A month in

Only a month in as LPN at the Veteran Affairs, oh my goodness gracious I feel like I'm home and where I belong.  I never thought I wanted to be a long term care nurse or "med pusher" while I'm quote on quote am both of those things, I have a great satisfaction at end of the day.  I love the Vets that I get to work with and the co-worker continue to allow me to grow and learn as a nurse and a person, which is awesome.  I truly appreciate the work/life balance that I have now versus what I had when I was working for other places.  And anyone in private section questioning to make the jump to the VA, DO IT!!!!!!!  Between the pay, benefits, work/life balance, etc., it totally worth making that leap.  As my daughter likes to refers I made the jump from being a night charge nurse to day "bitch" lead nurse (i.e. being in charge of one half of the floor instead of entire floor) and to be quite honest it has been difficult to make the change from a night person to a day person but, I'm enjoying being with my family more now than before as being a night person.  Plus, I feel like it teaches my daughter importance of sacrifices for others that most important to you.

On the road to Musselman Half Ironman after 4 weeks

After completing 4 weeks of triathlon without swimming of course because COVID-19, and holy cow I question what was I thinking.  I do have remind myself that motto for this year, "if doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you."  Thus far, this training has challenge me always every step of the way between balancing this pandemic as a night nurse, a wife with a hubby who works maybe once a week, a mom of 3 kids being at home ready to kill each other almost every day, trying to train in hopes that race is still going to happen, and just trying to stay a healthy/get to a healthy weight.  While I do feel like I bit off more than I could chew this time, I thought same thing about LPN school, CNA class,  when I went to college for Recreation Therapy, when starting training for half marathon, marathon, and definitely when I starting training for my first MTD.  Yet, I have always met those challenges head on because I like challenges or maybe I just crazy, or a little both.

Supplementing the swim with cross training some times the kids because one it helps them get involve with my training but, also helps them be healthy through all of this.  

I finally starting to get comfortable with my cleats with bike, I learned that I had Aero bars mounted upside down (ooops).  Did a 12.10 mile ride as my long ride, and takeaway from the ride: need to figure out WHY the bike isn't dropping to low gear for hill climbs; I need to hydrate better during the ride; using the Aero bars are great especially for flatter surfaces; work a little harder next long ride; and I NEED triathlon shorts or cycling shorts because feeling all of bumps hurt after awhile.

Endurance for my running is coming back VERY VERY slowly.  I SO APPRECIATE having a running partner even if we have to practice social distancing that we hold each other accountable to get out of run.  We have been doing a lot more trail running that what we used because it is easier to social distance on trail than on the road, which also strengthen ankles due to the uneven surfaces.  I feel/know that my treadmill is NECESSARY EVIL.  I know that I suffer from Raynaud's syndrome and the last few years has gotten worst during the long wintery season.  My long run during this 4th week of training was on the treadmill due to my Raynaud's and it being very cold pouring rain.  Take away from that run:  MAKE SURE the treadmill fan is HIGH otherwise I overheat and that increase my heart rate more than it should; Treadmill isn't has fun or accurate as outdoor running; it becomes more of a mental game than anything else because I have to work on my stride maintain and pace as well as heart rate.  

Pros: Having amazing support network as always even though, I'm sure I don't tell them enough.; Accountable even when I didn't want to do the workout for each day.

Cons:  Still struggling with the balance of our new "norm"; struggling with my nutrition because my scheduling keeps flip flop because I'm a night nurse.

Week 1 of triathlon training

About 5 or 6 years, I told Bill that I wanted to do an Ironman by the time that I was 40 years old.  So, in January I started toying with the idea of doing a half Ironman.  Bill reminded me that I wanted to do one by the time I was 40, well time was running out because I was turning 39 in March and if I wanted to do one before I was 40 it was going to have to this year.  So, I bite the bullet and sign up for half Ironman locally in July.  I figured that a half Ironman would a good challenge especially after 2 Ultramarathons, 7 Marathons, and LPN school.

Where to start? I read multiple websites, a few books, etc.  I found IronFit and I like that training plan the book laid especially since I'm currently overnight LPN in Transitional Care Unit.  I knew that I just wanted to finished because I had never done a triathlon.  So now I had a plan to follow let's do it.  So, I set to start my training plan by the end of March

THEN,.........

COVID-19 happened.

Now, public school are closed until further notice, pools are closed, social distancing, essential workers are only people that should be out and about, etc.

Adjustments had to made to training i.e. more biking and running instead of swimming.  Being a former competitive swimmer, I feel so-so with the swim part of the race because it is a  shortest part of the race. 

The biggest takeaways from week one of training is heart rate training is hard especially for running, biking on a trainer is way different than being outside riding, having bike shoes that clip definitely getting use to, balancing work, training, being homeschool teacher, wife, mom of 3 is holy hard. 

Positives of week 1: Bill is an awesome support person, always keeps me accountable.  Tailwind nutrition is amazing for my overnight shift as well as training workout, loving the recovery formula, and I'm loving the challenge.

Negatives of week 1: Dislike my bike shoe clips, trying to rebuild endurance, missing out on the swim part because COVID-19, and finding the balance.

Almost 6 months in

Almost 6 months into being a LPN, I have learned that I true calling was always to nursing but, I keep questioning where my place in nursing is though? When I was a CTRS I worked with troubled teens and developmental disabilities/physical disabilities, I enjoyed that population.  While I was in nursing school, I worked on Med-Surg floor, I enjoyed having "a basket of everything" but, it always short term.  I was able to do a couple of days in the ED setting while in nursing school and I absolutely loved being on the move every second of clinical day.  I have been working as LPN on transitional care unit since September and I love doing what I do as a nurse but, I question everyday if this where my calling/passion is supposed to be.  I never envisioned myself behind a med chart, counting narcs, dealing with dementia patients, and insubordinate  CNAs who have no respect those above them.  I feel like I'm still trying to find my place and feel like I don't know where my place should be because I enjoy med-surg, transitional care, developmental disable, hospice, and ED.  I have learned that I'm truly a night nurse because being on days for any length of time I'm not a happy person, which works for our family in that our older two kidos are in sports and extracurricular activities.  I know that for our family  that being night nurse is what needed because any other position doesn't work.  I guess where do I go from here?  I know most hospital don't hire LPNs, so continue to get my RN in order to be in hospital/acute setting or settle where I'm at and just keep hoping things will change?