Message from Erica Jones

Hello everyone. Life has been busy between work and getting the kids back to a school schedule so I apologize for not introducing myself sooner.My name is Erica Jones and I currently work at the Onslow County Health Department. I've been here for 3 years and, prior to this, I worked in an Ear, Nose, and Throat private practice for 5 years. I know it's not much in the way of nursing experience but it has definitely opened me up to another world of nursing. I enjoyed ENT with minor office surgeries, pre-op/post-op education, and allergy testing but Public Health really has me excited about nursing. I started out as a child care health consultant just doing health and safety consultations in child care facilities and I now manage the TB program (since Dec 07). I really enjoy what I do and hope to stay here for a while at least. Spare time ... what's that? I'm a single mom with 3 kids, I work full time, and am now returning to school full time. I did take this past summer off and enjoyed reading about 5 differnt books but that's about it for any spare time that I might have. I've been completing prerequisites part-time for almost 2 years before now and I never really thought twice about it. It was just something I had to do in order to pursue my BSN. Now that I'm finally in the program and back to nursing courses, I'm a little scared about doing well and completing my courses. I would love to eventually pursue my MSN as well but am unsure about FNP or Nurse Educator. Oh well, one major at a time. My only expectation is to become an even more knowledgeable nurse and more well rounded. So far, from looking at the course requirements, I feel that expectation will be met and exceeded.Unfortunately, my best pictures are of my kids (not myself) but I will try to find one. (Posted on 8/27, 2008)

Message from Patti Fowler

Hello everyone, My name is Patti Fowler and I am an RN working nightshift at both NHRMC on 8N Pulmonary and Brunswick Community Hospital on Med-Surg. I am originally from Sudbury, Ontario Canada and moved to NC in May 2000. I graduated from the ADN Program at Rockingham Community College, NC in 2004. I am married and no kids; well, actually we have a little daschund, Libby, who acts like she is an only child. My decision to go back to school is, at this point, just to continue my education. I am not sure which field of nursing I would like to remain grounded in. I have been going to school for what feels like forever and have a background in accounting, business management, social work, and secretarial. I enjoy spending time with my husband, going to the beach and gardening. I have been looking forward to starting the BSN program for quite some time and low-and-behold, I am finally here! Good luck to you all this semester. Live, learn and grow. (Posted on8/23, 2008)

Message from Amanda Clark

Hi!! My name is Amanda Clark. I am 27 years old, originally from Greensboro,NC but have lived in Wilmington for the last 9 years. I graduated from CFCC in 2006 with my ADN. For the last two years, I have worked full time in the medical stepdown unit (PCU) at NHRMC. I absolutely love my job and could not imagine being anywhere else at this point in my life!! I enjoy the everyday challenge of the complex patient population that we care for, especially since we are equipped for mechanical ventilation. Unfortunately, many of our patients have multi-system issues and end up staying on our unit for quite some time. Currently, I am interested in critical care but with an advanced degree I would someday like to work for Palliative Care.In my spare time I love to go to the beach, hang out with my friends, and travel. I also like to workout and try to keep healthy :-) I spend alot of my time with my boyfriend of almost two years whom I adore and hope to marry someday. I am anxious about the online program, but also excited. I know it will take great dedication and discipline. Ultimately, my goal is to obtain my master's degree, but I've decided to take it one step at a time. It was a great opportunity to purchase a new laptop which I am still getting used to!! I wish everyone success in this program and I look forward to working with you all. (Posted on 8/22, 2008)

Message from Marc Patterson

Hey guys, my name is Marc Patterson. I graduated from Carolinas College of Health Sciences in Dec 2006 and having been an RN for almost 2 yrs now. I started as a new grad on a Progressive Care Unit, which was eye opening to say the least. After a little over a year I decided I had had enough of PCU and wanted a little more out of my career. I now work in the Trauma ICU at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. I just got off orientation last week, so my nerves are at an all time high, haha. I guess I needed to fulfill my adrenaline need! My short term goal is to be a flight nurse in a couple of years. I work nights in the ICU so I am curious to see how I spend my time with these classes seeing as how I am not the best at time management. In my spear time I love anything outdoors, especially hiking and whitewater kayaking. Working out in the gym gives me a constructive way to work off the stress I get from work. I plan on graduating May 2010 and look forward to working with you all. (Posted on 8/22, 2008)

Message from David Thomas

Hello everyone. My name is David Thomas. I graduated from Cape Fear Community College w/ my ADN in 2003. My wife and I did the tag team and we completed the program together. I have been a RN for 5 years and have worked two full time jobs since 6 months after graduation. I work primarly ICU and ED. My main job is UNC-CH NeuroSurgical ICU and Per-diem at Cape Fear Valley ED in Fayetteville NC. I plan to complete the BSN in 5/10. I am taking this part time for several reasons, my daughter is in college also. In addition, I am undecided if I will attend a CRNA program or go to D.O. school. I am 40 now so my clock is ticking fast. My wife and I have one daughter, Nicole. She attends Cape Fear Comm. College and will finish in May 2009. From there she may go to Chicago and finish her undergrad degree. I will also take other classes while I am completing the BSN. I would like to take a 2 week summer calss in International Nursing at the Uni in Frieburg Deutschland (Germany). It is nice to see several other grad's from CFCC, they have a great program. I wish the best to all of my new classmates, it is great to meet you all. (Posted 8/21, 2008)

Message from Lori Riordan

My name is Lori Riordan. I have been a RN since 1995 and have had some wonderful and challenging assignments in this career path! I am Canadian; I came to the US as a traveling nurse in 1997 and have practiced in 6 states so far. I married a Marine who is also deployed and so my adventure continues! I have primarily worked in cardiac units, step down units, but have floated to peds, ICU, MICU, oncology, med-surg., etc (the travel nurse always 'gets' to float first)! I have also worked as a clinic nurse, alongside a FNP, which is one of the reasons I am pursuing my BSN. I love the interaction with patients who are not in an acute setting; the amount of patient teaching that can be done is enormous and the impact of teaching healthy behaviors and prevention impresses me the most. Though I love cardiology and know the heart best, I will continue my education and one day soon enroll in a FNP program. The USMC will decide where that will be though!In my spare time I like to read and go to the beach. I can't get enough of this wonderful NC sun!Good luck to all of my classmates. I look forward to learning together and supporting one another.Best,Lori Riordan (Posted on 8/21, 2008)

p.s. I was not able to upload her phot0 (ppt file) because this site only accept jpg, gif, bmp and png images, 8 MB maximum size.

Message from Ashley Watts

Hi all! My name is Ashley Watts. I graduated from Cape Fear Community College with my ADN in May 2007. I had been taking classes needed for my BSN and continued to do so until spring 2008. I started taking summer classes before I took the NCLEX, which shows I am either incredibly ignorant or a masochist, neither one being very encouraging. I was a Med-Surg nurse in Whiteville, NC until March. While there I quickly learned why my professors and clinical instructors had stressed time management skills as a priority. Having seven ailing human beings to juggle when you should only be handling four or five is not realistic, but it is reality. I am an impatient person by nature and found that the pace of care was frustrating. One night, not long after I was off of new graduate orientation, a lady came in with a diagnosis of ARF. Her physical and mental state quickly began to deteriorate upon arrival from the ED. I had that gut feeling that something terrible was going on, but could not figure out what. Several times I paged the house doctor and pleaded with him to come and see her. After an extended period of calls and my charge nurse getting involved, he did. Even after he examined her he questioned my concerns and told me he did not feel that she needed to be sent to the CCU. I become livid inside, having my apprehensions and observations cast aside. Finally, with the help of my vigilant charge nurse (who is also one of my best friends and a mentor), another nurse and I wheeled the patient down the hall and upstairs to the CCU. When we laid her flat to transfer her to the CCU bed, she coded in my arms. She had gone into flash pulmonary edema. She did not make it. Weeks later, I was driving towards work and suddenly burst into tears. I had to pull over because I could no longer see through the tears. One of my nursing supervisors, a twenty year veteran, and I discussed what had happened on that night. She said that experiences such as this help us decide not only what kind of nurse we want to be, but what kind of person we decide to be every day. I started applying for critical care positions that week. I now work in Myrtle Beach at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in the MICU/CCU. While it does not take very long in the nursing field to figure out that not everyone can be saved, I feel that my job as a critical care nurse allows me to have the tools to do all that I can do and go home feeling more at peace. I know that was a long story, but I believe it sums up much of my journey in the last year. I love (and sometimes loathe) being a nurse because I choose everyday to help not only the healing, but the dying as well.The events that happened above also solidified my choice for continuing with my schooling. I plan to graduate with my BSN in May 2009. I have started studying for the GRE and plan to attend school for a Masters in Anesthesia. I had the summer off (my first ever) and found that I got no more done in my life except house work because I need to be on the edge of insanity to be productive. I have had several issues with the whole process at UNCW and this has made me have an underlying feeling of "what next?" I am incredibly nervous about school because I want to do well and find myself thinking “what did I get myself into?” and hyperventilating from time to time! In my spare time I love to be outside. I have been married for six years and my husband Joe and I share a love of the water. I love to wakeboard and tube whenever I get the chance. It is nice to release some frustration out on my grandparent’s farm by skeet shooting, better the clay pigeons than the patients! I have three palm plants (Clive, Roger and Bella). I have commitment issues; hence the three plants in lieu of children or pets. Joe and I have discovered Rock Band and this video game has replaced television as the number once source of procrastination. I also love interior decorating and Home Goods, TJ Maxx and Ross are places where I can frequently be found. I also enjoy making cards and picture frames, but do not scrap book because I am anal retentive and can never be satisfied with a page. I hope to have a great semester and expand my knowledge and insight of the career I have chosen to devote so much of my life to. (Posted on 8/21, 2008)

Message from Debra Price

Hello everyone,My name is Debra Price (everyone calls me Debbie). I graduated in 2004 from Southeastern Community College with an ADN. I worked for almost a year at NHRMC and CRHS before moving to a primary practice. I decided to further my education last August and left full-time work to obtain my prerequisites for the RN-MSN-NE program. I currently work part-time with a cardiology group in Whiteville where I perform check-ins, EKGs, and cardiolite stress tests (treadmill and adenosine). I am 35 years old and have been married for 11 years to my best friend who is my "rock". He has allowed me the luxury to continue my education and has been supportive all the way. I have a 14 year old stepson who is entering high school and loves basketball (for which my husband and myself are true fans). When I have spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and family, riding dirt bikes, and watching any sport (especially basketball). I decided to return to school because in my previous role in a primary practice I conducted ALOT of education and I found that I truly enjoyed it. Nursing can be very satisfying, however, I discovered that teaching someone something they did not know that will help them coupled with nursing is my ideal profession. I really want to make a difference, whether it be as a college or hospital instructor. While I look forward to continuing my education I am nervous about being able to juggle all of my responsibilities. Being a Type A personality does not help either. Good luck to everyone and together we can make it through. Look forward to working with you all this semester. (Posted on 8/20, 2008)

Message from Terra Pinyati

Hi everyone! My name is Terra Pinyati. Who am I? Well that is the hardest question, hehe, I am a full-time day shift pediatric nurse, attending school full-time for my Bachelors degree, and am a wife and mother of two children- ages 9 and 6. I work pediatrics/ med-surg overflow at Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville. We are a unique unit in the fact that we service basically all types of patients! From the cradle to the grave is the age range we are often working with, with many post-op patients in between. Our priority is pediatrics, but our census is rarely more than half pediatric patients. My spare time is my schooling, my family, and hanging out with my best friend. Relationships are truly what matters most to me. I excited and yet nervous about returning to school fulltime, my husband has just started nursing school as well. So I think we will be a stressed studious bunch! Hehe. (Posted on 8/20, 2008)

Message from Jenna Bennett

Hi everyone, my name is Jenna Bennett. I graduated from Cape Fear Community College in 2007 with my ADN and I have been a practicing nurse for just over a year. Prior to becoming a nurse, I attended Appalachian State University where I earned a BS in Psychology. Currently I work nights at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in the Emergency Department. I like having to be on my toes and think fast and critically in order to react appropriately to each patient’s unique situation. My areas of interest within emergency nursing include sepsis, cardiac pathophysiology, trauma/burn resuscitation, and all types of shock.I like to spend my free time exercising, hanging out with my husband, watching football (Go Appalachian!) and scrapbooking. I also enjoy reading and did a lot of it this summer, knowing that all I'll be reading for the next year is textbooks!I decided to return to school for several reasons. Primarily, I'm at a good point in my life to pursue another degree-no kids yet, supportive husband and great job. I also know I want to pursue an advanced practice or education masters at some point. A BSN seemed like a logical next step since I want to start a family and get several more years of experience before pursuing a Masters. I am looking forward to this experience and hope it will be enriching both to me personally and in my practice. (Posted on 8/20, 2008)

Message from Nicola Crane

Hi, my name is Nicola Crane and I currently work as an RN at New Hanover Regional Medical Centers Emergency Department. I have been there a little over year as prior to that I lived in GA and worked in a step down unit. I love to hang out with my kids and husband at the beach boogie boarding, swimming, walking and sometimes just watching a movie at home. My husband is currently in Iraq for the fifth time, so I am juggling a lot and trying to make sure I am as organized as possible for these next two semesters. My main reason for going back to school, even though it feels like I never left, is that I want more doors opened for my career and I have worked so hard to stay educated that to stop now doesnt seem to make sense. Ideally I want to finish my MSN but I am not sure which pathway I want for that. I have taken classes online before but never four at once so this will be somewhat challenging but it seems adequate preparation and organization will be key. I cant wait to hear about all of you and hope to meet some of you over the next few months. (posted on 8/19, 2008)