Today was a big day for this kid in the ICU. I signed up for 4 hours incentive, hoping simply to update my date. The charge nurse had another idea. She's an experienced nurse that I have a tremendous amount of respect for. So I trust her judgment, and don't often question anything she decides.
Well today, she decided to leave me alone to admit a severely septic patient. For those of you who don't live and breathe intensive care nursing, this means the patient has such a bad infection, that it affects their blood pressure, perfusion, and bleeding times. The orders the intensivists write span over 10 pages, and the goal is to get antibiotics in the patient within one hour of the order being written to improve outcomes. This, of course, is after the patient gets numerous IVs and lines placed, as well as lab cultures and labwork drawn. Not really an admit you give to the new kid, if you can help it.
However, I had my first septic patient a couple weeks ago. I had to have my hand held by our rapid response nurse, and generally just felt like I had no idea what I was doing. This time, I had nearly no help. I knew what I was doing and what I needed. I even helped the intensivist place lines all by myself. Which I've done before, but someone always stands in the corner to make sure I don't have any questions (Or to make sure the doctor doesn't completely eat me alive). This is such an amazing feeling. I love actually having a handle on such a difficult admit (I'm sure those around me don't mind that either).
I think it's awesome I was trusted enough to get such an admit. I think it's even better that things went well. I just might be critical care nurse yet.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Workin'
I absolutely love my job.
My preceptor is fantastic... she is literally everything I aspire to be... Super competent ICU nurse/retired flight nurse. Plus she's witty, kind, and swet. Kind of like having a motherly figure in the ICU. Which is definitely a necessity some days. She's there for me with literally whatever I need (work-related or otherwise) and is super encouraging. I feel like we could be friends. Just a wonderful person.
And today, for the first time since I started, I feel like I might be a real nurse. For the first time, I never had a sense of "holy-shit-I'm-drowning" which tends to occur each morning as I'm scrambling around trying to be everywhere at once. Including breakfast break (which Kathy is pretty insistent on). I think the big goal of breakfast break (besides actual breakfast) is to make sure you're getting that few minutes of peace and quiet, to just... be. I've never needed something so much. I can go blank for 10 minutes (usually mid-drown) and then come back, ready to do it all again with so much more energy than before. Which is quite possibly a combination of the solitude and caffeine from the coffee I usually slam.
I love the freedom I have. Kathy lets me do things my way, regardless of consequences obviously barring harm to patient life. But if I fail, it was my idea. Learn by doing. And Kathy paid me the biggest compliment today, probably without even realizing it. She told me I was a "delight" and followed it up with, "I really think you're gonna be just fine here." So. Happy. I really was a little worried. That I wasn't going to catch on. That I wasn't going to be good enough. That nobody wanted to have the new grad nurses around, since they haven't been for 5 years. But... for the most part, everyone's really cool. And for that, I'm super grateful.
It's not all sunshine and roses. I've left out most of the parts where something goes wrong and I feel incompetent. Kathy has obviously caught on to my "if it's not perfect the first time, it's a fail" attitude. She reminds me that I can't be as good as I wanna be 100% of the time. That's probably one of the hardest things I'm gonna deal with. Because I simply don't see why not.
We've had a few younger patients pass away as well and this is also especially difficult. It reminds me a lot of being in the PICU. You go home and you can't stop thinking about the patient and the family. Obviously I can't do this. I'm going to get mentally and emotionally exhausted very quickly. So I need to learn how to leave work at work.
Leave work at work, and realize I'm never going to be perfect.
But I think I can do it. I know I can do it. It truly is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. I've found that thing I was meant to do. And I'm so completely happy doing it. I truly am blessed.
My preceptor is fantastic... she is literally everything I aspire to be... Super competent ICU nurse/retired flight nurse. Plus she's witty, kind, and swet. Kind of like having a motherly figure in the ICU. Which is definitely a necessity some days. She's there for me with literally whatever I need (work-related or otherwise) and is super encouraging. I feel like we could be friends. Just a wonderful person.
And today, for the first time since I started, I feel like I might be a real nurse. For the first time, I never had a sense of "holy-shit-I'm-drowning" which tends to occur each morning as I'm scrambling around trying to be everywhere at once. Including breakfast break (which Kathy is pretty insistent on). I think the big goal of breakfast break (besides actual breakfast) is to make sure you're getting that few minutes of peace and quiet, to just... be. I've never needed something so much. I can go blank for 10 minutes (usually mid-drown) and then come back, ready to do it all again with so much more energy than before. Which is quite possibly a combination of the solitude and caffeine from the coffee I usually slam.
I love the freedom I have. Kathy lets me do things my way, regardless of consequences obviously barring harm to patient life. But if I fail, it was my idea. Learn by doing. And Kathy paid me the biggest compliment today, probably without even realizing it. She told me I was a "delight" and followed it up with, "I really think you're gonna be just fine here." So. Happy. I really was a little worried. That I wasn't going to catch on. That I wasn't going to be good enough. That nobody wanted to have the new grad nurses around, since they haven't been for 5 years. But... for the most part, everyone's really cool. And for that, I'm super grateful.
It's not all sunshine and roses. I've left out most of the parts where something goes wrong and I feel incompetent. Kathy has obviously caught on to my "if it's not perfect the first time, it's a fail" attitude. She reminds me that I can't be as good as I wanna be 100% of the time. That's probably one of the hardest things I'm gonna deal with. Because I simply don't see why not.
We've had a few younger patients pass away as well and this is also especially difficult. It reminds me a lot of being in the PICU. You go home and you can't stop thinking about the patient and the family. Obviously I can't do this. I'm going to get mentally and emotionally exhausted very quickly. So I need to learn how to leave work at work.
Leave work at work, and realize I'm never going to be perfect.
But I think I can do it. I know I can do it. It truly is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. I've found that thing I was meant to do. And I'm so completely happy doing it. I truly am blessed.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Things That Make Me Happy This Week
This week, I will legitimately be a nurse to a critically ill adult. Granted I still have a preceptor, and will until September, but... up until this point, the nurse in charge of a baby-sitting me has always taken over when things got hairy. Now, I better know what to do (or find someone who does) pretty quickly. Does that scare me? A little. But it makes me a whole lot more excited too.
My bestie got a 36 hour vacay and chose to spend it with us in Fargo. Christa got in late Friday night and stayed until early afternoon. We spent the day walking around downtown, playing made-up drinking games on the lawn outside, and then getting way too dressed up for a Redhawks' baseball game, before going downtown for the evening. It was absolutely wonderful. Such a chill day followed up by a fun evening.
My new roomie loves plays as much as I do. So Linds and I have chosen to look into season tickets for the Theatre B as well as going to MSUM's Straw Hat shows this summer. This is my own personal way of trying to culture myself. And gives me a tie to the thing I loved most about high school. Kid in a candy store.
I have a live recorded vid of Boondocks of my phone. Little Big Town came to the Red River Valley Fair Friday, and tickets were only $7. While the weather was crappy and mildly dangerous, we stuck it out to hear the song we had been waiting for. They're such a good show, and just as my friends and I were deciding we really should find shelter because death by lightining sounds messy, they played Boondocks. I can die happy.
Kristy is married. One of my very good friends, Kristy, fell in love with a foreign exchange student from Norway a week before he had to return home. They dated via Skype and extended visits to each other until she moved there in October of last year so that they could be together. The two of them were married July 2nd in a beautiful ceremony in Lillehammer, Norway. I am so happy for her... the pictures are gorgeous, she makes a beautiful bride, and she now has a letter in her last name that isn't even in the English language.
My bestie got a 36 hour vacay and chose to spend it with us in Fargo. Christa got in late Friday night and stayed until early afternoon. We spent the day walking around downtown, playing made-up drinking games on the lawn outside, and then getting way too dressed up for a Redhawks' baseball game, before going downtown for the evening. It was absolutely wonderful. Such a chill day followed up by a fun evening.
My new roomie loves plays as much as I do. So Linds and I have chosen to look into season tickets for the Theatre B as well as going to MSUM's Straw Hat shows this summer. This is my own personal way of trying to culture myself. And gives me a tie to the thing I loved most about high school. Kid in a candy store.
I have a live recorded vid of Boondocks of my phone. Little Big Town came to the Red River Valley Fair Friday, and tickets were only $7. While the weather was crappy and mildly dangerous, we stuck it out to hear the song we had been waiting for. They're such a good show, and just as my friends and I were deciding we really should find shelter because death by lightining sounds messy, they played Boondocks. I can die happy.
Kristy is married. One of my very good friends, Kristy, fell in love with a foreign exchange student from Norway a week before he had to return home. They dated via Skype and extended visits to each other until she moved there in October of last year so that they could be together. The two of them were married July 2nd in a beautiful ceremony in Lillehammer, Norway. I am so happy for her... the pictures are gorgeous, she makes a beautiful bride, and she now has a letter in her last name that isn't even in the English language.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
White Trash Weekend
As I mentioned prior, I went home to Dickinson for my very last Fourth of July as a free (read: unemployed and impoverished) woman. While we can all sit around and speculate what happened (again read: alcohol suddenly becomes appropriate for any event), it's difficult to understand what it's going to be like until it actually occurs. And even then, it's hard to believe it's real life. But yes, ladies and gentlemen, I grew up there... I call it home... and even I can't explain it.
This 5 day stretch has been deemed by the Convention and Visitors' Bureau "Roughrider Days" because we can't seem to let go of the fact that Teddy Roosevelt stayed here for a couple days once. We hold tight to the quote about how the Badlands "made him what he was today" (it's all we've got... ND needs something to be proud of..."TR once walked on that grass over there!") If you're really interested, we've written a musical production that is performed every night from Memorial to Labor day in the summer in Medora. Most of us who have grown up here can even sing you a song or two. Or, if bribed with money and/or beer, could reenact the charge up San Juan Hill for you (If you don't know what this is, shame on you. Please google it).
While 'Roughrider Days' is all fine and dandy, I think White Trash Weekend is slightly more fitting. Why? Here's a random sampling of the weekend's events:
You can start by attending 1-4 different rodeos (beer is provided). I have no other information on this, because I, on principle, do not attend rodeos. I was scared shitless as a toddler by the rodeo clowns who blew things up. I did not, and still do not, enjoy loud noises. I also haven't forgotten the clown's name. Dr Ben Crazy. Took me a good 5 years before I didn't scream going to the doctor because I was afraid that fruit loop would show up.
A number of bars also do outdoor beer gardens (Raise your hand if you aren't from southwest ND and still know what a beer garden is). One actually blocks off an intersection in the middle of the road to do Party on the Pavement (too bad if you wanna use that intersection... it's outta commission for a full three days). Party on the Pavement has a different live band every night. Everyone who is anyone over the age of 21 goes. You drink a little too much, you dance to the music, and you do it with your grandma. Why? Because you can. Beware, however. You never know who you'll meet there. Ever consoled a high school teacher who thought she was a bad mother? How 'bout fought off a guy who is convinced you sold him tickets to a concert... and now you're besties? No matter what you choose to do, just remember... that old woman grinding on that pole is probably someone's mother.
Then, if you get bored of that, we try and bring in a band. It's never someone who is currently popular... they're usually someone who WAS popular, or someone we claim is going to be popular soon (don't judge... we got Rascal Flatts before their homerun "God Bless the Broken Road"... look who's laughing now). They also are always a country artist, so if you don't like that, it's really too bad for you. Again, this is something I have never attended, as I'm not an avid country music fan and I would much rather party on the pavement. But this event is open to all ages. So, when you wanna get drunk but have no one to watch the kids... (disclaimer: this author in no way encourages drunk driving/letting your children see you puke on yourself... but it happens more often than not, it seems).
The parade is always Saturday morning, regardless of the date. When I was younger, I used to love catching candy. However, now that I am older and obviously more mature, I like to ride on floats and throw the candy. Or at least, I thought I did. Kids have gotten a lot meaner since I was 6. They now fight with each other and steal things out of each other's hands (the parents don't stop it... some of them are often trying to subtlely steal candy out of their children's bags) I also don't recall running up to floats, demanding candy/frisbees/whatever items they had. I waited my turn, and if I got it, fine (Again, I don't remember my mother doing this either, but we had a few who would come up and shriek in your face, "Lady! I SAID I wanted a frisbee!")
The last day of the weekend is the Demolition Derby. What are we demolishing? Cars, obviously. The drivers build cars out of spare parts and then run them into each other. How do you win? Well, your piece-of-shit car has to outlast the other piece-of-shit cars. If you start on fire, you're automatically disqualified (much to the chagrin of the audience... both loud crashes and large fires get long applause from those of us who pay to attend). Also, it is helpful if you can dress in "derby" attire. Not kentucky derby... Hats here, are baseball caps. And dresses are usually worn a size or two too small without a bra. Guys wear a nice cutoff denim vest and mullets are encouraged. I can't explain to you WHY I go. Just know that I do, and I enjoy it very much.
Just because the city doesn't sponsor it does not mean it can't happen. One of my favorite Roughrider Days events is family barbecues. Not my family, since they usually go out to the cabin, unfortunately (or fortunately...I do enjoy boat time). So I have to crash other family barbecues. Like my best friend Christa's. We had a whole new experience there this weekend. She accidentally sprayed pepper spray in the kitchen, and then turned on the water to wash her hands. Apparently this makes it more potent. Which sort of converts it to tear gas. So now we're all gagging, coughing, and army crawling to safety (had I been a betting woman, I would have bet that someone would puke in the front hall before reaching the freedom of the outdoors). Well, all except Mat and Tom, who were exclaiming that nothing could make them leave the kitchen. We were all in agreeance that this was our first time ever being maced. Well. Almost all of us ("Not me."--Tom Merkel)
White Trash Weekend is a wonderful time. Even though I've had the opportunity to do other, classier (albeit more boring) events, I have always turned it down to go home and partake in Roughrider Days. I am very insistent that I have more fun than you. And would love so very much for you to experience it for yourselves. Put in your time off now. This is not a weekend you want to miss.
This 5 day stretch has been deemed by the Convention and Visitors' Bureau "Roughrider Days" because we can't seem to let go of the fact that Teddy Roosevelt stayed here for a couple days once. We hold tight to the quote about how the Badlands "made him what he was today" (it's all we've got... ND needs something to be proud of..."TR once walked on that grass over there!") If you're really interested, we've written a musical production that is performed every night from Memorial to Labor day in the summer in Medora. Most of us who have grown up here can even sing you a song or two. Or, if bribed with money and/or beer, could reenact the charge up San Juan Hill for you (If you don't know what this is, shame on you. Please google it).
While 'Roughrider Days' is all fine and dandy, I think White Trash Weekend is slightly more fitting. Why? Here's a random sampling of the weekend's events:
You can start by attending 1-4 different rodeos (beer is provided). I have no other information on this, because I, on principle, do not attend rodeos. I was scared shitless as a toddler by the rodeo clowns who blew things up. I did not, and still do not, enjoy loud noises. I also haven't forgotten the clown's name. Dr Ben Crazy. Took me a good 5 years before I didn't scream going to the doctor because I was afraid that fruit loop would show up.
A number of bars also do outdoor beer gardens (Raise your hand if you aren't from southwest ND and still know what a beer garden is). One actually blocks off an intersection in the middle of the road to do Party on the Pavement (too bad if you wanna use that intersection... it's outta commission for a full three days). Party on the Pavement has a different live band every night. Everyone who is anyone over the age of 21 goes. You drink a little too much, you dance to the music, and you do it with your grandma. Why? Because you can. Beware, however. You never know who you'll meet there. Ever consoled a high school teacher who thought she was a bad mother? How 'bout fought off a guy who is convinced you sold him tickets to a concert... and now you're besties? No matter what you choose to do, just remember... that old woman grinding on that pole is probably someone's mother.
Then, if you get bored of that, we try and bring in a band. It's never someone who is currently popular... they're usually someone who WAS popular, or someone we claim is going to be popular soon (don't judge... we got Rascal Flatts before their homerun "God Bless the Broken Road"... look who's laughing now). They also are always a country artist, so if you don't like that, it's really too bad for you. Again, this is something I have never attended, as I'm not an avid country music fan and I would much rather party on the pavement. But this event is open to all ages. So, when you wanna get drunk but have no one to watch the kids... (disclaimer: this author in no way encourages drunk driving/letting your children see you puke on yourself... but it happens more often than not, it seems).
The parade is always Saturday morning, regardless of the date. When I was younger, I used to love catching candy. However, now that I am older and obviously more mature, I like to ride on floats and throw the candy. Or at least, I thought I did. Kids have gotten a lot meaner since I was 6. They now fight with each other and steal things out of each other's hands (the parents don't stop it... some of them are often trying to subtlely steal candy out of their children's bags) I also don't recall running up to floats, demanding candy/frisbees/whatever items they had. I waited my turn, and if I got it, fine (Again, I don't remember my mother doing this either, but we had a few who would come up and shriek in your face, "Lady! I SAID I wanted a frisbee!")
The last day of the weekend is the Demolition Derby. What are we demolishing? Cars, obviously. The drivers build cars out of spare parts and then run them into each other. How do you win? Well, your piece-of-shit car has to outlast the other piece-of-shit cars. If you start on fire, you're automatically disqualified (much to the chagrin of the audience... both loud crashes and large fires get long applause from those of us who pay to attend). Also, it is helpful if you can dress in "derby" attire. Not kentucky derby... Hats here, are baseball caps. And dresses are usually worn a size or two too small without a bra. Guys wear a nice cutoff denim vest and mullets are encouraged. I can't explain to you WHY I go. Just know that I do, and I enjoy it very much.
Just because the city doesn't sponsor it does not mean it can't happen. One of my favorite Roughrider Days events is family barbecues. Not my family, since they usually go out to the cabin, unfortunately (or fortunately...I do enjoy boat time). So I have to crash other family barbecues. Like my best friend Christa's. We had a whole new experience there this weekend. She accidentally sprayed pepper spray in the kitchen, and then turned on the water to wash her hands. Apparently this makes it more potent. Which sort of converts it to tear gas. So now we're all gagging, coughing, and army crawling to safety (had I been a betting woman, I would have bet that someone would puke in the front hall before reaching the freedom of the outdoors). Well, all except Mat and Tom, who were exclaiming that nothing could make them leave the kitchen. We were all in agreeance that this was our first time ever being maced. Well. Almost all of us ("Not me."--Tom Merkel)
White Trash Weekend is a wonderful time. Even though I've had the opportunity to do other, classier (albeit more boring) events, I have always turned it down to go home and partake in Roughrider Days. I am very insistent that I have more fun than you. And would love so very much for you to experience it for yourselves. Put in your time off now. This is not a weekend you want to miss.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Let Freedom Ring.
This Fourth of July marks the final weekend before I start my big kid job in this big wide world. I'm so excited, because I don't know which way my life is headed--and that's awesome. I don't feel like I'm going to be stuck in the same rut forever. The world is wide open. All because I decided to start in the ICU.
Don't get me wrong, I was just as excited to start on the surgical unit. But when I thought about it, I was confused about how long I should wait before I tried to get into either the adult or pediatric ICU. I want to travel nurse, but didn't know if I necessarily wanted to travel nurse with a med/surg unit, but if I waited too long, it might not be feasible anymore. I just feel like everything has changed and...opened up, if that makes sense.
I know it's going to be harder, that my new co-workers might not be necessarily accepting of the fact that I've got no experience, for all intents and purposes. But that's okay. It just pushes me even more to prove I'm competent. I hate stupidity as much as the next person, and so I'm determined to prove that I'm not an idiot. At the risk of sounding like a cocky ass, I know this is something I can be good at. I just need the opportunity to show you.
Our final day of undergrad, we wrote ourselves a letter about where we expected to be in 6 months, things we hoped to accomplish, the whole she-bang. This little pick-me-up will be opened 11.11.11, and I'm already excited about it, because my life is already entirely different than what I expected and wrote about in the letter. The biggest part to wrap my head around, is that I'm going to be on orientation for 12 weeks. So let me spell that out for you. I won't truly be on my own until sometime in October. And that's probably okay.
So, with that profound blog, I'm going to go swelter in the 100 degree weather outside. I'll try and keep you updated on this "new nurse." I'm willing to bet, as with most anything else I do, it's going to be entertaining.
Don't get me wrong, I was just as excited to start on the surgical unit. But when I thought about it, I was confused about how long I should wait before I tried to get into either the adult or pediatric ICU. I want to travel nurse, but didn't know if I necessarily wanted to travel nurse with a med/surg unit, but if I waited too long, it might not be feasible anymore. I just feel like everything has changed and...opened up, if that makes sense.
I know it's going to be harder, that my new co-workers might not be necessarily accepting of the fact that I've got no experience, for all intents and purposes. But that's okay. It just pushes me even more to prove I'm competent. I hate stupidity as much as the next person, and so I'm determined to prove that I'm not an idiot. At the risk of sounding like a cocky ass, I know this is something I can be good at. I just need the opportunity to show you.
Our final day of undergrad, we wrote ourselves a letter about where we expected to be in 6 months, things we hoped to accomplish, the whole she-bang. This little pick-me-up will be opened 11.11.11, and I'm already excited about it, because my life is already entirely different than what I expected and wrote about in the letter. The biggest part to wrap my head around, is that I'm going to be on orientation for 12 weeks. So let me spell that out for you. I won't truly be on my own until sometime in October. And that's probably okay.
So, with that profound blog, I'm going to go swelter in the 100 degree weather outside. I'll try and keep you updated on this "new nurse." I'm willing to bet, as with most anything else I do, it's going to be entertaining.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Waiting Game
Well, friends, I've got some updates from last time, and I'm actually pretty excited about all of them.
The running thing is actually going quite well. I can now run 2 miles without wanting to die. I really feel like I could go farther, but don't want to up it too soon. So after two more times of successfully running two miles, I'll probably bump it up to 2.5 and go from there. I've decided the goal (for now) is 5 miles. After that, who knows. I actually kind of enjoy running, now that I know I can go farther than 20 feet. I also think it helps that it's beautiful summer, instead of me, inside on a treadmill, wishing I was anywhere but there.
I got my ATT for my boards. I was so excited that I quickly went to schedule it and found out that if I wanted to keep my original start date at work, I was going to have to take boards the very next day. I actually thought about it for awhile. I get such crazy test anxiety (usually for no reason) and surprising myself by going to take boards in less than 24 hours would leave me unable to freak out as much and get them over with. In the end, I opted not to, because I didn't have everything done with Kaplan. And while I know the chance of me failing seems to be miniscule, I want to make sure I've done everything I could. So if I do fail, I get a refund. Or, my parents get a refund. Either way. So, boards are in less than 3 weeks. Thank goodness. Time to move up and move on.
I then talked to my manager at work to let her know my start date was going to have to be pushed back. She called me back when I was unable to get to my phone, and she said we would work with what we had, and she didn't mind. So I'm feeling just fine and dandy, and ready to hang up, since that should be the end of the said message, when she says, "Oh, and the ICU called. They wanted to know if they can steal you from us. If you want to work there, just let us know. We want you to be happy."
Again, my initial thought was ABSOLUTELY NOT. I had already told them no once, I had my mind made up, and I didn't want to rehash that. But then I thought about it. And by 'thought about it' I mean I talked to about 5 different people about what I was feeling. In the end, we all came up with the exact same answer.
I need to start in the adult ICU.
My boss told me it was an exciting opportunity, as well as talking to my parents, Lindsay, Rachelle, and Laura. And that's only this time around. Both Christa and Gongoll had already told me they thought I was crazy to pass this up last time. My instructor had also told me that she wouldn't recommend me if she didn't think I could do it. This just makes sense. I want to be a flight nurse. If the ICU is willing to put time in and train me as a new graduate nurse, and I know that I will be good at taking care of an ICU patient since I spent all practicum doing it...what other choice do I have?
So Donelle at work is going to get in contact with the ICU and tell them that they can have me, and get her in contact with me as well. I am soooo excited. But trying really hard to not, just in case this doesn't work for some reason. The initial offer was two weeks ago already. The ICU has 7 open nursing positions posted online right now, so I would imagine they still need help. But still. Trying to be cautiously optimistic. I'm hoping to hear from the ICU tomorrow. But we all know how well I wait.
The running thing is actually going quite well. I can now run 2 miles without wanting to die. I really feel like I could go farther, but don't want to up it too soon. So after two more times of successfully running two miles, I'll probably bump it up to 2.5 and go from there. I've decided the goal (for now) is 5 miles. After that, who knows. I actually kind of enjoy running, now that I know I can go farther than 20 feet. I also think it helps that it's beautiful summer, instead of me, inside on a treadmill, wishing I was anywhere but there.
I got my ATT for my boards. I was so excited that I quickly went to schedule it and found out that if I wanted to keep my original start date at work, I was going to have to take boards the very next day. I actually thought about it for awhile. I get such crazy test anxiety (usually for no reason) and surprising myself by going to take boards in less than 24 hours would leave me unable to freak out as much and get them over with. In the end, I opted not to, because I didn't have everything done with Kaplan. And while I know the chance of me failing seems to be miniscule, I want to make sure I've done everything I could. So if I do fail, I get a refund. Or, my parents get a refund. Either way. So, boards are in less than 3 weeks. Thank goodness. Time to move up and move on.
I then talked to my manager at work to let her know my start date was going to have to be pushed back. She called me back when I was unable to get to my phone, and she said we would work with what we had, and she didn't mind. So I'm feeling just fine and dandy, and ready to hang up, since that should be the end of the said message, when she says, "Oh, and the ICU called. They wanted to know if they can steal you from us. If you want to work there, just let us know. We want you to be happy."
Again, my initial thought was ABSOLUTELY NOT. I had already told them no once, I had my mind made up, and I didn't want to rehash that. But then I thought about it. And by 'thought about it' I mean I talked to about 5 different people about what I was feeling. In the end, we all came up with the exact same answer.
I need to start in the adult ICU.
My boss told me it was an exciting opportunity, as well as talking to my parents, Lindsay, Rachelle, and Laura. And that's only this time around. Both Christa and Gongoll had already told me they thought I was crazy to pass this up last time. My instructor had also told me that she wouldn't recommend me if she didn't think I could do it. This just makes sense. I want to be a flight nurse. If the ICU is willing to put time in and train me as a new graduate nurse, and I know that I will be good at taking care of an ICU patient since I spent all practicum doing it...what other choice do I have?
So Donelle at work is going to get in contact with the ICU and tell them that they can have me, and get her in contact with me as well. I am soooo excited. But trying really hard to not, just in case this doesn't work for some reason. The initial offer was two weeks ago already. The ICU has 7 open nursing positions posted online right now, so I would imagine they still need help. But still. Trying to be cautiously optimistic. I'm hoping to hear from the ICU tomorrow. But we all know how well I wait.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Movin' on up.
Now that I'm nearly completely settled into my new apartment, there isn't much left to do but study for boards. And wait for my little personal golden ticket (ie. Authorization To Test) to arrive. My ATT can't arrive until NDSU sends my transcripts to the State Board of Nursing. So, NDSU, any time you're ready, because I'm so tired of studying. I just need to see what happens next.
So, while playing the waiting game, I need to develop a new hobby. Because if I don't do anything other than study until June 20, I'm going to go a little crazy and be absolutely no fun to be around. So I've decided to try a couple things:
The Fargo Marathon just happened in Fargo. I think it's so inspiring that people train that hard to finish an insane amount of miles. However, I don't believe that the normal human body is made to run 26.2 miles. I think that's painful, and a little insane, so I have no desire to finish the marathon. However...the half is a little better. Maybe. I guess, all I really want, is to be able to say, "Yeah I ran an easy 5 miles..." So today, I started this new "running" thing. I set up an account on MapMyRun.com (when I do things, I do them big...I'm not gonna try and see if I like it first...I'd rather get cyber-harassed by a running company) and went for my first run. I made it 1.89 miles before deciding I didn't really want to do it anymore. Not bad. I can definitely make it 2 miles next time, and we'll just go from there after that. So stay tuned for that progress. Should be interesting for all involved.
I've also decided to volunteer as a pre-CNA mentor through the Skills and Technology Center. The people I'm going to be helping are new American citizens whose first language isn't English. Many of these people were nurses in their own countries, but because of the language barrier, are not able to pass NCLEX and are starting from the very bottom. How sad is that! I can't imagine deciding I had to move somewhere else where my education meant absolutely nothing. So if I can help them, cool.
These things are hopefully going to give me enough to do in the coming weeks while I await the ATT and then can schedule boards. And then, if all goes well, I'm going to be an RN,BSN by June 20. I can't wait. I got some really cool news...my favorite nursing instructor was recommending me to the ICU to start as one of the first new grads back in the ICU since they outlawed them a few years back to focus on implementing new studies and requiring experience. Unfortunately, I turned this down. I have a job on the surgical/trauma floor already, and while the ICU sounds really exciting, I think I need 6 months to a year to...grow, I guess. I want to be nothing less than awesome when I transfer to the ICU.
So, while playing the waiting game, I need to develop a new hobby. Because if I don't do anything other than study until June 20, I'm going to go a little crazy and be absolutely no fun to be around. So I've decided to try a couple things:
The Fargo Marathon just happened in Fargo. I think it's so inspiring that people train that hard to finish an insane amount of miles. However, I don't believe that the normal human body is made to run 26.2 miles. I think that's painful, and a little insane, so I have no desire to finish the marathon. However...the half is a little better. Maybe. I guess, all I really want, is to be able to say, "Yeah I ran an easy 5 miles..." So today, I started this new "running" thing. I set up an account on MapMyRun.com (when I do things, I do them big...I'm not gonna try and see if I like it first...I'd rather get cyber-harassed by a running company) and went for my first run. I made it 1.89 miles before deciding I didn't really want to do it anymore. Not bad. I can definitely make it 2 miles next time, and we'll just go from there after that. So stay tuned for that progress. Should be interesting for all involved.
I've also decided to volunteer as a pre-CNA mentor through the Skills and Technology Center. The people I'm going to be helping are new American citizens whose first language isn't English. Many of these people were nurses in their own countries, but because of the language barrier, are not able to pass NCLEX and are starting from the very bottom. How sad is that! I can't imagine deciding I had to move somewhere else where my education meant absolutely nothing. So if I can help them, cool.
These things are hopefully going to give me enough to do in the coming weeks while I await the ATT and then can schedule boards. And then, if all goes well, I'm going to be an RN,BSN by June 20. I can't wait. I got some really cool news...my favorite nursing instructor was recommending me to the ICU to start as one of the first new grads back in the ICU since they outlawed them a few years back to focus on implementing new studies and requiring experience. Unfortunately, I turned this down. I have a job on the surgical/trauma floor already, and while the ICU sounds really exciting, I think I need 6 months to a year to...grow, I guess. I want to be nothing less than awesome when I transfer to the ICU.
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