Carmina Lifestyle Survey for Nursing

I have known my best friend since college growing up in California and we have been keeping in touch. 

We tend to get drawn away and not realize what type of profession our friends go through to get where they are and Carmina made a survey for those who wanted to participate and let other be able to understand what line of work they do.

SURVEY FROM CARMINA LIFESTYLE

1. As a college student what was it like graduating and finding you're first job.

2. How did you decide upon getting a job toward working?

3. How did you find the job?

Answers to 1-3

It was exhilarating to finally graduate, but at the same time nerve-racking from having to study again for the NCLEX. It went well at first attempt, but finding a job in 1993 was very hard due to the recession. I had my heart set on working in an acute care hospital anywhere in California that offered a New Grad Program, but to no available. I even applied as far as Texas and New York. It was in New York that I received several offers. However, New York did not pan out because I got pregnant. My mother-in-law was so against us (my husband & I) moving to New York for the main reason that we had no family there to turn to. Glad we listened and stayed in Fremont. I ended up working in long-term care/sub-acute facilities in the Tri-City area.  

4. What are the questions the company asks during the interview?

The common questions asked by the Nurse Recruiters revolved mostly around what jobs I had taken on in the past; what made me decide to be a Nurse; my accomplishments, strengths, & weaknesses; specific challenges that I'd come across with in life and what I had done to overcome them; what I could contribute to make the facility better; future goals for further education & advancement. Clinical scenarios were always thrown in and what nursing interventions I'd apply in the given situations. 

5. How does the company treat you on your first day?

6. Does the treatment change after years of working for the company?

7. What are the hours of shifts working?

8. How many employees are working per department?

9. How did you get promoted to the next level assistant/supervisor/manager?

10. What are the responsibilities?

11. How do people look up to you when you're once in the beginning being in a lower position being high level candidate?

Answers 5-11

It was a chaotic first day at work. My preceptor was so focused on her tasks that she hardly said a word to me. I was told to just follow, watch her, and reserve any questions at the end of the shift. I couldn't wait to work on my own and navigate my way of getting the tasks done more efficiently than what I was shown. I was fresh out of college and was full of unconventional ideas that the bosses took notice of and incorporated them into our practice. My co-workers seemed receptive to the changes, but in their eyes, I was still a newbie and had a lot to learn. I worked variable shifts in the sub-acute unit along with a nursing assistant, a physical therapist, and an occupational therapist. My first job was not a good fit for me so I hopped around several nursing homes in the Bay Area and took on various roles from being the Primary Nurse, Wound Nurse, Charge Nurse, Resource Nurse, & Supervisor. The responsibilities revolved around keeping the patients safe at all times and keeping the units well-staffed. As colleagues, we respected one another irrespective of our titles. 

12. What changes occur in your job?

Policies and protocols were always reviewed, revised, and updated. 

13. Do you have staff selling items inside the office?

Only perishable items were allowed to be sold. Majority of us led busy lives raising our children that we had no time to cook or bake for the potlucks. The moms, dads, aunts, uncles, or grandparents of our Filipino co-workers did all the cooking and baking for us. All we ever had to do was prepare the tables for the array of scrumptious Filipino dishes. 

14. Is there a rule or regulations to obey?

As with any institution, there are always rules and regulations to follow whether they are favorable or not. 

15. Name the departments and explain what job factor are they related to?

16. Which one have you've experience with?

17. Which one you had a difficult time?

18. The ones you've liked before?

Answers 15-18

A team of nurses, doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, dietitians, care coordinators, housekeepers, nursing assistants, dietary assistants, & spiritual coordinators to name a few all work collaboratively to provide individualized and comprehensive patient care. Goals varied from helping the patients get back to their optimal level of functioning; manage their diseases; provide palliative or end-of-life care. I've had the honor of being at the bedside during birth, recuperation period, dying, and death. Personally, the hardest had to have been taking care of patients dying with no one, but yourself, at the bedside to hold their hands before they die. As a young nurse, I was excited to float from one unit to another and soak in the learning experiences thrown my way. In 2008, I decided to take on a home unit at the Birthing Center as a Postpartum Nurse and I've loved every moment of it (being able to hold a newborn and teach the parents the basics). 

19. Base on your work experience what can you bring along with you as a tool to use for your life experiences.

Life is fleeting. If one chooses to not take care of his/her body, one is bound to have heath issues eventually. So respect and nourish the only body you have if you desire a long and healthy life. More importantly, invest your time, energy, and love on the people who matter to you because near the end of life, those people are the ones who will be at your bedside holding your hands as you transition to the afterlife.

20. If you can choose and can return back from your life to make changes what is that you would like to do and why?

I had a painful childhood, but the love and support of my grandmothers and aunts carried me through into adulthood with very little resentment and much appreciation for the lessons along the way. I came out stronger with a forgiving and grateful heart. I am thankful for what was, what is, what will be.

21. Who is someone you admire, and why?

I admire Confucius. I live by his quotes.

    a. What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.

    b. Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.

    c. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

    d. Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. 

22. Tell me three pet peeves.

My pet peeves: people who are selfish, boastful, and unkind.

23. What is the typical day like for you?

I always start and end my day praising God for another day; cook breakfast/lunch/dinner  while listening to the Daily TV Mass; do yoga; shower; work or (hike up Mission Peak or sew something on my days off; volunteer feed the homeless every Wednesday); shower; eat; sleep. 

24. Do you have any skills or talents that most people don't know about?

Most people don't know that I do upcycling. 

25. If you could be anywhere other than here, right this minute, where would you be? (Don't over think it!)

I'd like to be in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

26. If we went to happy hour, what would you order?

I'll have a tall glass of pink lemonade with fried garlic chicken wings.

27. Finish this sentence. On Sunday mornings, you can usually find me

On Sunday mornings, you can usually find me listening to Christian music while sewing. 

28. How do you want people to remember you?

That I had shown them kindness.

29. What do you think are the best skills that you bring to your job?

Organization skills.

30. Name three words that describe you.

Three words to describe me: stubborn, driven, and sentimental

31. How do you think your colleagues would describe you?

My colleagues would describe me as someone very private, quiet, and calm.

32. What do you want to make sure before you die?

Last rites in the presence of my loved ones will have to be done before I die. Red lipstick on also, please. 

33. What's a goal you have for yourself that you want to accomplish in the next year?

I want to learn more about sewing: fabrics, needles, tips & tricks, etc.

34. What publication do you regular read?

I mostly read nursing journals.

35. What are you happiest doing, when your not working?

When I'm not working, I enjoy baking, hiking, and sewing.

36. What are some cause you care about?

I volunteer to feed the homeless in the Tri-City area. 

37. What do you do with your friends on your spare time?

I don't hang out with friends (from work). Everyone is so busy with their own lives. Two of my friends are impossible to hang out with due to distance. One lives in Florida while you are in the Philippines. 

38. What would be your personal motto?

My personal motto: Live simply with kindness and gratefulness. 

Base on my best friend nothing has been change from all her answers and in life we learn new things from what you never realize after reading their life experience while working off from college.

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Thank you.