Nursing program starts Aug 27th and I'm not prepared!!!

[its_meee]

My first day of the nursing program starts on August 27th and I have not been able to purchase anything yet!! I take that back, I was able to order my nursing student name tag but the only reason I was able to do that was because it was only 5 dollars! We have a hard time making ends meet and any "extra" money (if there is such a thing) has been spent to get three of my four children their school nessesities.

I have to wait for my student loans before I can buy my things and that money won't come until Aug 20th! That will give me a window of one week to purchase my books, uniforms, and supplies. I also need to buy shoes and some type of hand-held electronic device for nursing apps. Most students that I know are just going to use their smart phones but I think I'm the only person in this world that does not own a smart phone...the phone I currently use is an out-dated dumb-phone :) I plan on getting an I-Pad Touch, and I will only have one week to learn how to use it!

I'm just stressing out a little, well stressing out a lot actually :) I'm worried that I won't be able to get it all done in such a short time. And of course, I'm super stressed about starting the nursing program! I feel like a time-bomb who may explode at any moment because I'm so stressed out!!

(Here's my vent) My kids seem to fight constantly, my house is constantly messy, I don't get enough help from my husband with the kids/house, and I'm sick and tired of wondering how we will manage to make it until the next pay check. I need a vacation, but I can't afford it!! LOL I know that I'm not the only person that has these struggles, and I know that we will make it...we always do. It's just that sometimes I feel like running away and hiding under a big rock!! However, I realize that if I did find some big rock to hide under I wouldn't be able to hide out for very long.....who would feed them, wash their clothes/dishes, solve their arguements, and basically keep them alive? LOL A mother/wife/woman's work is NEVER ending! I would love to trade responsibilites with my husband for just 3 days...but then again, that would just make more work for me in the long-run because I would have to go back and fix everything that went wrong during those 3 days!

WOW!!! this post really turned into a HUGE vent, but it helped...I feel better :) So, back to the topic at hand....I feel unprepared for the nursing program! LOL :)

[SC4Nurse2B]

Aww! I would be stressed too. And as far as venting, this is the best place. Dusky Jewel..I am very glad you have an awesome husband. Mine is great too, and he understands what I need to do, however, its_meee is only venting about hers and has every right too. What you did wasn't very appropriate or nice. She even tried to apologize and you couldn't let it go. Mean, just mean.

[luvtranscendsall]

Instructors can be a big support if you find the right one. In my second semester I found myself having a hard time with not enough help from my boyfriend with the kids and house. I started working again. I had been on unemployment before that and that was our only income and when I started working I grew resentful at the other students that I thought had it so easy and resentful at my home life. I had a hard time balancing work with school with down time. I was severely sleep deprived. I got a C on a test. It was my first C and the instructor pulled me aside and I was ****** because I was like there are students who live on C's and I just get one and you want to harp on me about it. Truth was when she sat down and talked to me and to my suprise I ended up crying and venting to her (within reason) she helped me put things in perspective and develop a plan for success. She told me she could tell I was struggling because my aptitude was high so there was no reason for me to get that C. she also set me up with support services with student success advisor and periodically checked in on me. I don't think I would be where I am now if it was not for her. So sometimes talking to your instructor or department head can be a good thing. They have been around awhile and they see people like you and me struggling but trying to do better with our lives and they want us to be successful.

[BBRANRN2013, ASN, RN]

Flashcardlet is absolutely wonderful on my IPhone!

[SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN]

@ luvtranscendsall i agree with you. someone here stated that "professors do not give a crap" about your life, that is just so not true. we were assigned an advisor in our school, that we had to report at least once every semester, some did not even bother with it, some like me, used that time to speak to someone and learn from her experiences, i made sure to keep up with her of my progress and she was very supportive when an issue came up with scheduling and classess. she always had an upbeat story to tell me, etc....

so to the o/p do not buy into it that professors do not care. i am not going to deceit you and tell you they are all nice; but some are very caring and very pro-student and then you can always come here to vent, to ask for advise, to share your wisdom and definitely to share your success.

again good luck and hugs.

ps... it helps to make yourself known to them....you will see them throughout your program and try to participate if you are able, in school activities, at least one.

[its_meee]

Thank you all so much for your replys and support! I have received some great advice :)

[bredenfam]

Hi its_meee,

I totally laughed at your post and also wanted to cry in agreement. I'm in somewhat of the same situation though luckily after a summer of selling off my personal things I was able to pay for the requirements to start the semester (background check, health check off, with no insurance btw, and everything to get my schedule to register). I have my first months worth of books, but kind of unprepared for the rest (since my nursing program is broken into 3 sections for the semester). Because my school is broken into 3 sections and financial aid is according to start date, I won't get the first half of my funds til the end of September. Ugh, stressed too! But here is what I found that helps. Though my hubby seems supportive he very much needs my attention and I take on more of that than I should. He is capable of so much more if I simply ask for help. I am guilty of thinking he's a mind reader sometimes and only speaking out when I'm about to break! Just be very honest with him in needing his support, because you're going to need it. I have a set chore chart for my kids that they know requires them to do at least 2 chores on school days and 4 on the weekends, this system was honestly a big relief to me and they were awesome about sticking to it, and as a reward for a weeks worth of chores we would do something fun that was important to them but not $$ for me. For my uniforms, I don't know who you need to use but Dove has a scholarship every semester for several schools that they donate one full uniform to students who apply. I got my other uniforms through a facebook group of ladies who just graduated and they were still in new condition. I have yet to start my required reading because I've been stressing about the financial aspect. But guess what?~! You're into a program that is going to bring you your dream job in 2 years, so for me it's totally worth it, just prepare and breathe! .:) Melissa