it's is official! I have a job [student nurse technician]

 

source. somewhere on pinterest...

 

I don't even know where to begin, other than start by saying what a journey that I could have never predicted. You may or may not have been following my story of trying to find a summer job in a hospital {here}. If you have you also might have noticed you have not heard anything about any job at all since July 16th. Well this is for many reasons, but I will try to simplify and explain my journey up to today.

Early on starting out nursing school it became apparent that if I wanted to get a full-time nursing position out of college I would need to find a job, no not an aquatic facility job, but one in the health care field [read more about this {here}]. So that was the day I started applying anywhere and everywhere, I even broadened my search to nursing home, rehabilitation centers in the area and nothing came up.

I had two interviews at one location and never heard back from them. Then (finally) on July 16th I got my first interview at a local hospital, for a position called "student nurse technician" which is even better than just a certified nursing assistant. My job description would give me the opportunity to work alongside registered nurses and get the hands-on experience I would need. Little did I know that this would be over a 2-month journey for the hiring process for this particular hospital, on top of a 6-month process of applying for jobs! It's been a job-hunting-marathon.

As I mentioned earlier that this originally started in search of a full-time summer seasonal job. As you can tell, being it now September, that "ideal" opportunity didn't present itself. Through this entire process I have been continuously reminded that my goal is to be a nurse, and that my timing is not always the best timing because I can only see a limited view of what my life has in store for me. Well in the past 48 hours it has become the most evident that God has been in this journey from the beginning and that everything happens for a reason. I have grown personally, professionally, and spiritually. I hope that I have become more patient and grateful for my blessings.

This morning I received my official offer letter & will be starting as a student nurse technician THIS Monday, September 24th. I've waited long for this, and I feel like I just opened the best present on Christmas day. I hope I never forget the perseverance and patience that this took for something better than I expected.

Thanks to everyone in my life that was apart of this journey, and this chapter has only just begun!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[An aside...]

As I was writing this post I received a text message from someone I have known for a while, 

"hi ashley. My mom had surgery yesterday. i'm at the hospital. I truly cannot believe there are people in this world willing to be nurses. You are an amazing breed, and i'm proud to say i know one of you. Thanks"

This is why I want to be a nurse. For the people that truly need someone to be the foundation when their world is crumbling around them; at their most vulnerable, and help them unconditionally expecting nothing in return. This message to me was a kind reminder that even though everyday school is hard, work is hard, time management is hard, but there are people that their circumstance is hardER. I know I won't be the nurse I am capable of without the support of people around me, and I have been truly blessed to be surrounded by such an amazing support net up to this point.

My prayer is that someday when I have a bad day/ a patient that is particularly a struggle; doesn't say thank you, wears me down to the ground, and demands everything out of me; I will remember the thanks from this text today or others. I will keep going forward, because this is my job, my passion, my vocation to help others even when it's not easy.             

This is my journey. Thanks for sharing in it with me.

Interview {faux pas}

The following things may or may not have happened this afternoon on my way to, during, and following my interview....

....

Left work at 4pm when the interview was at 4:30 and I didn't actually know where I was going

Arrived at a different location than the interview with 15 minutes to get me on time to the interview

Got to the hospital with 4 minutes to spare and had to call the contact because I was lost

Forgot to put on my earings

Forgot to put my phone on silent

Phone call in the middle of the interview

....

So anyways...aside from me being my own worst critic I actually am 80% certain I got the job, even better yet the job sounds AWESOME and I'm pretty sure that I would get to experience the operating room, and help with being on an IV team!!!! {Two things they don't let you do in nursing school}

I will impatiently patiently wait to hear what comes of this.

That is all.

 

 

Project Summer Job - - {Student Nurse}

 

Job Title: Student Nurse Technician

Where: Area Hospital

What: Summer Seasonal Position (with the potential to work into the school year)

1st Interview: TODAY!

I mentioned back {here} in this post that my moms cousin works at an area hospital where there is a student nurse program that still had spots left....I didn't know that would be possible seeing as now it is July and summer is halfway over. But today I have an interview, 4:30pm to be exact. I am excited to see what this job is about and what opportunities are available to me with this experience. Now the hard part....finding the office where the interview is, I talked to the woman and scheduled the interview when I was driving...so I couldn't write down the extensive directions she gave to get to her 4th floor office (that's all I really remember). So I'll give myself extra time. The fun/ also hard part, deciding what to wear to the interview! Especially when it's supposed to get upwards of 100 degrees today. And I'll be coming from work, which involves me getting in a swimming pool...we'll make it work.   

It's Monday...however I'm feeling good about today.

2nd Interview {complete}

 

{unknown source.}

So 2nd interview complete! Now....wait. I suppose. 

A few things that I've learned so far from the minimal job hunting experience I have is learn to be patient. The only person in a hurry to get a job is you, expect the employers to take there time {especially in an economy like this!}.  Second, if you have the chance to interview; be honest, be genuine. Employers can tell if you're fabricating a story, not being honest, or just being yourself. Authenticity is contagious and healthy :)

Now, in other good news my moms cousin works at a local hospital and says there's a student nurse summer program where I could get up to full time hours and work alongside a real RN, not as a CNA at all but a legitimate nurse!!! This could be a dream come true.

So I continue to wait for time to tell...and stay cool in this 90+ degree weather!! 

[Photo dump from the last few days from my telephono + instagram]

 

 

Pretty flowers while waiting for the interview; dad working on taking out the green carpet! hardwood!

 

Getting a new bed for the house!

 

It's Monday!

Sometimes I feel bad that I don't take more pictures of my life; but in reality today all I did was clean the kitty litter box, teach swimming lessons, and come home...so who wants photos of that anyways?!

 

{I have been blessed so far in my life to love what I do! Hopefully this will continue onto the next work adventure}

On another note; I got a call back from the HR representative I interviewed with for the nursing assistant position last Friday and she wants me to come in for a second interview! Unfortunately, I wasn't near the phone when she called so I couldn't return her call until after I was done teaching swimming lessons at 3:45pm.

Once again, I am thankful for the opportunity to interview and potentially get this job.
Crossing my fingers that I hear back from her at least by tomorrow {when I'm not in the pool!}.

And for those of you who love swimming as much as I do; I hope you're watching the Olympic Trials {official site}

Oh Happy Day! {Friday}

via.

What I am thankful for today...

- Unexpected interview for a nursing assistant position in a transitional care unit for postoperative patients

- Friday night weddings

- Blue skies and sun

- Two consecutive days off

- Family that loves me

- Pay day 

If you are keeping up with my blog, which is awesome if you are, if not that's okay too! You know that I am one year out from graduating from nursing school with a bachelor of science in nursing with the goal of taking the licensure exam to be an RN. You also know I have been looking for a nursing assistant position to begin to get more experience in the health care field and best prepare me for my final year of nursing school and future career. 

Well sometimes it's okay to be frustrated, it's okay to be bewildered with the thought of school loans, financial instability, and uncertainty in job hunting. As long as you don't give up! Yesterday I decided to call back a place I had applied for one last time (they never returned my call after they had called me in the first place) and within 10 minutes of my call they called me back and asked when I could interview! I said absolutely, sign me up! So I had an interview today at 11am. Now it's waiting to see if they want me; she said I would hear early next week.

So I continue to walk by faith, and trust in God. I will not give up. 

In other news Casey & Dusty are getting married tonight at my church! I couldn't be more excited for them!! I love weddings and celebrating commitment to love and relationships. I have known her since junior high and my parents have known her parents for even longer. So I'm happy she's found a man that is a good fit!

So here's to pleasent surprises, love & weddings!

Have a good weekend.

 

At a Cost. Last year of College.

 via. pinterest.

Well the email that I knew would be coming soon to tell me my "financial aid award",
lets back up a second,...they may as well drop the word "award" all together, because "award" is relative.

Award when  I think of it is winning an award, deserving an award of recognition...

...not an award of how many loans you are allowed to take out, not an award of how many grants you don't get in your 5th year of college, not an award on the grand total your life will cost in the next year just to go to class to get a degree.

I guess that little email just put a damper on my day.
Frustrated because I'm not working full time.
Versus the past 5 where I was working 50 hour weeks minimum.
Frustrated because sometimes school just seems to cost wayyy too much.

Trying to trust in God. Trying to walk by faith.
Trying to be okay with the fact that sometimes it just won't make sense until you make your way through to the other side.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. 

“They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” 

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

[On My Mind]

More Money; More Problems.....No Money; ____________?
Or as the saying goes...can't live with it (too much), can't live without it (enough).

Still looking for a job. Still unsure of how school is going to be paid for this year.

Trusting in God that something will work out.
Everything happens for a reason; I just haven't seen the light yet.
Until then...learning to be okay with being in the realm of the unknown.

friday night write.

Well I haven't been online for a while. Like, actually sat down on the computer and wasted some time online.

So tonight I have emailed all of my private lesson parents to schedule lesson.
Update my google calendar.
Applied for more jobs [story of my life]
Spent time on pinterest {here}
Caught up on a few of my favorite blogs; {the rockstar diaries}, {MattandKaraAdopt}, {Project: Babies}, {Camp Patton}, {fairytales are true: sarah tucker}, {Across The Pond}
 ~ ~ Just to name a few...Disclaimer: YES I follow a lot of mom blogs, but NO I do not plan on getting married anytime soon and definitely NO children here, but I would love to work with children and families so maybe that's why I love 'em?

Well that's all that I got. A mellow relaxed night in for me.
Happy Weekend everyone!

unknown source. just some kitty love!

Memorial Day Weekend!

Well typically memorial day weekend is a weekend for people to have off from work. Well, for us part-time, paid-by-the-hour folks that's not the case. In fact the only hours I got this week were for memorial day weekend. I worked yesterday, will work today 3:30 - 7:30pm, and Saturday from 11am - 6pm Woot Woot! I actually can't complain too much because I have hours and getting paid. Which is hard to come by when I'm still looking for a nurse assistant job.

BUT after tomorrow I have a couple days off for the weekend and I will be fully enjoying it! Sunday is going to be spent at Soundset Music festival at Canterbury Park. My best friend from high school is coming up from Madison with a few college friends, it'll definitely be a blast!

via

Then for Monday, it'll be good quality family time. Including my growing international family! Our family has been hosting an exchange student mentioned {here}. His mother and sister are coming in town to visit before he leaves from his year abroad. So BBQ and Minnehaha falls will be my Monday. 

To all of you have a fabulous long-weekend and get some time to relax!

Still looking for a job. However, I have successfully updated my resume, made some connections with people, and applied for more jobs online. I mean what more can I do?....Just keep trying, and knowing that everything happens for a reason. {If anyone has any leads on jobs for a nursing assistant, or student nurse intern definitely let me know!}

I also have purchased a NCLEX study book, to start preparing for the NCLEX now. I know...look at me, ahead of the curve? Well hopefully.

Now I'll be off to my brothers baseball game. What more would I want to do on a Tuesday afternoon when it's the perfect sunny day out!

...that's all for an update. Hopefully more fun photos to come later, and stories to tell!

Fun Fact.

I hate applying for jobs.

I hate being rejected by jobs due to lack of experience, well...why do you think I'm applying for this position?

I need to find a job in t-minus 6 days.

Does anyone want a diligently hard working CNA to be at their hospital? Please. I will make it worth your while! Promise.

job hunting & financial insecurity

Let you in on a little secret; I have been employed part-time somewhere since the age of 14 which makes up about 9 years of my life. At the age of almost 22 I'd say that's pretty good! My jobs have been within the same realm of expertise whether that is teaching swimming lessons, lifeguarding a pool, teaching people CPR/ Lifeguarding, management of a water park. I made the conscious decision following my 5th summer being in management at the local water park that it would be the best choice for me to make the transition to working in a place of my future employment as a certified nursing assistant in an acute setting (hospital). Well, little did I know this would be easier said than done. Originally I was thinking that why wouldn't a 22 year old nursing student be an attractive hire as a CNA somewhere.....I dunno...but apparently I was wrong, or the right fit just hasn't been established yet. I eluded to this job search back on this post {here}.

Well, yesterday I got the inevitable email I was hoping would never come. My secondary job I currently hold is at a local YWCA and have worked there since the fall of 2007. The Aquatic Coordinator emailed us to inform us that on May 14th a summer availability will be due and that there will be a weekly schedule that will remain for the entire summer. Well this puts me in a panic; I want a job at a hospital; but I need to make money; but I don't want to give up on a summer job at a hospital.

So I'm put at a place of many unknowns which scares me, and puts me in a place of vulnerability and insecurity; a place I've never really been. I now can relate with people who have lost jobs, and don't know where to turn,...and believe me my situation is miniscule compared to most of the world.

Today when I was peruzing my regular blogs I read I ran across these two; and I found encouragement and hope. I will continue to take one day at a time & seek God to show me the right way to go.

I read the update on 8-day old baby Nora who was diagnosed before birth with Trisomy18 and most doctors suggest parents to terminate the pregnancy early because these babies aren't "compatible with life". However, Nora's parents did not feel this way and she is documenting their journey. She talks about how their life is full of unknowns and living in worry can strip away living in happiness of the moment and taking life as it comes; this put life into perspective for me and gives me hope. Visit {here}.

Another blog I read is called Running on Happiness, and true to form one of her posts has the above music video titled, "Living in the moment". Which a certain brother of mine is really good at, and is definitely not my strength. So you can read her post {here}.

Be encouraged, and find hope in the little things. As my mom told me last night; control the things you can control and let go of everything you cannot.

Real-World-Realities

{Source! Check them out!}

So I realize that apart of growing up and getting older is you apply for jobs and work the rest of your life away. I get it. HOWEVER, the whole applying for jobs and being rejected thing is completely freaking me out. In order to get nursing jobs you need to have experience, well fun fact, I am in nursing school getting "experience" but I have not held one job in the context of a hospital EVER. So Summer 2012 is the time to start I suppose. So for the time being I'm applying to various hospitals in the twin cities area that require a CNA certificate in order to work. I'm hoping the fact that I'm no longer 16, currently in nursing school, and willing to work as many hours as they give me with low pay will seem appealing enough to hire me (and that I am a hard worker and willing to learn as much as possible!). I'm just worried because every job I've ever held was at a pool one, and two most of the time people asked if I was willing to work for them (it's been a pretty sweet life!). So the reality is, I'm applying to most of these jobs blindly, crossing my fingers, and hoping someone is willing to take the chance to hire me. So by the end of this week my goal is to have job applications sent and then be waiting for a response.

Admittedly maybe I'm over-reacting slightly, but it's intimidating. That's all.