Did I REALLY sign up for this??

This weekend my nursing bestie graduated from Nursing school! I am so proud of him! It was so neat being at pinning again, but this time in the audience. I can remember how it felt sitting there waiting to get your pin, knowing that this was the culmination of everything you had worked so hard for. I can hardly believe it's been 7 months since I was the one walking across that stage getting my beloved pin. Here is a pic of me on my way to pinning :D It was a great night and I even got to see some of my classmates. I can't believe how much I miss all of them! We all said we need to get together soon & I plan on making that happen. I really love those people and let's be real, the only people that can truly understand the hell that you had to go through for those 2 1/2 years are the nursing peeps that went through it with you. Speaking of being out of school, it's so weird. Being out of school and just working is such a different pace. There's no more deadlin...

Well, I'm still waiting, but I'm pretty sure I should have some exciting news shortly, I'll let you know for sure as soon as I get the final word (like you couldn't guess). Anyway, as my title says, I'm really starting to settle in to my job on Med/Surg & dare I say, I've actually started LOOKING FORWARD to going in to work. I don't know that it has so much to do with the job itself or with the fact that I'm starting to find my place. It seems like it's harder to find your place in a tight knit group, especially when you only work 3 days a week, which I am TOTALLY loving btw. But when some of those nurses work 4 & 5 days a week they really get to know each other.  Then of course you have the ones that have been there for 30 years, so they REALLY know each other. It just takes a while, but I think I am really starting to not only find my place, but get a groove when it comes to running my day in M/S. Of course I know I still have a long way ...

Soo, nothing from graduate school. I applied to the online RODP program on August 5th & have heard nothing. I have a friend that said that one of the girls she works with heard immediately after she applied, so I'm thinking that my answer is no.  The thing is that if it's no then I'll get over it, but I'd really like to know either way. I've called twice & have been told that my application is with the "review board" but dang, it's been over 60 days how long does the review board take?  I've kind of given up, but even so I'd like to hear. Anyhoo, yesterday I met up with two of my nursing school friends & it was great to catch up and talk about our new jobs.  I have to say I miss my nursing school peeps!!  Well, the majority of them anyway ;) Also, I feel so stagnant. Even though I finally have what I've been working so hard for, I still feel like I'm spinning my wheels. Is that bad? Does that mean I don't appreciate wha...

So what has 2 months as a brand new RN taught me?  Well here goes: 1. Doctor's REALLY can be serious jerks 2. When doctor's are being serious jerks it's usually not personal, so try not to take it that way 3. Patients really do die & even though it's not your fault, you still feel like it is in some way 4. Errors CAN happen, be VERY vigilant 5. SLOW DOWN 6. If you're doing something that you're unsure of and your nursing sense starts tingling, STOP what you're doing and ask someone about it 7. It's hard to remember your patient's names when you're running around like a chicken with your head cut off 8. Once you're off orientation it's full steam ahead so if  you feel like you need more training/orienting time then say so! 9. Nurses are a cool group of people 10. TED hose really do make your legs feel SO much better after a 12 hour shift (and they sell some really cute ones too) 11. Working 3 shifts a week ROCKS!! 12. This...

Sorry it took me so long to post, but yes I passed the dreaded NCLEX!! I was so nervous but it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I got 141 questions & I swear around question 130 I thought "I'm the one, I'm going to get all of the questions", but luckily I wasn't, but my friend was!  Me & two of my friends took it at the same time & one finished with 75, then there was me & then the other one got all of the questions, thankfully though we all passed!!  After it was over we all came together & did "the trick" & yes it really works.  2 of my friends failed & they were able to go all the way to the credit card screen after taking the test, but everyone that passed was stopped before getting to that scree, so just in case you're wondering, yes the trick really works. So, I have been working on Med Surg now for about a month & I have to say that I have really learned some interesting things of which I will...

So as you can see I have GRADUATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!!  I am SO happy that nursing school is over, but can we say holy terrified?  Tomorrow is the NCLEX & I feel thoroughly unprepared.  Fortunately our school provided us with the HURST Review  and even though I have been studying this for about 2 weeks now I still feel completely terrified to actually take the test.  Of my former classmates I know of one so far who has failed....so scary... The rest of them are chugging along & passing on a daily basis, hopefully I will be one of them! But to rewind, here are a few pics from graduation & my graduation party that my precious husband & sister threw for me: That's my baby girl to my right, she looks taller than me!   I seriously couldn't have been cheesing any harder!! My nursing bestie & his bf hiding in the back! My study buddy!   My inlaws, aren't they precious!! Definitely one of the ...

I have that song from the 80's in my head "It's the final countdown"!!  I can't believe that I now have less than 50 days until my last day of school!!!!!!!!  Woofreakinhoo!!!!!  Seriously, I am so excited.  This week I have my LAST research paper (well for my undergrad anyway) due!! Yesterday we did our LAST group project (rec'd a 95 thankyouverymuch).  While I'm so excited to be getting close to the end it's also a little bittersweet.  I have seriously come to love the majority of my class mates so much and I have to admit that I will miss seeing them on a weekly (sometimes monthly if I ditched classes) basis. I know for sure that there are several that I will stay in touch with, but then there are some that I KNOW I will never speak to again.  I mean I don't speak to them now, so why would that change? :)  But seriously, I will miss this chapter of my life.  I am so happy and proud that I have done this.  I mean I am about to have a ...