Updates!

Holy Moly! Look who’s back! I have so many updates, I don’t even know where to begin. I’ll hit some of the highlights and try to update more consistently.

1. Graduation. After 2 years of nursing school boot camp, I’m finally graduating in 21 days! I honestly can’t believe everything I’ve been working so hard for is finally here. I’m so excited to be done, but there is a lot of stress that comes with graduation. First of all, I live in student housing, so I have 14 days after graduation to move. Second of all, there’s still the NCLEX to take. Third, I need to get a job. There’s also something very bittersweet about leaving nursing school and the friends I’ve made. We spend SO much time together studying and talking about gross things, we really bond and become like family. I’m sure we will all stay in touch, but it will just be different. And I really hate change.

2. Moving. As I mentioned above, I have to move shortly after graduation. AKA I have 35 days to find somewhere to live, sign a lease, and move. Luckily one of my best nursing school buddies is also looking for somewhere to live, so this week we’ve begun the house search together! I’ll be really excited once I know I won’t be homeless.

3. Precepting. I don’t think I’ve updated since I started precepting. For all of you who don’t quite know what precepting is, it’s basically an unpaid internship where you work with a nurse and gradually take over responsibility for her patients. For our program we have to complete 144 hours, or 12 12 hour shifts! At the beginning of the semester, we ranked where we wanted to specialize and precept. Luckily I got placed on pediatric oncology, which is where I already work as a tech, and ultimately where I want to get a job. The preceptor I got assigned, works nights, so I have been doing a lot of night shifts, and let me tell you, the adjustment is not easy…but that’s a whole other post. Anyways, I’ve done 10 shifts and have 2 more left. I’ll be precepting my last shift on Sunday night and have big plans to celebrate on Monday morning!

4. Interview. That’s right, my big Monday morning celebration is an interview! I got the call from HR yesterday that my nurse manager has reviewed my resume and wants to interview me for an RN position! I’m so excited. It would be for a new grad nursing position on the pediatric oncology floor, AKA my dream job. There are 7 people interviewing for the same position, so I’m really trying not to get my hopes up. It’s just so hard since I’ve worked there and precepted there. I’ve really gotten to know the patients and families and wonderful staff; I can’t imagine working anywhere else. So I’d appreciate any prayers/good vibes yall want to send my way on Monday morning around 8am (especially after working a 12 hour night shift!).

5. IOP. I don’t think I’ve updated since I started IOP, so the short and sweet version is that I began IOP in January and completed 8 weeks. I honestly could write a few blog posts about it, but right now it’s still kind of emotional and raw. But someday I will share with you what I learned and my experience.

6. CPR. OMG. I really need to dedicate a whole post to this, but I will give you a little teaser by telling you that I did CPR on an actual person for the first time and it was one of the most intense experiences of my life.

7. Miscellaneous/Other: I’m newly obsessed with Criminal Minds (I want to be Emily Prentiss). I actually researched job listings with the BAU because I’m that obsessed/slightly crazy. I’m also not physically fit enough to actually work for the FBI. I got my wisdom teeth out and greatly enjoyed my Valium. I went to a Demi Lovato concert and greatly enjoyed it, even though I’m 24. I registered for this years Hungry for Hope (the conference I went to in Nashville last summer), and I’m really excited to reunite with some friends and travel back to Nashville.



I think that pretty much covers it for now. But my creative juices are starting to flow again, so hopefully I will be updating more often. Plus, I teased yall and still need to elaborate and share more about night shift life, IOP, and my crazy CPR experience!

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Snow Season

There are two ways to react to the snow, and your response often depends on your age. As a child, you wish for snow. You wear your pajamas inside out and backwards, you sleep with a spoon under your pillow, you follow through with every superstition possible to ensure at least a flake of snow to cancel school. Then you spend the entire snow day playing outside, scraping together a snowman, drinking hot chocolate, and having fun. A snow day for a child is the best.
 But once you get older and start having more responsibilities, you learn to hate the inconvenience of snow. Because when you are an adult, your responsibilities don’t depend on the weather. When you are an adult and it snows, things get rescheduled and your whole week becomes a jumbled mess. You quickly find out that life doesn't stop for snow; it just becomes more inconvenient.

This week, it’s supposed to snow. When I saw the forecast, I couldn’t help but grumble. I have classes, and information sessions, and doctors appointments, and study groups, and a test. I don’t want to have to reschedule everything. It actually put me in a really bad mood.

However, in the midst of my grumbling, I was provided with a reality slap in the face perspective shift. You see, one of my children (yes, that’s what I call the kids I work with) has been told he doesn’t have much time left. Right now he is home, and enjoying the time he has left with his family. Tonight his mom posted that she is excited that it might snow so that her sweet son can enjoy a final snow day.

Bring on the snow. I hope there’s enough snow for him to build a snowman bigger than himself. I hope he plays and builds things and laughs and smiles, until it is time to come inside for some hot cocoa and a nap. I hope that he has the best snow day, for him and for his family.

So yes, while I’m excited for spring time and warmer weather, for this week I am going to be content in the snow. For this week, I am reminded that joy can be found in every season.