I did it! I'm done! Saturday, August 27th, was my last day cleaning at the hospital. I'm free! It was a busy day, but a good one. I had a bunch of people congratulate me and say they were proud of me for getting the new job. I have to admit, I'm proud of myself. It wasn't as easy as it should have been. I couldn't believe how incredibly good it felt walking out that door and knowing that when I came back it would not be to scrub toilets. All those supervisors who made things so hard for me...now when I see them I can only smile. They can't touch me now.
Wednesday I'll be there again, taking a class that's required for my new position. I get to learn CPR and other basic life saving techniques. It should be fun! I'll also finish cleaning out my locker and get my new ID badge. The next trial will be getting through training. That's always stressful. And after that...getting used to staying awake all night. Once I'm trained I'll be working 12 hour shifts, 7pm to 7am. But I'm preparing a "work survival kit" which includes all sorts of goodies like hard candy, chewing gum, energy drinks and such to keep me awake.
Right now, I'm taking a deep breath as I step into the future. This song fits the way I feel quite well right now. :)
Monday, August 29, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Cubicle Quotes
Office day today! And as it is slightly possible this was my last time cleaning offices at the hospital, I tried to really take it in. I have to admit the offices is one of my favorite areas to clean. I think this is not only because it doesn't get nearly as dirty as other areas, but everyone I'm cleaning around is generally very friendly. I see so many co-workers that you basically never see in patient areas. It kind of adds a whole other layer to the hospital that I didn't have a clue existed when I first started here.
Something I find amusing as I clean offices is the many signs or pictures people have in their work area displaying "words of wisdom". Here is a sampling of ones that I saw:
"If you can laugh together, you can work together."
"If you are good, but don't know why you are good, you are not good and likely cannot stay good."
"If you cannot laugh at yourself, I will be happy to do it for you."
"Few men have virtue enough to resist the highest bidder." (This one is really strange to me...)
"I'm a real optimist. I think people are half FULL of crap."
"I am Woman. I am invincible. I am tired."
"I spend my day snacking and surfing the internet for a good job. Luckily, my boss hasn't noticed yet."
Something I find amusing as I clean offices is the many signs or pictures people have in their work area displaying "words of wisdom". Here is a sampling of ones that I saw:
"If you can laugh together, you can work together."
"If you are good, but don't know why you are good, you are not good and likely cannot stay good."
"If you cannot laugh at yourself, I will be happy to do it for you."
"Few men have virtue enough to resist the highest bidder." (This one is really strange to me...)
"I'm a real optimist. I think people are half FULL of crap."
"I am Woman. I am invincible. I am tired."
"I spend my day snacking and surfing the internet for a good job. Luckily, my boss hasn't noticed yet."
Monday, August 8, 2011
It's Unofficially Official...I Guess
Well...nothing is in writing yet, but apparently the people who want to hire me are planning on me getting the job. Human Resources told me that because of some technicalities, I'm not actually able to apply for the job until August 18th. My original transfer request was thus considered invalid. So if for some reason the job is still available by then, that department really wants to hire me. Hearing this was rather discouraging because I understood they needed the position filled A.S.A.P. But the supervisors and director in that department have been telling people that I'm going to be transferring. In fact, whenever one of them sees me they smile and say, "Just a little while longer!" or "Are you excited about working with us? I'm excited." They talk like it's a done deal. This is incredibly reassuring, but I'm still holding my breath. It just seems too unreal that they would want me that much that they'd jump through all these hoops with HR and wait so long. Sure enough though, the job remains posted on the job board as available. They even filled a part-time position in the same department, but left the full-time one(the one I requested) open.
As long as I'm a good little housekeeper between now and the 18th, I should be free. HR reminded me though to be careful about my attendance and tardiness between now and then so that "nothing might interfere with me transferring". So you better believe my bosses are watching me like a hawk waiting for me to screw up. Didn't I tell you they enjoy ruining my life? Well, if they are looking for something they aren't going to find it. I'm getting out of here! ^_^
As long as I'm a good little housekeeper between now and the 18th, I should be free. HR reminded me though to be careful about my attendance and tardiness between now and then so that "nothing might interfere with me transferring". So you better believe my bosses are watching me like a hawk waiting for me to screw up. Didn't I tell you they enjoy ruining my life? Well, if they are looking for something they aren't going to find it. I'm getting out of here! ^_^
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Operation "Escape Housekeeping" has been Initiated
Well, I did it. I applied for another job. After a year and a half doing housekeeping in this hospital, and several years of cleaning houses before that, I'm finally trying to make a career change. I am super excited about it! The job I applied for will allow me to use the skills I learned in class back in February. I really hope it works out.
Of course back then, when I was taking the class, my supervisors found some excuse to give me a warning. This stopped me from transferring to another field back then. Now everything should be cleared for me to transfer...if my boss gives the approval. Right now I'm kind of holding my breath. I swear, some of the people in authority at my job seem to enjoy trying to ruin my life. Not sure what pleasure they get from it, but I'm am determined not to be repressed. Here's a good example of what I mean...enjoy!
Of course back then, when I was taking the class, my supervisors found some excuse to give me a warning. This stopped me from transferring to another field back then. Now everything should be cleared for me to transfer...if my boss gives the approval. Right now I'm kind of holding my breath. I swear, some of the people in authority at my job seem to enjoy trying to ruin my life. Not sure what pleasure they get from it, but I'm am determined not to be repressed. Here's a good example of what I mean...enjoy!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Volunteering
The hospital put up posters in the elevators advertising their need for volunteers. This colorful poster shows a smiling, happy volunteer as she assists a smiling patient...very nice photo. It describes some of the things volunteers help out with and then makes the statement, "Volunteering is the greatest job you'll never get paid for!"
Is just me, or is that statement not very motivating?
Is just me, or is that statement not very motivating?
All in a Day
I see a lot of interesting or even heartbreaking things within a day at the hospital. Here's a sample of things I witnessed just today...
Caring for crazies - a patient in intensive care sat in her bed mumbling on and on, words that were seldom coherent. Her hands and feet restrained, she began kicking the foot of the bed fiercely in an attempt to escape. Her nurse was able to calm her thankfully. I couldn't help but think that in former times people would have assumed such a person was possessed. Today though, we have more knowledge of things like mental disorders, drug withdraw, ect.
Letting nature take its course - a patient was brought into the ICU from another floor. His health was failing and the doctors realized there was little more they could do. I watched as a family member signed a waiver agreeing to "let nature take its course".
The man with the robot voice - I was a bit startled when I heard a very distinct tin-sounding robot voice coming from the hall. Peering out of the room I had been cleaning, I saw that the sound was indeed coming from a patient. There was obviously something wrong with his throat or vocal cords. He would press a device to his mouth that transmitted the vibrations into actual sound, though the result sounded very artificial. First thought, I'm so glad I have my voice. Second thought, it's wonderful they've created devices like that to help people.
Begging and sobbing - I heard and saw a woman running through the hall, talking on her cell phone and sobbing loudly. She was talking to her mother apparently (not that I was eavesdropping, but seriously everyone could hear). It wasn't a show. It was the sound of true despair and distress. Stuff like that always pulls at my heart, especially when there's nothing I can do about it.
Well...tomorrow is office day so it shouldn't be as exciting. However, that's actually okay with me.
Caring for crazies - a patient in intensive care sat in her bed mumbling on and on, words that were seldom coherent. Her hands and feet restrained, she began kicking the foot of the bed fiercely in an attempt to escape. Her nurse was able to calm her thankfully. I couldn't help but think that in former times people would have assumed such a person was possessed. Today though, we have more knowledge of things like mental disorders, drug withdraw, ect.
Letting nature take its course - a patient was brought into the ICU from another floor. His health was failing and the doctors realized there was little more they could do. I watched as a family member signed a waiver agreeing to "let nature take its course".
The man with the robot voice - I was a bit startled when I heard a very distinct tin-sounding robot voice coming from the hall. Peering out of the room I had been cleaning, I saw that the sound was indeed coming from a patient. There was obviously something wrong with his throat or vocal cords. He would press a device to his mouth that transmitted the vibrations into actual sound, though the result sounded very artificial. First thought, I'm so glad I have my voice. Second thought, it's wonderful they've created devices like that to help people.
Begging and sobbing - I heard and saw a woman running through the hall, talking on her cell phone and sobbing loudly. She was talking to her mother apparently (not that I was eavesdropping, but seriously everyone could hear). It wasn't a show. It was the sound of true despair and distress. Stuff like that always pulls at my heart, especially when there's nothing I can do about it.
Well...tomorrow is office day so it shouldn't be as exciting. However, that's actually okay with me.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Firing Nurses Isn't Groovy
So the hospital I work at is one of many owned by the Hospital Corporation of America or HCA. And recently, more and more HCA hospitals are becoming unionized. Our hospital became unionized last fall and the unions are still working on our initial contracts to begin changing working conditions. Anyway...there are two unions involved: National Nurses United is for RNs and 1199SEIU for all non-RN staff (people like me). Both of these unions frequently post flyers in our break rooms to notify us of what is going on in bargaining or in other unionized hospitals around the country. Today, one such flyer caught my eye...
This flyer said that in an HCA-affiliated hospital in Texas, seven nurses were recently fired. The reason? These nurses worked in the ICU and they refused to accept an additional assignment that in their professional judgment was unsafe.
Hospital management demanded the nurses, who in the ICU provide constant care for the hospital’s most severely ill patients, take on additional duties of temporary charge nurse, who make clinical assignments for patients and staff on the floor, and code team assignments, which can require them to rush to other hospital floors to assist with patients – leaving their own ICU patients and their ICU charge duties behind.
In addition, when the chief nursing officer was notified by email of HR's decision to threaten termination of the nurses, his response was, "Groovy". So today, RNs at the hospital where I work were passing out stickers that read: "Firing Nurses isn't groovy". Sounds like they might be wearing these stickers to the next union bargaining session.
This flyer said that in an HCA-affiliated hospital in Texas, seven nurses were recently fired. The reason? These nurses worked in the ICU and they refused to accept an additional assignment that in their professional judgment was unsafe.
Hospital management demanded the nurses, who in the ICU provide constant care for the hospital’s most severely ill patients, take on additional duties of temporary charge nurse, who make clinical assignments for patients and staff on the floor, and code team assignments, which can require them to rush to other hospital floors to assist with patients – leaving their own ICU patients and their ICU charge duties behind.
In addition, when the chief nursing officer was notified by email of HR's decision to threaten termination of the nurses, his response was, "Groovy". So today, RNs at the hospital where I work were passing out stickers that read: "Firing Nurses isn't groovy". Sounds like they might be wearing these stickers to the next union bargaining session.
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