My Progress Report

So, one lovely Saturday morning back in December, I received an unexpected letter in the mail. My wonderful boss, Della, nominated me for the statewide Nightingale Nurse Award for Excellence in Human Caring the category Advocacy. I couldn't believe it, I was so honored and a little overwhelmed by the letters of support some friends wrote for me. I had to write a litle essay about my experiences, nursing philosophy and how I put it into practice. Della had told me that they read some of what you and everyone wrote at the award ceremony- that made me really nervous. I submitted it at the end of December and had to wait until the end of February for the regional awards ceremony.

Now, trust me, I was not under the impression that I would be getting any special recognition. What happens is that 11 nurses were nominated in the valley and 6 (one in each of the different categories) can go on to the state ceremony. Well, I made it to state! Gotta be honest, I think I won on a technicality because there was all this paper work and I think maybe we were the only ones who filled it out! Whatevs, I won and they didn't! I'm just beyond honored and still can't really believe it- and this is only after 2 1/2 years of being a nurse, imagine what I'll be capable in just a few more years! (wait, what? I still have to do more?  Shoot....)  We kept the celebration going Alamosa style- at Chili's!  One highlight: having cosmos with the house coordinator, Alice!  She's great and wrote one of my letters. I will be going to an awards ceremony in Denver in May. Even my parents might come out for it!  I'm kind of a big deal...

With Della

With my housemates

The commemorative hand painted plates

So I can practice being Florence Nightingale and

 visit my patients by candlelight!

I do want to say a few things about my work these days.  It is so different and quite rewarding, really.  My biggest accomplishment has been creating a nurse home visitor program for moms and babies.  I put together the curriculum, the proposals, and made the presentations to get funding.  It was so different for me, but it was a good experience (and will continue to be as the program really gets going).  This job is pretty self-directed, which is a little hard for me, but I'm learning to figure out what I need to do.  Other things I do: communicable disease investigation (where'd they get it and how to stop the spread), immunization clinic, and community education.  I'm excited about opportunities for the next few years.