NO MORE TEAL AND WHITE!!

It's the little victories for me...like today, I had my last day of patient care in clinicals..so I can offically ditch the uniform. We'll meet next Tuesday for some end-of-semester business but no more patients until January...when I'm an RN!!!

Still have one more test to take for my Theory class. In typical senior fashion, I havent even cracked a book yet. It's time for turkey and Thanksgiving this week so I will start this weekend...I hope.

Last Friday we had our senior class photo. It was great to have the majority of us together again...we've come a long way, baby!!

Here are some end-of-nursing-school pictures for your enjoyment. Happy Thanksgiving, blog friends!!

Check back often in December. As you know, there are lots of exciting things planned!

This blog is going to need a new name soon!!

I have a job!! Yippee!!! This week, I was offered a position in the ER at Harris Methodist Fort Worth and I gladly accepted it. My start date is January 11, 2010 and there is so much to do between now and then...finish the semester, graduate, decorate/enjoy the holidays, study for the boards, PASS the boards, and of course I need to absorb the fact that I am going to work as a nurse in a fast-paced downtown emergency department! It's so exciting to think about all that I will experience next year but at the same time, I am already nervous and scared out of my mind.

I have 4 weeks left of schoolwork. Things are really starting to wind down and I couldn't be happier. I made a B on my cardiac test which was a huge burden off my back. We are studying neuro right now- traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, epilepsy, etc. Clinical has been great. I am on an Oncology floor and I am really enjoying it. Got to give a patient a platelet transfusion the other day for the first time! That was cool. I am also a pro at giving IV pain meds now after having a sickle cell patient. It's hard to believe that it's almost all over!

So, as you can see...I'm starting to wrap up the old and think about the new. Any ideas on what I should call my blog in 2010??? The journey is almost over!

Happy Halloween!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween and is nice and full of sugar!

Jason and I got together with our neighbors for a pre and post trick-or-treating party today/tonight. We grilled hot dogs, drank some wine, and then the parents and kids went on their candy hunts while Jason and I went back to our house to hand out candy.

Earlier in the day, I saw 6 y/o Bella outside. She asked me what I was dressing up as for Halloween. I told her that I didn't think I was going to be anything but myself. She replied, "you have to dress up! you could be a nurse!" What a great and easy idea. Why did it take a 6 year old to help me figure that out?!?!

All I needed was that one simple idea. If I would have had more time, it could have been even better but I only had about 3 hours to work with. I decided that if I was dressing up, so was Jason. He could be my patient. He needs a hospital gown. I don't just have those lying around the house but a robe will work! He needs IVs and foley catheters and bandages...I do actually have those lying around! (thanks to my first semester skills class). Then I was stumped as to how the bag of fluids for his IV would hang if I didnt have an IV pole. Aha! I used my critical thinking nursing skills and thought of that pole in my closet that has a hook on the end. It's used to pull down clothes from the top level (gotta love Texas closets!). Perfect!

Now it wasnt an award winning ensemble but I thought we looked pretty clever. The neighbors laughed and we all got a kick out of seeing each other dressed up. (Did you know Elvis is my next door neighbor?!?!) Anyways, the funniest part is that so many of our trick-or-treaters and some of their parents were genuinely unsure of Jason's condition. One little boy stared and one mom checked and made sure it was a costume before she laughed! What a great night!

Please say a prayer for me as I have THREE interviews this week and my big ugly cardiac test on Thursday. I'm getting ready to enter my last big push for the next couple of weeks and then it should be smooth sailing on through December 10!!

Stay tuned!