FAMILY

Giants game :)

I LOVE SF!!!

Visiting Grandma

I wish i lived closer to her...i think she misses her auntie jen

yes slightly obsessed with my neice

THE QUESTION IS...when can i go back to CA..or why cant someone in my family work for the airlines so i can fly for cheap/free!?

exhausted...

from starting this position...

i started 2 wks ago. i have alot to learn.
even though i did work as a HCA (health care assist AKA CNA), i still feel like the RN aspect of the care on my floor i didnt really learn. As a HCA on the floor, u run ur butt off anwsering patient call lights, and such, that there was never really any time/nor had energy to learn in depth about the nursing aspect.
i am lucky to work with other amazing, nice, and helpful nurses which will make my learning process and transition that much easier.
i am thrilled to work 3, 12 hr shifts, and excited to further my learning in the orthopedic/trauma area which I LOVE!
we were pretty busy over the holiday wknd with lots of traumas related to MVA's (motor vehicle accidents), drunk driving accidents, and biking.
this is considered trauma season...lots of outdoor activites in the state, leading to a busy trauma floor.

happy 4th!

made this fun cake....

my red frosting sorta turned out pink. but it was still pretty yummy.
brought it to work to share..becuase i work all this holiday weekend!
BUT then start my big girl job as an RN position on Tue..for 12 hrs :)


OOOO and ive been missing this place like crazy...

MY FAV PLACE LAKE TAHOE!!!

and esp. this weekend...they have a fabulous firework show. next year ill be attending :)

might be addicted...

to this...

i love my nail place that i recently found in downtown salt lake. they do an amazing job. and allow you to "fill" which many places dont do.
let me tell you i havent been able to wear nail polish for the last 2.5 yrs becuase i work in health care, and CONSTANTLY use hand sanitizer therefore my polish would be chipping within two days.
BUT NO MORE OF THIS...

yay! i love it :)

legit & legal

well I PASSED. i am an official RN, BSN.
the worst test EVER and the worst 48hrs. i prob think worse than child birth (although i have yet to experience labor...i really beileve that this feeling is worse) since 2003 i have been working towards this goal.
these past few weeks have been pretty intense. getting real sick, trying to study for the biggest exam i have yet to take, and then thinking I FAILED. not fun.
but it was this past wed i took the exam at 2pm, studied hard for it, and felt pretty prepared. this test is NUTS and i really must have had some angels watching out for me, cuz i guessed on ALOT of questions. it is a computerized test, and can shut OFF at ANYTIME it wants to depeding on how well you are doing. min questions of 75, and max of 265, and up to 6 hrs! YEA! i was going along and the last number i remember seeing is like 160 something..i was freaked out about running out of time, so i was rushing and the questions were getting easier (NOT a good sign) they are supposed to get harder. i thought great i failed, i kept getting math questions (which i am HORRIBLE at) and had a tear fall becuase i was so burnt out of questions and the last thing i wanted to do was math calculations! needless to say the computer shut off before 200 quest, and i knew i failed! my last question was stupid and easy. i walked out of the center, going crazy. i called my nursing friends, freaking out, and prob shouldnt of drove home, (i dont even remeber leaving or driving)! i seriously have the bestest friends giving me support and trying to calm me down. words cant describe what its like after this test, but they could relate, therefore i waited to call family.
HOWEVER, last night about midnightish i found out i passed! i had my friend amy look it up for me becuase i was way to nervous to get the news. i was in shock and could barley sleep. then got up at 545 am for work, pretty much running on adrenaline all day. my co workers r the best too and im excited to start working with them FULL TIME (yikes) but let the $$$$$ making begin! (oh and my life as a human being too)
orthopedic & trauma here i come :)

Daddy's Girl

Happy Fathers Day Dad!

Words can't express how thankful i am for a father like you.

Can't wait to have more days to ski w/ you this winter now that I AM DONE W/ SCHOOL!

wo wow wow...where'd may go..and june

seems like it was just May 1, and June 1.. freak, time is flying.literally. guess that what happens when you have a birthday, graduate from nursing schcool, have family in town, get sick w/ bronchitis, oh and try to study for a BIG EXAM!

Mid May was our senior nursing dinner @ westminster college...attended with some nursing buddies

photo on my front porch!

Nursing classmates

MY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN PARK CITY

myself, ashely, amy (had a yummy dinner at amys friends beautiful home) then out dancing

Birthday Brunch...myself and roomate nancy

Nursing pinning ceremony @ St. Marks cathedral in downtown salt lake city
These girls got me through the program...(amy & ashley)

Then the next day at actual graduation. official grads :)

family came to join from CA :)
sissy, mom, dad, aunt dori

An amazing graduation brunch given by my lovely close friend Summer

fellow nursing graduates!

drive up to deer valley...yes still snow in May! gosh, i miss my lil neice

thoughts abt being a grad: overwhelmed with how much love and support i have had from family and friends the last couple years. i've def been on the 10 yr plan with school, and so thankful i was able to finsih w/ my BSN! yay...now i think i will be able to have somewhat of a social life here in salt lake, and get back in touch w/ friends, family, and myself as well. nursing school is nuts, and i have no idea how people go through the program having childern, getting married, work full time, ect. i could barley take care of myself these last 2.5 years.
Butttt now i am hardcore studying for state boards. i MUST and WILL pass this bad boy.
next week is it is :) for now i will be consumed doing many practice tests!

Life decisions...

I will be living in the Salt Lake City for at least the next year. I accepted a position at this place

I will be an RN on the orthopedic and trauma floor.

Lots of mixed emotions about this decision.
Excited. scared. happy. sad. anxious.
My original plan upon finishing nursing school was to take state boards in utah and def head back to CA.
Well obviously things have changed. Little did i know back in 2007 that the economy was going to go to crap and have a negative effect on the nursing job market. I have talked to various nurses in the Bay and have searched/applied for jobs in CA. No response to my apps, and alot of the hospitals are on hiring freezes :(
The decision and possibility of staying in utah is one that I have been thinking about for the last couple of months. Lots of pondering and of course the classic pros and cons of staying in utah and what i would do if i were offered a position on the floor as an RN.

PROS of staying: already established, know the area, only 20 mins from skiing (and now will have time to ski, as well as w/ my dad when he comes to ski), finally have time to hangout w/ friends here , amazing and supportive staff to work w/ (very important to have with transitioning from student to professional nurse role), love ortho and trauma, only 10 min commute to work, love my eyebrow waxer, love my hairstlyist, (those r hard things to find, when relocating)

CONS: family and friends states away :(, holidays most likely will be spent here due to work scheduling, the beach (esp tahoe) not a couple hours of a drive away, possibility of having a longer commute, re establish with housing, unfamiliar environment, slower time to pay off loans (pay for utah nurses=not great, long winters, no guarantee that the staff would be as supportive and AWESOME as what i work w/ now

I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to work as a CNA on the orthopedic and trauma floor with an amazing staff. I couldn't ask to work on a better floor. I have developed a passion for orthopedics and trauma. Over the past couple of years i have taken care of patients in various skiing and biking accidents, MVA's (motor vehicle accidents), shootings, and of course the elective orthopedic surgeries. I am honored to have been offered this position. The hospital as a whole is #1 in the nation for quality care, and MY UNIT is top 5% in the nation for exceptional patient experience. I couldn't have asked for a better place to begin my official carrier as a registered nurse.

happy Mama's day weekend

greatful everyday for my mother and amazing grandma's for their love and examples

I LOVE you MOM…
Thank you for all your love
Thank you for teaching by example
Thank you for always pushing me to do my best
Thank you for all the family vacations and special memories and lots more to come
Thank you for being you. I am blessed to have such a wonderful mother

Begining of motherhood

Happiest place on earth..one of mom's fav family vacation spot(photo 2007, guess that means were def due for a trip there very soon).

I LOVE you grandma Beck...
Your beautfiful smile, soft hands, loving and supportive e mails, prayers, & strong testimony
Your granddaughter couldn't be more grateful for your love and compassion

I LOVE you Grandma Baigent
I miss you and think about you often

interview...

Preparing for my first nursing position interview on the orthopedic and trauma floor at the University of Utah Hospital. It's been a long time since I've had an interview...2007. I will be interviewing along with NINE other CNA's on my floor...yep wish me luck! Contemplating on what to wear...skirt? dress? nice dress pants? Think im going w/ nice dressy shirt, black dress pants, black flats, and a pearl necklace.

Newbie....

Yep,  decided to join the blog world. Big big decision. Prob wont have many followers , but whateves. I've noticed recently my memory hasn't been as good...(possibly due to overload of nursing school) so bloggin will be a helpful way to remember life experiences, thoughts, interests, ect.
So here i am...

Big accomplishment last week...FINISHED NURSING SCHOOL. From here...









Yea finally. I did it :) RN, BSN here I come.
I will have two weeks in May of review and then this coming week I will be scheduling a date to take state boards. YIKES. Westminster's Graduation is Memorial day, and I can't wait for family to join. I miss this lil girl like crazy!

Hopefully this weather here will make a turn for it, and it will start to GET WARM!



****if you have any suggestions about getting a blog started please do share :) Once i get the hang of it, i hope it'll all look better in a layout.


Also, HAPPY MAY!
Golly I can't beileve it's already May. It feels like April didn't even exsist. Hence, I bought Easter card for family and failed to send them out on time. Oh, and I failed to send my father a birthday card as well :( oh well i guess that's what finals week in nursing school will do to you.