I'm going to Pennsylvania!!

Okay, so this post isn't going to be nearly as exciting as my last two, but as I stated in my last post, I got a job as a nurse!! WOOHOO! After looking for a job for nearly seven months (five month post-graduation) and applying to 125 jobs, I was finally offered a job at the hospital I interviewed at back in March. Trust me...the nursing shortage isn't what people think it is, and it is REALLY hard to find a job as a new grad. However, I don't have to worry about that anymore because I don't have to fill out anymore annoying online applications. (I made a really nice resume that I'm sure no one even bothered to look at because they looked at my "fill in the blanks" resume builder on their websites.)

But let's put all that behind us!

I found out on Friday evening, but I was running my marathon on Saturday so it's not like I could make any huge plans over the weekend. I had talked with my parents about what would happen if I got the job, and we had figured that I would need to leave this coming Saturday in order to find an apartment and get moved in before I start working. Sooooo my dad and I are packing up the car with the essentials and driving to eastern Pennsylvania starting on Saturday. We'll stay overnight with some relatives in western PA on Saturday night and arrive on the east coast on Sunday. I've already got a couple places set up to look at Sunday night, so maybe I'll find a place right away??

In the meantime, I have A LOT to do. I have to try to find a place to live, pack my life, and get ready for a new job. It's all going SO FAST. I don't even know what to do, and I break down at least five times per day. I really don't cry very often, but the thought of leaving home and my parents is SO hard for me. I like being "safe" and doing things that are comfortable for me, but the real hard part is leaving my parents. I know some people have tough relationships with their parents, but mine are so awesome and I am unbelievably lucky to have them. It's great that I'm so upset about leaving them because it means it's been good. My mom couldn't wait to leave home when she was younger because she didn't really have much there. I'm leaving so much behind! I'm excited to turn the page and start a new chapter in my life, but it's definitely really scary.

I'm moving to a place where I don't really know anyone (the Rocket Scientist will be about an hour away...although his parents will be about twenty minutes away...). I'm going to be starting a job as a nurse where I feel totally unprepared. I haven't thought about "real nursing" since December when I finished school...just when I was finally putting it all together! I know it will come back to me...I'll have an eight week orientation and the hospital seems like a great place for learning. I'm going to be on a medical/surgical floor, which is just about as general as you can get. The nurses do EVERYTHING, so I'll get to see and do a lot, but it's scary because I never started an IV or drew blood in nursing school, which I'll have to do! Those are just skills and I know they'll come with time, but I'm worried about hurting patients...there's just so much to consider! Confidence will come with time...

For the rest of the week, I'm finishing up work at the restaurant and saying bye to them. I had my last serving shift today, and my last day is on Thursday when I expedite. I went to the local pie joint with one of my friends last night, and we both had to hold back the tears. We're going out to dinner again tomorrow night. My mom and I are going scrub shopping (woohoo!) tomorrow, and we'll spend the day packing and figuring out what I need to take with me. I keep putting off packing because it makes me so sad to back, so I need my mom to literally be like "Okay, let's go see what you have in your closet."

Oh, and I might have to buy a car in the next couple days. Yet to be determined.

I haven't run since the marathon, but I might try tomorrow. Or I might not. I'm freaking out in general. Sorry if I'm behind on blogs...

Also, if you live in eastern PA and want to give me a heads up on good places to run, fun things to do, etc...please let me know! I'll take what I can get...