All Things Medical

Years ago, my daughter, Corrie Petersen found herself in a decent job, but it was a dead-end job when it came to promotions and such. While she was already doing the job that would have been a promotion, they said she needed a college degree to be considered. Well, she got that degree, but not in that field. She chose, instead to take a different course of action. If they didn’t see her value, she would go into a field where her value would be appreciated. So, after years of being out of school, Corrie went back to college to become a nurse, and she has never looked back.

It has been two years since Corrie graduated from nursing school and passed her NCLEX test to become a (BSN RN) registered nurse with a Bachelors Degree. That is amazing to me…and to her. The time has literally flown by. She is in her dream career and is quickly becoming the go-to advisor for our family concerning all things medical. Corrie works at Elkhorn Valley Rehabilitation Hospital and is well liked and respected. Her life now is a “far cry” from that old dead-end job she bailed on years ago, when this journey began. The nursing degree, according to the Guiness Book of World Records, is the hardest degree to obtain, and I totally believe that. I don’t know of anyone who has gone through that program without shedding many tears and dealing with a “boatload” of anxiety. There is so much information to commit to memory, and even the best students struggle. Nevertheless, all the struggle is worth it when they hold that degree in their hands and know that they made it.

The entire time that Corrie was in nursing school, she was also gaining two daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren. Life doesn’t stop just because you are in nursing school, or any other course of study for that matter…even if we sometimes wish it could. You have to buckle down, and hit the books hard, while still trying to keep up with the rest of your life. Of course, she would tell you that she couldn’t have done it without her husband, Kevin Petersen, and that his support was a vital part of her success. Kevin was there for her every step of the way, through every teardrop she shed and every anxious moment, and for his support, she was so grateful, as am I. Today, all that schooling is behind her, but that doesn’t mean that the learning is behind her. Nursing is not a “one and done” kind of career. Every year she must do continuing education, and every advancement comes with study and testing. Right now, she is studying for her test to become a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse. I am confident that she will pass the test with ease. As with everything else, Corrie faces each new challenge with determination and confidence. I am so proud of her achievements. Today is Corrie’s birthday. Happy birthday Corrie!! Have a wonderful day!! We love you!!