Here and There

Today was my fifth day in the heart hospital. I have to say, it was not one of my favorite days. It was the same routine as always. Making cigars, listening to nurses, stocking rooms, discharging patients. When I checked into my floor, a woman (perhaps she was a nurse or a specialist) looks at me and says, “Oh, are you volunteering because you want to be a nurse?” From a personal perspective, I am a little tired of people asking this. I have nothing against nurses; in fact, I have utmost respect for them. I could not do their job, every day. Why don’t people ask me if I want to be a Doctor? Specialist? Surgeon? It’s always nurse. If I wanted to be a nurse, I would already be one. I took a class in high school that would have expedited nursing school for me. I took it because I wanted to have some sort of health care exposure and it was the only choice in terms of courses. I have never wanted to be a nurse.

When I reached my floor, I started making cigars (which I’ve concluded, smell like dirty bacon) and overhearing the nurses. Just as in a normal workplace, there are very good employees and there are not-so-good employees. Today, a group of nurses discussed some personal things. Things I doubt I would discuss with close friends. The volume at which they were talking could be overheard by any room on the floor. I felt it was a bit of disrespect for the patients; I did not want to hear it, why would anyone else want to? Among the personal issues, one of the nurses decided to read a “Disgusting Facts” sheet. I wanted to turn and say “Where is the common sense, we are in a hospital!” I did not laugh at the staff’s antics today. I have respect for the job, and the employees that actually do it.

I finished my work about an hour early. No one could give me anything else to do, so they told me to go ahead and head home. I am not gaining any experience; I am not witnessing or learning. I think within the next few weeks I will ask to be moved to a more active floor. The one I am on has given me all I need, I believe.

I’m ready for school to start.  I’ve been jumping through hoops for monthes to get all of my credits sorted out for this upcoming semester.  I was finally able to enroll in courses; organic chemistry, here I come.