The New Job

     With this post I'm planning to focus on my new job in particular, but I can't promise I won't stray off on a few tangents. So as I said I accepted a position with Trimedx as biomedical technician in training. This is part of their "Plus One" program which is meant to be a 6-9 month period of on the job training working along side technicians and managers. If you do the math, considering I started in April, I'm on the verge of completing the program, but first I should fill you in on the what has happened up until now.
     I remember walking into work the first day not quite sure what to expect. I'm sure you've had a similar experience before. After some introductions, I spent some time getting a name badge, received my laptop (which I expected at some point), received my iPhone (a complete surprise), worked on some simple pieces of equipment and went on some calls with the tech that sat in front of me. I also had some training material to read through, but of course when I say "some" I mean that I completed a small amount of the vast collection of training material.
     The biomed "shop" has the managers offices in the front along with the front desk. Then there's a room with some parts and further in a wet lab where we usually work on equipment that involves fluids (which can sometimes make a mess). A little further down the hallway is the radiology room where the imaging techs have their desks and across from that room we have some shelves on wheels with the majority of our parts. That room is also the home of the techs that work specifically on sterilizers and further in is a conference room. Finally at the end of the hall is the main room that opens up in both directions where all of the regular, general, unspecific biomed techs live. Honestly though each of them do specialize in certain things because of the types of equipment they usually work on. It seems to work well that way until multiple techs take long vacations at the same time. Oh I almost forgot, there are also three techs that work specifically in surgery and there is a small cluttered shop up on the second floor. Did I mention the main shop was in the basement. I suppose it makes sense to have us down there, but I feel so clueless as to what the weather is like until I surface for air.
     St Vincent's is a big hospital and I continue to learn my way around departments that I've never spent time in, but I haven't gotten lost recently and have even started to help wandering visitors find their way out of the basement (some of them are nearly in the right place though). There are also some neighboring building that are considered on St Vincent's campus which I occasionally have the opportunity to visit. The furthest of these buildings is the women's hospital which as you would guess contains labor and delivery, but also the NICU, a high risk unit, a couple family care wings, a nursery, and surgery. There is one full-time tech for this building and I have helped from time to time just as some other techs have done in the past because it's a little too much for one tech some months.
     Right now I'm in Danville, IN helping validate a new hospital's inventory. They aren't a brand new hospital, but Trimedx is in the process of taking over the management of their medical equipment and one of the initial steps is to compile an accurate inventory. This is not the first of these trips I've been on and is the closest one to home so far. I've been to NJ, IL, KS and LA for one or two weeks at a time, but overall I've been at St Vincent's two thirds of the time. The more responsibilities I take on, the harder it is to go on these trips even though they can be a nice break from the norm. I recognize the necessity of validating inventories and have become more than simply proficient at doing so, but I feel my gifts and education could be put to better use. At the same time I humbly submit to the authority placed over me and try to do the best I can in what work there is for me to do. These will most likely be less frequent in the future as I transition into a more permanent position at St Vincent's. I can be thankful for the many opportunities that I have been given and trust that God will continue to provide me with what I need (and often times more than that).
     Well my time tonight is running out and though there is much more to tell I hope you've enjoyed what I've shared thus far.

~John~

Just the Beginning

     Ironically I'm writing this first post while I'm away from Indianapolis, but perhaps there is no better time than the present to begin. Where are my manners! Welcome! (whoever you may be) to my latest blog. It's been almost a year since I was blogging last when I was in Denmark, but that is another adventure entirely. You're welcome to check it out though: http://rauchenstein-dk.blogspot.com/ if you've got the time.
     So why write a blog about Indianapolis? I'm not always in the mood for writing, but when I am I want to share what I have to say with anyone that is interested. Plus my friends and family can read some of the details about what's going on in my life. However, the main reason is pure and simple: I'm currently living in Indianapolis. To my shame, it's taken over 6 months for me to decide to start writing a blog about my time in Indy. That's not to say I've been debating whether or not to write that whole time (that would be ridiculous). The thought has crossed my mind more than once though. And now here it is! My plan right now is to slowly catch you up on what has happened in those 6 months and then keep the blog up to date with recent events.
     For starters I graduated from college in December last year and went from part-time job searching to full-time (job searching). My parents were kind enough to let me live at home rent free, but I think they enjoyed having me around for the most part. I honestly didn't hear back from many companies that I applied to and that included the positions I actually felt qualified for. Eventually I heard from TriMedx, a medical equipment management company, and interviewed for a management training program. The interviews went well, but they felt I didn't have enough management experience so they suggested applying for a biomedical technician training program. I wasn't too thrilled at that prospect at first, but in hind sight I would have been a poor manager without knowing much about clinical engineering. Long story short I was offered a position as a biomed tech in Indy and started in April. There's been a lot of on the job training since my degree was geared toward designing medical equipment rather than repairing and maintaining it, though I was already confident working with my hands.
     Again more details are on the way, but there's only so much time in the day and tomorrow I have an early flight back to Indy. I guess being away made me think more about my new home...

Yours,
~John~