First day of work.

         So today I ventured out into deep southern Alberta (well at least to me it is)...Magrath, to start my new job. I took on a new job as an RN teaching co-workers and lab techs around southern Alberta about a new initiative re: introducing new glucometers.  Alberta Health Services is hoping to have this glucometer in all health locations by the end of March. All of the nurses need to be educated on how this new glucometer works, its benefits, readings, functions and looks. Which means I'm driving around to different locations, giving the same lecture about these glucometers until everyone is educated. This is also part of an intitiative to go "E-People" in all of Alberta. This pretty much means to be able to scan all the patient ID codes as well as employee ones, be more efficient, go paperless and save time. (Ontario is WAY ahead on this one!)
          So first to drop off the little guy. Packed him in and trucked him off to Leanna V's place. She is awesome! Super great with James and always willing to babysit. After dropping him off and saying sweet goodbye's (from my side - James was already off crawling to the toys), I stepped in my vehicle for my first work adventure. The weather was not typical Alberta weather. It was gray and dreary but thankfully no snow. So I drove off the Magrath and was told by my supervisor that the hospital was the place where we were going to meet. So, ok sounds simple enough. I get to Magrath and drive right thru in about 0.3 seconds. Was that Magrath??? Couldn't be! Keep driving Jeanette....so I drove another 8 kms till I saw one of those handy green signs on the side of the road that tell you where you are approximately...and Magrath was on the other side of the road on that green sign! Shoot! I missed it. Ok turn around...that must have been Magrath...hmm never seen a H sign. So off I go and finally take the exit and head into "town". Which actually wasn't too bad once I drove deeper into main street. They even have a post office. Now to find the hospital. Well I'm not one to waste time especially when it's my first day at work, so I parked at the pharmacy (yes they had one - I was excited too!). If anyone would know where the hospital was, its the pharmacist right? I walked up and waited patiently (things take a little longer out here) till finally someone walked up to me and asked how they could help. "Is there a hospital in Magrath?" "A Hospital?? Uhm, no, not in Magrath." By this time, my heart is pumping harder and I'm starting to nervously sweat. "Ok, so uhm, well is there something like a hospital in the area?" "Ummm, yes there is the Good Samaritan home, is that what you mean?"  I don't know what I mean anymore..."Ya sure that's the one." "Ok, well you turn left and head down till you hit 2nd Ave North, turn right and it's on your left." Ok thanks a lot...cause that helped. That's the only straw I got to pull so off I head to the Good Samaritan place. Drove up the drive and thought ya this looks legit, hopped out and asked the lady at the front desk if there is a meeting at 1:30 re: glucometers scheduled here. Yes she says...phew. Got the right place. "I'll show you the room". Once she left, I went to the next room because I had noticed some people working there and asked them if they knew anything about the glucometer initiative and they said yup we're going to be educated. Good now I knew for sure I was at the right place. About to walk away, they ask, "So you here to be educated too?" You have to realize these nurses were all much older than me and probably, viewed me as some novice nurse and can imagine their faces when I respond with, "Actually I'll be teaching you the new protocol." haha :)
            Now to wait for my supervisor to meet me here. She was going to meet me to see how I teach and then after today I can go on my own. Don't you hate that when your boss watches you?
           Anyways after about 1/2 hour of waiting we were ready to go. My supervisor and I went over all our materials before we started the presentation and to her surprise she had forgotten to take fake blood along. That's a problem. "Well maybe I could pick them up - I live 8 minutes away," she says.   YES!! "Uhm ya maybe that's a good idea. I'll start presenting and that way by the time you get back they'll be ready to try out the glucometers." Ok she says and was gone...I started my presentation and all went smooth besides the fact that they consistently had a remark about every other thing I said. Supervisor came back right on time and they all had their hand at the new glucometer machine, then wrote a quiz and I had to sign all of their checklists. I think I handled it well and controlled the group...I feel much more confident for Friday. All in all a fun day and hopefully a relaxing night. We are off to some friends from church tonight.
Have a great night all!