Onward!

I wish I had the energy to write a beautiful, compelling and thoughtful post. Alas, I can barely keep my eyes open, so the bare facts will have to suffice. Here's what's coming up the next few weeks:

Feb 16-23: house-sit for someone in Nashville and study like crazy for my board exams. Tonight is my last night sleeping in my current apartment in Murfreesboro.
Feb 19th: I get the keys to my new apartment. I'll move in a few boxes that I'll pack in my car tomorrow.
Feb 23: I'll drive back to Murfreesboro, pack the truck and drive back to Nashville.
Feb 26: Clean old apartment and turn in my keys
Feb 28th: Take my nursing board exams (PLEASE pray!!)
March 4th: start my new job


I'm excited about my new apartment. My current one is old with many annoying quirks. I've been informed my new apartment will have other quirks, but right now, I'm reveling in the thought of having a washer and drying in my apartment. I've been hauling laundry out of my apartment for over 8 years. It's a very tiny studio apartment, but it has all I need. I've been working hard to purge unnecessary items, and although it will be a tight squeeze, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will all fit. It's a mile and a half from the hospital. I can either take the bus for free or pay to park my car at work. I'll figure that out later. For better or worse, the apartment is across the street from Chick-Fil-A. I need your advice on how many times a month I'm allowed to get waffle fries. They are my kryptonite. Please weight in.

I'm going to be working at a Vanderbilt Pediatric outpatient surgery clinic. I'll be working with kids with feeding tubes, appendicitis, and other gut-related issues. I'm excited and nervous. The hopsital is HUGE. I got lost so many times just trying to find my interview.

I'm looking forward to living in a big city again, but I've been so busy studying and working on the move, I haven't had much time to think about that or investigate what I'll do once I'm there. One thing at a time!

And the Adventure Continues!

I was just offered my first nursing job. I'll be working in a pediatric outpatient clinic at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, TN. I don't have a start date yet, but it will be sometime in the next 3-5 weeks. I'll be started off as a patient care tech until I pass my nursing boards, and then will move into a nursing role after I pass. I'll be working 8-5, Monday-Friday, with no weekends, no being on call, and holidays off. I get full benefits right away. I couldn't ask for much more from a first job. It's exactly what I wanted. God is so good.

I won't say much now, because my head is spinning, but I'll keep the updates coming! I have to pack, find an apartment, still study 3-4 hours a day for boards, move, and tie up loose ends here in Murfreesboro. This certainly isn't my first move, and compared to many I've done before, isn't too far away, but boy do I feel like I'm barely treading water. I'll only be 45 minutes away from my family, but considering I live a mile from my nephews right now, it feels like a long way away. Here are some prayer requests:

-I will find people willing/able to help me with the actual move
-I'll find an affordable apartment close to the hospital (that has a washer and dryer, something I haven't had for 8 years!!)
-I'll stay disciplined with my studying
-I'll feel God's peace through this transition

My first nursing interview(s)

I officially like interviewing for nursing jobs. If nothing else, you get to do it in scrubs. That already puts me in a good mood! I traveled up to Vanderbilt, a large and respected hospital in Nashville, and interviewed for 4 jobs in one morning: Pediatric surgical outpatient clinic, diabetic clinic, radiology, internal medicine. They all seem like good opportunities, but I've narrowed my interest to the pediatric and diabetic clinic options. I've already heard back, and have been invited for a second round interview. All the staff I met were friendly, professional, and enthusiastic about their jobs. My hours would be roughly 8:00-4:30 M-F, no weekends, no holidays. Not bad for a first job! And working at Vanderbilt has a lot of perks, like tuition benefits, and excellent health care.

If I accept either position, it would mean a move to Nashville, about 45 minutes from where I'm currently living. It would be a big lifestyle change, mostly for the better, I imagine, because I'm much more a city person, but I would miss living practically across the street from my nephews. I hate finding a new place to live, and I really, really hate moving, but I'm not commuting! It's a lot to take in, especially since I still have to pass boards!

I will likely take my boards in the beginning of February, and I've been trying to study 4-5 hours a day. Thanks for all your prayers and support thus far. I'll continue to keep you posted. If you have any connections in Nashville, please let me know. I'll need a place to live, a church, and a few friends wouldn't hurt!

Treading water

I've decided that I feel like I've just finished a marathon, and someone threw me in the deep end of the pool. So few days, so much fatigue, and so much left to learn! I'm at the point where I actually wish there was more time until graduation, because I can't imagine how I'm going to possibly accomplish all I need to in the next 13 days. In an attempt to organize my brain, here is my schedule for the next few days:

Wednesday: class from 3pm-9pm
Thursday: In-class nursing boards review 8:00am-5:00pm, study until bedtime
Friday: In-class nursing boards review 8:00am-5:00pm, study until bedtime
Weekend: study like mad!!
Monday: In-class nursing boards review 8:00am-5:00pm, study until bedtime
Tuesday: In-class nursing boards review 8:00am-5:00pm, study until bedtime
Wednesday: 3:00pm-6:30pm 3 tests and a lecture; study until bedtime
Thursday: 3:00-6:30 my last regular nursing test!!, study until bedtime
Weekend: study like mad!
Monday: Take my final exam!!!

Sorry, I just read through that, and it's kind of boring, and you probably don't care. I'm too tired to delete it. And...you already read it, so it's too late to get that time back.

Good news:
1. I've finished my graduation paperwork
2. I have my graduation outfit ready to go (all white. yuck!)
3. My graduation party is in swing
4. Clinicals are done!
5. No matter how terrible the next 2 weeks are, when it's done, I'll be done! (Assuming I graduate!)

46 more days

During my nursing school orientation evening, we ran into the then current class, and I asked them when they were graduating. When I learned they had 2 weeks to go, I was, to be honest, jealous! I remember thinking I couldn't imagine being that close to graduation, and that 16 months sounded like a long time. I'm not quite at 2 weeks to go, but 46 days is pretty darn close. I have 6 tests and 1 final exam standing in between me and graduation day. That probably doesn't seem like too much to you, but considering I study about 50-60 hours per test, it feels like a lot today as I sit on my couch with my study materials spread out around me.

I've never had such a bad case of senioritis! This last semester has probably been the most difficult, academically and emotionally. There is increasing tension in the classroom, and it seems like everyone, including our professor, is exhausted and stressed. This final course is extremely difficult. This week I earned my lowest test grade of the entire program. Many of us are hovering near the passing line, and if we don't pass this final course, we will fail out of the program and be required to start from the beginning. Yes, the very beginning. One of my classmates made it to 3 weeks before graduation several years ago and was removed from the program because of 1 failing grade. Needless to say, that's a terrifying realization. So, now is not the time to cruise to graduation. It's the time to buckle down and work harder than ever. I'm reminded of a verse I heard my dear friend, Bob Tissot, quote frequently. "We will reap a harvest if we don't give up." I'm ready for the harvest, and I will hard to earn it. I pray I can carry on for the next 46 days, and that, by the grace of God, I'll walk across the stage.

As for after graduation, my long-term goals aren't clear. My first goal is to take and pass my board exams, which will take place in early February. After that, I'll start applying to a wide variety of jobs to see what seems like a good fit.

Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement through this journey.

I need help!

I just finished my last final exam of the summer semester, and therefore, I'm officially 3/4 of the way done with my degree. I know that's supposed to sound a lot, but honestly, December seems like a million years away. It's interesting how time passes at the same speed, but some days it feels so much slower or faster.

I have a short break until the day after Labor Day when I'll start my final semester. I'm only taking two classes along with my clinicals, but I have a feeling they will be 2 of the hardest because of the content and professors I have next semester. On top of that, it's time to start studying specifically for my nursing board exam, called the NCLEX. My goal is to take it in late January. I should be studying several hours a day from now until then on top of my regular homework.

There is when I ask for help. I could use your help in 2 ways: prayer and accountability. I have a feeling I'm going to find it difficult to study for a test I know is 5 months away, so I think knowing people are going to ask me how my studying is going will light a fire under me! If you're willing, let me know, and I'd love to keep you updated on the specifics of how things are going and give you more info on how to pray and keep me accountable to study for my boards.

Thank you for all your support, encouragement and prayers over the past year!

Starting at the beginning

As I was trying to decide what to write about today, I went back and read my first blog post, written 1 1/2 years ago. I figured it would be interesting to revisit that post and comment on what I said then, compared to how I feel now. (new comments are bolded)

One of my earliest memories is sitting on the floor in my public library. I was in the children's section, searching for a book on medicine. I explained what I was looking for to the librarian, but she kept directing me to silly "kids books" on topics like, "our changing bodies," and "Everybody Poops." In utter frustration, I gave up searching. There wasn't a single book in the children's section about how to deliver a baby or take out an appendix. That was what I wanted to know. I now know how to deliver a baby!

I've been fascinated with medicine for as long as I can remember. I was the perfect age to become enthralled with ER in the mid-nineties, and I've probably seen the entire series (all 15 seasons), 8 times. I've watched them through again, and it's amazing how much I missed before, and how much medical knowledge I have now. When I was in college, I remember a time when I was studying at a Starbucks and was watching medical students at the adjacent table. They looked terrible. They were clearly exhausted, stressed out, and overwhelmed with studying. I was jealous. When I'm having a bad day, and can't seem to make myself study one more minute, I close my eyes and reflect on that memory from 20 years ago. I know what it's like to study for 12 hours a day. It's a necessary evil.

So, why didn't I become a doctor? The answer to that question is complicated. The semi-simple version is that I'm not good at math and science, I didn't want to pay for med school, I have multiple significant health issues, and I never thought I would need a career. (I was going to get married at 22, you see.) Ha! Still single with no man in sight!

I pursued education, and have been working in various aspects of higher education and teaching over the past 12 years. I have enjoyed certain aspects of each my jobs, but ultimately, the call of medicine has never left. When I lost my job last year, I made the decision to pursue a career in the medical field. Medical school was out for the before stated reasons, but I began to research other options in my area.

I landed on an LPN program at a trade school near my apartment. It's fast, affordable, and designed for adult learners. My first class, Medical Math, starts next week on Monday and Wednesday nights, followed in quick secession by anatomy and Physiology on Tuesday and Thursday nights. I've filled out my FAFSA, my anatomy flash cards arrived in the mail today, and I have dusted off my backpack from high school (no joke). What else could I possibly need to be successful?! Endurance. A lot of endurance! I thought those first two classes were hard when I was in taking them. Tip of the iceberg.... I'm glad I didn't know how hard it would get, or I would haven't had the courage to do it!

I'm inviting you to join me in my adventure in nursing. I will graduate in December of 2018, but of course, that will only be the beginning of this story. I tend to wish away the painful parts of life, and I want to cherish each stage of this journey. I think I've failed in cherishing the journey so far, I'm afraid to admit. I want to learn to appreciate the steps and not just the end. I will need you to remind me to be content while I sacrifice family time to memorize all the bones in the body. Memorizing all the bones ended up being really easy. That turned out to be the least of my problems. I will need a pep talk before I start my first IV. At less than 6 months until graduation, I still haven't started an IV on a human. (Just in the lab). This skill still scares me! I will need your prayers most of all. Still very true. The studying, hard work, and concerns about finances weigh heavily on my heart. I eventually found a scholarship to cover all my expenses, so that was a huge blessing, but I had to quit my job because I couldn't handle it and school. Money has been the biggest stress for me outside of school. And yet, I can't wait to start on Monday. Welcome to my adventure! Thanks for taking this journey with me so far.