My Journey Through Life

You know you are a true Minnesotan when:

2009-08-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

You know you are a true Minnesotan when:
· you even use the word Uffda in your correspondence.
· You are in IL. Putting on gas and you ask for POP and the attendant says YOU must be from Minnesota.
· It’s 23 degrees outside and you are in your shirt sleeves Proclaiming what a gorgeous day it is out today!!
· When most people say yes. A True Minnesotan says “You betcha”
· Have a Norsk accent.
· Know What Norsk, Lutefisk, lefsa, Klub. Is…..
· Potatoes are considered a food group.
· Tan lines are not bikini lines they are shirt sleeve lines.
· Know what a frost plug is…
· Carrie jumper cables, extension cord, Blankets, in your car 9 months of the year.

I will Update this Occasionally…

wow distance LPN Program at NCTC

2009-07-28T05:17:00.000-07:00

Hi, are you from the area? Thief River Falls, or East Grand Forks, because the clinical and the skills classes are over weekends.... fri Sat & sunday. I will hook you up with the distance Education site.

when I did the LPN Program I did as much as I could online. I worked full time and went to school full time.... the Online classes made it so much more manageable.
http://www.northlandcollege.edu/
the Link below is the link to the distance program
http://distance.minnesota.edu/visitors/program/index.php?college=nctc&prog_code=460

this links out line the course requirements for the clinical and skills classes.

On Site Requirements:

PNSG 1204 Nursing Skills I (10 days)
PNSG 1212 Nursing Skills II (6 days)
PNSG 1232 IV Certification (4 days)
PSNG 1216 PN Clinical I (160 hrs)
PNSG 1226 PN Clinical II (128 hrs)
PNSG 1236 Practicum (64 hrs)

Special Requirements:

Progression Plan
Licensure
Transfer of courses in nursing
Technical Standard

confession of an addict

2009-07-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

Hi my name is Diane and I am a Pen addict
I have a favorite type a pen… the Pental WOW.. it is inexpensive I get them at Wal-Mart. Every time I go in there I buy a package of 5 for $1.96… they have a point that is just in between fine and Medium, it writes nice and black but not as black as a gel pen, and is so smooth. I was cleaning my office yesterday and I counted 8 packages of five and about 25 loose ones…. LOL… I leave them ever where. on all the nurses stations and see them in every ones pocket so I started putting little labels on them well they are still disappearing… a couple a weeks ago I found an engraver in one of my junk drawers. (Spring cleaning during the last blizzard) I now engrave my pens…. Now they are being returned to my office. Yesterday in Wal-Mart I actually refrained from buying another package.

But fell off the wagon yesterday and bought an 18 pack on Amazon .com. can't wait until it gets here.

Non Traditional Student

2009-07-22T18:26:00.000-07:00

I was a non traditonal student, I started working as a NAR ( nurses Aid regestered) I loved it, so I went back to School.

I was 45 years old when I walked through the doors at the local community college. I took 50 some credits in 3 semesters, I graduated July 27th 2005, Due to my age I just kept on going. I graduated from the RN program July 2007. during the 3 years It took to accomplish this I worked full time nights. My youngest child graduated from High school and a 2 year college, also my Daughter was married, and the day I took my boards My Daugther went into labor but i finished in time was there to watch my Granddaughter being born. AND i passed my State Board test.

My Work

2009-07-21T04:38:00.000-07:00

I am a registered nurse I work in a LTC in Northern MN. I am 50 years old I have had many different jobs, I have been a waitress, a Pinsetter, (waitress in a bowling allyLOL) an Office manager, a bookkeeper, a sales manager, owned my own business. but the I am very proud of my journey to become an RN and the work I do.

In my random things about me I listed my work as number one... I love my job and my work that I do. I actually make a difference in the lives of my residents. My area of interest is Geriatrics. I knew what setting I wanted to work from the moment I decided to become an RN. So every Project i did in school I did was geared toward geriatrics. I think it has given me a step up

I started my career as a nurse at age 45, working as a night CNA, I had sold my Insurance agency. and was boared. I had been looking for job but wasn't finding any thing, they gave me the Job but I am sure that the didn't think I would last. I fell in love with my residents... yes even at night, I did my CNA classes and thought this was easy, so I talked my hubby into letting me go back to college. It took a little longer than I thought. he was a little reluctant. but I started my classes a week late....(another blog entry)

The LPN program was very intense, I learned tons of stuff. I did well in classes. the schedule I kept was Brutal, I worked 9 days a pay period and went to school full time. that 1st semester the first 3 days a week I averaged 2-3 hours of sleep a day. Luckly I discovered online clases. my second semester went better. 20 credits but I also was able to utilize my PTO so I could cut down on my days that I worked. and still kept my full time status so I could keep my Health insurance. That saved the family ton of cash.

The facility that I worked hired me as an LPN, to give me enough hours I still worked as a CNA. I continued most of my NOC shifts, but I was able to work some days as well. I started the Pre Required classes, Chem, Micro Bio, Adv. Phys and abnormal Psyc....

I applyed to the Parttime RN program... it was the 1st time it was offered. it was wonderful to only have to go to the campas 1 day a week. still lots of homework and it took an extra semester but it was worth it to keep on working and keep my health insurance... the pay wasn't really the issue in all of this I had the money from the sale of my business. It was just nice not to have to pay for health insurance.

I graduated May 17th of 2007, I took my NCLEX test on June 12 I passed the 1st time.

My work wanted me to work there as an RN so I was being orientated even before I graduated. so the moment I had my licence # I was on the floor as a Charge Nurse.

Now I am at a differnt facility, I have been there a year. It is really great job.

25 Random things about me.

2009-07-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

1) I love to work and I love My Job Had a 100hrs on my last pay stub.
2) I went back to college at age 45 and graduated at age 48 as an RN.
3) I work in Long Term Care and love it..I finally have a job where I make a Difference
4) I have two children Ryan age 22 and Tiffany age 28
5) I have only one grandchild Jazmyn age 20 months. (waiting patiently for Ry and Marie
6) I have been Married to Dave Lee for over 30 Years
7) Love animals especially horses.... But Retired from Riding because I don't bounce the way I used to and I hate riding boring horses.
8) I have a passion for gardening... you should see my water garden
9) my favorite TV shows are Bones, Law & order CI, svu and the reg one, CSI Vegas, Miami, and NY, See a Pattern?
10) I am hooked on Allnuses.com... I visit it every Day..
11) I like connecting with Friends and family on Face book. I signed up a year ago and there was hardly anyone there.
12) I worry about my kids all the time.
13) If you haven't Noticed yet I am the worlds worst speller. ( I did use spell check on word and then paste a copied to here)
14) my mom taught me to read before I went to school... I think I was age 4 or 5
15) when I was littel there was no kindergarten at the school I went to. I started 1st grade at age 6l and a couple weeks later I was in the 2nd grade reading group.
16) in 5th grade I was reading at a college level.
17) when I was 16 I was a page at the Public Library. I made more than minimum wage.. $2.10 an hour. the Librarian let me work as a Librarian during the summer. I found out later that she was talked to about it and she told the board. that I knew more about the library than any college graduate that she knew.
18) I fell off my horse the fall of my junior year and spent a week in intensive care. It took me 6 months to get it back together...but I still maintained a 3.8 grade average that year.(severe head trauma)
19) started dating my hubby David at 16. he asked me out the 1st time at 13....opps.
20) My Mom and daughter are my best friends. My grandma is still living she is 90.
21) Love TV and proud of it.
22) I can read a book and watch TV and follow both.... its a curse and blessing )
23) I am a poor cook. and a messy one
24) I love eating my hubbys cooking, his cooking is great.
25) I am a pen addict. I have a certain pen I like and every time i go to Wal-Mart I buy a package.. I have a huge stock pile. OCD?