It has been a long time coming!...last I updated Darryl’s
Digest, back in February of ’16, I found myself in the midst of the 2nd
semester (of 4) in Palomar College’s RN Program. In that time I put to bed my
nursing school aspirations and turned it into a reality.
Thursday, May 25th, 2017 I was pinned by my
wife (an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) RN), Megan, bringing to an end my journey
started in April of 2009 when I enrolled in my first prerequisite for nursing
school, albeit at National University (NU). Unfortunately, by April 2012, I
found myself out of NU’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Program, without a degree after some technical difficulties. No matter, come
Easter, Megan and I were engaged and before the end of the year we found
ourselves hitched.
Fast-forward to June 2017, the 21st to be
exact, I faced the final challenge on my path to becoming a Registered Nurse
(RN); I sat for my National Council Licensure Examination-Registered
Nurse (NCLEX-RN); only after nearly 5 hours and 265 questions had passed, did I finish. Early (before 0400, 4AM for the non-24-hour clock fans) June 24th,
Megan, who was at work at the time, texted me to let me know that I was
successful. I passed. I am an RN! w00t! After verifying my license number
myself and firing off a quick message to my wife and a co-worker, I took a
little time to sit by myself, verklempt, having a little chat with mom.
Mom! That reminds me, I received
word about being accepted to the Palomar College RN Program the self-same day
that she passed. After a diagnosis of cancer that had metastasized in the vicinity of Memorial Day weekend, 2014, and a very
poor prognosis, an estimated
life expectancy of a month, Mom fought on for 10. Before she
left, Megan and I were able to let her know that we had a little girl on the
way who’d be carrying on her name, in the middle at least; little Violet
Josefina.
Little Violet’s coming was a whole ‘nother
story of its own, beyond the ordeal that is birth. In the span of a week,
August 30 – September 4, 2017 (Sunday to Friday)…let me tell you about that
week. On Sunday, August 30th, 2017, Megan’s aunt Chris-Ann passed
away unexpectedly whilst on the road to recovery from a series of ailments.
Tuesday, September 1st, 2017, Violet Josefina made her appearance
with little over an hour left in the day. Finally, on Friday, September 4th,
2017, Megan’s father, Roger, passed away (he suffered a major brain bleed on
August 18th, while I was at the 2nd day of my nascent
Palomar College RN Program experience).
Back to the future we head again, on
to June 29th, 2017, it was a Thursday; I had the great opportunity
to sit for an interview for a local hospital for 3 RN positions I hoped to
possibly work in. I was still in disbelief of becoming an RN, but there I was,
on the cusp of an opportunity to become a real-live, employed, RN! It was more
like speed-dating as me and 6 candidates faced 7 different panels with 10
minutes to talk to each. Of the 10 groups of candidates interviewing over the
28th and 29th, for a total of 70 suitors, we were the last. Amongst
the lot of us, only 30 opportunities existed. Game on! :P
Days later, as I awaited the results
of my speed-dating for a new job interview, I was at work, on my last shift as
a non-RN. Thankfully, it was a short shift I spent on the floor. Unfortunately,
it was because I was kicked in the head and had to be evaluated and told I had
a concussion. You win some, you lose some. In the end, I won; as of last
Friday, July 7th, I received an email from my prospective employer.
Like my wife, I too was going to be an ICU RN. wow. Wow. WOW!
Much like finding out I had passed
my NCLEX-RN, I still have some disbelief I’m processing of the whole thing.
Later in the day, I received an email from another prospective employer about
their interest in my application to another ICU RN position and forwarding it
to their hiring manager; bringing to mind the adage, ‘when it rains, it pours’.
No word yet on an interview or further steps yet, but I feel good about my
chances.
So, that’s about it, barring the
minutiae of my life over the last year or so. As other thoughts and memories
come to mind, I’m sure they’ll find their way here on Darryl’s Digest. Until
then…
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