13 days

The countdown is on. I have 13 days until I graduate (in my eyes it is really only 12). Yeah! I am only going to attend the nursing school convocation, not the universities. The nursing school is having theirs the day before. I could not be more happy, although I have a lot to accomplish before the day comes. I feel a little bit stressed.

The only problem is that everything does not end the day that I graduate...I just get to start studying for the boards. The Pediatric nurse practitioner boards have a passing rate of only 73%, so I need to study hard. I plan to only take them once.

Minneapolis?

The job hunt continues. I have applied for more job at random hoping that something will work out. After talking with individuals at Primary Children's and the University or Utah it looks like jobs there are not working out. I have applied for multiple jobs out of state, but have not gotten a response from many of them. As I was looking on a website for nurse practioning jobs I saw one in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It sounds really cold, I thought. I get cold so easily, as many can attest to that fact. I decided that I could apply anyway because most people don't get back to me and the more I apply the better my chances. Well, I got a call a few hours later, where I have 40 minute interview with a recruiter last Friday. She told me it would take a couple of weeks before she would get back to me. Anyway, a call came again yesterday (quicker than expected), they want an interview. I have a trip to my graduation in good ol' Mobile, AL that will take 6 days, and a paper and two exams to complete first so the interview is not going to be until sometime after December 15th. They are paying for the flight there...that is the best part. I will be packing multiple sweater.

Brainiacs

Today I went to the University of Utah Health Sciences Library and it made me feel smarter. One might think that hanging out at the library with IQs much higher than mine might make me feel as though I was lacking in that department, but no, it made me feel brilliant. There I was sitting at my computer looking at journal articles trying to decide how I was going to write my paper for publication...which means doing nothing, with all of these people studying things that I could not even pronounce. It was a fascinating experience because doing most of my work online I don't really run into other students. Maybe I am a secret "brainiac." Hhhmmmm.

Stupidity

The other night was my first night back at work and it was a typical night. It went well considering I still don't walk really well. I was the charge nurse and put my leg up and iced my knee throughout the night. Now many of you may think that that is the stupid part, going back to work after only a week. Nope! You were wrong. The stupidity is seen in the many individuals who come into the ER. That night we had a man who was arrested by the police. I am not sure exactly how this happened, but in handcuffs he managed to jump out of the cop car at 60 mph. Personally, I have never heard of a good get away once the police already have you in custody, but he was obviously willing to make that sacrifice. Needless to say he didn't really get anywhere because he was immediately after driven over by another car. Pelvis crushed and legs broken. Next time...I would just stick in the car. Oh wait, I never plan on being arrested. I just have to say that I work with the "cream of the crop."

Crutch Incompetent

Prior to going to surgery I went and rented a pair of crutches from the local Smith's. From working in the E.R. I have learned that crutches are a large expense added to your bill. Smith's allows me to rent crutches for 30 bucks and get all of my money back when I return them. I teach people how to use crutches every day. I got my pair home and found that they made a better weapon than an assistance for walking (and I thought that I had grace and skills). I am lucky because I only had to use them yesterday, although I might need them when I go back to work.
So far the after math of the surgery has not been bad. I did almost pass out a couple of times yesterday. One was a beautiful sight where I had to lie of the kitchen floor for 45 minutes...luck for me children do not drop food on the floor in quite the abundance as they did in the past. I have also been faithfully participating in my exercises, because I am bound and determined to be out and running again.