The conclusion to the prologue
After checking the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) for
days on end, I am finally Lorenzo Ortega, RN, BSN. I feel like a super hero
with that title, or better yet, a secret agent. The wait for my results was
nerve-wracking. Although I felt like I did well, I had taken my NCLEX on Jan 8th
and I checked nearly every day to see if the title RN could be added next to my
name. Finally, two days ago, I got the news I had been waiting for more than
two years now.
This news was followed up by something even better: a job
offer. I had previously mentioned a job that I had been applying for in my last
blog. After my third interview, I was offered a position in a new graduate ICU
program. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be offered such a position, especially
since it is in my home town of Stockton, CA. This occurrence has made me
reflect a great deal on my path to get to this point. I have had such
supportive family, friends, and professors. None of this would be possible
without them.
The start date for the program is in early March, so I have
a little time to enjoy myself before I begin. The position is a return to the
interesting life of night shift that I had during my senior preceptorship. At
least this time I am experienced with the flip-flop schedule and actually prefer
night as my first nursing position.
When I look back on my nursing education, I feel extremely
fortunate to have had the financial support of my parents. I know many people
have to take the journey through school alone and for these people I have the
most respect. People working, those with kids, people from difficult socioeconomic
backgrounds, and individuals from other financial situations have a ton of
distractors in their field of view. Many times these distractors can keep them
from focusing or can simply discourage them all together, making their goals
seem distant and impossible. It is these people, and their struggles, that I
have learned exponentially from in the past two years. I sincerely thank them
for their motivation. They have shown me, and many others, that perseverance is
the true skill of a nurse.