18 months in

 Almost 18 months as a LPN, I can still say that I made the right choice to go into nursing because it continues to challenge me and I love being a nurse.  

DOWNSIDE of being a LPN: 

• Some CNAs, NAs, PCTs, RNs, NPs, seems to think that we are NOT as educated, yet we are between the level of CNA/NA/PCTs and RNs
• Yet,... we are ones that "run" clinicals, doctors' offices, urgent cares, and LTC floors 
• Yet,.. we are ones that "drop down" to CNA/NA/PCTs positions needed because we are short staff on our or another unit
• Yet,...we are constantly observing/"assessing" situations, skin, residents/patients while belittled by those above/below us because we are "less educated"

I have and will continue to be a nurse that will jump in and ask, "is there anything I can help you with?"  I try to take the extra time to listen to my residents/Veterans that I work for because at the end of the day I'm there for them, that's why I became a nurse.  I make no secret that I have my Bachelor of Sciences in Therapeutic Recreation with minor Psychology because I'm proud of that accomplishment but, becoming a nurse outweighs that degree by ten folds even if I'm "just LPN," which I don't say that about myself because I worked my arse off for that license and I asked a lot of my family while I did that.  I'm a NURSE, and I beyond grateful for the instructors that I had instill in us that we may be LPNs but, taught us to the level of RN throughout our clinical routines because it prepared us to go into the workforce to work as a LPN but, think/assess as RN.  To those that choose to stay "just LPNs" you are beautiful and I have upmost respect for you because you are the corner stone of nursing more than you realize.  

When I enter into nursing as aide, I thought I would be satisfied at being an CNA because I helping people and I was hands on but, I felt a higher calling, I became a LPN and thought, "yay I made I'm a nurse, I can/will make a difference." While I know that I have made a difference in the 18 months of being a nurse, I feel like this journey isn't done.  

Those that are questioning about being becoming LPNs, IMHO: "DO IT!!!!!"  It was the best decision in my life, I love being nurse, and while a LOT of people DO NOT understand what function a LPN does, I do NOT regret a single day of being LPN because I know at the end of day that I'm still a NURSE, that's something to be proud.

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?

Our baby girl 1st XC season

Our daughter decided that she was doing cross country reluctantly because we told that she needs to start thinking forward/to the future (i.e. college, trade school, etc) and those places will be looking for a well rounded person.  She started her amazing journey on the first day of 7th grade, the first Invitational was Wayne where she completed 1.5 miles in 15:38 (10:25/per mile).  It was good start and that's what we told her even though, she was walking at times and we/she knew that she could have ran the entire course but, didn't want to.  Throughout the season, we kept reminding her that she needed to run her own race and not worry about what her teammates were doing.  While they scored as a team, each of their times were individualize.  She learned that she liked wearing spikes for her races because it gave her a little extra.  As the season coming to close, she complained that she was coming down with a chest cold, her being stubborn as I am, refused to give in to it and able to keep it at bay until past Sunday (day after League Championships).  On Saturday, October 26, was her League Championship, she finally learned/accepted to the importance of running her own race and no one else's because she set goal to break 20 minutes for 2 miles, which wasn't unrealistic in that she ran 21:32 the weekend before.  Well, Saturday morning was cool fall morning, i.e. great race weather, well our baby girl "showed up" and finished in 19:02 (8:59/per mile), she finished 38th out of 72 modified girls.  Her team finished overall 3rd out of 7 teams that scored.  I'm beyond proud of her and all her accomplishments this season because while she competed in modified cross country, she maintain on her grades (i.e. honors), and was able of field band.  She gets to enjoy a few weeks before she starts indoor track starts as well as winter guard. 

Nutshell of 4 years

Wow life has really changed in 4 years in many ways but, has stayed the same in others. 

• So in December 2015, I went back to work as per diem Recreation Assistant/Personal Care Assistant at CDR, I worked there in July 2017.  In June 2017, I graduated with a certification as Nursing Assistant (i.e. CNA), began working full time for a LTC in July 2017 and stayed there for a year when I took a job as a PCT (patient care technician) at a hospital closer to home, I also just recently graduated from Nursing School (Practical Nursing), and now licensed as a LPN by NYS BON.  I just started running 3 days a week hoping to work back up to 5-6 days a weeks but, only time will tell on that.
• My husband and I celebrated 16 years of marriage in July, and 17 years of being together.
• My husband took a position as a substitute bus driver for our kids' school district last November, which works well for us because he is off when the kids and was able to be home with them while I was in PN school.  He now works full time for the school district.
• Our oldest son is now in 8th grade, which is so hard to believe because he has made a lot of stride this year as well as some major challenges, i.e. he's a TEENAGER!!!  He still is obsessed with trains and very knowledgeable about all things with locomotives.  He is still in a 6:1:1 classroom but no longer needs to have an aide/assistant assign to him, which we never thought we would see the day where there might be the possibly of him being mainstream into regular classroom (maybe in the next couple of years).
• Our daughter is now in 7th grade, she is developing into amazingly strong, intelligent, kind young woman who is going to participating in field band (as part of the color guard) as well as cross country team.  She has started wearing contacts that has definitely been a challenge for her to use to wearing them but, after almost month she is finally getting the hang of it.  She has been back in public school going on her 3rd year and has maintain being high honor roll.
• Our youngest son is now in 3rd grade, he has definitely met with a lot of challenges academically because he was diagnosed with severe ADHD with a strong possibly of learning disability.  He does enjoy going to school and is also in 6:1:1 program, it definitely is a good fit for his academic needs right now.  He continues to a very lovable boy that absolutely loves his dinosaurs and learning everything he can possibly learn about them.  In 2016, he had a T&A removal surgery (tonsils and adenoids), which helped his hearing abilities but, decreased his issues with snoring. 
• About 4 years ago we added a pit bull/lab mix (she was a rescue dog), she definitely fit right into our crazy crew because she is a spunky dog that loves the kids a lot.

We are still trying to the live life as natural as possible, which I know may sound odd considering I'm  a LPN and my husband a bus driver.