So I just got the phone call (and the email) about where I’ll be working at next year ….
[drum roll]
It’s the Grace General Hospital, aka hospital #3. A larger community hospital (thus, no medical residents/students) located somwhat on the west side of town.
I did not get to go to St Boniface hospital. I haven’t been able to get ahold of the resident I think will have gotten that position (she had been trained to do work shifts there).
There was also a little confusion, because I had initially been placed at the hospital where I currently do my work shifts (the Health Science Centre), but I got a call from the health region’s pharmacy director who said he realized he’d made an error just after sending out the email announcements. He mentioned that Health Sciences had ranked me quite highly (of course, I thought, I do my work shifts there), as had the Grace and also St. Boniface. But I had put restrictions on Health Sciences (i.e. not ICU because I don’t think I can handle the shift work … 12 hour days and 12 hour nights). And had I actually been placed at Health Sciences, they likely would have placed me in the ICU.
Although I didn’t get my first choice, I do think the Grace will a great place to work. The staff are all quite young, they seem to have a good clinical program up and running, and there are also lots of new plans in the works.
But I think I will also have to move – more like I want to move. I’m down in the south end of town so it’d be much better to be a tad closer to work. So I’ll be apartment hunting once again.
PS – It’s Kimmer’s bday tomorrow. If you see her, give her a great big hug or send her flowers or take her out for coffee. Hope you have a wonderful day Kimmer!!! :)
Tonight, after dinner and lying on the couch watching “Hurried Women Syndrome” on Balance: Television for living well, and before that a long bath with a good book (Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella), and before that finally returning to the gym (today was lower body), and before that sleeping in ….
Tonight I went for a walk. A walk with a purpose. I figured I really should get to Safeway to pick up a few items I saw in the flyer. I also needed to stop at Shopper’s because they have ‘facial tissues’ in these really nice striped boxes, and ‘cuz it really sucks not having ‘facial tissues’ in the bathroom. So I also decided that it was time to take out the garbage and recycling. So I loaded up both arms, and bundled up – since it was fairly cool and blustery this morning. After dropping everything in the apartment hallway, I finally managed to make it outside – only to find that it was one of those amazing spring/summer evenings – the sun just setting, geese flying, people visiting in their apartments, couples stepping out of the local restaurant after a good meal. I dropped stuff again as I crossed the parking lot. A guy, outside for a smoke, offered to help – but, of course I said I could manage. And finally everything got to its place.
My walk went fine. Safeway was still open. They didn’t have any of the Jones’ soda I like (I prefer Fufu Berry, Fruit Punch, or Fun …. but I’m finding the selection here in the ‘Peg very limited). Shoppers is open until midnight, so I wasn’t worried about getting there. Both are about a 5 minute walk.
I realize that I don’t get out enough. Or perhaps, I don’t get out as often as I used to. Last year, I used to walk or bike to university everyday. (Biking on ice in the winter is quite the adventure.) Now, I rarely do any sort of outside activity. However, I am quite proficient at the stairs at work.
So here’s to summer: picnics and frisbee and going to the lake and lying on the beach and sunsets and campfires and friends and family.
So I now have to decide my preference for work next year. (I’ve agreed to stay in Windy-peg for another 12 months.)
My current choices are:
1) Major teaching hospital
2) Smaller (in comparison to #1) teaching hospital, awesome staff
3) Medium sized community hospital (much smaller than #2), great staff,
4) Small sized community hospital
Pros / Cons
*teaching hospitals: you get to work with med students and residents, lots of teaching and educational opportunities, opportunities for specialization
*community hospitals: smaller staff, no residents (i.e. a bit less fixing of common mistakes/omissions), a bit more freedom to do things (less beaurocracy), less technology / access to information
Order of current preference:
#1 = (2)
#2 & #3 = (3) & (1) (not sure on the order)
#4 = (4)
Although, sometimes I think (2) isn’t really #1 preference.
Hmmm, decisions like this are tough. Confounding everything is, despite our preferences, they are going to put us where they want us anyway. From what I gather, the other two residents don’t want to go to (3) or (4). The higher ups have said that at least one of the residents will be going to either (3) or (4). That leaves me. So if I put (3) as preference #2, I’m likely going to go there (although, I do see a lot of good things going on there). But if I put it as preference #3 who knows. One of the residents really really would like to go to (2), as would I–thus, some competition. The third resident is A-OK with going to (1), which I’m a bit hesitant to do.
My brain is going crazy trying to figure out what to do and what I think other people are going to do. And truth be told, I really don’t know where I want to go. But my preferences need to be in ASAP.
In a comment by Martha K onReal Live Preacher
“Being a member isn’t just busying your hands doing things for the church; it’s needing the church to reach out its arms and embrace you.”
temerity [noun]
reckless boldness; rashness
