Human pincushion Part II

To all my friends with children, PLEASE BELIEVE THEM when they say their arms hurt after a tetanus shot! I did my arm workouts and everything yesterday, and my left arm is still very stiff.

Anyhoo, my appointment at the hospital was more than just for the free vaccines and blood draws. I got to sign my contracts! Yes, there are more than one.

• One contract for the position of an RN in the Mother-Baby Unit.

• One contract for my position in the new graduate residency class starting in February.

• One hours-agreement contract for my position in the Mother Baby Unit for the time period between December 15, 2008 and February 2, 2009. I think I'll probably be working 12-hr day shifts.

• One hours-agreement contract for my position as a Resident RN for the time period between February 2, 2009 and April 27, 2009. I'll be working either 12-hour or 8-hour shifts during the residency.

• One hours-agreement contract for my position as an RN in the Mother-Baby Unit following the successful completion of my residency program, starting April 27, 2009. That's when I'll start working my 32-hr a week, 8-hr night shifts.

There were a bunch of other documents, too. The HR representative reviewing my new-hire paperwork with me took one look at it all and said, "My God, you have a lot to sign!" No kidding.

I also got to take my ID badge picture, which looks like a mug shot because I took my glasses off and the curmudgeonly security guard (whom everyone else was calling Sarge) didn't tell me he was taking my picture. But that's okay, because it has a nice big sticker on it that identifies me as an OB nurse -- which makes me so happy! It's kind of hard not to feel like I'm in some sort of elite nursing club.

OB nurses, unite!