Spring!
Spring has definitely sprung in middle Tennessee. Mother nature is going through an emotional roller coaster, well the weather says she is anyway. haha. everything is blooming and new life is popping up all around. I love seeing the fresh blooms in the morning sun and having a little more sun light every day! A lot has happened in the past month- NSNA convention, my answer from Norton Healthcare, 2 more tests, and started my ICU rotation which I actually finish tonight.
So NSNA convention first. I had a blast as I expected to but I learned a lot about more job and education opportunities. Mayo clinic in AZ or MN could be a viable option. It's a ways from home but would be a new and exciting adventure for our little family. They have great benefits and a decent pay scale, plus it's the Mayo clinic! :) Also found a hospital in Fayetteville, NC that has a residency in just about all areas and has decent pay. It's closer to the ocean (plus for Matt) and there are many great universities in NC. Norton is still a heavy hitter but have also learned to not exclude anything! :) Also learned about a brand of stethoscopes at the convention, which I am in love with. The company is called MDF Instruments. They have been around since the 70's but I had never heard of them. They have a lifetime warranty and lifetime replacement parts. The booth actually had a Littman of the same caliber for you to directly compare to. I honestly feel it is a clearer sound and a more comfortable fit than Littmann but may not be for everyone. Oh. and the catch is that it's cheaper!! Haha. They are all handcrafted as well. Check them out at the MDF website. Now I just have to decide which one. The group I attended the convention with was great! We had lots of fun, explored some of downtown Charlotte and grew closer to each other. I will honestly miss being able to do things like this with my nursing buddies after graduation. Hopefully we will have other conventions professionally or make our own outings together. :)
As far as Norton, I was declined a position. Everything happens for a reason and I was not meant to be there this summer, it's that simple. It doesn't take them out of the running for a job after graduation it simply means I was not as qualified as some of the other applicants. It has made me grow and realize just because you want something and will it to happen doesn't mean it always will, sometimes we have to let go and let God. So I have been applying to other externships in my local area and a couple patient care positions as well to try and open as many doors as possible so that I can find the path for me. I may not even find that one until December though, who knows! :)
Academically I have been doing well, not as well as I want to but good. I have been able to do so without pulling my hair out! haha. It has actually been a great semester. I have learned a lot about my profession, myself, and what kind of nurse I want to be. I have also come to enjoy many areas of this profession and am now a little murky as to what it is I want to do. Good thing I have the rest of my life to find out what's best for me!
That leads me to the ICU experience I am finishing up tonight. I have had the joy and pleasure of following and working with a nurse during the night shift at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma, TN. It's a smaller town but a decent size hospital. I came into this rotation ready to go but knowing I would not like it as much as the others I loved and want to work in. Boy was I wrong! The nurses in the ICU are wonderful to work with, encouraging, and love teaching. I have learned so much, done so much, and am actually excited to go to clinical. Maybe it is a mixture of more experience where the hospital doesn't scare me any more and the fact that it is somewhat specialized area, you know what to do in most situations. Either way it has been a fantastic experience and now I feel like I could and want to work in the critical care setting. The nurse preceptor I have has even hinted that I should not exclude them from my applications when I receive my license. Never hurts to have options, and we all have to start somewhere. Can you understand why I am so torn on where I am headed in this profession?
We have also recently been approved for a capstone clinical in the MTSU nursing program. It's a program where you have the opportunity to follow a nurse and learn more while being able to take more control and be the nurse. It is a big improvement for our program because it lets us experience a department we might not have had the chance to as well as possibly get a foot in the door at a local hospital. Plus it keeps us from having going nine months without touching a patient before receiving our license. I am excited and have decided to try (if they can place me) a NICU or the ER. I am hoping to be in a NICU because that is my original love and I still believe I would love it, and it would give me some insight as to where to go.
Now Family- Rylence has played four games. His team has won three and lost the fourth after a tie breaker. They have played great and he is starting to pick up on the rules and how to do things. I am so proud of him. Matthew is finally seriously considering what he wants to do as a career (probably because it's so close to my graduation). He is thinking something dealing with websites. Now to figure out the degree and where he will attend. A whole new journey will be starting soon. :) Mom is doing better. She is back in the rehab facility but she had a fall recently. Don't know when she will be able to return home because she keeps having things pop up. Her body doesn't seem to be fighting as well as it used to and it's hard to keep everything in line. She is adjusting well to being there but misses being home. While I wish she could be home she is much safer there than alone at home and having issues. She is seeing a few specialists and hope they can help figure out a road to better health for her. Just keep her in your thoughts and prayers please.
Well have definitely written enough! haha. Hope everyone is doing well and will do my best to keep this up to date before and after Guatemala, but no promises. :)
xoxo
So NSNA convention first. I had a blast as I expected to but I learned a lot about more job and education opportunities. Mayo clinic in AZ or MN could be a viable option. It's a ways from home but would be a new and exciting adventure for our little family. They have great benefits and a decent pay scale, plus it's the Mayo clinic! :) Also found a hospital in Fayetteville, NC that has a residency in just about all areas and has decent pay. It's closer to the ocean (plus for Matt) and there are many great universities in NC. Norton is still a heavy hitter but have also learned to not exclude anything! :) Also learned about a brand of stethoscopes at the convention, which I am in love with. The company is called MDF Instruments. They have been around since the 70's but I had never heard of them. They have a lifetime warranty and lifetime replacement parts. The booth actually had a Littman of the same caliber for you to directly compare to. I honestly feel it is a clearer sound and a more comfortable fit than Littmann but may not be for everyone. Oh. and the catch is that it's cheaper!! Haha. They are all handcrafted as well. Check them out at the MDF website. Now I just have to decide which one. The group I attended the convention with was great! We had lots of fun, explored some of downtown Charlotte and grew closer to each other. I will honestly miss being able to do things like this with my nursing buddies after graduation. Hopefully we will have other conventions professionally or make our own outings together. :)
As far as Norton, I was declined a position. Everything happens for a reason and I was not meant to be there this summer, it's that simple. It doesn't take them out of the running for a job after graduation it simply means I was not as qualified as some of the other applicants. It has made me grow and realize just because you want something and will it to happen doesn't mean it always will, sometimes we have to let go and let God. So I have been applying to other externships in my local area and a couple patient care positions as well to try and open as many doors as possible so that I can find the path for me. I may not even find that one until December though, who knows! :)
Academically I have been doing well, not as well as I want to but good. I have been able to do so without pulling my hair out! haha. It has actually been a great semester. I have learned a lot about my profession, myself, and what kind of nurse I want to be. I have also come to enjoy many areas of this profession and am now a little murky as to what it is I want to do. Good thing I have the rest of my life to find out what's best for me!
That leads me to the ICU experience I am finishing up tonight. I have had the joy and pleasure of following and working with a nurse during the night shift at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma, TN. It's a smaller town but a decent size hospital. I came into this rotation ready to go but knowing I would not like it as much as the others I loved and want to work in. Boy was I wrong! The nurses in the ICU are wonderful to work with, encouraging, and love teaching. I have learned so much, done so much, and am actually excited to go to clinical. Maybe it is a mixture of more experience where the hospital doesn't scare me any more and the fact that it is somewhat specialized area, you know what to do in most situations. Either way it has been a fantastic experience and now I feel like I could and want to work in the critical care setting. The nurse preceptor I have has even hinted that I should not exclude them from my applications when I receive my license. Never hurts to have options, and we all have to start somewhere. Can you understand why I am so torn on where I am headed in this profession?
We have also recently been approved for a capstone clinical in the MTSU nursing program. It's a program where you have the opportunity to follow a nurse and learn more while being able to take more control and be the nurse. It is a big improvement for our program because it lets us experience a department we might not have had the chance to as well as possibly get a foot in the door at a local hospital. Plus it keeps us from having going nine months without touching a patient before receiving our license. I am excited and have decided to try (if they can place me) a NICU or the ER. I am hoping to be in a NICU because that is my original love and I still believe I would love it, and it would give me some insight as to where to go.
Now Family- Rylence has played four games. His team has won three and lost the fourth after a tie breaker. They have played great and he is starting to pick up on the rules and how to do things. I am so proud of him. Matthew is finally seriously considering what he wants to do as a career (probably because it's so close to my graduation). He is thinking something dealing with websites. Now to figure out the degree and where he will attend. A whole new journey will be starting soon. :) Mom is doing better. She is back in the rehab facility but she had a fall recently. Don't know when she will be able to return home because she keeps having things pop up. Her body doesn't seem to be fighting as well as it used to and it's hard to keep everything in line. She is adjusting well to being there but misses being home. While I wish she could be home she is much safer there than alone at home and having issues. She is seeing a few specialists and hope they can help figure out a road to better health for her. Just keep her in your thoughts and prayers please.
Well have definitely written enough! haha. Hope everyone is doing well and will do my best to keep this up to date before and after Guatemala, but no promises. :)
xoxo
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