Easy Caprese

I really love caprese salads. Crema Cafe in Old Town makes some of the best caprese salads and sandwiches of all time. However, my favorite cafe isn't always open, and so I created my own caprese inspired dish. 

I love bruschetta; it's super easy to make for a snack or dinner parties. For caprese bruschetta, I simply bought a mini baguette from Trader Joe's, fresh tomatoes, pesto sauce, basil leaves, and a log of mozzarella. 

I sliced the loaf into inch-thick slices, then brushed with olive oil. I topped it off with a slice of tomato, a basil leaf, mozzarella, and drizzled some pesto on top. 

Sometimes my mouth just craves food that is fresh and simple; something that hasn't been cooked or overloaded with too many ingredients.

And on that note, I am now starving. Happy weekend to all! 

A day off...

Well... I showed up to work today, mentally preparing myself on the drive over for my second day on my own... when I found out there was a schedule change I didn't know about!

So, since I have the day off I spent some time this morning just destressing a little bit. I went to Wildflower Bread Co. and had some lemon ricotta pancakes and coffee, then took my dog to the park. Jock is a Scottish Terrier whose favorite pastimes include digging, eating the flowers off of my mother's plants, rolling in grass, and sleeping.

It's so nice outside today, just perfect. Spending some time with a fellow lifeform who doesn't require anything from me except to let him dig, roll in dead grass, and get pets was glorious!

 

Day one post-preceptorship

Today was my very first day on my own a nurse... oy vey! I am very fortunate to work on a unit where the majority of the nurses know I am a new nurse and they try to be patient with me. 

The charge RN today gave me patients that were lower acuity so it could have been a much crazier day. 

I still had to find my preceptor a couple times (luckily she is working the same shifts as me this week :P) to ask a couple questions. 

There was an issue where a patient asked for pain medication, I wasn't told, and then the RN putting in a central line in that same patient was very... irate... while waiting for me to show up before they could start the procedure. 

Needless to say that RN came and found me, and after proverbially spewing a fountain of anger, I medicated the patient and explained I was doing an ECG on another patient and wasn't told the patient requested medication. 

That nurse was slightly nicer to me after that.

It wasn't a horrible day, but I don't feel comfortable yet so the whole day I was second guessing everything. 

Thinking back on it, there a few things I probably should have done but got busy so remembered them when I got home. 

Of course. 

I truly hate my brain sometimes.

The biggest thing I try to tell myself is to not get 'task-oriented' and to pay attention to changes in patient condition... then do something about it. I also have to tell myself multiple times a day to just relax/breathe/remember that the shift will be over, the day will end, and I won't feel like this forever. Can't wait for that!

A little help for my nursing peeps :)

Life as a new grad nurse is just plain crazy. Because my schedule was a little out of control, I never got a chance this spring to go back to my nursing program and speak to the current students. I was hoping to share a little about life as a new grad and the steps I took while interviewing for new grad spots. I am hoping this post will help with that!

First of all, before applying to a new grad program make sure your resume is a reflection of your clinical experience in nursing school. A new grad RN resume will look different than what's considered the "norm". It needs to show your education, your clinical experience, extracurricular activities and professional development, and your work experience. You can see an example of my resume here.
It's not perfect by any means ;)

A tip for current nursing students: work on those professional development activities! Interviewers really do look at volunteer work!

Put together a portfolio that includes your resume, transcripts, certifications, semester summaries of nursing school, immunizations, volunteer work etc. that is pertinent to nursing. I made copies, slipped them in portfolio covers and handed them to each member of the panel. They really liked being able to see in print my resume, transcript, volunteer certs, reviews from my job at the lab, etc.

When applying for new grad programs, make sure you prepare yourself for a long wait. It will take quite a few weeks to see the hiring process through till the end if you're successful. After submitting your application (which is impeccably spell-checked, right? ) make sure to follow up with a recruitment specialist/human resources a few days after to check the status of your application.


Some key points to know for phone and panel interviews:

• Make sure you know the organization you want to be hired at. You need to be familar with the mission statement, how the organization measures it's quality and patient satisfaction. How will you be able to contribute to patient satisfaction? 
• Be prepared to be asked why you chose the nursing profession; if you have chosen to be a nurse for the right reasons, you won't get this question wrong :)
• Have some examples ready of times you showed critical thinking, provided care for a difficult patient, how you've managed conflicts with co-workers, etc. 
• You will be asked critical thinking questions; for example you are given a scenario where a patient presents with new onset chest pain... what are the steps you are going to take to care for this patient? 
• Be yourself... every new grad out there has the same skill set and experience, but interviewers want to see what you bring to the table. Don't be so nervous that your real personality doesn't shine through. 

When it comes to interview guides, this document was very helpful. For a few days prior to my panel interview, I practiced answering these questions out loud. Having a little of a public speaking background from my State FFA days, practicing an interview will make your answers come out smoother since you already have an idea of the point you want to make. Post interview, make sure to send a note or email to the interview panel members for their time; this is important also. Based on feedback from my experience the unit directors really appreciated the follow-up. 

At some point I will post further about my experiences in a new grad program and NCLEX, but right now my bed is calling me! Namaste :D

The thing from nursing school that has stuck with me the most: wash your hands, assess that patient like nobody's business, and safety first! 

Brain Food

Sometimes the best kitchen creations come out of having a sparsely filled cupboard and fridge. After opening each and lowering my standards a little bit, I came up with a delicious veggie dish that served me well this afternoon. Very filling and gave me nice boost mentally and physically.

Quinoa, sliced carrots/sweet potato, wilted kale & spinach, a dash of garlic and sriracha sauce with a side of sourdough toast. All I did was cook some quinoa according the instructions on the package (from Trader J's), boiled the carrots and sweet potatoes for about 40 minutes or so, then mixed in the fresh greens with the potatoes/carrots and quinoa until they wilted. Next time I make this, I think I'll add some chipotle seasoned chicken. So delicious.

Coffee and Cardiac Rhythms

Spent the day resting up before my week really gets going tomorrow... being a nurse is more tiring than I initially thought it would be. Good thing I only work three shifts a week!

Went to get a latte from my favorite cafe in town to put some pep in my step... if you haven't had a glorious honey vanilla breve or any delicious healthy eats from this place then there are things in life you are missing out on ;) Check it out if you ever find the road you are on is heading for the Verde Valley.

Will be spending the rest of the day studying heart rhythms. The unit I work on will now be taking patients that require cardiac monitoring... looking forward to learning new things but to be honest heart monitors and their squiggly lines intimidate me a wee bit! A breve from my favorite place will definitely help boost my brain! Happy studies! 

Inaugural Post

Hello all :)

It's time for a new blog with a new upgrade, every day is a good day for a change :) At some point I will include things from my previous blog, but for now I'm content to get the ball rolling with a post that is short and sweet. Today I spent some time tidying up my sadly forgotten front porch. The best thing about springtime is being able to plant flowers... they seem to make the world a brighter place don't you think?