So, in the midst of what feels like a continual life storm at this point... I have a few points of good news!
1) I fixed my dryer yesterday. All by myself! I woke up Friday, trying to throw my scrub pants into the dryer really quick because I had washed them for work. Well, the dryer was sounding like it was working, but it was not tumbling. Great. I proceeded to dry my pants, with a hair dryer, and went to work with wet pants. Have you ever done that? Oh my gosh, wet pants are AWFUL!!!
Oh well, I called my dad on Saturday, told him what was going on and that I thought the belt had broken. He agreed that's what it sounded like. So, I took my dryer apart Sunday in hopes that I would fix it and not make it worse. Turns out the belt had simply slipped off the tension spring instead of breaking completely. Praise the L-rd!
2) I took care of 2 babies successfully, mostly on my own, for two days now! I was really struggling because i had 2 days of feeling like I had just been put through the wringer and criticized for everything even though I had gotten no instruction on how to do things... That was frustrating. Well, whatever. I shook it off and went back for another day. Friday and today (Monday) ended up turning out really well! I know two babies don't sound like much, but I'm finally getting to the point where I forget less and less during my assessments and during the day. I'm beginning to remember the various nuances and strange rules that occur in the NICU. And I am starting to find my newbie groove while simultaneously keeping most poop and urine off of the baby's bedding. Yay! (Guys, I had an incident involving projectile shit in an isolette. Add in a flailing baby and you can just imagine the art work created. While walking away from that baby's room about 30 minutes after the incident, I found a lovely, long, brown streak going down the length of my forearm. *sigh* The struggle.
3) Last, but not least, I PASSED THE NCLEX!!! Do y'all know what that means? That means I am a Real/Registered/Redneck Nurse. In case you missed it, that is three was to define the term of R.N. and they ALL describe me! I'm now a Real Nurse (maybe a baby or adolescent nurse, but I'm a real nurse), I am a Registered Nurse (of course, that's what the hospital and Board of Nursing call me), and I'm also a Redneck Nurse (as described my my nursing class and those who know me best). Guys, I am so very glad and excited to be done!
As you may know, I've been working as a graduate nurse and have been signing my name at work (as necessary) as BedpanAlley, GN. Well, today I got to sign it BedpanAlley, RN! AND I got a new badge changing the GN to RN!!! So, so, so excited and relieved.
Well, seeing as I have to go to work again tomorrow, which means I get up at 0430 (unless I want to smell good which means I need to wake up at 0400...). Anyway, I better hit the hay. As it is, I'll be getting maybe 5 hours of sleep.
Goodnight y'all!
BedpanAlley, RN, BSN
OMG I am sooooooo happy and excited for you!!!! WTG passing the NCLEX! And then fixing the dryer yoruself (not sure I could do that!) but geeze it would suck to wear wet scrubs. Not something I would ever want to wear!
ReplyDeleteAnd oh the trouble of poop! That's why you bring another pair of scrubs, cuz you never know what you're going to get when it comes to babies! But yay for taking care of two. It's not exactly easy managing them... just ask any mama with twins! But with that I'm sure your shift just went by in the blink of an eye. Also, I'm sure that you loved it every minute (even when u felt like u were dropping balls here and there, as every newbie can tell ya). Sad that you aren't getting mentorship, I think that that would be helpful. Is there anyone that could be one? someone that you could bounce issues off of when u feel under pressure? Just know that things get easier the longer you have the position. It just takes time to get the rhythm down and remember all the nursey things that we have to. Be easy on yourself. We all have our good and bad days. Just remember that and stay strong.