I. GOT. IN.

Wholly carp I’m nervous, excited, exhausted, anxious, scared, ‘scatter-brained’.

I got into the Nurse Practitioner program I applied for earlier this past Spring. It’s an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program, I’m focusing on Critical Care for my specialty (although that’s a long way down the road).

I interviewed less than a week ago and I got THE phone call this morning! I was beaming with excitement. I think I shed a tear when I was talking with my advisor.

Whew…

I must tell ya the road I traveled to get here was not smooth in any way, shape or form. Going back for my BSN was a task in itself. Then going through the emotions of what to do next. I mistakenly followed the suggestions of the ‘majority’ instead of following my heart. So I foolishly thought I wanted to pursue a career in Anesthesia as a CRNA.

I filled out all the forms, applied to all the local schools, paid all the application fees (and it was a lot!). I even qualified and interviewed with one school. The whole process just seemed to be a ‘dance’ that I was performing because that’s just what most critical care nurses progress into. I was told I’d be great at it. You’d be a good CRNA! I heard it from more than one source and more than one profession.

So I thought it was meant to be.

Then I spent more and more time digging in to the heart of what I love, the meaning behind what I enjoy about being a nurse. I found myself questioning my choices, in fact I was scared of my choices. Then I shadowed a CRNA I had worked side by side with. I realized I didn’t want to be in the OR. I didn’t want Anesthesia school.

It was a miracle in itself that this opportunity was even available for me. I did the research and asked the questions, talked with professionals and discovered that being an NP is exactly what I should be pursuing.

So. Here we are now. I’ve been accepted into a highly nationally ranked program. I’m beyond excited.

Now I have to jump through all the hoops to set things in motion and learn how to be a full-time student again one last time.

I’m more than ready. This is where I was meant to be.

I couldn’t have done all this without the help of some great friends, some superb co-workers, my wonderful family and my most amazing wife. My wife especially has had to witness first hand all the bumps and bruises during my journey in to finding ‘me’. She is the only reason I am where I am, and am going where I am going. Thank you all.

Wish me luck!