Will somebody just look at my arm?!
Yesterday finished up most of my training, which was mainly policy stuff, but I also toured the island a bit driving an ambulance. Their nicer model was locked without keys, so we took the rickety converted-van model that wasn't used in service anymore. I didn't have to worry about speeding too much cause I don't think it could have gone above 55 mph anyway.
With a new job I always like to compare how much more I'm making than I was at my first job. Mainly I do it because I started out with such a low-paying job as a summer camp counselor at St. Andrew's. They got away with paying $4.25/hr with a 30-hr work week. So after two regular days (8-5) at Galveston EMS, I've made the equivalent of a week's pay as a counselor! I know I'm really in it for the experience, but the money's a plus considering I've been running pretty dry as of late.
I got a tuberculosis skin test on Wed. with my immunization shots, and it needed to be read today. They just stick ya with some antigens to see if it turns into a white bump. They (Galveston Health District) were going to be closed today so they said to go to UTMB's ER to have a nurse read it. I figured if it only takes a nurse, I can just run up the street to get it read. Two hours later, I've visited 6 different reception desks along 1960 only to hear they either can't do it (no nurses that can read it) or won't do it (since they didn't administer the test). I finally get some nurse to check it out to which she looks at my arm, rubs over it, and says, "They bruised you a little, but it looks negative. Where do I sign?" Took 1 minute. I could have just forged it cause it looked negative (no bump), but I'm not "officially trained." It's like taking medicine to make your hair grow. If I'm still bald, I know it didn't work, but I have to get a doctor to say it didn't work. A little frustrating.
Just waiting for Crystal to come get me to go up to Dallas to see Elizabeth...
With a new job I always like to compare how much more I'm making than I was at my first job. Mainly I do it because I started out with such a low-paying job as a summer camp counselor at St. Andrew's. They got away with paying $4.25/hr with a 30-hr work week. So after two regular days (8-5) at Galveston EMS, I've made the equivalent of a week's pay as a counselor! I know I'm really in it for the experience, but the money's a plus considering I've been running pretty dry as of late.
I got a tuberculosis skin test on Wed. with my immunization shots, and it needed to be read today. They just stick ya with some antigens to see if it turns into a white bump. They (Galveston Health District) were going to be closed today so they said to go to UTMB's ER to have a nurse read it. I figured if it only takes a nurse, I can just run up the street to get it read. Two hours later, I've visited 6 different reception desks along 1960 only to hear they either can't do it (no nurses that can read it) or won't do it (since they didn't administer the test). I finally get some nurse to check it out to which she looks at my arm, rubs over it, and says, "They bruised you a little, but it looks negative. Where do I sign?" Took 1 minute. I could have just forged it cause it looked negative (no bump), but I'm not "officially trained." It's like taking medicine to make your hair grow. If I'm still bald, I know it didn't work, but I have to get a doctor to say it didn't work. A little frustrating.
Just waiting for Crystal to come get me to go up to Dallas to see Elizabeth...