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A new beginning...
13 years ago
Prologue
Due to popular demand, mostly people bombarding my instant messenger, email and phone since I got off work asking me how my first day of work went? That and I refuse to tell the story over twenty times in the same day? I'm writing a journal about my first day at my new job (yeah, get your groans and moans out now as it will be long). Let me first start off by saying? wow...I'm just in awe over how many of you are interested in my life, much less something as mundane as my job. But at the same time, it's nice having people to rant...err, I mean discuss it with. So on that note-
It's time to sign your life away, old girl
So I get at the hospital (name edited for privacy sake, sorry) at 7:45. Afterall, gotta make a good first impression my first day huh? Oh, little did I know what I was in store for. I go straight to human resources (HR) as they needed me to sign some paperwork and give me my name badge so everything would be official. Ugh, as soon as I got there, I was signing my life away to the state...no literally, they made me sign all kinds of crap where you'd swear I was about to die: from who I want to act as a beneficiary in case something happens to me (...) to insurance- life, dental, health...you name it. I have to say the benefits for working under the state are fantastic; I see why everyone that winds up there doesn't want to quit or leave until they retire. They even help out us single people that don't have kids or dependents. When I told them I don't have any dependents or wasn't married- and were shocked by that for some reason (upcoming rant to accompany that later), one of the ladies in HR set me up on a tax deferred program where I actually get more money in my paycheck and the government doesn't penalize my butt come tax filing time. Finally, hope for the rest of us that choose not to have snot nosed brats or don't have the luxury of having a mate to claim or fall back on *rolls eyes*
Anyway, after I read the fine print on everything to make sure everything was legit, it was time to get moving again. I ran by payroll where they set me up in the system so I can clock in and out...which won't take effect until tomorrow but meh, it's a start. After that, it's time to meet up with my boss...finally. It's nearly 8:15 at this point- I'm supposed to be at work for 8, lol. So I walk in the office and wow...you should have seen the huge smile on teri's*, that's my boss's name, face. She was sincerely happy to see me and believe me, she let me know that too. So after I was reintroduced to everyone in the department I'd be under? she took me on a tour of the hospital- specifically areas I'd be frequenting during my daily duties.
Really?! no...
So teri was giving me a tour of the floor I'd be working on when what should happen? a code pink is called on the intercom system. Now for those of you not familiar with hospital jargon? a code pink is when a small child has been abducted or missing (or assumed to be). When this happens? ooh, not good. The hospital goes into complete lockdown; no one can go in or out until either the kid's found or the code's called off. During which time, all staff is requires to drop what they're doing and help find the kid, guard any exits (doors, stairwells, elevators) and report anyone that looks suspicious *rubs my forehead* Really? less than two hours on the job and I'm already facing my first code...damn. I figured it'd be something simple like a code blue (someone's dying) or code red (fire) instead. No, I get the missing rugrat code. My first thought was "who the hell wants to steal a kid?!" Before I suddenly smacked some sense into myself remembering that, "oh, it's my job to care...right!" hmm, dang judgment lapses will be the death of me *chuckles* Anyway, that code lasted about...oh 15 minutes or so until they found the kid I guess, I don't know. Moving on...
Yeap...just yeap
Now let me just say this now- damn. I got a workout today y'all. I don't understand how there are so many obese and overweight people that work there because if you stay on your feet? you will lose weight (and considering how much I love to snack that's a good thing). But I met everyone and then some, from the low level people that unpack boxes and do coding to people that can have me fired just by looking at them wrong...yeah, good times. But let me tell y'all something that I NEVER thought I'd say: I can not say I met anyone that I didn't like. Ya know, state hospitals have such a bad reputation. People assume just because it's the "charity" or free care facility? the care and people suck? no, that is not even remotely true. I had people that had no idea who I was greeting me and saying hello, asking me was I new and talking to me like I was an equal, not beneath me. It's a tight knit facility as apparently everyone knows each other...which is hard considering how big that place is (over 5 stories). Now as for the nurses? well, you can't expect excellent care everywhere can you? *chuckles* No, no I'm kidding, though I will admit some of them seemed somewhat...meh just by looking at them behind their desks or reading charts but considering how high demand their jobs are? I can't hold it against them too much. But for the most part, I really enjoyed everyone I spoke to. I even got some hugs just because.
Now I will say I have one gripe against that hospital- well two but one is so repetitive I'm not gonna go into too much detail about it. I noticed a huge thing about everyone there- they seem to be very religious. Think I'm kidding? pfft, just about every other woman there has a cross necklace or charm around their neck and religious memorabilia in their office. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against religion, being agnostic myself, but last time I checked there was nothing in my job description stating I had to be religious or believe in God, sheesh. But I'll be danged if I let something that petty ruin what has to be the best job I've ever had so...grin and bear it. My second gripe is the fact that everyone and I mean everyone has kids there and is just shocked when I say I'm still single, much less without a kid (...). What the hell? a girl can't be single and childless anymore without something being wrong with her? I guess not. But yeah, 90 percent of the offices I went in? I either saw: a) pictures of kids, b) religious stuff or c) all of the above (...). Guess what's gonna be in -my- office when I get it decorated? a lucky bamboo, ipod speakers or a radio for light listening music and a picture of either me, myself or my impending motorcycle I plan on buying.
...oh, I guess I could have a more practical picture(s) like of friends or family huh? Hmm, see, that's too predictable- I can't have that; that would be a travesty. Besides, I don't have any pictures of my family (of my own choice) and I don't have any pictures of my friends either (not of my choice). So yeah, perhaps the picture part can wait for now. The important thing is to clean up my office and bit and make it a tad more comfy. Teri gave me full permission to bring in plants, pictures and anything else so yeah, any suggestions are gladly welcome. But I digress...
Nope, day's not over yet...
So after I met everyone and teri gave me my own set of keys to all the fun stuff where I'll be working, including the keys to get in and out of the department (that's right, I'm that important dang it) she decided to give me some busy work to do, yet simple enough not to overwhelm me. You know, just to get my feet wet and see how I'd manage. Yeah, I kinda took over after a few minutes, lol. The job itself is very simple, just repetitive at times and you have to be patient- that's a requirement or you'll lose your mind (and job). But I more or less have the hang of some of the computer programs I'll be working with...which are a lot I assure you. I'd have to say the hardest part of my job so far is learning names and locations. Compared to my old job where I was in the emergency room pretty much the whole day or night? whereas now I'm all over the hospital at any given time meeting and communicating with way too many people to even think about right now. Don't even ask me whose names I know and don't know right now, ugh, I must have met well over 50 people today- and that's just a few people I'll be working with *headbangs* I'm gonna need some ginkgo for my memory as remembering names is not my strong point.
Time to wind down
Mkay, it's after lunch, I'm finishing up some paperwork, trying not to get lost (seriously, that hospital is a maze) and still meeting new people up until I got off...did I mention I'm gonna need some ginkgo? yeah, not kidding about that. I had some downtime so I got to just chill with the ladies in my department and chat with them for a bit. They're a cool bunch of ladies, ranging between 30ish-50. My job is to do the work they don't want to do: from typing up memos and filing to answering phone calls along with scheduling appointments as well- basically keep them happy and as stress free as possible. Teri's already got a nickname for me- ladybug (...) and she's already hushed me as well. I mean really?! you don't shush your employee on the first day of work...that comes after day three at the earliest, lol. Meanwhile, those of you out there reading this that hush me on a daily basis are probably laughing your butts off right now...that's okay, I'll get y'all later. But finally at 4:30 it was time to go. Teri asked me how I liked things so far and said tomorrow she'll review over everything since she knows I had taken in lot for just my first day...which I really did. But as I closed the office, turned off the lights and headed home? I felt...good. I was tired but it was a good tired. My stress levels are soo much lower than they were in the er at my old job, I'm actually appreciated here (obviously results will change over time but we're gonna pretend like people actually act nice everyday for the sake of ending this journal on a good note) and guess what? I can actually say I like my job...and mean it. It's a good feeling. So as I crashed in my comfy chair after work, poured myself a tall glass of sparkling grape juice and sit here typing this to you all? I say it's a conspiracy...of the pleasant kind. More adventures to come later, I assure you all so stay tuned for more. Oh and please do me a favor? don't try to steal kids out of the hospital- if you want one bad enough, just get a dog or cat and pretend it's one, less trouble~
________________________________________________
*names changed to protect people's privacy..and my job
Due to popular demand, mostly people bombarding my instant messenger, email and phone since I got off work asking me how my first day of work went? That and I refuse to tell the story over twenty times in the same day? I'm writing a journal about my first day at my new job (yeah, get your groans and moans out now as it will be long). Let me first start off by saying? wow...I'm just in awe over how many of you are interested in my life, much less something as mundane as my job. But at the same time, it's nice having people to rant...err, I mean discuss it with. So on that note-
It's time to sign your life away, old girl
So I get at the hospital (name edited for privacy sake, sorry) at 7:45. Afterall, gotta make a good first impression my first day huh? Oh, little did I know what I was in store for. I go straight to human resources (HR) as they needed me to sign some paperwork and give me my name badge so everything would be official. Ugh, as soon as I got there, I was signing my life away to the state...no literally, they made me sign all kinds of crap where you'd swear I was about to die: from who I want to act as a beneficiary in case something happens to me (...) to insurance- life, dental, health...you name it. I have to say the benefits for working under the state are fantastic; I see why everyone that winds up there doesn't want to quit or leave until they retire. They even help out us single people that don't have kids or dependents. When I told them I don't have any dependents or wasn't married- and were shocked by that for some reason (upcoming rant to accompany that later), one of the ladies in HR set me up on a tax deferred program where I actually get more money in my paycheck and the government doesn't penalize my butt come tax filing time. Finally, hope for the rest of us that choose not to have snot nosed brats or don't have the luxury of having a mate to claim or fall back on *rolls eyes*
Anyway, after I read the fine print on everything to make sure everything was legit, it was time to get moving again. I ran by payroll where they set me up in the system so I can clock in and out...which won't take effect until tomorrow but meh, it's a start. After that, it's time to meet up with my boss...finally. It's nearly 8:15 at this point- I'm supposed to be at work for 8, lol. So I walk in the office and wow...you should have seen the huge smile on teri's*, that's my boss's name, face. She was sincerely happy to see me and believe me, she let me know that too. So after I was reintroduced to everyone in the department I'd be under? she took me on a tour of the hospital- specifically areas I'd be frequenting during my daily duties.
Really?! no...
So teri was giving me a tour of the floor I'd be working on when what should happen? a code pink is called on the intercom system. Now for those of you not familiar with hospital jargon? a code pink is when a small child has been abducted or missing (or assumed to be). When this happens? ooh, not good. The hospital goes into complete lockdown; no one can go in or out until either the kid's found or the code's called off. During which time, all staff is requires to drop what they're doing and help find the kid, guard any exits (doors, stairwells, elevators) and report anyone that looks suspicious *rubs my forehead* Really? less than two hours on the job and I'm already facing my first code...damn. I figured it'd be something simple like a code blue (someone's dying) or code red (fire) instead. No, I get the missing rugrat code. My first thought was "who the hell wants to steal a kid?!" Before I suddenly smacked some sense into myself remembering that, "oh, it's my job to care...right!" hmm, dang judgment lapses will be the death of me *chuckles* Anyway, that code lasted about...oh 15 minutes or so until they found the kid I guess, I don't know. Moving on...
Yeap...just yeap
Now let me just say this now- damn. I got a workout today y'all. I don't understand how there are so many obese and overweight people that work there because if you stay on your feet? you will lose weight (and considering how much I love to snack that's a good thing). But I met everyone and then some, from the low level people that unpack boxes and do coding to people that can have me fired just by looking at them wrong...yeah, good times. But let me tell y'all something that I NEVER thought I'd say: I can not say I met anyone that I didn't like. Ya know, state hospitals have such a bad reputation. People assume just because it's the "charity" or free care facility? the care and people suck? no, that is not even remotely true. I had people that had no idea who I was greeting me and saying hello, asking me was I new and talking to me like I was an equal, not beneath me. It's a tight knit facility as apparently everyone knows each other...which is hard considering how big that place is (over 5 stories). Now as for the nurses? well, you can't expect excellent care everywhere can you? *chuckles* No, no I'm kidding, though I will admit some of them seemed somewhat...meh just by looking at them behind their desks or reading charts but considering how high demand their jobs are? I can't hold it against them too much. But for the most part, I really enjoyed everyone I spoke to. I even got some hugs just because.
Now I will say I have one gripe against that hospital- well two but one is so repetitive I'm not gonna go into too much detail about it. I noticed a huge thing about everyone there- they seem to be very religious. Think I'm kidding? pfft, just about every other woman there has a cross necklace or charm around their neck and religious memorabilia in their office. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against religion, being agnostic myself, but last time I checked there was nothing in my job description stating I had to be religious or believe in God, sheesh. But I'll be danged if I let something that petty ruin what has to be the best job I've ever had so...grin and bear it. My second gripe is the fact that everyone and I mean everyone has kids there and is just shocked when I say I'm still single, much less without a kid (...). What the hell? a girl can't be single and childless anymore without something being wrong with her? I guess not. But yeah, 90 percent of the offices I went in? I either saw: a) pictures of kids, b) religious stuff or c) all of the above (...). Guess what's gonna be in -my- office when I get it decorated? a lucky bamboo, ipod speakers or a radio for light listening music and a picture of either me, myself or my impending motorcycle I plan on buying.
...oh, I guess I could have a more practical picture(s) like of friends or family huh? Hmm, see, that's too predictable- I can't have that; that would be a travesty. Besides, I don't have any pictures of my family (of my own choice) and I don't have any pictures of my friends either (not of my choice). So yeah, perhaps the picture part can wait for now. The important thing is to clean up my office and bit and make it a tad more comfy. Teri gave me full permission to bring in plants, pictures and anything else so yeah, any suggestions are gladly welcome. But I digress...
Nope, day's not over yet...
So after I met everyone and teri gave me my own set of keys to all the fun stuff where I'll be working, including the keys to get in and out of the department (that's right, I'm that important dang it) she decided to give me some busy work to do, yet simple enough not to overwhelm me. You know, just to get my feet wet and see how I'd manage. Yeah, I kinda took over after a few minutes, lol. The job itself is very simple, just repetitive at times and you have to be patient- that's a requirement or you'll lose your mind (and job). But I more or less have the hang of some of the computer programs I'll be working with...which are a lot I assure you. I'd have to say the hardest part of my job so far is learning names and locations. Compared to my old job where I was in the emergency room pretty much the whole day or night? whereas now I'm all over the hospital at any given time meeting and communicating with way too many people to even think about right now. Don't even ask me whose names I know and don't know right now, ugh, I must have met well over 50 people today- and that's just a few people I'll be working with *headbangs* I'm gonna need some ginkgo for my memory as remembering names is not my strong point.
Time to wind down
Mkay, it's after lunch, I'm finishing up some paperwork, trying not to get lost (seriously, that hospital is a maze) and still meeting new people up until I got off...did I mention I'm gonna need some ginkgo? yeah, not kidding about that. I had some downtime so I got to just chill with the ladies in my department and chat with them for a bit. They're a cool bunch of ladies, ranging between 30ish-50. My job is to do the work they don't want to do: from typing up memos and filing to answering phone calls along with scheduling appointments as well- basically keep them happy and as stress free as possible. Teri's already got a nickname for me- ladybug (...) and she's already hushed me as well. I mean really?! you don't shush your employee on the first day of work...that comes after day three at the earliest, lol. Meanwhile, those of you out there reading this that hush me on a daily basis are probably laughing your butts off right now...that's okay, I'll get y'all later. But finally at 4:30 it was time to go. Teri asked me how I liked things so far and said tomorrow she'll review over everything since she knows I had taken in lot for just my first day...which I really did. But as I closed the office, turned off the lights and headed home? I felt...good. I was tired but it was a good tired. My stress levels are soo much lower than they were in the er at my old job, I'm actually appreciated here (obviously results will change over time but we're gonna pretend like people actually act nice everyday for the sake of ending this journal on a good note) and guess what? I can actually say I like my job...and mean it. It's a good feeling. So as I crashed in my comfy chair after work, poured myself a tall glass of sparkling grape juice and sit here typing this to you all? I say it's a conspiracy...of the pleasant kind. More adventures to come later, I assure you all so stay tuned for more. Oh and please do me a favor? don't try to steal kids out of the hospital- if you want one bad enough, just get a dog or cat and pretend it's one, less trouble~
________________________________________________
*names changed to protect people's privacy..and my job
