...This quote speaks volumes to me today as I reflect on the many changes that are ahead. Change has never been easy for me. I hate hurting people, leaving awesome coworkers, learning a new schedule, and being in a new environment. But many times changes is what the lord has in plan for us and we ignore it.
January 2012- When I accepted my first nursing job as an RN I was thrilled. I was so excited to be a grown up!!! Newton was a fabulous first job. I learned about the behind the scenes nursing stuff that is hard to really experience in nursing school like, how to talk to doctors at 2am, how to be a charge nurse, and the good ol' paperwork and charting that is specific to each individual job. I knew Newton would not be forever, but I knew it would not be easy to move on.
October 2007- Many know that growing up I always wanted to be a elementary/sped teacher. It was what I saw growing up, it was natural. But it was not something I could see my self doing for the long run. My sophomore year at USD I started to explore the nursing field. It was something I never thought I was smart enough to do. Science was never my strong subject but I knew that if it was something I wanted to do and the door was being open for me. Let me tell you, it was not easy, there were many tears but I made it and I'm so very thankful. When I went into nursing my top three jobs were always, NICU, labor and delivery, and pediatrics. My heart and my passion is with sick kiddos, babes, and mamas2B. I feel blessed that the lord placed those desires on my heart.
Graduation December 2011
June/July 2012- I had been searching job opportunities within Via-Christi and Wesley. I was getting tired of working 8 hour shifts and having to drive 25 minutes to work. I also knew that I need to follow my dream and passion of working with babes, kiddos, or mamas. I was quickly introduced to some nursing recruiters within Via-Christi that were able to help get my name out to some of the different units. This was a trying time. It took trusting that the lord had the perfect job out there for me and knowing that in his time everything would fall into place. I had a couple interviews and was offered a position at the behavioral health unit (working with kiddos with behavioral emotional disturbances). It was something I knew I would be good at due to my childhood and growing up around kids with many different "life challenges." But I was unsure if this was exactly what I wanted to do. But through much prayer, I accepted the position and started the first of August. The position opened my eyes to the hurt that is all around us. So many are hurting, broken, and have had many life challenges that they are trying to overcome at such a young age.
October 2012- And now we are in October. I truly believe that if the Lord wants us to be doing something different or something along a "new" path that he will lead us in that direction one way or another. I got the opportunity the first of October to "float" to the pediatric unit at St. Francis. I was living a dream. Since I attended Colleges outside of Wichita I had never been to a pediatric unit in Wichita. I loved my short 8hours on the pediatric floor. I knew at this time that I was missing something that I had been called to do. I tried to not think much of it. I knew that I was only needed on the Adolescent unit at the Behavioral Health Hospital two times a week and so that left one open 12 hours shift a week. I kept thinking to myself how great it would be to be able to work on the pediatric unit one time a week, but once again didn't let myself think or get excited about it. At the end of my day floating on the pediatric floor I went into thank the coordinator and let her know what days I had available for more training. To make a long story short the coordinator basically told me that there was a need on the pediatric intensive care unit and if I was interested to let her know. I told her I was definitely interested and two days later I was able to spend a couple of hours on the PICU floor. I loved it, plain and simple. The next week I was officially offered the job and I accepted. With that said I was very sad to leave my little family at the BHC but I knew that I could not let an opportunity like this one pass me up.
October 22, 2012- This week will be my first week as a pediatric intensive care nurse. My heart is overwhelmed with so much joy. I am truly grateful for this opportunity. I'm so very blessed and I give all thanks to the Lord for making "change" okay within my heart.
