New Blog

I started a new blog now that I am out of school.  I thought it would be fun to start over with a new layout and new title and everything for this new season of life.

Here is the link.

It's gonna be fun!!

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Genesis 1:1

I'm An RN

So I think I forgot to tell you, I passed the NCLEX.  I'm an RN.

I took it last Tuesday at 2pm.  My Daddy drove me up there.  We left our house at 10am.  It only took us like 45 minutes to get there.  The building was really hard to find, but after we found it we went to Subway and got lunch.

So we sat in Subway for about an hour and a half just hanging out, sort of looking over my notes.  Then we went back to the testing center parking lot and walked around for a while.  Then we went to the bathroom.  And I went in to take my test about 1:15pm.

They checked me in and let me start early.  Which was really, really nice.

I started the test about 1:30pm and was out of there about 2:30pm.  I was done only half an hour after I should have started.

75 questions.

I can say this now that I've passed and have my license: It wasn't as hard as I expected it to be.

Yep.  I said it.  I mean I studied like a maniac.  But I didn't think it was that hard.  I heard that if you felt like the questions got progressively harder as you went along in the test then that was a good thing, but I do not feel like the questions got harder, they were all hard, but not as hard as I expected.  There was a bunch of select all the apply questions, aka the worst kind of question.

There were about 12 computers there to take exams on, and I was the third one to sit down.  When I left, all the seats were filled.  I don't know when they came in, but apparently they did.  I don't know if I was just that focused or they were just that quiet, but I only heard one person come in.  I sat at computer #8.

It was an exciting day.  I'm glad it's over.  I'm so tired of studying.

Just call me Katie, RN.

"Children in whom was not blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans." Daniel 1:4

I Moved

I turned in my keys to my apartment today.  My very first apartment.

It was a sad moment.  Well, actually, it's been a hard couple of weeks.

I didn't want to move, but here I am, sitting in a new apartment.  At least my new apartment has fast cable internet.

After moving this past Saturday, I've mostly just sat around and watch TV and movies, save cleaning the entire apartment yesterday and the day before (I even paid the big money to get the carpets cleaned).  And Netflix is super fast on the cable internet, so it's not as annoying to watch.

This wasn't my plan, but I'm happy.

There is a garage!  I've never had a garage before!

And thanks to my new roomie, she is the best!

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me new herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10

The Bouquet Part Deux

I went to a wedding a couple weekends ago.  It was so much fun!!!  So pretty!  The wedding was so nice!  I'm so happy for my friend and her new husband.

At this time last year I wrote this blog post.

I caught the bouquet this weekend.

We'll see what happens won't we.

"He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this is my joy therefore is fulfilled." John 3:29

For Real

It just hit me: I have my bachelor's degree.  My very own bachelor's degree.

I could stop doing anything worthwhile with my life, and people would say: Well, at least she finished her bachelor's degree.

Okay, well, maybe not, but still.

Now all I have to do is get my nursing license.

Someone this weekend asked me if they could come to me for advice, I answered they could come to me if they needed CPR.

"For my mouth shall speak the truth." Proverbs 8:7

Five Days Out

Now that I am 5 days out from graduation, I'm almost caught up on sleep, I am sort of feeling like a graduate, and I'm kind of ready to take the NCLEX and get a job.

Right now I'm just hanging out with my family, and going to museums and parks.

If anyone wants to do that with me, hit me up.

It's been a bit of a challenge to stay in peace though.  Whether I'm worried about where I'm going to be living, the NCLEX, the job I'm going to have, I just have to keep reminding myself that God is in control.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3

Countdown To Pinning In Hours!

I'm so overwhelmed with excitement right now that I can't sleep.  So what do I do?  Blog.  Duh.

I cannot believe that it is May 12th, 2012.  It seems so unreal.

I've been actively working on getting my nursing degree for 4 years and going to college for  5 years now.  It feels like a long time, but it really isn't in the grand scheme of things.

My family came up today so they wouldn't have to drive the hour and a half to get here at 0830 in the morning. I'm glad because they bought me dinner... And they are fun to hangout with!

I'm so filled with emotion I'm not really sure what to do with it.

This morning all I felt like doing was crying.  For oh so many reasons, but I think it was just a way to let some emotion out quickly.

I'm ready.  Finally.  Yesterday, I wasn't ready to graduate.

I'm done with the tests, the papers, the deadlines, and the library.  I'm excited for the future and ready for a real big girl job.

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

PS 8.5 hours to go until Pinning begins!

Cool Old Lady

I met the coolest old lady at Relay for Life this past weekend.

I was walking back to my car because I forgot my camera, and she was standing on the grass between the parking lot and the track.  I smiled and she said hi, so I stopped for a second and pleasantly acknowledged her as a person.

Old lady: Hi. *she said in her British accent*
Me: Hi, how are you?
Old lady: Fine, how are you?
Me: Good.  I forgot my camera in the car.
Old lady: *smile*

I walked to the car and had to walk by her again on my way back to our tent site, so I stopped and actually took time to talk to her.

Me: What brings you to Relay?

She went on to tell me about her daughter and how she was in a program at my school.  She told me she just got back from New Zealand.  She had a lanyard that said Brazil on it, and I asked her if she had been there, and she said yes, that she was there about 4 years ago.

I guess the cool part about it was that she was old, like probably pushing 70 and she was travelling so much.

I want to be a cool old lady like that.

"Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; they younger as sisters, with all purity." 1 Timothy 5:1-2

Announcements

I got my graduation announcements in the mail this week.

They have my name in them.

They have MY name in them.

"But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Isaiah 43:1-2

Getting Closer

I was on the phone with someone yesterday, and told them that I had 12 weeks until I graduate with my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing.

Then I was like wait.  Ten weeks.

Then I was like, goodness girl, you cool.

(It's easier to count days - 74 until graduation!!!)

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6

Twelve Hours Down

I had my first 12 hour preceptorship shift in the hospital yesterday.  It was good!

I loved not being under the tutalage of a clinical instructor.  They are always in the student's business, telling you what to do all the time.  In a regular clinical, each student is assigned one patient, and you have to write a careplan (aka paper) on your patient, and my careplans ended up being between 10 and 12 pages every week.

In preceptorship, students follow one staff nurse around the hospital for 96 hours in a semester, and write journals about how it made us feel, oh, and a presentation on an interesting patient.

12 hours down, 84 more to go.

My preceptor told me I was almost an expert in giving Lovenox shots.  I think I probably gave 8 of them in one shift.

I'm getting excited about graduation!

Only 104 days!!!

After 12 hours on my feet, I was aching.  I've been doing yoga with a DVD with my friends the past couple of weeks, and decided that even though I was tired, it would be a good idea to do some yoga.  After 20 minutes doing yoga, I felt sooo much better.  Definitely going to do that again.

"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." Ephesians 6:15

It's Almost The Beginning Of The End

School starts Monday.  My last semester of undergrad.  My last semester of nursing school.

The culmination of the past 4 or 5 years comes down to passing these 4 classes.

Nervous?  Dramatic?  Who me?  No...

I found out where my preceptorship (the clinical where I follow one nurse around all semester) is going to be, but I'm not going to post it as to not make everyone jealous of me.  It was not what I requested but I prayed for favor and for the Lord's will to be done, so it's gonna be banging.

Oh, and, I scraped my elbow the other day, and it hurts, and it makes me look like a 8-year-old who just got inline skates.

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way." Psalm 37:23

Let's Review

Last year I post some New Years Resolutions.

1. I think I did okay writing funny blogs.  I could definitely do more.  Here's one.  And another.
2. I have one song that I'm working on.  So I guess I should get moving with that.
3. Exercise is again going to be a New Years Resolution.
4. I read a few pages out of my MedSurg book this semester.  Does that count? No.
5. This I did.
6. I had people over!
7. I got the grades!! But I'm not gonna post them.
8. Success.  Usually.
9. During Finals I did study at the library.
10. I pray I see Father God move in big ways this year.

That's the review.

Now for new some new goals:

1. Be patient with myself and others.
2. Finish nursing school/get my license/be a great nurse.
3. Remember that God is in control.

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8

A Real Life Ghost

Did I ever tell you about the day I saw a ghost?  A real live ghost?

No?  Okay, I'll tell you.

My girlfriend (henceforth referred to as Princess) text me and tells me she needs a ride home from work.  It's only like 2 minutes from my house so no big deal, we'll get to hangout after.

For the fun of it my Brother and my brother's girlfriend (henceforth referred to as Girlfriend) decide to go with me to pick up Princess.

When we get there we find out that the reason she needs a ride is because she had a flat tire.  My Brother being the strapping young man he is decided that we could change the tire for her.  Princess gets her keys out to open the trunk to get the spare tire out and the trunk doesn't open.  Brother tries to open it.  I try.  Girlfriend tries.  It does not open.  Somehow we decide that she must have the valet key.  And that we must go back to Princess's house to get the real key.

We drive the 2 minutes to her house.  And then back to her car.

We try and open the trunk.  And fail.

My Brother's friend (henceforth referred to as Friend) shows up to help.

Stuff happens, blah, blah, we get dessert, we drive back to Princess's house again.

Finally we get the trunk open, get the spare out, find the jack.  Try to jack up the car, and it rolls back and makes a loud noise.  The loud noise attracts a dude who offers to help us.  He says he has a nicer jack in his car.  He walks back to his car to get it and comes back to change the tire.

But I have to go to the bathroom!!!  Like now.  So I leave to go into the store.  When I left the dude was sitting on the ground starting to change the tire and Brother, Princess, Girlfriend, and Friend are watching.

When I get back, they are all standing around looking for me.

Brother: Where were you?
Me: In the bathroom.  Did you change the tire already?  That was fast.
Brother: No, I turned around for a second, and that dude was gone.
Friend: Yep.
Me: Did he change the tire?
Brother: No.
Princess: Ugh!!!
Me: What?
Brother: Yeah, he just left, and took his jack with him.
Me: It must have been a ghost.  An angel would have changed the tire.

And that is the story of when I saw a real life ghost.  It was pretty intense.  We did eventually get the tire changed though.

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Hebrews 13:2

Christmas Eve!

It's Christmas Eve!!!

Starting to get excited.

We just finished wrapping all the presents.

I think I need more chocolate though.

Home for the holidays!

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23

We'll Take A Look

Do you know these lyrics?

"And so what we have learned applies to our lives today, and God has a lot to say in His Book.  You see, we know that God's Word is for everyone; and now that our song is done, we'll take a look."

Think about it for a minute.

Do you remember where it's from?

Veggie Tales!!!

These are a few of the things I learned this week:

1) I need to watch my mouth.

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Colossians 4:6

2) I am still a sinner.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6

[It seems to me that a lot of Christians walk around like they aren't sinners, or that they don't sin.  Sin is committed with things you think about (Matthew 5:28), things you do that you shouldn't do, and things you should do that you don't do (Exodus 20).  If you only count the last one, not reading your Bible is sin.  Say you only sinned 3 times a day, that's more than a 1000 in a year, and by age 22 that's 22,000 sins.  But I bet I sin more than just 3 times a day.  I'm beginning to realize that I am not perfect and I need Jesus everyday to save me from myself.]

3) I'm forgiven.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrightousness." 1 John 1:9

It's been a good week.

ATI Pediatric exam tomorrow.  Presentation on Tuesday.  Then Finals next week.

16 Day Until The End Of The Semester!

So I didn't have class today, I don't have class on Wednesdays. =P

Anyway, it's almost the end of the semester and I don't know what to do with my time.  I slept in late, took a shower, then got on the computer to do homework.  But I don't have a paper to write, no case studies to sweat over, and can't work on my last careplan until after clinical tomorrow.  So here I am, all dress up to study, and don't know what to do.  I do have a group presentation next week, but I finished my part already.

I wrote in my planner.  I figured out what I could get on two of my finals to make sure I get A's in those classes - something I don't usually do, but I did it because I was bored and curious.  Then I realized that here are podcast lectures to listen to.

Podcast lectures.  One of them is an hour and a half long, and at this time there is half an hour left.  Then for another class there are five lectures all in decreasing lengths starting at 15 minutes.  I am not a fan of podcast lectures, but it's mostly because I almost forgot about them and because my internet is really slow and they took forever to download.  And why can't the teacher go do a lecture on Candidiasis in the classroom in 5 minutes 6 seconds, but can do it on a podcast?

I have a Pediatric ATI test next Monday, a presentation in Leadership Tuesday, and a Final in Palliative Care on Tuesday.

Then finals week.  We are getting them all out of the way on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but then I have to take CPR on Thursday.  Then it Christmas break all the way!!!

164 days to graduation!  Holla!

By the way, this was a request for prayer blog post.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

It's Too Early For This

So it's snowing.  Like legit snowing.  There are currently about 2 inches on the ground, and still snowing, but it's not sticking, it's just being wet.  It's not even pretty snow.

It's not even Halloween yet, and it's snowing.

It's not even a school day.

Our electricity is out at our apartment too.  But we did get to take hot showers because the water heater is heated by gas, not electricity.  So that's nice.  And we went to a friend's house to do our hair for the dinner for my roomie's fraternity tonight, so thank you!!

My feeties are cold though.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8

Make Up Your Mind Katie

I once posted that I wanted to get grades that I would be proud to post on by blog.

And now I have gotten that grade!!

But now I don't want to post it because I don't want everyone knowing my business.

Thanks for everyone who prays for me.  I need your prayers.

"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew him his covenant." Psalm 25:14

We're #1!!!

For clinical this week, instead of going to the hospital, my clinical group got "volunteered" to help with an open house for high school students.

We had to be there at 0730.  An hour later than clinical would have normally started, so that was nice.

The teacher who was in charge of the open house, whom I'll call The Boss, told us what was going on that day.  The Boss said the 8 of us nursing students would have about 4 students each hour to talk to, teach, and inspire.  We would have a pretend patient/scenario that would help us make the point and connect the dots for the high school kids.  One of the things we would do with the high school students was do an IM injection on the dummy.  I'm sorry, SimMan.

The Boss said over and over, Don't let them stick themselves!  And if they do come and get me right away!

I'm thinking, I get it, no needle sticks.  Okay.  Let's get this moving.

The students started showing up at 0800.  We started talking about drugs and injections at 0801, and was ready to inject the SimMan at 0802, then she stuck herself.  The first girl stuck herself.  My first student.  The first one.  At like 0802.  Like they had only been there for a few minutes, and she is already hurt.

Yeah, and she didn't even know it.  She had gloves on and there was blood in her glove, but she didn't realize she had stuck herself until I pointed it out.

Did I say it was the first girl?

Me: Hey Boss, she stuck herself.
The Boss: What? Your're kidding.
Me: I don't kid.

I was tired when I got there, but I really perked up after that.

The only good thing was that her mom had attended this field trip so she saw the whole thing go down and said she wasn't surprised because she was "accident prone."  Poor girl.

It was good to get the stick out of the way first thing in the morning.

"But the tongue of the wise is health." Proverbs 12:18