Everyone is familiar with the saying "looks can be deceiving!" Before accepting my job in Az, I googled West Valley Hospital, and this is what appeared. Does not look too bad right? It's a newer hospital, pictures look good, sound like a good facility how bad could it be? Well it didn't take me even an entire 12 hour shift to figure out this is going to be a very long, interesting possibly frustrating 13 weeks!90% of the those working there are travelers or agency, meaning that very few are staff members.. meaning.. there are very few people dumb enough to stay as staff members there! This was quickly realized when it was 10 am on my first day at work, and I was behind in my work (which I usually never am) all because of the stupid little obsticales I was running into at this place they call a hospital. I need a doctor quick.. well let me walk around five time to find a list of the doctor I need to page. I page the doctor tell the secretary I paged Dr.. Something with last name starting with an "A" since I cannot say any of their names. When Dr. "A" calls back, I purpose my problem to him.. only to realize he is talking to fast and in what sounds like anything but English and get the response.. "I cannot do that for you,I am the hospitalist you need to call the renal doctor, you will need to call them." So then it's off to find that doctor.
Its one o clock, I realize I have been running around busy all morning with hourly vitals only to realize me and my friend Kim are the only ones actually going in the room to check on the patient every hour and get vitals. Everyone else is taking them from the computer. No wonder they can work days in a row.. we need a day in between because we actually work! Activity?? Whats that? People looked at me like I had three eyes when I asked to get a patient up to the chair that was on a ventilator. "We don't do that around here." Need a medication quickly... i.e. emergency.. good luck with that.. we are only ICU nurses not even allowed access to all emergency meds.. let's hope if your a patient in that hospital you are not actually very sick.. if you are.. say your prayers.
If you couldn't tell by now, I am full of a little bit of sarcasim about this new job. I don't know what I expected but it was not this.. It's obvious I am going to need to make a few adjustments. My type A personality that likes perfection and organization at my job, may have to take a back seat for the next 13 weeks. Maybe this is the perfect oppurtunity of the life example I need to learn... learn to accept the things I cannot change... i.e. RELAX and stress less!!! It will be interesting to see how this goes...
