next summer

This is essentially my last summer. Ever.

That sounds melodramatic, but let me explain. This is my last summer as a student. As a nurse, there is pretty much only one thing to do immediately after I finish my final clinical: get a job as a graduate nurse to ensure that I am employed when [and if] I pass my Canadian Registered Nurse Exams [CRNEs]. The hope is to find a casual or part-time position so that I can work and still have time to study for the CRNE [supposedly on June 4, 2012] and the National Council Licensure Exam [NCLEX - the American/International equivalent]. Once registered, I am no longer able to work as a graduate nurse and will have to sign a contract as a RN to remain employed.

Like most professions [I believe teachers are one of the very few exceptions], I will not get summers off. Sure, I can book time off, but in the nursing profession, time off is booked based on seniority. The first time to be booked off is summer and Christmas holidays - the most senior staff [generally the oldest nurses on the unit(s)] get these. Then, things like May long weekend, September long weekend, Easter, etc. After that, random weeks throughout the year. These usually go to the newest nurses. Unfortunately, the better your unit is to work on, the longer the turnover, therefore the longer it takes to build up seniority as you wait for people to retire.

Anyway, I ramble. The point is this: this is pretty much my last summer. And I know that I am so lucky and so spoiled to get to be a little sad about this, but I feel like it needs to be a great summer. And it will. I have got big plans!

Song of the Day: All This Beauty by The Weepies