I'm Baaaaaccckkkkk!!

Long time, huh? Here I am, in my new apt in NORTH CAROLINA!! I start orientation at my new job tomorrow. So much to talk about, but no time right now. I promise, now that I actually remember I *have* a blog, I'll update more often.

Yeah, I know, I keep saying I'll update more, and then I don't.

Big life changes coming for me. The guy and I have broken up, for good. Although I'm still living here (as friends, that's all, believe me), the kids are not. The ex is understanding about it, and they've been with him since this has started. They're sort of upset because they like the guy, but are understanding.

Me? Well, I'm doing okay. Although I've not been able to find a full time job AT ALL. I am working as a nurse, but not in a field I want. Everyone I know who is not in the medical field says the same thing "There is such a nursing shortage! Why can't you find work? You must not be looking very hard."

BULLSHIT. I've sent out and filled out online over 200 applications, called countless nursing recruiters, and nothing. They want nurses with experience, but I can't get that because no one, except nursing homes and long-term care facilities, will hire new grads. Unless you are a lucky one and can get into a hospital's New Grad RN program. But those are full. And now I'm being told that they won't consider me for the next round of new grad programs, because I won't be a new grad anymore!! But they still won't hire me, because I don't have experience!! ARGH!!! So frustrating.

But......there are options. The best one is moving, which I will be doing. A close friend of mine is in NC, and they are hiring RN's with no experience, into whatever specialty area is wanted, and the pay is almost 50% more than pay around here. And housing is cheaper. So, now I'm filling out applications and will be talking to as many nursing recruiters down there as is possible, and try to set up a bunch of interviews in the next week or two. Yes, it will be hard to be without the kids for a while, but the ex is surprisingly understanding. They may eventually move wherever I am, or not, but wherever I end up, I'll get settled first, see if the job and area will work out, then we'll talk about them moving. They will probably finish the school year here, in any event.

I never thought I'd be one to leave my kids for something, but there is not much else I can do. I really hate having my life so up in the air right now, but such is life.

I'll write more later. I promise!

And STILL looking.....

.....for a job! Can you believe this shit??! With the extreme "shortage" of nurses, you'd think I wouldn't have any trouble find a job.

Well, I have been working for a staffing agency. The money is great, but the job itself is horrible. Thank God I got myself personal malpractice insurance. I basically pass meds ALL DAY LONG to 34 residents at a nursing home, none of with wear ID bands (and due to Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, you don't ask them their name. No way, no how!), so it's a "medication error" waiting to happen. The Director of Nursing is very, very nice there, and knows I'm still new, but the first day I was put in charge of all the narcotics (and believe me, you don't want even 1/2 a pill to go missing or anything on your shift. You guard them with your life - and license!!) AND put in charge of a brand new LPN (RN's supervise LPN's since they have more schooling and have a degree in nursing). It was NOT what I expected, and promptly told the staffing agency what I thought about them NOT informing the nursing home that I was a new nurse myself.

But, I've been applying for jobs literally everywhere. At hospitals and nursing homes (which I really don't want long-term care, but will take anything right now) over an hour away from here. I've had several interviews, and one I really thought was going to pan out (for an OR nurse) but they didn't have anyone to train me for several months.

Most of the other jobs are per diem, and I really need full-time. I'm taking per diem work for now, but will need health insurance soon. An absolute must, since I'm diabetic.

In other news:

Macey had her first accident a few weeks ago. And did she ever - she TOTALED the van. And the ex had no collision on it. Just liability. So, he's out a van. Thank GOD they were wearing their seatbelts. The three of them had an ambulance ride at 1:30am, but other than cuts, bruises and Macey with some glass in her hand from punching out the window (they were hanging upside down from their seatbelts, and had to punch out windows to get out), they were fine. But......Macey has to go to court. She knew the law and broke it. Youth operators are NOT allowed more than one non-relative in the vehicle, and she had two friends. She will lose her license for a while, how long I don't know, but I think it's a good lesson. I love her dearly, but she broke the law, and must face the consequences.

She just got back from Alaska, had a great time with my sister. Nate came back from a car trip to upper Michigan, with a buddy he's going into high school with. OMG, he's going into HS!! How did that happen???

Oh yeah. I turn fuckingforty on Friday. Yes, all one word - that's what I've been calling it for the past month. I still remind the guy that he's older than me (by a few months, but still!).

The other two boys are doing great. Taylor is off to Maine to see the ex's father for a week or so, and Ethan.......well, we've jokingly said he needs to go to Bible School, but for now, he's content helping the guy with all the goats and playing with the new Bulldog puppy. Pic is attached!! She's a pistol!




So....if you're inclined, say a prayer or good thought that I find something SOON! I'll eventually transfer to a hospital if need be, but I need something now!

Guess what?!?!

I'm a REGISTERED NURSE!!!

NCLEX - tomorrow!

Okay, so it's been a while. A long while!

I'm now all graduated, with distinction! Officially a Graduate Nurse. And I have a temporary RN license for my state. But no job - yet.

Tomorrow I take the NCLEX - the national exam to become an official Registered Nurse. I'm nervous, to say the least. No matter who you are, you walk out of the exam KNOWING you failed. The minimum is 75 questions - max is 265. There is a 6 hour time limit. My friend took it last week, and went the full 265 and 6 hours. She was crying to me that afternoon, knowing she failed, and making plans to take it again. She passed though, finding out through the website two days later.

My stomach is in knots, I'm in the bathroom every hour........ugh! I'm not even worried about getting a job right now - just passing. I have about 10 books I'm using to study from, but at this point it's all running together. I need a break. After tomorrow, apparently!

All else is okay. I promise I'll update later this week!

The finish line!

I can't believe I haven't blogged in so long! I've also slacked.....big time....on my emails.

But......I have ONE exam left, and then I'm DONE!! I am all done at the hospital, which I think I'm sort of going to miss. Next time I'm in one, I won't have an instructor, per se. I also picked up my nursing pin today! It's so cool to see something that says "Registered Nurse" on it (okay, yeah, I do still have to take the NCLEX next month, but I'm getting there). It feels so good to be almost done, and with a great average going into the final. I got a 93 on the 4th exam, so my average is a 92.5%. I'll take it! Only 3 more classes left - it seems almost surreal that this extremely long journey is almost done - for now. (Did I mention getting my Master's in Nursing yet????)

My Miss Macey is officially a driver. OMG, it's scary. I'm glad they have restrictions on youth licenses now. They didn't when I got mine at 16, and I probably could have used it.

Boys are good, including the "big" one. They're adapting to the new living situation really well, as well as "farm life". Ethan especially loves the goats and all the animals. He's playing in the barn all the time.

We've been down to quite a few Red Sox games already this year. The guy has season tickets. I loved watching my beloved Sox s-w-e-e-p the Yankees this weekend - very sweet! Who knows how long they'll be in first in the standings (yeah, only April!), so I'm enjoying it right now.

Hellloooooooo.....

I'm here - for a few minutes! And on DIAL-UP, of all things. Yes, no DSL out here in the woods. I didn't even think they made dial-up anymore....sort of like the Edsel..... ;o)

Life is going well, for the most part. School is fine - FLYING by this semester. I've had 3 exams out of 5, with a 92% on each of them, so my average is an A-. I'll take that. Soooooooo many people failed the 2nd exam. It was hard - all EKG strips and stuff to interpret. We only have 5 weeks left! Graduation is May 12, the nursing pinning on May 11th.

The house sale is going.....not so well. I have had only ONE person look, and that was sort of promising, in that he came out again and brought a contractor to get an estimate on turning the barn into a studio. But alas, it was going to cost about $60K for him to do that, and he didn't have that kind of money.

But for the most part, except for a few dressers and big furniture and appliances that are coming, I'm moved out. Oh yeah, and dishes. And some stuff in the barn. Hmmmmmm....maybe there is more than I thought! But we're here, and while there is a lot of driving on the weeks the kids are here, it has been going well. A few tense times, but nothing that every doesn't have at some point. I do hope it sells soon. The bills are piling up for me BIG TIME, and fucktard still has not listed the property, so I don't have my money. Or any money. I need to graduate and get working. I'm actually looking forward to it! But then.......student loans (all $50k of them!!) start being paid on - YIKES!

I'm looking forward to spring. This extreme cold just sucks.

We're getting a new puppy in a few weeks - a bulldog. We went to see the litter last week - they are so damn cute (but what puppy ISN'T cute??). She will join the two dogs already here, so there will be a very full house. Plus all the miniature dairy goats (all 35 of them), cow, 2 llamas, chickens, and barn cat. Yeah, full house and barn!

Hope all is well in blogger-land.