Prologue

As a seasoned nurse with past experience in Epidemiology and Immunogenetics, signing on for part time work during flu clinic season seemed to be a good match. Performing a public service by vaccinating was a tour I was looking forward to.

Eight clinics were given to me when I visited the agency all dependent upon my own schedule. Some were local, maybe I would even get to see neighbors or friends. I would only be able to do a total of four after media announcement of the Vaccine Shortage.

My first day at the agency consisted of regular screening protocol, test taking and viewing a video of a well run, synchronized Flu Vaccine Clinic location. In the video the actress was filling out required forms, drawing up Vaccine doses, answering questions (one at a time) and screening patients with regard to any contraindications after the patients answered 7 questions on the Immunization form. She reached out to other patients waiting in line (about 5) assuring her public they were doing their best to move everyone along the line as efficiently as possible. As I watched I thought, I’m really going to enjoy doing this. Besides, I’ll use this time productively until I decide to accept new employment in a full time position.

I aspired to run any clinics assigned to me with the same standards I had just seen in the video presentation. Yes indeed, this was a perfect match coupled with my past experience in Nursing.

It would take only the first clinic experience for those rose colored glasses to fall off my face.