One year down, how many left to go?

Yesterday I finished my first year of med school. Whew! I think on the whole it was a bit harder than I expected going in, but I'm excited about progressing further into my medical career. I feel very relieved to be able to have some time to relax, especially since I won't be having any more summers off in the future.

Here's a brief overview of my summer plans:

Going to be a volunteer at a muscular dystrophy camp here in Virginia. This will be for one week next month and I will be a camp councilor for kids who suffer from this disease.

In July Melyn and I are going to the Florida Keys, Miami, and Orlando. We are going to scuba diving for sunken treasure and then search for the fountain of youth, just like in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie!

Before school starts again I will be participating in a psychiatric institute at VCU. This is a week-long program for med students that covers the various aspects of psychotherapy. Psychiatry and Neurology are my interests, so I'm doing a little of both this summer.

Well, I'm looking forward to having nothing to do on Monday! If you want to get a hold of me, there's never been a better time than now.

Work

Well, my first few days have been great! :)  I spent a week in the classroom, learning about all the policies and procedures and nursing things like that.  A lot of the things I learned about didn't apply to me because I work in Behavioral Health, but I wanted to learn everything just in case I need to float to a different unit in the future.

Today was my first "real" day.  I worked 7-3, and I'm EXHAUSTED!  I think the reason I'm so tired is because I have to wake up at 5:00 AM to get ready :(  I am not a morning person.  I got the next two weeks of orientation all figured out.  I'm orienting on all shifts just so I know what everyone does.  I'm also going to be able to orient as long as I need so that I'm comfortable.  I'll be working 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM three times a week in a row, every other weekend once I'm out of orientation.  Which means I'll have about 3 and a half days off every week!  Yay!

The unit I oriented on today has two nurses with eight patients.  Hallelujah!  It was busy, but not insane.  I was able to leave for lunch and got out on time!  The night nurse said I'm going to get bored on nights, but there are always things that I can do to keep myself busy.  And I'll take bored over insanely busy any day.  :)

This is It!!!

Happy Mother's Day to our wonderful Moms today.  You are both incredible and wonderful :)  We love you so much!

Today is my last day of working at this...this...place.  Hallelujah!  I'm so so so excited!  I hate working there so much, and they keep trying to persuade me to stay.  Stay for what?  They're not even offering me any more pay or a different wing!!  Plus, they've all been so RUDE about my career choice as a psychiatric nurse, that I am glad to say GOOD RIDDANCE.  You know, psychiatric nurses are there for a reason, and they DO help people and they SERVE A NEED.  Where will these people be going when they have a psychotic break?  To a psych hospital.  With psych nurses.  Who will be glad to help you figure out what went wrong.  People should be glad and grateful there are people like me who want to work in psych.  Just like I'm grateful there are nurses who work in OB/GYN, because I could never do that.  Ugh.  Ugh!!  Glad to get this all off my chest.  Thanks for letting me rant and rave people.

My Dream Job

People who know me well know that I've loved the field of psychology and psychiatry ever since high school.  My high school psychology class introduced me to the wonders of the human brain and all the things that can go wrong with it.  I studied Abnormal Psychology right before I graduated high school and was determined to be either a psychiatrist, psychologist, or psych nurse.  A close family member (somewhat unfortunately) told me that I shouldn't be a psychiatrist or psychologist.  I determined I would be a nurse at that point in my life.

During my sophomore year in college, I worked as a CNA at a geriatric psychiatric facility in Salt Lake City.  One of the best jobs I've ever had - I learned a lot, got beaten up and bitten by patients, and had a grand old time.  I was sure my future as a psychiatric nurse was guaranteed. So I went to nursing school, awaiting the day that I would begin my Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing course in my senior year.   As I knew I would, I LOVED it.  I loved it so much that I chose to make it my focus in my Nursing Capstone class.  My capstone was at the University of Utah 5 West unit, where they bring in people from off the streets and from the prison.  

I had hoped that Jordan would be accepted to the University of Utah and that after working in Med-Surg for a year, I could transfer to 5 West and work there for the rest of my career - it was that good of a place.  Then we got the email that we would move to Virginia - unknown territory.  Did they have good psych facilities out there?  Would I even be able to get a job, considering my lack of experience and resources?  Well, I have discovered that there are indeed amazing facilities in Virginia to help those with mental health problems - facilities that have been around for over 100 years, back when they called these places "sanatoriums."  

My lack of experience has been made up for by working at my current job with over 20 patients and dealing with their family members as well - if that's not psych nursing, I don't know what is!  After working at my current place of employment for almost 8 months, I am VERY happy to say I've found something different.  I will begin working at a small hospital 40 minutes south of me that has an amazing psychiatric unit!  I will work with another nurse and take care of 8 patients.  It will be SUCH a huge change, a change for the better.  

Pros:

1. Psych Nursing!  Helloooo!  My dream job!!

2. Smaller unit, less patients

3. More fulfilling - I'll be able to do more nursing care instead of "pushing pills."

4. I'll lead group sessions with patients.

5. Cheaper health insurance

6. Good staff retention - means it's a good place to work because the people like working there!

7. Hopefully I'll have less overtime...I don't really like staying 3 hours over my shifts to complete my work.

8. Work less days a week for the same amount of time - 3 to 4 days each week

9. The hospital system has hospitals all over the country, so if we need to move for residency, I can just transfer to another hospital!

Cons:

1. Pay is a little less.

2. It's 40 minutes both ways driving.

Basically, I'm stoked!  I start working there May 16, and will quit my current job May 8.

Please Help!

Did you know that millions of people every day are waiting for that one person to save their life? It could be you! All you need to do is to join the National Bone Marrow Registry. It's super easy, free, and even online. 
Here's what you do:

1. Go to www.marrow.org and fill out all the information to join the registry.
2. Wait for your cotton swabs to arrive in the mail3. Swab your mouth with the cotton swabs, send it back, and voila - you might just end up being the ONE person able to give someone a second chance at life.

The best part of this is that you don't even need to get a needle prick to join. 

Please PLEASE PLEASE consider signing up today if you can.  Please consider doing this for everyone out there who is need of a transplant.

I Need a Hobby

I'm a little bored...all I've been doing lately besides working, cleaning, and sleeping.  I've nearly accomplished my two main goals so far: 1. Finish taxes 2. Super secret awesome goal that I'll tell you about in a couple days.  So I decided I need a hobby.  Here are is an option that I can think of...

1. Learn new pieces for both piano and organ (I'm going to do this no matter what).

I honestly can't think of anything else to do!  This extra time in my life won't last forever.  Any ideas for a hobby?  Thanks!!

Today is a Good Day

Jordan ran the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K today and did excellent!  It was his first race since last year before we moved.  His goal was under 40 minutes and had 39:23.  Over 40,000 people ran the race, so it was packed!  Jordan said that this is one of his favorite races.  The course was mildly hilly but in a basically straight line.

Lots and lots of people there were wearing VCU's colors.  We're so excited for them tonight, and really hope they win.  Looks like we should have picked our home team to win instead of Ohio :)  Oh well!  I have this weekend off and I'm looking forward to relaxing and listening to conference...and making conference scones and honeybutter!

Conference Scones, Yield: 3-4 dozen

2 cups boiling water
1/3 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. shortening
2 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. salt
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. instant yeast (saf-instant)
5 cups flour, approximately

Mix boiling water, sugar, shortening, butter, and salt well.  Cool to lukewarm.  Stir in eggs and mix well.  In a separate bowl, combine yeast and 2 cups flour, blending thoroughly.  Add to egg mixture and continue adding flour as necessary to make dough easy to handle.  Knead for 5 minutes.  Put in an oiled bowl and cover, refrigerating overnight.  When ready to prepare, roll out to 1/4 inch thickness on a well-floured surface.  Cut in squares.  Let rise until double in size, about 1 1/2 hours.  Cook in hot oil, until both sides are golden brown, drain on paper towels.

Honeybutter, Yield: approximately 2 cups

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 egg yolk
1 cup honey

Whip softened butter.  Add vanilla and egg yolk.  Add honey gradually while whipping.

It's been raining basically every day since last week, but the good news about this rain is that it's made the leaves POP!  Seriously, the trees were one day all brown and the next a beautiful spring green.  There are these purple trees by our house that are so beautiful, as well as dozens of lovely magnolia trees.  Makes me wish I had my own house so I could plant a garden :)  I did plant some basil in a pot on our front porch.  Maybe I'll have a small herb garden.  Yay for spring!