CSA

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants

Gateway Organic Farms is going to be opening their membership for the next harvest. For the longest time, I've wanted to take part in a Community Supported Agriculture, but because it is a large fee up front (not a huge cost in the long run) I have never been able. However, I think now I can do it! And I'm so excited. The price rose from $400 to $500, but I understand the increase.
I feel like $500 is a huge investment in one installment, but will also be a huge investment in my health! $33 a week for fresh, organic, locally grown produce is an amazing deal and for me, it would be great. I spend a considerable amount on produce as it is; I will definitely get my money's worth. Of course, $500 is for half share, so it would be every other week, but I think it will definitely work out.
Now, to figure out how to pay for it...credit, savings, both? Sigh.

http://gourmetgirlmagazine.com/09/01/specialfeature.php

In case anyone is keeping up, I passed my ACLS course and now have my official "provider" card. Go me!
Now my focus will be on completing CEU for my critical care portfolio.
I don't like to think about back up plans because I feel it might jinx it, but if I don't get in this time, then I will try to go through the next progressive care internship, which is mostly just online stuff it seems, and then apply for the NEXT ccip, which I REALLLLLLY hope doesn't occur.
After my ACLS course I felt even more energized and motivated to get into critical care.

ACLS

I'm taking ACLS today. I'm actually pretty nervous since I don't know what to expect; don't want to look like an idiot, etc. I mean, I have studied and I did okay on the pre-assessment exam, but ...scary!
Wish me well. Hopefully I will come home today and be able to update this as an ACLS certified RN.:)

A lot to lose!!

HAPPY EARTH DAY EVERYONE!!!



It's a lot to lose.

I will be working 3-7 and wearing this cute pin:




---->Geek

Boston

My sister ran the Boston Marathon today!!!

Her first marathon ever, too. What an accomplishment. She is so amazing.

I just bought a Littmann Master Classic II stethoscope in ceil blue!!
I previously owned a Littmann Classic II SE in raspberry, which was misplaced when I was stupid enough to take it off my neck to eat in the cafeteria and I placed it on the chair. NEVER TO BE FOUND AGAIN! I am currently using a Littmann Lightweight II SE that my manager let me have when I LOST mine. It is decent, but the sound isn't as good as my other one.
!! I will never take my new one off my neck.

oh and all that crap about having a name tag will prevent it from being stolen...PFT!! I had one with my name NICOLE, RN in black stickers, very noticeable and obviously by someone who loved it and I KNOW someone picked it up and took it. bastards!
anyway, can't wait for it come in the mail!

ACLS

I am taking ACLS on Saturday and I'm so overwhelmed! I have not been studying like I should be. It's a llottt of info.

*breathe*

Critical Care

Well, the new Critical Care Internship Program will begin August 24th. Interviews will be June 22nd and 23rd.
They now have a new requirement. First, you need to have one year experience and second, you need to complete this extensive portfolio consisting of courses through CE Direct, an essay, letter of recommendation, a few other prerequisite courses, educational transcript, etc.
Since I graduated in August and passed my boards in September, I will be just shy of one year, so I need to really do everything I can to "beef" up my portfolio.
However, I am feeling discouraged and defeated in some ways. I feel I am quite capable of being an ICU nurse. I went to a great school and earned my Bachelors, which not a lot of nurses have. Also, a lot of my classmates went straight from school into the critical care without an issue, so for me, if I don't get into this CCIP and I need to wait until the next (February?) then it is going to just suck. A year and a half? I don't think I can last another 6 months in my current position. If that occurs, I might just give up and try to get into the master's program. I don't want to waste anymore time. I want my ICU experience, so then I get can get my master's...

sigh.

The thing that I have against me also is the fact that I look young too. I am young (24), but it doesn't help when 85% of my patients think I am 17 or 18 and they tell me and ask me!~ I need to everything I can to work just that much harder so people take me seriously.

time for another pie

When organic, local florida strawberries go on sale for 2.99, you stock up!!!

Green smoothie!

My first attempt at a green smoothie. Included: organic curly kale, organic pineapple, mangoes, and banana with one tablespoon of ground flax. Delicious! Definitely need a new blender though.
Here are a few other random photos from throughout the week:

Inspiration

Current inspirations and interests:
-Kris Carr's documentary Crazy, Sexy, Cancer, as well as her blog.
-Vegan and raw inspired dishes
-Green juices
-YOGA
-Photography
-Happiness!!!

I often wonder why people spend so much on books when there are thousands sitting for free in the library! Or even spending $4-5 at Blockbuster when you could possibly get it free! It is amazing. People really need to take more advantage of their libraries. I know all libraries aren't that great or up-to par, but with a little digging, I think one could find amazing and informative books, dvd's, music, etc. Look into it everyone and stop spending mindlessly.
And stop eating mindlessly too:)

bummed

I am totally bummed and disappointed. I applied for CCIP, which starts in March. I found out today that for this time, they only want nurses with a minimum of one year experience:( It sucks!! Now I need to wait until the next one, which won't be until August.

The only good news is that today I got moved to a CN1, so I got a raise (after 3 months!!).

thankful

I got my first gift from a patient the other day!! I was so surprised. It was actually from a family member. A little teddy bear, mug, candy and a thank you card for "taking such good care of my mom."

It made me feel like...yay, I don't suck as a nurse!!

by myself!!

I am on my own now!! I had two days by myself and actually, it is so much better. Everything is on my schedule and I do things when I want them and how I want them. I was terrified at first, but now...okay, now still kind of scared, but working through it. And I think I'm doing pretty good too because after my first day, two of my patients requested to have me again for today and one took down my name because she said she wanted to send me a card!!!
Also, in the cafeteria I saw Sandi and a group of med surg 1 USF students. aw, it made me smile so much because I know how they feel. I just told them to stay in school because it's worth it!!!

OOH and today I had a patient who was 100!! I loved him. All day yesterday and today he would ask me when he was leaving and I would tell him, then he would, without fail, say, "oh you're going to miss me!!" and I would say YES OF COURSE, and he would laugh or say, "No, I'm only kidding." lol. aaha.

Life has been absolutely wonderful since getting my license. I am set up with an awesome preceptor and I feel like everyday I grow as a nurse. I still feel that my heart belongs in critical care, but I have to start somewhere and I feel that tele is definitely the perfect stepping stone. I should probably be finished with orientation by the end of November, so I still have about a month to go.

Besides the nursing "stuff," everything in life seems to be falling into place. I moved into my first real apartment on October 9th and I've slowly been organizing and what-not. It is a definite work-in-progress, but I am young and I have time to decorate!!:)
Here is a link to a slideshow: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31987402@N07/sets/72157608602952647/show/

When I moved, I had a ton of help from Mirza's family and friend, Z. He gave me a lot of furniture, as did Mirza's mom, Alma. I am so grateful for them. Yesterday, Mirza and I headed over to JoAnne's with the intent of finding new fabric to cover a dining room set Z gave me. This was my first attempt at any sort of "re-upholstering," but I think the end result came out great!

What do you think?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31987402@N07/sets/72157608603296957/show/

Also, I never really posted any pics from graduation, so here are a few:

RN

I PASSED!!

I'M A REGISTERED NURSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Nicole, RN, BSN

NCLEX

I take my NCLEX in ONE HOUR FROM NOW.


Results soon to be posted in the following days.


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!