My first official day as Director I got in trouble with security. Very innocently I had left my camera in my bag and when the guard was checking my bag before I was allowed in the building, she confiscated it. I tried to explain that I was the new director of nursing and to call the head of security but I don't speak Dari and her English isn't great. So I accepted the id card and headed into the hospital for orientation. Thankfully the first person I met with was head of security. He was glad that I took the opportunity to test our security procedures. I appreciated his grace and that he was able to retrieve my camera.
After my security orientation I was taken to my new office to meet some of the supervisors. As I was being introduced a mouse ran across the office. I was a little startled and said to the two supervisors; "Um, oh, oh um was that I mouse?" I was trying not to have my first interaction with them be one of panic. They both smiled and said "probably." They must be pretty used to foreigners flipping out. No worries we don't have mice running around the hospital on a regular basis but it's not unheard of to see one every now and then. I appreciate that this one wanted to welcome me and that he wasn't in my apartment.
The rest of the week has consisted of meeting various department heads and learning how our departments interact. It's budget time and we had a very interesting meeting today to discuss salaries and performance evaluations. The average nurse here earns between $180-$300 a month. Night staff work longer hours then day staff because they need to be at work before it gets dark. There is very limited public transportation at night.
The nursing department consists of 104 people; 60 nurses (mostly male), 24 midwives (all women) and 20 patient aids. We are hiring nurses if anyone is interested =)
I am very thankful that we have had steady city power in the evenings all week, my shower drain is unclogged and that each day I learn something new. I am looking forward when I'm not learning so many new things but till then....
Keep Smiling
