nurse-iverssary.

Someone I went to nursing school with posted the other day on Facebook that she had been a nurse for 364 days and it made me realize, I've hit the year mark. Wow. Along with two other girls, we were the first in our class to take and pass our NCLEX-RN (I'm not one to prolong the inevitable) on June 19th, 2010. I can't believe it's been a year. Everything has turned out so differently than I imagined, but I truly couldn't be happier with where I am. Funny how that happens...

[WARNING: Long, perhaps boring, and occasionally whiney story ahead. Proceed at your own risk.]

This a re-cap of my journey:

• I've known since before I got started nursing school that I wanted to be a midwife. 
• My years as a patient care technician on a postpartum unit sparked a deep love for maternal/newborn nursing care and the care of families.
• Worked all throughout nursing school on postpartum, became a student doula. 

Very first day of the very first clinical in my very first semester of nursing school.

• Rocked nursing school (in so many words), met some amazing friends (two of whom are pictured above).
• Worked with Christian on his medical school applications like it was our job. 
• Accepted!!!! 2 acceptances...decisions, decisions. We visit both campuses, love the atmosphere at the our chosen campus, sign letter of intent. 
• Job hunt begins for nursing jobs in April. There are at least four HUGE hospitals within 5 or so miles of our new location...I have tons of clinical experience and my bachelor's degree...shouldn't be an issue, right? 
• WRONG. Graduation rolls around, no interview/job. Pass my exam in June, I'm official - no interview/job. We move in July...nada. Stating to look into graduate schools for midwifery...no one will take me without a year of experience. Boooo.

Job or no job...can't hold back that graduation happy dance!

• Starting to heavily plan wedding/job hunt furiously (living off Chris' school loans at this point, did NOT anticipate this and didn't take out enough). 
• August/September = nothing/eating my feelings. Decide to offer myself as a volunteer RN at Teen Outreach Pregnancy Services, I start observing classes so when the new year starts I can begin to teach for them. Continuing to knock on the door of OB managers everywhere. No one wants to talk to me. :(
• October - we're running out of money. Guess I need to find a part time job while I continue to job hunt. Wait...what? No one else wants to hire me because I'm a nurse and they know I'll book it when I find a job? That's just great.
• Hired at the YMCA as a membership staff (swiping cards/selling membership/folding towels). Struggled with my professional self-esteem and irritating patrons....I thought endorphins were supposed to make you happy...?
• Learned to restrain myself from injuring anyone who had the nerve to mention the "nursing shortage" and the jobs that are "everywhere". Hmmm. 
• November/December - fighting off job depression/thrilled to be marrying my bestie. I put it all on the back burner to have a blast at our wedding/honeymoon. Good decision. 

Unemployed and not a care in the world. 

• Home from the honeymoon and BIG news: interview!!! Not on OB, but on ICU. Hey, beggars can't be choosers! We celebrate! 
• January - interview rocked, job offered, YMCA job quit (oh sweet relief). Started my hospital job working with super underserved populations (which I like a LOT) in the adult ICU (eh...I guess I could get used to sick people). Still working with Teen Outreach and loving it.
• February = new job, new co-workers and starting off precepting on the day shift. Learning tons. Man, these people are really sick. 
• March = small victory! Teen Outreach is hiring new nurse educators! My volunteering has paid off! Interview with founder/director in Tucson and I have a SECOND JOB (when it rains it pours)! Only 10-15 hours a week, but teaching childbirth education classes to pregnant teens (swoon) and I am sooo happy to be working in OB again.
• April - right when I get used to things on days, I get swapped to my permanent position on nights. Not sure I'm quite vampire-enough to adapt. Ray of hope/sunshine: I find out Georgetown University has brought their well-known midwifery program online! And have no base requirements for experience but are focused on passionate applicants. Apply, apply, apply! 
• May - Holy grad school, Batman. They let me in!!! I'll be working on my master's in nursing for nurse midwifery and women's health nurse practitioner. I don't know what they were thinking, but I didn't ask. :) I'm a Georgetown Hoya!!! (p.s. STILL can't figure out what that is....)
• I quit my job in the ICU just in time for my full-time start date May 23rd only to learn I've been bumped back (curriculum changes that have to occur during the summer for the on-campus students....booooo). 
• May/June - Training/teaching a ton with Teen Outreach. I have an entire storage shelf full of amazing toys such as penis/vagina models, breast models, breastfeeding babies, knitted uterus, and cloth pelvis. My teens are awesome. Happy nurse.
• June/July = officially registered for classes for my August 8th start date. Continuing to learn with Teen Outreach trainings and representing them at outreach events. Teaching childbirth education and doing nurse case management with hospital and home visits. I'm a real public health nurse. I'm a grad student. I'm so happy.

I can't believe that eight months of job hunting, my absolute nightmare, could turn into the path I didn't dream I'd be taking until years into my career. I can honestly say that without my husband (and I know I've blogged about this a lot) and everyone else I love in my life, I would not have made it through - not to mention with a smile on my face and thanks in my heart. I cried a lot. And my loved ones put up with it without complaint. I have such a HUGE feeling of gratitude towards the entire journey, I don't know quite how to express it. As I'm gearing up to start school in August, it all seems pretty bonkers. I am so very excited for this opportunity. 

I am so grateful and happy. Here's to the next leg of the journey and my first crazy year as a nurse. 

XO,

Ash