kapachino

Author: Kathleen

  • The Week So Far

    On Monday night I went out and bought a bunch of pairs of scrubs in Caribbean blue, our required color. This is not a popular color for scrubs, but I found it at an awesome store in Katy. There was a friendly Indian woman there who owns and runs the place, and by the end of my shopping experience she was giving me marriage advice and showing me all of her receipts for the day.

    On Tuesday my preceptor was off and my backup preceptor was late, so I ended up working with a girl who has only been a nurse since January. Although she was very nice, she was also extremely disorganized and I did not much enjoy working with her. That night David and I went and spent some time with our good friends Megan and Peter, who were in town for a wedding. The highlight of the night involved Megan and I getting completely made fun of for the fact that in high school we listened to ska music and skanked. Don’t know what that is? You’re cooler than I am.

    Wednesday my preceptor was off again and I sat with the unit secretary. It was boring, but at least I got to sit down. That night David and I went to visit his aunt and uncle in Sealy. David is very close to them, and his aunt has pancreatic cancer and is not doing well. It was good that we went.

    Today my preceptor, Christy, was back and we had a good day. She is allowing me to do more things now. Tonight I am returning to my apartment. I have been away for over a week house- and pet-sitting. I miss Cleo and my bed.

    I am really exhausted. 4:30 a.m. comes really early.

  • She Wants Some Action

    This picture is from when I took Cleo to the dog park the other week. I love it because it reveals just how eager she is. All she wants to do is make friends with everyone and play!

  • First Day on the Unit

    I woke up at 4:45 a.m. and got home at 5 p.m., and all I’m thinking at this moment is that my legs and feet are very tired.

    Today I met my preceptor, Christy, and basically followed her around the entire day. She is extremely nice, but I don’t think she quite understands the concept that I am an RN with a license (yay!) and I can actually do stuff. It wasn’t until the end of the day, when she was getting behind, that I finally told her, “You know if you need help with anything I can do something for you.” She said, “You can give meds?” Um…yeah, I’ve been doing that since the second semester of nursing school!

    She won’t be my only preceptor, because she doesn’t work every day. But I really liked the unit and the people, and I’m sure I will love it once I get more involved and obtain more autonomy. I already requested my vacation days (August 1-3 for my good friend Ellen’s wedding in Kansas, and of course October 3-12!), I have my own locker with a lock and my name on it, and I know all the secret codes. I just need to get my hands dirty!

    P.S. I promise that all my posts won’t have to do with nursing from now on!

  • I Passed!

    Although I thought the test went well, I was still so nervous to check the results. A thousand scenarios had developed in mind around how I would react if I failed. I am very grateful that I don’t have to find out. I’m an RN!

    If I hadn’t passed, I think I would have been overcome with stress. I might have had an aneurysm. Because I start on my unit next week, and first of all, how embarrassing to have to go back and tell my manager that she hired the nurse who couldn’t pass the board exam. Secondly, I have to move by the end of the month, which is in about two weeks, and that includes repainting my room. Third, I get married in what? Three and a half months??? I only have to put together practically the entire wedding in that amount of time. If I had to worry about studying for and passing the NCLEX in another 45 days…I don’t even want to think about it. But I don’t! I passed!

  • Testing Center

    Just a simple, unassuming door, right? Who could guess what evil lies inside.