Saying goodbye

This year is coming to an end. One more week and my first semester of nursing will be over! Also in one more month on January 1st, I'll be twenty-two and any ideas of being forever twenty-one will be gone. 2012 was a good year. It had it's highlights [acceptance into nursing, meeting new nursing girlfriends, marriage to my best friend, passing my head to toe final]. :)

 It had some negatives, the biggest negative was definitely all the STRESS it put me through. Since I decided to walk on this nursing path, the road has been bumpy. I have been more anxious then I have ever been in my life. I have also been more frequently sick than ever before. I am usually pretty healthy I never get the flu and I do not get colds. This semester I had an on and off cold and I got the flu this year, even with my cbu flu shot! Getting sick at clinical was probably one of my worst experiences ever. My favorite clinical experience was giving a full bed bath to an elderly veteran. He told the best funny stories and really showed me that I have a heart for geriatrics, which I did not know about. I have really discovered a lot about myself this year. It feels great to know my purpose and be following the right path in life. I know it is not an easy path, I also cried more tears this year than any year before, but it is definitely my path. I am excited for what the new year will bring and what my new classes will teach me. Excited to be able to have chapel again, missed being able to attend:) Excited to meet the other members of my cohort that I did not have in any my classes. Really excited to see how everything unfolds and the new challenges that await. It will be nice not to worry for the next month and be able to take a mental break from school. Finally I will not have homework for the first time in a semester. Over break I am going to just give my attention to my hubby and my family. This year my family is doing secret santa and my little sister is getting me a gift. (I cheated and found out). I got her a job luckily, so she told me she'll get me some Uggs I've been wanting for Christmas! Woo now I won't have to borrow hers! :) Well, goodbye first semester of nursing and goodbye 2012. It was wonderful, stressful, and very educational.

BGR

I throughly enjoyed the disaster relief conference and hope to attend next year to further my skills. Coming from a Southern Baptist home, I really enjoyed hearing all the stories that Dr. Pat had to share and how the Southern Baptist Convention had made all his adventures possible. It was a very rewarding experience that provided much insight on the complexities of global disaster relief. There were many topics addressed that I had never considered. One topic that most interested me pertained to providing health care to a disaster stricken area while knowing your limits. One speaker expressed how many of us want to act like "Mighty Mouse" and save the day, but informed us we should not have this mindset. Instead we should demonstrate the human becoming theory and co-create with the local population, using true presence to lead them to their own definition of health. Of course the speaker did not speak with these words. Dr. Pat did use concepts from the human becoming

theory without even knowing it which was amusing, but Professor Drummond made sure to clarify the concepts with the correct terms. After we finished our plans for creating an emergency clinic at a refugee mission, it was encouraging to know that with the training we had received we could assist in a disaster stricken area and know what to do. Also if the world did end in my lifetime I would be prepared to help those around me.

Completing this training was difficult at times, but I am so glad I saw it through. It was extremely difficult after clinical on Thursday when all I wanted to do was go to sleep. It was a worthy sacrifice in the end and I appreciate all the words of wisdom that Dr. Pat has bestowed upon me. He was a blessing to hear and I am thankful for the training I have received that will enable me to further God's kingdom for his glory. I know that for everything there is a reason. A reason to be at CBU, a reason to be in the nursing program, and a reason to be BGR certified.

Skid Row Adventure

I did not know what to expect when leaving for Skid Row. One professor told us there would be many gangs and that if we saw graffiti crossed out chances were we would be caught in a gun fight.  I was not scared I knew that if the gangs came after me I would just pray and angels would kick their butts. I still was a little anxious getting on the bus though at 0600.  When we arrived the festivities were just beginning and there was not a gang in sight. In n Out was handing out free burgers, Foot Locker was handing out free shoes (super nice fresh shoes), Paul Mitchell students were giving free haircuts, and various others had donated free clothes, backpacks, school supplies and tooth brushes. I became an escort. An escort's job was to help the kids safely go through the event, making sure they got all the cool stuff and then found their parents at the end. There were thousands of people in line waiting to get in. Some families said they had been waiting since 6:00 pm the day before. All the kids were very happy to be there even though they were probably really tired from the night before. Their faces always lit up when they got their new nikes. The little girls loved getting the pretty pants and sparkly shirts. It felt really good to help others and be in true presence with them as they visited the different booths. Each child was a new experience and a new joy. Some children grabbed my hand after learning my name and others were shy and did not hold my hand until I gained their trust. Some children only spoke spanish and lit up when I spoke the few spanish phrases I knew. Some wanted my help with everything and others were completely autonomous. I learned to adapt to each new child and situation. I had so much fun loving on these children and talking to them about their lives and feelings. I really hope this opportunity will present itself again. This was truly a wonderful experience that showed me nursing is more than skills; it is about caring for others and showing them love in the few moments you have to spend with them.

Finding a Balance.

July 31, 2011 is the day I decided I wanted to become a Nurse. Since then life has not been easy. I thought doing my nursing prerequisites was tough, but nursing school is on a whole other level. I do not believe I have ever read so much in my life! I read while I am eating in the ADC, on my breaks between classes, when I am watching Battlestar Galactica, if I am visiting a friend (which is not often), and even in my dreams. Yes Potter, Perry and Jarvis have taken over my life! They have become my new best friends. I have taken a total of four quizzes at this time and they are not like anything I have ever encountered. They make you critically think, so even if you know the content you can still get Jedi mindtricked and do poorly on a test. It is tough stuff being a first semester nursing student, so how do I balance life and nursing school? Well… I pray and always make time for God first. I make sure to read his word in the morning before clinical at 0700. I have learned early on that if you don’t make time for your creator, you can study all you want, but you will have difficulty succeeding. Also making time for God minimizes my stress. I am definitely a type A personality, with a list for everything and high expectations for myself. Sometimes it becomes overwhelming and I want to break down, but if I know that Jesus is there with me I can trust that he will give me strength. Finding balance is really about drawing closer to Jesus. As long as He’s got me I know I can manage all the madness:)