A healthy serving of update

(I'm not even going to take the time to apologize for my lack of blogging. I know I should but I don't feel like it. Sorry.)

On to the update: I had my interview in Corvallis. I did not get the job. It was a bummer because life in Corvallis was going to be so good. And I had a plan and I was so optimistic that the plan was going to work out. I think that made the let down harder. BUT I've had a lot of supportive people around me and I've discovered what a blessing this is. I don't have any reason that I HAVE to stay in Corvallis. I can literally go anywhere. And while I'm still bummed at the likelihood that I will be living away from my family - I am incredibly excited. I'm starting by applying to jobs in Washington, California, and probably Hawaii too. If God's plans are for somewhere else, I will expand my search to other states. I'm excited for this adventure, which is somewhat amazing because I like having and knowing the plan. I'm comforted by the fact that God has something for me - much better than what I had originally considered for myself.

And as for the fact that I am going to be away from my family - I have realized I can get anywhere in the world in a day.

But in the meantime of all the job stuff - I've been working at Good Sam for my senior practicum. I have a great preceptor and I have loved what I've been doing. Last night I took a full patient load almost all by myself for my first time. I have my preceptor there if I need to ask questions or more than one patient at a time that is needing something. We work well together as team and she seems to anticipate where I am going to need help and steps in, but also lets me be pretty independent in situations that I can handle for myself.

Nursing is incredibly fun. I love my job.

And I like working nights. I work from 11 to 7:30. It's a little weird because I never seem to know what day it is. When I see people in the morning, their yesterday is still my today so it can get confusing. I've learned to identify days by their name (Monday, Tuesday, etc) instead of yesterday, today or tomorrow. It keeps me out of trouble. Anyway - night shift. It stays surprisingly busy considering patients are supposed to be sleeping. But no one can ever sleep really well in a hospital - mostly because you have people like me coming in to wake you up. :) But medications are also given around the clock and some people are being pumped full of IV fluids so they have to pee a lot. But night shift is relatively calm to the storm that arrives at 7 when day shift staff arrives. There are no doctors around at 3 in the morning (unless you call them), or physical/occupational therapists, or very much family. It's mostly nursing staff during night shift. It isn't as overwhelming. Very nice.

And I sleep great during the day. I basically go to my room and pass out for 8 hours. The phone can ring and I won't hear it, or the vacuum can be run and I won't wake up. The only thing so far that has gotten me out of bed was a serious hail storm, and for that I staggered out of my bed to close the window and then I got back into to bed and slept another couple of hours. And I've come up with a effective way to get back on day schedule on my days off, so everything works. When I've worked a lot of nights in a row, I can get a little exhausted but I think I could do this for a good amount of time for a first job. I think it will help that when I start my first job I won't have to worry about homework during my hours of being awake, which is one of the things that can tire me out right now.

And cause I haven't updated y'all in a while - 25 days until graduation!! (12 days until I'm all done with classes!)