What a week!

I have now completed 2 weeks of work at my new job. I am feeling pretty comfortable with my role with Dr. Stuart since that is what I have done most of so far. She is patient and a great teacher. I am learning what she likes so I can anticipate how to be prepared for what she will do with each patient. It will get faster and smoother each week I am sure.

I started orienting to triage a couple days last week. Dr. Stuart is on vacation most of this coming week so I'll mostly do more orientation to triage. Cheryl, who I am learning from is a walking/talking OB/GYN encyclopedia! I will learn a ton from her! Evedryone on staff has been very helpful and supportive. I am SO THANKFUL to be where I am at! I am hearing horror stories about what PASS is like now that they closed Kaseman PASS where I used to be. So it makes me especially glad I had to leave that job. I would not want to do it the way it is being done now!

The first week on my new job I only managed to get one question done for school. This week I managed to get the last 3 done, so I will turn in the Marriage and Family course this week. Woo-hoo!! I'm moving down the tunnel. One of these days I'll see light!

Orientation

Today starts my second week of orientation on my new job. I found out last week when I showed up that she wants me working Mon thru Fri for these 2 weeks, no week day off. I was surprised but I'm okay with that so we can get orientation accomplished. I really like the people I am working with. They are a friendly staff and very helpful. I have already learned a lot! Today I start orienting to triage. My triage days will be very different from the days rooming for Dr. Stuart. The variety will ne nice. I really like Dr. Stuart! She will be so good to work with.

What I had not bargained for the the long work week last week and this week. I am so used to only 4 days of work each week - usually about 36 hours. Last week I did almost 50 hours and it will be similar this week. So I slept in and even took a couple naps this weekend! I did manage to get some school work done, but not the volume I am used to. That's ok - it'll come.

I stand amazed

Some of you know most of this, but I really thought I ought to write it all down. I blogged in early December that my dream job was going away as of Dec 31. I have called this job my dream job because it is no evenings, no weekends, no holidays, no call and only 4 (9 hour) days a week. When I went to HR to see what I could apply for there was absolutely nothing like it available. I either had to work full time salaried (my definition is free overtime) or go back to 12 hour shifts. I knew God was in control, but I was feeling a little discouraged. I thanked God for the 2 incredible years I have had at Kaseman and told Him I knew He was in control and He would have to guide my choice because nothing availble looked anything like the hours I have had. I told Him - "I don't know what you are going to provide or how, but help me be open to what you are doing." Then I began interviewing. I interviewed for a full time (free overtime) postion in care coordination that I probably would have enjoyed, but it would be hard to get school done with the hours I would put in. I also interviewed for a position in urgent care, which would have been interesting, but the 12 hours shifts are often 14 - 15 hour shifts and it would be back to working weekends. I also agreed to an interview in a OB/GYN clinic for a full time (get paid for overtime) position. I told her before I went that I was more interested in 4 days a week, but since I like OB/GYN I was willing to consider it.

When I showed up for the interview one of the first things she said was, "There has been an interesting turn of events. They won't let me hire for the position you came to interview for today." Then she proceeded to tell me that since I was interested in 4 days a week, she had a 3 day a week LPN position posted that she could try to get upgraded to a 4 day a week RN position if I roomed for Dr. Stuart 3 days a week and did triage 1 day a week. I met the people working at the clinic and and got more excited by the minute. Long story short (sort of!) I was offered (and accepted) a job they (God) created especially for me - four 8 hour days a week, no evenings, no weekends, no holidays, no call!!

I really do stand amazed at the hand of God and how He took care of this for me. It is a cut in hourly pay and a cut in 4 hours a week. But I am debt free! so it will be ok and I will still be able to be committed at church, work on school and be gramma. What an astounding miracle!!

So Wednesday Dec 31st I shut down the Kaseman PASS unit and left my keys on the desk for Wille. This Monday, Jan 5th I will report to work at my NEW dream job! Happy New Year!

There are no dream jobs out there . . .

. . .at least none that I can find. I met with the nurse recruiters on Monday and they told me about all the jobs that are available that I qualify for. There is no worry about being unemployed - for there are quite a few things for me to pick from. But there is nothing like what I do now - the place, the pay, the hours and the work have all been great. It looks like I will either take a pay cut and work 40 hours a week instead of 36 or go back to 12 hour shifts which will include weekends and holidays. It also looks like I won't be able to stay in the Kaseman area. At this point I am more inclined to go back to 12 hour shifts. I don't see how I could get school done in 2009 if I am working 5 days a week. But we'll see. I am asking God to direct my path and show me what He wants me doing.

I have my first interview this afternoon. It is for Care Coordination at Presbyterian downtown. It looks like it is a pay cut, 40 hours a week - salaried (code for fwork overtime for free). But I am going to ask if they might have something at Kaseman and see if 4 tens or 4 nines might be possible. That would at least be similar to what I do now. I will interview and then stay to job shadow for the reast of the afternoon - observing someone who is a care coordinator so I get a good feel for the job.

The other position I would like to interview for is 12 hour shifts at the Northside urgent care. That would be really different and something I might enjoy learning. It would be 3 12s which would give me 4 days off each week. That would certainly help with my school goals. I can definately keep up the pace for 12 hour shifts. It would just be harder to stay regualr with Curves and walking my dogs.

So it seems each thing I look at will have its pros and cons. I appreciate the prayers and will keep you posted!

Happy Birthday 100th Presbyterian Hospital

Presbyterian Hospital was established 100 years ago in 1908 by the Rev. Hugh A. Cooper who was the pastor of First Presbyterian Church at the time. He came to Albuquerque in 1903 seeking healing for his tuberculosis. He was one of the fortunate ones who did recover. He started the San, as it was called back then. Many people from Presbyterian church were intimately involved in getting Pres Healthcare started. I thought you'd like to see pictures of the church today. Mom and Dad you might be able to tell which part is the huge addition to the church building if you remember what it used to look like. We had a very nice service in the sanctuary complete with pipe organ and choir. Then a wonderful spread of food at a reception in the fellowship hall. The service was in honor of Rev. Cooper and Mrs. Van and their dedication to Christ that has had such a tremendous impact on health care here in NM. It was a very well done service and celebration. Tomorrow we will have a special celebration luncheon at work for all employees. Happy 100th birthday Presbyterian Hospital!!