Saturday, July 31, 2010
Keep in Mind....
Just a reminder...I do still claim Tanner. He does still live here. I think of him as my son. I love him very much...He is just NEVER HOME! He is 16 and thinks we are silly, so he avoids us like the plague. Seriously....he has a girlfriend...'nuff said?
Backyard All Day Swim & BBQ
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| Byron says, "This is the Life" |
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| Oh Boy.... |
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| Having Fun |
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| Sugar High :) |
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| Roasting Marshmallows |
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| Sean & Brady Goofing Off |
The Life of an 8th Grader
Here is my handsome PRIDE & JOY! These are photos of the 8th grade end of the year dinner/dance, as well as 8th grade graduation, and some 8th grade end of the year FUN!
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| Looking Like a Million Bucks! |
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| Oh Yeah..... |
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| BEST FRIENDS! |
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| Painted Party |
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| Brady and his girlfriend Riley I am so proud of Brady. He maintained HONOR status all 3 years of middle school. |
Work Update
I have been at my new job for 6 weeks now and boy have I learned lot. I love what I do and have really come to fit in where I am, which is nice. It makes going to work everything a positive experience. I have my job skills down (for the most part) and am finally at a point where I am contributing on a daily basis. I have my med pass down and have most of the current 70 residents meds memorized, which is a feat in itself, as most kids are on multiple meds. I wont go into too much detail,but I was baptized by fire so to speak Thursday night, as I had my first incident to deal with while alone in medical. A resident attempted suicide in the main bathroom while I was on my dinner break. As I walked in I could tell something was off. I jogged on down to medical and just missed the incident,but jumped right in to take over. It was messy. As we were able to get the bleeding stopped, I did not call 911,but rather called her mom who came and took her to the emergency room/triage for care, then for the a psych evaluation. I was buried with paperwork the rest of my shift. I have really come to like these kids. It affected me deeply, especially because she was one of my favorites. After this happened I got a warm goodbye from one of my favorite male residents who was completing and leaving Friday. I was bummed and made him promise to come say goodbye to me because I had Friday off. He is such a sweetie and always made me feel welcomed, appreciated and special, by saying, "Thanks Jen, You're the best, I love you" I always hollared back hey bud i love you too. It became our running joke. I missed him this morning on my Saturday shift. All in all, things are going well. I am well, and I am loving my paychecks!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Kindergarten Graduate
Here is Drew in red at his Kindergarten Graduation June 17th. He led the other pre-k kids in and was flag holder. It was precious. I cried as usual. I am so proud of him. 
Change of Plans
My home care job ran its course and I was let go in May. I was unemployed for a few weeks, which wasn't too terrible as it allowed me to catch up on school work. I was able to complete a course, re study the entire 300+ page book and pay to sit for the course exam, which I am proud too say I passed on the first try with quite a nice score. I have also finished the core part of my 2nd course, and just have to now schedule and pay for the exam, scram study for 2 weeks while I await my authorization to test number, then I go take that.
As luck would have it, my friend and neighbor's mother in law mentioned she was looking to staff a nursing position where she worked; asked if she knew anyone, and my friend mentioned me. I was put in contact with her mom-in-law who is the head of HR. After a few telephone and email conversations, I had an interview set and took the scenic 35 minute ride to Mendham. I was pleasantly surprised and excited at the prospect of working there. My interview went well, and I was called back the next day and offered the position. I was over the top excited, as this is my first official job since obtaining my nursing license.
I got all my physical paperwork, doctor signed, immunization records, nursing license, birth cert, social security card, etc (list goes on and on) together and headed back for the paperwork portion of hiring. That took a while. I started the next week.
My first few shifts were short and I was teamed up with another nurse. Everyone I work with (3 other nurses, as well as the DON) are super nice. I learned tons and tried to soak up all I could. After 5 assisted shifts I was let go on my own for a Saturday a.m shift of med pass, first aid, etc. Med pass went well. There are 70+ residents, ages 12-19, and most of them take meds. It was hectic and it will take some time for me to develop my own routine and figure out what works best for me. I enjoyed being on my own though. It was nice to feel trusted and important. Some of daily routine things I will be doing are med pass (most important) doing new resident intakes (all medical stuff/ tons of paperwork getting them in the system) I do the initial patient assessment (8 page form) do baseline vitals signs, set up and give the TB test (injection), set up and run the initial urine drug screen, set up and schedule the initial blood work, I do med orders from doctors, fax and contact insurance for meds, order meds, set up medication record (MAR) and basically sit in room for body screen. All residents are stripped, body scanned and searched for drug paraphernalia. I do a communicable disease check, have them redress, then take a photo for MAR (meds) and have them do their goodbyes if family is present. And then...there is all the OTHER paper work. It is truly never ending LOL :)
A lot of residents are escorted from Juvenile Detention in cuffs, some are voluntary admissions with family present. Those are difficult as parents are usually teary and upset. It is a busy busy job and there is always something to do. A lot of these kids are not well, so we have a lot of fighting issues, wounds, cutting, sick kids, etc. It is very trying. They are not always nice and polite. I try to see the good side in them, and treat them the way I'd like my own kids to be treated.
I am working part time as I need time to still do school. I was hired at a less than desirable amount of hours, but it has since doubled so I am thrilled at the prospect of my earning potential. Things are going well. I start 8 hour shifts this week (alone). I also work both weekend days right now, but only 4 hour shifts so I'm trying to not complain and look on the bright side....I am a nurse and I HAVE A JOB!!!!!! I will attach a few photos.
Daytop Village (Mendham)
Scenic drive
Daytop Property
As luck would have it, my friend and neighbor's mother in law mentioned she was looking to staff a nursing position where she worked; asked if she knew anyone, and my friend mentioned me. I was put in contact with her mom-in-law who is the head of HR. After a few telephone and email conversations, I had an interview set and took the scenic 35 minute ride to Mendham. I was pleasantly surprised and excited at the prospect of working there. My interview went well, and I was called back the next day and offered the position. I was over the top excited, as this is my first official job since obtaining my nursing license.
I got all my physical paperwork, doctor signed, immunization records, nursing license, birth cert, social security card, etc (list goes on and on) together and headed back for the paperwork portion of hiring. That took a while. I started the next week.
My first few shifts were short and I was teamed up with another nurse. Everyone I work with (3 other nurses, as well as the DON) are super nice. I learned tons and tried to soak up all I could. After 5 assisted shifts I was let go on my own for a Saturday a.m shift of med pass, first aid, etc. Med pass went well. There are 70+ residents, ages 12-19, and most of them take meds. It was hectic and it will take some time for me to develop my own routine and figure out what works best for me. I enjoyed being on my own though. It was nice to feel trusted and important. Some of daily routine things I will be doing are med pass (most important) doing new resident intakes (all medical stuff/ tons of paperwork getting them in the system) I do the initial patient assessment (8 page form) do baseline vitals signs, set up and give the TB test (injection), set up and run the initial urine drug screen, set up and schedule the initial blood work, I do med orders from doctors, fax and contact insurance for meds, order meds, set up medication record (MAR) and basically sit in room for body screen. All residents are stripped, body scanned and searched for drug paraphernalia. I do a communicable disease check, have them redress, then take a photo for MAR (meds) and have them do their goodbyes if family is present. And then...there is all the OTHER paper work. It is truly never ending LOL :)
A lot of residents are escorted from Juvenile Detention in cuffs, some are voluntary admissions with family present. Those are difficult as parents are usually teary and upset. It is a busy busy job and there is always something to do. A lot of these kids are not well, so we have a lot of fighting issues, wounds, cutting, sick kids, etc. It is very trying. They are not always nice and polite. I try to see the good side in them, and treat them the way I'd like my own kids to be treated.
I am working part time as I need time to still do school. I was hired at a less than desirable amount of hours, but it has since doubled so I am thrilled at the prospect of my earning potential. Things are going well. I start 8 hour shifts this week (alone). I also work both weekend days right now, but only 4 hour shifts so I'm trying to not complain and look on the bright side....I am a nurse and I HAVE A JOB!!!!!! I will attach a few photos.
Daytop Village (Mendham)
Scenic drive
Daytop Property
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