Interview and pregnancy!!!

Wow...what a moment in my life... I have so many changes going on in my family...you have no idea! My baby is growing in my belly :) and now is moving and kicking me all the time and I just smile and enjoy those moments...it's the best feeling I have ever experienced!!! We also bought a house, new one, so it's building right and will be ready in Dec 2010. Then a couple of days ago I received a call for an interview for a Nurse researcher position. I have applied for the position just a few days ago....cause I keep searching and applying especially after crazy days at work:).
So yesterday I was in such a great mood with my preparation for the interview. For some people interviews are scary...for me it's a great opportunity for something new. I always take time to get ready, I review all the relevant info, such as my papers that could interest an employer and I usually think through my good and bad experiences. I also love to dress up in a suit and get ready. I'm never nervous on my interviews; in fact it's opposite for me, I'm excited. I think that's why I have never been denied a job YET! My dilemma for this interview was weather I should be telling them upfront that I'm pregnant. So I have researched on line about that and found that of course it's against the law to refuse a job because of pregnancy, but it still can be done...right? Knowing influences the interviewer because of the working time limitation.
So, about today's interview: I wore a black suit with a loose shirt, conservative make up, my black glasses and just a couple of rings. I thought that I'll decide weather to tell or not during the interview, once I know more. The interview went great...the lady was wonderful and I didn't have any problems answering her questions, which I have expected and had ready answers for most of them. Then once I knew that this agency will be my employer, I decided to let them know. Especially that they can give me short contracts such as 2-3 months...which is PERFECT for me right now. I did let her know about my pregnancy at the end, after I got the impression that she was ready to employ me. The interviewer took it very easy and asked me when I'm due and she asked how my pregnancy was going and I said very well and that I'm not sick and don't miss my job shifts.
Anyway, I'm staying positive, even though I'm a bit nervous whether she was influenced by that. G was saying that I shouldn't have said anything, but I feel differently and I feel confident. No matter what happens it wasn't a waste of time. It was another experience and I really do hope that we live in a fair society where pregnancy should not be a barrier in women workforce!!!

I haven't written in a while, but today I had a n urge to write after watching Oprah's show about celebrities and their first jobs. One of them worked at Dairy Queen and of course my memories just overflowed me with my 1st job in Canada. It was DQ, 5 min away form home. I had been only 3 moths in Canada and my English practice was pretty much as old. It was quite a journey with learning everything at the same time: language, the names of different candies, making the DQ cone, Canadian work ethics, communication and customer service. I will never forget my 1st day when I couldn't even understand the simple sentence from my manager: she was asking me to bring a mop. However, she was nice enough to go with me WITH a SMILE and show what she asked me to bring and do. Ooooo I did cry that night...but I did go back and ended up staying there for 2 years while I was studying in school.

Catching up with what is happening with me these days!

It's a beautiful day today! It's sunny and smells like spring outside. I just love today! It's 0520pm. I almost finished cooking something I made up as usual :) and I want to catch up from last posting.

My pregnancy: We are 12 weeks!!! He he...my belly bump just starting to show...but I love this baby so much already. We talk to our baby and can't wait to see her or him!

My work: I've been working independently now for several weeks and I'm LOVING IT! I was worried at first, but I knew that I was more than ready after being with preceptor for 6 months. I was fine on my 1st day, even though it was a crazy day with patient discharge and then admission of day 2 post valve surgery...pretty busy patient. Plus my other patients. So I was running around, but I was not afraid to ask for help and of course I received it and from that day on, I have been absolutely fine, great actually! Now, I am the professional, independent, make my own decisions, and accountable to myself for my actions. I don't have to spend time running around and making sure my preceptor knows everything that is going on with patients. It actually saves a lot of time. I had a couple of rough days, but overall it's been great! Now I feel that I'm a true health care professional. There is always something I'm not sure of, but I'm not in the forest, there are always people around me and they are great. I started to use various resources and of course internet is a big help, especially for a question you feel embarrassed to ask..he he.

My research work with Dr. F: I talked to them about my pregnancy and that I probably would not be able to work since I'm due in Nov. We decided that I will not particularly do the project, but I will help with whatever they need. So I needed to start researching the articles about CVD in Chinese Canadians and Chinese in China. It's hard to work at home, so I went to HI library for a couple of hours. We went for a coffee with E, assistant of Dr.F, such a nice girl! It was a good and productive day. So I just keep researching for now.

Insurance assessments: No more clients yet for now :(, but it's ok with me.

New ideas: We have a very good smoking cessation program at HI where a lot of nurses are working and helping people with education and medication. I found out who is the Dr. So on my way home, I went to find out about him and I talked to a lady from the secretary office and she gave a couple of contacts who would know if they have any employment opportunities. It'd be a great job during pregnancy, 8 hour shifts, and only days. It'd be super to get that job!

When you have options you have a chance for a change!

There are a few new things with me. I sort of started working with Dr.F. with research but no news about a grant yet. We meet once a week, him, his assistant and me. We discuss whatever they work on and I helped with one review project with AMJ article update. This week we met and they proposed something to me. It's a competition for a pilot study...very interesting and Dr.F proposed that I would do the application and introduction to get registered for the competition. I'm very excited!!! I will have to review papers and think about it. If we win, the grant would be release in august. My little dilemma with all of it....I'm pregnant!!! So I'm due November 8th. He he...yeaaah we're 7 weeks. I'm so happy!!! So I have to talk to them and discuss all that.
Another opportunity i got is doing assessment for insurance companies. That was so strange how I found out about it. There is a Russian guy, who works at HI and he came up to me and said "would you be interested in doing assessments?". Of course my answer was "YES" and I was in the middle of something in patient's room; so I came out and gave him my phone number. The bonus of having me for them is that I speak Russian and English since they often have Russian clients. Next thing I know I got a call and had a meeting that week. I had my first client last week. It took me a while to get through with documentation, but I did it, sent it, I still have to get paid, but I'm sure I will. Then we'll see how many clients I'll be getting.
Also, tomorrow I'll be starting on my own, without my great mentor, who I love. She'll be there though. It's a big day for me. I feel as though I can't leave, not until I prove to myself I can do it myself and then I can safely leave whenever I want to because I just know it's not my place, but it is an amazing journey and experience.

So lot's of news and they are all exciting, I almost feel overwhelmed a bit by all of it. However, I love it because when you have options you have a chance for a change!

Today is my GOOD DAY! :)

Today is my GOOD DAY! I finally moved forward a bit! I had an interview with Dr.F in our heart institute. I think I'm getting a job there, but it's very vague, they have to wait until they get a grant for various research projects. We had a great interview I was not nervous, I was fully prepared, I had my resume (even though he didn't asked for it), I printed a few papers I wrote in university. He was impressed and said that he'll review them. We had a great conversation, he explained that they study and work internationally to help reduce CVDs in other countries. They'll work with Russians as well. Right now they work with China, Hungary, and Ukraine. I'm soooo excited! I'm ready to Work and ROLL. As of right now, he offered to start slowly getting into what they are doing and we have to wait for results for funding! If they get it, I'M IN!!! Yeeeeey! I start on 5th!!! I'll definitely follow up on that!
On my way out I was sooo happy I could barely keep out my smile. On the way out of HI, there was a lady selling bracelets from swarowski beads, which I love, and only $10. I said to myslef I have to get since it's a very important and successful day in my career! I got a blue one, it's so pretty and shiny, I'm not taking it off until I know for sure where I end up in a near future! I really do believe that it could be a real start in finding my true passion!!! Cardiology, research, prevention, and international epidemiology...it sounds great to me!!!

An update

I want to update about my job at the hospital. I ended up applying for a temp full time on my floor. I got one interview invitation from about 30 applications I sent, but I work on the day of the interview. It at addiction clinic. I called the guy and he said he might arrange another interview for me, but I doubt that. He will have a few interviews on Fri and in case he won't find a suitable person, then he might e-mail me. We'll see. That's why I had to apply because time is tight and our floor is short on staff. Oh, i almost forgot. I did contact that doctor about cardiology research. So I might have something coming up with him after Feb 17. We'll have a meeting and we'll see. I'm very excited about that!!!

One step at a time

I wanted to follow up on my post regarding CHEO lottery. Unfortunately I didn't win anything. However, I'm happy money went to children hospital not to somebody's pocket, it's for the good cause and that's the reason I bought this expensive lottery in the first place. Nothing's really changed since last post. I still work at the same place, but I have less than a month on my internship program, I have to apply for a position. I have to do it this month. I decided to apply and start working there since nothing has come up yet. I will call one doctor regarding research at our institute and I hope he got a grant for a study and he would take me. I really want it. I did applied different places last week, nothing is heard. G works at his clinic. Since massage therapy is very hard work as well as bed side nursing, we are currently thinking to start another business, but not sure what yet. We're researching for now. We both know our jobs very hard and they don't pay that well for what we do...so we got to do something, but one step at a time!!!