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GRADUATION DAY!!!! Finally!!! Today, my graduation from Alvernia University is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM local time. I am graduating from Alvernia University with a Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing and a minor in Biology. However, just because I am graduating doesn't mean that I'm automatically a nurse now. As written in law, only Registered Nurses can legally call themselves nurses (not Graduate Nurses, LPN's, CNA's, home health aids, midwives, or anyone else). I am transitioning from the role of "Student Nurse" to "Graduate Nurse," and hope to be titled Registered Nurse soon. I am not yet registered. To get registered, I need to pass NCLEX, which is the licensure examination for nurses in the United States. I have applied for a temporary practice permit in Pennsylvania as a "Graduate Nurse" meanwhile. During clinicals throughout school, I signed all of my documentation as "Gerald D. Stauffer, SNALV" (Student Nurse of Alvernia), but now I will be signing things as "Gerald D. Stauffer, GN (Graduate Nurse), until I pass NCLEX to become "RN." There are still some GN's from Alvernia's class of 2009 who have not passed NCLEX, and it is illegal for them to call themselves nurses yet. If they don't soon pass NCLEX, their one-year temporary practice permit as a GN will expire, and they will not be allowed to practice nursing.

Anyway, enough technicalities....

I'm scheduled to start my new job as a GN on June 22nd in the Critical Care Internship at Lehigh Valley Health Network's Cedar Crest campus in Allentown, PA.

My family is planning a party for later today, so I'm sure there will be lots of pictures and things to tell later. For now, I am going to begin the day by sleeping soundly. Graduation isn't till 2:00 PM.