The word I've been using to describe this lately is "unbe-freakin-lievable!"
Some of you have heard already that I have indeed received The Letter from my most sought-after program and to my utter shock and disbelief I have been placed on the wait-list AGAIN!!!!
I just don't understand how it happened. I felt so confident. I'm a fantastic candidate for this program... and it's not just me and my mom that believe that. I'm trying to remind myself that this is not a rejection, and there is still a chance that I can be accepted. I also have a back up plan where I have applied to a few accelerated nursing programs in the area - so I'm sure I'll be in some sort of school this year. But still, I'm pretty devastated. The wait-list did end up being a rejection last year.
I haven't told anyone but my parents and my Beau until now. I needed a few days to cool off before I could take anyone offering their sympathies. I was so incredibly angry for the first day. I was treated to cheeseburgers, which admittedly helped some. Mmm cheeseburgers.
So we're back to waiting. Waiting to hear from the nursing programs, and waiting for someone "more qualified" (feh!) to decline their acceptance so that I can take my rightful place in the program of my dreams. I WILL catch babies!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Waiting Room Confessions #2
This is a play in four acts.
Act 1, The Interview.
Program Director and I had good rapport from our previous meetings, and I felt much more at ease than at my interview last year. There were lots of smiles and nods. She even said, "Great," after some of my answers to her questions. I had the standard questions about my strengths/weaknesses, ability to multi-task, response to stress, how do I like to learn yayaya. The more interesting questions were those that addressed how I would respond to certain situations that would arise in my practice as a midwife. I brought a list of good questions to ask her at the end and we ended up chatting a bit past the 45min scheduled time. All in all, I think I did great!
Act 2, The Tour.
Current Student #1 gave a campus tour to me and another interviewee. I had good questions for her, too. She was very friendly and eager to sell the program. She seemed happy in it herself. At the end of the tour, she mentioned that we should look for her friend, Current Student #2, at the applicant potluck that evening.
Act 3, The Party.
Three faculty members and a handful of current students hosted a potluck for the applicants at the home of one of the faculty. They had a basket of slippers for everyone to wear; very cute, very midwife-y. The food was delicious and the conversation better. I floated around a bit, talking to the midwives and students (and the other applicants a little). I found Current Student #2 and started to introduce myself. She said, "Oh! You're Stephanie!" Apparently Current Student #1 had called her and told her to look for me at the party (note also that she couldn't remember the name of the other girl that had toured with us!) She was fun and honest, and I think I have a good picture of what it will be like to study there.
Act 4, The Coincidence
Four days later, I attended a birth through my doula job. The wonderful young mama had an amazing, beautiful, normal childbirth. Her provider happened to be a second year student midwife, Current Student #3! When the mama was in the bathroom (read an appropriate time), I mentioned to CS#3 that I was applying and had interviewed recently. She asked if I went to the potluck and then I discovered that she is the third amigo: Current Students #1, 2, and 3 are best friends! She was happy to hear that I had met both of them, and CS#3 said that she would be pulling for me. She offered her email address and asked me to let her know when I find out if I am accepted. [I telepathically sent a message asking her to report to the faculty what a wonderful doula she had worked with for 10hours and what a great midwife that doula would be.]
Fin.
p.s. At the interview, Program Director told me to expect to hear in "a few weeks." That could mean one more week, or eight. So I know y'all mean only the best every time you ask if I've heard anything--- but believe me when I tell you that I'll activate the phone tree as soon as the letter arrives.
Love!!!
Act 1, The Interview.
Program Director and I had good rapport from our previous meetings, and I felt much more at ease than at my interview last year. There were lots of smiles and nods. She even said, "Great," after some of my answers to her questions. I had the standard questions about my strengths/weaknesses, ability to multi-task, response to stress, how do I like to learn yayaya. The more interesting questions were those that addressed how I would respond to certain situations that would arise in my practice as a midwife. I brought a list of good questions to ask her at the end and we ended up chatting a bit past the 45min scheduled time. All in all, I think I did great!
Act 2, The Tour.
Current Student #1 gave a campus tour to me and another interviewee. I had good questions for her, too. She was very friendly and eager to sell the program. She seemed happy in it herself. At the end of the tour, she mentioned that we should look for her friend, Current Student #2, at the applicant potluck that evening.
Act 3, The Party.
Three faculty members and a handful of current students hosted a potluck for the applicants at the home of one of the faculty. They had a basket of slippers for everyone to wear; very cute, very midwife-y. The food was delicious and the conversation better. I floated around a bit, talking to the midwives and students (and the other applicants a little). I found Current Student #2 and started to introduce myself. She said, "Oh! You're Stephanie!" Apparently Current Student #1 had called her and told her to look for me at the party (note also that she couldn't remember the name of the other girl that had toured with us!) She was fun and honest, and I think I have a good picture of what it will be like to study there.
Act 4, The Coincidence
Four days later, I attended a birth through my doula job. The wonderful young mama had an amazing, beautiful, normal childbirth. Her provider happened to be a second year student midwife, Current Student #3! When the mama was in the bathroom (read an appropriate time), I mentioned to CS#3 that I was applying and had interviewed recently. She asked if I went to the potluck and then I discovered that she is the third amigo: Current Students #1, 2, and 3 are best friends! She was happy to hear that I had met both of them, and CS#3 said that she would be pulling for me. She offered her email address and asked me to let her know when I find out if I am accepted. [I telepathically sent a message asking her to report to the faculty what a wonderful doula she had worked with for 10hours and what a great midwife that doula would be.]
Fin.
p.s. At the interview, Program Director told me to expect to hear in "a few weeks." That could mean one more week, or eight. So I know y'all mean only the best every time you ask if I've heard anything--- but believe me when I tell you that I'll activate the phone tree as soon as the letter arrives.
Love!!!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Waiting Room Confessions
Now that all of my school applications are submitted, I don't have much more to do but wait. I'm glad not to have the apps staring at me anymore, daring me to revise my essays one last time. For the nursing programs alone, it's all out of my hands. For the combination BSN-CNM program....
I got an interview! I got an interview! What what? An interview!
This is good news, it means I've passed the first round of the application process. Hopefully I will prove my worth and make the final cut. I'm still quite nervous, though. I had an interview last year that I felt went pretty well... but I never made it off the wait list. This year will be a little different. First of all, I only have one interviewer (last year I had 2). The gods shined down on me and assigned me the program director - who not only interviewed me last year, but also we had a meeting in August that I arranged to go over last year's app. She was pleased and impressed by my initiative.
Secondly, in addition to the interview there will be a "welcome dinner" hosted by faculty and attended by current students. I'm really excited about this new addition. No matter how hard I try, I get nervous during interviews. I know this is pretty normal, but I often wonder whether I'm able to demonstrate my true self through the stuffy, nerve-wracking interview session. This dinner will give me another chance to make the faculty love me and beg me to be their student. :)
This all goes down on Feb 5th. After that, it's all about patience...
And sitting on the stoop waiting for the mailman every day for four months trying not to pull out all my hair and grind my teeth down to little smooth nubbins and gain 50 pounds from stress eating and, well, you get the picture (ew, sorry about that picture.)
I got an interview! I got an interview! What what? An interview!
This is good news, it means I've passed the first round of the application process. Hopefully I will prove my worth and make the final cut. I'm still quite nervous, though. I had an interview last year that I felt went pretty well... but I never made it off the wait list. This year will be a little different. First of all, I only have one interviewer (last year I had 2). The gods shined down on me and assigned me the program director - who not only interviewed me last year, but also we had a meeting in August that I arranged to go over last year's app. She was pleased and impressed by my initiative.
Secondly, in addition to the interview there will be a "welcome dinner" hosted by faculty and attended by current students. I'm really excited about this new addition. No matter how hard I try, I get nervous during interviews. I know this is pretty normal, but I often wonder whether I'm able to demonstrate my true self through the stuffy, nerve-wracking interview session. This dinner will give me another chance to make the faculty love me and beg me to be their student. :)
This all goes down on Feb 5th. After that, it's all about patience...
And sitting on the stoop waiting for the mailman every day for four months trying not to pull out all my hair and grind my teeth down to little smooth nubbins and gain 50 pounds from stress eating and, well, you get the picture (ew, sorry about that picture.)
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
If we let the auto industry fail by denying a bailout...
...converting the United States to the metric system will be wayyyyy easier.
Friday, November 21, 2008
What is a doula? The Today Show needs to do more research!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27808452/
This is the link to the Today Show piece on doulas. While the MSNBC article alongside was nice, I was really disappointed with the video segment. It portrays doulas as a luxury (expensive) and an annoyance to doctors and even the root of complications with the labor!!!! The show staff did a poor job researching doulas and neglected to give unbiased information. All of the doulas I know are furious about this!
My doula organization, PDX Doulas in Portland, Oregon, not only provides FREE doula services, but part of our mission is to foster an environment of cooperation with hospital staff. Most of the nurses and doctors, and all of the midwives LOVE walking into their patients' rooms to find one of us there. They see us as an invaluable part of the family's experience in labor and delivery.
We would never tell the doctor what the mother should or shouldn't do. When an intervention (induction, pain meds, episiotomy, etc) is offered, it is our job as advocates to remind the mother to ask questions so that she can make an informed decision HERSELF (or with her family). We are trained specifically to not speak for the mother/family, only to help the mother feel like she has made the decisions rather than have had things done TO her with little or no understanding. One of the best ways to ensure that a mama comes away from her birth with a positive memory is to help her feel that she was involved in the courses taken. Even if mama ends up with four IV's and a c-section, if she was involved every step of the way, she is more at peace with the birth in hindsight.
We don't tell mamas to refuse meds, but offer alternative coping techniques to try first if they want. We help with breathing, visualizations, and massage relaxation techniques. We show them different positions to try to help with discomfort and labor progress. We draw warm baths for them to relax in. We bring cool cloths for their foreheads and hold the basin when they vomit. We encourage and cheer them on, boosting their self confidence. When the doctor or nurse offers suggestions, we listen attentively and if the mama seems unsure, we ask if the family has questions or if they could have a moment to talk as a family and decide. If the suggestion is something that for the mother or baby's safety, they can't delay long or refuse, we still ask for a moment so the family can take a few breaths and accept the deviation from the birth they hoped for.
The actions of doulas that cause hesitation or bad blood with hospital staff are often uncertified doulas. Even if they are certified, they would promptly be fired from our group. It is those few doulas that give the rest of us a bad reputation. When we hear of hospitals banning doulas from the birth rooms, we are dismayed and frustruated with the doulas that have acted unprofessionally. Please don't judge every doula by the actions of a small group. Recognize that in every profession, there are practitioners that you should not hire.
As a mama-to-be, please interview multiple doulas to protect yourself from one who might force her own ideals onto your birth, or act unprofessionally with your healthcare providers. Doulas are supposed to help you have the best birth according to you and your family's preferences. And they should also be able to adapt to necessary changes in the birth plan as outlined by your doctor.
Thank you for taking the time to hear my side. I hope you will make up your own minds about doulas. DONA.org has statistics on the benefits of doulas if you would like more information.
This is the link to the Today Show piece on doulas. While the MSNBC article alongside was nice, I was really disappointed with the video segment. It portrays doulas as a luxury (expensive) and an annoyance to doctors and even the root of complications with the labor!!!! The show staff did a poor job researching doulas and neglected to give unbiased information. All of the doulas I know are furious about this!
My doula organization, PDX Doulas in Portland, Oregon, not only provides FREE doula services, but part of our mission is to foster an environment of cooperation with hospital staff. Most of the nurses and doctors, and all of the midwives LOVE walking into their patients' rooms to find one of us there. They see us as an invaluable part of the family's experience in labor and delivery.
We would never tell the doctor what the mother should or shouldn't do. When an intervention (induction, pain meds, episiotomy, etc) is offered, it is our job as advocates to remind the mother to ask questions so that she can make an informed decision HERSELF (or with her family). We are trained specifically to not speak for the mother/family, only to help the mother feel like she has made the decisions rather than have had things done TO her with little or no understanding. One of the best ways to ensure that a mama comes away from her birth with a positive memory is to help her feel that she was involved in the courses taken. Even if mama ends up with four IV's and a c-section, if she was involved every step of the way, she is more at peace with the birth in hindsight.
We don't tell mamas to refuse meds, but offer alternative coping techniques to try first if they want. We help with breathing, visualizations, and massage relaxation techniques. We show them different positions to try to help with discomfort and labor progress. We draw warm baths for them to relax in. We bring cool cloths for their foreheads and hold the basin when they vomit. We encourage and cheer them on, boosting their self confidence. When the doctor or nurse offers suggestions, we listen attentively and if the mama seems unsure, we ask if the family has questions or if they could have a moment to talk as a family and decide. If the suggestion is something that for the mother or baby's safety, they can't delay long or refuse, we still ask for a moment so the family can take a few breaths and accept the deviation from the birth they hoped for.
The actions of doulas that cause hesitation or bad blood with hospital staff are often uncertified doulas. Even if they are certified, they would promptly be fired from our group. It is those few doulas that give the rest of us a bad reputation. When we hear of hospitals banning doulas from the birth rooms, we are dismayed and frustruated with the doulas that have acted unprofessionally. Please don't judge every doula by the actions of a small group. Recognize that in every profession, there are practitioners that you should not hire.
As a mama-to-be, please interview multiple doulas to protect yourself from one who might force her own ideals onto your birth, or act unprofessionally with your healthcare providers. Doulas are supposed to help you have the best birth according to you and your family's preferences. And they should also be able to adapt to necessary changes in the birth plan as outlined by your doctor.
Thank you for taking the time to hear my side. I hope you will make up your own minds about doulas. DONA.org has statistics on the benefits of doulas if you would like more information.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
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