The Good, the Bad & the Unreal

I haven’t divulged too much on the blog about my current situation at work (aka: Hospital A). Things have been difficult for the last few months with many changes in management. Because of that, and a number of other reasons, I started looking for a new job in April.

To my amazement, I was extended a great medical librarian job offer last week; it’s at an eastside hospital (Hospital B), it’s part-time with full benefits, and I can commute via my bike and a commuter bus. With any big decision, prayer is always involved – and I felt good about moving forward. However, with a 50% decrease in hours, Dave & I knew it would be best if I could find another part-time job to supplement that loss, at least for a while.

Since then, I’ve been looking on craigslist, NWjobs and other job sites. During the search, I realized there are a bazillion part-time jobs out there: everything from computer programming to training children on computer literacy, from working as a massage clinic receptionist to walking dogs. If nothing else, I knew I would be in for a new and “interesting” work environment. The one scary variable was how that would affect my schedule; some jobs require working nights and weekends (including Sundays). Not good.

Earlier this week, I attended one of my exit interviews with Hospital A boss, her boss, the vice president and an HR rep. During that intense meeting, in which I delicately delivered the various reasons why I would be departing, the VP suddenly asked if I would be willing to do contract work for them. He said it would be on my terms.

Wow. Maybe dog walking is not in my future.

But there’s more! Yesterday, I received a surprising phone call. My soon-to-be manager had just finished chatting with the information director at Hospital C (another eastside hospital), with which they partner. First of all, my manager said the director was jealous (huh?!) that they hired me before C could get to me (don’t they realize that I’m still new, new, new to this profession? and I’m as green as they come?). Manager B then asked if I would be interested in working for C, contractually, until they could find a replacement. After the initial shock of the jealousy comment, I said I’d talk to C and find out what they needed. Manager B said they would be happy to flex my schedule, as I needed.

Wow (!!!). I couldn’t believe what I had just heard.

The best part of all is that, with both A & C contract jobs, I told them I could help them as long as I could telecommute from home – and they agreed! While I could potentially be serving three libraries at once, and that seems entirely scary and overwhelming, I can do it on my terms.

Note to self – pinch arm to be assured this is not a dream because right now it seems unreal. I guess that adage about good things and 3’s is true.