Panic just about over.

Started my new job on Tuesday and so far so good.
I really enjoyed my first 4 days and found out that the job is a lot more involved than I first thought!
I am actually classed as a 'clinical' worker. I thought that because I wasn't medically trained then I would be classed as a 'non-clinical worker'. I turns out that I will eventually be trained in taking a full set of observations and taking out canula's etc.

This week though I just followed another Family care assistant around while she showed me the ropes.
I changed beds, took patients and families up the theatre, helped with the dinner rounds, generally made sure parents were happy, got to know a lot of the people I will be working with and yesterday I got to cuddle, change and feed premature twins. That was the highlight of the week!

Anyway, next week I have my Trust induction training and because I am a 'clinical' worker my training is over three days.
On Monday it will consist of the obligatory welcome and all the boring bits like pension and payroll, occupational health and incident reporting etc. There is a little medical training on infusion pumps and obs later in the day.
On Tuesday I will be doing CPR including paeds, learing how to maually handle patients including a practical and finishing the day with tissue viability.
On Wednesday I will be doing Infection control, learning about coping with a major incident, blood transfusions, Fire evacuation, dietetics and Oxygen.   

After that it's all on the job training and just getting on with it.
It was a very quite week on the ward but everytime I said the word 'quiet' everyone said 'NO' don't say that word!!!! The word you are looking for is 'calm'.
Although it was generally busy with lots of tooing and frowing, it wasn't manic. There were no serious emergencies from A+E, just a couple of broken arms and even the day surgeries were regular but not manic.
I suppose technically this is actually a good thing!
I have been told that winter is the worst time and it can get extremely busy. So I'd bettered take it all in now so that I know what I'm doing when it comes to the crunch!

My youngest daughter (paramedic Dharma) is over the moon with Mummy's new job and she wants me to teach her everything I learn. She still wants to be a paramedic and if she keeps going the way she is whe won't need any training to do it!!!
How many 6 year olds know what an 'AMBU' bag is?
Come to think of it, how many adults know what an 'AMBU' bag is?
Well Dharma does. God help us!

I am so glad I walked out of Eon when I had the chance.
I am now in a job where I feel I am actually helping people and at the end of the day I'm not stressing over problems that I have to keep check on the next day.
Speaking of 'walking' I must have walked MILES over the last few days.  My feet and legs are really complaining today!
All the walking up and down the wards and trips to the various theatres really racks up the miles and combined with the 'heat' in the hospital I've actually lost about 3 pounds over the last 4 days without really trying.
I haven't changed my diet in any way.
I think that if I actually tweek my diet a little and cut out the alcohol and crisps and cut down on the red meat then I should steadily and safely lose wieght continuously. That little black dress in October next year is looking more and more viable.
Time will tell.