“I’m Kendra. I work in HR and was asked to meet you today.”
I nodded as I shook her hand.
“Okay, cool. Thank you, because I’m already lost.”
She laughed as we walked to the elevator. “Girl, I understand. We are on the ER side, floor 5 will take you to where we need to be.”
The elevator doors slid open, and we stepped in. I stood there quietly while she pressed the button, my eyes flicking toward my reflection in the mirror for a second before I looked away.
“You nervous?” she asked, glancing at me.
“I am a lil’ bit,” I admitted. “But I’m ready.”
She nodded. “Nerves are good. You are about to be thrown into the thick of things, but you’ll be ready. Another thing I need to add… we don’t baby anybody around here.”
I smirked. “I wouldn’t want you to.”
That made her laugh.
“Oou, I like you already.”
The doors opened, and as soon as we stepped out, the energy was different.
Not chaotic, just steady.
Nurses moving with a purpose, call lights going off here and there, conversations low but constant. It felt controlled and routine.
I took it all in without saying too much.
“Come on,” Kendra said, guiding me toward the desk. “Let me get you checked in and introduce you.”
She spoke to a few people behind the desk, letting them know who I was. I caught a couple of glances, some quick smiles, some just acknowledging me before going back to what they were doing.
“Alright,” she said, turning back to me. “You are good from here. I’ll let them take over.”
“Thank you,” I responded.
“No problem, welcome again.” She smiled before walking off.
I watched her go for a second before turning back around.
A woman sitting at the desk looked up at me over her glasses.
“You the transfer?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m Islah.”
“I’m Renee,” she replied, standing up. “Come on, I’ll walk you through a few things.”
Renee wasn’t big on talking; she showed me what I needed to know without dragging it out. Where supplies were, how they liked things charted, and who to go to for what.
It wasn’t overwhelming, just straight to the point, but I followed along and took notes when I needed to.
“You got experience?” she asked.
I gave her a look. “Yeah, I moved from one hospital to here.”
She smirked at me. “Good, we don’t babysit.”
