Florence Nightingale Award

This is the best week ever. We had our final Monday. I didn't have to take it because I did well on the HESI exit exam (similar to a board test) and was happy with my lecture grade. For this reason, I was able to go up to Kansas last week, instead of studying, which made me really happy.

Our pinning ceremony took place Monday. The instructors announced the awards that the students had chosen. The final award was introduced, by my instructor from last semester, as the "Florence Nightingale Award." She stated the ward was voted on my the nursing faculty and to be given to someone who would strongly carry on Florence's vision of nursing and would represent the school. She talked about it for several more moments and then informed the class that this year's recipient would be ME! I was completely shocked and blown away by this honor. Another instructor went up to the podium to hand me my own copy of Florence Nightingale's "Notes on Nursing," a beautiful book I will treasure FOREVER. The instructor told the class that this was the most important award given to the student that the instructors would personally choose to take care of themselves or one of their loved ones. That right there means everything to me.

My favorite quote from Florence pretty much sums of my beliefs on nursing-

"Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter's or sculptor's work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, compared with having to do with the living body, the temple of God's spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts."

I don't know if I deserve this award more than any of my other peers....But, I do know how much I love nursing. This career has taught me so much- not only how to take care and talk to others but it has helped me figure out who I really am. I've wanted to be a RN since I was 18 years old and it has been the one constant dream of mine since. I can't believe I am there.

Lessons Learned

Just wanted to share this cute picture that Ave made...She was coloring one day and told me she drew a picture of her family. She asked me how to spell "mom" and "tanner."

Here we are...Two and ahalf years later...We have come so far. When Ave and I first moved to Texas, I strongly disliked having to explain our situation to others and loathed the question, "And what does your husband do?" I would see Ave watching other families interact and I assumed she was wondering where her dad was.

After all this time has gone by, I can now openly explain before anyone has to ask- "Yeah, its just me and Avery and we are pretty darn close."

Any mom will tell you that its hard. I just know that I was meant to be a mom- Avery's mom...I wouldn't trade it for anything. Our struggle has brought us together and I am the happiest and strongest I have ever been.

So, what now? It has taken me long enough but I have come to several conclusions over the last couple of weeks. I need to stop worrying so much about myself and my situation and start doing more for others. Working in the emergency room for my school clinicals has been a startling experience. If you have family support, your health, and a grasp of perspective- you can count yourself extremely lucky.

Man, wisdom does come with age...I am wise beyond my years...Its a good thing I am getting older- my life experiences will soon catch up to my age!

More Kansas Fun!

This is the best month for us but also the craziest. I was in desperate need of a quick trip to see some of my Kansas people and we were able to go up last week.

Its interesting to me to go back to a place where I have so many roots- both good and bad. I ran into one of my really good friends from high school, that just recently moved back to KS, while we were visiting Crown Center with the kids. That just doesn't happen in a place where no one knew you even existed 2 years ago.

It may have something to do with my parents moving away and now that school is coming to a close- I have this pressing need to "settle" somewhere with Ave... It is not fun moving every year and I want Ave to be able to center her life around people that care about her and are constantly present in her life.

For now, I still LOVE Texas and am excited to advance in my nursing career here. I will just always look forward to my KS trips...As you can tell from the pictures, Ave and her cousin Brittany are the best of friends. Those two girls are so cute together. Since leaving, I have been asked everyday if we are going to go back to see Brittany. SO MUCH FUN!