Interview and Phlebotomy Class

The July 2012 Ultimate Blog Challenge is now over, and I am so happy to say that I FINISHED IT! I did 31 posts in July, met a lot of really cool people, and drew more traffic to my blog. It was a great experience! It was really hard finding something to post about every day, but I managed. I don't know if I'll do this again, but I am looking forward to keeping up with the blogs that I discovered during this challenge!! I am definitely going to back down on the number of posts I do. At least keep it at one a week, though!

Yesterday seemed like a big day for me! I had my very first phone interview (ever) for a company that I REALLY want to work for -- ARUP Labs. I am interested in the laboratory sciences and I want to see if this is going to be the right fit for me. If this is going to be the degree I pursue when I start taking classes again at the U. I think it's an environment that fits perfectly with how I work and what interests me.
I think that the interview went fairly well, actually. I was SUPER nervous about it before. I finally got my nerves calmed down but right after he called, I couldn't stop shaking! I tried to stay confident and have a strong voice. I hope it showed! Of course there were a few questions that after I answered I was smacking my forehead about because I didn't give a very strong example or answer to.... But overall I thought I made a good impression. I hope my enthusiasm for the position showed. I REALLY want to get an interview so that I can talk about my qualifications and make an impression on the hiring manager. Prayers are appreciated.. you have no idea how very, VERY badly I want this job. That I at least want a CHANCE to have this job. I have the potential to get 2 interviews... I hope at least one comes through, if not both!!!

Yesterday was also my first phlebotomy class! I was pretty excited for this. Something that I kind of jumped into without knowing if it would be something I could actually do, or would enjoy doing. But I'm so happy to say that I REALLY liked the first class! There are only 4 of us and so we each have a partner and have a lot of 1-on-1 with the 2 instructors! It's going to be REALLY beneficial.
We watched a 45 minute long video about proper technique and the needles and equipment used and such. And then we did our thing:

We learned and practiced how to tie tourniquets. Now let me say I've tied them on myself several times (my leg lol) waiting around for doctors or nurses. And I've messed around with them a lot. But I never thought it'd be so confusing doing it to someone else! lol I finally got the hang of it, but it still confuses me. HA! After getting the tourniquets tired on we palpated and tried to feel the three veins. Easy enough for me... My partner was a muscular guy who's veins really stuck out! ha!

I do have to say that I feel sorry for people who are my partner. I haven't had blood drawn in quite awhile and so I'm sure my veins have recovered and aren't as bad as they used to be. But I still have very small veins, and I have a lot of scarring, so even if they do feel the "good" veins... chances are it's a scarred one. I'm a little nervous for the sticks on me. lol

We then were handed our needles and a banana to practice! We practiced angle and depth of the needle. It was hard for me at first because I couldn't keep my hand steady! but it got easier over time. Thankfully it was a banana who took the sticks..... If bananas could bruise I'm sure it'd be black and blue by now! haha!

Next week we get our books and we will each do two sticks! AHH! The instructors are going to be right beside us, guiding us. Basically them doing the sticking and us following ;-) I am REALLY excited, but so nervous! And as I said, I think I'm more nervous for someone trying to draw blood on me rather than me poking them! Eeek! Trying to practice on my banana as much as I can :-P