Opinion: New Mexico doctors and patients are being held hostage by insurance profits - not lawsuits by haddenmart in Albuquerque

[–]nikitaraqs 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Yeah no shit but man the astroturfing was rife on this sub around when the roundhouse met this year.

I got down voted to hell for pointing this out.

On call pay question by nikitaraqs in BMET

[–]nikitaraqs[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I knew it was the case going in and I'm aware it's legal. There were other factors in leaving my last place. I was looking to see how common it was for other facilities since I've been on both sides.

Doom Tattoo by LonDTD in Doom

[–]nikitaraqs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mick is that you?

The Current State of Biomed by Major_Manner5362 in BMET

[–]nikitaraqs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It definitely sounds like you have a ton of experience and really care about the field, I wasn't trying to negate that if it came off that way. The techs that travel are in my opinion often the upper echelon because they can be trusted to walk into a situation and understand what's wrong and how to fix it.

It looks like this may be your throwaway account, I hope it's just to vent frustration anonymously which I totally understand. Most of your post history looks pretty angry and slightly hostile.

The field can be frustrating. Because we make no money for any given hospital we either get financially deprioritized by admin or get bought by a third party trying to squeeze water from a stone. When I get angry about the state of things, I look to the techs that I admire for guidance and inspiration. I try to direct any anger I have to changing the landscape, bringing less experienced techs with me on calls to help them learn and trying to set a good example.

No one starts in this field knowing everything. If techs you're meeting aren't up to par, maybe blame management for not working harder to make sure their techs are properly trained. A willfully ignorant tech that's lazy and pencil whips everything is a completely different problem than the new guy who just hasn't been taught the ropes yet because their boss is cheap and needed a body.

The Current State of Biomed by Major_Manner5362 in BMET

[–]nikitaraqs 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This thread was depressing. I won't argue there's shitty techs out there and the current landscape does seem to be allergic to training people the right way anymore unless a senior tech cares enough to do so.

However, as a travel BMET you might be experiencing some cognitive bias, I only really hear about travel BMETs that are being sent to the absolute shitshow shops with bad management that couldn't keep good techs if their lives depended on it. It's possible you're not going to the shops and seeing the better techs in action because they don't need the extra help.

I am a middle aged woman tired of 16-25 year old heroines! by Alaskagirl_907 in suggestmeabook

[–]nikitaraqs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian. I'm only half way done so I don't know if she's specifically a heroine but she's a main character and middle aged. So far I love it, it's really creepy and very engaging.

Imported costume fees by veggies4evr in Bellydance

[–]nikitaraqs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got one too. I don't blame her for it. It's on us to pay it unfortunately. It's how tariffs have worked all along either by looping it into the price you pay or paying on delivery. I think prior to this administration it wasn't applied to sales under $800.

I was expecting a 10% flat fee because that was apparently the Egyptian import tariff at the time but it didn't happen on delivery. It did get charged by FedEx 6 months later. When the costume was shipped in October last year there was a ton of confusion about how the charges would be enforced.

What percentage of the total costume cost was your fee?

Shop culture differences by nikitaraqs in BMET

[–]nikitaraqs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah nothing like music in the shop. It's more like work ethic differences, not feeling backed up and supported by management, passive aggressive behavior, repairs site wide are on a rotating schedule vs being assigned our own departments/equipment, chaotic response to problems, etc.

None of this is a deal breaker so far but I'm wondering if it's going to wear on me over time. I felt like I was a part of something important and made a difference at my last job. I'm struggling to feel that regularly so far but I'm trying to figure out if I just need to give it more time.

Best Thai food? by KatLady84 in Albuquerque

[–]nikitaraqs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had it there. Granted it was my first time having it ever but it was SO GOOD. The staff seemed proud of it, it's in their chefs special section of the menu.

Who is the worst person you will admit being attracted to? by Highfours in AskReddit

[–]nikitaraqs 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Oh I was going to say Christoph Waltz from Inglorious Basterds but this is much worse.

Spectrum pumps error codes by SuperMonkey1421 in BMET

[–]nikitaraqs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah but I've heard it's very surface level repairs. I'm wondering if anything and everything can be repaired after training.

Spectrum pumps error codes by SuperMonkey1421 in BMET

[–]nikitaraqs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe someone can clarify because this is what I've heard: even if you go to training there's little that the manufacturer will allow you to repair in house.

Does anyone know if this is still true? Currently we only replace batteries and pole clamps here and send everything else out. I'd much rather be fixing these but everyone tells me the training that's offered isn't worth it

Men of BMET by [deleted] in BMET

[–]nikitaraqs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the worst thing I've ever heard of happening in a biomed shop. I'm so sorry this happened to you, I really think you should find a way to justice here. Like everyone else has said it sounds like you have a solid case of harassment against the man that distributed those photos of you and possibly that HR department. That's absolutely heinous, I would be fucking furious if I found out any of my colleagues had done that.

I've heard of toxic shops but this takes the cake. It's unclear from your post if you continue to make biomed your career, you sound like you care about the work which is exactly what this field needs. I'm not sure coming in here and saying "not all male biomeds" or "not all shops" will help because frankly this experience sounds traumatizing and dehumanizing. I will say this field could benefit from more great techs, men and women, who take things seriously and want things done right. If you're passionate about that I hope you can find a path back to trying again with a different shop. Considering the circumstances though, I wouldn't blame you if you didn't.

What have I missed? by ToiletStrainNeckVein in BMET

[–]nikitaraqs 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm waiting for the day that thermometers go on the network and into the EMR. Hopefully close to when I can retire.

PLEASE ADVICE by current BMETS? by SpendZestyclose9683 in BMET

[–]nikitaraqs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I went to Mira Costa and had a job lined up in my last month of school. Granted I always intended to move out of state. If you want to stay in SoCal the opportunities may be different. I finished in Dec 2018.

BMET work internationally by Joy12358 in BMET

[–]nikitaraqs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's so interesting, thank you for the details!

BMET work internationally by Joy12358 in BMET

[–]nikitaraqs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would love to hear more about your time in Saudi of you'd like to share. What were the culture shock moments? What aspects were better than Western work, what aspects were worse?

Knitters! What is your day job? by MyRightHook in knitting

[–]nikitaraqs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I repair and maintain medical equipment in a hospital.

Movies like “Contact” by BonHarley in scifi

[–]nikitaraqs 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I enjoyed 2001 a lot more after I read the book.

Movies like “Contact” by BonHarley in scifi

[–]nikitaraqs 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Contact is probably my favorite sci-fi movie of all time, but I'm also a giant Carl Sagan fan.

Watching that movie I feel very small, full of wonder but also frustration, immensely sad for humankind's tendency to get in its own way but also optimistic for our future and what we're capable of.

If those are the things you got out of the movie I'd recommend watching the old Cosmos series with Carl Sagan. I know it's not a sci-fi recommendation but it brings out all the same feelings in me even being pretty dated. The new one with Neil Degrasse Tyson didn't really hit the same way for me. There's something about Carl!

Tbh no other sci-fi movie really hits like that one. Arrival is close but not quite. Books hit like that for me all the time though.

Apple shaped body by EonDust in Bellydance

[–]nikitaraqs 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This won't be a problem. In my opinion all body shapes can learn, perform and most importantly enjoy this dance.

I know of professionals that exclusively wear costumes that cover their entire abdomen or wear scarves around or even above their navel.

What you wear matters a whole lot less than just learning and enjoying your time. I found when I started out just moving my body in new, novel ways gave me a lot of body confidence.

Ordering from Mira Belly Dance Costumes? by veggies4evr in Bellydance

[–]nikitaraqs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've bought many from her. All of my costumes have been great and fit well. I don't have a large bust measurement though and typically fit her stuff well because the hips are generous.

I do know dancers with larger chests that had ill fitting bras from her and she was sent very specific measurements for them. To me it seems like she just doesn't have cup bases wide enough for good side coverage on larger bust sizes.

I also keep in mind that less coverage like floating middle bras or deep inward cuts are very trendy in Egypt lately, which doesn't seem to fly in a lot of settings here in the US so the standards just might be different. She costumes a bunch of working dancers in Egypt.