fredericks: (Being Veep is hard work *snore*)
fredericks ([personal profile] fredericks) wrote2006-11-14 08:53 pm

(no subject)

A smallish (?) update re: my life at the moment.

I'm a week and a half into the jobby job. Orientation runs roughly twelve weeks, depending on how competent the orientee and his/her clinical coach judge the orientee to be on the job, and the first two weeks consists of fundamentals about the hospital and nursing policy. The woman who runs the nursing orientation is quite engaging and a great speaker, but otherwise I'm pretty sure I'd be bored shitless.

This entry will be even more disjointed than usual because I'm exhausted, even more tired than I've been since my senior year as my thesis due date loomed. Part of the reason why I took this job was because of the facility's proximity to my house. Of course, that proximity was by car more than anything else: driving (or, rather, *being driven*) has me at the hospital in twenty minutes. Unfortunately, I'm without a license or a car (or a learner's permit, but that's a rant for another day); via public transportation (three bus transfers) I can get to the hospital in about an hour and a half. Note that I'm not bitching so much as saying it as it is. Once I get off of training and start my 12-hour nights it'll be much easier to go back and forth. However, with some of the training sessions being away from the hospital and in the middle of Bumfrak, LI these people are doing me and my sleep schedule no favors. I've been forced to get up at 4:30AM (the hour for which the term "godforsaken" was coined) to get to most of the locations on-time. I feel certain that at this point my bags have bags.

Lack of sleep issues aside, orientation/training's been painless. I spent my first day on the floor yesterday, where I got to shadow a nurse. It was sort of like clinicals, except I had a permanent ID with a crappy picture, my name, and "RN BSN" tacked on. Best believe I spent a good part of the day staring down at it. I drew the line at calling it "My Precious", but I was a lot closer than I thought was possible. I figure the real agony begins next week, when I get to start on 12-hour morning shifts with my clinical coach. Gotta start somewhere.

The dark cloud hanging over the proceedings? I didn't realize that failure of the NCLEX would result in the revoking of my working permit and, therefore, the loss of my job. Talk about a fire under my ass. I'm still waiting for my ID to come in so I can sit for the test (I'm scheduled to take it next week Wednesday), but I have half a mind to push it back another week or two just so I can hunker down some more. I don't *think* I'm going to fail, but...meh, I just don't want to screw this all up. I'll give myself until Monday of next week and if the ID doesn't show up I'll *have* to reschedule anyway, so I won't feel so guilty about delaying the inevitable.

Other things that come to mind: I finished up all the Dresden books that are currently out. Still have much Thomas love. Bros and I are liking Heroes, although we're finding the lack of movement towards the actual saving of the cheerleader to be annoying. I haven't seen BSG in two weeks and, strangely, haven't had to deal with withdrawal symptoms. Oldest bro bought "Gears of War" and the consensus is that the game "kicks ass!" There was mention of chainsaw use and bloodsplatter onto the screen. Oldest bro also purchased "Transformers: The Movie" on DVD (it comes with an *awesome* 3-D card, btw) and we all spent Friday night reminiscing and singing along (seriously, Soundwave? Best Autobot EVAH). I need a paycheck, like, yesterday.

[identity profile] pix3lated-dream.livejournal.com 2006-11-15 08:59 am (UTC)(link)
Other things that come to mind: I finished up all the Dresden books that are currently out. Still have much Thomas love.
*gush* Thomas is great isn't he :-D I'm still try to finish season 2 of BSG, yet I'm still in the first half becasue I've been so frackin' busy. Probably not as busy as you though.

I'm crossing my fingers for you on your boards I know you will do well but the finger crossing is extra luck *sends positive good vibes towards D* For the record I'd probably call it my precious as well.

[identity profile] fredericks.livejournal.com 2006-11-16 10:13 am (UTC)(link)
*grin* Is it me, or does constant watching of BSG automatically make "frak" (or "frack", however it's spelled) part of your vocabulary? I find it much more fun to say than the word it's replacing, at any rate. :)

I hope Butcher doesn't kill Thomas. I admit that I found his reveal to be a little too pat, but he's a vampire and he's a relatively good guy and he's fighting his demons so I'm all over him. I wonder what Lea meant when she said "I know of him and I know to whom he belongs" when talking about Thomas in -White Knight-. Ominous to the extreme.

Thanks for the finger crossing vibes! You're good peoples, per usual. *hugs*

[identity profile] 1x2foralways.livejournal.com 2006-11-15 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
12 hour days?? Yikes. God bless you, my friend.

Best of luck on the test! I know you'll do just fine, but just wanted to wish you the luck anyway.

Glad to see you're doing well, however. Can't wait to hear more tales from the job!

[identity profile] fredericks.livejournal.com 2006-11-16 10:15 am (UTC)(link)
It's flex shifts, so you work three days and are off four, except one week of the month where you work four days. I don't think it'll be too bad, but I've rarely had a work day that long so I'll see how things work out.

This post was for you, btw. Thanks for the good vibes and for the little prompt. :)

[identity profile] 1x2foralways.livejournal.com 2006-11-16 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh, I see. That does seem like a long day, but it'll probably get a little easier when you've done it for a few weeks. Four days off sounds super rad.

Aw, I'm glad I could be of motivational assistance! *bows*

[identity profile] xioley.livejournal.com 2006-11-15 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Good luck on the exam! (And getting an ID, of course.) Well, the good thing about long commutes via public transit is time to read. Do the buses run 24/7? How many days a week are you working?

[identity profile] fredericks.livejournal.com 2006-11-17 09:29 am (UTC)(link)
Most of the NYC buses run 24/7, although at a slower rate in the early mornings. The LI buses tend to have more irregular schedules, which will be a problem as I start picking up more weekend hours. But that's what family with vehicle access is for.

At the present I'm working no more than three days a week, 12 hour shifts. During classroom time we're 5 days, 8 hours a day.

[identity profile] stop-no-dont.livejournal.com 2006-11-15 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
*Ahem*

Hate to be the one to mention it, but: Soundwave was a Decepticon.

[identity profile] fredericks.livejournal.com 2006-11-16 10:16 am (UTC)(link)
That's what I get for writing this up while half asleep. Thanks for the correction. I'd like to keep my geek cred for a little while longer.

[identity profile] nelliewu.livejournal.com 2006-11-16 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
look at it this way - even with 3 bus transfers your commute is less than mine :)

good luck on the exam!

[identity profile] fredericks.livejournal.com 2006-11-17 09:29 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, that's crazy.

And thanks for the luck! I appreciate it. :)