On Monday I went back to work for the first time after a 3 year hiatus. During those three years I’d undergone a major operation on my neck and 30 radiotherapy treatments for thyroid cancer, and also had been looking after my 92 year old mother until her death earlier this year. I was now, of my own choice, a medical secretary for 2 days per week, covering for holiday leave and sickness in any department where I was needed.
It felt strange walking to the hospital from where most staff park their cars for free (too many staff and visitors and not enough parking spaces at the hospital). It’s about a mile from the rugby club’s authorised parking area to the hospital, and as I walked I noticed a twinge in my left knee that hadn’t been there 3 years previously. Nevertheless, still determined as ever not to take the courtesy shuttle bus, I carried on walking, trusty rucksack on my back, and waved at cars honking at me, recognising some of my son’s friends as they went on their way to work.
Just for that day I had training on the new I.T system. In the future it is hoped that the hospital will be entirely paperless, but at the moment this task is about halfway complete. I must admit that the new system left my head spinning after only about half an hour. At the age of nearly 60 it takes longer for me to assimilate any new information, and the trainer was moving along at an alarming pace. I even left my umbrella in the training room, so ‘moggidored’ was I with 3 hours of unfamiliar exercises to do.
Next came the visit to I.T for a password to log into the system. I didn’t have an I.D badge as the machine had broken that very day. No I.D badge = no password, and so I came away slightly annoyed that I’d have to drive over there again on Thursday to have my photo taken and badge prepared before I can start earning any wages.
All in all not a very good start! Hopefully in time I’ll get used to the new system and can actually be productive again. At the moment I’m dreading that first day in one of the offices where I’ll have to keep asking ‘How do I do this?’ Over the years I’ve had many secretaries asking me the same question on the old system, but now I feel just like a newbie. Nothing is familiar except the hospital corridors; I must have walked hundreds of miles along them in my 13 years there.
So… there’ll be less time for blogging and writing, but going back to work is something I want to do. There’s something satisfying about earning your own money, enjoying your job, and feeling like a normal and useful member of society again. I don’t care that I’m working in a hospital, just as long as I’m not staying in there as a patient!
dgkaye said:
Good for you Stevie! I’m sure you’ll catch on just fine. But I’m sure it will cut down your writing time. 🙂
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Stevie Turner said:
Probably will, but at the moment I’m not working on anything in particular.
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dgkaye said:
Brain rest is good too. 🙂
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Stevie Turner said:
I need some inspiration for my next novel. A change is as good as a rest!
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dgkaye said:
Absolutely! 🙂
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Damyanti Biswas said:
All the best with your new role, and congratulations! We’ll all be here, so blog and write when you’re able.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Damyanti. I won’t desert you all I promise!
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Bernadette said:
You have endured and triumphed over many obstacles far more heartbreaking and frightening than learning new technology in the workplace. I know your learning curve will be short. Good luck on this change in direction of your life.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Bernadette. I shall remember this as I sit at my new desk!
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franklparker said:
It’s nearly 11 years since I retired. I did get a temporary full time job when I was 67 (which included setting up an IT system for a small public sector organisation). And I still find myself looking at sits vac in the local paper and thinking ‘I could do that’. But I’m glad to have the freedom to do what I like (at least, when I’m not doing my share of the housework!).
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Stevie Turner said:
It remains to be seen whether I get to grips with the new system, but I’m grateful to have been given the chance at the advanced age of almost 60!
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Darlene said:
All the best Stevie. You will soon know the new system well and others will be asking you what to do! I retired 3 years ago and really miss work so I understand wanting to go back. Had we stayed in Canada I´m sure I would have asked for replacement work as well.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Darlene. I do hope I’ll soon learn the new system. However, the older I get the longer I find it takes to learn anything.
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Darlene said:
Me too!! But we persevere.
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Sue Vincent said:
Congratulations, tevei. That’s a triumph and a half before you’ve even got started 🙂
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Sue.
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Sue Vincent said:
I really must get a new keyboard… 😉
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jenanita01 said:
I wouldn’t like to go back to work again, I’m far too old! I can appreciate the feeling of being useful again, though!
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Stevie Turner said:
Just want to be normal for a change.
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jenanita01 said:
I can totally relate with that. As I am so retired now, I may never be that normal again!
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jenanita01 said:
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for the re-blog!
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Jessica Bakkers said:
Good on you Stevie! I’m sure the ‘newness’ of it all will wear off soon.
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Stevie Turner said:
Hope so.
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Clive said:
I retired nearly four years ago and promised myself I’d never work again, so I admire your determination to go back to it. Good luck, I hope it goes well for you.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Clive.
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thejuicenut said:
Very brave starting over and having to be the newbie again, good luck, hope it goes better on Thursday 😊👊🏻
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Stevie Turner said:
Let’s hope!
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Richard Ankers said:
Good for you, Stevie. 🙂
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Felicia Denise said:
Congratulations and good luck to you, Stevie! I know you’ll be fine. You write books… so you can do anything! 😉
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Stevie Turner said:
Ha ha!
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