I look around and can't find the nursing section. So I ask the first sales associate I could find for nursing books.
She leads me to breastfeeding books.
"No!" I laugh. "The OTHER nursing."
I'm sure this has happened to many other nurses and nurses-to-be, especially if they show up asking for nursing books with a toddler in tow.
July 17, 2007
July 16, 2007
My first textbook arrived
Pharmacology for Nursing Care. It's enormous.
8 more to come. If they're all this big, I'm going to have to invest in a suitcase for bringing them to and from school.
8 more to come. If they're all this big, I'm going to have to invest in a suitcase for bringing them to and from school.
July 14, 2007
First nursing-school related panic attack
While sitting here with the kids (my son had a slumber party), I started spazzing about nursing school: how hard it's going to be, how much time it will take up, getting childcare for my boy, occupational health hazards...just everything. It was rather overwheming. Part of me wanted to say, "maybe I should put this off a bit longer" but I know if I do that, school will never happen because there will always be something that comes up that'll make me say "maybe I should..."
My biggest cause forpanic concern is childcare. It's just me and the Carpetshark until February. The first half of the semester won't be too bad; it's when clinical start with the late hours that I'm worried about. I don't really have anyone at home to say, "go pick up Carpetshark, I'm stuck here until 9." At least the military has childcare resources I can call upon, including providers that offer care at odd hours. I'm going to get a list of referals on Monday, and hopefully I'll find someone on one of them. I know, I've got more than a month until school starts and another month or so after that until the first clinicals start...but let me get it squared away now.
They recommend that you spend 3 hours a week studying for each credit hour you're taking. That will be 27 hours for me. 27 hours a week on top of everything else in my life. I'm going to have to be very resourceful with my time. Once those books arrive I'm going to start getting ahead on my reading, since I can't afford to be behind at all.
My graduate pen-pal gave me the advice that as long as you're passing you WILL become a nurse, and that the grades you graduate with don't mean that much in the end. It is encouraging to know that I don't HAVE to be perfect, that I'll just do fine as long as I pass. But that doesn't mean I won't let my guard down and stop shooting for the A. First, I want the 4.0 GPA to live just a little longer. Second, if I shoot for the A, then I know I'm more likely to get the B as opposed to shooting for the B. But it's pretty tight to get an A: you need a 94 or better.
I debated with myself about keeping this blog to document my experiences, especially with all of these instances in the media of "private" blogs and websites coming to bite people in the ass, I'm hesitant to. But then again, I would like a record of this to look back on, and yes, I would like to share it with others. So I'm going to keep it for the time being, but don't expect any pictures or a lot of specific details about who/what/when. I might be annoyingly vague about things, but at least I'll feel comfortable doing so.
My biggest cause for
They recommend that you spend 3 hours a week studying for each credit hour you're taking. That will be 27 hours for me. 27 hours a week on top of everything else in my life. I'm going to have to be very resourceful with my time. Once those books arrive I'm going to start getting ahead on my reading, since I can't afford to be behind at all.
My graduate pen-pal gave me the advice that as long as you're passing you WILL become a nurse, and that the grades you graduate with don't mean that much in the end. It is encouraging to know that I don't HAVE to be perfect, that I'll just do fine as long as I pass. But that doesn't mean I won't let my guard down and stop shooting for the A. First, I want the 4.0 GPA to live just a little longer. Second, if I shoot for the A, then I know I'm more likely to get the B as opposed to shooting for the B. But it's pretty tight to get an A: you need a 94 or better.
I debated with myself about keeping this blog to document my experiences, especially with all of these instances in the media of "private" blogs and websites coming to bite people in the ass, I'm hesitant to. But then again, I would like a record of this to look back on, and yes, I would like to share it with others. So I'm going to keep it for the time being, but don't expect any pictures or a lot of specific details about who/what/when. I might be annoyingly vague about things, but at least I'll feel comfortable doing so.
July 13, 2007
It's depressing to see your body in measurements
At least if it's my body. I was measured for my nursing school uniforms today.
The funny (ha!) thing is that I've spent the last two months at the Y, working out 3-4 times a week. I hadn't lost much weight--only about 4 pounds--because I have to admit: I could be eating a lot better than I have been. But everyone's been commenting that I look like I've lost weight, especially in my face...I guess that's the only place I lost it from, because when the dressmaker gave me the numbers I was shocked. They make me sound enormous, and I'm really not. I'm tall and only a size 14...sometimes 16, but I can usually swing a 14.
But measurement numbers do not lie, so I ordered the appropriate sizes. I think the shirt's going to be a bit large, especially as the "girls" are large due to nursing I do...the OTHER nursing.
They said during orientation to get our uniforms on the larger size as nursing students "tend to spread". That made me wonder if I'm ever going to see the inside of the Y again, what with this schedule coming up.
The funny (ha!) thing is that I've spent the last two months at the Y, working out 3-4 times a week. I hadn't lost much weight--only about 4 pounds--because I have to admit: I could be eating a lot better than I have been. But everyone's been commenting that I look like I've lost weight, especially in my face...I guess that's the only place I lost it from, because when the dressmaker gave me the numbers I was shocked. They make me sound enormous, and I'm really not. I'm tall and only a size 14...sometimes 16, but I can usually swing a 14.
But measurement numbers do not lie, so I ordered the appropriate sizes. I think the shirt's going to be a bit large, especially as the "girls" are large due to nursing I do...the OTHER nursing.
They said during orientation to get our uniforms on the larger size as nursing students "tend to spread". That made me wonder if I'm ever going to see the inside of the Y again, what with this schedule coming up.
July 12, 2007
So I went to my nursing school orientation yesterday
They told us basically what I've heard from every other nursing student and read on any nursing forum: that this is a lot of work, that this will consume a lot of time, that we need to prioritize and learn to let go and live with messy houses and delegating chores to other family members. No surprise there...except that I do wish I had someone to delegate chores to. My toddler is not exactly ready to do laundry and cook dinner.
The cost of the books...now THERE was the surprise. Not a great surprise, but sticker shock nonetheless. I ordered through B&N instead of the campus bookstore because a. I can use my B&N membership discount, and b. the campus bookstore quoted the price for all the books that were "required" as just over $1,000. I followed the list handed out in Orientation: the bill was just under $500. That's just for one semester too. I now understand why, when I was in college the first time around, my mom would be outraged every time it was time to hit the bookstore.
Between the books plus tuition for the fall, I dropped $1200 before lunchtime. This does not include the uniforms I've yet to order (another $200 as we have to have two complete sets), plus shoes (whatever they run), plus school supplies (whatever that will run). At least I already have a working PDA. It's old, but it's working. Next year I'll upgrade it...I really need a new cell phone first, as I've now resorted to praying over this one every day so that it'll make it until August.
Students--well, the female ones--have a choice between a white dress and white scrubs. No way in hell am I wearing a dress--I'd feel like I was playing "pretend" nurse for some movie (Carry on Nurse?). I don't think any of the women are going to choose the dresses from what I heard. But we'll see how right I am when clinicals start.
Five semesters of fun--we work through the summer too. Whee.
I did find a graduate of the school's program on a nursing forum and dropped her a note asking if she had any advice/warnings for me about the school and the program. She sent back a fantastic message full of information (especially helpful was which instructors to avoid if possible) and told me if I had more questions to let me know. It's nice to know I have a contact I can go to for info, as getting through to my nursing school's administration office on most days is just short of impossible.
The cost of the books...now THERE was the surprise. Not a great surprise, but sticker shock nonetheless. I ordered through B&N instead of the campus bookstore because a. I can use my B&N membership discount, and b. the campus bookstore quoted the price for all the books that were "required" as just over $1,000. I followed the list handed out in Orientation: the bill was just under $500. That's just for one semester too. I now understand why, when I was in college the first time around, my mom would be outraged every time it was time to hit the bookstore.
Between the books plus tuition for the fall, I dropped $1200 before lunchtime. This does not include the uniforms I've yet to order (another $200 as we have to have two complete sets), plus shoes (whatever they run), plus school supplies (whatever that will run). At least I already have a working PDA. It's old, but it's working. Next year I'll upgrade it...I really need a new cell phone first, as I've now resorted to praying over this one every day so that it'll make it until August.
Students--well, the female ones--have a choice between a white dress and white scrubs. No way in hell am I wearing a dress--I'd feel like I was playing "pretend" nurse for some movie (Carry on Nurse?). I don't think any of the women are going to choose the dresses from what I heard. But we'll see how right I am when clinicals start.
Five semesters of fun--we work through the summer too. Whee.
I did find a graduate of the school's program on a nursing forum and dropped her a note asking if she had any advice/warnings for me about the school and the program. She sent back a fantastic message full of information (especially helpful was which instructors to avoid if possible) and told me if I had more questions to let me know. It's nice to know I have a contact I can go to for info, as getting through to my nursing school's administration office on most days is just short of impossible.
July 10, 2007
About the title
Carry On Nurse has always been one of my favorite movies. The first copy of the student handbook I read said that females had to wear dresses and a cap--it was an outdated copy and didn't have the option for pants listed. After reading that, my first thought was that it'd be just like the movie, that I'd have to go around like their nurses in the student apron and big floppy cap and get called "butterflies" (as in the movie) or "candy-stripers" or whatever they call student nurses nowadays.
So hence "Carry On Nurse" for the title.
That's it, really. I know it's a boring tale, but occasionally things in life are boring.
So hence "Carry On Nurse" for the title.
That's it, really. I know it's a boring tale, but occasionally things in life are boring.
Hi
I figured I’d do like everyone else in the world and start a weblog, this one to write about my experiences in nursing school. I’m a nursing student…well, I shall shortly be one: my classes begin in August.
I’m pursuing an ADN at a community college located in the boondocks of where I live. I’ve already got a BA (not in nursing, but still, a BA’s a BA) so I figured the associates’ was the best option for me. I’ve heard mostly good things about the school…I did read one person posting negatively about it, but when I asked him/her for more information, he/she never responded. So I’m guessing that their post was more releasing steam than anything to worry about, but we shall see.
My first orientation is Wednesday. Dress code is business casual. I’m not sure if I own any business casual wear anymore.
I’m pursuing an ADN at a community college located in the boondocks of where I live. I’ve already got a BA (not in nursing, but still, a BA’s a BA) so I figured the associates’ was the best option for me. I’ve heard mostly good things about the school…I did read one person posting negatively about it, but when I asked him/her for more information, he/she never responded. So I’m guessing that their post was more releasing steam than anything to worry about, but we shall see.
My first orientation is Wednesday. Dress code is business casual. I’m not sure if I own any business casual wear anymore.
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