After trying to get somewhere on the phone with the California Board of Registered Nurses, I grabbed my transcripts and packed a snack and off we all went to try to see if we could get somewhere in person. George came home from work, we packed the dog up, and took off for Sacramento.
We arrived in just around 1.5 hours, there was not much traffic. Within 15 minutes or so, the very same woman whom had sent me the letter was looking at my transcripts and saying I had a class on there that would count (Anthropology...roughly 14 or 15 years ago) so she'd process my application within a day and that I'd have my interim permit by Wednesday. (can it be? am I dreaming?)
Then, you'd think it was a nice, happy ride home, but as we drove home, I tried to contact the person that called me to tell me they had a new nurse training program starting August first at the Kaiser near my house (South San Fran) and am I still interested?
YES, YES, GOD...YES!
But I couldn't get her on the phone...no voice mail either.
So taking George's "don't take no for an answer" attitude, I decided to run in to the house, change clothes, and run over to that Kaiser. In person seemed to be workin for me so far, today...why not keep pushing my luck?
It was 4:30 pm when we got there and the blue-haired volunteers didn't know what I was talking about. But luckily, there was a paper on their desk that said "Human Resources" with an address and phone number. Once again, I learned as I was getting nowhere with the phone call, that going there was the only way to solve this.
With George driving, (thank god, because I'd have gotten lost about 4 times) we got there with 10 minutes to spare before the office closed.
"she's already left for the day" the receptionist said. "can I leave her a note and my resume?" I asked "she called me this morning and I had told her there was a problem with my licence, but I drove all the way up to Sacramento to clear it up, and I'll have my permit on wednesday...if the spot is still open, I'd love to be considered for it"
She was so nice, and told me she'd make sure she got my note and resume.
How cool is that? on the way home, I screamed out the car window, driving over the desolate mountain pass "I DON'T TAKE SHIT FROM NOOOOO ONNNNNNE!"
let's hope this is a new year for me; one in which I can overcome all my obstacles.
Thanks for your kind support, and prayers, you guys. I love you :)
You are not going to believe the latest news on the "become a licenced RN" front.
I got a letter from the CA board of nursing that states Columbia transcripts don't reflect sociology and psychology courses. Well, this doesn't suprise me since I haven't taken those courses there.
So, my application didn't say anywhere I needed to prove courses as prerequisites; I figured that since I have a BSN that they'd just KNOW that I did those things...but oh...not so.
So, after being on hold and treated rudely all morning, I've found out that If I can get them transcripts that show these courses, I might hear back from them as soon as FIVE WEEKS from when they RECEIVE THE TRANSCRIPTS.
This might not sound so bad to you...but add to this the fact that I need to request transcripts from my other campus to be sent, for them to process them...and Oh yeah...I HAVE NEVER TAKEN SOCIOLOGY.
So now, the mad scramble to find a sociology course in the summer, that hasn't already started, that won't end in december, that isn't 400 miles away.
I've pretty much lost my spot in the Columbia anesthesia program, I have lost my residency at Kaiser which starts in August...
The people at the Kaplan center put in the wrong code, so I did much much better than I orignially had thought. So, I'm not so worried now.
I heard back from Kaiser Vallejo and I got in to a residency starting in August. My friend Charlie back in NY got into a CTICU which is awesome, but besides that, I don't think anyone has a job yet. Two people have texted me that they've passed the NCLEX.
So things are looking a little bit more up than they were a few weeks ago.
I just got back from the Kaplan thing: my diagnostic test stunk to high heaven. Holy moly...do I remember ANYTHING at all? I guess going over the questions now, I see that I was putting down answers per hospital policy where I was for integration and they have some whack idea about stuff (for example, at my hospital it was "no name band, no meds" but here they would have you ask a child his first and last name before administering medications...riiiiiiight.)
So if the NCLEX is like this, I have little hope of passing it--these safety measures have been beat into us, where am I gonna learn this whack shit Kaplan thinks is gonna be on the test?
AAAAANYway.
I'm also pretty bummed out that every time I turn on the tv I hear a song from MY Generation (X, if you must know) selling products in TV commercials.
The Jam selling Cadillacs, The Dandy Warhols selling Pontiacs, The The selling M&Ms...I can't take it anymore. Does this mean I'm middle-aged?!
Don't answer that. I like to think it just means that people my age finally have discressionary income and we're a target market again.
"again"
we dropped out of it in the 90s...now we're back...yeah, we're middle aged. I blame the baby-boomers.
Just as I'm relying on my cell phone for a call back from potential employers, the thing goes south.
It's working, but the charger won't charge it; not sure if it's a problem with the charger ($20 would fix this problem) or the phone (need a new phone)
I'm betting on the latter. And of course, this is how they lock you into another two year contract because you HAFTA have the treo with the GPS and bells and whistles (they know me, I'm a sucker for that stuff)
So, I'm off today to see about that problem. And my ATM card stopped working, gonna go deal with that too.
Tomorrow I start the Kaplan review and I'm somehow terrified that they'll tell me I can't even pass their sample tests :(
Yes, I'm that dumb...I have a problem with memory since my PTSD...can't seem to make stuff stick. I can remember addresses and phone numbers and my old driver's licence number and old bank account numbers, old stuff, that I had before the PTSD. Everything after that is only held onto for a moment and then it's like I never knew it, so I'm worried I've already forgotten all this ivy league BS.
So, anyway, don't get mad at me if I don't return calls or text messages...my phone is being a punk.
Wow, I've been in touch with some friends, and no one has had any luck finding a job. I think the RN licence is the make/break when recruiters are talking to us.
I'm feeling great, physically. I feel ten years younger than I did in New York. I don't know if it was the food available to me (I've lost 6 lbs. since I've returned and started eating right) or the sleep-deprivation, or the pace of life there. I used to feel my pounding heart every minute of every day, and pray I wasn't going to die of an infarc walking into the subway, getting stepped over, and kicked as people passed me while my face was turned to the sooty, wrapper pile in the corner.
So, I just got a text message that another one of us passed the NCLEX. I'm happy for her, but I'm a month off from taking it (does it matter in the long run? no.)
Where's my thinking now? Study, Kaplan, test, pass, job, fix the house, fix me, pay off bills/tuition debt, and get on with my life!
I shouldn't care. I should be focusing on studying and preping for the NCLEX. I've submitted maybe 40 resumes to different jobs and residencies...still nothing but rejection.
Not much to tell otherwise. Been cleaning the house, organizing, trying to gather up stuff to donate and make room for the things I actually need and use.
