It has been a hectic 2 weeks juggling 2 jobs at the moment. I have started my orientation at the chronic hemodialysis unit . My 2 days per week orientation has been a good experience... So far, the staff  have been very good at showing me the the ropes.  Dialysis procedure/principle is the same whichever unit you go. The only difference is the unit's policy and procedure, the machines. They are using the most ancient Cobe 3 which I  worked on 6 years ago,  so I have to go through it again and  familiarize myself on how things are to be done. There were a lot of Filipino nurses there. The manager is also Filipino. I was kind of hesitant to work when I knew they are more than 60% of the entire staff. Having a Filipino manager 10 years ago was not good for my physical and mental well being. I hope my impression would serve me wrong. The day they called me in for an interview way back in July, I told Human Resource that I am interested in out-patient hemo, and not acute in-patient ( working in ICU, telemetry etc, in the hospital). When I had my second interview with the manager, I told her too, loud and clear, that I am only interested in chronic.  I  found out 2 weeks ago, the manager told me I was hired for Acute in-patient. Now, what in the  world did she say ? I told her what the deal was in the first place. She said there is no open position in chronic.  I was so  infuriated, I don't have any acute setting experience.  I will have to learn apheresis, CRRT, etc, etc, etc.!  I will die! When I got home that day, I have simmered down and thought about things. I have been in my protective shell for years now that maybe I should try to go out from my comfort zone! I will take this challenge and see how far I could go! I will be learning new things, meet new people. There is a bigger world out there, plus they are giving me an excellent rate and it's close to home! So here I am, trying  this new adventure! I am so glad Tom has been so patient and understanding. I have no time to do laundry, go grocery shopping, or to at least try/ pretend to cook ( he knows I don't know how to ). I am so exhausted at the end of the day. He made dinner last night and bought me a long stemmed rose. That was so sweet ! I  have been working 6 days per week, but will have to go for 5 days/ week next schedule.

My manager in Davita has been very good to me and has agreed to take me down to 30H/week. My manager does not want me to resign as of yet. She told me to  test the waters first, and if I won't like it, I still have my regular job  to go back to. This 40- minute drive each way to work is the only main thing why I am trying this. If not for the distance,  I am all set .

 Accepting the torch, from Geri to me

            3 things you don't know about me...

1. I was once one of the back-up dancers of DingDong Avanzado and Rachel Alejandro when they were touring  Bohol. I was in nursing school then, maybe my junior year. We were always called on to dance on special occassions like SVD day, Founders day, presidents day, etc. So our clinical instructor asked me and 4 others if we could be back up dancers. It is too funny now that I think about it. My brother told me he would deny me as his sister if  I accept, hahaha!! He was in a band , played the drums and sometimes did vocals. He always told me it would hurt his popularity  ! He could not stand the fact that I will be up there strutting our stuff over OPM songs. We always have the same taste in music; the Cure, Pearl Jam, Nirvana etc, that he thought it would be a disgrace to our taste... ahhh, too funny!!!! After many nights of weighing the pros-cons, all 5 of us accepted. We had a lot of late, late night dance rehearsals, and wardrobe planning . We were paid a decent amount of money. Oh my God, it is so, so funny, I can't help it!

2. I freak out if I take money out from my savings. I always think that what if  I get sick and not work for a month? How will I pay my bills?  I am obssessed at putting money in for a rainy day...It scares me just to think about not saving for my future. I always make it a habit that if I plan to buy something bigger, I make sure I have the money for it by working an extra day or two. Not taking money from my savings is the rule!!

3. In nursing school, in our psychiatric nursing class, our teacher talked about obssessive-compulsive behaviors. My classmates made fun of me, telling me that I am a classic example. Which, okey, I accept, but not to the extreme of the extremes. I accept that I frequently wash my hands, triple checking everything ; doors ,lights, the electric iron, medications, charts... It is no big deal, right? They say I am  the real "Niles Crane",  of the sitcom Frasier. The funny thing is , this is my favorite show. It left a scar when they were pulled out from primetime tv.  Thank goodness for reruns ! All of us have our own compulsions. Are you kidding me?