Decisions, decisions. . .

So I have my interview tomorrow afternoon, but there's a twist. This weekend, my manager came in and I was able to pull her to the side and talk to her for a few minutes. In the few minutes that we talked, she told me that if I wanted a job, I had one. I would start in telemetry and we would basically personalize my orientation to what I want. She told me that I could cross train into day surgery and PACU and then go from there. Pretty much how fast I move up is up to my initiative. I'm still going to my interview tomorrow. I also have another meeting with my manager on Thursday afternoon. I want to finalize some things with her and really figure out some things. The way it stands right now, I'm pretty sure I'll accept the position where I work now. I like the facility, I know the system. . . there are so many pluses.

I have one more clinical day!!! Then I start transition! It turns out I won't be finished with transition until the 16th, just some schedule glitches b/t my schedule and my preceptors schedule. It all works out though. I'm still done well before Thanksgiving and that leaves me almost a month to concentrate on theory and preparing for the NCLEX.

That's what is going on in my world. I'll let you know how my interview goes as well as my appointment with my manager. I'm going to try to get some things done around the house. I'm looking forward to finally having some time in my world!! More later, cjb

Almost. . .

Well, I finally got my official grade from my test. I got a 79. That's almost a B. One point away, to be exact. I'm very happy with my grade, but really could've used that one point (just like the last exam!)

I'm also almost finished with my assignments for the day. I just have an essay to knock out and I'll be through. I've left it until last, and I'm not really sure why. I don't think it'll be that hard. After all, I do enjoy writing.

Just wanted to update you with the news. I need to go get this essay finished so I can go to work in peace this weekend! :) Have a good rest of your day, cjb!

Under 50!!!

I'm finally to 49 days! It feels good to be where I am. I'm still awaiting my final test grade, but I feel good about the exam.

Lots of other things are going on in my "real" life right now that I don't want to go into. Sometimes I really wish life would stop while nursing school was happening. But that's not the way things work. I'm a stronger person because of it.

I have a ton of work to finish for school tomorrow, I haven't been very productive today due to a lot of things.

The weather in North Texas has been absolutely delightful. Last night we were in the low 40s and today we barely hit 70. Tonight we'll probably get down into the upper 30s! Wow! Finally, fall is upon us! It's nice to be able to keep my house open during the day (when I'm home!) I have some cleaning that I need to do, and it kinda motivates me.

Not much else to tell from here. Thanks for checking in on me, cjb

p.s. this is for my secret pal ~ I LOVE chocolate of any kind (especially with caramel, mint, or peanut butter). I also look at those combination packs of crochet hooks everytime I go into Michael's because I'm forever missing the ONE size I need. I also enjoy drinking hot tea. It's the perfect time of year for it, too. I'm always up for trying new flavors! Is that enough ideas for now? If I think of anything else, I'll post it as a p.s.! Thanks for all you do for me, you really brighten my day! :)

It finally happened!!!

Well, I finally got the call I've been waiting for from the beginning of nursing school. I got my first call to schedule an interview for a job on a telemetry unit at a large hospital not far from downtown. It will be next Wednesday at 2:30!! I'm so glad that I'm starting to get calls on my applications, I was really starting to feel like I wouldn't have a job when I graduate, even though I know I will.

That's the news for the day. I'm going to try to get some soup and warm myself up. It got cold last night and looks like it's supposed to stay cold for the rest of the week. The days are gorgeous, and we were due for a change. I'm so glad fall is here! More later, cjb

Doing better on a test day. . . .

So I'm much better today than I was this time last exam. I might actually get to graduate and be a nurse! Imagine that. I passed my test very comfortably and could possibly pull a B if they throw out enough questions. That makes me very happy. Plus they extended our due dates on some of other class work, so that's nice too. So that's what I know. I'm going to try to knock out some of this work that is due so I can have a little bit of a break soon. More later from chilly north Texas, cjb

Trying to make myself feel better

So I sat down to figure out how many days I have of each class left and here's what I came up with:

• I have 8 more lecture days (3 exams will be in there, the last day is exam only, so I guess I technically only have 7 lecture days)
• I have 4 more clinical days (going Tuesday and Wednesday) then I start transition
• Transition is 5 days (12 hour shifts ~ this will be completed on November 13)
• One test day for my transition class. (this will be on November 15)
  

Boiling it down like that makes everything seem much more attainable. I have to get back to my books, just thought I'd share my breakdown with you! cjb

Time is flying . . . .

First of all, let me say thank you to my secret nurse pal for the cute gift she sent me. I got a book titled "Wit & Wisdom of Women", a bookmark, and a magnet that is too funny. It is a lady dressed from the 60s or 70s with a huge smile on her face with the quote "More paperwork, please." Right now, that describes my life to a tee!! These gifts really come at great times. Thank you for thinking of me and making my days brighter!!

On a school note time just keeps going right on by. I can't believe that it is already the 17th of October. By this time next month, I'll be done with all of my classes except for theory. It doesn't quite seem possible. I'm working on figuring out my transition schedule. We just have one day to figure out. I think I'm going to have to do a Saturday and not have go to work, I'm trying to get it all figured out between work and my clinical instructor. I'm currently waiting on a call back from my scheduling manager at work. We'll see if it will work out. Hopefully it will because if it does, I will be done with clinicals on November 13th!!!

So, that's the deal with me right now. Not much else is going on. I have a ton of studying to this weekend. Our next exam is Monday. I will pass this exam, I will pass this exam, I will pass this exam. I'm sure I'll be posting on and off throughout this weekend. I'll let you know how the exam goes. Until next time, cjb

60 days

two months, eight weeks, however you want to look at it, I'm a heck of a lot closer to being finished than I was when I started! Seriously, I know that sounds stupid, but the end is so close, I can almost taste it. I only have three more exams (not counting THE exam). My next theory exam is is in a week. I have confidence that it will go much better than the last one. I've been able to balance my time better this go-round. I just had to post today because it is a mile stone! I know the time flies, but some days do seem worse than others! Thanks for bearing with me, cjb

Job Fair

I had a good experience today. I carpooled down to Grapevine with three other students in my class and experienced a job fair with one area hospital. They have several hospitals in the metroplex, and most of them were represented at the fair. It was set up very nicely and we were able to pick and choose which departments we went and talked to.

I started off by going and talking to the critical care area. I have thought all along that I really want to work in the ICU. I probably shouldn't have started off by talking to them because it was kinda discouraging. The lady I was talking to didn't seem interested in anything that I had to say. She also was really encouraging me to go and talk to other areas, which really indicated to me that they really don't want new grads, but they are there because they have to be.

The next stop I made was the telemetry booth. I've also thought that I could start off in telemetry and be okay with that. I had a good interview there. I felt more comfortable there than I did in critical care, though I still didn't feel like I had made my match. I had one more stop to make before I decided I was finished for the day.

When I walked in I saw a PACU (recovery for those of you non-nurses out there) booth and told myself that I would stop there before leaving. They were interviewing a few other people, so I sat down and waited. By this time, I was completely relaxed and knew what questions they were asking and kinda what my answers were going to be. I didn't think any of the area hospitals were offering PACU internships, so I was very excited. The manager I was talking to had a very positive energy and she and I had a really good conversation. It really felt like more of a conversation than an interview. As the time continued to march on, we talked about some of my experiences and what I bring to the table, along with what I expect in the team I plan to work with. It really sounds like I might be a good fit there. Before I left, she told me that she was going to put me in her call-back list! :) That means I get to go in for a second interview with the nursing team to see if I really am a fit! I'm very excited about this! I've gone from not knowing what I wanted to do, to possibly working at a Level I hospital doing over 100 surgeries a day. Plus I could possibly be able to work my ideal 11 am -11 pm shift!!! What could be better than that?

Overall it was a very productive day. I must get to cleaning. My apartment needs my attention very badly. Then I have to study some. Then tomorrow, it's back to work. The cycle must start over again sometime! I hope everyone else is having a wonderful weekend! I'll touch base again soon, cjb

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Now playing: George Harrison - Got My Mind Set On You
via FoxyTunes

I must need closure

So a new super Target opened right by me just yesterday. I didn't make it in there until today because I was just too tired yesterday. I had several things I needed to pick up and just didn't want to go to wally world if I didn't have to. I kept forgetting to get them at other times, so I finally made my list and made myself get them on the way home from the clinic this morning. As I was perusing the aisles, I noticed someone I hadn't seen in a couple of years (I thought, why me? Didn't this just happen?) It was a guy I had dated not long after I was divorced. I just wasn't ready to be dating and things ended as okay as they can end. We actually met working at Target and he is now working at the Target here. We chatted for a few minutes and I found out that he just got married in August to the girl he dated after me (go figure). The funny thing about all of this is that just last week I thought about him. I must have some crazy stuff going on in my brain. I must really need to close out some parts of my life before I graduate from nursing school and move on with my life. It's amazing to me how all of these things are happening. Now, if I could just get a job . . . off to iron my interview outfit . . . more later, cjb

Another thought. . .

Ok, so by now, ya'll know how random my posts can be, so hopefully this one won't be totally surprising. I've thought about this on and off throughout school, but haven't done enough research to really know how to go about it from here. You here about government money available for loan repayment if you work for an underserved community for a certain amount of time. I've done a tiny bit of research today and haven't been able to come up with a lot of information. The one link I was able to find was for doctors, NP's, and the like. I went ahead and sent an email to the TX source hoping she can get me some additional information, but I'm also pleading with my reading audience for help. I'm leaving school with a lot of loans. I want to be debt free as quickly as humanly possible and I am willing to work somewhere that needs help, after all, it won't be forever. Thanks for your help with this, cjb

busy, busy, busy

I know I haven't posted recently. Partly because I feel like I'm saying the same things over and over again and partly because I'm just so busy. When I'm not working or in class, I'm studying, so life is just crazy. I'm still extremely tired, but I guess that's par for the course.

We FINALLY had a cool front come through the DFW area and we are in the mid-80's today!! That may not sound like cool, but compared to mid-to upper 90's it is wonderful! I can't complain because this summer hasn't been bad at all.

I'm not much of a chatter box today, so I'm going to get back to my studies. I'll check back in when I'm up to talking more! cjb

What to do . . . .

So I have another dilemma (imagine that). If I know you outside of cyberspace, I've probably already talked to you about this, so feel free to skip this post. I need to vent this out so I can start to figure out what I need to do with the rest of my life.

I still don't have a clue what I want to do or where I want to work in less than 3 months. It's really starting to eat at me. I listen to my classmates and even read some of your blogs about how you've known for a long time exactly where you want to be and how your jobs are already set up. I'm just so afraid I'm going to make a bad decision. What if I choose ICU and it's not where I need to be? What if I go the med-surg route and I'm bored to tears? I've already ruled out OB, peds, and psych. I'm just not cut out for those specialties. So I've got some things narrowed down. I also know that I don't want to specialize (i.e. only a renal floor or cardiac floor or something like). So that being said, what am I supposed to do? I can't have gone through all this for nothing. . . . BTW, my super end goal is to be able to travel. Any advice, comments, or anything to calm me down would be helpful at this point! Thanks, cjb

a long week's wait. . .

It was a long week's wait to find out that I officially failed my first exam. Granted, I only failed by one point, but I still failed. I still have to schedule an appointment with my advisor and meet with her regarding my poor test performance over one point. I'm changing my strategy for the next test a little. Of course I'm still going to do all my reading and such, but I'm really going to focus in the NCLEX review books. It's proven successful in the past, so hopefully it will work this time, too. I'm over being discouraged. (At least for now). I've accomplished a lot over the past week. I finished the group project and all the support work that goes along with it. On Thursday, I only have to participate in class discussion to get my full points for that. It's nice to be a little bit ahead of the game for that class. I still have some work to do to get truly ahead and not have to worry about any of it at all before the next exam, but I'm well on my way to that. I feel like I'm rambling, so I'm going to try to wrap my brain around lecture material from today. I have a lot to learn about the heart and all the intricate working thereof. Have a great Monday night, cjb