Blogging through pre reqs/nursing school?

jasilady · Aug 2, 2012

That's sounds interesting.. Where can u start one I'm not very big on social media but a blog sounds interesting and a lot more convenient than a journal..

CallieNM, ASN, RN · Aug 2, 2012

So I'm wondering if anyone else had the same idea as me and decided to start a blog about their journey through the pre reqs and/or through nursing school? I'll be starting my second semester of pre reqs this fall and I started a blog because I thought it might help relieve stress or be a place I can vent and rant about things or give tips even, when I learn something. Ive always loved writing so i'm just wondering if there are any other student bloggers out there and if so, does it help/make a difference for you?

I applied for my program and if I get accepted I will start in January. I am not sure if I will start a blog, I have never done a blog before so I have no idea how to do it, but my Mac has an app called Day One that is an awesome journal type app. I may use that just to keep my experiences to myself.

I am really interested in what others think of the blog idea... would you want to read it? Can you get into trouble writing about clinical experiences on the internet?

CallieNM, ASN, RN · Aug 2, 2012

or talk about how you hate your teachers.

That made me laugh!! Thanks for the advice, I am definitely going to look into it. I think having those memories are an excellent way to always make you remember where you came from and why you are still doing it!!

Mama_Cashew, ASN, RN · Aug 2, 2012

When I had orientation, the Dean of Nursing actually suggested that we keep a private journal to help us make sense of the things we saw and did during the program. The reason she suggested a private journal over a blog was for privacy reasons. She stressed the importance of what you put on the net and making sure not to violate HIPAA.

I start nursing school this fall and will be taking her up on her suggestion. A private journal, for me and maybe my advisor and/or clinical instructors eyes only!

SaraMC · Aug 2, 2012

I would! Also, I wouldn't ever mention the names of the school, or people, instructors, Et cetera... I feel like a private journal would be good for that but I also really like the idea of a more public blog that I can get feed back from and also follow other nursing students who have blogs as well and we can, if you will, compare notes so to speak :-)

SaraMC · Aug 2, 2012

I applied for my program and if I get accepted I will start in January. I am not sure if I will start a blog, I have never done a blog before so I have no idea how to do it, but my Mac has an app called Day One that is an awesome journal type app. I may use that just to keep my experiences to myself.
I am really interested in what others think of the blog idea... would you want to read it? Can you get into trouble writing about clinical experiences on the internet?

I would read it :-) I think as long as you aren't specific with your name or of the schools/patients/instructors it would be okay to just blog about what your day was like or something you did or a test you had to take.

Stephalump · Aug 2, 2012

Even if no one else reads it, i still think it's a great idea to document your journey :)

As has been stated, be VERY careful about HIPPA. You don't necessarily have to give away someone's name to violate it, just enough information for someone to be uncomfortable. Someone at our school was all but kicked out of the program for going on Facebook and posting about someone they cared for during clinicals, even though no obvious ID was given.

willowita, ADN, RN · Aug 2, 2012

It sounds like a good idea but I'm paranoid about posting stuff about my real life on the internet all willy nilly. Posting questions about nursing and answering them is about as far as I'm willing to go. Anything documenting the program I'm in and my experience just seems too risky for me. Not worth it. I'd rather keep a real journal (old school, I know). :)

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2012

I had a classmate who did an awesome comic blog with his own drawings. I really enjoyed following it and searched a TON for other blogs before I started. I would just be really careful about identifying information- about you, your school, hospitals you're at, and of course patients.

Jammin' RN · Aug 3, 2012

Agree with everyone else to be careful what you put on a blog. There are past threads on allnurses about blogging and social media. They are worth taking a look at!

I like the idea of a private journal so much better. When I was in NS, it was part of our clinical rotations to write a journal entry for each clinical day. I used to hate it so much! ("WHY do I have to do this extra BUSY work!" -- LOL) But I must say, I pulled out those old journals a month or two ago and I'm so glad I have them. It's amazing to see how far you come.

jjrodriguez, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2012

I currently blog through Wordpress.com

I mainly use it as a mentoring type of resource, where I cover material throughout all the courses throughout my BSN. I would share my study tips for succeeding in a particular course (med/surg, psych, pediatrics ...) and I also cover topics individually (EKGs, fetal heart tones).

. I am also looking forward to starting a student FNP blog, for the same purpose.