Draggin...

I'm so thankful to finally have a day off. I've worked the last nine days in a row and man I'm tuckered! I was supposed to have this last weekend off but my employer offered me time and a half (since it was overtime anyway) plus an extra $10 an hour. I couldn't pass up that opportunity, especially since I just bought my books for school and they were over $1000! Apparently its pretty much standard practice to buy all your books you'll be using for the whole 2 year program all at once....yikes! Anyway back to talking about my new job. I'm absolutely loving it! I love the fact that I just get to help people all day long. I've definitely encountered some interesting characters but its been fun.

Today was my first day of class. It wasn't all that exciting because it was just "do this" "don't do that" "be here on this day at this time""read this before you come to class" etc etc.....you know the basic first day stuff. However, I was relieved to find out I'll only be wearing my uniform (hunter green scrubs) two days a week instead of four or five like I had previously heard.

With the rapid transition from one job to another, my long list of to do's definitely didn't get done before school started. I was planning on getting some yard work and some organization of my house done before the whirl wind of school and a new job hit. I guess the yard work will have to wait until next summer and the organizing....maybe winter break.

Pest Control....at LAST!!

When Dustin and I first moved into our new house I was all excited to get my yard in order. Its been a slow process but slowly it has started to come together. After a year we finally got our lawn planted and then this year we put in two flower beds and a small garden. That was when the pesky deer started coming into the yard and munching on all my newly planted flowers and veggies.....stupid varmints!!! I even bought deer resistant plants just in case....but that didn't keep them at bay. After much searching (and much complaining on my part) Dustin found our solution. They arrived in the mail yesterday and today they are happily guarding my yard....hehe. Dustin found these sprinklers that are motion activated so when the deer come into the yard to munch on my flowers.....they get sprayed. Its absolutely genious if you ask me!


Dustin placed one on each side of the house so all of my flower beds and my garden are safe and sound....at last I've been sitting in the living room since sunset listening to the sprinklers chase those blasted deer off. I have to admit I've giggled every time. Hurray now I can finally see my flowers bloom....well maybe next year, I think they need a year to recover since they are all chewed down to nubs....so sad.

Orientation, orientation, orientation.....

I started my new job on Monday (yesterday). It was eight hours of orientation. We talked about benefits, history of the organization, blah blah blah.... Actually there were some cool parts in there. Apparently the hospital was originally founded by a group of nuns. We got to meet one of the nuns that currently works and oversees the hospital's operations. She was absolutely hilarious and totally blew my preconceived notions about nuns and Catholics out of the water. First of all she wasn't wearing the traditional penguin suit and she talked about God like he was her best friend. So cool! Not to mention she was hilarious and I don't know about you but I've seen enough movies with catholic school scenes to have the imprinted image of strict and grumpy nuns. I think she was my favorite part of the day.

Today was another eight hours of orientation. I was so bummed when I found out it was another eight hours. I was previously told it was just going to be four hours....but I guess that's tomorrow. I found that out after I was sitting in orientation today anticipating my 12:00 escape... The orientation would be so much more tolerable if we weren't in a classroom for the whole session. Most of the stuff we are talking about is common sense, but there are definitely things I'm thankful we are going over...like the procedure for a patient in cardiac arrest....that's a little nerve racking to think about.

I still haven't seen the floor I'll be working in. This week's orientation is at the old hospital. Next week I think I have orientation at the new hospital. All I've got to say is I can't wait until all this orientation crap is over with!!

Employed!

I finally got the much awaited phone call. I got the job! I wasn't sure exactly what job I was applying for.....just a CNA position with PeaceHealth since there were so many openings. I was hired for a 20hr position in the cardiopulmonary unit. I was hoping for 24-28hrs but I'm sure I can pick up hours if I need to. The HR person I spoke with kept calling it PCU....not sure how the acronym works out for that one. I have to go for a health assessment before they will officially hire me...more needle sticks, oh yeah. That will be on Wednesday. I'll have to have my 3rd TB test for the year unless they accept the one I just had 2 months ago. I guess I can be sure I don't have TB :) I officially start on Monday....well orientation....but I get paid for that too. It was perfect timing. God always has a way of working that out. I'm done at the University on Friday and start the new job on Monday....no rest for the weary :) I had planned for 2 weeks off before school started, but I'll take the job, plus I'll be working half what I was working before so I'm not too concerned. September 29th is my first day of school....its finally almost here. I have to pick up my 3 boxes of books next week....oh and I finally get to buy scrubs that aren't a solid color....and best of all not white!!

Job Interview!!

I had a job interview yesterday at the new hospital. It was the first time I had been in the gigantic place since it opened at the beginning of August. The place is absolutely huge!! I had to ask for directions twice before I finally found the HR department hidden in the back corner on the second floor. Apparently the signs aren't all up so its pretty confusing. When you walk in the front door you feel like your walking into a resort not a hospital. My interview went well and I was sent for a drug test so I'm thinking that is a good sign. I'm hoping for the best, I'd really like to work here!