Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Hibernation

My blog has been hibernating for all of December and the greater part of January.  I wish I could say the same for myself!  I have continued working full time as a tech and now as a clerk.  January has brought a huge spike in the hospital census with flu season and many overtime hours for hospital staff.  My first day as the solitary tech had the highest census I had ever worked with-I thought it was a joke.  It wasn't.  However, I got through it.  Beginning my professional career as a tech during the busy season  is extremely difficult but makes me feel confident I can do anything! 

I have also been working as the dietary clerk when needed.  To refresh your memory, the clerk is in charge of checking and printing meal tickets and running tray line.  The hours are very very early; I start at 5 AM.  However, I find this position very enjoyable and the time seems to go by very fast.  Tray lines can have up to 130 trays and last anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half when it gets busy.  As luck would not have it, my first day as the solitary tech was the highest census the hospital has seen.  Bring it on!

I have also been undergoing the ever so daunting task of applying to distance dietetic internships.  The application process requires that I find preceptors and facilities where I can do clinical, community, and food service rotations.  It has been rather stressful, but I am a couple agreement forms and paragraphs on my letter of intent to completion! Everything must be done by February 15, which is 16 days away-yikes!

I'm busy busy busy with work, applying to internships, and pretending to have a social life (pretending is easier than living one when you go to bed at 8:00).  I'm also very happy!  Transitioning into the professional world was hard for me at first.  I missed my college friends, college town, and college lifestyle immensely.  Now I am happy to be challenging myself at work everyday with new diet orders and patients.  I can't believe I'm getting paid to learn and gain experience to become a dietitian someday.  The work I'm doing reinforces my desire for an RD after my name and future in dietetics.

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