Seeing Red.

The second day of Orientation, I stepped off the employee elevator, heading toward the computer lab. To accomplish this, one must enter the back of the hospital, find the employees elevator, step off the elevator on to the trauma floor (ER, radiology, Surgery, ICU all on one floor), wander the maze quickly enough to appear like you know where you're going (which I did), and exit to the front of the hospital (where the public was allowed to wait) out a certain door that would land you directly in front of the Trophy which is in fact a turn-key that takes you to the Dark lord! Just kidding, it opens directly to the computer lab.

I'm marching through the maze, congratulating myself for managing the obstacle that easily defeated me the day before. The door reveals itself right in front of me (shouldn't there have been another turn?), and I reach out to push the button that opens to just outside the computer lab, when a voice behind me says, "Can I help you?". I turn to answer, and see the thick red line on the floor. Hospital signage meaning DO NOT CROSS. On the other side are the operating rooms. Uhh, oops.

Red face.

I now sneak through those halls and look around the corners to make sure I don't run into those nurses again. Just kidding. but not really.

That same day we discussed Red Tape. Documentation. Also known as COVER YOUR ASS. My friends and I have discussed the amount of paper work that we have to complete in order to call ourselves Registered Nurses, however the amount of documentation that really takes place during the day is ridiculous. I wanted to be a nurse to provide care for people, not to wonder if I don't do a perfect triple backwards flip through this hoop, will we be reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid, or any other tight-assed insurance company? Sign here, and here, and here, and make sure you click here and here and here. Now clock out so you don't have overtime. Overtime is not authorized. Money, money, money. It's the ultimate motivator.

Maybe once I figure out the system, I will feel more comfortable. I just want to provide care to people.

I didn't mean to rant, it's just discouraging. That's all, folks. Sorry.