Published
they don't call it "commencement" for nothing....
it really IS a new beginning. NOW the REAL learning begins.
best wishes to you!
The 1st year is toughest and yet most exciting. Keep your eyes, ears and all other senses VERY keen. You will need all you have to learn what is coming your way in the next year. Take care. And congratulations!
I know how you feel. I worked 10 hour days and went to school at night, and kept that full time schedule throughout the whole program. Getting to work at 6 am and home some nights after midnight was really tough. But just as I did it, so could you. I graduated in January, passed NCLEX in February, and will start my first nursing job April 5th on a critical care step down unit.
Short timers disease will ruin you if you let it get the best of you. I saw this happen to one of my classmates and she failed. Keep focused as best you can, you are almost there!!! You can do it.
Good luck
I started out school working 20 hours a week plus fulltime days of classes and clinicals, several hours each night of studying and by mid 1st semester was a wreck. Had to cut my hours of work way back from the 20, have drained my savings and signed off on more school loans than I wished but I'm almost done, also.
I definitely understand the short-timers itch. I'm trying to keep my nose to the grindstone - gonna get a paper written this weekend - I hope. Trying to stay ahead a little instead of sliding projects in on the deadline helps me moving forward.
I honestly don't know how y'all have done it with the working. I know it's called survival but for me, it still meant I went through my pinning ceremony wearing a halter monitor. I've withstood awful stress in my life but apparently nothing as bad as nursing school! :chuckle
One of the best things has been the encouragement from other nurses who repeatedly encourage and remind me that I AM smart enough, compassionate enough to finish schooling and be a good nurse. It's a great community.
CarllS
3 Posts
I can't wait to graduate. I have been working full time and going to school and I am getting short timers disease. I work ten hour night shifts and then go to class in the morning. I have been lucky and have gotten sick mostly when I have been on break. I just felt like whining hehe. Tell me your story to let me know I'm not alone J.