I will always love you

Lots I could write today.

I finished my job at the hospital.  I start at the surgery clinic tomorrow!  I am getting nervous.

It was weird to read a status with the floor census.  I had a panic moment at first, like worrying/hoping I would be put on stand by.  Half a second later, I realized:  wait, I don't work there anymore.  Phew.

I had a good, unemployed weekend. :)  Nick and Nichole came to Fayetteville yesterday.  We went to dinner and Dickson with several college friends.  It was a great group to go out with (minus Corey not being there :(((( ) and we had a lot of fun!  It was good to catch up.  It's interesting to catch up on people I used to be friends with.  People that, turns out, only were "friends" with me because they had to see me every day.  People who slandered mine and Corey's names as soon as we were not regularly present to defend ourselves.  I'm glad I ended up with the friends I have.  They are amazing.  :))  Denny's afterward was absolutely classic.  See the video below for part of the fun.

For the "The Lord of the Rings" nerds out there, see this:

Ha.  Yeah.  So that was the funniest thing ever.

I am way bored today.  Way.  Bored.

I'll try to update some more tomorrow after work.  At my new job.  :)

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"bittersweet memories, that is all I'm taking with me"

up in flames

4 shifts.

4 shifts left on the medical surgical floor.

4 shifts left on the medical surgical floor, and then I change my "About me" and employer and all that business.

Monday after next, I start a brand new job at a new place.  It's closer to home.  It's clinic hours.  It's surgery.  I'm excited. :)

I will miss the people I work with very dearly.  They are my friends, work family, and a good support system.  I am hoping to find the same kind of people at my new job.  I will not miss the cranky old people and their crazy families who think our hospital is the Marriott hotel and the nurses and aides are waitresses and housekeepers and their family member is the only person we're assigned to care for that day.  I'm tired of being given retarded tasks to make our cares look good on paper, but tanks our actual bedside care if we do all of it.  Sorry, but I'm going to take care of my patient before I chart IVPB stop times (when it's documented how long the med runs) and I'm not staying 2 extra hours after my shift is over.  It's not the 1800s and I have a life to get home to after work.  Sorry.  Nursing Executive Who Sits Behind A Desk All Day can kiss my rear end until she does our job for a week with all the BS she thinks we should be doing and then harp on patient satisfaction.  Those people don't give a crap about patient satisfaction or safety.  It's all about the dollar signs.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Whatever.

Outpatient surgery is my new gig.  And I am SUPER PUMPED about it.

***

In other news, I went to the eye doctor today.  I hadn't been in a couple years, and needed to get a check up anyway.  I also wanted to use my vision benefits from my current job before I lose it.  I used my flex spending card while I still have it, too.  Found out my eyes are healthy, and my glasses prescription hasn't changed much at all in the past 2 years!  I was excited to hear it, because my prescription had changed a lot between the previous 2 appointments while I was in college.  I got some new glasses, just to get them since I had it covered by insurance.  I got some cute Vera Bradley frames.  During the exam, they dilated my pupils, so driving home was interesting.  My next vision goal is to get prescription sunglasses.  Hopefully those can be covered under insurance with my new job :)  That would be pretty awesome.


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"so it's over, this time I know it's gone"

I'm taking you with me

I changed my blog background again.  It's sunshine-y and I like it.

Today I went and learned how to be a preceptor.  I took the class at work that teaches a nurse how to properly orient new hires, especially new grads, to the nursing unit and to nursing in general.  It was fun!  I have already precepted for a few nurses, but this class gave a look at the whole process of teaching a new nurse.

I guess I don't have a whole lot to say today.  Just making a note of a good day!


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"I've made a habit of not making promises that aren't easy to keep"

the long and winding road

I am at a career crossroads.  It was never my long-term career goal to work on an inpatient nursing unit.  As a new graduate nurse, other specialties ask for usually a minimum of one year's experience in clinical practice.  Medical-surgical floor nursing is a common source of this experience.

I have been a nurse for a year now, and I am looking to find my long-term career in nursing.  I feel like this year has been filled with all kinds of learning for me.  I have truly learned how to be a nurse.  I don't think I could have gotten the amount and variety of experiences on any other type of unit.  I have an absurd level of time management when I want to, and know a lot about a lot of different types of patients.

Surgery and peri-procedure nursing is where I want to go next.  I am not completely sure that I will stay there forever, but I was always interested in that in school, and it is my current goal to get into those departments.

I have had a few frustrating moments.  Like not being enrolled into ACLS.  I understand not having it paid for by the hospital, since it isn't "necessary" for my specific job role, but I am willing to pay for it.  I just want to be given the opportunity to take it.  I want to do what I can to increase my competence.

I have enjoyed this past year at work.  It's stressful and draining, but I still loved it.


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"I've seen that road before, it always leads me here"

waiting on the world to change

Corey bought Abigail a pink and white polka dot bed pillow.  She has it in her new inescapable crate.  She loves it.  She has it arranged with one corner way up so she can lay her head on it like a pillow.  I think it helps comfort her when we're gone, too.  I was gone for about 4 hours yesterday and I left her in the crate with the pillow and that baby didn't move.  I think she took a nap.  She has a couple toys in there to chew on and occupy herself when not sleeping.  

I think she is finally okay with being left at home in her crate when we have to leave.  She still pees on the floor, so leaving her to roam the house is not an option for her.  We are taking baby steps!  Maybe she will finally learn to behave! :)

So I interviewed for two jobs yesterday.  One of them I did not have what they wanted and should never have been called to waste my time interviewing.  I was really pissed off.  I have no idea what the other group thought of me, so we'll see on that.

I'm presently watching the beginning of the 2012 Cotton Bowl hoping my Hogs will win!  I feel proud to be an alumnae of the U of A. :)

--

"it's not that we don't care, we just know that the fight ain't fair"

flux

More pathetic days at work.  Shocker?  Not at all.

Spent money at Sephora.  My pretty much #1 favorite thing to do.  I love buying make up and beauty products.  I got a refill on my foundation.  I use Clinique "Even Better" Make up in Linen.  Because I'm pale.  And that foundation gives me some moisture without being greasy.  I like it.  Thank you Sephora sales associate that suggested it to me months ago.

I also got my #1 favorite mascara ever.  Lancome Hypnose.  Of course I like it.  I've used it before, but not recently because it is pretty expensive.  I bought it in a set this time with eye liner and eye lash primer. It was a killer deal.  The mascara by itself is $25.  The set of full size products was $30.  Could.  Not.  Say.  No.

It was nice retail therapy after another crap-tastic work day.

Today I got Corey his main Christmas present.  I really had no idea what to get him.  He has basically everything he wants, so I just settled for something I knew he would like.  Hope I'm right. :/

I have to find a present for my mom.  She wants a vintage/"not mainstream or published" cookbook.  We'll see how successful I am at finding that.

If you have not watched "Marry The Night" by Lady Gaga in music video form, you should.

If you do not keep up with "Epic Meal Time," you should.  It is a YouTube channel of people who make epic meals.

*steps on soapbox* You know what upsets me?  When people get worked up about their problems and take it out by being hateful to others who have nothing to do with it. *steps down from soapbox*


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"we were hoping for some romance, all we found was more despair"

i hate Christmas parties

Wow.  I have not posted in a month.  Not good.

I attribute it to getting cable and watching too much TV.  Which is a plausible explanation.  I watch Discovery Health all day.  Day after day of Trauma:  Life in the ER and I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant.

Or I go to work.  Which is even less exciting.  Staffing has been pathetic lately.  I just hope this weekend is better.

I have a couple Christmas presents bought and wrapped.  The other ones are sitting in the office of my apartment complex.  I am afraid I didn't get Corey enough :/  He is a hard one to buy for since he pretty much just gets whatever he wants.  I haven't thought of what to get him that he hasn't thought to get himself already yet.

On the other hand, Corey already got me exactly what I wanted for Christmas!  All I have wanted this year has been a Keurig coffee brewer.  He gave it to me early, because he knew I would find it and ruin the surprise.  So he ruined it for me :)  I'm not disappointed.  I have used it every day!  I love it just as much as I thought I would.  I have regular coffee, hot tea, and hot chocolate K-Cups so far.  And each cup really does come out absolutely perfect.

Other things that happened since I posted last:

Put up the Christmas tree

Went home for Thanksgiving

the shale pit near my Aunt's house

Dad and Ruby

Got a new couch

Yes, we tore the old couch to pieces

Very comfy!

There we are.  I will try to do a little better at posting this month.  Happy December!


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"a snowflake on your cheek would make this Christmas so beautiful"