I have a job! I think.

Well, before the nclex test, I interviewed at a HUGE public hospital here in our lovely city and was "approved for employment" by the director of nursing for the ER. I literally landed the job of my dreams: adult ED, night shift. Go shift differential! Yes. I am ecstatic. Can't express in words the amazing feeling I have. I've wanted this job for years, even before wanting to become a nurse.

BUT... the hospital administration told the ER lady that her quota of new grads was done for the time being, so I was to come back with license in hand so her paperwork could show that she hired an RN and not a GN (graduate nurse).

OK, I get home from dad's funeral and all that, license envelope awaits me. Great, I can go to the hospital right away and get the ball rolling. I do that. A week passes, I hear nothing. I call the nursing administration office, ask for Ms. Secretary. "She no longer works here, we're trying to figure out who will take over her job". Ha! Isn't it lovely? Mind you, I do not mind the worry free days. Kids are back in school, I have NO obligations, no studying to do, it's a good thing to relax and sit back.

Now it's been 3 weeks and just today, my paperwork (which was lost for a few days, of course) has made it's way down to HR. So, I ask the new Ms. Secretary, what is the time frame for all this new hire stuff? ER lady wanted me to start October 1st, is this a possibility? "I don't know, you'll have to wait for HR to contact you."

Again, I don't mind the time off, but my family needs the income to start rolling in already. We'll see what HR has to say. I have to wait for them to call me.

In any case, I'm still more than excited about the new job, all the things I will learn, all the things I'll be able to write about. Things are heading in the right direction.

a month and a lifetime

I can't believe what's happened in the past month. The day before my test, my dad died. He was a pilot and his small plane crashed. A total freak accident and poof! he's gone. He was 56. He was great. I miss him more than I ever imagined I'd miss anyone. He's just gone, I can't believe it.

All this happened less than 24 hours before my scheduled test date/time, and the rules say that if you don't cancel or change your test appointment before 24 hours... you lose. I spent a long time calling the testing service people, then the NY state nursing board and nothing. I had to take my test or forfeit my authorization to test. Is that fair? My first dealings with this, my professional body, and I am sadly disappointed. I went to the test. I took it and then drove 3 hours to the airport to get on a plane to South America, where my dad's body lay at the bottom of a lake. I arrived 2 days after his accident and just as my plane was landing, his body was recovered. He waited for my siblings and I to get there.

I passed the stupid test. All that worrying and studying for nothing! It was insanely easy and guess what the first questions was about? Disaster planning after a plane crash. Is that ironic or what?

Now I'm back. My license was waiting for me when I got home; RN. Licensed and registered by the wonderful NY state nursing board. Gee, thanks guys, you rock!

Love you Pa, see you later.