I've been reflecting a bit lately that the people I didn't like so much at the beginning of the program, I like them now, and the people I enjoyed at the beginning have drifted off; our communication no longer daily.
Anyway.
I met with a professional resume writer, and I was pretty excited for what she had to offer. In addition to being a former physician's assistant, she had excellent examples of her work. Granted, she spent a bit too much time talking about her cat and her autoimmune disorders, and the heart attack she once had, but, I was pretty excited to get a solid resume. Until she told me the price.
Over $1100.
Thanks, but no thanks. But oh, how she tried to get me to pay right there on the spot, even suggesting that I could split the payment between multiple credit cards. Nope.
I'll find someone else, thanks.
My preceptorship schedule is all set now, and I have a pretty fantastic rotation, if I do say so myself. I get to be on a float pool, which is like a dream to me, considering I get easily bored on one unit and want to see all that the hospital world has to offer. I begin March 31st, and couldn't be more excited.
Successfully completed my last (HALLELUJAH) clinical calculations exam, nearly getting tripped up on the darn reconstitution problem, but like most issues in my life, it's really not that difficult; take the prescribed dose and divide it by the amount to be reconstituted. (Makes sense to me, at least).
Spring break is upon us, now, and while I will be working on a group project regarding alarm fatigue, there's not much school-wise happening between then and now. Ye-haw.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Semester Four, Week Eight
Oh what a joyous moment it was, discovering I had successfully passed my last course of medical-surgical nursing.
Of course, leading it up to it was like a roller-coaster ride, as the day before, I decided to join in on a group study session that filled me with doubt, worry, and concern. A student stated that she's taken this final before, and it was the worst one ever. Apart from that, it was going to be near impossible to pass, unknown and untaught information would be thrown our way, and you better brush up on ABG's, EKG's, and every other subject ever taught in the history of the nursing program.
After that downer moment, I struggled in vain to study, and was not entirely successful in my efforts. The day of the final, I broke down and paid for a massage, which is a big deal for a poor person like me, but dang, my back, and neck ACHE. My masseuse informed me that my muscles should not be this tense for someone my age. Nursing school for the win. The massage did not help much, sadly.
That being said, the final was not that bad, and I left feeling confident. I even went out and celebrated with some of my cohort and had an alcoholic beverage, (or two).
Leadership began the next day, and with no more exams to study for, I find myself spacing out in class, or perusing the world wide web. I did so mid-day Wednesday, and discovered that I have landed a most wonderful preceptorship position at the very hospital I just completed my clinicals at. It is with great delight that I announce that I won't have to be at a long-term care facility for the remaining 108 clinical hours.
There are fears and concerns associated with a preceptorship, or capstone, or whatever one would like to call it, but this is where I begin to be released from the nursing school nest, and discover what autonomy looks like, and where I belong in the profession. It's really happening. I am incredibly close to achieving a dream that has been six years in the making.
Of course, leading it up to it was like a roller-coaster ride, as the day before, I decided to join in on a group study session that filled me with doubt, worry, and concern. A student stated that she's taken this final before, and it was the worst one ever. Apart from that, it was going to be near impossible to pass, unknown and untaught information would be thrown our way, and you better brush up on ABG's, EKG's, and every other subject ever taught in the history of the nursing program.
After that downer moment, I struggled in vain to study, and was not entirely successful in my efforts. The day of the final, I broke down and paid for a massage, which is a big deal for a poor person like me, but dang, my back, and neck ACHE. My masseuse informed me that my muscles should not be this tense for someone my age. Nursing school for the win. The massage did not help much, sadly.
That being said, the final was not that bad, and I left feeling confident. I even went out and celebrated with some of my cohort and had an alcoholic beverage, (or two).
Leadership began the next day, and with no more exams to study for, I find myself spacing out in class, or perusing the world wide web. I did so mid-day Wednesday, and discovered that I have landed a most wonderful preceptorship position at the very hospital I just completed my clinicals at. It is with great delight that I announce that I won't have to be at a long-term care facility for the remaining 108 clinical hours.
There are fears and concerns associated with a preceptorship, or capstone, or whatever one would like to call it, but this is where I begin to be released from the nursing school nest, and discover what autonomy looks like, and where I belong in the profession. It's really happening. I am incredibly close to achieving a dream that has been six years in the making.
Friday, March 4, 2016
Semester Four, Week Seven
I've had a really great week. Maybe that's because I had one test (that I rocked!) and two mandatory non-graded exams to track my progress (still looks like I'm on track to pass NCLEX, woot!) Apart from that, I've had a lot of down time, which I think I've needed, as I've been so focused on being busy and going from class to clinicals to work, I haven't had any time to be calm in the last six weeks or so.
Fact: I'm not always entirely comfortable being by myself, and I've had some moments like that this week as I reflected back on my life and some of the people I've wasted time on. Yeah, you know those moments. ;)
But, as I've come to terms with the realization that graduation is coming, I've contacted a professional resume writer (do they have an official title?) and am preparing to meet with them in the next few weeks to put on paper who I am. I've been scouring the internet for new grad nurse residency programs and feel amazed, emotional, and overwhelmed that this, the dream, is culminating and I'm preparing to head into the real world of nursing soon.
It's easy to get caught up in the panic of "what will I do after May 6th?!?" but, I have to rest in the fact that God will show me as I go. No sense in rushing ahead of things.
Studying for the final is cumbersome. People keep stating how awful it will be, but you know what? People all along this journey have said that every class, every semester, every exam is awful and impossible. Someone dropped yesterday that the final has a lot of questions regarding the cardiac system, and briefly, my heart dropped and all panic ensued because I don't feel like cardiology is my strong suit, and what if, what if, what if.
Enough!
I visited a women's shelter on Tuesday with a friend to teach the women about stress and other health literacy topics. My last clinical instructor was wild about health literacy, and now I understand why; people generally don't have much, if any. We discussed stress and then opened the forum to any questions, and oh, I was in a nursing student wonderland. I knew answers to the questions asked!
However, one of the attendee noted that while I was knowledgeable, I am so young and an "old soul". Old soul? I'm not that young anymore, sadly. But, quite peculiar that she noted I am an old soul. I've always been conscious of that fact, but never thought it translated into my interactions with strangers, particularly when discussing medicine.
So, there's the med-surg final next week. And then the start of my transitional course. Gone are the days of new medical knowledge and being bombarded with information. I'll miss it, I've decided. I have enjoyed, so much, transforming into someone new.
And, on a side note, being that I will continue on with my BSN after graduation, I had written a really marvelous scholarship essay that my computer randomly deleted. But never fear, after searching for it the world over, and even having Microsoft remote in with absolutely no luck, I re-wrote the essay, brand new, from scratch, and feel that it's a better representation of me, anyway. And is it true that Earnest Hemingway once lost a suitcase containing his best work, and had to start from scratch? I can't tell if that's fact or fiction, but it's a nice touch.
Blessed.
Fact: I'm not always entirely comfortable being by myself, and I've had some moments like that this week as I reflected back on my life and some of the people I've wasted time on. Yeah, you know those moments. ;)
But, as I've come to terms with the realization that graduation is coming, I've contacted a professional resume writer (do they have an official title?) and am preparing to meet with them in the next few weeks to put on paper who I am. I've been scouring the internet for new grad nurse residency programs and feel amazed, emotional, and overwhelmed that this, the dream, is culminating and I'm preparing to head into the real world of nursing soon.
It's easy to get caught up in the panic of "what will I do after May 6th?!?" but, I have to rest in the fact that God will show me as I go. No sense in rushing ahead of things.
Studying for the final is cumbersome. People keep stating how awful it will be, but you know what? People all along this journey have said that every class, every semester, every exam is awful and impossible. Someone dropped yesterday that the final has a lot of questions regarding the cardiac system, and briefly, my heart dropped and all panic ensued because I don't feel like cardiology is my strong suit, and what if, what if, what if.
Enough!
I visited a women's shelter on Tuesday with a friend to teach the women about stress and other health literacy topics. My last clinical instructor was wild about health literacy, and now I understand why; people generally don't have much, if any. We discussed stress and then opened the forum to any questions, and oh, I was in a nursing student wonderland. I knew answers to the questions asked!
However, one of the attendee noted that while I was knowledgeable, I am so young and an "old soul". Old soul? I'm not that young anymore, sadly. But, quite peculiar that she noted I am an old soul. I've always been conscious of that fact, but never thought it translated into my interactions with strangers, particularly when discussing medicine.
So, there's the med-surg final next week. And then the start of my transitional course. Gone are the days of new medical knowledge and being bombarded with information. I'll miss it, I've decided. I have enjoyed, so much, transforming into someone new.
And, on a side note, being that I will continue on with my BSN after graduation, I had written a really marvelous scholarship essay that my computer randomly deleted. But never fear, after searching for it the world over, and even having Microsoft remote in with absolutely no luck, I re-wrote the essay, brand new, from scratch, and feel that it's a better representation of me, anyway. And is it true that Earnest Hemingway once lost a suitcase containing his best work, and had to start from scratch? I can't tell if that's fact or fiction, but it's a nice touch.
Blessed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)