I've been trying to get myself to get back in the habit of blogging on a regular basis, but I've been super overwhelmed trying to figure out where to begin. So I looked at my drafts folder, and found that I had one more post about my job as a registrar at St. Marks! So here's this post to try to hold you over until I figure out where the heck to go from here.....I'm open to advice.
Ladies and Gentlemen....the Perks of Being a Registrar: The Final Chapter
- There's always the "class clown" who talks to everyone in the waiting room. Sometimes they're legitimately entertaining and awesome. And sometimes they're just obnoxious and exhausting.
- Those people that ask "who?" every time someone's name is called. Even if it's very clearly not their name. Even when they know who is going to be calling their name.
- Patients who walk into my desk space like it's no big deal. I can't tell you how many times I've had to say "Can I have you just step out from behind the desk? Patient privacy, you know..."
- When techs get feisty with rude patients. There was a lady here for some x-rays who was obviously in a big hurry. She kept asking me how much longer the wait would be, etc. Then after she had them done, she had to stay and wait for the films to be printed to take to her doctor. Of course she asked me to call them and tell them to hurry...so I did. Then after the tech brought them out, the lady just took them and started to leave, and the tech just said to her, "Yeah, you're welcome!" Haha.
- I just helped a gentlemen who was very very tall and quite large, and talked like he was in the mafia. It was kind of terrifying.
- Sometimes when I call a department, and tell them "Hey, it's Megan", they think I'm saying "Hey, it's me again".
- When they do the New Employee Orientation, they take them on a tour of the hospital, and they always stop in front of my doors and show them that this is the waiting area for outpatient labs and procedures. I always feel like I'm on display at a zoo. Slightly awkward.
- Quite often, a tech will come get a patient, and they'll say their name once, fairly quietly, while standing at my desk. And then when no one responds they look at me like, "Well, what did you do with this patient?" Um. Maybe try calling their name loud enough for the entire room to hear...
- I always get patients asking me if I have scissors to cut off their wristbands. It's against policy for me to cut them off, so I just tell them I don't have any scissors. Usually they're fine with it, but one lady just responded with "Seriously?" and looked at me like I said I don't shave my legs. Seriously lady. Go get your own dang scissors.
- A patient had to leave for her doctor's appointment, which was in the building. So she opted to go to that really quickly and then come back. I called the department to let them know the patient was leaving, but I would call them when she returned. They called me 3 times
and came out to make sure the patient hadn't returned yet. Listen people, if I say I'm going to call when they get back, I
will call you when they get back! Have a little faith in the simple lady at the desk.
- When a patient stands at my desk to fill out their paperwork. Yes...I gave you a clipboard to have you hover in front of me for 10 minutes.
- When a patient checks in with me for blood work, I tell them to check in at the window next to me, because that's where the lab is. I have absolutely nothing to do with the lab. Half the time, after I tell them to check in at the lab, the patient will ask me questions like "What's the wait time right now?" or, "How long does the blood test take?". Did I not mention I have nothing to do with the lab? It kills me.
- (After waiting for about 10 minutes) "So if I'm just getting a procedure done, I'm just supposed to wait?" "Yes, they know you're here and will get to you as soon as they can." "Oh, so you guys know what you're doing?" ........okay.
- Two patients are sitting next to each other, and clearly don't know each other. The one comes up to me and whispers "The lady I'm sitting next to is freezing...is there any way you could get a blanket or something for her?" This instance has happened on a few different occasions. It always warms my heart to see a stranger caring for another stranger.
- Sometimes grown men use the word "potty". As in "Excuse me, but is there a potty close by?"
- When patients expect you to fix everything. One lady asked if we had more than one bathroom around here (the one by my waiting room is a single-seater), and I told her that no, the next nearest ones were up by main registration. So she just looked at me and said, "You really should get another one in here. Both me and my husband need to use the restroom, and there's someone in there." And she just looked at me expectantly, like "So, can you get one in here right now?" Sorry...I guess you're going to have to either take a walk to the next nearest loo, or practice some self-control on your bladder.
- Sometimes patients will come down and tell me what they're having done, but they appear empty handed (they're given a sheet of stickers with their name and information at registration). So I'll ask them if they were registered and given stickers, and they will then proceed to pull the folded, beat up sheet from a pocket, purse, etc. What do they think they were given the stickers for? To play with?
This job gave me some good stories. And I worked with some awesome people. But I'm so incredibly happy with the direction my life has taken...even if it means it took me away from Salt Lake :)
