Classes haven't been as stressful. It is a bit more relaxed this semester than the last two. I guess it is because I'm used to it, but I think it's because I get a fresh start.
My goal this semester is to be proactive. I'm going to stay on top of my medications, study and stay ahead (although I rarely fall behind anyway), and do well in clinicals. By well I mean, perform my skills with ease, talk to my patients without feeling nervous, report my medications smoothly. I will not hesitate to do anything. My critical thinking skills will improve and all around I will be a better nurse. I can do this. It's not that hard. XD I'll take it one day at a time.
On another note, I passed my calculation exam last week. I got a 100 so I'm done with that until the Spring. Our first exam went well. I got an 85. I plan on getting an A on the next one. ^_^ Um, lets see. Other than that things have been going very well. I'm going to pray that it stays that way. I need a stress free semester. I really do.
I love watching the Juniors. Their stress reminds me of my stress during that first semester of school. Trust me, it's hard to forget the tears, the moments of balling up on my bed and thinking 'this isn't for me' and 'why am I doing this again.' I can't say that I don't have those thoughts now because I do, but it's getting easier. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it looks amazing. Juniors, you CAN DO IT. Take it one day at a time. It can only get better from here. Take it from me, I've struggled more in nursing school than I have my entire school age like. Middle school and high school seem like kindegarten compared to this. Really, all you high school students need to suck it up. If you think high school is hard you have a rude awakening coming.
Peace, love and happy times.
Me
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Car Troubles
Today has been another one of those days unfortunately. This morning I rose after another restless night. Worrying about this calculation exam is beyond stressful, but I'll get to that later.
Me and my sister drove to campus. All was well, save the bad drivers who don't know how to change lanes. >_< Other than that we started off great. I got to school at around 8:30ish and because class started at 9:00 today all of the good parking spots were taken before we got there so I had to drop my sister off and go park in the back lot. I wasn't too happy about that, but I knew to expect that beforehand. After dropping my sis off at the front, I noticed a light came on inside the car. It was a box with a downward arrow and some wavy lines within the box. I know almost nothing about cars, but I know that if a light comes on something is wrong. Silly me, once I parked I put some oil into the car thinking that was the problem. It wasn't the problem, but I didn't know that then.
So, I went to class. Lecture was long. Walking back and forth from the class to the library to chill with my sister was exhausting. It's close to 95 degrees outside so I was sweating like a cow. I didn't go to welcome back picnic 1, because it was hot and 2, because I wanted to review my calculation exam during our two long break between lectures. I got a run around with finding my exam. One person said they didn't have it and they told me to go to another teacher who didn't have it. They told me to go see someone else....it was a mess, but I finally get to see my exam after the break
I hung out and then returned to the class for a minute before I went to see my course coordinator. She was glad to take me to see my exam. I did so and she explained the problems to me. I'm still going to the lab on Friday, but it was nice to know that the things I studied before hand was actually HOW I was supposed to solve the questions I missed. XD
After a long stress free orientation, I met up with my sister and we went to the car. This is where all hell broke lose. Not really, but it was horrible.
The light inside the car was still on when I turned the car on. I figured out that it needed coolant, Thankfully we had some in the trunk. We poured some in, it went down and I thought that was it. The light went off. Great right? Not so fast. As soon as we made it to the main road the light came BACK ON. I freaked because I heard horror stories about engines blowing up if they get too hot. I crept to a grease monkey and asked them what they thought the problem was. I wasn't asking for service, just as opinion because I didn't know what to do. They checked it out (thanks guys) and to my horror said that the radiator was leaking!!! OMG. WTF!?! They told me it wasn't safe to drive it. I panicked, asked to see their phone and called my mom. She seemed calm and told me that she would be there to check it out, but to call a friend who lived closer to come take a look at the car.
The friend got there first and took a look at the car. He agreed that something was leaking, but to save money and space in this shop he decided to drive the car to my sister's house to fix the problem rather than sit and pay a hefty dollar for the shop to fix it. XD Yay for mechanic friends.
After a rather 'fun' drive to my sister's in his van, he checked the car out and perhaps the GODS ARE FINALLY GIVING ME A BREAK, he noticed that the radiator plug needed to be replaced and not the entire radiator. He made a few calls, worked for a few hours and then ta da!!! The car was fixed. I drove it home two hours ago and everything seems fine. XD Lets hope it stays that way.
I have to say that, although I am calm now, I was actually freaking out the entire time. Had the car really broken down I'd be stuck with nursing classes I couldn't get to, clinical sites that I can't drive to, and just stress on top of stress. I actually considered dropping out this semester and returning next Fall to complete it because I'd given up. Cars will be my downfall. They keep breaking down!! Seriously. Can I just have a break please? I need this car to make it until May 2011 and hopefully until after I pass the NCLEX. Is that too much to ask? I hope it isn't.
Well, it's 12:10. I have to be up at 6 so I'm calling it a night now.
Night
Me and my sister drove to campus. All was well, save the bad drivers who don't know how to change lanes. >_< Other than that we started off great. I got to school at around 8:30ish and because class started at 9:00 today all of the good parking spots were taken before we got there so I had to drop my sister off and go park in the back lot. I wasn't too happy about that, but I knew to expect that beforehand. After dropping my sis off at the front, I noticed a light came on inside the car. It was a box with a downward arrow and some wavy lines within the box. I know almost nothing about cars, but I know that if a light comes on something is wrong. Silly me, once I parked I put some oil into the car thinking that was the problem. It wasn't the problem, but I didn't know that then.
So, I went to class. Lecture was long. Walking back and forth from the class to the library to chill with my sister was exhausting. It's close to 95 degrees outside so I was sweating like a cow. I didn't go to welcome back picnic 1, because it was hot and 2, because I wanted to review my calculation exam during our two long break between lectures. I got a run around with finding my exam. One person said they didn't have it and they told me to go to another teacher who didn't have it. They told me to go see someone else....it was a mess, but I finally get to see my exam after the break
I hung out and then returned to the class for a minute before I went to see my course coordinator. She was glad to take me to see my exam. I did so and she explained the problems to me. I'm still going to the lab on Friday, but it was nice to know that the things I studied before hand was actually HOW I was supposed to solve the questions I missed. XD
After a long stress free orientation, I met up with my sister and we went to the car. This is where all hell broke lose. Not really, but it was horrible.
The light inside the car was still on when I turned the car on. I figured out that it needed coolant, Thankfully we had some in the trunk. We poured some in, it went down and I thought that was it. The light went off. Great right? Not so fast. As soon as we made it to the main road the light came BACK ON. I freaked because I heard horror stories about engines blowing up if they get too hot. I crept to a grease monkey and asked them what they thought the problem was. I wasn't asking for service, just as opinion because I didn't know what to do. They checked it out (thanks guys) and to my horror said that the radiator was leaking!!! OMG. WTF!?! They told me it wasn't safe to drive it. I panicked, asked to see their phone and called my mom. She seemed calm and told me that she would be there to check it out, but to call a friend who lived closer to come take a look at the car.
The friend got there first and took a look at the car. He agreed that something was leaking, but to save money and space in this shop he decided to drive the car to my sister's house to fix the problem rather than sit and pay a hefty dollar for the shop to fix it. XD Yay for mechanic friends.
After a rather 'fun' drive to my sister's in his van, he checked the car out and perhaps the GODS ARE FINALLY GIVING ME A BREAK, he noticed that the radiator plug needed to be replaced and not the entire radiator. He made a few calls, worked for a few hours and then ta da!!! The car was fixed. I drove it home two hours ago and everything seems fine. XD Lets hope it stays that way.
I have to say that, although I am calm now, I was actually freaking out the entire time. Had the car really broken down I'd be stuck with nursing classes I couldn't get to, clinical sites that I can't drive to, and just stress on top of stress. I actually considered dropping out this semester and returning next Fall to complete it because I'd given up. Cars will be my downfall. They keep breaking down!! Seriously. Can I just have a break please? I need this car to make it until May 2011 and hopefully until after I pass the NCLEX. Is that too much to ask? I hope it isn't.
Well, it's 12:10. I have to be up at 6 so I'm calling it a night now.
Night
Monday, August 16, 2010
Bah!
So, this calculation exam kicked my ass. I made a 85 instead of the 90 or above that I was supposed to make so I have to retake the exam. T_T At least I know which ones I missed because I stared at those questions for five minutes thinking "I've never seen this before." Nothing I studied helped me pass this exam. >_> None of the practice questions asked for gtt/min. They all wanted to know ml/hr or just mL. I didn't study how to form those questions.
I did look up how to do them and they are completely easy, but it's a little too late.
Example
I'll be taking this exam over and I'll pass it this time. I'm going to the skills lab to get help cause I really want to know how to do these questions so I don't screw them up again. -sigh-
Great first day back!
I did look up how to do them and they are completely easy, but it's a little too late.
Example
I'll be taking this exam over and I'll pass it this time. I'm going to the skills lab to get help cause I really want to know how to do these questions so I don't screw them up again. -sigh-
Great first day back!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
A New Semester. A New Beginning
On August 16th I will be embarking on my 3rd semester of nursing school. I'm both excited and terrified because I don't know what's coming my way. I don't like surprises when it comes to nursing school. It makes me nervous when I don't know what's going to happen. I get butterflies in my stomach, a mild headache and spurts of jitters that make me want to vomit. This is what nursing school has done to me. It has made me a nervous wreck. Before I started nursing school I wasn't AS scared to go to classes. Sure, human anatomy was tough and those lab exams used to scare the crap out of me, but then I didn't have a teacher looking over my shoulder waiting for me to fail like in nursing school.
Perhaps this is a tactic that professors are using these days. Rather than let a student try to apply what they are learning, they linger over you, bombard you with questions, make you more nervous than you already are and then go 'ah ha. I knew you would screw up!' At least that's how I felt last semester. I tried my best and I almost always fell short. I passed though and I managed to impress my second clinical instructor. She realized that I was shy, but that I never refused to do anything that was asked of me. I took initiative, I asked questions when I didn't know something. She expected me to know my skills, but she didn't make me feel stupid because I wasn't bouncing off the wall with confidence. I can say that I am more confident in myself now than I was last semester so I did learn something and that was to not let other people walk all over me.
This year my clinical will be med-surg, pediatrics, OB, and community health. XD I'm excited about it. Not so excited about med-surg, but then after nursing school I don't want to do med-surg anymore (although I know that's the first stepping stone to doing what I really want to do). What that thing is I've no idea, but I'm sure I'll figure it out during this last year of college.
Last year of college...that sounds AWESOME! I can't wait to graduate, to become a nurse and start working. ^_^ You've no idea how much I've been through. From broken down cars, to riding the bus to school, from stressing out about speeches to crying because I thought I would fail Human A&P I. College as been nothing but up and down, tears and triumphs. I can not wait until it's over, but I will miss the people I've met throughout.
Graduating Class of 2011. Here I come!!!!
Perhaps this is a tactic that professors are using these days. Rather than let a student try to apply what they are learning, they linger over you, bombard you with questions, make you more nervous than you already are and then go 'ah ha. I knew you would screw up!' At least that's how I felt last semester. I tried my best and I almost always fell short. I passed though and I managed to impress my second clinical instructor. She realized that I was shy, but that I never refused to do anything that was asked of me. I took initiative, I asked questions when I didn't know something. She expected me to know my skills, but she didn't make me feel stupid because I wasn't bouncing off the wall with confidence. I can say that I am more confident in myself now than I was last semester so I did learn something and that was to not let other people walk all over me.
This year my clinical will be med-surg, pediatrics, OB, and community health. XD I'm excited about it. Not so excited about med-surg, but then after nursing school I don't want to do med-surg anymore (although I know that's the first stepping stone to doing what I really want to do). What that thing is I've no idea, but I'm sure I'll figure it out during this last year of college.
Last year of college...that sounds AWESOME! I can't wait to graduate, to become a nurse and start working. ^_^ You've no idea how much I've been through. From broken down cars, to riding the bus to school, from stressing out about speeches to crying because I thought I would fail Human A&P I. College as been nothing but up and down, tears and triumphs. I can not wait until it's over, but I will miss the people I've met throughout.
Graduating Class of 2011. Here I come!!!!
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