HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Well, now that I'm done school, I wasn't sure I'd continue blogging. Some day I will really get back to scrapbooking (my true passion), but in the meantime I guess I'll continue this since a few were asking what's going on.  

Following my Pinning Ceremony I focused on Christmas and my family. I didn't think about school at all! It really was nice to focus on family for a change.

Our school was providing a course in preparing for the NCLEX. This course, ATI, is part of the new curriculum that is being used for the newer nursing students. The school offered this prep course for free. I had already signed up for Kaplan as I had heard a lot about how it really helps you prepare for the biggest test of life, (that's how I feel about it, lol). So many had opted to cancel Kaplan and just do the ATI program offered by our school (since it was free and Kaplan is not cheap). I knew I would want all the help I could get and decided to not cancel that.

So January started back at school, lol. It was three long days of questions and rationales. In the end, I didn't think I was feeling very confident still and very happy I had not cancelled Kaplan. I started Kaplan on January 13th and just finished up this past Thursday. It really is an amazing program and helps you understand WHAT they are looking for in the answer. I enjoyed the program and hope I as well when I take the NCLEX. I'm not sharing the actual date I'm going to test as I kill myself with test anxiety and having my loved ones asking how I'm doing or if I passed just adds to that. All I'll say at this point is I plan on testing in February. For now I will continue to do practice questions and lots of them to prepare for the NCLEX and TRY to not stress myself out.

In the meantime, I have registered and been accepted to Wilmington University where I'll be going on for my BSN. I hope to obtain a job at my current employer as they would then pay for this!!!

Oh my goodness, I almost forgot!! Today, in the mail was my college diploma!!! Since I didn't bother going to college when I was younger, I never thought I'd say I am a college graduate!

I'M A GRADUATE NURSE!!!!

I can't believe I can type that!!! This journey has been a very emotional one, with many physical, financial and family hurdles to get through. I am finally letting it settle in. I am so glad I have a faith that allowed me to understand that the bump in the road was not the end of the road and that my faith kept me strong. Granted I cried a lot last weekend, every time someone would ask me how I was doing, I'd start to cry. I really was 'ok' with the fact that I had not passed the course, but it still hurt. I went to school on Monday, purely for the fact of finding out what I did wrong so I could do better when I repeated the course next month. I never EVER dreamed the outcome would be what it was! I am glad that this error occurred. It reminded me that I need to lean on Him who has helped me through this journey.

On Wednesday, we completed our 'exit' exam for the nursing program. It is supposed to be a predictive of how you would do on the NCLEX. I left knowing I had some work to do but was pleased with the score I had obtained since I didn't even know I was taking the exam two days prior to it. This morning we had a predictive exam for a prep course my school is offering to us. The purpose of this exam was so they would know how to gear what to go over for us. This exam gave you a percentage rate that they predict you'll pass the NCLEX the first time you take it. I was shocked when my exam revealed 94% chance of passing the first time I take it. I am going to take two prep courses and will register for the NCLEX following those courses.

Yesterday was our graduate luncheon. It was a relaxed afternoon to spend with our classmates and enjoy some food and cake. We then had our practice for our Pinning Ceremony. We had to come back in just a few hours all dressed up for the REAL THING!

I had been chosen as one of the two student speakers for the ceremony. I was honored to have Dale, Aubre & Tyler; my parents and sister and some very special friends who have shared in this journey with me, supporting me with prayers, supportive words and a listening ear; attend the ceremony to support me.

I was a nervous wreck when it was my turn to speak but thankfully, once I got going, I was fine. It's just opening my mouth to get the words to come out at first, LOL. I reviewed the past two years as evening clinical students and some of the things we learned and the instructors who helped shape us into the nurses we are! It was an amazing night!

Here are a few photos from the past couple days!!!

Graduate Nurses

Giving my speech

Just Pinned

THANK YOU JESUS!!!

Well, this has been a whirlwind! I posted Thursday afternoon after getting the devastating news about my exam. I had an outpouring of friends and loved ones who showered me with support and love. On Friday, I cancelled the Kaplan Prep Course I was going to start tonight to prepare for the NCLEX. I registered for next semester, unhappy I couldn't get the time slot I wanted, but had to move forward. I shared my sad news with my co-workers who all reinforced to me that this was just a bump in the road and I was still going to be a nurse, just not as soon as I was originally planning. Thankfully my faith kept my head on straight and I started to plan some family time (something that has been neglected for far too long). Dale & I signed up to help with a dog transport on Saturday evening (which they ended up not needing us for) so we took a ride, enjoyed a dinner and drove around looking at Christmas lights. Sunday after work, we started to put up our tree, getting lights only on the bottom before deciding to go see a movie. LOVE having time to just do something for us!

This morning I met with my instructor to review my exam. Typically we have a scheduled test review after each exam but being the last one of the semester there was not one. In reviewing my exam and the answers and belittling myself for selecting the wrong answer when I knew the right one (test anxiety is a KILLER) it was revealed that one of the MANY 'select all that apply' questions my answer matched the correct answer yet it was marked as wrong. My instructor had to meet with another instructor with the test key to review this. Then she returned to tell me that she would have to investigate this and would contact me very soon, asking for my phone number.

I left the school, texting Dale that I had this one question right and that I MIGHT have passed.  He got all excited, but I said NO, I can't get my hopes up to only find out I failed by an even closer margin.  So I waited for the call. A very short time later, my instructor called and said that that question was correct and so by a very TINY margin, I PASSED NURSING SCHOOL!!!!  I cried so hard, I think almost as hard as I did when I received the news that I had failed on Thursday.

So, this Thursday, at 6pm, at Delaware Technical Community College - Stanton Campus is my Pinning Ceremony. If you are local, I would love to share this accomplishment with you. If you have any questions, please call or text me.

WELL THE ROLLER COASTER RIDE CONTINUES

On Tuesday, I took my final exam in the one course (Community Health) of the fourth semester in the nursing program.  I did well on that exam and concentrated on my final nursing school exam. That exam was today.  I passed the exam, but not a high enough grade to pass the course (Med-surg).  I am devastated at the moment and will have to repeat the course next semester (which starts next month).  I am waiting to review my exam with an instructor next week so that hopefully, I will do better next time.

Thank you for the continued support.  As sad as I am right now, my manager said this and it helped a tiny bit:

"You have just hit a bump in the road. Somehow, someway, it will make you even stronger and an even better nurse"

For my friends and family that were going to attend the Pinning Ceremony at my school next week, please do not attend as I will not get pinned this semester.  I will hope to share some better news with you next semester.

THIS IS IT!!!!

Last week, as I put on my hunter green and white scrubs and ugly white nurses shoes (which are falling apart), I thought, I can't believe it! It's done! Clinical was OVER! The clinical portion (hands on) part of the program is where we actually get to treat patients. It was the time where you really felt like a nurse (at times). This semester also gave us an opportunity to be 'manager' of part of our team. I didn't think I'd enjoy that part, but I did. I enjoyed being able to help each member of my team as they needed it (since I didn't have a patient assignment myself that week). I reluctantly washed and hung those white and green scrubs until I know for sure I am done! I hope to never have to put them on again. As for those white shoes, they are falling apart and so ready for the trash!

Well, this is the final week of nursing school! Two exams this week. Always the roughest week of the semester. This time last year we got hit with a major snowstorm.  Monday, we got eight inches of snow, resulting in the cancellation of school the next day which would be the first of the two final exams. This was the most dreaded thing. We then had to take one exam on Wednesday and the final exam on Thursday. Just NOT optimal situation when you are stressed about passing the exam.

I have one exam on Tuesday, which I'm doing ok in that course, so, hopefully, I won't have any issues.  The harder of the two will be on Thursday. I hate that I will be on pins and needles until grades are posted on Thursday afternoon, but that is how it is in nursing school. 

As my countdown on my phone alerted me (like I needed a reminder), there are just a few days left in this semester!

When I shared this photo with Dale he commented that it seems like I just started. Another friend said it's been the longest but fastest two years!!! Only a nursing student would truly understand this.

So, now it is time to finish the final lecture and do many hours of readings. Please pray for me (and my friends) to get through this week successfully and onto the next hurdle (NCLEX)! I'll be sure to update later this week!

If you are one of my local friends or family, I'd like to take this chance to invite you to my Pinning Ceremony. It will be Thursday, December 18th at 6pm at the Stanton Campus of DelTech. If you need more info or would like to attend, please let me know. It is probably the most important event of a nursing students journey. Graduation is a formality and will not happen until May, so this is what we really look forward to.

GUESS I SHOULD HAVE WAITED A DAY!!

Well, last night I posted my typical after exam update. I shared with you the news of having done so bad on my exam and being extremely upset (I truly cried for hours yesterday). Today, after a student went over the exam with one of the instructors it seems there were some questions that truly needed to be thrown out. The exams had to be rerun! New grades were just posted and I PASSED!!!! I am so excited, thank you Jesus! I still have to work very hard to get through these final two exams (both the week of December 7th) but I am determined I will get through this! 

So with that news, I wanted to share with my friends and family that on December 18th at 6pm at my school will be our Pinning Ceremony. Any nurse will know the significance of this. We won't have an actual graduation until May (there is no winter commencement) but as a nursing student, we have our own ceremony. If any of my local family or friends would like to attend, please let me know and I'll provide the information. I am determined to be at the ceremony as a graduate!!!

Thank you to my friends and family who have been so encouraging along this journey. You kind words and supportive messages have kept me going for so many days.   

WELL, TWO EXAMS TO GO!!!!

I debated whether I should post an update today or not as I've sat here crying. I passed my exam last Thursday (and should have posted an update as I was feeling better than today), but I felt, I'd wait until this week. Well today was not good. I went into the exam feeling 'ok', not great, but I was sure I knew enough info to get through it. Well, I didn't.  

It's been the most difficult semester of nursing school. It seems the exams are each harder than the previous one and the questions seem to come out of nowhere. The required reading for each lecture is often the wrong chapter and/or page numbers so you aren't sure exactly what you should be reading. As a night time clinical student, I do not get the opportunity to attend 'live' lectures but have to view pre-recorded lectures (some of which are a year old). Previous semesters the lectures that were taught live in the morning were recorded and uploaded so that we saw and heard exactly what was taught to the day clinical group. We were told that there was no room if we wanted to attend the live lecture (basically a punishment for not being 'daytime' students). 

It's been a very frustrating semester and I can only pray and read and study what I can and hope that the final two exams keep me on the passing side. I go into the last two exams with a lot of weight on my shoulders. I have worked so very hard and truly just want to get done so I can move forward and start practicing all in the real world. 

I truly hope the next update I post will be me passing my next exam! 

FOUR DOWN FOUR TO GO!!!

Well this isn't the happy, "I passed" post! Unfortunately, I didn't pass my exam today. I didn't think that I had when I left the exam room. There was so much information on the exam and I just seemed to keep reading and re-reading my notes and feeling like I was looking at it for the first time again. I was told earlier this week that this was the most difficult exam of the semester and I am praying that information is correct. I'm less than two points from passing at this point so I am not going to stress about this. I'm going to dig in deep and start on the next set of lectures and readings. Three weeks til the next exam.

When I started this journey in May 2010, I knew it would be a long road; I knew it would take a LOT of time; I knew it would take a lot of devotion and I will NOT quit when I am this close to the finish line! The light at the end of the tunnel is brighter and brighter each day!

There are four more exams, seven weeks, 49 days between me and my RN!!! This is my countdown on my phone at 11am each day!

THREE DOWN!!! Five to go!

I didn't get a chance to post after my second exam but I passed that! Many others did not. I 'just' passed but as I've been told many MANY times, C's get degrees! Once I finish school and pass my boards no one is going to ask what I got on my exams! So I have to remember that!

So that brings me to today! I just passed my third exam of the semester! This time with a B. I've not gotten a B in so long that I forgot what that looked like! Things are getting real. I had to put in my application for graduation! I'll be 'graduating' in December but my college doesn't have a ceremony until May. I was asked 'Are you going to walk?' and I said ABSOLUTELY! I've worked very hard to get through this, I feel I deserve to walk. This past week I had to get fingerprinted for my background check as part of the state nursing board and licensing.

Our school does have a Pinning Ceremony in December a week after we take our final exam. As I pass each of these exams I can feel it getting closer! I'm exciting about all that we are learning this semester, it is all 'clicking' more as we are seeing it in practice. My position that I have at the hospital has enabled me to see things that I don't get a chance to see in clinical (due to not having a specific patient with exactly the same thing); I am very grateful that I've have this opportunity to learn while I'm working.

The main focus right now is trying to pick up extra shifts to bring in additional money since my unemployment has run out. I'm working midnight tonight and tomorrow since they are the only hours I can fit in some weeks. Off to watch another lecture as I prepare for yet another exam!

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