It has been almost two months since we started our apprenticeship program. We have been on the pit for approximately six weeks. As I was preparing to leave the hospital, I got my first ever phone call in the ward. It was from the Nursing Service Office. The secretary told me that I was included in the next batch of orientees on Monday. Being an orientee means that you are already a probationary employee. Since we had our 2 weeks orientation, we will only have one week orientation next week and it includes accomplishing the requirements and medical exam.
While it is everyone’s dream to be hired, I am uncertain of being an orientee. For two reasons: one, I know that I still have proteinuria (as I can see that I have frothy urine); second, being on probation means that you have to sign up for a 2-year contract. Although, I can see a promising career at the Philippine Heart Center, I am quite apprehensive on being locked up for the long. My California State license will expire next year and I do not know if I will be flying anytime. If that happens, there will be a breach of contract and I will not be getting any certificates from PHC, worse I could not avail of their reinstatement program should I decide to come back as staff nurse.
These are the reasons why unlike my co-apprentice, I do not feel bad when there were orientees who came in straight without passing thru the apprenticeship stage. I always tell my batchmates that our time will come. The other day, we were chatting that rumor has it that a new batch of orientees will be introduced this Monday and since none of us has received a notice from the NSO, I quickly brushed off their frustrations by telling them that maybe they were the ones whose panel interview came before ours. And now that most of us are on the list of the next orientees, I also feel bad for those who were not included and will remain apprentices until the next opportunity opens.