Hello you (unintentionally!) neglected readers!
Turns out that when you go from part-time, set your own schedule work to full-time work with set hours, you have less time to update your blog! So yes, I've been working straight on through up at the hospital. I finished up with the "Older People's Health" department on Friday and am now onto learning the Audiology department (which, incidentally also is responsible for Podiatry and Speech and Language Therapy.) I am just here for 4 days to train so that they have someone to cover when needed.
Two things I've learned about working in the public health system: nobody has enough time or resources to do what they need to do; and there is way too much paper! I had a little training session on a new computer application they have that will allow GP's to refer patients electronically rather than by fax or mail. Wow, such a great idea! Until..."Step 4: Print out the referral...." Oh well. I think they are trying. So it's one of those places where there are so many little processes because once you enter this piece of paper onto two or three different computer applications (that don't speak to each other) then you have to stamp it and put it here or here and send a copy there... which means I have to make lots of notes leading to yet again, more paper!
All is well up there for me though. I am getting to know more people and moving around to different departments definitely helps that out. I'm not sure where I am next week but have a stint coming up in the day surgery ward, admitting and discharging people and whatever paperwork around that is needed.
Over at Dustin's worksite they have upped the hours (because a 44 hour week isn't long enough!) because they are behind and this project is supposed to be done by the end of October. So instead of 7:30-5pm daily with pressure to work Saturdays from 7:30-11am, it's now a 7am start! (With yes, the pressure to still work Saturday mornings.) They pushed for a 5:30pm end as well but the superintendent put his foot down. But he seems to be the reason they are so far behind.
But this weekend we both took Friday off for a vacation! We head to Palmerston North for Friday night and along the way we are planning to tour "one of the largest saleyards in the Southern Hemisphere" and then do a horse trek in the afternoon. That one's weather permitting though and there's rain forecast so maybe if it's rained out we'll hit up the rugby museum! Mostly we are stopping in Palmy because initially we weren't sure if Dustin would get the day off and I didn't want to get to Wellington at 10 or 11pm (it's between 4-5 hours driving) so this city is slightly out of the way but it's larger than the others that are on the way so had more accommodation options. (Which is a kind way of saying nobody goes to this city for a holiday. It's not a bad city but it's a uni-town and doesn't really have much else going on. But being as close to "halfway" as there is, it works.) Then Saturday we head down to Wellington to catch the All Blacks take on Argentina - which is hyped to be a great game! According to one of the wings,“It's the most important tournament in the history of rugby in Argentina.” Not only that but an ex-All Blacks coach has been advising the team as well! The drama! Then we head back home on Sunday. It's all very exciting!
We have been looking at the first step in applying for residency lately. Watch this space for more on that. Turns out we'll have nearly ten hours of driving to discuss this over the coming weekend.
But with comedy and music like this, how could we not want to stay?
Even the sign on the wall says, "Why not moovethere?"
Turns out that when you go from part-time, set your own schedule work to full-time work with set hours, you have less time to update your blog! So yes, I've been working straight on through up at the hospital. I finished up with the "Older People's Health" department on Friday and am now onto learning the Audiology department (which, incidentally also is responsible for Podiatry and Speech and Language Therapy.) I am just here for 4 days to train so that they have someone to cover when needed.
Two things I've learned about working in the public health system: nobody has enough time or resources to do what they need to do; and there is way too much paper! I had a little training session on a new computer application they have that will allow GP's to refer patients electronically rather than by fax or mail. Wow, such a great idea! Until..."Step 4: Print out the referral...." Oh well. I think they are trying. So it's one of those places where there are so many little processes because once you enter this piece of paper onto two or three different computer applications (that don't speak to each other) then you have to stamp it and put it here or here and send a copy there... which means I have to make lots of notes leading to yet again, more paper!
All is well up there for me though. I am getting to know more people and moving around to different departments definitely helps that out. I'm not sure where I am next week but have a stint coming up in the day surgery ward, admitting and discharging people and whatever paperwork around that is needed.
Over at Dustin's worksite they have upped the hours (because a 44 hour week isn't long enough!) because they are behind and this project is supposed to be done by the end of October. So instead of 7:30-5pm daily with pressure to work Saturdays from 7:30-11am, it's now a 7am start! (With yes, the pressure to still work Saturday mornings.) They pushed for a 5:30pm end as well but the superintendent put his foot down. But he seems to be the reason they are so far behind.
But this weekend we both took Friday off for a vacation! We head to Palmerston North for Friday night and along the way we are planning to tour "one of the largest saleyards in the Southern Hemisphere" and then do a horse trek in the afternoon. That one's weather permitting though and there's rain forecast so maybe if it's rained out we'll hit up the rugby museum! Mostly we are stopping in Palmy because initially we weren't sure if Dustin would get the day off and I didn't want to get to Wellington at 10 or 11pm (it's between 4-5 hours driving) so this city is slightly out of the way but it's larger than the others that are on the way so had more accommodation options. (Which is a kind way of saying nobody goes to this city for a holiday. It's not a bad city but it's a uni-town and doesn't really have much else going on. But being as close to "halfway" as there is, it works.) Then Saturday we head down to Wellington to catch the All Blacks take on Argentina - which is hyped to be a great game! According to one of the wings,“It's the most important tournament in the history of rugby in Argentina.” Not only that but an ex-All Blacks coach has been advising the team as well! The drama! Then we head back home on Sunday. It's all very exciting!
We have been looking at the first step in applying for residency lately. Watch this space for more on that. Turns out we'll have nearly ten hours of driving to discuss this over the coming weekend.
But with comedy and music like this, how could we not want to stay?
Even the sign on the wall says, "Why not moove
Duuuude, that is so excited about residency! Yes, definitely keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that everything is going so well - especially on your end with the new job :) Although those hours on Dustin's end are a little bonkers. Hopefully they ease up a little heading into October.
How was the mini-break?
xx
V.