Getting The Second Assignment
So, although it just doesn't seem possible, a few days before July, here we are trying to get into our next assignment. This has proved to be an interesting ordeal already. We'd come to the conclusion that while we have been very pleased with the Y, it would be nice to have a change of scenery and head up to New Hampshire. Well, that fell through, and not in just the casual, oh-well sort of way that such things can fall through. Since it has indeed fallen through and there is no need to hide the name, we were interested in Dartmouth, which is a 350-bed teaching hospital in Lebanon, NH, associated with the school there. It's really in the middle of nowhere, but that would have been fine, as the outdoor surroundings would have allowed plenty of hiking and biking and camping, a change from the urban life. Once we settled on going there, I was focused on it and couldn't have imagined being turned down, especially by a small hospital urgently needing nurses.
Our recruiter requested evals from our current managers, which took an exceptionally long time to obtain. Even before they were submitted, my manager stopped me the other morning in the conference room to tell me that they'd already re-signed Jess and I. I was taken aback, I didn't see that coming, and didn't know really what to say. I must have looked a little stunned, because someone in the background said, "Well, don't act too happy!" At that time, Dartmouth was certain in my mind, so I thanked her and got out of the situation. Apparently they'd caught wind of our eval requests and were trying to head us off from leaving, which is a compliment of sorts.
Later that day, our evals came through and were sent on to Dartmouth. I received an unexpected call from our recruiter late in the afternoon, bearing bad news. Apparently, Dartmouth turned me down cold. They weren't interested in an interview or more information. They didn't care that I had 3 1/2 years experience in 1000-bed hospitals. They decided I didn't have enough neuro and trauma experience, and that was that. I didn't even get a chance to talk to them, they just weren't interested. So much for Dartmouth.
It was pretty insulting, really. Surely I would have more experience than all the new grads they have to hire at the end of August. I felt pretty disheartened by it; were they having a bad day, or PMS? Does my skills checklist suck that bad? I've moved on, and am not really that sure why I was so insulted, I just know that I felt pretty angry about it, as well as disappointed. Ironically, a nurse we had directed towards applying for the job to did get an interview and accepted, and is heading up there soon, for $41.50 an hour. Nice. Rub it in.
So, we're still looking for the job. There is a job in Wisconsin for $38 an hour. I am not sure I want to go to Wisconsin, though. I've been looking forward to being in New England for the fall. Apparently the Y wants us to re-sign, so that is always an option, and probably the best one at this time. I wouldn't mind staying for sure, our units have been great, and we would still be in New England for the fall.
Then today, after my terribly busy night, somehow I managed to have all my meds done, all my orders finished, and the patient and room looking clean for the most part, not an easy task considering the pile of orders I had to dig through. The patient had stabilized and turned around. Of course, I had much help from my neighbors (another reason to stay at the Y), especially with my abandoned patient, but it felt good to leave that mess in decent order. Then the nurse I gave report to, a seasoned nurse who has been working there for a long time, asked me whether I was going to sign another contract. She told me that I was the best traveler they've had in a long time, which had me stammering again. While I doubt that everyone in the unit would agree with that statement, it was the kind of compliment that I needed, a boost in a time that I been having some doubts. I was very grateful for that.
Until next time, be safe.
