First BBQ of the Summer!

While I know that summer is not officially here, I no longer have summer vacation so I have decided that summer can start as early as we want it to!

Tonight we had our first BBQ of the season. It was great. We had a small group of friends over to potluck the evening. Most of the evening was spent chatting around our new firepit. We did have a little croquet game (which Angie won) and then finished off the meal with some Smores. I am looking forward to many a weekend night spent around the firepit with friends!

If it looks like we are bundled up, a cold storm was blowing in causing it to drizzle every now and then. But seriously, like a storm is going to keep me from some good BBQ time...

So Long Ward 46!

Today was my final day working as a Staff Nurse on Ward 46. On Wednesday of next week I report to Student Company to begin the Critical Care Course. I will be spending the summer in school specializing as an ICU Nurse. This course is required by the Army Nurse Corps before Army RNs are allowed to be assigned to any of the ICUs (Intensive Care Units). While in the Civilian world it is possible to get a job in the ICU straight out of nursing school, I think the military has the right idea requiring us to spend at least 12 months as Med/Surg nurses before allowing us to specialize. This way we all are secure with the fundamentals of nursing before focusing on specific aspects of nursing.

I am choosing to take the ICU course but there are different options that allow the Army Nurse Corps to have RNs in all specialties. The Nurse Corps offers courses in Emergency Nursing, Ob/Gyn Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, Operating Room Nursing, Public Health Nursing, and one other that I cannot remember. These courses do not provide us with an advanced degree of any kind, but definitely help us provide the best care possible to our Warriors Past, Present, and Future!

Defying Gravity

I am not afraid to admit that I am not an avid reader. In fact outside of school books, there is very little reading done in my life. When I picked up Wicked: Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West I was shocked that I could not put it down. I had been drawn in to the stories of the characters. Then I picked up a copy of the soundtrack from the Broadway musical and I played it way too much.

This week I had a chance to go and see the live stage performance in Charlotte, NC with my Uncle and his family. It was amazing! We had been talking about seeing this show together since Thanksgiving and it was so much fun when it finally happened. While it was a quick trip for all, it was so much fun to hangout and catch up while seeing the show that I have been so eager to see! Thanks Uncle John!!!

Introducing the First Lieutenant

LT Batt and myself "pinning" on our new rank!

ATTENTION TO ORDERS!


THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

HAS REPOSED SPECIAL TRUST AND CONFIDENCE

IN THE PATRIOTISM, VALOR, AND FIDELITY

OF SECOND LIEUTENANT ELIZABETH A. HULTGREN.

IN VIEW OF THESE QUALITIES

AND HER DEMONSTRATED POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED RESPONSIBILITY,

SHE IS, THEREFORE,

PROMOTED TO FIRST LIEUTENANT, EFFECTIVE 24 MARCH 2008.

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY.

upper left: with 2Lt Siemens

upper right: Ward 46

lower left: with 2LT Lockhart

lower right: with CPT Park

APU Nurses Supporting Each Other

The gang was all there to watch both LT Spencer and I get promoted. Even so far from home it is sure nice to have a group that we know we can always rely on.

Left to Right

2LT Josh Gadd, 2LT Michelle Siemens, Me, 2LT Amy Wilson, 1LT Rebecca Spencer