Licensed!

I am FINALLY a Registered Nurse! 4 years, one killer exam and so much stupid paper to become a a fully functioning RN in Manitoba!! Woot!

Just wanted to share that, document so when I look back at this blog, this moment that seems like it's been such a long time coming, I realize that it is monumental! So I just ordered a pizza and now I'm waiting for Marc-Andre to get home so I can tell him! And Nuvuya is standing on her dog house glaring at me... haha.

Tomorrow is my first day as a nurse.

A New Day

Hi All!

I'm trying a new thing where I write shorter less story like posts. I know I haven't told you all about our trip up here yet, so I will give you the highlights, with a slight peppering of what life is like in Churchill after almost a month here!

I'm watching Julie and Julia right now, which is the inspiration for this post. Soo the best parts of our 3 day trip to Thompson, in which we packed our two doggies and our worldly possessions into the back of our Ranger, began with our first night that the 4 of us slept together in our little 2 man tent. This was following the first day on the road, all in all it was pretty quiet, the dogs did great, and I only got dog poop on my hands once! (that was grosse of course, but hilarious). There was a lot of poop scooping along our trip, including the second day when we were at Fort William in Thunder Bay. All this before breakfast! Which made me very cranky, unfortunately... then it started to rain and we were on the road again and I continued to be very grumpy... Until we saw this skinny little american man hitch-hiking outside of Thunderbay. We drove right past him and Marc-Andre turned to me with a little puppy face and asked if we could please pick him up. I had said no to two hitch-hikers the day before, and because it was raining and I felt bad for being so grumpy in the morning, i said OK. So we pulled over and moved all our stuff around and turned around. Just before we pulled to the side of the road I said to Marc-Andre, if something terrible happens I will not forgive you by the way," haha. The first think our hitch-hiker said was "Hi, I'm Anthony Salvatori," he seemed very kind and friendly. He squeezed himself into the back seat and we were off to Winnipeg.

It was lots of fun driving to Winnipeg with Anthony, he took lots of pictures of us and we arrived in Winnipeg, after almost running out of gas, and it was very exciting to finally arrive. We dropped off our new friend downtown and went to meet up with Richard Laurin's cousin Jon. Jon so kindly agreed to let us sleep in his trailer for the night, which was awesome. So after a delicious burger and the dog's run we got a good night's sleep.

The next day we set off to explore Winnipeg, take some pictures and get some supplies before setting off to Thompson. That was another quiet and really long ride. Hwy 6 was flat and straight north to Thompson, with a gas station every 200km. There is literally nothing on this highway until you reach Thompson...and that was a sight for sore eyes. Poor Marc-Andre was sooo tired after driving for 16 hours a day for 2 days, so we attempted to find a hotel. I had been told it would be difficult to find a room, but I was optimistic, so after 3 different hotels, we got the last room (which happened to be the Jacuzzi Suite) at the Burntwood Hotel. It was an awesome treat after our long trip.

Our next day was very very long, we dropped Nuvuya off at the vet to get fixed, and they offered to babysit Riel for the day too. So then we could drop the truck off at the shop and do some shopping. We didn't get the dogs back until 5 and the truck until 6, such a long day! We were sitting on the floor of the mechanics with one drugged little pup and one super excited pup. We got the car and there was another series of crazy events, but we all got to the hotel where Nunu projectile vomited twice. After that we all had a great night sleep.

The next day we through our truck on the train, and the 4 of us took a cab to the airport. Like two nervous parents we put our babies on the plane, they asked if we wanted to keep them with us until take off and we said yes, without a second thought, but then the lady said that no they had to go right away... As they started taking them away we both started rambling to the cargo guys about how you had to be careful about Nuvuya's box handle. I think we both wanted to leap over the counter and carry them to the plane ourselves, but of course we didn't, we were brave and let them go.

Our plane ride was uneventful thank goodness. It was a lovely short ride over marshy tundra to our new home in Churchill, where my new good friend Allison was waiting for us!

So haha, I knew that I would not be able to just write a short little post. Maybe after this one! haha.

Take care everyone!

By the way, its like 2 degrees and blowing like crazy outside today! lol, loving it!

Next steps

Again, it has been far too long since my last posting, so I have a lot to update and I think I'm still processing it all! The first couple months of the summer were spent studying for the CRNE at my home in Penetang. This was quite the challenge because it had been 4 years since the last time I had had to study my butt off in Penetang, something that used to be so easy and methodical, now felt pretty chaotic. Of course after actually having passed all my courses and knowing that I had my BScN I just wanted to get the exam over with, so trying to be disciplined about my studying kind of sucked. But knowing that all my classmates were in the same boat helped me focus and I am happy to say that on June 2nd I wrote and passed the CRNE! I didn't find out that I passed until we were on Hwy 6 to Thompson MB. My mom called to tell me the good news, and it really felt like a huge relief. I mean I knew that I was going to be a competent nurse, but for some reason I had to pass this 200 question multiple choice exam before that could legally be the case, and it made me very nervous. Now that is over and done with and I am about to start working at the Churchill Regional Health Authority hospital!

That all came to be the week before the exam, talk about pressure. I was offered basically my dream job 4 days before I wrote the exam, so now I'm thinking, "this is such an awesome opportunity, and if I don't do well on this exam I could lose it!" Luckily I didn't psyche myself out!

It was decided that Marc-Andre, the dogs and myself would drive up to Thompson MB in 3 days, then from there the 4 of us would fly to Churchill, at the end of July.

In the meantime, I worked as a health care aide and helped Marc-Andre prepare for Festival du Loup. Which was a great way to say goodbye to our area, as it took place the weekend before we left. During this time I also was blessed to get to spend lots of time with my family, and even get to meet my new aunt and cousin. Uncle Ken, Aunt Michelle and cousin Eamon came all the way from Hungary to visit family in Canada and luckily I was still around when they came to visit us! Eamon is my first cousin on my mom's side of the family and I was very grateful to get to meet the special little guy, and can't wait to see him grow up!

All this family time was fantastic, especially since I haven't been around all that much in the last 4 years, with travelling and school. Mine and Marc-Andre's parents were so generous to allow our doggies to share their backyard (Ok, they actually kind of took it over). I don't know what we would have done without all their help!

I of course have tons more to share, but it's a beautiful day outside so we're going to head to the beach with Nuvuya and Riel, and will write another post about our trip here soon!

Thank you Ottawa U

So tonight is the night that I thought would never come, but to be honest it's more bitter than sweet because tomorrow is my last day on a campus that has changed my life forever. When I came to the University of Ottawa I did not even know that I would have to take that yellow bus to the RGN campus for every class. How many university students have spent the majority of their class time in 2 classrooms. Nearly all of my career as a nursing student took place in those orange chairs and I hope I never forget it. How many early mornings, how many exams, how many times did we all filter in and take our seats with the friends that we'd made; friends that I'm not ready to say good bye to. Four years went by so fast, too fast. Today we did our Mock RN Exam and what a difference from first year, we answered every question from the vast knowledge base we've developed and we were confident in our abilities to explain the rationale behind each answer.

Last week when I was in my last seminar class with 12 of my classmates we each shared our experiences from consolidation. Listening to each of them speak I was in awe, they are all such strong professionals and I'm so lucky to be their classmate. I wish I could keep them all in my pocket to inspire my to be just as passionate for the rest of my career as we are now. So I'm going to to aspire to do just that, to remember the faces of my classmates and the passion that they have for the profession of nursing.

As I was riding the bus home tonight from my best friend and classmate's house, which I've done almost everyday for the past four years I realized that this city has had a huge impact on who I am as well. I mean, it's impossible to walk through downtown Ottawa without reflecting on the impact of nursing in society. I remember times when I've been on the bus, people watching and then had a breakthrough because I saw what we were talking about in class in the people around me. Something as simple as seeing the challenges facing those people with disabilities and how our society is not built to help them out. Being in this city, this multi-cultural, vibrant diverse city has made me a well-rounded person and made me fall in love with nursing. Seeing how people live in Ottawa has made it clear to me that nurses play a vital role in helping society improve.

I have to admit that I'm scared that I may lose some of the knowledge I have developed if I move to an area that is less diverse, so again, my goal is to stay in touch with this person I am right now. I obviously have a lot to learn about being a nurse, but the passion I have right has been inspired by the people I've gone to school with and this city that I live in . So I am very sad that tomorrow may be the last time I am in this same place in life. But there's a new chapter ahead of me and I could not be coming from a better place, physically, emotionally or psychologically. I feel that I'm ready to start my career and walk through those doors that have been opened for me by the profession of nursing.

Wide Awake!

So it's been some time since I posted anything, and I am disappointed for that but I have come to the conclusion that I have been processing a lot of personal growth and development over the last two months and it's now just starting to come in to focus. I knew that consolidation would teach me all kinds of things, like clinical nursing skills (IVs, catheters, venipuncture) and on the surface of my experience I have fulfilled those expectations. When I look deeper though, I have lived and learned things that will stay with me and make me a more effective nurse.

This is my last week of consolidation and I am exhausted right now, I should probably be sleeping, but I was on my feet all day, so they stink and I need to shower, so I'm still awake. Also, I just got home from attending a special event by the RNAO where I got to hear Tilda Shalof speak. That is something I've been waiting for for three years, since I read The Making of A Nurse (a gift from a rowing friend and mentor Louise MacDonald). I feel like I know her, and that stems from sharing experiences with what she writes about and from feeling that her spirit is powerful and comes through in all it's beauty. Nursing has meant a lot to me since I enrolled four years ago and when I read that firt Tilda Shalof book I knew that I would read and re-read all of her books because something about it resonates so strongly with me.

Something she said tonight really stuck with me too and I wanted to share the thoughts that I was having about it. She said that what enabled her to write her books so honestly was that she has stayed awake through her whole nursing career. I loved that, the first thing I thought of was those nurses you see that cannot put a smile on their face, even for a patient, they are not awake, because they are not in an area where they are being nurtured. When you're awake, you know what makes you happy, you know your values and you stand up for them. You can't stay in an area where you don't feel like you are reaching your potential and I think it's probably easy to turn yourself off and do the job because it's a job. But I don't want to do that, I do feel that the most important part of starting my career right now is finding an area that allows me to develop my skills within a culture that is respectful, trusting and supportive.

I have been so lucky in my consolidation to work in an area exactly like this, so it's hard for me to imagine that I will be moving on and starting my career somewhere else in just a few weeks. The nurses that I have been learning from for the past 2 months are amazingly passionate about their work, they are very strong in their values and the incredible knowledge base they have makes me admire them. After listening to Tilda tonight and coming to an end of my consolidation I am set to start a career in nursing. I promise myself that I will be awake for my career, every step of the way because I know it will be amazing and I don't want to miss a thing.

Thank you to my preceptor and the nurses who have mentored me you are all shining examples of how I want to pursue my career!

A Week In My Life

So this week was, I have to say, pretty amazing. I started my consolidation caring for kids on dialysis. This is a very specific area of care so I have a lot to learn about nephrology and my patients, who are very special people. I'm sure I will learn a lot from them as well. I have learned so much and then at the same time I've had so much fun! The people I am working with are great people; happy, rounded, giving, intelligent. It's so nice working in an environment where people love their jobs and they don't let the little things interfere with that. Also, they are not taken for granted, they work hard for a good cause and they are respected by their colleagues. This is the kind of environment I want to work in, I don't think nurses should have to work as hard as they do if they don't enjoy the environment and they don't have a team of support around them. Sadly it seems a lot of my colleagues think they need to work on floors like that before they find a job where they are excited to work every day! So I am going to do my best to stick to my guns and never settle for an area that I do not love, because we all deserve that. But I do believe that it takes hard work to create an environment that fosters positive energy, so I am going to try my best to be a hard working, honest team member where ever I am working.

Whoa didn't mean to rant. Just wanted to say that I love my consolidation placement!

And then....! on Tuesday I arrived home from my consolidation orientation to find my wonderful boyfriend and our darling puppies walking down my street! What an amazing surprise! We proceeded to have a really busy but amazing week together. My life is feeling very complete and very exciting! Something new happens everyday and I'm learning so much all the time, and Marc-Andre and I are looking forward to the next several months, when all the questions about "what happens after you graduate" will be answered! Plus we have these two sweet puppies! And they are turning out really well, we love them so much and are very proud :D Good work Marc-Andre! They are a lot of work and if it wasn't for him they wouldn't be the well behaved little monkeys they are! Luckily it's easing up a bit now that they are over the 6 month hump!

So now they're all back in Penetanguishene, and I'm going to start my second week! Wish me luck!

Consolidating 4 Years of Education

My first week in my final semester of 4th year has been so exciting! I have been very busy coordinating all the coming events of the next 4 months including, consolidation, Grad clothing, grad events, and applying for my first RN position. (Luckily I am working with two awesome ladies for Grad events!). Planning Ahead; that was the theme of the week because my classmates and I are all going to be scattered in our consolidation placements for the next 2 months and will not get to come together until our final classes in March! We are entering the workplace as independent, knowledgeable and accountable professionals and we have worked hard to earn each of those adjectives. My education in nursing has been so rich in growth and seeing all my classmates grow with me has really been a great experience. When I went in to that last set of exams I was really amazed at how far we had come since first year. I remember feeling scared and nervous because I wasn't sure if I had studied properly or feeling overwhelmed by the content, often underestimating myself; but studying for my last finals I found that we were all thinking like nurses. We could sort through a complex case study, thinking critically and prioritizing the different factors with educated reasoning. I saw everyone do it, using the tools we have learned like pros! No one can do multiple choice like a nursing student!

As busy as this week has been I have found myself starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Things keep falling in to place in my head. I have an idea where I want to be in 6 months, in 1 year, in 5 years! I know it will change but I know what I want to feel when I look at my life and my career and that is a sense of peace, achievement and excitement. I am looking forward to my consolidation because I know it will help form me in to the nurse that I need to be to be successful. I love nursing because I have the ability to help people through times that seem out of their control, I get to help them take control and I get to learn about people and the amazing ways they live their lives.

And with that I am going to ice my shoulder because I got my seasonal flu shot today and (for the first time in my life) the injection site is sore, haha.

But I will leave you with this:

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong - because someday you will have been all of these.

-George Washington Carver