 | | | Status:
Public | | Entries: 258 (Private: 4) | Comments: 505 | | Start Date: Apr 09, 2007 | Last Update:
Nov 25, 2009
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| | Description: navagating my crazy life in New York City
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| Wednesday... | | The last thing I need to do is stare at a computer screen, I have a massive MASSIVE migraine. Like the, I feel like I'll have a stroke kinda headache. I fell asleep this evening and woke up in this excruciating pain. I took some excedrin so hopefully it is going to kick in.
SO in, mystiqx horrendous job hunt news:
Call me IV queen. Tee hee. Did I tell you I went on an IV certification course last week. It was the best $275 I've ever spent. It helped that I'd already did some IV's prior to the class some successful, some not so successful. Last week, I was able to put 2 in on my own, got a big ole high 5 from my MD (the boss) and preceptor, they didn't realize I went ahead and did them on my own till they saw two IV's up and running. Yesterday I did 5 of them. 5 IV's all by myself. I got 3 on the first shot and 2 took me a couple of tries. (there is no stick limit at the clinic, you have to go till you get it in) one of the 2 was actually my boss, she's really challenging, she has NO VEINS! Of course she she guided me the whole way and helped me find veins and stuff. She takes the same nutritional/detox IV's that her patients get, and apparently she starts her own IV's. (Crazy right?) Anyway, I must have stuck her a good 6 times before I got one in. The first one I got, half way through the push we had to pull the line cause it was burning, so we had to try again, finally we got it in her FINGER. Yup, I put an IV in a finger. crazy!
I don't love my new job by any means, but its good experience and I get to use my license and practice till something I really want comes along.
The job hunt still sucks big time, I still get rejected almost everyday. I got a phone call for an interview in Rochester which is 4 hours outside the city. Lord knows the last thing I want to do is move away from NYC. But if it works out and they make an offer what other choice do I have. Anyway its next month and I have to fly out there. I've decided to give myself a job hunt "vacation" this week. Which means absolutely no hunting, no applications, no nothing. I have to resist the urge to look stuff up.
Well, happy thanksgiving. Hope you enjoy the holiday | | PCA gig officially over. | | So its over. I closed out of my job as a PCA today. I was a jumble of emotions. I was thrilled to be free from that hospitals clutches but angry at the same time of how I was treated in the end. THe PCA's all hugged me and gave me kind words of encouragement. BUt they told me other things, like how in the past 3 weeks other new grads have started in other departments and I just found out another class mate was hired into another department.
I don't know what or how to think anymore. I have given them no reason to be so horrible to me, but it seems they did not need one. I do not want to cry race, but the more I see the more I am convinced. All I can do is move on. Another door will open for me, I do not know when but hopefully something will open soon. | | Another disappointment.... | | I had a huge disappointment today.
I was contacted by a nurse recruiter last week about a position, she sounded so positive and encouraging on the phone
and sound like she really wanted to work with me. She told me when their next orientation was and even the name of the hiring nurse manager. She did warn that the manager may want experience but she was going to try anyway. She told me if I hadn't heard from her by friday to give her a call so we can sort stuff out and see where I stand.
Friday came, I called and called and called, and I got her voicemail the entire day. I figured that maybe she was out sick because when I spoke to her on the phone she sound like she was fighting the cold or flu. TOday again, I called and called and called, it kept going directly to voicemail. Finally just before lunch I got through. Was told, the nurse manager requires experience, but she would keep my application on file just in case something changes. As the words left her mouth I just started tearing up. She didn't sound as inviting as she did the first time I spoke with her, infact she sound annoyed. She asked me exactly the same questions she asked me the first time we spoke. THen proceed to tell me they wouldn't have any new grad positions available until next jan or feb. Then to add to the insult invited me to come all the way out to the hospital she's affiliated with which is a good hour or more trip for me next week for an "interview" which will just consist of me bringing my resume, letters of recommendation, and all the other paper work crap for them to have on file so they can "have the process going" all that really says to me is that its just a waste of my time.
I hung up the phone called my RJ and sobbed for half an hour.
I truly regret coming into this profession. It was a waste of time and money. | | Sunday evening thoughts.... | | This is my last officially week of being a PCA. Truthfully my PCA gig ended the day i began my RN job at the clinic. I haven't been back since I submitted my resignation and filled out the paperwork. In my mind I'm divorced from the place. The thought of working and busting my butt as an RN during the day and then having to go back and be a PCA at night makes me completely nauseated. So I've called out every single shift mostly because I'm working almost 10-12 hrs at the clinic on the same day I'm scheduled grave yard at the hospital and by the time I get home its the same time I need to get ready to go in and I'm so exhausted I just don't have it in me to do it.
I'm not in love with my clinic job, I don't hate it either. I'm just glad somebody gave me a small chance to get my feet wet. I'm glad that I am a working professional, and I am using my degree and my license.
I told mom that I resigned and she made no comment other than to ask how I was going to pay my rent, I responded that I am making more money with my RN job than I am with my PCA job. I know she does not agree with me resigning but I am glad she made no comment and kept her opinions to herself.
I'm still job hunting, still looking for full time with benefits. I haven't given up. As one door closes another will open. I haven't given up, as frustrating as all of this is, I haven't give up. They are days I want to give up and say to hell with it, but I didn't come all this way to just accept rejection and defeat. Every time I get rejected, I've picked myself up and tried again. One person gave me a shot, and if she was willing to give me a shot so will someone else. It's hard not to be depressed and negative at a time like this, but as my RJ says crying and moping isn't going to get me anywhere. So every day I submit a resume and an application, every day I look. I go into the clinic during the week and I learn what I can, and I remind myself that although I may not feel like an RN in clinic I AM the RN, I am working in my profession even if its an unconventional way to start.
SO with that said, I'm going to find some dinner, read my novel and enjoy my sunday evening. I am no longer a PCA, I'm a Registered Professional Nurse dang it and I've got the license to prove it! | | I Quit | | | I resigned from my PCA job officially today. Enough is enough. | | interesting day | | Well what an interesting day today was.
The Yankees had their big parade in the city today. I didn't go. I had an interview. I'm no baseball fanatic, but I did watch the game and it was exciting. What was not exciting was having to wade through the mass of people crowding penn station this morning trying to get downtown, while I was trying to get to my interview. Ugh! It was annoying. Mind you half these people don't take mass transit and don't even know how to use a Metrocard. The lines at the ticket kiosk was INSANE. I'm so glad I have a monthly ticket. I'd have been hopping mad if I had to stand on that line to get my metrocard.
I do have one question, why is this big game called "The World Series" and only american teams play each other? Just asking.
Rihanna, my country woman, had her big interview with Diane Sawyer tonight on 20/20. I am so proud of her. She did a great job relaying her side of the story. She showed an inner strength thats rare for someone so young. She experienced something and reacted to something that so many abused woman do. She's right she is only human, and what she did, going back after what he did is a real human thing to do. Sadly everything that happen, occurred in a public circus. I'm sure she's traumatized by the whole ordeal. I think maybe she's still a tad bit in denial that the signs were there. He busted up her car and shoved her in a wall. The signs were there. I hope that CB learns from this, I hope he really does, I hope he understands the extent of his actions. But like she said, men never really understand the internal scars that they leave when lay hands on a woman.
My interview today was very interesting, it was a for another clinic which I think I might really really want. If I get it I'm going to have to leave my current clinic which makes me feel really bad. But I have to be realistic. I need benefits and a full time salary. I think if I do get it I might do a dialysis course or hunt craigslist for a per diem or part time spot for some extra cash in the evening. The nurses at the clinic had such a glow to them. They truly seemed happy with their job and I was shocked when one of my interviewers was one year post nursing school. There aren't many clinical skills involved. Its very teaching intensive. I don't mind. The beauty of nursing is that you can change, you just need that foot in the door. If they are interested I'd be invited back to shadow them. Keeping my fingers crossed. | | RN day 2 | | My second day even more amazing than my first. I got to prep and make all the IV meds and most of the pushes today.
I also got to start 2 IV's. The first on my second try and the second I got on the first try. I got to do IV pushes to. Set up special treatments, do allergy testing and subq shots. It was a super busy day but I loved every second of it.
I can't believe how much independence they give me, how much they let me do on my own.
I did get my first war wound today, stuck myself with a 20 guage. Boy did it hurt. | | First day as an RN | | I'm pretty sick with what seems to be a bad cold, but I've been keeping it at bay with Theraflu.
I started the new job at the environmental medicine clinic yesterday and I had a blast.
I was fearless! I was independent! I was a Registered Nurse!
I don't get a fancy ID, cause the clinic is so tiny but oh well.
The nurse who trained me yesterday was really awesome. SHe pretty much threw me out there by myself.
I did allergy testing all morning by myself on approx 7 patients. My only issue was one patient couldn't stand the smell of me
she was so majorly hypersensitive, she smelled my face cream and it made her dizzy. She had to end up leaving clinic.
I felt really bad.
Other than that, the nurse I worked with let me do a fake allergy test on her with normal saline so she knew I got it right then she let me run the show while she made the IV meds for the afternoon. I had a million questions of course, but as the day went by I felt more and more comfortable with what I was doing. It wasn't really rocket science. I did the test, I filled out their forms, the 10 minutes later, I did their readings and then decided if I wanted to give them a stronger or weaker dose until they were symptom free. I did make one mistake where I pushed the wrong dose of an allergy test but nobody was upset and we just nulled the test. The afternoon time was the IV's, I only got to try one but the vein blew up so the nurse did the rest because we were pressed for time, but she said thursday I'd be doing more because i had to learn.
I even had one patient say to me, "I can't believe how fast you caught on to this stuff"
I love my new job, I love being able to finally do the things I went to school for. I love that for once I didn't have someone bossing me around, that I was a respected peer by both the nurse and the MD. I love that there was science involved and I get to spend today going over my notes and looking stuff up in my text books so I'm ready for the next round on thursday.
I loved that even though some of the patients are winers, and excitable and down right annoying I never once let it get to me. I think I have to thank my PCA job for that. I love that I was fearless again another thing I gained from working as an aide. I really wish the job was full time so I could quit my PCA job but I guess I have to be patience something I lack right now. | | First 911 call: UPDATE | | Just found out that the lady who fell in front of my door and I had to call 911 on died.
So sad | | You can start next tuesday! | | I got hired today!!! yayyyyyyyyyyyyy! 
I got my foot in the door at an MD clinic in the city, its a part time gig, meaning I still have to work as a PCA to stay financially sane, but I got a foot in the door and thats all that matters. I am soooo excited. I can't even begin to tell you. I have a headache to. I'm still going to keep my search going for another position but someone finally gave me a chance and thats all I ever wanted.
So I'll be working at an allergy clinic, and I'll be doing alot of cool RN stuff, Assessments, teaching, IV's, mixing IV meds, allergy testing, subq, intradermal stuff, and monitoring my patients in the detox spa. eekk! I'm besides myself. I'm shopping for new shoes on Zappos - I swore I wasn't buying a new pair of nursing shoes until I got my RN job. I don't have to buy scrubs, its going to be provided for me. But I finially get to break out my steth that's been gathering dust. woohoo! I should look over my assessment book just to refresh my memory...AH!!! I got hired!! yeeeeeeeeee!!! (sorry I'm just so crazy excited) I know its only part time, but I get to be an RN!!!
I just hope nothing happens between now and then to screw this up. I have to work the next 4 days but knowing I'll be starting next tuesday makes it bareable in my mind. I still want to quit, maybe I'll do that in december once I get my financial ducks all in a row.
I had a career fair at the jacob javits center yesterday it was useless, but I did find out about grad school and found out that at one particular school all I need to do is take 3 specific classes and I'll automatically be bridged into a master's program. And the other good thing I discovered at said useless job fair was this financial advisor from myrill lynch who works specifically with health care professionals (ala moi) - He had a lot of good things to say and I am super interested. I don't want to make the same mistakes I made before, and I really want to buy my own condo in the next 2 or 3 years if possible and I also want a car, soooo yeah if he can help me get all my financial ducks in a row once I get my main RN job that'd be lovely.
I'm hired!! wooohooo!!!! |
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