Student Soundbytes

Posted: May 30, 2006

Hey this week has been crazy!! I got a call on Sunday night around 10 that
told me I was working 40 hours this week and would be orienting to my new role.
I have been working, studying for boards, and trying to pack things up since
I am moving soon. Not getting too far on anything but work! Orientation has
been going well though I have started two IV's, done many many medications,
and some sterile dressing changes!! I can't wait till boards are over. When
we took our practice boards at school, I was having one of the crappiest days
ever and I still passed. So, hopefully nerves won't get the best of me and I
will pass. It cost $250.00 ever time you have to take it!!

Other than work I have a friend's Bachlorette party tomorrow night and the
wedding to go to on Saturday. It should be fun! Have a good week all and talk
to you later!

Posted: May 10, 2006

Hey all. Well pinning on Friday night was awesome. We had some great
speakers and it only lasted an hour. We had to wear our graduation gowns but that
morning my mom and I went shopping for a new dress. It took me like 2 1/2
hours to find one because the mall does not sell summer dresses. I just wanted
something plain but fun. Well I ended up finding one a little fancier than I
wanted but it was on sale : )

This Wednesday night we have Commencement. We have to wear the works tonight
- gown, collar and hat. I was looking at the schedule for it and Purdue
grads are after Indiana grads and someone told me that they go in alphabetical
order according to degrees - so Nursing for Purdue is going to be in the very
last half. There are about 1700 total graduates and it starts at 7pm. I have to
work on Thursday so it better not be like 4 hours!!

The graduation tasks have been keeping me pretty busy but other than that I
have been enjoying my time off before I start my new job next week. Well talk
to you all later. Have a good week.

Mandy

Posted: May 04, 2006

HEY IT'S OFFICIAL -- I GRADUATED!!!! Finals are over and the long, hard semester is OVER. I actually can't believe it is over. I feel like I just started the nursing program and now I am going to be taking boards and working full time. My class mates and I had a pinning rehersal for our ceremony today after finals and needless to say we were all so excited to be done. A few of the girls and I rewarded ourselves by going to Target and buying 'girly' stuff (like shoes, makeup, fun stuff like that). It is just such a relief I have not been able to sit still since the final got over at 3.

There is so much happening over the next few weeks. Pinning on Friday, graduation parties this weekend, next weekend and throughout the summer, commencement is coming up and we are all starting our new jobs in a few weeks. It is going to be kind of hard to say good-bye to our classmates. We have been through so much together and now we are all moving on to the next phase and becoming independent in our practice. There are a few of us that have decided to get together once a month or every two months for lunch or drinks...I hope that happens. Well I am going to go stay up late, watch TV, eat unhealthy snacks and RELAX. Talk to you all later.

Mandy

Posted: April 27, 2006

Hi all. Well it's officially crunch time. Final studying has started! I have three finals but will be done next Wednesday. I can't believe the semester is over already. Sure does go fast. I will be returning in the fall and taking 15 credit hours. I want to continue for my Bachelor's In Nursing or BSN. I will however have an Associate Nursing Degree at the end of this semester and will be taking boards this summer to get my license for RN.

Well from now till next Wednesday my life will consist of breathing, eating, studying and maybe showering?? So, hope you all have fun weekends. I will talk to you AFTER FINALS!!!!!!

Amanda

Posted: April 24, 2006

Editors Note:

I wanted to post this entry at the top of the page since it wasn't posted in the "old" design. On behalf of the IPFW Admissions Office and her fellow bloggers, we wish you and Brian only the best as you begin your lives together. Congratulations!
- Tony

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Hi all. Sorry about not writing last week. It was a very emotional week. I lost my dog on Wednesday night. She started having seizures and stopped breathing. We ended up having to put her down. She was 17 years old and her name was Dixie. I had had her since I was 4 and it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. My mom and I were luckily both home when the attacks started. She had been having some other health problems the past couple of months but was not in pain (like heart murmer developing, arthritis and wandering around the house). We decided to cremate her and get her ashes back. I have lost dogs before and it is heart breaking no matter how it happens. I miss her so much but my mom and I did stay in the room when the shot was administered. I didn't think she should die alone. It was very peaceful and I feel better knowing that she is not in pain anymore.

I did have a happy ending to a very traumatic week. My boyfriend of 5 years proposed to me on our 5 year dating anniversary. I was absolutly shocked and he planned it so perfectly. We went to a nice restaurant for dinner that night. Well before the dinner he went to the restaurant 2 days ahead of time and picked out the table he wanted, the wine and a dessert. We had a great meal starting out with shrimp cocktail, salad, and then steaks. After that he said he had already ordered dessert and when the waitess brought it out it was cheesecake with "Will you marry me?" written in chocolate on the plate. Then he pulled out the ring and asked me. I said yes (of course) and he gave me the ring. It is beautiful. It is yellow gold, with pauve diamonds. It has a round center stone with a round diamond on each side. I told him the three things I wanted was pauve, round and yellow gold. We actually looked at rings and narrowed it down to two and he made some modifications to the one he picked to make it uniquely ours. It was a perfect night. We are planning on a wedding next year sometime but are not planning anything else until May 3rd when I take my last final. I still plan to go for my BSN but I will be getting married while continuing my education!!

Other than that I have had a busy week and took yet another test. I passed it and my average is almost where I want it to be. Have a great week all and I'll talk to you next week.

Mandy

Posted: April 20, 2006

Hi. What an exciting week. I was in school all day Monday, Tuesday and Thursday I worked and Wednesday I had clinical and got a nursing job. YEAH A NURSING JOB!!!! I will work as a student intern until I pass boards then I will have an RN position. I am soooo excited. I can't wait to graduate now that I have a job. I am going to be starting on nights but hopefully I will be able to switch to days shortly. There is more money on the night position though and with us trying to save up for a wedding and a honeymoon, we are excited about that.

Other than my good job news I have been trying to get ready for finals. I have four finals!! But the good thing is they will all be done by May 3rd. Anyways, I am off to do some practice NCLEX questions because after all now that I have a job I have to pass boards so I can start that job!!

Amanda

Posted: April 14 , 2006

Hey. Lots going on this week. I am getting ready for my graduation pinning and ceremony and I got to order my pin this week. I am so excited. I have also been trying to work my butt off this week and get homework done so I can have the weekend off. So, far it's only about half done. I don't have anything major planned for Easter. I am planning on dinner with my family and hanging out together but no homework would be awesome.

This past weekend I did get to relax and rent some movies. We watched Sin City (good), Derailed (fell asleep but heard it was good and had a twist), Cry Wolf (freaky and pretty good), and A History of Violence (good). It was so much fun. It was also my fiance's birthday and we went out to dinner and then had a lunch with his family over the weekend. It was fun. I have also been watching American Idol (of course) and I must say this week I was disappointed in Chris. I want him to win and I expected him to rock out this week. He still did good but not what I expected. I was actually impressed with Kelli, Taylor and another favorite ELLIOTT!! I can't wait to see who gets kicked off this
week?

This week has gone so fast and I can't wait for May 3rd (last final). Hope your Easter's go well and I will talk to you all next week.

Posted: March 30, 2006

Hi all. This week been taking forever to get done. I have been trying to study for my test that is next Monday all week and so far it hasn't worked out so well. I am planning on an exciting weekend of studying. People told me from last semester that this test was the hardest. So...needless to say I am a little concerned. Other than that I am getting ready to start my last clinical of the semester. I had an orientation today at school and class right after that - 12 hours on campus today. It was a very long day. Besides working and going to class this week I did find time to watch American Idol. My predictions are Chris to win and Elliott hopefully at least top 4. Chris is my # 1 pick and Elliott my # 2!!

Anyways, hope you all have a nice weekend and I will talk to you next time.

Mandy