In to the countdown now...

As I take a short break from my 'baking spree' where I've made a batch of chocolate chip cookies, a deep dish apple pie and frozen them as well as set up a cheesecake and two batches of scones to be finished off later. Let me chronicle the events of my final full work week in the foreseeable future. My flight out of here is Thursday afternoon and the abbreviated week will also see my former job partner, now Nurse in Charge aka Boss Woman arriving on Tuesday from Tuktoyuktuk where is she is presently filling in. This will give us a chance to catch up in depth on work and other things and I have saved some of my goodies - cheese, smoked oysters and triscuits followed by smoked meat sandwiches the clerk's husband gifted us. He was most impressed with the brunch of last weekend and was generous from his smokehouse. For Wednesday I have saved the ribs I was offered from the BBQ and we shall have squash - I had to check to see if my buddy ate squash, never know with her as she has definite food tastes, well she enjoys ALL baked goods and snacks but only certain veggies. She sent a photo of a bag of bounty bars which she'd found in the Tuk apartment and was having for breakfast today.

To follow up on the saga from the Baffin region I (as expected) didn't hear anything as promised from HR so I emailed yesterday to ask for next steps and received this reply:

Please send me your resume and we will screen it.
If you are selected for an interview, we will let you know.
Thanks,

Which I'm going to take as a positive sign because HR never commit to anything in writing. I didn't question the request for another copy of my resume attaching it and hitting reply promptly as directed, even though this copy is number six. Clearly left and right hands have no idea of the others tasks. I was heartened to discover that my good buddy from ICP/OHN days, who I visited in Iqaluit when he worked there named the prospective manager as someone he missed, a good friend and "smart and clear thinking and a great person." He is not one to bestow compliments lightly and tells things as they are so I was pleased with his assessment. Certainly not how I would describe things going with my present situation. And although if I were asked to testify at this point, I might be labelled a hostile witness I am still managing on the clinical front to hold things together and defend myself with this link:

https://work.qz.com/1309735/adam-grant-the-best-employees-are-not-the-agreeable-ones

At the end of one of the workdays this week I received a call from my present manager. I have had limited contact, it usually is negative or neutral in nature involving asking something of me (the request of a couple of wks ago - you could move to this great community, it's a lovely place, you can drive out from there - yeah? well there was a murder there this week and our mental health counsellor has gone down for crisis counselling - that would've been me there as a nurse in that health centre if I'd taken her up on that offer...nuff said).

There have been attendance problems for the cleaner which I had mentioned weeks ago in a previous chat and the manager went down the road of progressive discipline, fireside chats, documenting with a certain form, a template of a script from HR etc etc. I said "this person is a casual, none of that is required" and she told me to contact HR. And I certainly tried but as of this writing, I have not heard from them. Multiple calls and emails went unanswered. In frustration I contacted a senior NIC in another community who (although she would meet the description in the link above) is very knowledgeable and no nonsense. She was most helpful and laid out the process...in a nutshell a casual employee after three non satisfactory excuses can be 'let go' and as the contract is expiring anyway, we just don't rehire so if you have a suitable replacement you can ask the manager for a CSA and they start work - warn them that it will likely be six weeks before they get paid with the dysfunctional system here. At some point we get a resume, criminal records check and have them sign an oath of confidentiality and send it along for their file. So, I did just that about ten days previously. As the contract expiry deadline approached I followed up with the documents to the manager and....the phone rang. The first point the manager makes is that I should've contacted her about the non-attending employee. I calmly stated that I did and referenced our initial conversation which she agrees she remembers now. She again goes down the progressive discipline road and I again respectfully disagree and this time she adds that I've likely left my employer open for a grievance. I again disagree and state that I followed up more diligently than required, have documented and feel comfortable with my decisions. Then she tells me that an employee can't start work without a CSA (in contradiction of my source). When I mention that I've spoken to a senior nurse she states hesitantly (likely mindful of my interaction where I advised that old nurses don't like to be treated rudely and told who's boss - we know that, but I was referring to her predecessor) that she is the manager and I should approach her first. I say "I did, you didn't respond, neither did HR, if there is a vacuum and action required that space will be filled by people who need to deal with things" She apologizes if she's upset me and I reassure her that I am not the least concerned about this. I further added that clearly if this is the path indicated by other NICs then a bigger problem exists. If she wishes the process to be conducted differently she will have to go back to the beginning and deal with the NICs. She agrees. The next day I received a copy of the CSA which was being forwarded to HR so the replacement has at least been placed into the system and will be paid...at some point.

After the labour issues were put to rest the manager went on to tell me that I'm welcome to work anytime in the region, that I'm a good nurse although she knows I have a lot 'going on' (oh if only you knew I thought) I just need to call her and she'll see what's available. She admits that it won't be in this community for this year but maybe Uluhaktuk or....somewhere. I decide to educate her again and explained that "since last September when I left my jobshare and was promised I'd be on the email distribution list for casual contracts I have not received any emails. The only reason I'm sitting here having this conversation with you is because the NIC here (my former jobshare partner) mentioned it when we were chatting. AND let me make myself clear that this wasn't information which she divulged incorrectly BUT something I should've been receiving anyway. I received one email in the first week you arrived, when you were replaced by your predecessor for a week I never received another email." How much clearer can I make this I thought? She haltingly explained that she wasn't sending a lot of casual listings as there were postings out and I firmly stated "my casual coworker received one yesterday, I did not - however I was privy to it on the NIC email". I heard the computer keys clicking as she emailed the request. I thought....don't hold your breath on hearing from me in the new future.

My manager indicated she had to go but I stated "I am looking for my 2018 RN registration reimbursement of $930. I have already paid $30 for a replacement as the initial one I sent has gone missing and apparently only a paper copy of the receipt, not my actual license will get me my money back". She murmured that she hadn't seen it and I said "you are not included in the list of suspects as the first one was last fall long before you arrived. I have paid the RNANT/NU reissue fee and they state they've mailed it to you, I gave them your name and address". I can hear the furious sounds of a search ongoing while she mumbles "I haven't seen it in the office, perhaps someone sent it for processing, are you sure?" To which I replied "I am sure that I am not going to pay another $30 if it is lost again in the office and I WILL be getting my $930 reimbursed as that is something there will be a grievance about because in two months I have to pay for 2019 ". As soon as I'd hung up there was an email saying the receipt had been sent for processing.

The above dysfunction is in addition to discussion on the NIC phone call of Tuesday where a group of us (I suspect most of us older than the manager's mother) discussed completing CHMIS forms. They aren't used anywhere else in the region, no one looks at them, the information is captured on the EMR system and we were told the reason was ....the CEO wanted us to, after some heated discussion we were left with the same message. As well, we were informed that overdue (no objective measurement of that definition even though I asked for clarification) travel reimbursement claims are now being examined and we are NOT to call the clerks and ask about them as that slows them down. I suspect that the claims reach back at least a year as a message from the clerk this spring asked for the shore captain's address as his claim from May 2017 was being sorted out. Note - he has yet to receive an update. My coworkers who travel more regularly than me are owed $5K each, so not chump change. The manager was to send a template for us to complete of who is waiting for claims - haven't seen that yet, or the minutes from the meeting. Again not holding my breath. The young, inexperienced manager who wants us all to just get along and play nice is I suspect going to be swallowed up quickly.

As you can imagine from all of the above...my determination to move employers is fueled by the shenanigans. Although the obvious suggestion is to not work, a route than most of my nursing school classmates and many younger coworkers have chosen....I'm simply not there in my head yet. I really missed the north when I was unable to work and have (even with the turmoil) looked forward to working since being off in September and I really like this community. I just don't want the politics and angst of the present employer.

The actual community work is for the most part fine. Yesterday I did a three year old's immunization and was not impressed to find the 'boss of the house' which is unfortunately a widespread problem, not necessarily confined to the north. A cooperative and cheerful patient until the shot, cried a bit at the time and settled to play with the toys and then remembered the indignity suffered and began to rage. Sobbing huge crocodile tears, yelled and screamed, slapped the mother, refused to be comforted (only briefly when auntie brought a chocolate bar) and refused to leave the health centre "until I feel better" with noise induced hearing loss level wails. I provided tylenol, no not the chewable tabs 'doesn't like those' so liquid it was which of course was refused and spit on the auntie and mother. So they stayed looonnnggg past the requisite 15 min. to assess for allergic reaction while the mother pleaded "what do you want?" and seemed completely at a loss as to what to do with the tyrant. Clearly the only limits this child has are self decided. Finally the group exited to the COOP for a treat when an arriving community member suggested we were closing the health centre (why hadn't I thought of that earlier?) and silence ensued. Ahhh. The following link speaks volumes:

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/06/21/621752789/a-lost-secret-how-to-get-kids-to-pay-attention 
 

And speaking of treats as the A/NIC I became inadvertently involved in an intergenerational family struggle I have entitled the 'slushie war'. I was approached by a grandparent who was concerned that the children are being fed too many treats and slushies from the COOP. I agreed as I've stood in the checkout line witnessing large amounts of money being handed over for chocolates and the ditch is littered with slushie cups and straws. As our discussion continued I was pointedly reminded that in my position as community health nurse I was to promote a healthy lifestyle and that a message from the nurses at the health centre would perhaps make an impression. I protested that people make their own decisions even though they know slushies aren't a healthy choice. The trump card was played when the grandmother referenced a community newsletter that used to be distributed. It was not read by the community and we have quietly discontinued the practice but the last thing I wanted was anyone mentioning this to regional administration. So, I compromised and printed 40 colour copies of a bright graphic flyer stating "Schools out for the Summer - have fun and stay safe! Limit those slushies and treats, it's ok to drink water." Signed it as Nurses at the Health Centre and had the clerk drop them off for distribution. Clearly the message was not heeded as per above.

I've been working my way through the last of the eLearning course and was impressed to learn that there is such a discipline as Rural Sociology. Who knew? It is defined as the social structure and conflict in rural areas, as in....what makes us country folks tick. Not sure I want to go there and find out what the experts have researched...

I have finished up my play food project by using the last of my yarn and tucking away my colleagues 'stash' and it was all I could do to zipper the carry on bag I've filled with my craft work. Clearly not going to trust the airlines with such precious cargo. I'm at the part of trying to decide if my stuff will fit into the duffle and suitcase and jettison the action packer here - I haven't the patience to wrestle with it across Canada and it's starting to show some wear. The clerk will surely be able to find a use for it. I've packed up some other things that I won't be using before heading out and of course have eaten most of the food.

My Cuban son-in-law is expediting my fall plans for a November visit to study Spanish in Santiago de Cuba. He, with the help of his professor sister, has located a tutor (a professor of languages who will do private lessons) and is investigating the possibility of a university based option for international students if enough register. Trying to decide if a combo vs either/or choice would be best. I've decided my aging brain can only effectively cope with four hours/day of classes. His next task on my list is to find housing near the university as this is the area of the tutor, lots of shops and restaurants. The airfare is looking like about $600 to Holguin as there are no flights directly into Santiago that early and of course Cuba is cheap on the ground. Looking forward to however it rolls out. And speaking of languages - pun intended:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-44569277 

So, off to stuff things into bags. I've been watching the delayed fireworks from home and amazed at the dark. There will be adjustments to the temperature as well....snow predicted here tomorrow afternoon. sigh