Where Are We Now: Six Months In

          Greetings on this lovely Thanksgiving night! Hope your day has been full of delicious food surrounded by loving family members threatening you over who gets the last piece of pie! Folks in the South are serious about their pie, and sweet tea.  Roll Tide.

          I felt compelled to catch up on my blog tonight- it was either do this or face the Black Friday crowds ready to receive a holiday greeting to the face battling over a waffle maker- you can see which path I chose to take. So much has happened in the last six months which allows me to give ample amounts of thanks on this day! First, lets begin with my job!

          Over the course of the last six months or so I have gained much knowledge regarding Emergency Nursing! I am far from where I would like to be knowledge and education wise, but wow, I literally learn something new EVERYDAY! I am so blessed to work with the people I am surrounded by. From the techs to the MDs, everyone has been nice and always willing to lend a hand or explain something; for these things make me proud to say I work at UAB. The term "team" is truly exemplified in my department. I have never seen a group of employees so willing to help their fellow coworkers. I finally finished orientation in September and I am grateful for the many teachers I had. I've learned that perfecting skills and mastering the art of charting comes in time, but wow, one must be willing to be humble, patient and learn, learn, learn as much as you can! It has been so enlightening over these past few months to sit and discuss treatment plans and the "hows" and "whys" of certain things we do with experienced nurses; they have much to share! I hope to one day be someone a young nurse looks to for advice.

          I am proud to say that within the last couple of months of being off orientation I have gained a new formed thought process that "plans ahead" if you will. I find myself planning ahead for certain orders that may be given and preparing myself. I am always happy to see myself ahead of the game when it comes to my patient's care plan. Little things like this help boost any new nurse's confidence. Recently I experienced my first night in Trauma since being off orientation. IT WAS GREAT. I worked along side a great co-worker which made the experience even better. Sometimes stepping back and realizing how far I've come is slightly amazing and HUMBLING to me and makes me grateful for everything I've gone through in life which has brought me to where I am today. Times like this I know my mother would be proud. Since becoming a nurse my mother has been heavy on my heart. Following in her footsteps was much more difficult than I imagined, but her strong-willed personality and determination runs deep within me. Carrying on her legacy is an honor.

         Outside of work I have found that sleep is amazing! Working night-shift truly takes a toll on one's body, social life and relationships! It has been the hardest transition yet since nursing school. I find myself eating "dinner" at 2AM while at work when the rest of the world is fast asleep or sitting in our ER. I will admit, self control from snaking on junk is TOUGH, especially early in the morning when you're craving chocolate for an energy burst. However, I've recently started staying awake as long as I can during my off-days to correct my sleep cycle. I have yet to determine if that causes more exhaustion. I want to join a gym soon; seeing so many sick patients is a daily reminder to stay fit, eat healthy and have health insurance if possible. I've recently taken up an obsession with crafting! PINTEREST IS ADDICTING. I will admit though, I have saved so much money on decor by making my own after being glued to Pinterest for three hours straight. I've discovered on my off days I desire to be outdoors. Taking my sweet chocolate lab, Dixie, for walks is so relaxing. Also, being able to see my nieces without worrying about studying for a test is nice as well. Since graduation, life has become so much sweeter!
 

Dixie checking out the new craft with Christmas lights!

Walks with the pup are the best!

              So, I'm looking to the future! I have many goals to achieve and the first.....paying back COLLEGE LOANS. Dear Lord. Loans suck, but having a career is nice so I will just stop complaining. I want a new car, need a new phone, but after being out in the real world I have discovered that many so called "needs" are in fact wants. Being in debt from school loans isn't great, but being able to pay bills, put gas in my car to go to my dream job and put food in my belly seems pretty great to me so far. I'm learning to be more thankful for the little, yet practical things in life. I want to do something crazy as well, GO BACK TO SCHOOL....who does that?! I have known for some time now that going back to school is what is best for me. Learning is wonderful, advancing a career is great and doing what you love is amazing. Being a CRNP would be an amazing goal to reach and something to be proud of. I am looking to start back school within the next two years. Also, I believe having the skills as an RN needs to be stretched. I am looking to volunteer for the ARC and hopefully work at a clinic for under served communities as well. Dreams, dreams, dreams, they are beautiful.

         

Birthdays are precious. Grateful for these babies!

            Also, one individual I've been grateful for is my sweet guy, Tucker. He truly has brought me back to my Southern roots. A girl who lost her country vive many years ago has been reconnected, sort of. Though I do not wear camo or record Duck Dynasty I will occasionally drop a few lines of a Garth Brooks classic or choose sweet tea over water. Surprisingly enough, I've even dragged myself out of bed at 5AM to go on early morning fishing adventures with him. I feel no need to impress, but he recognizes the little things. He is a strong worker, at work and at home. He builds things and can fix pretty much anything. I love his ability to improvise and "just make things work". His willingness to help and carry his share of the load is recognized. He loves sweets and that is music to my soul! I also am thankful that he loves me for me and I can be nothing more than just myself when I'm with him. I love his willingness to try new things and not be afraid to speak his mind. He is a daily example and reminder to me to stay true to thine own self. I guess I'm simply thankful for Tucker bringing me back to me.

Yay for freezing cold fishing adventures!

                                                                                   

Tucker with my youngest niece, Emma Kate

           Well, making all things full-circle, I guess I have many things to be thankful for. Even in stressful times I should see the beauty in what has been given to me. God Bless!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving 2013! Love my people.

 

 

My family. :)

"Knowledge that will change your world." -UAB

   It's been some time since my last blog and much has changed. Life has been a roller coaster, so full of unexpected emotions: joy, sadness, contentment and hope. After returning to school in January I was care-free. I had accomplished a passing status from the hardest semester prior to my holiday break. I had pushed myself to the breaking point and I somehow survived exams, NOTHING could bring me down. My LAST semester of nursing school and college all together was going to be a breeze. Yes, I still had projects due and a couple of simple tests here and there, but nothing like the former semesters. This semester was a transitional period from student to professional nurse. I enjoyed the freedom it gave me and the stress-free environment I finally found myself within. I wasn't worried about clinicals or cramming for tests, it was truly all downhill from there! The days passed quickly and I was preparing for the big move home for my preceptorship at UAB! I had waited so long for this. I remembered at a much younger age that I had dreamed of working at such an institution that could offer so much for its patients; I couldn't get home soon enough. I packed for days; I truly had no idea of the amount of crap I possessed; it was definitely annoying having to shove things I had never used into garbage bags because I had run out of my travel bags!
        
         Finally, moving day had arrived and I was homeward bound! It was hard leaving my nursing family behind for the next couple of months, but I knew good things were to come! I was excited for this experience, yet so NERVOUS! I had no idea of what was ahead of me. My first week on my designated unit was difficult. From adjusting my sleep cycle for night shift to learning how to put all my knowledge into practice was definitely stressful. The weeks few by and I could see myself growing more confident! I loved working only three to four days a week and having loads of free time to see friends, finish schoolwork and SLEEP! I loved this new chapter in my life. During all of this, I had a job interview lined up! I had applied for an opening in UAB's ER. I thrived off of the thought of a fast-pace environment and I knew that was where I was suppose to be! My interview went well and I waited; I waited over a week and finally heard a response on April 1st! I GOT MY DREAM JOB! I was in amazement of how things were lining up! Preceptorship was finally coming to an end and I could honestly say I learned much more than I had expected. I truly believe the autonomous atmosphere of night-shift prepared me for the job I have now. 

My preceptor and I at UAB. 

         Moving back to Montgomery was not easy; I had loved being home, it just felt right, but I knew my last month at school would fly by. I presented my final projects, took my last tests and realized the light at the end of the tunnel was now reached. During the afternoons I had ample amounts of free time so I ran. I ran to reflect on what the last five years of college had molded me into. I thought of what my life would have been like if I had stayed at Bama and continued my Pre-Med route or if I had gotten into Auburn from the beginning. So many emotions filled me as I ran those countless evenings. I finally came to the realization that I was where I was suppose to be, that all the chapters opened and closed during college were for a reason and I might not ever know why I experienced them to begin with. I simply had one thing to look to and that was my future outside of Montgomery. 

My nursing family at our Pinning Ceremony the night before graduation!

         Graduation day had FINALLY arrived! Five long years later and I was walking across the stage an accomplished young woman with a promising career ahead of me. Some of the most important people in my life were present that day and I finally felt my life beginning. It was all surreal. I looked to my nursing family and I could only smile, we had finally made it. Through all the ups and downs, the endless emotions and struggles, we had finally proved ourselves to the world around us. I would say we were all in a state of euphoria at that day. I think of those loved ones who were unable to be present and I know they would have been proud; I believed I represented the family well and upheld the strong, independent nature of the women in my family. I remained in Montgomery that night to congregate with some of my classmates for one of our last hoorahs; it was bittersweet for sure. The following day had arrived too soon and my last move home was now here. I packed my remaining things, said some of the hardest goodbye's and headed North. I had finally closed another chapter in my life. I was sad, yet happy of what was to come. Life was changing quickly and I was simply along for the ride!

Tucker and I.

One of my biggest supporters! 

                          

My Montgomery family.
    


Pops and my bro!

       Now, almost two months post-graduation I am a licensed nurse at UAB currently going through my twelve week orientation in the ER. I studied for about two weeks straight for my boards exam which I thought I FAILED. I can honestly say now that I've NEVER taken such an examination in which I thought I knew nothing. NCLEX was insane. I was preparing myself to not see name on the Board's website. The next morning the Heaven's opened, I PASSED! All my five years of hard work had paid off. I laid in bed in slight shock, I couldn't believe it was all over. I celebrated with lunch and shopping for scrubs with a great friend. The following Monday I started orientation. Hello, real world!

From classmates to co-workers! 

              I take my work days day-by-day with patience and eagerness to learn. There is so much to know and I'm grateful for the helpful staff I work with. For my now active social life since before nursing school, I have spent many hours catching up with friends, making new ones and creating memories to happily look back on. I also have a new love in my life and I look forward to the many days ahead for the both of us!