I am so lucky that I have family that loves me and has given me such generous graduation gifts. I'm not used to having so much attention and praise! I have never had any kind of graduation before, and even my getting married was super low-key.
With the immense generosity of my loved ones, I have reached $1,565 out of my $2,500 fundraising goal. This is honestly more than I ever expected and I am so touched. I am so looking forward to volunteering in Belize, and every day I am there I will be thinking of how lucky I am to have the encouragement and support of family and friends.
Thank you to my Grandparents, my Mom & Montana, to Dad & Kara, to my wonderful parents-in-law, and my husband's Aunt & Uncle and their darling daughter. Thank you to John and Jeff. Thanks to my wonderful husband, who loves me so much!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Airfare
Yesterday was so crazy!!!
Let me start at the beginning.
Our airfare and travel plans have been a big pain in the butt this whole time. Luckily, Leah took charge of that aspect of the planning (otherwise I would have gone insane.)
So we got a deal with United Airlines for round trip tickets from Las Vegas to Austin, Texas then on to Belize. Unfortunately they are $809.15 each. Individually we could have found cheaper, but I would rather pay a little extra to travel with the group and not risk losing someone on the way to Belize.
Knowing our luck, one of our adventurers would end up waylaid in a Michigan motel without a cellphone charger and only one bar left on the battery (which happened to me once, lovely story for another time).
Of course, to be difficult, they require that we ALL have to be together to pay for our tickets on the phone at the same time. One after the other. Getting at least 12 women together during summer break to pay at the same time is about as fun as herding cats.
Once we got settled in, the first airline representative basically told us we needed to call back in 3-5 days and for us to screw off (conveniently, she wouldn't let us speak to her manager either.) When we called back we got someone a lot more helpful and Julie worked her magic to get us on the phone with the supervisor.
Side note: I really envy the way Julie handled the situation she was calm, direct, professional, and never a hint of rudeness. Leah was a little too nice, and if I was in that position I would have ended up sounding snobby and pissy. I am a recovering biatch and I've come pretty far, but I still have moments where I inadvertently insult people or roll my eyes or any number of my charming personality quirks.
Two hours later, we had all given our information to the representative and were $809.15 poorer. Success!
Let me start at the beginning.
Our airfare and travel plans have been a big pain in the butt this whole time. Luckily, Leah took charge of that aspect of the planning (otherwise I would have gone insane.)
So we got a deal with United Airlines for round trip tickets from Las Vegas to Austin, Texas then on to Belize. Unfortunately they are $809.15 each. Individually we could have found cheaper, but I would rather pay a little extra to travel with the group and not risk losing someone on the way to Belize.
Knowing our luck, one of our adventurers would end up waylaid in a Michigan motel without a cellphone charger and only one bar left on the battery (which happened to me once, lovely story for another time).
Of course, to be difficult, they require that we ALL have to be together to pay for our tickets on the phone at the same time. One after the other. Getting at least 12 women together during summer break to pay at the same time is about as fun as herding cats.
Once we got settled in, the first airline representative basically told us we needed to call back in 3-5 days and for us to screw off (conveniently, she wouldn't let us speak to her manager either.) When we called back we got someone a lot more helpful and Julie worked her magic to get us on the phone with the supervisor.
Side note: I really envy the way Julie handled the situation she was calm, direct, professional, and never a hint of rudeness. Leah was a little too nice, and if I was in that position I would have ended up sounding snobby and pissy. I am a recovering biatch and I've come pretty far, but I still have moments where I inadvertently insult people or roll my eyes or any number of my charming personality quirks.
Two hours later, we had all given our information to the representative and were $809.15 poorer. Success!
Thursday, May 16, 2013
New Grad RN
Monday was my Pinning Ceremony which is our graduation from the nursing program. I got to stand on stage with around 95 of my fellow Spring 2013 graduates in front of our families and friends, and be recognized as a new nurse.
It was such a beautiful ceremony! We all wore white, and the women got to wear those old-fashioned white nurses dresses if we chose. One by one our families came up on stage and put our nursing pin on us, while the instructor who is going to Belize with us, Tracey, read our statements out loud.
Mine thanked my mom and my husband, because without them I would not have been there. Unfortunately my mom couldn't make it to my ceremony. I am so lucky that my husband and his parents were able to come, as well as my dad and his family, and my grandparents. My friends Snow and Matt even came!
The faculty we voted on to speak at our ceremony was Ron. He is one of the best teachers in the program, and he knows all of our names and faces. He is always so supportive and motivates us to be better people. His speech was wonderful (and yes, I cried!), I loved the part where he reminded us that our patients are not just a room number or a diagnosis, they are our sisters, brothers, fathers, children, and we always need to remember that.
I went to go find photos of the ceremony, but my mother in law has them all on her camera. I'll have to get them from her.
It was such a beautiful ceremony! We all wore white, and the women got to wear those old-fashioned white nurses dresses if we chose. One by one our families came up on stage and put our nursing pin on us, while the instructor who is going to Belize with us, Tracey, read our statements out loud.
Mine thanked my mom and my husband, because without them I would not have been there. Unfortunately my mom couldn't make it to my ceremony. I am so lucky that my husband and his parents were able to come, as well as my dad and his family, and my grandparents. My friends Snow and Matt even came!
The faculty we voted on to speak at our ceremony was Ron. He is one of the best teachers in the program, and he knows all of our names and faces. He is always so supportive and motivates us to be better people. His speech was wonderful (and yes, I cried!), I loved the part where he reminded us that our patients are not just a room number or a diagnosis, they are our sisters, brothers, fathers, children, and we always need to remember that.
 |
| Picture borrowed from Nicole! |
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
It's like all the responsible adults put me in charge of all the kids and then left the room.
So now here I am, the "Communication Coordinator" for our Belize volunteer trip. I need to keep everyone interested updated on the latest and greatest news about the trip, as well as send out emails to the other nurses in my programbegging asking them to come.
I am a nervous wreck every time I send one of these things out! When I read the finished product (which is likely the fifteenth draft) I always look to check who the sender is at the top of the email. This can't be from me! It sounds like it was written by someone who knows what they are doing!
Aha, I have them all fooled.
So now here I am, the "Communication Coordinator" for our Belize volunteer trip. I need to keep everyone interested updated on the latest and greatest news about the trip, as well as send out emails to the other nurses in my program
I am a nervous wreck every time I send one of these things out! When I read the finished product (which is likely the fifteenth draft) I always look to check who the sender is at the top of the email. This can't be from me! It sounds like it was written by someone who knows what they are doing!
Aha, I have them all fooled.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Car Wash!
Our first fundraising event was last Saturday. We decided to do a car wash, and from the pictures it looks like it was so much fun!
We ended up raising $500!!! I am so excited for my friends, they worked so hard!
One of the requirements for graduation is 120 hours of working with an RN in a hospital. We have to get that done before May 8th and unfortunately I was precepting the same day as the car wash. The way we are doing fundraising events is that people who participate get the money split between them and I missed out this time.
I can't wait to plan the next event though!
We ended up raising $500!!! I am so excited for my friends, they worked so hard!
One of the requirements for graduation is 120 hours of working with an RN in a hospital. We have to get that done before May 8th and unfortunately I was precepting the same day as the car wash. The way we are doing fundraising events is that people who participate get the money split between them and I missed out this time.
I can't wait to plan the next event though!
 |
| My friends washing cars to volunteer in Belize! |
So why Belize?
Will I sound like an ignorant American if I confess to you all that I had to look up Belize on a map? Probably.
So after an exhaustive academic research session (on Wikipedia), I learned that Belize is a lovely little country in South America. It borders along the Caribbean as well as Mexico and Guatemala.
Did you know the official language is English? Yep, me either.
In rural areas of Belize medical services are not as easy to come by. The hospitals in the urban areas of Belize can handle traumas and advanced medical needs, but really acute cases are sometimes transferred out.
I will be spending two weeks in Belize, with one of those weeks in the hospital there shadowing their doctors and nurses and assisting with care. The hospitals outside of the U.S. may not have as many of the resources as I am used to, like fancy MRIs and huge stock rooms full of specialized equipment so that will be an adjustment.
The second week we will be able to stop in rural areas and clinics and do care depending on the level we are at in our education. (I will be a RN by then!) We can do physical assessments, mother-infant assessments, first aid and dressing changes and care.
Honestly I don't know much about what to expect, whatever it is will be a surprise I'm sure.
So after an exhaustive academic research session (on Wikipedia), I learned that Belize is a lovely little country in South America. It borders along the Caribbean as well as Mexico and Guatemala.
Did you know the official language is English? Yep, me either.
In rural areas of Belize medical services are not as easy to come by. The hospitals in the urban areas of Belize can handle traumas and advanced medical needs, but really acute cases are sometimes transferred out.
I will be spending two weeks in Belize, with one of those weeks in the hospital there shadowing their doctors and nurses and assisting with care. The hospitals outside of the U.S. may not have as many of the resources as I am used to, like fancy MRIs and huge stock rooms full of specialized equipment so that will be an adjustment.
The second week we will be able to stop in rural areas and clinics and do care depending on the level we are at in our education. (I will be a RN by then!) We can do physical assessments, mother-infant assessments, first aid and dressing changes and care.
Honestly I don't know much about what to expect, whatever it is will be a surprise I'm sure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)