Final Semester

I actually thought I would write this before the semester started but that didn't happen. Life seems to get in the way!  It's been a month since starting my final semester in pursuit of my ADN (Associate Degree Nursing). I truly didn't think this time would get here after attending the information session for the nursing program. It seemed so far away.  

I have already conquered (barely) one exam (of four) in Community and Geriatrics and this week will be my first med-surg exam (of four). I have enjoyed my rotation in the community/nursing home setting as the RN now vs the CNA role we held first semester. I have enjoyed getting to know my patients since I had the same three for the four week rotation. Granted the first day we walk into a new setting I think to myself, no way would I want to do this; but by the end of the rotation I realize I COULD do this! This leads me to believe that I will not have a lot of difficulty finding a job as I truly have enjoyed each area of nursing we have studied so far and could work in any of those settings.

This semester brings on additional excitement as our daughter Aubre is now in the first semester of clinical. I am excited to share in her journey as she works towards her ADN.

I missed an entire weekend of study time prior to my first exam as the Philly 3-Day for the Cure was held several weeks earlier than it has been and it fell on a weekend that I would have devoted to studying. I spent the entire weekend with amazing friends and extended family as we raised awareness and $3.8 MILLION in the fight against breast cancer. I've already signed up to walk next year (and hope this time Dale will be able to walk with me) so if anyone would like to donate to this amazing cause, please use this link.

2015 SGK 3-Day for the Cure

I'M A SENIOR!!!!

I can hardly believe I am writing this, but I am finally a senior nursing student!!!! This semester has been a very difficult road and there were times I wasn't sure I was going to make it on to the next semester. I struggled with some of the exams as each one got harder and harder. I did very well in the clinical setting and truly enjoy the hands on part. I love helping my patients and learning more about the disease process while in that setting. Things make so much more sense then. I am now going to NOT think about school for a little bit and work hard at getting more hours at my job since I won't have classes or clinical to schedule around. I was told due to vacations I should be able to pick up hours over the summer. 

When I started blogging, I wrote about what I learned each week as the beginning stages were so much learning. Lately, it's been more of putting what we learned into practice. I really didn't elaborate on the various patients I had this semester, due in part that 1/2 the semester was in the psych unit and there is not a lot you can share as it is something to be experienced. I was surprised when I finished up my psych rotation that I truly would not rule out a job working with these patients. Big change from my first day on the unit. 

The Med-surg rotation this time was with much sicker patients. The second half of our rotation we had two patients each day (vs just having one patient). This was to help us learn better time management skills as we transition into our final semester. I am nervous and excited for this next chapter but very much looking forward to a couple months without my brain on overload.

I am going to pick up as many hours at the hospital over the summer to hopefully help keep my foot in that door so when I do become an RN they will hopefully hire me on at that time and pay for my education for my BSN.

I do not plan to post much over the summer but if anything important comes up I will be sure to update you all. Thank you for following along.

Oh, forgot to tell you, we have a new grandbaby. Her name is Skye. She is a bull mastiff puppy and Dale & Steph brought her home on Mother's Day. 

Six Exams Down Two To Go!

Well, it's hard to believe we are almost done with this semester. I've struggled with each exam, the ones I thought I did well on, I did poorly on and those I thought I bombed, I passed. Go figure.  So with that, I've given up 'feeling' for any exams. I can't deal with the emotional road each time waiting for the grades. I just have to pass the final two exams for the semester to move on and be a fourth semester nursing student.

It's the middle of April and it's odd that the first time in six years, i am not training for the Broad Street Run. Due to more than 40,000 (plus) people wanting to do this race, they've turned to a lottery system (they did this last year also), well this year, Aubre and I did not get in! I figured, oh well that's ok, save the money and the time that is required to train. Well  honestly, I miss it so I signed up for a local 5K that is helping a friends non-profit organization that helps those dealing with breast cancer here in Delaware. I started training for that a few weeks ago and got myself back on a regular gym schedule. I do truly feel better if I work out; I still hate to wait up in the dark to go work out but I got to do it! 

Oh Tuesday, it was the one year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing! It was hard to believe it's been a year. I remember awaiting our clinical assignments (we had just arrived on the floor of the hospital unit we were schedule to be on) when the first text news alert came across my phone. I spent a lot of time catching bits and pieces of the news on my patients tv or others around the unit. This was my Boston Strong support photo!

Last year, Aubre and I ran a 5K two weeks after the bombing where all proceeds went to the One Fund Boston and then did the Broad Street Run wearing our red sox (first blisters in a long time since I wore brand new socks for a ten mile race).

This is the start of Spring Break! No clinical or classes until April 28th!!! Not so say I have the entire week off next week, no, that I do not! Due to the lovely federal government in order for me to keep getting the tiny bit of unemployment they are providing, I have had to attend MANY classes, taking up time that could be used for studying (or job hunting). So my first day of spring break will be spent in a SIX HOUR 'Career Planning' workshop that I am federally mandated to attend, then in addition to that on Thursday, I am required to attend a THREE HOUR interview workshop! I get to work on Wednesday at the hospital (get that, I do work, I don't just sit home and collect unemployment, I just happen to have a part time, temporary job that provides a little bit of income). I also have an appointment to give blood on Tuesday so as of this moment FRIDAY IS OPEN!!!! That day will most  likely be spent studying (oh and preparing for our community mental health presentation!) 

Hoping to get completely caught up on lectures and notes so I can work on studying, studying, studying! I know there is no way for me to get better than a C for the semester (and that screws my GPA and the one scholarship I applied for) but I want to really try and do my best on these final two exams!

Well, I should get back to those lectures and note taking for now. Hopefully we'll have some pretty spring photos to update with next time.

Four Exams Down ~ Four To Go!

It's hard to believe that more than month has passed since my last post. I don't know how I managed to work full time while going to school and still stay on top of all the things I was doing. It seems each week I feel further behind. I have some how managed to stay afloat though. I am passing both courses at this point with two more exams in the next two weeks. Counting down days to Spring Break! No, I do not have plans, I'll be spending one day in an all day 'Career Planning Workshop' at the local unemployment office (mandatory as part of the tiny benefits I am getting.) I'm working two days that week and have a couple other things on the calendar but will use every spare minute to try and get the rest of this semester under my belt.

Just to give you a little bit of what I have been doing. I finished up the first med-surg rotation getting to work with several interesting patients. My one patient had suffered with COPD for years and wanted me to tell others that smoking was what did this person in. This patient had quit quite a few years ago yet was suffering to stay healthy to continue working. I was learning more about medications and labs during this rotation and was able to educate one of my patients on the need to take their medication with their dinner and NOT on an empty stomach in the morning. It is surprising when a patient tells you they have been taking a medication for a long time and they have been taking it incorrectly. Sadly some do not read the labels or the long print outs thinking they 'know' the drug. 

After our fast four weeks in med-surg it was back for our second psych rotation. I had the opportunity to be on the unit for those with addiction problems combined with mental health problems. Sadly for many this was not their first visit to this facility. This past week I had the chance to visit the children's unit. It was so heartbreaking these small children at an in-patient facility for mental illness. I just wanted to hug some of them.

I honestly had no desire to work with psych patients prior to this semester and not even after the first rotation here but now, I truly can say that I would strongly consider a position working with these patients. So many are just like you and me, just one step away.

I am now preparing for a community clinical visit to a rehab facility which I will be doing a group project on. I am also preparing for our next psych exam. I have two more lectures to watch and a lot of reading to do before Thursday. Wish me well and say a prayer that all this information stays in my brain and comes out when I need it!

Oh, I forgot one bit of exciting news, our daughter, Aubre, started in the CNA course for the nursing program at my school. The nursing program I am involved in has just be completely reconfigured and lots of changes for those who started this past January. Aubre has taken all the pre-reqs and has applied for admission and now just is waiting for word. Praying that she gets accepted into the upcoming fall semester for the nursing program.

There has also been lots of talk about the MAJOR hospital in the area will NOT be hiring ADN's (I'll be an ADN; Associate Degree Nursing with my RN after passing my boards); they are being told they have to hire those with BSN's. This is disheartening to many in the program I am in and I am praying and hoping that the job I am currently working will be a stepping stone to get my foot in the door when I graduate.

So that's it for now. I'll be sure to update after the next set of exams.

Third Semester

I actually started to update this blog just before this semester started, but never got around to it. The winter/Christmas break went entirely to fast. I've spent most of my time trying to get hours in the hospital at my part time job there. I didn't get done all the things I had planned as life just seems to go faster each year.

This semester started our psych rotation. I was very nervous the first day, but I'm always nervous at the beginning of each clinical rotation and then things go well. We missed our first clinical day because of snow (and several other days due to so much snow this winter).  I survived my first rotation on the psych unit. We were partnered up with a classmate and sent into a designated unit. My first night, I was on the 'recovery' unit, which is for 'high-functioning' adults. I was able to have a therapeutic conversation with my patient that evening and enjoyed the interaction. My patient seemed appreciative of the time also saying that it was the first time they were able to talk about something without crying. The next week (missed another clinical day due to snow/ice) so we only had one day. I was on the adolescent unit. It was interesting, yet sad, to see so many young people suffering with mental issues. Last week (our last until later this semester), I was on the 'middle' unit. This is where psychosis patients are. These are your more mentally disturbed, maybe hearing voices, type of patients. The student I was buddied with thought we should lead a group (it's an assignment required of us at some point during our rotations here, most wait until later in the semester), but she had a good idea and I was relieved to help out.

We had our first psych exam and I passed. Sadly, that's about all that matters any longer. I try and do my best, but I am not seeing A's and very rarely B's. C's are acceptable! As I've even been told by my counselor last week "What do they call the person who graduated at the bottom of their class in medical school?" "A doctor!" The letter isn't the most important and I've got to just keep trying to do better.

We are also stepping it up on the Med-Surg units. We'll be doing more 'nurse' things vs CNA type things (this seemed to be the consensus of what many mentioned in our first class).  We started back in the Med-Surg unit this week (but due to MORE SNOW) we only had one day of clinical this week (we typically  have two clinical days per week, then labs, lectures, seminars, oh and work also). We've reviewed our necessary skills, but I'm thinking I might need to get back in the lab so I'm not nervous. 

Our first med-surg exam was to be last Thursday, we got hit with ANOTHER snow storm so it was postponed to Friday. I was bummed as I had to work Thursday night (and really MAJORLY study again the entire day/night before the exam); well due to the extreme cold, what melted, froze and more snow fell over night so Friday school was closed also. Our exam was being pushed to Monday. I was working all four nights before the exam! My worst nightmare. I get home around midnight and have to unwind, I'm wiped out in the morning so the studying before work just did not go well. After getting home late Sunday night, I stayed up until 3:30 and was back up by 6am for the exam. I didn't do nearly as well as I felt like I did. Bummed. Thankfully we do have test review where we get a chance to go over our exams, see what the correct answer is and then try and figure out why we picked the one we did (which was wrong). 

I'm trying to stay on top of my lectures so that I'm not so overwhelmed when it is time for the next exams (in two and three weeks). I'm taking every opportunity I have to get help on any ways I am able so I can hopefully do better. I am looking forward to being on the hospital on Monday for clinical and being hands on with our patients. I will try and update again in a few weeks.

I'M A THIRD SEMESTER NURSING STUDENT!!!!

Well it's been a rough semester! There were days I wasn't sure I'd make it. There were days at work where I questioned myself, if I was doing the right thing.  Those bad days are behind me!  As mad as I was earlier this semester when an instructor told me I should drop the one course since I was failing, telling me I'd be much happier 'part time'!  I have to say THANK YOU! Because I was determined to prove her wrong and I did.  I passed the semester (at one point it was by the skin of my teeth, but thankfully not quite that bad at the end). No, I'm not seeing A's like I did before I started the clinical portion but I've come to realize that that is ok. I'll survive with C's. Yes, I'd love to get A's & B's but I'll live with C's. Now I am going to take time to get ready for Christmas (I just knocked over the Christmas tree while putting my window display up) and not 'think' about school for a few weeks.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

I AM DOING THIS!!

Well, the title says is. I am doing this! 

I passed my two exams (last Thursday and the week before). It's been very stressful to say the least. I've been attending every possible opportunity to get help. Something that is offered to students is called 'SIP-N'. It's a peer tutoring type session. Former graduates from our program who are working full time as RN's come in to try and help us understand what we are learning (or reinforce what we are learning). These sessions have been very helpful. They also have sample NCLEX questions to help us to 'think like a nurse'! It has become evident that the questions are getting harder each time.

I have also been blessed with another scholarship! This is the third scholarship I've been awarded! So very happy as this takes a bit of the burden off trying to figure out how to pay for school and bills, etc.

There are two exams left (one in each course) and I must do well on those. I would love to bring my average up but I'm striving to pass right now and the letter grade is not as important.

I've been working two days a week at the hospital. I really enjoy all that I'm getting to do there helping those who are trying to get back home following either strokes, joint replacements, brain or spinal injuries. It was nice to have the same patients several times as I would get to really see improvement in them. Had a really stressful night one shift and was very overwhelmed but thankfully the next day was much more manageable.

I will be back in a few weeks to update you on the end of the semester. I am very much looking forward to a break (even though it is only a few weeks), it is a very needed break.

Discouragement & Encouragement

As several have asked, where's my blog . . .   I am finally getting a chance. I love blogging about what I am learning and doing but finding the time to do it as regularly as I'd like is not always an option. So when I last posted I was preparing for my next exam. I did pass that, thank you Jesus, but not with as high of a grade as I would have liked. I had heard from previous students that the diabetes test was the most difficult. Having not done well on the first exam for this course this semester, I was very stressed. I studied so much on the diabetes that I didn't focus enough on the stroke of peripheral vascular disease portions. I did pass but as I mentioned not by much. Due to this, at the half way point for the med-surg portion of this semester I was not passing. I was 'strongly' encouraged by one of my instructors to drop out of the course and continue part time this semester with the maternity and peds course and then retake the med-surg course next semester (thus still as part time). She told me I'd be much 'happier' part time. Mind you, I just lost my full time job (stress), my son had a seizure just before my first med-surg exam (stress), started a new (very part time) job (stress)! How would I be happier part time??

You cannot go on to the 'next level' until both of these courses are done. I was heartbroken. I have been working towards this since May of 2010 and I was not ready to throw in the towel. Today I learned that this same instructor told another student who is not passing at the moment that she is trying to 'dig herself out of a box!' What a way to tell someone buckle down and get it done, NOT! 

I spoke with another adviser and she keeps statistics on students and the pass/fail at each point. With her encouragement and my determination, I am NOT withdrawing and going to do everything I can to get my grade up and pass this course.

I have every possible thing on my calendar. I am attending weekly 'Sipn' (tutoring type of sessions) for each of the courses (some are twice a week), I am attending all test reviews to see where my mistakes are made and hopefully understand why I chose the answer I did. I am working two days a week at the hospital and two days of clinical at the hospital and still trying to find something to fill the BIG gap in the pay. All of this fills up the ENTIRE calendar. There are only three days this month that something is not on the calendar (and they are devoted to studying most of the day). It's crazy, but I'm taking advantage of every opportunity that I have to do better and get a better grade and learn more.

So, just a bit from last update . . .

While on my maternity rotation I was able to observe a baby being born via c-section. I was initially disappointed that I was not seeing a vaginal birth but watching the team of doctors PULL this baby from it's mother was such an amazing experience! (I was concerned since I didn't care for my OR observation day last semester). I also did a clinical day in the NICU. I am thankful that I live in an area with such an amazing teaching hospital that allows us students to see first hand so many amazing experiences.

This coming Monday I will have my first clinical absence. I hate to have to miss a clinical day (and may have an advisement due to it) but I MUST take my new employee orientation for the hospital. I didn't get to take it last month due to my maternity rotation so I HAVE to take it Monday. Bummed as I really am enjoying my med-surg clinical instructor so much more than my first rotation earlier this semester.

Also for my job at the hospital, I have had to take two other courses; one was on patient and employee safety (not getting hurt while helping a patient) and the other was a self-defense course. I was a bit blown away at learning some of these things as I did not realize how easily a situation could turn bad. Granted most of the employees in that course work in the ED or Psych unit but thankfully I know what to do if something happens (just hope my brain remembers it).

SO MUCH HAPPENING ALL THE TIME

I can't believe it's been a couple weeks again. I have been working for two weeks at the hospital and go back in tomorrow and Sunday from 3-11:30. I truly am enjoying what I'm doing at the hospital. As for school, the past few weeks have been in maternity. We had one evening in Labor & Delivery where I was able to 'assist' with a newborn assessment. We will be back in Labor & Delivery Monday afternoon/evening and I truly hope I get to see a birth. On Tuesday I'll be in the NICU unit.

While on the maternity floor, I had the privilege of taking care of several new moms the past few weeks along with their newborns (even a set of twins!). I've demonstrated bathing newborns for the new parents and have administered the babies HepB shot. I have had brand new young moms (18 years old) to older (experienced) moms. I really have enjoyed this rotation and wish we could spend more time here. The instructor this rotation has made learning very enjoyable.

I didn't do well on my last exam. It was on Altered Immunity and Infection; Alterations in the GI system and Alterations in Nutritional Metabolism; Alteration of the Endocrine System, Fractures and Osteoporosis. I am studying very hard for the next exam in this area, many on Diabetes, Stroke; Peripheral Vascular Disease and Cardiac Deficits.  LOTS of information.

In between all this, Dale & I participated in the Philadelphia 3-Day for the Cure with 1500 other friends!  We truly are committed to the fight against breast cancer. Seeing young women in their 20's being diagnosed with this breaks my  heart! These women should be planning their futures, not making chemo and radiation appointments.

This photo is of my 'cousin' Shannon and I at the mile 59 marker (one mile to closing)!!! I walked with Shannon in Boston in July! After walking Philly the first weekend of October, she turned around and went to DC and walked that 3-Day in the pouring rain!!! She is awesome!

  

  

A QUICK UPDATE!!

I have been so busy that I've not had time to stay on top of this. I finished working at the real estate office last Friday. To celebrate, my boss took his wife, Dale and I, along with our agent and his wife to a very nice dinner. We had a wonderful evening and some very fine food.  We finished up our rotation at the med-surg unit last week. We were in the brand new unit those two days. I had a patient who was suffering from multiple pulmonary embolism. My patient was very young to be experiencing this. I was able to administer IV meds via a pump.

This week we started our maternity rotation. Monday was spent working on our community collaborative project. My team will be presenting 'Safe Sleep' to expecting and new parents later this month. Safe Sleep is to enforce that parents put their babies to sleep on their backs, not their sides or tummys. Tuesday we started our day with a tour at a local birthing center and then went onto the maternity unit at the hospital.

Today I started my new job as a patient care tech (PCT). It is a casual position so I only get four shifts every two weeks (and it pays a great deal less than I was making) but hoping it gets my foot in the door. I had a great day and am looking forward to all that I can learn in this position.

I will be back at the hospital tomorrow and then it's on to the Philadelphia 3-Day for the Cure! I'm going to be running on steam but so looking forward to this weekend. I will truly listen to my body as I need my feet for clinical on Monday afternoon and evening!