I Passed the NCLEX-RN!

That's right, I am officially a Registered Nurse.  I took the test on Wednesday last week at 1:00 pm.  I had been studying for the test every day since December 1st and in reality, I had been answering NCLEX style questions since the summer.  In my opinion answering the questions is the best way to be successful.

The NCLEX can be anywhere from 75 questions up to 265 questions, depending on where you fall within the passing line.  I am very grateful that I only received 75 questions.  I am not sure I would have had the patience to answer 265 questions!  I packed myself a snack to put in the locker, in the event that I would be there long enough for a break.

My NCLEX snack, because, why not?

Thank goodness I did not end up being there long enough to need a break and get to eat my snack.  I took about an hour to answer my 75 questions and high tailed it out of there!  I got to the car and called one of my nursing school friends to ask her if she thought I passed or not.  Lucky for me, I got the confirmation on Friday that I passed!  

For any people that will be taking the NCLEX, I recommend Kaplan questions.  I did not take the actual Kaplan course, but did do the Q bank questions and tests and found them to be the best example of how the questions are worded on the NCLEX.

For now, I am super excited that I am no longer having to spend my time studying.  Less time studying means more time running!

A Graduation Celebration!

The day after graduation, Ken had an exciting celebration planned.  It was not a surprise, but he did plan the entire thing, which was super sweet of him.  I may not have been excited about the graduation, but I was certainly excited about my gathering with friends.

The celebration was held at Somerset Ridge, a place that we have been hanging out at since 2008.  It was such a fun day filled with friends, family, wine, and cake.  It was a great time.  I will let the majority of the pictures do the talking.

Everyone enjoying wine and the charcuterie plate.

Michelle and Jill having fun

Katie and me

One of the big things that day was the discussion of scrotal edema.  You see, it seems to follow me all over the hospital.  No matter where I go, I come across a patient with scrotal edema.  The discussion started that day when Scott insisted I open my presents because he had written scrotal edema in his card.  He was pretty proud of himself.  Katie said we should make bets on how many cards mentioned scrotal edema because she knew of at least two...ha, ha!  Our friends I tell ya!

Michelle demonstrating an uncircumcised penis with scrotal edema.  You cannot make this stuff up!

With our good friend Scott.  Scott and I worked together at Oakwood and I had no idea when I met him over 10 years ago that we would be such good friends.  I miss seeing him every day.

Ken says that this is one of the funniest pictures of the day because no one is that excited for cake.  Well, this girl is!  I love me some cake, especially chocolate on chocolate cake!

This was such a delicious cake from 3 Women and an Oven

Getting ready to blow out my candle and being super embarrassed about some of the jokes about me blowing out a candle.  I am explaining that I am a modest young lady!

Jill and me.  Jill was my very first friend in Kansas City and I am so glad that we met over 11 years ago!

With my three besties.  I love these three to pieces.

A great representation of the day!

All of us girls

Our friend Jane and me

Linda and Bill celebrated with us and were super proud of their new nurse!

A great picture of Michelle and Rob.  

After the winery, it was determined that none of us had any food at home so Rob, Michelle, Mike, Katie, and us decided to go to Tanners for dinner and more drinks. Joe and Laura, who could not make it to the winery, met up with us too.

Mike and Katie at Tanners

Katie, Laura, Michelle, and me

There is so much going on in this photo.  Mainly, Michelle had made it rain Kleenex earlier and she is getting one back!

Joe and me

If you know Michelle and me, you understand this photo.  Drink your water girl!

The entire weekend was unbelievable.  I received so many wonderful gifts, all of which were completely unexpected.  I feel so grateful for all of the wonderful people in my life.  Ken really out did himself with such a great weekend and celebration.  He sure knows how to spoil his girl.  Oh, he finished the weekend off with breakfast at IHOP.  Nothing says love to me quite like pumpkin pancakes.  

One of my gifts from my mother in law.  

Graduation Day...

My graduation day started of with brunch with two of my nursing school besties.  We talked about the upcoming day and made plans that we will be meeting up for brunch/cocktails or something at least once a month.  I am so sad thinking about not seeing them every week!  

When I got home, Ken told me he had a present for me.  I was absolutely clueless as to what it might be because I had not asked for anything and I am quite difficult to shop for.  He handed me a wrapped box and I almost died.  I could not believe that he had wrapped a present for me.  It could have been a cat toy at that point.  My heart had already melted.  I opened the present and my heart melted even more.  It was a new stethoscope that was pink.  It was a far nicer stethoscope than I would have ever purchased for myself.  He had put so much thought into and made sure it was pink.  It absolutely made my day.  I pulled it out and listened to Ken's heart beat so that his heart would be the very first one I would listen to with my new stethoscope.  That husband of mine is so sweet!

Saint Luke's College of Health Sciences BSN class of 2016

I did not realize the girl next to me was so tall until I saw this photo, ha, ha!

My friends Amy and Amanda

Beth and I with our signature pose.  Beth and I were clinical partners for complex care in the ICU. We had so much fun together and we found that she would always stand just behind my shoulder when I would chart, but I would have no idea she was back there.  She was the best clinical partner I could have ever asked for and not only because she took care of the eye drops for me since I have an eye thing.  She is going to be working in the ICU as well in the float pool, so I know at some point we will be able to work a few shifts together.  We found that we both get the giggles around 4:00 am on night shift, no matter how much coffee we drink.

These three ladies make my heart so happy.  I know nursing school would not have been the same without them.  I am so proud to say that all of us will be critical care nurses and received our first choice of units.  I will be in the ICU, Brittnee will be in the ER, Madison will be in the NICU, and Amanda will be in the ER.  I love these girls to pieces.

Grateful is the only word that really comes to mind when I look at this picture.  I think all girls should be as blessed as I am in the husband department.  He is my biggest cheerleader in everything that I do. 

After graduation we went to Spin Pizza with Ken's parents and Mike and Katie.  It was the end to a perfect day!

I Graduated...

One week ago today I graduated from nursing school with my BSN.  Graduated.  From nursing school.  I am still a little surprised that it is over with, but am thrilled that I am getting ready to start my career.

I have given it a lot of thought about what I should write/say about my graduation and it has taken me a bit of time to wrap my head around this accomplishment, because it is quite the accomplishment. If you had asked me last week if I was excited, my answer was just, meh.  I was excited, but for different reasons.  I was most excited about getting my first choice nursing job and not so much about the actual graduation.  I will try to explain my way of thinking the best that I can.

In our house if you say you are going to do something, you do it.  No excuses, no questions about it, you said you would do it, so you do it.  End of the story.  I know, we sound really hard core at our house, don't we?  In my mind finishing nursing school was just me finishing something I set out to do.

It wasn't until we were talking with our friend Joe last week that I realized how difficult it is to accomplish such a thing as an adult and that my completing a BSN was indeed a big deal.

I know that my graduating nursing school should be my proudest accomplishment, but it is not.  My proudest accomplishment is what it took me to get there.

If I am being completely honest, I have always felt like sort of a failure for not going to college right out of high school.  I am not tooting my own horn here, but I am too smart to have not gone to college.  At the time, I did not know what I wanted to do, so I started working and eventually fell into sales jobs, which do not always require a degree.  Still, anytime someone would ask me about college I always felt like a failure.

I knew in 2007 that I wanted to be a nurse.  I had plans to go back to school, but the timing was just not right for me.  I received a promotion at work and felt satisfied with what I was doing so I carried on and did not really think about it again.  The thought of taking classes as a 26 year old non-traditional student seemed quite daunting at the time.  Boy was my 30 something self in for a surprise later!

I was satisfied and happy up until I finished Ironman Louisville in 2012.  Actually, when we hiked the Grand Canyon for the first time in 2011, I met my friend Molly who was a nurse, and a seed was planted in my mind to consider school.  I quickly put the thought out of my mind rather quickly because I was satisfied at work.  I always kind of thought "what if" though.

During Ironman Louisville I met a girl named Anne during the bike portion.  We started talking and I learned that she was a nurse.  The thought crept into my mind again, but I quickly pushed it out again.  It was 90 something degrees and I had an Ironman to finish.  I never forgot about Anne though and her being a nurse.

After I finished Ironman Louisville I was met with a great deal of disappointment, which is quite common after such an achievement.  I was pretty depressed and felt rather lost.  What was I going to do next?  I sure as hell was not going to do an Ironman again...yet.  Suddenly the thought of Anne came into my mind as well as my friends Molly, Heather, and Jamie who are all wonderful nurses.  I knew it was time to make a career change.

Fast forward to a few structural changes at work and I felt like I had the flashing sign I needed to make me pull the trigger.  I really felt that if I could work full time and train for an Ironman, that I could put that extra training time to classes.  Fast forward to January, and I was taking 13 hours of classes while working full time.  I also trained for a marathon that year, because that is how I roll.

My very first day of class in January 2013.  

Some how, I managed to complete a BSN degree, which is a four year degree, in exactly four years.  Those first two years I worked my butt of to do so.  I took a full load of classes, worked full time, and was either training for a marathon or an Ironman, all while maintaining the house and being a wife.  I am not exactly sure how I did it, but I did.  That right there is what I am most proud of.  I did it, and I have myself and Ken to thank for it.

BSN graduate with the RN pending

Wrapping up October Happenings...

October is one of my favorite months of the year, and this October did not disappoint!  Our weather was unseasonable warm, but we made the very best of the mild weather. After we returned home from our Colorado trip, we had quite the busy schedule.

Ken and me at the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction.

I volunteer at the event every year, and these lovely ladies were kind enough to join me this year.  

We enjoyed many fires in our backyard!

The most important part of a fire for me is eating a s'mores.  Fire = s'mores in my book.

My friend Sier'a had a birthday, so some of us White House girls went to brunch to celebrate.  Sier'a is the cutie in the middle.  

I took my last nursing school final (yes!) and my nursing school besties and I celebrated with lunch afterwards.  The four of us have all sat together for all four semesters and each of us ended up with our first choice of specialty!

Mike was my date (and a volunteer) for the Nurse of the Year Awards that is hosted by the March of Dimes.

Ken and me at the Nurse of the Year Awards

We are adjusting to life with me being on the night shift and figuring out how things are going to work here.  I am not sure who has been affected the most by my messed up schedule?

These two have decided that hanging with Uncle Ken is not all that bad while mom is on the night shift.  They have learned that they get double the snuggles when they play their cards right!

The End of an Era...

Today marks the end of my time at home.  Yep, tomorrow is my first official day where I have to get up and go to work with the masses.  Gulp.  It was bound to happen eventually.

I was at home for almost two years.  The first six months I worked from home before I started nursing school.  After nursing school began, well, I was working a little from home and loving being with my hooligans.  

I am not going to lie, it was not always fun.  I am social.  I like to talk.  I crack jokes all of them time.  I need to be around people.  I really do.  All that being said, I am so incredibly grateful for the time I got to spend at home with my babies.  I will always be grateful for Oakwood allowing me to be at home, and most of all, Ken.  Without Ken, none of this would have been possible and I am forever grateful that he is such a wonderful husband and afforded me the time at home with my babies.

I am fully aware that to most people they are animals, but not to me.  The way that people feel about their children is the way I feel about Angel, Theodore, and Kya.  They are my world.  In my time at home I broke up disagreements between them, said, "we do not behave this way!" more times than I can count, and I spent many days cuddling and watching movies with my hoolies.  

On Thursday and Friday, the four of us felt a little nostalgic.  I was fully aware that many of things we were doing, were going to be for the last time before mama hits the real world.  Of course, we made each moment count and I took a few extra moments to enjoy the kitty fights, cat naps, mouse beatings, and the adorable husky sleeping in the backyard.  

My sweeties and me enjoying our Thursday night wine because when you have nowhere to be on Friday morning, you put on the PJ's and enjoy a glass or two!  Please excuse the frightening devil eyes from the hoolies.

Theodore really showed his personality while I was at home.  I know he is sleeping in this picture, but he really became my work and study buddy while I was at home.  He also mastered the need for a mid-morning nap.

These two really are the boss of me.  My life is run by two white cats.  Do they not look intimidating? 

I enjoyed watching Kya sleep in the most random places outside. We also really enjoyed our runs and walks during the day while other people were at work.

This girl and I did one of our most favorite things and walked to Starbucks together.  

The truth is, the next time Ken asks me what I have going on tomorrow, I cannot wait to reply with something more meaningful than walking to Starbucks for a latte.  I feel like I will have a purpose again, and that is something that is pretty important for this driven girl.  The biggest issue I am going to have is the reality that I have to hit the grocery store in the evenings or on the weekend.  First world problems, you know?

I am going to miss many things about being at home, but it is really time for me to take my next big girl step.  Starting tomorrow, I will be working in the operating room!  That is right, the OR right where I was hoping I would end up!  I still have one semester of school left, but after that and pending the passing of the NCLEX, I will be a Registered Nurse in the OR.  Eeeks!!!

Nursing School Update...

Well, well, well, it is hard to believe that I am wrapping up my third semester and only have one more to go!  I guess that makes me 3/4 of a nurse.  Even with that, please oh please do not code in front of me.  I am still a CPR virgin.  I know at some point the band-aid will be ripped off and it will be done, but for the time I am just an innocent little nursing student.

This semester was not my favorite, not at all.  I will spare you all the reasons why, but the community content just did not align with my personal beliefs.  I will say this, I am all about empowering people instead of feeling sorry for them.  End of discussion.

I was not placed in the hospital for clinical this semester, since we were in the community.  Instead, I was at a middle school, with middle school children.  It was really not as bad as I was thinking it would be.  I learned that I like middle school children far more than elementary school children.  I was fortunate enough that the nurse at my middle school was amazing.  She was basically me.  She and I talked so much and I really enjoyed spending my days with her.  All of that being said, I cannot say that I will be rushing out to be a school nurse anytime soon.  If I wanted children to complain to me about their throats hurting, I would get pregnant.  :)

On my last day of clinical at the school, there was an abstinence speaker talking to the 8th graders.  I did the whole roll my eyes, I cannot believe they are still teaching abstinence in schools.  I am more of the "wrap that shit up, I know you are having sex" party.  As it turns out, the speaker was amazing.  She brought a perspective of if you have sex, you need to think about what is on the other side of yes.  I did almost laugh out loud when she was talking about the effectiveness of condoms.  I was instantly taken back to the Friends episode where Rachel tells Ross she is pregnant.  I was suddenly imagining Ross shouting, "3%, THEY SHOULD PUT THAT ON THE BOX!!!"

I always love relating life to Friends episodes.  Anyway, the speaker was better than I imagined.  I also found myself looking around the room swearing that these kids are not old enough to babysit Kya, let alone be having sex.  I guess I am officially an old lady when I think teenagers look like 10 year olds.  

Moving on...Last semester my Evidenced-Based Practice group won our group presentations.  This basically meant that I got to add a line to my resume and attend a few different EBP presentations with other schools.

EBPing it like a boss

Our research was napping during the night shift.  Apparently, nurses used to get fired if they dozed off during their shifts.  

I have my final tomorrow and then school is our for summer!  

Its All About the Veins, 'Bout the Veins...

Nursing school has started and this semester it is all about IV's.  Yikes.  All about poking someone with a needle to find a vein.  It is not as easy as it sounds.  Shots, no big deal, you are not trying to find something so tiny, you are just poking.  IV's are a different ball game.

We had yet to practice IV's when I went to my first clinical this semester.  I had an opportunity to try an IV, but was unsuccessful.  The PICC team ended up being called in because the sweet little old lady had horrible veins.  I was super thrilled that I at least got to stick someone, even if I did not hit a vein.

That brings me to today.  I am dying to try to start an IV again.  Unfortunately, the floor I am on in the hospital, most people come to us from the ED or ICU so they already have IV's.  I am hopeful each time I go that it will in fact be D-Day or maybe I should call it V-Day you know, Vein Day.

With my undying devotion to want to start an IV comes me staring about peoples veins all the time.  I look at friends veins, Ken's veins, and now even strangers veins.  I was at the gym today and saw this buff man waiting on one of the machines.  I thought, oh he is buff and an older guy.  When I say older guy, you know, around 50 (just for you Mike!).

After I noticed his muscles, I was quickly drawn to the veins bulging on his arms.  I could see every single vein.  I was staring and maybe salivating just a bit.  I tried to look away, but I just couldn't.  I know he saw me staring at him and he probably thought I was checking him out.  In fact, I think some other man saw me staring at this guy too.  It was that obvious.  I debated about telling him I was not staring at him, but at his wonderful veins, but I decided that made me sound creepier than if he thought I wanted his bod.

All I kept thinking was that if only I had an IV kit in the car, I would offer to buy him a protein shake if I could stick him with a needle.  Mental note:  get IV kit for the car.

A Photo a Day...Week 3...

Day 15:  My first day of classes!  Ken made me take the traditional first day of school photo.

Day 16:  Lots and lots of studying to do

Day 17:  Is it bad that she sometimes runs from me when I grab the camera?

Day 18:  These two were obviously being abused.  And yes, that is my Ironman medal hanging on our basement door.  I would wear it everyday if Ken would not make fun of me.  :)

Day 19:  Bless you Target for putting out part of your Easter candy!  Let the obsession begin!

Day 20:  Apparently running 11 miles makes someone sleepy.

Day 21:  Guess what is in the cup?  Yep, a Pumpkin Spice Latte.  The Starbucks by my office still has it and it does not expire until March.  :)