So until last year, whenever anyone asked Ellie what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would say a marine biologist. Which I found ridiculous because fish are disgusting. Last year we were at BYU for some reason. Can't remember why. I suggested that we sign up for a campus tour, which we did. We were driven around campus in go carts by these lovely girls who showed us all the neat stuff to be seen. they gave us choice between seeing the nursing lab or another campus feature, and I was surprised when Ellie said she wanted to see the nursing lab. I was completely blown away - it didn't look like that when I was in the nursing program there! How many millions of dollars spent on simulation labs and equipment....I was very impressed and completely jealous as a nurse educator.
Since that time, Ellie has changed her mind and is thinking about majoring in nursing. Which, of course, I am secretly completely thrilled about but manage to rein in my excitement and reply offhandedly "Whatever you feel is best, Sweetie....."
This semester she is taking a CNA class at Southwest Technical College, where I used to teach. CNA students usually have to do a number of clinical hours as students in long term care facilities, but because of Covid, it doesn't look like they will have an opportunity. I got permission from the nursing director at the nursing facility where my home health patient lives to bring Ellie along on some visits. (I didn't tell the director that Ellie was my daughter, just that she was a CNA student looking for some clinical hours. Oops......)
Yesterday I made a visit to my patient and brought Ellie along in her cute red scrubs. She was so great. She asked my patient's wife if she could practice taking her blood pressure and the wife was more than happy to allow her. My poor patient and his wife are so lonely - they haven't been able to leave their facility in six months and aren't allowed to get visitors either. I think if the devil arrived at their front door they would welcome him in. Ellie had a great bedside manner and seemed confident, even though later she said that she was nervous. I think we have a future nurse on our hands!!!
AND this is Mittens. Mom made me a braided rug in SUU colors, which I put under my desk at work to keep my feet warm. Another nursing professor, Shane, came in and said that it looked like it needed a cat on it. Which offended me. Last week I got to my office and found a cat sleeping on my rug. It actually purrs and breathes and comes with a cat carrier and brush. Several times that day, faculty members and colleagues would come to my door to talk to me and I would catch them staring quizzically at Mittens - and then they wouldn't say anything! They would just assume that it was a decoration and I have a thing for cats! I had to take it home and give it to Josh. It was tarnishing my reputation as a serious faculty member. Josh loved it.
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