Pinning and Cutting

Hard to believe it's been over a week since my pinning/graduation! Below are a couple pics from pinning.

Pinning was a nice closure for these past two years. This picture of me wearing a nursing cap is actually me wearing my mom's 50 year old nursing cap. My school's program does not require the white uniforms and caps (and shoes and stockings), for which we were all grateful! (Yes, this still happens! A friend graduating from nursing school in NC was required to find a white nursing uniform, shoes, and purchase the schools white cap--even though it was only for their ceremony and not part of their school uniform!)  I love this pic with my mom standing side-by-side wearing our nursing pins. This past week she attended her 50th college reunion and met up with some of her cohort from nursing school. Interesting how that worked out. Me- JUST out of nursing school, Mom- celebrating 50 years OUT of nursing school!

I had several friends and family come to my pinning to celebrate with me. The biggest surprise was to have Mrs. Scott and her son-in-law Isaiah come (Mr. Scott was working). Their daughter and his wife, Jessica was a graduate of my same program a number of years ago, who suffered a brain injury following a tragic auto accident. They set up a scholarship in her memory. My first year of nursing school, I was awarded this very generous memorial scholarship. I have enjoyed getting to know them and have been out to their farm a couple times (including once with my mom) and have met other members of their family. I have tried to keep in touch and thought it very appropriate to invite them to my pinning. But I had no idea that they'd actually come! I loved having them there.

It's only been a week but I no longer look like this! I got my hair chopped off. My hair was getting so long that it was getting caught in my underarms (front and back). I've been so busy with school that I've not taken time to get my hair trimmed since last summer and so I decided that since it had gotten so long that I'd just let it keep growing until I could donate it to Locks of Love. I'm in Columbus, Ohio visiting my sister and her family and the topic of my hair and donating it came up. She said that the salon she goes to will accept donations of eight inches. I was thinking I had to wait until I had ten inches. I got so excited that we called and set up and appointment the next day. To get the full eight inches, she basically had to chop it off at the nape of my neck...not leaving me much left. It's chin length in the front and a little shorter in the back. I'm not sure if it's the most flattering cut (for my face), so I'll be happier when it grows out, but here are some reasons I love my new cut:

• Less shampoo/conditioner!
• Less time spent hair-drying!
• No more hot rollers!
• Less time with curling iron--if needed at all!
• No more ponytails!
• MUCH cooler for summer!
• I look a bit more grown-up (I'm regularly told I don't look my age).
• And it's something NEW! something DIFFERENT!

Haha! My mom just walked by and said "I still can't get over your new haircut." Yes, it's been a LONG time since I've had hair this short.

I'm very much enjoying that I am done with school. Although I'm sad now to not have a reason to interact with my nursing instructors. I have really grown to appreciate them and all their efforts on our part. I know we were a challenging cohort, to say the least, but they still worked hard for us. I am definitely planning to stay in touch, which should be relatively easy to do because I will remain local.

I've spent the past week working on my application to my preferred local hospital. I'll be interviewing with them sometime in the next few weeks. I really hope it goes well.

I've already starting working on my goal of doing 3,000 NCLEX questions. I've done a little over 25%. If I get a job with the hospital of my choice, I will probably start work before I take my NCLEX exam. I didn't anticipate this when I set up my preliminary study plan of spending all of June studying, but it will work out. I'll spend the next few weeks doing some NCLEX study and also will be participating in my Kaplan Review course the last week of May. I'd love it if I completed my 3,000 questions before starting work (that is, if they offer me a job). 

Well, off to eat dinner with the family. We are having my favorite pizza tonight, Donatos. YUM! They don't have it Virginia. =(

A Full Week- But It's Not Over Yet!

The Q&A events on Monday and Tuesday went really well.  The students seemed very appreciative and I think (hope) they'll take the information and advice we passed along to put it into action.

We had asked our graduating cohort to consider donating their scrubs (with patches) so that we could use them as a fundraiser for the student nurses association. We sold them $5 each piece (scrub top or bottom) and we ended up raising $130 for our student association. Today we collected lab coats after our class photo and they'll be available for the new students to purchase this summer. It's a BARGAIN for the students--AND they also get the patches for free, ALREADY sewn on!  I had a thought the other day that  maybe I could sell my patch-sewing skills to the new admits! Maybe just bring my sewing machine and supplies to campus and be "available" when they are in class. Some people used safety pins or really large stitches to attach their patches--and they look a bit wrinkly and ragged after they were first washed. I know some people took them to an alteration shop to have them sewn on.  I'll admit that my mom sewed mine on and also hemmed my pants and lab coat sleeves. I would've done it, but I was also working full-time and taking classes that summer. Yeah for Moms!  But, hey, it's a thought! Not sure I could make much money, but it might be fun!

We were a bit disappointed with the turn out at the Q&A's (around 36 students in all), as we were hoping that the majority of the new cohort would take advantage of the opportunity to meet with current/graduating students. Perhaps they were still in exams, or working or simply felt they didn't have any questions, or maybe they just forgot. We sent out a nice flyer in the new admit packets. So it's possible that they saw it once and forgot when they realized most of their deadlines were for later this summer. We did offer a variety of times on two different days to hopefully provide adequate options, but we'll never know why they chose not to come. Oh well, we did our best and those who came received a lot of good advice and information. Our hope is that they might pass the information along to their peers...and perhaps even join the student nurses association on campus and be a part of hosting this same type of event next year. Ya know... "pay it forward." 

This morning we had our class photo taken as well as rehearsal for tomorrow's pinning. Rehearsal was on campus where they've traditionally had pinning, but the actual pinning is at the local university's big basketball arena. So we'll have to get reoriented to the new location when we arrive tomorrow. Hopefully all will go well. It was really great to see everyone laughing and having a good time. The pressure is off and folks are in a celebratory mood!  A rumor was confirmed that one student in our class did not pass (75 minimum) one of the nursing courses this semester and therefore won't be able to graduate. So sad! If I remember correctly, this student even had a job offer! Hopefully this person can work as a PCT in the hospital for the next year and get loads of experience while waiting to retake the one nursing class they need to graduate.

There are a handful of students who found out earlier this semester that they were missing certain general education classes for their ADN degree (English, Sociology, Computer, History, etc...), so while they won't officially graduate, they can still go through the pinning ceremony with our class. They'll just have to take those classes this summer, and then apply for graduation again. They'll be delayed a few months from taking NCLEX, which might make looking for a job more difficult. It's hard to say.

By this time tomorrow I will be sporting my shiny new nursing pin and be celebrating with my family and friends. My family and a few extended family members, will be heading to a Japanese steakhouse (hibachi-style) to celebrate and then will have cake and ice cream afterwards. I hope to include a few pics from pinning here soon.

This has been a great week so far and tomorrow's pinning will be the highlight. It feels fantastic to be done!