I have the blahs. I called Big Hospital on Friday and hectored the HR people this time. The nice lady tapped on the keyboard and said HR had recorded that I wanted to work ONLY in one department and that my file had been sent there. The nurse manager would contact me IF there were PRN positions. I told her I would like to work anywhere but OB and peds, so she forwarded my file along to other departments as well. Not that there is any time left in the summer now for job training even if something turns up. I am so freaking bitter. Only one department? How much time does it take to respond to phone messages and e-mails so a month of someone’s time isn’t wasted? Nursing education should include instruction on how to hit hospitals early and hard if you want a prayer of actual employment at one.
It doesn’t matter financially because I am editing, at which I probably make in an hour what I’d make in 5 or 6 hours of labor as a tech. I am very grateful for that. I just fear that I am now far behind the experience curve. Many of my classmates are working in hospitals or have been CNAs for years. My online class discussion board is filled with conversation about working at hospitals. I want to scream. Is it personal? The HR people at hospitals just hate ME? Gah. I know they are just busy and that my timing was wrong for getting a summer job, but I still worry. Chin up. There are worse things than a summer off. I will get plenty of experience in clinicals. There’s always NEXT summer. Some students never have hospital jobs until they are RNs. Sigh.
Beyond this, though, I’m in a stage in which I’m just sick of the whole IDEA of nursing and school. I feel tired just thinking about going back to school next month. I wonder why I am spending so much money to enter a career in which I will be overworked, underpaid, and unappreciated, not to mention vomited on and verbally abused (by both patients and other staff; well, THAT happens in any job—the verbal abuse by staff, not the vomiting). I am in a mood. I probably need to “get back in the saddle” and it will all be fine. After all, I have had time to go out and listen to the abundance of good live music in my town, play with Photoshop, work about a million crossword puzzles, learn to meditate, listen to music constantly, and read a bunch of brain-candy books (also saw the new Harry Potter movie yesterday). I should concentrate on these bits of life, because “life” disappears once nursing school starts. Am I right or am I right?
You are totally right. And nice looking drink, too!
If last year was any indication, you’ll be fine once you get back to school. You’re just a little stir crazy. It would have been nice to be working in a hospital, but you’re right, it isn’t crucial.
~Raven
My feelings are best summed up by a monologue from Resevoir Dogs when Harvey Keitel’s character says….”Piss on [those] fuc-in’ turds!” (that was my mary catherine gallagher impression for you)
So, drink up and take advantage!