New Direction

I have come to the conclusion that my efforts in obtaining a job in a hospital have been a bit of a waste of time.  I have literally applied to every hospital I know of in the area, or that I am willing to commute to, and its just not gonna happen.  It is all because of experience, and my lack of it.  So, I am taking this job search in a new direction.  I'll still apply at hospitals if I see a position that seems like it could be open to a new graduate, but that will no longer be my main focus.  I have begun the process of applying at long term care facilities.  It is not my ideal, but if it will provide with a paying RN position, I'm just gonna have to put my big girl panties on and deal with it. 

In fact, I needed to turn in an application in person at this one place because they do not have an online application system.  So I stopped in on my lunch break yesterday and figured I'd just hand it over, walk out, and go back to work.  Wrong.  The man at the reception desk stopped me from leaving, clarified that I was an RN, and made a phone call.  Next thing I know I'm walking down a hallway to meet someone who wanted to interview me on the spot.  I was interviewed by the Assistant Director of Nursing, and it went pretty well.  It was definitely a more laid back interview because the woman had a migraine, so the lights were all off exept her desk light.  Pretty sure she used "bitching" a few times.  But my goodness, it was a much needed ego boost after what happened on Friday.  To actually feel like I was making a good impression made me feel so much better.  Of course, she isn't the one who makes the final decision, but still I had a good interview.  It helped lift me out of this bit of a depression I have been in, even if it doesn't result in a job offer. 

However, I am still immensely anxious about the idea of working in a long term care facility.  15+ patients?  I will be doing nothing but passing pills, doing treatments, and documenting and praying I make it out a live!  There are tons of horror stories out there about LTC, and I'd hate for my license to be in jeopardy before I even really get started.  But then I remember I made it through the hell that is nursing school, I can probably handle just about anything now, lol.  I  wish my program gave us a rotation in LTC.  Our entire program is basically how to care for a patient in the hospital setting, yet how many of us have no chances of getting a hospital job right now because the hospitals are all going through merges or job cuts??  They could have prepared us for this aspect of nursing a little better in my opinion.

So, current tally of 100+ (I'm not counting anymore, beyond this, its ridic) applications, 3 interviews, 1 creeper, and zero job offers.

Oh....you want to hear about the creeper do you?  Well, sure, why not!  I work in a dental office currently, and I see dozens of patients every day, and talk to just as many on the phone.  So, its actually a nice place to network as long as you aren't wearing a blinking sign above your head that says "Hire me!!".  So, a male patient that was in the other day happened to work at one of the LTCs in the area that I was considering applying to.  So I just asked him about the staffing, and told him that I was a nurse, and shared my anxiety about LTCs after my CNA clinicals at ManorScare a few years ago.  He gave me his business card, and offered to forward my resume along to the DON.  I thought this was really nice of him.  So I e-mailed him my resume the next day, and right away, I get 3 e-mails back from him.  1st one consisted of saying he was glad to help, and a note to the DON about my resume (guy apparently doesn't know how to use e-mail because this should not have been a combined e-mail).  The 2nd one consisted of him asking me if I was married, but that it was just a joke because HE was married, but that there was always something about nurses ".......".  Then a 3rd e-mail directing me to which website to go to in order to apply for a position.

My biggest problem with this is that while he was trying to pass this off as a joke, it had a sexual tone to it.  I get the whole "naughty nurse" stereotype, and I'm sure there are men who have fantasies about the sexy nurse who passes out lollipops and blow jobs.  However, as a nurse, the ONLY man who is allowed to reference this kind of stereotype to me is my husband.  And 2nd, this stereotype completely disregards the years of sacrifice and tears I cried getting through nursing school.  It is not simply a silly little program where they teach you how to give sponge baths.  It is by far the most challenging thing I have been through in my life.  You are literally learning how to keep doctors from accidentally killing their patients.  This stereotype is offensive because it makes it seem as if nurses are just sluts in scrubs, not intelligent and highly skilled individuals.  I met him in a professional manner, the e-mail was sent in a professional manner, and he turns it into an inappropriate and icky situation.

And of course, just a couple of hours after this happened, I realized I left my cell phone in my car and went downstairs to get it, and guess who is standing at the bottom of the stairs?? Yep, that's right. Good ol' Mr. Creeper.  Who happened to be there with his WIFE and CHILD.  I would be livid if Mike made a joke like this to another woman.  Under normal circumstances, I would have responded to thank him for forwarding my information along, but in this situation, I walked past him as quickly as I could have.  I feel a bit violated, honestly.  This guy received my resume,which has my address, e-mail, and cell phone number on it.  He's not the type of person I want having that information.  It may seem like I am overreacting, and maybe I am, maybe I watch too many unsolved mysteries.  But, this just gave me a gross, violated feeling, and it is what it is. 

I am pretty much turned off at the idea of even applying to this place now because of this.  Which sucks because I'd hate to let some creep ruin a potential job opportunity for me, but I just don't know if its a good idea.  I don't want to put myself into any other situations that could turn into inappropriate messes because of this man.  I pray I'm not at the front desk the next time he comes in for an appointment.

Otherwise, things are good.  Finally getting my hair done on Friday.  I wish I didn't have such anxiety about this, but my intentions of going in at 6 weeks turns into 2 months.  I just fret over it way more than any normal person should.  It's ridiculous.  My hair is actually getting closer to the length that I want it, despite what I know my stylist would say if he saw me.  He'd scold me for sure.  They want you in for trims every so often, and I'm just not compliant.  I am good with my deep conditioning masks, my conditioner, my leave-in conditioner.  Of course I do round brush it everyday, but I don't use the high setting anymore, I only use warm air, and I think its made a big difference.  So, I'm rationalizing my lack of a haircut since the spring time, and I'm sticking to it.

And on a random note: our place smells like vanilla cupcakes when you walk in thanks to the Yankee Candle plug-ins we got a couple of weeks ago.  I love them!