Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Start to my 40s

 I didn't sleep very well last night, I kept waking thinking that I was going to miss my alarm because today was "pool day" workout.  I got up for my "pool day" workout, I did 1900 yds in 33 mins, which is pretty good for a pool workout for me as late.  I came home drank a protein shake with a banana, kind of let the day be "lazy" (since I'm suppose to be on vacation from work).  I wanted to let myself reflect on my 30s as well as last 21 yrs because I graduated high school when I was 19.  I'm proud of all what I done, BS degree in Recreational Therapy & minor in Psychology, CTRS, being SAHM, WAHM, recreation assistant, CNA, PCT, and now LPN.  Looking back at the whole picture I wouldn't change being at SAHM or WAHM because it allowed to be there for my children at a young age and educate them.   I have told Bill repeatedly, that my "BIGGEST" regret that I didn't go to BOCES my junior and senior year and get my LPN back then and get my BSN when I was Utica because I definitely had grades, ACTs/SCTs scores for it.  I justify for not getting my BSN because I didn't want to compare to my Nana and I didn't have the support to be a nurse because "I wouldn't good enough."  Yet, I graduated with 2.98 GPA (mind you I have learning disability) in 3 1/2 years and those in education told my parents that I wouldn't amount too much because I wasn't smart enough.  I want to go back to all of those educators that said that to my parents and well thank you because of you, I worked harder to achieve my dreams and now I have Bachelors degree as well as being nurse at VA and I'm very proud of myself and what I have become.  

Here is to next 10 years of craziness and multiple changes, i.e. kids growing, kids graduating, possible going back to school again, and continuing to do marathons/ultramarathons and possible more triathlons.

Approaching my 2 year mark of being a nurse

I'm quickly approaching my 2-year mark of becoming a nurse And I'm constantly questioning why haven't I push myself to go further and get my RN.  Especially, when I'm told that I think and act like RN in my documentation (much thanks to my instructors in school).  Yet, I treat my NAs/CNAs as if they are my backbone and trust their instincts because I once in their shoes and I was fortunate enough to have a couple of LPNs that trusted my instincts as well as push me to go further.  I love being LPN and I love working with Veterans BUT, the biggest draw back with being LPN in the VA is that LPNs aren't used to their full scope of practice.  For now, I will continue to care for the Veterans that service our country and continue to try to push those at be to make VA start using the LPNs to their full scope of practice.