Life of a Do-It-All

If you read this blog, you're following me and my journey through a gauntlet of life. This includes nursing school and working with a non-profit while trying to create my own. wild. Do I have a life? Sometimes it's hard to tell.  But currently at this stage in schooling, I'm taking Health Assessment I and Fundamentals I (Skills). Between Foley catheter and Nasogastric tubing, it can get a little frazzling. Intense might be a better word. It seems like it's at the point of running together, and that's okay... Other than vital signs (Temp, pulses, pulse ox., BP, etc.) our formal check off or lab assessment is our head to chest assessment. It's required a lot of lab practice time, and scripting. Here are some tips if you might be struggling: If you do not have mandatory open lab time, do it anyway. Being in the lab setting can really put your mental state in the right place before practicing... and that goes for any procedure. They also might have the resourc...

I know being in nursing school that you might have a commute to clinical, school, work, etc. Here are some podcasts that take up a great amount of my time that I love! CRIME JUNKIE  SMALL TOWN MURDER H3 PODCAST  JENNA / JULIEN SERIAL INSANELY CHILL

This by far was the class that 'put me on my butt' so to speak. It was one of the first true nursing courses I've taken other than a few others. To be more specific, it was the first nursing course relating to facts, rather than patient relationship. I overextended myself in what I thought I could do. I thought that I could read the chapters in depth, make flashcards, annotate powerpoints, watch the professors' content, take practice quizzes, etc. Obviously, by the list, you can tell that's what my life would be if I decided to take that path. I got very jumbled with what worked and what did not. Our professors grew frustrated at the end of the course because such a small class percentage had taken the opportunity to view that recordings and practice quizzes that they had made. To confess, I didn't watch the recordings and did practice quizzes religiously. And I do admit that this is a fault, but as students, we know what works and what doesn't for us. Thr...

(Hello! Sorry I took almost a month hiatus, everything built up really quickly and is some of the inspiration for this post) Nursing school teaches you a lot more than just the knowledge needed to be an extraordinary nurse. It pushes you to make decisions that will make you itch later when you recall the memory, it will make you change your entire perspective, and it even makes us more human. This last week it felt like everything was going wrong. There were two exams (micro and patho), along with a paper due. This might not seem like much, but when your school is on an accelerated track, its more than enough to keep someone busy. Last week taught me that it's okay not to get ahead. Throughout primary and secondary school we're constantly taught to get ahead of the curve to get our work done and then some... But in nursing school, I think its crucial to stick to what's in front of you. Obviously, you need to study for NCLEX as everything else is happening, but stick...

What kind of things do you learn in nursing school? Is it gross?  How do you not pass out in class?  All of these questions have been asked of someone in nursing school throughout their journey. We do a lot in school, we cover a heavy amount of material that weighs heavy on our minds and hearts every day. And yes, sometimes it is gross. And I don't really know how I stay upright in class learning about liquified necrosis. There is one thing that I have held onto throughout nursing school that rings true. Ignorance is Bliss While it is not something that we strive to have, as nurses we need to absorb as much information as humanly possible about the disorders, causes, etiology, etc. I have realized that the ignorance of certain aspects of my own health has made us oddly happy. Many people champion their own health only to be shocked or horrified at the reality of it.  If you're just coming to this blog welcome! But nursing school is horrifying in learning more ...

There are many things to do if you feel like you have a horrible professor. Before you settle into a class it might be worth it to check out  Rate my Professors . This is a website that is based on each school, where you can check with your university to see how each professor holds up within the community of your peers. We're past the point where mediocre or angry professors are acceptable, and we can no longer let it roll off our shoulders. While this is the new norm, it's important to keep your cool and remain fact-oriented. You shouldn't be scared to report your teacher if anything goes wrong, your school should be there to help you not hurt you. If you need a logical base to make a complaint: think if it gets worse and there was no documentation to prove her previous behavior, it might be hard to prove down the line.  Take the end of course surveys if offered  Follow the chain of command Documentation, documentation, documentation Remain calm, cool & col...

Getting into nursing school and other premedical facets can take years of planning and mental preparation, especially when money and time are major cofactors to its success. Currently, I am processing and playing around with different ideas of applying for different masters programs after completing nursing school. The two masters programs that I am heavily considering are NP and PA programs. For me to be able to choose between these two programs it will take a lot of planning and determination. But if you're reading this blog you're probably here for input or a perspective on receiving a Bachelor's in Nursing. Financial planning is one of the largest concerns when planning for any stent of school, but advice for that would be depending on the school. Get in touch with their financial aid offices, etc. This advice concerns the emotional and mental aspects of the decision. I've compiled some questions from myself and the internet that might be helpful reviewing before ...