NCLEX Anniversary

Today is my 2 yr anniversary for passing the dreaded NCLEX thank gosh it's over.  It just seems like a bad dream now.  Then I feel sorry for all the new GN's that have to take it.  It's interesting listening to them talk about it. :) 

I plan on taking a med/surg certification class some time.  I really need to start preparing for it and then again I will be faced with taking another test just like NCLEX...eek!

A little of This and That

I didn't realize how much I have missed Denver and Colorado until this weekend when i came back. It takes me again 30 minutes or more to drive anywhere and there is traffic everywhere, but I miss hanging out with my family and friends when I want without having to schedule times. I have been soo busy driving from one place to another, I feel like I have spent more time in my car, which makes me want a new one even more. It really only took me less than 4 hours to drive down here, which isn't bad since I could just as easily spend that time driving around Colorado to visit everyone :) I'm so lucky to have such a supportive group of family member and friends. Thanks everyone!

OOH and I officially got my paper license in the mail the other day..So I'm a real RN now!!

Here is a video of my messing around with my computer :)

I have a MacBook and it does soo much that i don't even know about :)

Also, Does anyone know if any cool blogs to check out i'm looking for fun and exciting websites to add to my list of internet surfing i do everyday!

"Great Nurse"

So last Thursday I took the NCLEX to get license after a long and painful time trying to study and feeling prepared for the test. Pretty much the week before the test, I said screw it, worked and watched movies, with the occasional test. From listening to everyone who had taken the test so far, I though the test would be horrible and every question for some reason wouldn’t even be related to what I have studied over the last year. I had also felt really stressed and under pressure to pass this examine since I did move 300 miles to a new state with a job that required me to pass the exam. I had a number of dreams about being homeless and sleeping in my car with my cat and her litter box wondering how I’m going to pay off my very expensive nursing education, plus my previous degree. But it is such a relief to see the “PASS” result. I still have been a little nervous about the result not showing up on the Wyoming State Board website yet while my co-workers found out the next day. Plus my forwarding mail is all screwed up, and my address with the state is still my old address. So that means I will be getting my paper license even later then expected.

The Look on my face before the test!

Over the last couple of months I have been pretty superstitious about calling myself a nurse, I didn’t want to jinx not passing the test. I’d go into a patient room and say, “I will be caring for you today,” and dancing around the word Nurse. My name tag has a tag that says “GN” and a lot of patients ask me what it stands for and the running joke it means: “good nurse” “great nurse.” But now it does feel great to actually call myself a registered “real” nurse.
I actually the day after I found out I passed, I had a patient who was stable all day went Septic and Respiratory Distress with in 20 minutes right in front of my eyes. With the instruction of the Attending doctor and my preceptor I was actually able to help my patient breath better, become more responsive and decrease his heart rate from 170 down to 100. I was very concerned about my patient and myself going in to Respiratory Distress as well, but I was able to keep my cool. And with the help of IV push Metoprolol (which I didn’t think I was able to push—still in the student mentality), but within seconds the heart rate decreased and he was able to breath better. I couldn’t believe my actions actually brought my patient back to the point he asked me if you could eat something because he was feeling 110% better. I’m so happy that I am in such a rewarding career. I know that it wont always be great and there will be stressful days but if I am about to help one person feel better and have a better quality of life for one day then all those stressful days are worth it! And I know I will stick up to the expectations of a GN or great nurse. :)

Sinus Tachycardia

This is how I feel about taking the NCLEX tomorrow!
....i Like the music is a little calming....