Awesome Program!

So I was researching Midwifery and I found a online program that in at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN I want to keep it in mind, so I am putting it here: http://www.nursing.vanderbilt.edu/msn/nmwfnp.html
Super excited about it, can't wait to see what the future holds!

Days 1 & 2 of my Clinical Experience

Wow it has been a crazy week! Wednesday and Thursday were my first official clinical days, I got a patient of my very own, well kinda I had an RN and Tech, but I took care of my patient. Wednesday I woke up early to work on a bit of homework and headed to clinical at 12. My stomach was full of knots and I was nauseous, (luckily once I  got to the hospital I found out I was not the only one!) Wednesday was mostly charting and introducing self to patient, looking up history and trying to come up with a care plan... ugh. So as the day progressed I felt more comfortable and less intimidated, at 1700 I told my patient I was leaving and would return in the morning. Wednesday night was full of homework, Care plan, list of nursing diagnosis and collaborative problems for my patient, 28 drugs and rewriting most of my charting from the day, because of my terrible homework. Bed at 0045 and awake at 0515 then back to the hospital to use my care plan to care for my patient, busy busy busy. I had to do about 15 assessments right off the bat and they took me 2.5 hours! I really hope I will get better at these and not take 2.5 hours every time. Will I was there I learned a lot about my patient and tried to help all I could. I also assisted with all I was aloud to and observed some pretty cool procedures. I actually enjoyed clinical! It was somewhat sad at the end of the day when I had to say bye, but it was exhausting and I was ready for bed. I talked with my momma later and she explained I will catch on and begin to do things without thinking, (I cannot wait for that day!) Anyway I just figured I'd want to remember my first day and how intimidated and freaked out I was, all my professors say we will not be able to recognize ourselves that we are now by the end of the semester and that gets me so excited! So far clinical is awesome, but I hate paperwork and staying up all night/waking up super early! Thursday night I had to finish homework for Friday and go to bed early! Today I learned how to insert IVs and I am officially able to administer drugs to patients!!! Its an awesome feeling to finally be able to see the end of school, only 2 and 3/4 semesters left, then it will be time for the real world!! Crazy how fast time goes by.
PS still staying healthy and buy this time of the year I have usually been sick several times! Thanks for the prayers!
Tonight I am going to relax ahhhh, something that is somewhat foreign while in nursing school.

Praying to stay healthy

It seems everyone (or a lot of people) around me are getting sick, I continue to pray that I, my family and friends will stay healthy this flu season, for no missed class or work! In Jesus name, Amen!
Everyone needs to wash hands constantly and cough in their sleeve, also stay home and rest if symptoms arise, try to avoid spreading!

1st Week of New Semester: Spring '11

Wow, this is so crazy that Spring 2011 has begun! Tuesday was a snow day (my 1 class got cancelled!!) I had my first 1:1 with boss man and that went smoothly, my goals are started and in progress, I am impressed so far. So Wednesday I had clinical orientation 8am-4pm.. ugh. It actually went pretty well, we had a lunch break that wasn't much of a break since we had to do a group project during, but that is life in the Nursing Program. Wednesday night was the first Dig of the semester, we had "Big Table" which was snacks and talk of what others did over break, I had to leave early for staff meeting. Staff meeting went well also, we talked a little too much but better than usually. We planned programs and got them rolling. Yay for the new semester. My last semester in Warrensburg, as a CA, and single. Thursday was it was nice to sleep in, my clinical group had a SimLab, but it got me excited and super nervous for clinical experience, only a few short days until we have our own live patients. :) Friday was another 8-4 day, but surprise we got out early!!! It was also orientation so not much happened just learned how the next 8 weeks in Tech Applications II will go and got a little bit about what is expected in Theory (which was cancelled on Tuesday). John and I left town about 1 to head home for the weekend.
Home: awesome!
This semester I am trying to schedule coming home when Hannah  is home, since I was not able to see her very often last semester. Friday night we had a delicious family dinner, turkey and green beans. Then Lexie, Hannah and Lane went to see "Unstoppable" while mom and I stayed with Landon. We watched "Charlie St. Cloud" and "Easy A".
Saturday morning I got up and ate brunch then it was time for John and I to chose our wedding cake. This was fun and delicious! we relaxed at John's afterwards and awaited the arrival of his mom. I finally got home and hung out with the girls, watched "Miss Congeniality 2".
Sunday was church in the morning, pancakes for lunch at John's then went to my dad's to have Christmas with them, after that I sold my iPhone 3G to Bryan and headed to my grandma's. We had some food and John told them about Haiti.
Monday is MLK day and I have a Chiropractor appointment (http://www.schmitzchiro.com/), some errands to run and plan to get my iPhone 4. John and I will head back to the Burg around 6ish.
That's all for now. 1st week wasn't too bad, excited to get started and nervous at the same time. We shall see how Spring '11 goes.

First Day

So I have been thinking about starting a blog for a while now, yet kept thinking "who would want to read a blog of a college student?" Therefore disregarded the thoughts and figured not a good idea. 

The New Year came and I decided why not? Blogs are a way of journaling, a stress reliever and a good way to keep track of memories. Obviously it's for me, so why do I need anyone to read it anyway. Over the past year or so I have read several family members/friends and decided that now was a good time. 

I am a 20 years old nursing student with a busy life full of studying, clinical work, a job and engaged to be married on June 10, 2011...Wow. I have a lot of going on and I would like to remember it somehow, since every year seems to go by faster. 

Since I decided to start this as a new years thing, I am going to recap from new years until today, so here it is:

Since January 1st, Lane celebrated his 42nd birthday, very exciting; John left for his mission trip to Haiti (10 days!). Hannah also left to return to GA (1/211). While John was away, we did some wedding stuff. My grandma took Kirsten and I to my first Bridal Show. It was a fun experience. We tasted food, looked at different things, got ideas and saw a fashion show. My mom had to work so she was not able to go which was a bummer, since I know she wanted to, but maybe there will be another one to go to before June. My mom, Lexie, Kirsten (MOH) and I chose flowers with an old friend/babysitter Kelli. She is awesome and I am super exciting to see them! After that I relaxed got to have a "Mom & daughter day" on Wednesday since Lexie and Landon had to return to school. My mom refused to look at mother of the Bride dresses for a few months because she set some goals for herself, but I talked her into it and so we looked. She said "I am not trying any on," HA she did and found one! She looked amazing and I cannot wait until she is able to get it. Yay for wedding stuff. We also changed some Tux things around, what would I do without her? So after that just relaxed and packed until Thursday when I had to return to school for CA spring training. It was hard being in Warrensburg without John, so at night when training was over Shannon came over to hang and keep me company and she spent the night twice! Thank You Jesus for her. She helped me get through until Monday night when he returned. Which now brings us to this week:

Monday John arrived safely back to Warrensburg from a 10 day missions trip to Haiti, that has changed his life forever. He had an amazing time and wants to return every year, him (along with all the others on the trip) continue trying  to put into words the happenings of the trip. He is planning on going back time and time again, which obviously means we are planning to go to Haiti in the future. It was really hard not speaking with him for 9 days, but I managed. While he was gone, I (we both) realized how privileged we are to be able to walk 2 blocks to see each other. I am so grateful they made it back safely and had such an amazing time. We will see where his journey takes us. He has possible internships available in Haiti for him in the coming years, which is incredible. But not he has to think for 2 of us not just him which leads to what the mission included (Northwest Haiti Christian Mission http://www.nwhcm.org/): an orphanage, a cholera clinic and a birthing center, both which need volunteers and all things I would love to day. Seems like a God thing to me but we shall see what He has in store for us in coming years. This would be such an awesome experience to one day have the chance to travel to Haiti and help people in need. We will see where God puts us, but both of us would be pretty excited if Haiti is where He wants us, (at least for a short amount of time). Other happenings of this week include snow day (which has not happened since we've been here) on Monday everything closed at 3pm and Tuesday classes before 10am cancelled, (snowed Sunday night 11pm- late Tuesday night) it was awesome. My 6th semester of college (2nd in the nursing program) and John's 8th/last semester of his undergrad. So crazy that he graduates in less than 4 months, wow has time flown. We officially booked our Honeymoon, we will be traveling to Hills City, South Dakota. John has been before and always wanted to return so we had the opportunity due to some family members and are able to go! We have been doing research on all sorts of fun things to do while we are there, which is very exciting to plan "our first vacation" together. So far I am excited and nervous about this semester. Lots of work but several professors say it is the best semester because we get to be in a clinical setting and do what we have been learning for the last 5 semesters. We will see how it goes, trying to start off positive. This is my last semester being a CA and seems like I will be going out with a "bang", I have titled, dated and begun planning most programs for this semester (which is a big deal!) our staff is pretty amazing, crazy at times but seems like it is going to be a good last semester. John and I have just begun our apartment/rental home search for next year. We plan to move to KCMO in July and live there as long as God keeps us there, (hopefully not more than 5 years, but He is the Provider so I will not argue). I think that is basically all from this week. So I am headed to bed.