This week, I am thankful:
that my friend passed her NCLEX!
Remember my friend Mia?
Mia and me in 2018, not too long after she moved to Ohio
I knew her from church, and while we both are single moms pursuing an RN, she got an earlier start on both the divorce and the nursing school.
She was a star student in nursing school, so I was quite sure she was going to pass her NCLEX on the first try, and this week, she did!
I am so proud of her!
Now I just gotta follow in her footsteps, and we can be divorced RNs together. 😉
for a little breather from exams
We had a big 60-point one this week, but now we don’t have another big exam until December.
Between now and then we do have a rather long exam, but it’s only worth 16 points and is mainly an NCLEX-passing predictor test. We take them each semester to test how well we’d do on the NCLEX if we took it right then.
So, it’s not very high-stakes.
I’m glad for a little break; we’ve had two exams, two math tests, a practice test, and competency testing in the last month so it’s been pretty hectic.
for beautiful trails
This past weekend, I drove to a nearby trail that circles a point by the water….but the gates were locked and closed. BOO.
I went on a trail that didn’t need to be unlocked, though, and I found a little beach I’d never seen before.
So beautiful!
for my everyday trail
When I have a little extra space in my schedule, I like to drive to various trails in the area.
But most days lately, I’m a bit pressed for time, so I am usually just walking on the trails by my house.
I feel pretty lucky to be able to walk right over to wooded trails!
I know I say this all the time but: there are always interesting little things to see in the woods.
And I find that this is true 365 days a year.
for fun classmates (again)
I know I said this last week, but I feel thankful for it again. 😉
My friend who sits next to me saw the little weekly assignment sheet I make for myself, and she said, “This is so beautiful, I want to take a picture of it.” and she passed it down the aisle.
We joked I could have a little side gig each week by making these for fellow students, and my classmate at the end of the row sent back my sheet with a dollar attached.
And that made my whole section laugh.
I love my classmates. 🙂
(I make these sheets because we have assignments in a lot of different places online, and it helps me to have them all neatly organized into one spot each week. I use the backside of my 3-2-1-done calendar pad from the previous week, because, of course.)
for the way cats know when you are having a hard time
I had a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day recently, followed by a dreadful night of sleep, and that morning Chiquita hopped up into my bed and snuggled up next to me, purring.
She doesn’t usually do this, and I know it sounds crazy, but after some years of owning cats, I have seen so many instances where they seem to know when you need a little extra love.
From a less-horrible day, obviously
for Quizlet
I do not really like the feature where you just flip through flashcards, but I love the matching game feature!
I made a little deck for myself for a bunch of lab values I needed to know, and practicing with that really helped. I have the app on my phone, so I can easily play a bunch of matching rounds while I eat breakfast or wait for an appointment.
You match each of these (like, Normal Urine pH matches with the card that says 4.6-8.0)
Of course, I also make some physical flashcards, but those I find more useful when I’m studying with someone else who can quiz me.
On the last test, we DID have a question about one of these meds, so I was glad I’d learned them!
that we don’t have to wait a long time for test grades in my program
As I write this, I don’t have Tuesday’s exam grade, but by the time you read this post, we should have the grades.
Turnaround time was way slower in my pre-req courses! Sometimes we’d be waiting a week to find out how we did.
Daisy
Friday 10th of November 2023
Our fur babies can be amazing. When I had a major surgery, my pet rabbit wouldn't leave my side for days - even for treats! We called her my therapy bunny.
Willow
Friday 10th of November 2023
As the mama of your friend who just passed her NCLEX, I am thankful for HER! And I am thankful that you were there with her during those early months/years. Now she can be with you.
Mar
Friday 10th of November 2023
Thankful for- My boss who picked up lunch for us. That she tolerates me for my openness about certain issues at work. That we can afford to take my dog to the groomer. For fellow work peeps who all talked about an employee that passed prior to covid. We miss her. She would be happy to know we keep her in our hearts. Super thankful my son & wife are heading up for Thanksgiving!! We will have so much fun. That the weird cough I caught has made me lose my voice, I have felt A ok the whole time.
Brenda
Friday 10th of November 2023
I’m thankful that this week is almost done, does that count? Haha! But really, I’m thankful that: 1. We have a nice functioning pellet stove, a heat pump, and a full oil tank, because I don’t like being cold. 2. That I didn’t have to go anywhere in the snow today, because I no longer enjoy driving in snow. 3. For my sister, also an RN, who takes over the care of my mother when I’m not around. 4. That I got to work the election with a friend that I haven’t seen in a long time, and we got to visit while we worked! 5. That my aunt and I had a nice ride to her new home, (nursing home, that is) reminiscing and laughing all the the way. It was all downhill when we got there, but, we got there. It is going to take a while for her to adjust, not her strong suit. But I hated leaving her crying and yelling as I went down the hall. Some days are just hard. My heart ached hearing her, but it was the only safe option. 6. I am SO thankful for the kind supportive staff at the home, and that it is a top notch, beautiful place to be. I am just happy that people can be kind. When I went to lunch afterwards, the staff there wasn’t nearly as kind. But I’m sure there’s a reason for that, and it is not on me to judge anyone.
StephanieLD
Thursday 9th of November 2023
Ha! Retired 7 years ago, but still knew the Na, H & H, Creat, and since you already posted the pH of urine, Plasma Osmolarity was a cinch. That was fun!
This week's gratitudes: 1. Thankful that the cortisone shot is still mostly working, even with a setback earlier this week. I just have to remember the cause is still there, and not to overdo it. 2. Thankful for the receptionist's assistance with my husband's knee appt. Hubby has been having severe right knee pain (his only functioning let), and the earliest appt I could get him for a cortisone shot was Nov. 29. Added to that is the fact it is usually 1-2 weeks before one feels relief, which meant it would be at least 5 weeks more of pain. So I called the office back on Mon. and asked that he be placed on a cancellation list--and she called back Tues with a Wed 8 am appt. Injection is done, and pain relief is going to be 4 weeks earlier than anticipated! 3. Restoration of health for my dog. Ziva, 10 1/2 years old, has had a rough 6 months, with back to back knee surgeries, and then an infection of some growths on her backside. Vet appt yesterday showed all infection is gone, activity restrictions are lifted, and Ziva was happy-dancing in the office and even rolled over for the vet to rub her tummy. I have not seen her so happy and playful in months! She still needs the surgery, but the vet and I agreed she needs a few weeks to just be a happy, healthy dog again before the next event. 4, Ziva's groomer. In light of all the surgeries, illness, tummy upsets, etc. said dog has not been bathed or trimmed in 12 weeks, which is about 5 weeks too long in the best of conditions. She was looking like a homeless stray, and with my knee, I couldn't even put her in a shallow tub of water to wash her feet. Today was finally appt day, and Debbie did an awesome job of cutting back all that heavy fur, her nails, her ears, and her backside, despite the growths and all the little body moles that were hidden by the fur. Ziva is sooo much cooler and not sliding around on the hardwood floors. 5. Gratitude by my dog. I am the one who has to apply ointment to sore places, put drops in ears, get pills down her throat, leave her at the groomer's, hold her down at the vet's, etc. And she is not a cuddly type dog. But this afternoon, after I brought her home, she came over to where I was sitting and just rested her chin on my knee for the longest time while I stroked her and scratched her ears. I'm not actually certain if she was saying thanks or forgiving me, but I'm grateful for either!
Jenny
Friday 10th of November 2023
@StephanieLD, yes! Semi-retired RN but like you, I had to make sure I still knew my stuff (lab values). Sure helped with my recent health issues- I could look at my labs on my own phone app, and it helped to see the trends and the big picture and make decisions. And Hgb of 7= not normal, but trending in the right direction. Much better now. Congratulations to your friend Mia, Kristen. After we finished hospital-based nurses’ training, as it was called, we took what were called “state boards” by going in person to a huge hotel ballroom where we sat at tables with paper tests for 1 or 2 days. Being a young, divorced mom, I couldn’t afford the pricey review classes, so I hoped and prayed I had learned well! The night before, two of my classmates and I went to dinner at a restaurant and I got food poisoning, so spent most of the night up in bathroom. I passed with flying colors. I’ll never forget walking to the mailbox and opening the letter right there.
Marlena
Friday 10th of November 2023
@StephanieLD, awwww...sweet pup. My dog also is not a cuddler so when she does give affection of any type or even tolerates my affection...it's the best!