Job search & Interviews

So my job search has been going strong for awhile now, but without much response. I've used every connection I have and still have more to get in touch with after I finish my internship this week. Yes, this is my final week of my internship! I did my case study presentation today and have my final project presentation on Wednesday. My last day is Thursday.....then vacation to the outer banks with my family :)


But back to the job search....I have realized that I will most likely (greater than 75% chance) have to move. I was kinda bummed out last week when I realized one of the child life specialists at the hospital is not moving anymore, so no job opening there as hoped. Levine's (the other main children's hospital here) is only hiring PRN (as needed, less hours than part time). So needless to say, I had my moment of tears about moving, but am excited to report that I have my first interview tomorrow!!!! I have a phone interview with MUSC Children's Hospital in Charleston, SC at 8:30am (EST). So send happy thoughts and prayers tomorrow please :) It would be such a huge blessing if I was able to find a job so quickly in this economy. Not to mention the huge weight of stress gone that accompanies job searching and not knowing where I will be living! Thanks :)

On other news...I am in my last week at the pediatric hematology and oncology clinic. I can't believe how fast this summer went! I am really enjoying the clinic and have gotten to know a few families well who come on a regular basis several times a week for treatment. I've really enjoyed this summer and still am totally confident that this is the career I am meant for. It has been truly rewarding this far and I am trusting God will guide me in the right direction for a job after this week.

Some lyrics that reflect what I am trying to remind myself about this process: (Hands and Feet, Audio Adrenaline)
I want to be your hands
I want to be your feet
I'll go where you send me
I'll go where you send me

Posted in: , , on Monday, August 31, 2009 at at 6:13 PM 0 comments  

Things I have survived this summer

I can't believe that I have seen some really gross/bloody/yucky/cool medical things this summer and have not passed out yet! Go me! So far no vomit---let's hope I don't jinx myself here!



Just a few.....
-Enema in the ER on an almost 4-yr old that wasn't potty trained--yuck! (we actually had 2 enema patients in 1 day--but thankfully I wasn't there for the 2nd one!)
-Surgery to remove and replace a port in a little girl's chest (to access blood, administer meds, etc)
-Bone marrow aspiration/biopsy
-Lots of IV sticks and blood draws
-Lumbar puncture
-Dressing change on an open surgery wound in a child's abdomen
-Stitches and Dermabond for cuts/lacerations (several of these in the ER)
-EEG (to monitor brain activity for seizures, etc)..this is not that gross, but smells really bad when they put the glue and electrodes on the head
-Breathing treatments


Maybe watching ER back in the day and Grey's Anatomy now has paid off hehe ;)

Posted in: , on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at at 4:23 PM 0 comments  

Sorry it's been awhile

I haven't updated in awhile. In the meanwhile I've been busy finishing up my rotation on the Pediatric floor, visiting my family in LA, job searching, and starting a new rotation in the Pediatric Emergency Department (Peds ED).


Let me just say that my eyes have been even more opened by just 2 days in the Peds ED. In between real emergency situations, there are the kids that come in with pink eye or a cold. Seriously! The most "exciting" situation in my first week was a small infant that came in with a really high heartrate and a really high fever. The doctor put a bag of ice on the baby's head to try and lower the heart rate. Ended up that he just had a UTI--all that drama for just a UTI haha! Overall though I really like the ED since you never know what your day will be like and it's usually nonstop. The hours are a little different...some days I work til 7pm and others til 10pm. So that has been an adjustment! No more early hours though :)

This past week we got to go on the Community Cruiser and help with Big Shot Day. This is a bus that the hospital sends to underprivileged areas to provide free healthcare. This day was just for kids to get their shots for school, etc. My job was to provide distraction and support while the kiddos got the shots. Fun times!

Another cool thing I got to do last week was go to Camp Care at Lake Lure (where parts of Dirty Dancing were filmed). This is at Camp Lurecrest--they have a special week each summer for kids with cancer and their siblings to come to camp. It was so much fun! And you would never have guessed any of those kiddos were sick. Only a few bald heads out of over 100 kids. They were all just having fun being kids at summer camp. It was definitely a fun experience and I was worn out afterwards :)

In other news, my job search is in full force. I've applied to several jobs in various locations, but nothing coming to fruition yet. My next approach is to start calling hospitals and speaking directly to the Child Life department to send them my resume and totally bypass HR. So we'll see. I just have 5 weeks left--so keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer that a job shows up somewhere soon!

Posted in: , , , on Sunday, August 2, 2009 at at 3:28 PM 1 comments  

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