Helllooo world

I haven't updated in so long - like a month and a half. That just tells you how crazy busy I've been. Well like I said - I got a job woohooooo....so I started that in February and have been liking it so far. It's definitely had its challenges....and challenging patients to say the least. I'm sure I haven't even scratched the surface yet - basically you should expect everything in healthcare - just when you think you've heard and seen it all.... :)

I'm still doing the full time school thing. I'm definitely going to graduate on time and it's still a priority - butttt it doesn't feel as important as it did before. When you have patients to take care of and things to complete for work - that kind of takes a priority because its peoples' lives and I could get in trouble/fired for things....so it somewhat takes precedent. That said, my classes are semi-interesting. Some are better than others like always. I have definitely learned a lot though about being a prof - things to DO and NOT to do...based on situations that have happened this semester. I can't wait though to have my own class!! I think I might apply for a clinical position after I have about a year experience. We'll see what happens but that would be awesome!

As for other news - just basically working two shifts a week, going to school, working out and hanging out with friends when I have time! I have lost about 43 pounds total so I am trying to keep up with that - plus I need to buy some new clothes since not one of my pairs of shorts fits me now.... haha. I definitely keep busy but it's awesome having things to do and of course money in the bank! :) I also want to take a trip in December after I grad so I'll be looking into countries/flights/all the info about that probably this summer. Oh and I am still going to donate my hair. I havent set a date, but it will be sometime before school lets out. It'll get really hot here in the summer too so off it goes! I'll put some before and after pics online when I do it!

Gotta go read articles for my test tomorrow. Hasta luego!

Update

I haven't written in a while - as soon as I got back from my Mom's after the weddings things started up immediately around here. I don't think I was prepared for what this semester has brought me....

I am in 12 hours of grad classes (which really 9 hours is full-time, so its a lot). But not only that -- 3 out of the 4 classes have clinical hours. 1 -15 hrs and the other 2 - 60 hours each. I really don't know how that is going to all work because another new thing in my life is that I GOT A JOB!!! I will be working part-time nights (after orientation & being on days for however long they decide). So that makes all of this even more tricky. Switching back from days to nights and doing all the school work - it exhausts me just thinking about it, so I can't imagine how I'm going to feel when it starts. It will be worth it -- and as many people have told me....I am young! haha.

So anyways - a lot of new stuff is happening around here. I am trying to get some school work/clinical hours out of the way before I start so maybe it will make it easier once I start. We'll see how it goes. I'm excited though to start this new part of my life!

Bye 2010...2011 here we come!

I haven't made a Christmas post, but it's cool because most of it is displayed in pictures on my Facebook Page. Overall though I have been having a great break. I thought I would be ready to go back to school already, but this time I'm actually not ready yet! :) (Movie update - I have watched 10/25 of my list - and have written a little paragraph about each - will post later when I complete!)

I have been seeing/reading a lot of people that are saying, "Thank God 2010 is over" - some version of that. However, for me 2010 was a pretty good year! I am going to miss it, and I know that I will still write "2010" for a few months hahah. The most memorable thing of 2010 is obvious - I passed the NCLEX and became a nurse! woohoo.

New things 2011 brings...

1. My graduation with my master's degree wooohhoooo. I am so excited for it, even though it's still almost a year away...actually only 11 months now!! :))
2. Hopefully a nursing job - whether it be in Houston or Austin only time will tell.
3. Continue to workout. I have done a great job so far, but want to continue.
4. Eating healthier. Now that I have a routine workout schedule, I need to change a bit what I am eating. It's not all bad, but it's not all good either.
5. Saving money for a trip after I graduate. I am not picky and will go almost anywhere once - but as of now it looks like it might be Turkey/Greece. We'll see!
6. Sign up for at least one 5K race.
7. Working on and developing my teaching portfolio.
8. Stay involved with everything at school, get the most out of it I can, enjoy learning, and build connections.
9. Send in a postsecret.

As of now that is all I can think of, but I am sure there is plenty more! In everything I do, I hope to do it with a joyful heart. Be optimistic. Be thankful & grateful. Be encouraging. Be inspirational. Be passionate. Things this year will be done 100% and be done BIG. :)

Top Movies

So I decided one thing I might try to do (over Christmas break...if I can) is to watch some of the top rated movies. I looked online on IMDB (Internet Movie Database) and a few other websites to see which movies they thought/or were rated by thousands of people to be the best movies.

The thing is....I'm not much of an "old movie" type person and of course that was mainly what was listed...so I think I will merge some of the overall movies with some of the best of 2000s and also Academy Award Best Picture Winners. As for now, here is the list I have come up with (not in any particular order):

1. The Godfather

2. Schindler's List

3. Shawshank Redemption

4. The Graduate

5. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

6. The Dark Knight

7. Pulp Fiction

8. Fight Club

9. Momento

10. The Pianist

11. WALL-E

12. Requiem for a Dream

13. The Hurt Locker

14. Crash

15. It's A Wonderful Life

16. Gone With the Wind

17. Chicago

18. A Beautiful Mind

19. Rain Man

20. The Prestige

21. The English Patient

22. City of God

23. Psycho

24. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

25. The Goonies - courtesy of Kristin - haha

There are others listed, but they either really don't appeal to me (there are pretty much all the Star Wars movies, Lord of the Rings, and older ones I'm not 100% interested in) or I have already seen them (The Departed, ET, Toy Story 3, Hotel Rwanda, Slumdog Millionaire, Million Dollar Baby, Forrest Gump, Gladiator, Up, The Silence of the Lambs, The Wizard of Oz, Inception, etc).

You might be thinking....it is going to be expensive to watch all those movies...welllll I got Netflix for free for one month and if I can't finish then it is only $10/month after that, so definitely a great deal.

WOOHOO - what grad school is really about...

So I am done with my first semester after getting my RN license - I guess technically my first semester of real grad classes. They were definitely a "different sort" of classes and I had no clinicals so that was interesting too. I really think I learned "what grad school is about" this semester...it really is about asking questions, seeking out information and answers, problem solving, exploring, and finding your interests/niche. Although grades are important, they don't play that large of a part in your own individual learning now.

We had a project for one of my classes and it was pertaining to Mercer's Maternal Role Attainment Theory (now Becoming a Mother). In a separate class, we had read an article written by Mercer and Walker - and guess what? Dr. Walker actually teaches at UT. I had the bright idea of randomly going to her office to talk with her about the theory. It was definitely a highlight of this semester. Having these resources available, seeking them out, and having an intellectual conversation of mutual interest - what an amazing experience!! And it was all just of my own doing, my own curiosity - and the great thing was was that I was able to hold my own...I conversed with one of the most well known maternal researchers - I could contribute to the conversation and even challenge her thinking! It was wonderful connecting with people and experiencing true scholarly discou

rse. I won't forget it.

Now I have a 5-6 week break before classes start again so what am I going to do with all this free time now? As for now, I am attending multiple holiday parties - wooohooo. I will also spend time with the fam doing Christmas stuff of course. Another big thing is that two of my best friends from high school are getting married in January - so I have a few events for that! I'm also touring new AE applicants around the nursing school and talking with them about my experiences in the program thus far. I really enjoy working with students and can't wait to do it as a job one day!

Break so far: (I don't have a camera anymore because mine is broken....sad days)

Nursing Party - at a beautiful home - me with Kim & Sam

Cheesecake Factory - me & Kristin

The only place I get desserts - Cheesecake Factory - holiday peppermint!