Time keeps on Ticking...89 days

89 days feels like no time at all. In the grand scheme of things I'll probably look back in a few years on this and wonder why I was so ready to get out of school. Then again maybe I won't, because I will remember all the papers and tests and assignments that we had to do just to get out of nursing school. I will fondly remember all the good times with my classmates though. Karaoke, intoxicated with Ms. Seifert at last year's Christmas Party. The Dragon Boat Race....wow that was some serious hard work. Taking care of the Scotland girls. Going to Scotland with Mili Vanili...her meeting up with strange psychaitric doctors in the middle of the night. San Antonio and those humid as anything caves with Amanda, Mili and the Scotland Girls. Chuy's Happy Hours..there are many more adventures to come in the 89 days we have left. I say we go out in style as time keeps ticking away. Side note....We've been on Thanskgiving break for a week now and as much as I want to finish off nursing school I'm not ready to go back to school tomorrow. ARGH...

97 Days....bring it Ahn

97 days of nursing school life left. I have to say as refreshing as it will be to not have to go to school daily and face the torture it's a little daunting to think about being practicing nurses in the "real world." However, I think my classmates and I are more than excited about getting out of school. It'll be nice to have no more papers to write, group projects to endure, and not be tested on abstract thoughts. Right gang ??? Anyways, I went to see the Ahn Trio. For those of you whom don't know them, they are a trio who have tried to update classical music. They're pretty good. Check them out at www.ahntrio.com. As for the rest of nursing school goes, I think I speak for everyone by saying....BRING IT ON.

Side note, one of my best friends graduated from High School in 1997. Ya...I feel old, but I think today goes to her. Thanks COOKSTER for putting up with me through all this nursing school b.s.

99 Problems and the HESI ain't one...

Okay so I'm stealing from the song, but it gets the point across. Our problem is that there are 99 days of nursing school left, but that's really not that big of a problem because we're finally in only double digits instead of triple digits. The closer it gets the higher the anxiety level rises and the more excited all of us get about it. I'm happy to report that Beranda and I passed the HESI. I'm inclined to believe that my other classmates passed as well, and I hope they all passed. I think the best part of today so far is that I never have to take another HESI again. Whew...look out NCLEX here we come. Well, after management, but here we come. I'm hoping for some rest and relaxation, holiday shopping and fun times over the next week or so. Then it's back to the grind for 10 more weeks of fun and excitement before graduation. Whoo....we're almost there girls and boys. Stay tuned for more updates.

100....and the STRESS is getting to me

ARGH....and an even BIGGER ARGH. I'm not the type of person to get stressed easily, but this comprehensive HESI and life events are driving me insane. For the most part I choose sleep over studying because I got burned my first year of nursing school. I'd stay up studying yadda, yadda, yadda and end up sneaking by with a passing grade. So, I chose to throw caution to the wind and not study anymore and the end result...HIGHER GRADES Now what does that teach me, studying doesn't pay off?? I dunno, but this comprehensive HESI thing has got me so stressed out that I can hardly see straight. I bailed hanging out with the buds tonight to study....TO STUDY of all things. Anyways, tomorrow around noon the fun and games should all be over with and at least we'll be in double-digit countdown :)

101 and another hurdle conquered...

Another day is gone in our quest to graduate from nursing school. I'm beyond glad about that. We had our Pediatric HESI today and Psychiatric HESI today for my compadres in psych. Needless to say, I'm sure everyone is glad that is over. I'm happy to report that I've overcome another hurdle on the progression towards graduation. Now all I have to do is pass the comprehensive HESI on friday and throw together my portfolio and the only thing that stands in my way is management. Whoo....I can hardly wait. I know my classmates feel the same way. I'm just glad the closer we get to graduation the more things seem to be falling into place. Well, I suppose I should do the responsible thing and get back to HESI studying.

102 days.....no one's DERAILED yet

I've been so busy working and trying to prepare for our HESI tests that I completely lost track of the number of days until graduation. Right now it's 102. It gets more and more exciting the closer we get. Thankfully none of my classmates have been DERAILED by our final exams. Everyone passed the Pedi final exam, which means that we're on our way. We've just got to get through the HESI and finish our portfolio and then we're on our way to management. I can hardly believe how close we are to the end. It's awesome. Anyways, of note also is that we went to see DERAILED.

If you haven't seen it...you must. It's AMAZING. Jennifer Aniston in a dramatic role...excellent and surprising. Anyways, guess I'd better get back to the cd-roms studying for Pediatric HESI tomorrow a.m.

More STUPIDITY...

Ya know I used to say that I "hate stupid people," but now I just think that it interferes with my daily life and progression out of nursing school. The NSA, which is a mandatory organization continues to do things that mystify and amaze me at their level of stupidity. We had our monthly meeting earlier this week and they decided it was time for senior recognition ceremony, but no one is graduating until February so why are they doing it now ??? NO ONE KNOWS. To top it all off, none of the seniors even knew that they were having it so there were about 4 of us there. Yep...lovely huh ?? They gave all the seniors certificates stating that we'd met all the graduation requirements. Now why would you do that if it's not true ??? My theory is if it's on the paper it's true and they should take it.

The other aspect doesn't involve stupidity it involves their lack of having "A CLUE." I don't actually know what this girl's technical title of office is but I call her "loudmouth" because she continues to scream and yell at us. Lack of professionalism....I THINK SO. Anyways, she's taking credit for doing the Scotland girl's scheduling, decorations etc...NOW we all know this is a LIE. I DID IT...not them. If she doesn't stop taking credit for this I'm going to have to put her in her place. OY VEH....Did I mention I'm glad it's friday ???

Movie Fest...

So I should've been studying for finals all weekend, but instead I chose to go to the movies and avoid the reality of having to study. Then again I do have to go to work tomorrow a.m. Ah yes, the joys of working while being a student. At least it's in my chosen field and I'm not working some obscure job like I did the first time I went to college. Which starts me thinking...do my classmates realize the finality of graduating in a few short months ??? I have to honestly say that when I graduated from TAMU I never realized what life was going to be like after College. It's like the "morning after" a bad night out. You wonder if it really happened and you wonder if you try to replay the details enough times if it will change the outcome, but in reality the outcome is what you've been working towards. Stop and smell the roses...that's my final thought for all of you graduating from college for the first time. The second time around it's a lot easier to get excited and remember what it was like the first time. Damn, I'm rambling.

Jarhead and the Pissing Contest...

So I went to see Jarhead last night with some of my co-workers. I have to say I thought it was a very good movie. It had laughter and entertainment and gave you this sense of desperation for the characters involved. I'm not sure how much like the Gulf War experience it truly presents but I must admit that I felt it realistic overall. Then again Jake Gyllenhaal is so hot that it makes it even more riveting of a movie. I know Mr. Tucker is cringing now at what I'm typing but hey I thought it was at least a B+, maybe even an A- flick. Which reminds me, there were a lot of "pissing contests" going on in the movie and that makes me believe that I'm in one right now with a colleague of mine.

With the end of nursing school up and coming everyone is stressing out about x, y, and z. Major stressor right now is what job we're going to have following graduation. Some people have laid the foundation and the groundwork to walk out into a job right after graduation and begin working. Others have done NOTHING. No work experience in their chosen field and many others still have no clue what avenue of nursing they want to go into. Well, for those I'm sure they'll be an "acid" test and they'll get to the bottom of what it is exactly they're supposed to be doing. I'm done trying to help though b/c I feel like I'm in a pissing contest with one of my colleagues whom will remain nameless. This colleague, while I perceived him/her to be a "friendly" has turned out to be "opportunistic" and "trivial" like the rest of the lot. Don't take credit for my work if you didn't work "with" me and don't be spouting off lies because ultimately the truth will come out. Argh...for the meantime piss away because I'm out of the contest. I've got what I need and what I want and I'm done trying to impress anyone but myself.

What we're working for...

Thought this was cute...and a bit of an "idea" what we're working towards as nurses.

You're a Nurse If...
*You believe that every patient needs TLC...... Thorazine, Lorazepam and Compazine.

*You would like to meet the inventor of the call light some night in a dark alley.

*You believe not all patients are annoying...some are unconscious.

*Your sense of humor gets more warped each year.

*You know the phone number of every late night delivery place by heart.

*You can only tell time by the 24 hr clock.

*Almost everything can seem humorous....eventually.

***You notice that you are using more 4 letter words than you did before you started nursing!!!!!

*Every time you walk you make a jingling noise because of all the scissors and clamps in your pocket.

* You refuse to watch ER because it is too much like the real thing and it triggers flashbacks.

*You check the caller ID on your day off to see if anyone from the hospital is trying to call and ask you to work.

*You've been telling stories in a restaurant and made someone at another table throw up.

*Everytime someone asks you for a pen you can find at least 4 of them on you.

*You can intubate your friends at parties.

*You don't get excited about blood unless it's your own.

*You live by the motto "to be right is only half the battle, to convince the doctor is more difficult"

*You've basted your thanksgiving turkey with a toomey syringe.

*You've told a confused patient that your name was that of your co- worker and to holler if they need help. :)

*Your bladder can expand to the size of a winnebago's water tank.

*When checking the level of a patients orientation you aren't sure of the answer.

*You find yourself checking out other customers veins in grocery waiting lines. (definately do this!!!)

*You can sleep soundly at the hospital cafeteria table on your dinner break and are not embarrassed when you wake up.

*You avoid unhealthy looking shoppers in the mall for fear that they will drop near you and you'll have to do cpr on your day off.

*You hate to get dressed in "real clothes" because scrubs are what you live in, and why can't they make jeans that comfortable. (AMEN!)

*You often stay awake for 24+ hrs at a time when you work nights and realize you don't need alcohol or drugs to hallucinate just lack of sleep...

*Your finger has gone places you never thought possible.

*You have seen more penis' than any prostitute!

*You've sworn to have "No code" tattooed on your chest!

I choose my choice...

Life is all about choices. Choices dictate how your life is going to go and whether the road is bumpy or smooth. Choices directly affect everyday life. If you chose to live simply then your life should definitely be easier to manage than those whom choose to have lots of "drama." Kinda like caller ID. You choose who you want to talk to versus who you don't want to talk to. We know if you don't want to talk to us, and as women we should respect that as a choice because often times we make the same choices. Like tonight...I can respect that someone chose not to talk to me, because I chose to avoid this nasty man at the bar my friend and I went to. See, life is full of choices and no matter how frustrating those choices are we should all realize that sometimes we have to cut one another slack when dealing with choices and respect one another's choices because without choice we'd be living in some third world country. Off the soapbox.

On a side note...HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDWARD...

Downhill Slide...

Now that we're facing towards the end of nursing school it's really, really, really difficult to remain motivated. My motivation level has gone to NOTHING which is probably because I essentially already function in the job that I'm going to be doing after graduation. It's really hard to worry about paperwork and family health promotion assignments when you're doing the stuff that nurses really do. But alas, I guess one must continue to do the time to get the grades to get the job to work more...oh wait that sounds like a bad drug commercial. Anyways, now that we're facing the end I find some of my colleagues especially annoying. CHILLAX AND GIMME A BREAK. The world could end tomorrow and the drama would finally cease. Well, I designed this site to vent and vent I did. Now onto a happier note.

One of my closest and longest-term friends turned 29 today. Which is awesome, because he's a very cool person and he's doing really well. However, it signals the barrage of birthdays that comprises november and the impending holidays. Ah the holidays, I love the holidays but my holidays this year will be spent by working on portfolios and attempting to study for the NCLEX. Our graduation is exactly two months from Christmas. Wouldn't it be nice if they could give us an early Christmas present and just graduate us then ??? Ah...dreams are dreams...