So let me bring you up to speed.
I'm in demand at work: a lot of staff have been going out on leave of absences or taking vacations, so I've been racking up days left and right. Most weeks I have 5 days booked; some weeks I end up with 6 days. I have to be careful not to hit OT though because while I'm in demand, they're not desperate enough to want to pay me OT.
I accepted one potentially long-term assignment, which turned out to only be a couple of months because the nurse I was covering for returned from leave early. So they were thinking about shifting me to another long-term assignment but they only wanted to book me for a month or two at a time...which meant that when another unit requested me for a long-term assignment coming up this summer, I was available for it and said Yes.
The first unit is now kicking themselves because they had blown their chance. The second unit is trying to adopt me. I have a guaranteed assignment starting in mid-June through October, with the potential to continue on to a very long-term part-time assignment past that.
I admit, I am intrigued because of all the units I work on, it's one of my favorites. But then again, I'm still deciding if I want to accept a permanent position by the fall and if I do, there's a chance I won't be able to work this.
I'm now kind of torn about getting any permanent position. On one hand, I want the stability. On the other hand, it'd be a major pay cut and loss of flexibility. Right now I'm getting enough work to make staying float pool a real possibility...but it wasn't but a few months ago that things were on the famine side. *sigh*
I'm still working inpatient NOCs at the hospital in town. I find that I'm liking it very much, and they're liking me very much too. The shift isn't too bad as far as family life goes either, because they're 8 hour NOCs, not 12s. Going NOC, either as permanent staff or float pool, is also a real possibility.
And that sums up Job 1.
Job #3 remembered I existed and wants me for three weeks. I said Yes, of course. While Job #3 isn't quite my favorite (not enough patient interaction for my taste), I am in Job #3's system which is a very hard healthcare system to crack into. So I will do whatever it takes to stay in it and maximize my career options.
Job 2...well, I think that's come to an end, though I haven't officially broken up with my agency. I should do that this week. I don't want to sever all times, but I do want to let them know that I'm off the market for now and maybe may return in the future.
I got sick. Laryngitis. Whee. And I had to be coordinating nurse on the unit that NOC shift...which was fine until it was time for me to tape report.
The littler one also got sick with a stomach bug. Not so whee as the child can vomit like the world is ending. Seriously, he would wake up out of a sound sleep, yack, roll over and go back to sleep. I had to call out of work for several days.
And then I got sick again...well, not sick sick. But constantly tired, itchy, rashes on my arms, losing some more hair than usual...so I go to the doctor tomorrow for an evaluation.
Part 2 of the ER nursing class went well. It would hectic and tough, but I got my A-. I'm looking at when to schedule the preceptorship.
I ran a half-marathon. Well, walked/ran. It wasn't my best time but I finished it...and this year, I got a finisher's medal! I already registered for next year's version.
I went on vacation to see my closest friend and her family. I got another tattoo while I was there.
And then NTI is coming up. I will be there in a working capacity for the forum, so if you're going and want to see what a Meriwhen looks like, here is your chance. However, it's on you to figure out which one there is me.
Busy indeed.
I'm enjoying this weekend off because next month I won't have a single weekend free: because of the scheduling requirements for Job 1 and the fact that Job 3 is strictly Monday-Friday, I had to put in for several weekend shifts just to meet my required availability. The joys of per-diem life...
