I'm two weeks into my unit orientation (which means I'm with another RN who knows her stuff) and am loving my new job! I'm working on the Medical-Surgical unit (the 'regular' unit - where you would normally go if you were sick enough to be admitted to the hospital) at a smaller community hospital close to where we live, and the great thing about it is we get adults, kids, hospice, just about every kind of patient unless very complicated or critical enough to get transferred to the larger hospital in town.
I really love the feel at this hospital. From my first interview there my gut was telling me this would be a good place to work and I think my gut was right :) The patients expect to be treated like family and we all try to give them that. I'm sure that's a large reason we are a top 100 hospital!!!
With me going back to work Tony has had to take up a lot of the slack created by me sleeping during the day in between shifts. He is doing so awesome and I know it is stressful but I am thankful he can handle it. I think once we get into a groove it will be easier, changes always take a bit of time to adjust. My kiddos are doing pretty good with it too. They get to hang with Grandma or Granny and Papaw some days and stay fairly quiet at home on the others. Both have activities starting up soon so that will be helpful.
I now have an EIGHTH grader and a FIRST grader! How crazy! They both did terrific at school this year and are ready for more challenges ahead. Andrew is hoping for a certain teacher next year, but with 5 first grade classes I told him we will just have to wait and see. He is reading up a storm and I'm so glad for him that is really clicked this year.
Austin is happy he won't have to go to the high school to take his math class, with just 5 or 6 students as advanced as he is he thought he might. But one teacher volunteered to teach the class at his school. Austin's school is switching to block schedule next year so we will see how that goes too. It will be a big change for the kids to sit in one class for so long. I'm not super excited about it but we'll roll with it.
We plan on having a lot of fun around town this summer and maybe taking a few day trips to places. Lots of parks, the zoo, the drive-in, and swimming are in our future!
Friday, June 13, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Bethany Hakel, RN, BSN
I am a Registered Nurse!!!
(Currently looking for a job)
Sorry for the lateness of this post (Dad).
I graduated from college this past December with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It was a long, long, stressful road but I crossed that finish line and am proud of myself for completing this goal.
I took my NCLEX-RN (licensing exam for nurses) in March and passed with the minimum number of questions. :) Lately I have been applying for jobs at hospitals in the area and hope to be employed soon. I've had one interview and one scheduled for tomorrow.
Since I passed my test and don't need to study anymore, I have a lot of free time while the boys are in school. I've been catching up on reading novels and other books and finally mega-cleaned my craft/study room. Who knew the closet actually has a floor?
More to come soon. I promise sooner than 4 months (Love you Dad).
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
30 Days 30 Days 30 Days
I am soveryclose to the end of nursing school. Just a few tests and assignments left! This Friday is my last Nursing Spectacular as an undergrad and I get to (i.e. am being forced to) present on a project I have completed while in nursing school. Only 5-8 minutes . . .
I completed my last round of clinicals in the MedSurg ICU at a local hospital. I had a lot of new experiences and feel like I learned a lot. My preceptor was amazing and so knowledgable after 25+ years of working in the ICU. I am blessed to have learned from her.
I am excited but nervous about the next steps to starting my career in nursing. I know I will pass the NCLEX the first time because I will continue to study and practice questions until I take it. I am more nervous about getting/starting a job. We learn a lot in nursing school but there is a lot we still don't know until we are on the job every shift. I know I will get through this anxiety and become a caring and competent Registered Nurse.
Pinning is December 20th and I am excited for myself and my classmates. We have persevered down this long, difficult, and stressful road of nursing school that no one can truly understand unless they have also been in nursing school. We have every right to be proudof ourselves and our accomplishment!
I completed my last round of clinicals in the MedSurg ICU at a local hospital. I had a lot of new experiences and feel like I learned a lot. My preceptor was amazing and so knowledgable after 25+ years of working in the ICU. I am blessed to have learned from her.
I am excited but nervous about the next steps to starting my career in nursing. I know I will pass the NCLEX the first time because I will continue to study and practice questions until I take it. I am more nervous about getting/starting a job. We learn a lot in nursing school but there is a lot we still don't know until we are on the job every shift. I know I will get through this anxiety and become a caring and competent Registered Nurse.
Pinning is December 20th and I am excited for myself and my classmates. We have persevered down this long, difficult, and stressful road of nursing school that no one can truly understand unless they have also been in nursing school. We have every right to be proudof ourselves and our accomplishment!
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Update on my boys
September is a big birthday month in our house. Both boys were born in this wonderful month!
Austin is now a TEENAGER!! What happened? Wasn't he just this little boy running around, playing playdoh, and dancing like no one was watching?? Instead, I have a teenager who plays football, is taller than me, and has his phone seemingly permanently attached to his hand. He is currently taking Latin at school (by choice) and seems to like it. He is also in Geometry for high school credit, and still playing the trumpet and enjoying it.
He mowed his Grandma's and Granny & Papaw's lawns all summer to earn some money and I think he really liked making his own money. He even had a teacher at his school ask him to mow her lawn next summer.
Andrew is in kindergarten and seems to enjoy it. There were a few bumps in the road in the beginning - he likes to know what is going to happen and where he should go, etc (much like his mom!) and uncertainty is not his friend. The bus was missed on the way home one day. But, he has gotten in the swing of things and is learning a lot.
He is a reader now and I might be more excited than he is! He knows a lot more words than he thinks he does, and amazes me each night when we read together. I am excited for him as he grows in his reading skills and worlds open up for him in books. He has also made a lot of new friends at school and we have learned of a few in our neighborhood.
Andrew has also asked us to call him Andrew and not Drew anymore. :( I am doing my best to follow his request but habits are hard to break.
Dobby the dachshund had a birthday too, just not in September. He turned 5 at the beginning of October. We have had him for over a year now and can't imagine life without my cuddle buddy!
In somewhat related news, I have only 56 days left until pinning and I am finished with my nursing degree!!! Woohoo!
Austin is now a TEENAGER!! What happened? Wasn't he just this little boy running around, playing playdoh, and dancing like no one was watching?? Instead, I have a teenager who plays football, is taller than me, and has his phone seemingly permanently attached to his hand. He is currently taking Latin at school (by choice) and seems to like it. He is also in Geometry for high school credit, and still playing the trumpet and enjoying it.
He mowed his Grandma's and Granny & Papaw's lawns all summer to earn some money and I think he really liked making his own money. He even had a teacher at his school ask him to mow her lawn next summer.
Andrew is in kindergarten and seems to enjoy it. There were a few bumps in the road in the beginning - he likes to know what is going to happen and where he should go, etc (much like his mom!) and uncertainty is not his friend. The bus was missed on the way home one day. But, he has gotten in the swing of things and is learning a lot.
He is a reader now and I might be more excited than he is! He knows a lot more words than he thinks he does, and amazes me each night when we read together. I am excited for him as he grows in his reading skills and worlds open up for him in books. He has also made a lot of new friends at school and we have learned of a few in our neighborhood.
Andrew has also asked us to call him Andrew and not Drew anymore. :( I am doing my best to follow his request but habits are hard to break.
Dobby the dachshund had a birthday too, just not in September. He turned 5 at the beginning of October. We have had him for over a year now and can't imagine life without my cuddle buddy!
In somewhat related news, I have only 56 days left until pinning and I am finished with my nursing degree!!! Woohoo!
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Nursing School update of sorts
I stole this from my Aunt Sue (on facebook):
Student Nurse's Prayer: "Dear Lord, I know we go through this every day, but please give me the knowledge as to why I actually wanted to go to nursing school. Lord, give me the strength to make it through those boring 4-hour lectures without falling asleep. Lord, please give me the patience to make it through twelve-hour clinicals with instructors who can't just give you the right answer. On the same note, give the nurses the ability to remember what it was like to be a student and give us just a little more respect. Lord, give me the endurance to read all the assigned readings and be able to remember it when I am taking a test with four right answers. Lord, give my family and friends the ability to realize I really am on the edge of insanity. Finally, Lord, give me the vision to see that one day I will be a real nurse and I will never have to wear this ugly uniform again"
I wish I could make people understand a nursing degree is not like other degrees - it is hard core difficult and stressful! We are learning how to save people's lives. I thought it was just because I have a family, but I talk to other nursing students who are young and single and they deal with the same emotions and stress levels as I do. I spoke with one classmate the other day who said she has cried every semester. (Check). Many are on anti-anxiety medications (not me yet) and I can see why.
I am feeling verrrrry close to the edge of insanity (see above prayer!) right now. I keep trying to tell myself only one more month until the end of the semester, but there is SO MUCH to do - tests, clinical hours, projects, etc, etc, etc.
I have been very blessed to not have to work while in nursing school and I am thankful for that. I also know Drew (and Austin when home) are very well taken care of by Tony or other family while I'm doing the never-ending school stuff.
The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter, but sometimes it seems so far away . . .
Student Nurse's Prayer: "Dear Lord, I know we go through this every day, but please give me the knowledge as to why I actually wanted to go to nursing school. Lord, give me the strength to make it through those boring 4-hour lectures without falling asleep. Lord, please give me the patience to make it through twelve-hour clinicals with instructors who can't just give you the right answer. On the same note, give the nurses the ability to remember what it was like to be a student and give us just a little more respect. Lord, give me the endurance to read all the assigned readings and be able to remember it when I am taking a test with four right answers. Lord, give my family and friends the ability to realize I really am on the edge of insanity. Finally, Lord, give me the vision to see that one day I will be a real nurse and I will never have to wear this ugly uniform again"
I wish I could make people understand a nursing degree is not like other degrees - it is hard core difficult and stressful! We are learning how to save people's lives. I thought it was just because I have a family, but I talk to other nursing students who are young and single and they deal with the same emotions and stress levels as I do. I spoke with one classmate the other day who said she has cried every semester. (Check). Many are on anti-anxiety medications (not me yet) and I can see why.
I am feeling verrrrry close to the edge of insanity (see above prayer!) right now. I keep trying to tell myself only one more month until the end of the semester, but there is SO MUCH to do - tests, clinical hours, projects, etc, etc, etc.
I have been very blessed to not have to work while in nursing school and I am thankful for that. I also know Drew (and Austin when home) are very well taken care of by Tony or other family while I'm doing the never-ending school stuff.
The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter, but sometimes it seems so far away . . .
Monday, February 25, 2013
God in (Drew's) School
I was driving Drew to preschool today and we passed Austin's school. We always say "Hi Austin, we love you!" as we pass his school but then Drew asked me if Austin gets to learn about God at school.
"No, he goes to a public school not a Christian school."
"Oh," he said. "Well I get to learn about God at my school."
Yes. This year. Next year he will be going to public kindergarten and won't get to. I explained this to him as best I could and then he said: "Some kids don't believe in God. I will always believe in God no matter what!"
That makes my heart happy and sad at the same time. I am so glad he has had this great, Christian experience at preschool, and I know he will still go to kid church on Sundays and kid church choir on Wednesday nights, but not having that as part of the daily curriculum (and the backbone of the rest) makes me sad.
I think we got spoiled with Austin when he was little. He went 2 preschool years and kindergarten at our church's school (in Greenwood) and then I homeschooled for 2 years and could weave our beliefs into any part of the day I wanted. He was in 3rd grade before he went to public school.
I know we have great public schools here - that is why we live in this part of town. There are many great things about the school system but my Momma heart hurts when I think of signing Drew up for kindergarten in the big public school.
All in all, I am not dealing well with this - - Tony said I was spoiling Drew this morning when I brought him breakfast in (my) bed and he got to watch cartoons while he ate. But I told him these days are limited because next year I will get him up, feed him, put him on the bus and not see him again until almost dinnertime. I am having some issues so bear with me please.
"No, he goes to a public school not a Christian school."
"Oh," he said. "Well I get to learn about God at my school."
Yes. This year. Next year he will be going to public kindergarten and won't get to. I explained this to him as best I could and then he said: "Some kids don't believe in God. I will always believe in God no matter what!"
That makes my heart happy and sad at the same time. I am so glad he has had this great, Christian experience at preschool, and I know he will still go to kid church on Sundays and kid church choir on Wednesday nights, but not having that as part of the daily curriculum (and the backbone of the rest) makes me sad.
I think we got spoiled with Austin when he was little. He went 2 preschool years and kindergarten at our church's school (in Greenwood) and then I homeschooled for 2 years and could weave our beliefs into any part of the day I wanted. He was in 3rd grade before he went to public school.
I know we have great public schools here - that is why we live in this part of town. There are many great things about the school system but my Momma heart hurts when I think of signing Drew up for kindergarten in the big public school.
All in all, I am not dealing well with this - - Tony said I was spoiling Drew this morning when I brought him breakfast in (my) bed and he got to watch cartoons while he ate. But I told him these days are limited because next year I will get him up, feed him, put him on the bus and not see him again until almost dinnertime. I am having some issues so bear with me please.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Oh, he is yours . . .
Yep, that was my kid up on stage with the lead singer of the worship team. Drew couldn't find his way back to us after the pastor read all of the kiddos the Christmas Story. What wonderful people we have at church - one man picked him up and took him to the stage where the worship leader held him until Tony made his way over there. (He was already on his way but hadn't gotten there yet) Drew was a bit freaked out and said "but I went straight!" and couldn't figure out why he didn't get back to us!
This was our first year attending Christmas Eve service here and it was nice and short, with lots of music, and you can tell the pastor and others planning the service put a lot of thought into how to keep the little ones engaged and interested. The service started with a song and then the pastor reading to the kiddos and ended with the kids being invited back up onto the stage to sing and dance during the last song. (Unfortunately Drew was a little scarred from earlier and too scared to go back up - - then he was mad because he was missing it and it only happens oncce a year!)
Afterwards we went and he got to hug his little friend from preschool so all was well. On home to eat, put out cookies for Santa, read The Night Before Christmas, and go to sleep so Christmas can come quickly! I put a bell on the outside of Austin's door because HE is so excited he wakes up at 6am and has to wait for his little brother to wake up!
Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!
This was our first year attending Christmas Eve service here and it was nice and short, with lots of music, and you can tell the pastor and others planning the service put a lot of thought into how to keep the little ones engaged and interested. The service started with a song and then the pastor reading to the kiddos and ended with the kids being invited back up onto the stage to sing and dance during the last song. (Unfortunately Drew was a little scarred from earlier and too scared to go back up - - then he was mad because he was missing it and it only happens oncce a year!)
Afterwards we went and he got to hug his little friend from preschool so all was well. On home to eat, put out cookies for Santa, read The Night Before Christmas, and go to sleep so Christmas can come quickly! I put a bell on the outside of Austin's door because HE is so excited he wakes up at 6am and has to wait for his little brother to wake up!
Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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