a necessary course for me, that it would set me back a whole year to not be able to take it this spring, and reminded him repeatedly (and respectfully) that he should have been aware of this issue before hiring me due to our multiple previous discussions.

Afterward, I went to the breakroom to take my 10 minutes and the person who has been training me was in there. I asked her if she was aware if my supervisor would ever hire three people at once with the intention of "testing" them and planning to fire one ultimately. She paused, said she didn't know, and asked me what our supervisor had said. At this point, I started crying and couldn't stop for a while.

Then, in walks the HR person, notices that I am crying, and asks if she can help. I explain to her, through my gasping crying, what has happened, she asks me clear logical questions confirming that I did in fact put in writing my need to have those times off for my class and that I had verbal agreement from my supervisor prior to being hired that it was okay. The person who is training me kept playing the politician and saying she could see both sides, but the HR woman said that our prior agreement should hold, and said that she would talk to my supervisor on my behalf and either he or she would get back to me.

I went on a 20 minute walk after that to try to pull myself together and stop being emotional. I ended up running into a friend who also works there, and we walked together and talked about what had happened, and she told me about her own issues at work. I was somewhat cheered up by the time I had returned.

I also reminded myself that I have not yet put in notice at my old job (which is on hiatus during the semester break), and that I have not yet unregistered from the "extra" classes that I was planning on taking if I couldn't find full time employment by the time the term started. One of those classes is phlebotomy, and it is quite difficult to get into, so I didn't want to drop it until I was very sure that the work situation was going to be stable and doable. So I have backup, but I need to know by the end of the week on both fronts (my old job, and the courses) if I am going to be working, or not.

I went back to work, jumped into running samples again, and when I was loading some vitamin D tests on a machine, I ran into my supervisor and he came up to me and asked if I knew what I was doing. I told him (confidently) that yes, I did. He said that he had talked with so-and-so and that they decided they would be able to work with my school schedule.

So for the time being, everything is okay.

One of the work-arounds for my schedule is that I am potentially going to have to work 6 days a week until the term is over, i.e. every Saturday. And I am willing to do that, though it will be hard to power through sometimes I'm sure, if it means everything will work out.

So that was my day. Things seemed to smooth out somewhat by the end of the day, but I am still anxious about this development, about my supervisor's threat that I need to shape up and prove myself, and everything in general. I needed to vent somewhere and get my experience down, so there you go. Hopefully the next post will be happier.

First week @ Work (Medical Lab)

Last week was my first week working at my new job in a clinical pathology lab. Pretty much the first entire day was taken up by orientation, reading company policy documents & doing online safety training modules. From there on, it was right into the lab "shadowing" one of their current star employees who is leaving in 2 weeks.

The shifts I was working were 2-10:30ish, with a ten minute paid break twice a day and a half hour "lunch" break in the middle. For the first 3 in-lab days everything was scattered all over the place, trying to jump from one machine to the next, getting little pieces of information scattered about in my head about various equipment, procedures and software, with barely a chance to even try it out before moving on to the next thing.

I am not used to doing shift work, or working in any sort of extremely structured environment. It was a struggle for me being on my feet moving around so much (when I'm used to mostly desk jobs), and also just trying to stay alert for that long. I learned that it is important to grab a snack and rehydrate during those short breaks to keep my blood sugar up. I'm not diabetic or anything, but spending all that time on my feet and not having a chance to get a bite to eat here and there I started feeling really foggy very quickly.

On Friday, my last day in the lab this week, my trainer had me start out the shift just focusing on "heme" which means running the CBC's, "retic's", and making blood smear slides of samples where indicated. I did that for several hours, then after my lunch break started adding in running some urines now and then, doing some triage drug tox tests and cardiac tests, and vitamin D levels, and archiving samples. By the end of the night I was feeling a lot more confident, and was able to move through some of the shut down procedures without any supervision, and actually feel like I was being more of a help than a hindrance.

Working from 2pm through 10:30 or so, in an indoor environment with all those bright lights, and all the physical activity completely threw my sleep schedule off. I would get home around 11, be awake for a few more hours, maybe fall asleep at 1 or 2, then get up around noon the next day and prepare to go to work again. I didn't get much of anything done outside of work, so my task list has been building up.

Now I've got Saturday, Sunday and Monday off, and when I go back on Tuesday I'll be starting at 6am. I let myself sleep in today, but tomorrow I need to start getting up early in preparation. I made a couple of appointments for my Monday off, with my doctor, and to get my job-provided Hep B vaccination series started. I need to check and make sure I haven't already had that.

I think this job will be great preparation for an eventual career in nursing, what with all the running around and multi-tasking. It has been challenging so far but I think thing will move more smoothly with time.

I need to make sure and get some scrubs ordered this weekend. I had a pen in the pocket of my lab coat and it leaked all over my shirt last night.

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?!

Anatomy: Results In, Money Stress

So, the letter grades haven't been posted yet, but our teacher posted our points for the term online, and as it stands, my overall percent for anatomy is 89.3. Gosh, it would be nice if my teacher considered that an A-. I won't know until mid-January what she decides...unless I were to write her a pesky email, which probably wouldn't be a smart move.

I am stressed about money right now. I am single, childless... my part time job, since it's affiliated with the community college I'm going to, is "on break" until the 3rd week of Spring Semester, which means no income for me. In the mean time it's the holidays, and while I don't need to travel anywhere for Xmas, getting a few presents for family, stocking my new kitchen (I've been living for almost 5 months without one), etc adds up. I've got a *very* part time gig lined up to do some babysitting until my school job is back in play, but jeez, money is tight.

I think this is probably an issue for many second-career nurses going back to school. Per the rules of the California community college system, I am not allowed to get any scholarships or federal aid there considering I already have a bachelor's degree. I can petition to have the privilege to take out loans. Which I'm in the process of doing.

I'm going to keep going on my cardiac arrhythmia course (which costs about $120 to get the certificate for), and see if that can get me a monitor tech job. I'm taking phlebotomy this spring semester, so in another 6 months or so I could start applying for phlebotomy jobs, and I won't be taking any classes at that point, presumably for the next year, so I could easily work full time again. Somewhere over the next 6 months, I need to start earning enough money that I can start not only covering my monthly expenses again (instead of further diminishing my dwindling "emergency" fund), but start saving up for needing to cut back on hours again once I'm in the nursing program.

It has been about a week since the blood bank job closed, and I haven't heard anything. So that might mean I am out of luck. Or maybe (hopefully?) they just aren't interviewing until after the holidays. Please, please, please. I also saw that they are advertising for a lab tech type job at the same location, but I'm not sure I'm qualified, even with my extensive biology background. There are certifications that you need. More hoops to jump through.

Maybe people will give me gift cards for groceries, etc this year for Xmas.

Pre-Nursing Jobs

In talking to my pre-nursing classmates, many of them have part or full time jobs, some in the health professions. Right now I am tutoring biology and english part time. It's not really enough to live off of. Some of the jobs I have been either applying for or preparing to apply for, or some of my classmates are doing are:

-working at a blood bank
-phlebotomy (requires a small amount of schooling and a license)
-cardiac monitor tech
-medical assisting (usually after going through a 4 or 5 month program)
-ward clerk
-home health aide
-admitting clerk
-medical transporter
-certified nurse assistant (requires more schooling/training/testing)

I think getting a job at a hospital, where often 3 twelve hour shifts are considered full-time, might be ideal in working with my 3 day per week student schedule next semester. At this point though, I would be thankful for any full time job. Any pre-nursing or nursing student readers? What did you do to earn money or experience before nursing school?