This Thing Called Life

      Back in June of this year I left one of the most toxic places I have ever worked at. There were so many things going on that I will just leave it at that. If you would like more details, check out my YouTube channel  here.  I thought it would be a good time to give nursing a break and take a different career path. I applied at an auto insurance company and started about 4 weeks ago but ended up leaving. Sitting all ay, wearing a headset, and having more than 2 meetings to attend per day is not my cup of tea. I gave a two week notice and have been a stay at home girlfriend since. In the last two weeks I've sent out over 20 applications. One place called me for an interview and they never followed up after I met. An animal shelter offered me a position as well but unfortunately, $11 per hour will not pay my mortgage.  My boyfriend works very hard. He is a bodyman at an auto shop and he repairs some of the most wrecked cars I've ever seen. IT is only fai...

     This is the end of my second week in my new Triage role. At the end of the day, nursing is nursing but you still learn new things every day. Each day I clock in and check the messages, refill requests, prior authorization forms, and voicemails from patients. Throughout the day patients will call in and each call varies. Some patients are calling because they are in labor, have a UTI, yeast infection or BV. Other calls coming in are for pap results, genetic testing, ultrasounds, and biopsies. Everything I do from my desk is what I used to do on the floor. I assess patient symptoms over the phone and decide whether they need to try over the counter treatment, come in for an appointment, go to an Urgent Care, or head to to the emergency room.       At first when I accepted this position, I didn't know how it would play out. I'm used to running around doing multiple things at one time and always being busy. Surprisingly this is amazing. I'm not runnin...

     Recently I have been thinking about going back to school for Personal Trainer or a Physical Therapy Assistant. I love being a nurse and helping patients but I kind of want something new where I can still people. Nursing isn't like the shows were patients are humble and appreciative. Most of my patients are rude and disrespectful. Patients don't understand that it isn't my fault their insurance doesn't cover a medication or a treatment we do here in the office. They also get upset when they are the ones who are non compliant with their medication regimens and wonder why their blood pressure and/or blood glucose is through the roof. I feel like working with people who need to be up and moving will help me become more active and be creative with ways to help them regain their strength. I won't be able to start right away because I have too much debt but I just want to make a decision that way I can start working towards that new goal and chapter in my life.

     Recently within the last few weeks I have so tired of being a nurse. Between drawing blood, answering calls and patient questions, rooming patients and taking vitals, processing prior authorizations for medications and more, I am DONE. Some patients are non compliant with their medications but will complain about not feeling well. Others aren't patient enough to wait for lab work to come back or scan results. I have spent my 20s taking care of every one else but myself. By the time I get off from work, I don't have energy to work out. I don't even want to eat half the time. I just want to sleep. Nursing is not what shows and movies make it out to be. Nursing school doesn't show you the ropes of what happens behind the scenes when the nurses are doing more than just taking vitals. Plus I am the only nurse in the practice so I have no peers to ask for help or vent to. I love helping people but I hate being stressed and feeling my anxiety go through the roof. I was sw...

     Lately I have been really wanting to go back to school. It has always been my ultimate goal to have my BSN. I have worked my way from a CNA to a LPN and now I am wanting to go back for my RN. But I've been asking myself if I really want to deal with the stress, studying, early clinicals, and case studies. Plus I'm horrible at math and I know there is going to be math on the placement exam for the program. Another lady I went to LPN school is debating about the same thing. She wants to go back to the school we graduated from but it is so much money since they are a for-profit school. Good universities in my area want statistics, chemistry, and college algebra. Those classes alone would take me forever because math is my worst enemy. I don't even want to go back just for higher pay (although that is a plus). I want to be able to tell people I'm a RN when they ask what I do or what I am. It's always been my number one goal and I think I need to start truly decidin...

     Working two jobs is something I never thought I would have to do again since I'm a nurse. When my former boyfriend was living with me he paid rent so instead of saving money, I put that money towards other bills and debt to get them paid off quicker. When he left me I was at a loss for words and now I'm realizing I need more money in order to stay afloat and stay ahead. I stress constantly due to my anxiety and now searching for another job has me even more stressed out. I need so many things for myself and for my house. There is no way I can afford to pay my bills and buy things I need (like a windshield for my car) with the amount of money I'm making. I'm not sure if I want to get a second part time nursing job like at a nursing home or if I want something different like waitressing or retail. My main goal is to get my car paid off, knock out my student loans, and buy the things I need and save some then I will quit the second job. I have worked so hard to get to...

     I figured I would share some things you will encounter working as an intake nurse. These don't occur all of the time, but they do most.

     Hey guys! I decided to make a video entailing what a typical day at work is like for me. I love my job and I am so grateful to be able to help women take care of themselves!

    Anxiety is one of the worst feelings in the world. Just remember to breathe, get things done early so you can be ahead, and if your anxiety interferes with your daily life, please seek help.

     LPN school was stressful but taught me a lot. It was also expensive so of course I kept EVERYTHING from my program!

     These things are literally what I did to pass my exam. The key is to breathe and take each question one at a time. Try not to overwhelm yourself and overthink! You have plenty of time to take the exam so do not rush.

     I took my NCLEX-PN exam on Friday, October 7. Due to Hurricane Matthew, I had to wait all weekend because of power outages on the east coast. I finally got my results later that week! All of the stress, tears, tests, quizzes, and laughter are well worth it. I am very proud of myself :)

     Today was an awesome Monday and a great start to the week! I am thrilled to begin working as a nurse and to start catching up on bills and also putting my nursing skills to use!

     I have exactly one month from Today to prepare myself for the NCLEX! I am nervous and also excited at the same time. Prayers needed for passing on the first try :)

     Now that I'm done with school and officially have my date for NCLEX (October 7), I'm trying to find a job that will allow me to work with my ATT letter. I had an interview last week but the lady said it takes about two weeks to find clinics that need me and then training will take another 4-6 weeks. It felt great going to an interview before I'm even licensed but at the same time I would like to find a place that will hire me and train me right away so I can start working. My bills are way behind since I haven't worked in two months. I really want to start working on paying off my car and catching up on all of the debt I owe for medical issues and things like that. The other thing that sucks is looking for jobs in my area and realizing there aren't many to choose from. It is kind of like LPNs are obsolete here in a way. Yea there are plenty of long term care positions but I do not want to work any weekends and I worked in LTC as a CNA. I'm ready to test all...

     Some of my classmates have already received their ATT letter to pick a date and sit for the NCLEX. I'm stressing because I haven't received mine yet. I contacted Pearson Vue and tried contacting the Board of Nursing but they never picked up the phone. I want to pick my date and test ASAP while the information in my head is still fresh. As far as my routine goes, it feels pretty strange not having to wake up and go to class or clinical. I miss some of my classmates and I hope they are doing well. I am beyond ready to start working. My bills are still piling up. My boyfriend is paying my important ones like my car payment, rent, and so on. I just want to be able to start paying bills on my own again and stop asking for money to pay my bills. I feel like it stresses my boyfriend out because I know good and well it stresses me out. I'm glad that school is over. It was well worth the stress, tears, and smiles. Learning all of the skills I acquired makes me feel aweso...

     I did it! I completed LPN school. I am currently waiting for my letter from state to take my NCLEX. I went to a job interview today and it went great! This was a rough 14 months of my life, but it was also the best and it is already paying off.