Sit down, buckle up. Its going to be a bumpy ride.

Well, Nursing School has started. It has had more hairpin turns in two weeks than the Cyclone at SixFlags. The first day was overwhelming. They gave us a lot of information and somehow I still left feeling like I didn't know anything.
I was amazed at the people who didn't have everything done before Orientation. No uniforms, books, etc... I don't know if that makes me really compulsive or them not prepared. I was done with everything when I hit the door. Er - not counting the NurseSquared software we had to purchase, but I was prepared to do so. Speaking of the software, I was going to try and cheat the system and purchase the 6 month or 1 year access code instead of the 2 year they were expecting us to buy from our bookstore. Luckily, I waited until last minute and then found out they have to mail you the access code. Since it was required by Friday and this was Tuesday, I didn't take that leap. It would have saved me a couple of hundred dollars, but, it turns out it was fortune in disguise. We found out the first day of Orientation that we weren't going to be using NurseSquared anymore. WHAT!!! But, hold on... you still have to purchase it. Last week we turned in our purchases and "swapped" them for an access code to SimChart (also made by Elsevier).
One great thing our instructors gave us is a calendar covering the entire semester. We know what chapters we are doing on what day and when assignments are due (even though we don't even understand what some of the assignments are yet, we at least know what is coming) One of my instructors said "Our calendar is like life - it changes on a dime" or something to that effect. I can attest to that!! So far there are no bad curveballs, just a hospital orientation thrown in unexpectedly or an email at 6pm saying we are actually going to cover something different tomorrow. So here we are two weeks in and I can tell you I have read 22 LONG chapters, taken a critical-thinking test, and checked off on hand-washing and sterile gloving. Woohoo!

Nursing School moves fast. Very, very fast.

As soon as I can eke out another few minutes, I will be back. Until next time I will leave you with something said in lecture:
"Is is more prudent for a nurse to be judgmental or to simply care?"

Almost There...

Orientation is Friday. Class starts Monday. I'm excited, scared, nervous, anxious, anticipating, restless, trying to get a leg up by reading several chapters ahead. (I know... don't say it)

I'll check back with you in a few days and update you on the progress.

The Waiting Game

There has been nothing to post until the last two weeks. The Nursing department is silent on the details that my Type A brain needs. I'm a planner and a scheduler, but that doesn't seem to be possible at this point. I don't know where I am allowed to get uniforms or the specifics, not sure about purchasing the NurseSquared software access yet, and I am terrified that my schedule is going to have an unforeseen twist in it. I have nailed down the hours I can work with my employer and it is based on the class/clinical schedule posted online. In reading online forums I noticed that most nursing programs around the country have some sort of "skills lab hours". I just hope they are close to regular class times so that I don't have to miss too much work or drive back to the college twice in one day.
I did get 3 of my 5 textbooks ordered. Got them at a huge deal from Half.com!
Fundamentals of Nursing w/CD (Potter/Perry) $33.00
FON Study Guide and Skills Checklist $22.00
Dosage Calcualtions w/CD (Mosby) $28.00

I still have to get my Pharmacology book and a Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Guide. Again, hoping there is no curveball. The pocketbook is already thinning and I have about half of my tuition saved at this point. It is due January 6th!

In reading through the student handbook that they gave us, (you would think that would answer most questions, but obviously I have the oddball questions that are not addressed) I did find that they specifically mention that skirt bottoms are allowed as part of uniforms. I didn't want them to make me wear a dress because I'm so tall that it would no longer be a modest length on me. I do know there will probably come a day when they won't allow my skirt in the OR or there won't be a hospital scrub skirt available. I won't waste time thinking about that now though.

I'm super excited despite all the unknowns. God didn't bring me this far to leave me! I'm going to be a Registered Nurse in two years!

The Steps to Getting into Nursing School

1. Pre-reqs done CHECK!
2. Application turned in CHECK!
3. TEAS V taken CHECK!
4. Stress over getting accepted CHECK! CHECK!

These are just the requirements for my school – a local Community College ADN program. As I finished my little list I realized that over-simplifies a much more involved process. I took 11 credit hours during the summer, worked 35 hours a week, continued to teach Wednesday night Children’s Church (throw in my 1 year-old little bundle of chaos/joy and my husband, dog, and housework to boot). I was one busy little Mama. With all that was going on I had two days to study for my TEAS test during the week of finals! Somehow by the grace of God and a lot of hard work I managed to pull off a cumulative gpa of 4.0 and score an 87.3% on my entry exam. Whew! The stress step is not optional, it will happen no matter how much you trust God and your transcript. I’m not so sure it was stress as much as it was intense anticipation of the outcome. How’s that for a spin?
Then comes October. THE Month. By day two of said month Husband is forbidden to check the mail for fear he will find a rejection letter and call me at work, or that he’ll find an acceptance letter and not call me at work. Stay with me here. My brain is one-of-a-kind.
Finally, October 20th - A letter in the mail that starts with Congratulations! I am not just hoping anymore. I’m Accepted. That’s a class of its own.
We had a quick meeting the following Monday to be drug tested and given instruction for getting our background checks in order.
Before the letter you have the wait, after you have the fees. Many, many, many fees.
Drug test - $35 CBC $65.25 Fingerprinting $10
On my to-do list now is filling out the required paperwork and saving a boat-load of money for what is to come. Oh, and finishing the semester of course.