gmw1975

Oakland is actually a pretty scary place. It's considered by most to be Northern California's biggest ghetto, and the worst NorCal city for crime. The only positive about it is that it is the Bay Area so pay rates are usually good there. But, that's seriously about the only good thing about Oakland. There is an area they call the "Oakland Hills" which is a really upscale area, but I highly doubt there's be rental housing there. If they try and find you housing anywhere else in Oakland, do yourself a favor and do not take it. If you do take the job there, I HIGHLY recommend staying in one of cities that's relatively close, but much much safer. About 20 miles east of Oakland, there's Concord and Walnut Creek which are both pretty nice (Walnut Creek is preferred if you can get it). The Bay Area freeways get really congested during heavy commuter times, so if you work days, you may want to consider riding BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) into work. To sum up, you should be ok, as long as you only have to go into Oakland for work. If you drive in, make sure your gas tank is full before you head to work so you won't need to stop and fill up.....I seriously wouldn't recommend stopping ANYWHERE in Oakland. If you have any more questions about the Bay Area or Sacramento, just let me know. I grew up right smack dab in the middle of the two. =) Good luck!

Mine's gotta be to finish a 5k race in under 20 minutes. Gonna be a stretch, but I'm working hard at it. =)

Haha...that was great! Not only does it look like they had a ton of fun making it, it's for a great cause. Way to go! Thanks for sharing.

Wow...tough situation. Maybe in your next reply to him just let him know that you understand how he feels, but you still feel that the move was best for the hospital. And, maybe add a note in there that his emails are becoming excessive, and if he doesn't stop, you will report the problem to the Chief Medical Officer. If he doesn't relent, then go right ahead and report it. Whatever you do, don't say a word about the rumors of his relationship with the former nurse. That'll get you in some hot water for sure. I know it's tough, but staying professional even while someone else is not, is a part of management. Hang in there, and good luck!

I'm sure you're doing just fine. Sounds like your managers, and even the patients are happy with you (that's no small feat!). I'm sure things will seem more normal with each extra day of experience you gain. Hang in there, and keep up the good work!

Wow.....can't say I envy your situation. The only one who can decide what's right for you is you. Sounds like you understand the good and the bad no matter what decision you make. I've always found that sitting down and making a pro's and con's list helps me focus on the big picture. You and your fiancé' should pick a night to really sit down and talk it out. If he's the person you plan on spending your life with, he should probably be a part of the decision making process. Just my two cents. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do! =)

Per diem work is a great way to make extra cash and see what other facilities in your area are like. And, it never hurts to make yourself familiar to lots of people. You never know when you may be looking for a staff job somewhere and already knowing some of the staff couldn't hurt. Good luck!

I'd be ok with someone doing that to me if it was CLEARLY in a joking manner. Also, I think I'd expect some sort of an explanation afterwards. Something along the lines of "hey, I'm really sorry I did that, but I was only trying to calm the patient down and it seemed to be working." But, I'm also very thick skinned. I'm guessing you're somewhat thick skinned too, because I know a few people who would've put him in his place right then and there! =) Sorry you had a bad experience with this guy. Maybe he'll get on staff at another hospital or something.

Getting the job done correctly is more important than coworkers' opinions, especially in the medical field. You stayed late to try and help out and that is commendable. Sounds to me like the day shift folks were being a little narrow minded and selfish and only seeing that they had a busy day ahead of them. They didn't really take into account the rough night you just had. I wouldn't worry about it. You could go home that day knowing you went above and beyond, and that's all that really matters. Keep you head up, my friend! =)

Sorry to hear you're having a rough time. But deciding whether or not to leave is something only you can do. There are plenty of factors to consider such as; how easily you could find another job, whether or not quitting would burn bridges that could come back to bite you in the butt later, how high you are on the seniority list in case of layoffs (you never know in this economy), etc. I'd sit down one night and make a pro's and con's list. That always helps me see the big picture a little more clearer. Best of luck with whatever you decide!

Yes, it certainly is interesting to hear both sides of the story. I'm sure there are plenty of cases where someone saying they were "fired for no reason" is actually the truth, or at least close to it. But, I see what you're saying in that in many cases there is a reason, and the recently fired just can't see it. Do keep in mind though that being let go has got to be a very emotional and stressful time for someone, so I think they're lack of seeing the whole picture is understandable. Still not a reason to shift blame everywhere but yourself, though.

I've always been horrible at figuring out how well an interview went. Almost every time, I feel the opposite of the end result; i.e. if I think it went great, I don't get the job, if I think it went poorly, I get a job offer. It all boils down to the fact that you just never know exactly what that person (or people) making the hiring decision is thinking. Plus, you have to consider the other variables you can't control, such as "is this job already reserved for someone else and is my interview just to make it qualify as an 'open' position?" Bottom line, I don't think anyone ever really knows when they leave an interview if the job is theirs or not. I'm sure there are plenty who are better at gauging it than I am, but I don't think anyone really knows for sure.

For me, nothing is better than a cup of coffee. You can always load it up with flavored creamers since you're not a fan of the taste. Even if you're drinking a cup that's 75% creamer, 25% coffee, you should still get a little pick-me-up out of it, especially since your body isn't used to getting it every day. Good luck finding something that works for ya. We all know how rough the end of a 12-hour shift can be, let alone the 20 you're doing at saturdays!