Update 2015

Followers,

Thank you for your emails,calls & support over the past three years. In May 2014, I graduated from Regis College and passed my boards on the first shot! In those three years, I created the most amazing memories with individuals whom I will never forget. I am forever grateful towards the professors, preceptors, staff, colleagues and Regis College community who have guided me to where I am today.  I am officially a Family Nurse Practitioner working in a family health center in Massachusetts. I love my patients-- I love my role-- I am ready for the next journey in my life....

Best wishes to future Regis College Nurse Practitioner grads!

Katie Tavares, FNP-BC

Guess Who's on Summer Break....

ME! That's who. I am on summer break and it feels awesome! So far:

- I have gotten a manicure/pedicure: CHECK

- Found two NP clinical preceptorships for the fall: CHECK

- Vacationed for a few days in the Cape: CHECK

- Joined a gym back home in Rhode Island: CHECK

- Slept until my body felt back to normal: CHECK

- Getting ready to go see some fireworks .... woo!

However, I am totally going to take advantage of the next 10 weeks because I know this coming fall is going to be insanely busy. I will have clinical four days a week and class two days a week including a weekend class. I am starting to finally see that light at the end of the tunnel, and it's really amazing. I have come so far in the past two years and am excited to start practicing nurse practitioner skills hands-on in several different settings.

I also wanted to catch you up on the Boston Health Expo 2013, which I attended at the Hynes Convention Center a few weeks ago. I had the opportunity to work with the Boston Medical Center dermatology team which was a GREAT experience. I spent the day educating the public on the dangers of excessive exposure to UV rays, ways to protect your skin, and even had the chance to check for skin damage under specialized light boxes. It was a wonderful time and approximately 60,000-70,000 people from the public showed up to check out all the different exhibits. I will definitely be going back next year!

As a side note, I am also moving out of my apartment in Waltham as I will be doing my clinical placements in RI. Therefore, if anyone is looking for an apartment 10 minutes from school, 20 minutes from Boston, and 5 minutes from the highway -- LET ME KNOW ASAP. It is a super great deal that you cannot pass up. Contact me at ktava775@regiscollege.edu for more information. Thanks!

Katie :)

Protect yourself from the sun! WEAR SUNBLOCK B-)

Educating the public on dermatology tips at Boston Health Expo 2013

Summer Session I

Hello Followers! I did it again -- took a mini hiatus from the blogging world. I promise it's not my fault! (lol) I have been bombarded with school work this summer session and definitely need to catch you up on this current semester. I have been taking Advanced Health Assessment, Health Policy & Family Systems Theory which all require a lot of work in a short 6-week period. I have been traveling around the state of MA to get field hours completed for Health Policy, writing a 15 page paper on the insecure-resistant anorectic female, learning how to assess my partner-in-crime Dana to prepare for my preceptorships in the fall, and ONE last thing -- trying to contract with several preceptors back home in RI. WHEW deep breaths. It all feels rather overwhelming at the moment, but it's not long until finals week. I cannot believe that I am less than a year away from becoming a Family NP! It feels surreal knowing that come fall I will be taking on patients with a preceptor and learning the role of the advanced practice nurse. This semester has definitely taught me how to time manage and juggle a thousand tasks at once. Also, a huge congrats to my sister who got married over the weekend! It was a beautiful day and it was so nice to have some time to celebrate and not focus on school! GOT TO LOVE those rare occasions :)

I have also decided that taking on an RN job is not going to work with my schedule for the next year, because of the amount of travel I will have between MA & RI. Many students email me asking if my classmates have taken on RN positions during the NP part of the program. My answer: YES, some do! However, many don't! I have found that my classmates who do have RN jobs have worked with their employer to have a flexible schedule that accommodates both work & school. If you can find an employer that will be able to have you on per diem, part time etc. then GO FOR IT! I want to remind you though that you have 600 hours of precepting to complete before you can graduate along with classes.... so don't burn yourself out!

So there you have it -- my life & thoughts in a jiffy! Please feel free to email at ktava775@regiscollege.edu with any questions/concerns.

Katie

Celebrate Good Times... C'MON!

So I made it -- just finished up my final exam in advanced pharmacology and I'm freeeeee (well until Monday) But either way, I'm free for a week!! This coming Friday is the traditional pinning ceremony to celebrate our entry into the profession of nursing. I've heard through the grapevine that the pinning ceremony is a great time in celebrating all the hard work that has been put in over the past 2 years :) Totally looking forward to it!

Saturday is graduation, which means one thing .. I will be crossing that stage waving my diploma wildly in the air! Holding that piece of paper in my hand will be such a sweet, sweet feeling! Lots of sweat, tears, acne, and pounds of weight gain have been put into achieving my BSN in nursing. 

After the celebrations conclude, I am back at it starting Monday for summer session. This summer I am taking Health Policy, Family Systems Theory and Advanced Health Assessment. I have little knowledge about the following areas so I look forward to learning more. I also need to get the ball rolling in searching for preceptors for the fall semester! I cannot believe I am starting my NP rotations so soon; it feels unreal to me still! Will definitely be updating with more experiences once the semester starts up again!

Until next time,
Katie
ktava775@regiscollege.edu for questions/comments :)

BIRTHDAY BICHON MAKES ME HAPPY

Spring is in the Air!!

Ahh, today I am sitting on the beach in Maine writing this blog with some sun shining on my face. HOORAY! Mr. Sun has finally come out to play and it just makes writing papers, reading research studies, and catching up on other work wayyyy better! April is going to be one busy month for me. Here's why:

- I have to finish edited my 17 page paper on "body dissatisfaction"

- I need to write a research proposal on eating disorders to finish up with research class

- Another presentation for theory is due on Tuesday on Katharine Kolcaba (hopefully, pics to come!)

- Nursing Honor Society induction ceremony is coming up soon

- My sister's wedding shower is at the end of the month :)

- My birthday is coming up (::wink wink:: cake,presents,moneygifts are appreciated)

- Graduation preparation!

I know I keep on reiterating this, but this semester has flown by. I seriously feel that each new semester goes by quicker than the last, and its leaving me feeling scared/tired/accomplished/awesome. After passing the boards this past February, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I am motivated to start my NP preceptorships in the fall and I know that great things are to come. I have even been researching different nurse practitioner positions I might enjoy and dermatology is something that has sparked my interest. I was offered the opportunity at the end of June to volunteer at the Health Expo at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, and I'm definitely looking forward to it! At the convention, I will have the chance to volunteer alongside NP's and physicians in dermatology to educate the public on the dangers of exposure to excessive sunlight.  Anyways, I'm looking forward to these next couple months....

Until next time, you know the drill... send questions/comments to ktava775@regiscollege.edu    :)

Take care,

Katie

Spring Break is OVERRR

Hi All!

I write to you rested and refreshed from a nice spring break. Aside from watching episode after episode of Downtown Abby on Netflix I also had to study for a huge Advanced Pharmacology exam. Ah, still school work during break-- but the end is near!! I cannot believe graduation is just a few short months away and I will officially receive my BSN diploma (*fingers cross*!) This semester has been composed of multiple writing assignments including a big research paper for my Nursing Research course. I decided to write about the effects of the mother-daughter relationship on the development of eating disorders. This topic has been super interesting to conduct research on, and the way the class has been set up has been helpful in learning the best ways write such a large paper. 
 
Nursing theory is another course I am taking this semester, and it has been a WHOLE lot of fun. Instead of reading from powerpoints each class, my professor has taken a fun/engaging approach to how the class is run. A few weeks ago my theory group and I performed a skit about nursing theorist Madeleine Leininger to discuss her contributions to nursing. 

Other than the usual load of school work, a couple of important events are coming up in the near future including: Regis College pinning ceremony and induction into The Honor Society of Nursing. I also have my sister's wedding approaching FAST, so bare with me as I juggle school work, tutoring, working, and MAID OF HONOR duties :)  Until next time...

Katie
ktava775@regiscollege.edu
 

PASSED!!

HOORAY! It's official... Katie Tavares, RN, BSN! I passed my NCLEX this past week and it feels amazing. What a relief :) I cannot believe I am finally a registered nurse; it feels just like yesterday I was waiting to start my first semester at Regis College. 

Although I am unable to speak about the material on the exam, I can say that I felt the Anderson Review course and doing questions every day was the way to go! I felt nervous, yet confident when I went to sit for the exam and on test day I just gave it my best shot. When the screen displayed 75 questions, I took a deep breath answered and the computer SHUT OFF! I almost passed out, but a little piece of me was jumping up and down inside! Less than 48 hours later my name was posted on the Massachusetts Board of Health.

I truly feel like Regis has prepared my classmates and I for the NCLEX exam. Lots of luck to my fellow classmates and CONGRATS to those who have already passed. Onto the next one.... NP TIME!

Feel free to email me with any questions/comments at ktava775@regiscollege.edu