Close your eyes....one year later....wow.

I realize I have not "blogged" in a year. I'm sitting at work, here at Childrens, as an RN, and became overwhelmed with thankfulness. How wild is it that one year ago, give or take, I was an antsy nursing student-praying to graduate, pass boards, find a job in a tanking economy (thanksfornothingObama), and now...I'm taking care of children and leaving work daily feeling like I genuinely made a difference. God is good.

So, whats changed...I prefer bulleted formats, so here it goes.

1. I currently have two cats. Jeter had seperation anxiety once I got a job. I adopted a kitten, tornado survivor, Lola. She is also completely ridiculous.

2. I still run. Like a Kenyan. Doing my first marathon in April and almost dreading it. I have this overwhelming feeling that i may destroy my body.

3. My anemia that grates on my nerves, is FINALLY under control. Kinda. I get random iron treatments and take a ton of vitamins. So far, 2012 is going well.

4. I live alone- and love it. I am moving in with a few nurses soon and looking forward to saving a few $$ for a bit. But, living alone is so serene.

5. I've learned a lot about myself and people over this year. Good things and difficult lessons.

6. I genuinely believe I have some amazing girlfriends in my life. I thank God daily for these women.

7. I. Hate. Meatloaf.- Some chick at work insists on bringing it and I swear I gag as I type now and think about it. Sick.

8. I've decided to do travel nursing. I want to see the world before I settle down, become a wife and start a family. What better way then through helping others throught the country? I think its a fabulous idea.

9. Through taking care of children, I've seen God in ways that I never expected. He's healed many and I've watched several move on to live with Him in heaven. My faith was really tested through this. I've smiled as I took out IVs and filled out discharge paperwork and cried as I pushed Morphine and yet my patient finds no relief, cried as the parents cry due to lack of sleep and stress, and cry when they pass away. I find it impossible to leave my emotions at the door and go about my normal routine, I pray for my patients, especially since I'm here 7 days in a row.....I just become so attached. It's really the hardest thing.

10. I still love Derek Jeter. I was taken to a Tampa Bay and Yankees game in Tampa, thanks to a pretty fabulous boyfriend, stayed at a cush resort and watched my favorite athlete play the game I love to watch. One of my favorite moments in life.

11. I've realized a lot about Birmingham. I've become super annoyed with some of the crowds that insist on having fundraisers. Not for the fundraising, thats wonderful. However, when your motives are truly to raise money for...lets say children...you do it because you genuninely want to make a difference in a child's life right? Not for some here..they like to have their picture made and check in to that event on facebook, so everyone knows.."hey..that girl went to that fundraiser for kids.." whew hoo. Want to know how to make a difference? Clothing drives, educational opportunities for parents, carseat donations, volunteer at the hospital to spend time with them....you cant wear a tux or formal dress, no cocktails here and my favorite part...no photographers. You do it because you care. Not to be seen. Obviously, this is my current soapbox.

All in all, life is going well. I look forward to seeing what will happen in the days/months/year to come.

Real World: Part 1

I stinking graduated. That's right- graduated. And, it feels weird. I am officially not a student for the moment and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. To be real, between the tornado relief efforts, NCLEX prep and running/sleeping/eating...I haven't had my time to just reflect on no more school.

The tornado on April 27th, impacted everyone I know..in some shape or form. I have friends that are currently homeless, patients that can't find their parents, friends that are just distraught and then those that are just in a prayerful state for those that were physically affected. Growing up in the south, I think tornadoes were just a normal fear for the month of april/may. I can remember hiding in the basement when I was tiny and praying that nobody I cared about was hurt. PLUS- my mom never took them seriously, so on that day of the recent tornado, when she literally blew my phone up, I thought she was kidding. I've spent some time in both Tuscaloosa and Pratt City doing little things for whoever needed it. In a way, I'm so thankful that I am in a position that I can go and just see what truly happened, it has had a way of reminding me what is actually important. It's made me so much more appreciative of the people in my life and humbled me in ways that I wasn't really prepared for.

So, yeah- I graduated. But, I learned more from spending time with my closest friends and victims in these affected areas then I ever did in nursing school.I encourage anyone who hasn't "had the time to physically help" to do so. Life does go on, but at the moment, these people's lives have been rocked. Life for them is chaotic and terrifying. As excited I was to graduate and move my tassle to the left, I still thought about my friends in Tuscaloosa that didn't get to graduate like they've dreamed of- and while I was eating dinner and having that celebration cocktail- they may have been digging through their neighbors home remains and getting their hands a little dirty. Life is funny that way- it humbles you when you least expect it.

Speechless

So much has happened recently. Tornado swept through and basically destroyed Alabama, supposivley Osama is dead, and oh yeah, I am officially finished with nursing school. Whew.

I spent last Saturday with some of my closet friends in the city of Tuscaloosa. Although I say War Damn Eagle every chance I get, my heart went out to that place. There was absolute devastation everywhere. Throughout the day, we just did random things and helped whoever needed it. It was an eye opening experience. One that I will never forget.

After the exhaustion wore off, I had time to just think and pray for all that I had seen thus far in the relief effort. I realized what an amazing time it is to be a nurse. Nurses are given opportunites to help and relate to others- that a lot of people aren't trained to do. I felt so blessed that this was my field and career choice. The Dalai Lama says it like this, "Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." If I learned anything through this difficult time, it is just simply to love. In the news, it's all "looting here" and "gangs here"- just awful crap they are doing in such a vulnerable time. But there is good there as well- complete strangers helping out people and lending fresh legs to move tree limbs and dig through the remains of someone's home. It was a moving thing to see. All in all, I'm thankful. My best friend is from Pleasant Grove and was impacted greatly. I'm so blessed to have her in my life and so grateful none of her family was injured.

Hello World, This is Me

Well, Happy Graduation?
Such an uneasy feeling about graduating. So much has changed over these four years of college. I've grown up, made wonderful friends, learned a lot, lost "friends", grew up I guess. I have my dream job interview Friday, needless to say- my easter basket had an Ann Taylor suit in it. You know you're growing up when that replaces the bikini and chocolate I'm used to getting. :)I'm really excited about leaving UAB's SON- for sure, don't get me wrong there. But, am I really a nurse now? Seriously. I can't believe it.

I'm also feeling a little thankful today. I have such wonderful people in my life. One thing I've really noticed, nobody I've met in college has a close relationship with many people they went to high school with. That just isn't the case for me- my best friends, we've known each other for years. Been through so much together, and I've noticed whenever anything happens, good or bad, that is who I go to first. I didn't say that to take away from my precious college friends. I'd be so lost without them.

Graduation brings about lots of thoughts I guess. Mainly just, "now what"? Thats flashing in my head.I know to be still and things will be revealed to me about which road to take- however patience has never been a virtue of mine- I'm still working on acquring that one.

So, for now- I'm enjoying the thought of burning the last set of UAB's nursing uniforms, ATI books and those horrible shoes. I will take my boards in May, hopefully get the Children's job and go to New York to a Yankees game--- and yes, I plan to find Derek Jeter while I'm there. It is only fitting.

Happy Graduation Class of 2011. We did it. :)

Dear Life, Slow Down. Thanks. Love, Katie

Oh boy.....
As I sit here on 5 Tower at Children's Hospital on my next to last rotation...I think I'm experiencing a little bit of tachycardia. I just signed up for the HURST review the Monday after graduation with hopes of taking the NCLEX stat. Um...say what? It's time for the NCLEX? When did I become an adult? ew. gross. sick. boring. ugh.

So, I'm applying for the internship here at Children's, since this is the only place I want to work, it makes sense. The internship is a 6 month rotation to four different units of your choice. At the end, you rank your units- most favorite to least, and pray that they hire you in your favorite unit. So, Godspeed to me.

Graduating from nursing school seemed like a future goal that I would never reach; and yet here it is. One month and three days away. I'm freaking out a little. My best friends are nurses already and haven't killed anyone, so I have faith in myself, but still........whoa. I don't really consider myself an adult for the following reasons:

1. I sleep with a sound machine. My upstairs neighbor, Buffalo Betty, insists on stomping in her tap shoes 24/7. Boo on her.
2. I prefer rice krispy treats to fondue, cheesecake...basically anything mature.
3. EasyMac is a meal. As is, bananas with peanut butter. (Peter Pan, Honey Roasted Crunchy...Only.)
4. Ironing is for losers.
5. I watch Gilmore Girls re-runs and have them on Netflix. Judge me.
6. I like to break it down at Nana Funks. It's a stress relief.
7. Hanson is still cool.
8. Best thing about my future job: Scrubs. Comfy. No Ironing necessary.
9. I hang out with 5 year olds and they give me "life advice" every other week.
10. I recently lost a cow racing game on the Wii, to a 6 year old, and got angry. He cheated.

11. I rather run than see a movie or go to dinner. That can't possibly be normal.
12. I wash clothes, dry clothes...then one of two things happens: A) They stay in the dryer for 3 days or B) I get them out and then place them nicely in the floor.

Meanwhile, I have friends that are getting married,buying houses and talking about having kids soon. I'm a little behind in that department. You can refer to my list in case you forgot why. I've also realized how to survive night shift: Caffeine, twizzlers, caffeine, stretch, caffeine, practice the wop, caffeine, cow racing on the wii, with eyes closed- (due to the simple fact that cows are creepy), caffeine, repeat. And- just a side note, but my iphone is on "shuffle"...my music has ranged from: George Strait, Jamey Johnson, Lil Wayne, Drop it Low Girl, Back that Ass up, GLEE the soundtrack and now pour some sugar on me...haha. whoa.

Moving on, I am PUMPED UP about the Braves game and then to Auburn for the classy rodeo weekend. (Note, I spelled it classy, not Klassy...I'm so sick of seeing people spell it that way. Grow up. it's C-L-A-S-S-Y. If you intend on having a "klassy" weekend, just call it what it is..."trashy" thanks,moving on.) Jorts and Boots anyone? Oh yeah. But- Go Yankees. I'm tempted to wear a Phillies shirt, but I will probably go with the Braves. Derek Jeter, if you are reading this, I swear I'm not at traitor.

(Also, my genius cat Jeter, went on a none toilet diving streak for almost 3 whole months. Then, he failed Thursday. He recently got a few new toys and had one in his mouth, dropped it in the CLEAN toilet, then decided to dive in after it.)God love him.

One more random, slightly more serious thing on my mind. Asperger's Syndrome. Random, I know. I'm currently reading a few different books about it, basically because of my mom's class, the few people I know that suffer from it and because I am a complete and TOTAL nerd and like knowing random things. It's really an interesting subject and the few things I've learned about it, is that it is almost like a serious case of OCD. I won't bore you with all the facts, but just know...my nerdy side is super interested not only in cystic fibrosis but also, currently, Asperger's.

A little humor for the nurses.....

Nurses.....

*You can drink a pot of coffee and still go to sleep in the morning.

*You believe every patient needs TLC: Thorazine, Lorazapam, and Compazine.

*You can't see it; it's probably not there.

*Your sense of humor seems to get more warped each year.

*You think it is acceptable to use "penis" and "vagina" in a normal conversation.

*You believe the definition of stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.

*You believe that if warm wine enemas were routinely ordered, patient complaints would greatly decrease.

*You call some of your co-workers "Flowers in the Field of Medicine" because they're bloomin' idiots.

*You hope there's a special place in Hell for the inventor of the call light.

*You believe not all patients are annoying. Some are dead.

*You believe experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

*You see stress as a normal way of life.

*You have a tendency to laugh at your patient's "big" problems.

*You know the phone numbers of every late night food delivery place in town by heart.

*You believe the problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.

*You've ever thought, "Patients, God love 'em, because today, I sure don't!"

*Everything only happens all at once.

*You have more T-shirts that say, "Love a nurse PRN" than plain T-shirts.

*You've ever referred to other nurses as "Band-Aid Bunnies."

*You've ever been telling work stories in a restaurant and had someone at another table throw-up.

*You write a patient report and have to translate it to medical records because of all the acronyms in it.

*You notice that you use more four-letter words now than before you became a nurse.

*You look in your closet and can't find anything non-medical to wear.

*You've ever told anyone in pain to "stop being a baby and deal with it."

*You have a patient in four-point leathers that asks if you're a nurse, you reply "Yes", and walk away.

*You've ever told a patient to "stop faking it."

*You believe all bleeding stops...eventually.

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

*You don't hit patients or doctors....unless absolutely necessary.

*You believe the pain will go away when it stops hurting.

*Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong and if nothing has gone wrong, you've obviously don't understand the situation.

*You believe if you can keep your head among all this confusion, you obviously don't understand the situation.

*You've ever said, "Why am I here?"

*If you believe if a patient who has a catheter, he needs it.

*Everyone gets treated exactly the same...until they piss you off.

*When you get a call telling you the name of your next admit and you can do the care plan before the patient gets to the floor.

*When called for orders, the MD says, "Write them yourself; you know the patient better than I do."

*You've ever had to contend with someone who thinks constipation for 4 hours is an emergency.

*Ever rolled your eyes when the 14 year-old says, "No, I've never had sex."

*You refer to motorcyclists as organ donors.

*You can eat a candy bar with one hand while performing digital stimulation on your patient with the other hand, and it doesn't bother you.

*You believe Tylenol, Advil, or Excedrin provides a large part of your daily calorie intake requirements.

*You've ever held a 14-gauge needle over someone's vein and said, "Now your going to feel a little stick."

*You can identify the "PID Shuffle" and the "Kidney Stone Squirm" at 15 feet.

*You've ever had a patient with a nose ring, a brow ring and twelve earrings say, "I'm afraid of shots."

*You've ever thought, "As long as he's got a pulse, I don't care about the rhythm."

*You think the ultimate cruel joke is get someone drunk, take them to the ER and tell them he OD'd on "some kind of pills."

*You automatically multiply by three the number of drinks a patient claims to have daily.

*You can keep a straight face when a patient responds, "Just two beers."

*You feel that if someone is shot or stabbed, they probably deserved it.

*You stare at someone in utter disbelief when they actually cover their mouth to cough.

*You think "awake and stupid" is an appropriate choice for mental status.

*You believe in the aerial spraying of Prozac.

*You have encouraged obnoxious patients to sign out AMA.

*You believe the government should require a permit to reproduce.

*Your most common assessment question at 2 a.m. is "Why is this an emergency now?"

*You believe every waiting room should have a Valium salt lick.

*You don't believe 90% of what you're told, and 75% of what you see.

*You firmly believe that "too stupid to live" should be a diagnosis.

*You have to leave the patient before you begin to laugh uncontrollably.

*You believe a book entitled "Suicide: Getting it Right the First Time" will be your next project.

Ash Wednesday

Last night, one of my favorite friends and I went to church. Due to clinicals, work schedules and complete exhaustion, it has been a little while since I have made a Wednesday night service. We go to Church of the Highlands and last night I was reminded why I love my church so much. The worship part of our service brought tears to my eyes and as I felt the Spirit start to due a work in me; healing, convicting and most of all: blessing. We were reminded that "worrying" is not a burden that God intended us to carry and were also taught the right way to handle being broken. My church is such a blessing. God is doing amazing things there. I'm thankful for the friends that I can talk about faith with, they bless me daily.
The reason I titled this blog "Ash Wednesday" is because I was so encouraged by my roommate. She is first and foremost, a Christian, not just a Catholic. It's so easy for some people to claim their "religion" instead of the bigger picture. All God wants is for us to just simply be a Christian and worship through whatever way suits you- may it be singing Amazing Grace at a Baptist Church or taking communion at a Catholic church. When you reach the pearly gates, I seriously doubt saying "Oh, I was a good Methodist/Catholic/Whatever"...is going to get you in. There is only one way to do that, and thats simply claiming Christ as your Savior. Period, the end.
Anyway, back to my roomie- I respect her. She goes to church alone, even though she knows fellow Catholics that either A) Choose to not go to church at all or B) Go somewhere else. Ashley also comes to Highlands, which I love. I had some Catholic friends that wouldn't even try it out because it was "different", so...live a little. The Christian walk is truly a roller coaster for me. I'm up, down, twisted and turned constantly. The one thing that doesnt change however is how much God truly loves me, forgives me, blesses me and hears me. I think I've been in a state of "brokeness" for almost a year and I think I'm finally healed or at least on the road to healing.
I'm a blessed girl and am making it a point to stop taking that for granted.