'...and other duties as assigned.'
You know how in job descriptions the manager always sneaks in that clause ‘other duties as assigned’ that basically gives them leave to ask you to do anything? Well, the 'other duties' have been a big part of this position, probably more than at any other job I've had. I sit in a visible office, people seem to think I’m high up on the totem pole, and I’m always around, so I just end up helping out with whatever comes up, whether I volunteer for it or not. I decided to list out many (not all) of the fun and not-so-fun ‘other duties’ I’ve had the opportunity to partake in, and also some of the situations I've found myself in that I wasn't expecting from the job description (warning: list includes some unsightly duties):
Accompanied residents to Fred Meyers
Pet an alpaca
Pet a dog
Pet a cat
Had said cat live my office for several days
Cried with a staff member
Cried with a resident
Cried alone in my office
Received threats of physical harm
Received hugs and words of affirmation
Been asked out
Been told I'm ugly
Been told I'm the most beautiful woman
Been told I look like a man...more specifically, the mailman
Been told I'm loved
Been cussed at
Helped put on a coat
Helped take off a shirt
Helped adjust a bra
Helped button pants
Helped a bariatric resident get out of bed using a mechanical lift
Helped a resident get up from a chair
Helped a resident sit down in a chair
Moved a chair for a resident
No not that chair, THAT chair
Moved another chair for a resident
Cleaned up dishes
Cleaned up urine
Cleaned up human fecal matter
Cleaned up used tissues
Done the mom tissue thing where you hold the Kleenex & tell them 'blow!'
Fed a resident soup
Fed a resident hot chocolate
Cleaned up the spilled hot chocolate
Taught a mixology course with real life alcohol
Taught exercise class
Taught a class on using smart devices
Taught Facebook
Taught Facebook again because ‘I forgot everything you just told me’
To name a few.
Phew, it’s a whirlwind over here, and no two days are the same, so bring on this Friday and let’s see what happens next!
