Still waiting...

So I've been studying for the NCLEX... Basically I've done a lot of questions and am going over the Hurst material. I will probably schedule the test on Monday...YIKES! From what I've been hearing the earliest test dates are late March so I may have to keep waiting. I just want to get it over with already... regardless. I hate waiting for anything. I'll keep you informed on the latest.

Aidan is in the hospital now. He has a virus and keeps spiking temps. Please say some prayers that his temperatures go away so he can come home soon.

Peace and Love

This Season on American Idol....

So last night I was in the middle of a dead sleep and I was awoken by this voice singing in my ear:


From a coma to awake...I was like who dat? This 16 year old has one of the prettiest voices I've ever heard!!! I had to wake up just so I could rewind (love the DVR) and watch it again. I love him already. If he doesn't win American Idol, it won't matter, he will have a career. What a sweetheart too. :)

Also...is it just me or does American Idol have the best talent EVER this year? They have such a wide variety of talent too. Last year I barely watched...this year I won't miss a show. I'm getting excited!

I got bored and cut off my hair...

Can I just say that ever since I started getting closer to taking the NCLEX I have had more and more anxiety and GI distress. Ok...maybe a little too much info, but it's true! I am not going to say exactly when I'm taking the boards ecxept to say it will be in the next few weeks. I'm sooo nervous....anyone out there who can give me some advice?????????? I need some MAJOR reassurance right now folks, Mayjah!

I'm still doing orientation, believe it or not, couple it with working the night shift and you get one tired old woman. (Insert my photo here). Last week and this next week we are learning about EKG's and will be tested over it. I thought I was done with tests....geez. Oh.. and because of my nerves I went and got most of my hair cut off... 7 inches!!! I probably shouldn't have, but was ready for a change and I guess I was bored. I know, I'm weird. It's till long enough for me to put in a pony tail...which is essential for a low maintenace girl like me. I'll post a pic soon. I look different. :/

I've been keeping in contact with my school friends and most of them are taking or have already taken the NCLEX and all have passed so far. There are only about 7-8 people left to take it, myself included. I just can' get past my nervousness. I need to stop it so I can FOCUS! Ok...onto studying now....

NCLEX Horror

Almost everyone in my class has taken the NCLEX and passed! I'm happy for them, but somehow it just adds more pressure for the rest of us to pass. I will be taking mine by the first week of March and LORD I am so scared. I wish I could take it earlier, but in Kentucky you have to have 120 hours of 'floor time' before you can sit for boards and mine will be finished next Wednesday, but that's too soon. I want to give myself a couple of weeks to prepare and atleast feel ready. Everyone says it's sooo hard and indescribable...well shit! Just say a prayer that I can pass this. I need this monkey off my back!

I'm Going to Disney World!

Starting a new job is always difficult, whether it's something you have a degree in or if you're a Piggly Wiggley grocery bagger. Learning everything is a battle and can make you feel quite stupid for a while...especially in healthcare when there are so many rules.
Rule Number 1- Know what the different dr's like or else you may get chewed up and spit out.
Number 2- If you don't know...ASK!
Number 3- double check everything, then double check it again.
Number 4- Don't assume you know anything, because you don't know Jack.
Number 5- Throw out everything you learned in nursing school, it doesn't apply here. Number 6- The pt isn't always right, but you have to pretend like they are
Number 7- No matter what nastiness lies underneath the dressing...don't make a face, no matter how bad you want to.
Number 8- Don't ever just 'wing' it.
Number 9- Don't take everything someone says and go with it..some people don't know any more than you do.
Number 10- Be careful what you say. If you don't know something, don't pretend like you do.

Damn, all those rules make me a bit paranoid and those are just a few little things.
I go back to work tonight and am apprehensive...like I said, until I'm comfortable work will probably seem like the fire pits of Hell. Currently I am a little too warm.

I recommend someone getting a job at a hospital prior to becoming a nurse for the simple reason to know what's going on. Not only am I trying to learn the job of a nurse and all the responsability that goes along with it, but I'm also learning the job of the ward clerk, CNA, shrink & teacher. Nurses wear many hats and you will have to use all of them at some point. I have already. I've already had to call a code too, a code Green that is...SECURITY! Life on the night shift is a crazy one. Lots of sundowning happens and when it's a full moon....forgetaboutit! I have 3 pt's to myself tonight...I'll let you know how it goes...so far I've done so much:
Trach care, suctioning, NG irrigation, IV starts, dressing changes, administering blood products, TURPS...who knew that all those skills I learned I would actually use? Hmm..I guess all the stress wasn't for nothing. It's a lot different when you're doing it on a REAL person because when you're suctioning them...THEY CAN'T BREATHE! The mannequin, AKA Pat, never made a face when I suctioned his trach...what a crappy mannequin he was. Pfft!

On a good note....my son Aidan got apporved for Make-A-Wish and in July we're going to Disney World on his request! To visit the website go to: www.wish.org We're so excited for him and the other boys too. It's an all expense paid trip complete with air-fair, lodging, car rental, VIP Disney passes (meaning we can cut in line-WHOO HOO!), and they give us spending money too. We NEED a vacation soooooooo bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aidan really deserves this and we couldn't be happier for him than we are right now. To make it extra sweet, for Valentines Day my husband bought me my dream camera...a Canon 350 xt digital SLR! I'm so excited I can't even express it. I will be able to take a lot of great photos at Disney and those kinf of moments are priceless to me. I am just now getting back into taking photos and using my creativity. It's been so stifled over the past few years and it feels good to be able to enjoy a hobby for a change. I'm also loving me some Photoshop too!

Finally...I found some time to write a little blog

My poor widdle bitty bwog has been so negwected! Sorry folks for the long lapse. I've been too busy to blog honestly. If anyone out there still cares I just finished taking the Hurst Review for the Nclex. It was a good review in my opinion. She covered every system on the short version, the 'what you need to know for Nclex" version. I am going to pick up the book on Monday and start cracking. I'm so unmotivated lately! I just wish I could say I was an RN already and be done with it, but alas I cannot. I think my lack of motivation comes from the fact that the amount of info I'm going to have to re-cover is heinous, plus I'm just scared shitless. Several ppl in my class have already taken the NCLEX and passed, it almost adds more pressure on those of us who haven't taken it. Oy! It makes my stomach turn just thinking about it so let's move on shall we?

I'm so sad about Heath Ledger. OBVIOUSLY I didn't know him, but he was so young and beautiful and it's such a tragedy. I watched Brokeback Mountain recently, as my little tribute to him, and can I just say it is one of the most beautiful movies I have EVER seen...ever. Jack Twist and Innis Del Mar are some of the most in depth characters I ever had the pleasure to watch on screen. Some people are turned off cause it's obviously about a couple of gay cowboys, but it isn't really about that. It's a love story and it goes through so many emotions. Jake and Heath's performances were AMAZING...I'm just sad he's gone. The end of the movie....UGH...when he buttons the button on Jack
shirt then holds it to him...I cried like a big baby complete with hiccups and everything! His memorial service was beautiful....all of his family and friends, including ex wife Michelle Williams, all ran into the ocean at sunset..fully dressed...and played in the surf in his memory....awww! I think he would have liked that, atleast I know if it were me I would have liked it. :-)
Here's a little video tribute in honor of him:


Starting March 3rd I'm on my own at work and I'm scared. 5 patients all on my own...I don't feel at all ready for it, but I guess the only way to do it is to just jump in with both feet. So far work is going good. Some nights I leave thinking I made a mistake, other nights I'm sure it's where I am suppose to be. Until I'm confident in my abilities I will probably keep walking that line and I think it will be a very looooong time before I get there. I'll keep you updated on how it's going. Also check Aidan's site (see to your left for the link) for updates on him...he's doing really well :-) :-) :-)

Peace and Love,
Christy