Obviously it's not red enough...

I had my job interview yesterday. It went really well, but it was emotionally and mentally grueling. Here's few of the questions I had to answer:

1. Tell me about the most difficult patient you've had and how you dealt with them...
*You will be pleased to know that I didn't say "Avoided them as much as possible." Or, "Gave them a Texas sized dose of pain medicine when they asked for it." Some nurses may call that an angel dose. I call it Texas-sized...After 12 years in that state, I'm sure you understand.

2. Tell me about a confrontation you had with a coworker and how you handled it.
*Again, you will be pleased to note that I avoided saying "I stuck my tongue out at them behind their back."

3. Tell me about a confrontation you've had with a doctor and how you handled it.
*Let's see. Which one? How about the cardiovascular surgeon who hung up on me over and over and over in front of a family member when I was trying to give him some information about a change in a patient's status, and he wouldn't let me finish. I just continued to call him right back and give him facts. Or how about the same surgeon telling me that I can do what he tells me to do, even if it's not in the nursing scope of practice, because he's the doctor, and he ordered it, therefore, I have to do it? I continued to refuse to do it, to which he responded by calling me "difficult to work with, and deliberately insubordinate" and many other things. I responded to that by writing him up. He had to go before a physician review board for trying to make nurses do things they are not covered under their license to do. Or what about the time a doctor yelled at me that I "almost killed his *&%-ing patient" when I gave an ordered medication that the patient had an adverse reaction to? Okay that one, I cried. Hard. I mean, had to leave the floor, and hide in the break room cried. Believe me, I was already worried and stressed, and I didn't need him attacking me for something unexpected happening.

4. Tell me what you would do if you saw a coworker doing something unethical.

5. Tell me about your most challenging (health wise) patient, and how you handled it.

6. Tell me about the worst day of work you've ever had, and how you handled it.

7. Tell me about the best boss you've ever had, and why they were the best boss.

8. Tell me why the sky is blue.

9. Tell me why you want to work at our hospital.

10. Tell me why you're a nurse.

11. Tell me why, tell me why, tell me why....

It was exhausting.

I left there drained, and pretty sure they liked me, but also pretty sure I wouldn't get an offer. The really needed a full time position, and did not feel they would be allowed by administration to hire someone part time. I figured, "Oh well, it never hurts to flex your brain in an interview, and that closes that door."

Of course, they called and left a message saying they want to offer me the job.

Dang. That wasn't the response you expected was it?

Now I have to make a decision. Of course, some of that decision will be based on money. Their original offer was not enough for me to switch jobs and switch to night shift on top of that. It will also be based on if I can get my 2 shifts back to back. It is too hard to work one night on, one night off, one night on.

It was weird, because almost as soon as I walked in, I had felt like I wasn't going to work there. I felt pretty certain of it all through the interview as I sat in an ugly, window-less office, with no decorations. They even had a metal door! I understand this is the "county" hospital. But metal office doors? It felt very penitentiary....And I felt bad even basing a decision based on decorations. I don't usually decide if I like a place, or if I'm going to work at a place right off. It seemed strange to have that conviction so quick after walking in. I don't know what to do now. I will pray about it, and let you know.

So. All I know is this: I colored my hair red. But it obviously isn't red enough, because now I can't make up my mind. I told my mom that I was actually annoyed when they offered me the job, because now I have to make a decision, where I was relieved when I thought I'd never get the job. Mom said, "Andrea. When you apply for a job, you have to make a decision."

Duh.

I know that.

I was just sort of relieved for a while when I thought I wouldn't have to make one.

Who likes to make decisions?

Not me.

Unless, again, it's coloring my hair. And that's not usually a deeply thought out decision. It's quick, it's final, but it's temporary. Hair will grow out. Color will fade. It may take a while, but it's just hair.

Other decisions are more permanent.

So, I'm thinking I should have gone for the brighter red. I'm sure my decision making would be more clear. However, since I learned the hard way several years ago that color can't lift color (duh), I will refrain from trying that!

Topic change:

My oldest daughter's teachers give them the questions they are going to ask on the test the next day. Literally. They have them take out work sheets from the material the test will be over. They circle or highlight the questions that will be covered on the test. Then, my daughter comes home, reads through them like twice, and then I quiz her. Lo and behold she makes a 100 every time. My daughter said the teachers want everyone to make A's. This seems kind of like padding your test scores. But, I don't know.

Is this normal?