made me all giddy inside...

as we started our day yesterday on the floor, i got a message from horacio saying that our checks are already in! i couldn't believe it, since they said that it we won't get paid until the 9th of March!! then, i got another message saying that he and maria got their checks already!! when we had to leave the floor to attend a vascular access class, i headed down to where they distribute the checks... after signing for it and seeing it in my own hands, i couldn't help but smile. a paycheck that would allow me to pay my bills and still have enough to put into my savings account and for myself. -- first giddy moment! :)

then, i went around with a rn (a different one this time) to check on the patients (vital signs, morning rounds). the nurse let me do some charting and when i had to initial and print my name and title next to it, i felt happy. i need not to put SN (student nurse) next to my name, instead RN!! -- my heart got so giddy, seeing an RN next to my name.. :)

come 8 o'clock, our clinical instructor came in and handed us small envelopes. inside the envelope is our OWN datakey. i had to retain myself from jumping up and down. i know, i am weird and shallow.. it's just a key! but the key somehow made things real... we set it up with our password.. we can now access our patient's charts on the computer!! :) -- another giddy moment! :)

i know, these things may seem too shallow... but for me, it makes me feel like i really have accomplished something in my life. i am officially a registered nurse, i got my first (nice)paycheck and the key just made things more real... :)

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although some of my co-orientees weren't too happy with their checks and were surprised when i told them that i wasn't. why would i be disappointed when i got paid for sitting in the classroom for eight hours?? maybe when i am on the actual floor... but still, i am staying optimistic. :)

what's been happenning...

today i started on the unit where i would be working for. although all i did the whole was shadow a RN around, it was exhausting! i felt like i was back in nursing school where we couldn't touch anything and all we are allowed to do was ask the RN questions... i wasn't even able to give out meds! but, it was kind of a relief too. i now experience the going-ons in the unit and how they "teams" work. it's not that bad as what the associate director told me about during the interview. the only down thing was, the nurse that i was shadowing was doing a lot of "bad habits" that i wished to see or pick-up during orientation. good thing is she isn't really my mentor. so now, i am just hoping (and praying) that my mentor won't have those "bad habits" and would be (somehow) meticulous on how she practices her nursing.

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i appreciate how elmhurst does their orientation.. eventhough it feels like nursing school once more, it paves the way. they don't just throw us on the floor, they make sure that we learn their policies and procedures, they make sure that our skills are up-to-date and they re-train us for the most part. to top it all, i am just really 10 minutes away from the hospital. i could always catch the 6:35 train and still be early for the 7 am shift. :)

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just got a call from timberland regarding my boots. ok, let me back track a little bit... i wore the boots when i went to my cpr class at the bronx. on our way home, the front part of it opened (i don't know if it's referred to as the "tongue" of the shoes). my brother mentioned to me that i could return my boots (even without the receipt!) to timberland and they can replace it. the following day, i called timberland and found out about how i can return/replace my boots. they gave me a return number, few weeks later my boots were on their way to timberland. so today, i got a call saying that they the boots were found defective unfortunately they don't manufacture that style of boots anymore. now, i could choose three styles among their selections and it has to amount to $115.

so far so good... i check out their site.. i see nothing. there is nothing on their site that i currently want to have. i want to have something similar to the boots that i got before... but since winter season is almost over, there are no more nice(r) boots. i really am not a big timberland person, but those boots that i have.. i really like them!!! it's like ugz but better (i don't mean to offend anyone who loves ugz!), it's not bulky at all and really comfy and warm and it doesn't make me look like i have Yeti's feet!! i got time though... and i do hope they release those style of boots preety soon again...

A Shout Out

I just want to send a big THANK YOU to my sis for the book the she gave me - Postsecret!! It's really, really great! It's a compilation of secrets... although most of them are sad and depressing, but the artworks and the creativity that people who submitted these makes one think and ponder... again, thank you so much Achi!!! I really love it! :) [can't wait for the second book to come!]

A (Day Early) Valentine's Gift

I got a call from 1-800-Flowers this morning stating they have a delivery for me and that they were at my place. I looked at Horacio with disbelief since we made a deal that we won't be getting each other anything for Valentine's Day. Though he insisted that the flowers are not a gift and that it was something else...

I came home and saw the we-missed-you notice, called the flower shop to request for it to be delivered tomorrow evening instead of morning. They notified me that delivery time varies and no specific time can be made. Few minutes after, I got a call from the delivery guy (same guy that called me this morning) and told me that they are on their way.

The doorbell rings, my heart jumped. I run as fast as my legs (with Bubbles in arm) as I could, reached the door and got my flowers with a teddy bear and chocolates. I ran back up to the apartment hoping that the vase didn't break and that water just spilled. Called Horacio and told him about the flowers being delivered and as I was reading the card that he left with the flowers, tears just came pouring. I know I have mentioned in my previous posts that I could get very emotional, but I never thought I could get that emotional over flowers. Actually, the message on the card got me really in the heart.

Anyways, here's a picture of the flowers, (a very plushy) bear and a boxful of chocolates taken with my camera phone (since mom has my camera!).

A better picture to come... hopefully. I am just so... happy, loved and spoiled. :)

A Week After..

it has been a week since my orientation at elmhurst began. we have been good in making to orientation on time (even earlier!). the orientation process had made me realize how "grown-up" this new chapter of my life is. we were offered pension benefits, 401k, college fund (for you, your kids or anyone you wish for that matter). we had to go through health insurance packet and decide which health insurance we wish to apply for. during the first three days (when it was discussed in length!), i sat there and came home thinking that "wow, this is so grown-uppy. am i really ready for this?" it really was scary. this time options were laid out in front of me and i have to choose very wisely as for my future depends on it.

by the end of the week, we were sitting in class (yes, an 8am to 4:30pm lecture) and taking tests. the lectures are still as bad as we were in nursing school (long and boring) but come to think of it, we are actually getting paid to attend lecture. we have also been wearing scrubs, which makes getting ready for 'work' easier in the morning. i love scrubs!! they are so comfortable! to top it off - no walking around in those heels all day long!

the weekend rolled-in, i thought i would be getting those sleep until 11 in the morning. nope! my body is getting used to waking up early in the morning (7:30 am). i don't know if that sucks or not, i am just glad that my body is adjusting (slowly) and that the motivation is there.

i can't wait to be on the floor!! i am scared, nervous and excited all at the same time.

anyways... picture on me in my scrubs will be posted soon. this is so unusual for me... not taking a picture of me in scrubs... am i really growing up??? *ack*

Scrabble Marathon (Part 3)

Another night was spent with friends. Horacio and I prepared dinner for eight people (including us) and once again, didn't have the appetite to eat the foods prepared with our own hands. It was enjoyed nonetheless, with more to take with them.

We played two rounds of Scrabble this time, only two since we started late. It was fun and intense game, the scores where so close to each other and people puting words that at first was amusing then was regretted since it was almost impossible to create new words.

It was fun, I enjoyed entertaining and cooking for friends. I look forward for more Friday (or any night possible) nights just hang out, enjoy each other's company and, of course, a good round of Scrabble (or Boggle, Monopoly, or movie marathon)!!

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Have to get going and pack my stuff for a sleepover at Staten Island. Yup, enjoying my social life the weekend before my nursing world dampens it! :)