A JOB!!!

I NOW HAVE A JOB! :) Yay!! I got a call last Tuesday from Cindy (my new boss) asking if I would be interested in an interview for a job in the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) at St. Marks Hospital. I said, "Most definitely!". So we got the interview set up for the very next day which I think she was impressed with how quickly I just dropped everything (which isn't much going on these days) to go to Utah for an interview. Jackson had to work the day of the interview and had to go to school and take finals so I asked my mom if she would come with me for the ride and support. This has been like my 4th interview and the interviews in the past have been so depressing lately. Plus thats a long drive to just sit and think about the upcoming interview. So my mom was great and was able to drop everything and leave work to come with me. Thanx mom!

So the next day arrived, and boy was I glad she came with me! There is no way I would have found that hospital by myself with out her navigating me through all the traffic. St. Marks is like right in the middle of everything, or so it seems that way. So we made it to the interview, my mom stayed in the Lobby while I took the elevator up to TCU. I was a bit early and had to wait about 10-15 minutes which felt like forever, constantly looking at my phone!

The interview than began with the start of a handshake. Cindy's first question was asking me to tell her a little bit about myself. So I started with school, and what colleges I've gone to and why I became a nurse in the first place (talking about my birth defect TEF). I also mentioned that I know what it's like to be the patient and how I'm the type to go the extra mile to help out my future patients as far as being able to go get a glass of water instead of asking the CNA to do it, or more 1 on 1 patient care, or just talking to the patient. Cindy seemed pretty happy about all that and said, "Oh, thats exactly what I wanted to hear!". So she than said that some of the reasons why she picked me for an interview out of the other applicants where for two reasons; 1. I had experience as far as being the patient, 2. I have worked as a CNA for the last 5 years. Which made me smile big because her focus wasn't the experience but more patient care. Cindy than said that a lot of the nurses there on the floor are kind of older and are attached to there ways of assessing the patient and than leaving to go to the nurses station and chart there. She said they have computers in the patients rooms now and want documentation to happen in the patients room so that the nurse can have more 1 on 1 time with the patient. She also said that the older nurses are use to paper charting and that they just needed some young blood there in the unit and she feels that RN's that have that CNA experience will bring great nursing to the floor cause they practice that 1 on 1 care in that type of work. Well than Cindy and I started sharing past stories of nursing experiences that have affected our lives for the better and there was no stressful communication between us at all, we were both smiling and so relaxed, even joking around a bit. It was a GREAT interview that went so well! By the end of the interview, she said "You have a really great chance at getting this job, your exactly what we want." Which made my day! Than she gave me a tour of the unit and introduced me to lots of people. Afterwards, she asked me if I would be interested in doing pre-paperwork down in HR and get a urine test/drug test done to save me another trip to Utah, which I totally agreed to do it! Just to help get me more in the system. :) Cindy stayed down in HR with me for quite a bit and helped out anyway she could. Than she was sitting by me while I was doing the paperwork and said "Just off the record, the job is most likely yours, you'll find out sometime by next week." Which just made my day even more! It was great! So after finishing all the paperwork and running around for the drug testing it was 5:00PM and ready to get going.

I got off the elevator and walked to the lobby, saw my mom, and with smiles on both our faces we hugged! My mom said that the longer I was gone the more she thought that the interview was going very well. So we left and were able to find parking at temple square. We got something to eat and than saw the Christmas lights! It was a great night and I kept thinking about the future and what life would be like to finally start working and living in a new area with Jackson. So exciting to finally feel REALLY good about an interview.

So the next 5 days were long or so it felt that way for me. I was holding onto my phone non-stop hoping for a call. I did get two phone calls from different units at the hospital in North Dakota asking if I was still interested in an interview, which they were both really nice and understood that I was waiting on Salt Lake. So Tuesday arrived and I got the call!! The best phone call yet! Cindy and I both sounded so happy on the phone as we were talking about my future job and the details, than she wished me a Merry Christmas and I said "Well, you just made my Christmas!" (Both laughed) It was great! :) So I start orientation on January 16th and have tonz to do by than. Jackson and I couldn't be more happier. Luckily there is a WinCo in Salt Lake or really close by that Jackson is going to hopefully transfer to and while working there start applying for other jobs in Salt Lake where he could possibly use his degree or get his foot in the door to a different job that could give him more experience and better opportunities.

I just want to Thank Everyone for the prayers that have been said lately on our behalf, I was honestly beginning to lose hope and seemed to be crying all the time. I know that those prayers helped this interview go so well. In fact someone called me later today telling me Congrats and she told me how she's been praying a lot for me lately, which I didn't think to realize that she as well as other people could be praying for me. Hearing that made me realize how blessed I am to know so many great people that have thought of us and prayed for us. I know that with faith, prayers, and lots of "patience" our hopes and desires can be fulfilled. I can't wait to start work and make a difference in the lives of those future patients I care for.