Preparing Emotionally for NS.....

brandyl123 · Aug 19, 2006

The threads detailing what everyone is purchasing for NS is very helpful...I've certainly added a few more things to my list.
But I'm wondering - what are you doing to prepare your head, your routine, your family, for nursing school?
For example, I'm experimenting with new crock pot recipes so I can still whip up healthy, decent meals for the fam on those hectic days when time is short. I'm also rediscovering 10-12 fave recipes that I can keep ingredients on hand for no-brain preparation.
I'm trying to lose a few pounds before the pace really steps up.
I'm attempting to clean out closets and declutter so laundry and getting everyone ready in the morning is not impeded through endless searching through clothes we no longer wear anyway.
I'm working on self-lectures that I am capable. Orientation last week sort of wobbled that foundation I had.
I sure hope I get those windows cleaned before next week.
What are you doing in the net 10 days to prepare yourselves for this opportunity we've which we've waited so long? :monkeydance:

Hello mysimpleplan. I think we are actually attending the same school...HFCC. I had orientation last week also. What I am doing to prepare for school is to enjoy my last week. I am getting together with all my girlfriends tomorrow night and the rest of the week will be family time with the kids. I also did arrange all my ton of books neatly on my pc desk. Kind of skimmed through the modules put them in binders and pretty much have all my school things in order as far as books and school supplies. I do have alot I want to accomplish before it all begins but for it all to happen I doubt it. I just want to stay organized and have my whole study and work area in order. I am fortunate enough because DAD is the cook in the family so he likes to prepare all the meals. I am just trying to relax as much as possible and enjoy these last few days. BTW what section did you get??

emllpn2006 · Aug 19, 2006

We were told during orientation to kiss our husbands and children good bye becouse that was the last time we would get to bond with them until Christmas break- 6 months away. Sad thing was they were correct.

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2006

We were told during orientation to kiss our husbands and children good bye becouse that was the last time we would get to bond with them until Christmas break- 6 months away. Sad thing was they were correct.

That is horrible.

Get some routines set now. Declutter, get rid of everything you don't need, if you haven't used it or worn it in a year, chances are you aren't going to. Flylady.net really helped me a lot. I didn't do everything she suggests, but just doing the basics really helped.

Best of luck! It is totally doable, I just have my senior externship to finish and I was able to spend plenty of time with my family.

firstyearstudent · Aug 19, 2006

One of the things that was tough for me was to let go of control over family /children matter and hand it over to my husband. I've been able to get some back over the summer (haven't had classes), but I'm getting ready to turn over the reigns again. Here comes: discipline of the children that involves candy/ice cream bribes; dishes that are less than sparkling; the same meal prepared over too many times (stir fry is the only thing he knows how to make); too many trips to McDonald's and the movies (as well as plenty of TV watching); incredibly dirty children that aren't bathed regularly; newly washed clothes that were left in the washer for two days and smell funky; plenty of cuts and scrapes from not supervising play closely); etc.

We'll all survive -- I hope!

abbythetabby · Aug 19, 2006

Get some routines set now. Declutter, get rid of everything you don't need, if you haven't used it or worn it in a year, chances are you aren't going to. Flylady.net really helped me a lot. I didn't do everything she suggests, but just doing the basics really helped.

Hey, I discovered Flylady.net right before I started NS too. I take 15 min study breaks and do some cleaning. There is something about getting my home in order that gets me ready for studying. During winter and summer break, I've done big purges of the clutter in the apt.

My husband is in an RT program, so we both have tough schedules, but we make it a point to set aside a little time to do something together each week. It helps give some balance to our lives.

jov · Aug 19, 2006

We were told during orientation to kiss our husbands and children good bye becouse that was the last time we would get to bond with them until Christmas break- 6 months away. .

So NOT TRUE - I think the trick (with kids anyway) is to see your opportunities and make sure they don't get away. When you don't have **unlimited** time to spend with your kids, you become much more acutely aware when those opportunities arise. When you get that nudge, act on it. You can cook together, the car rides to and from school are fantastic, and some of my daughter's favorite "memories" are of us studying together (this is a memory all the way back to last year - o.k. she's 10, time flies LOL). One of the things I do is every Wednesday night is "buggle night" and when it's time for bed, I snuggle with my daughter in her bed until we drift off. I wake up around 12:00, a little stiff, then head off to my bed with my pillows in tow.

Dratz · Aug 19, 2006

1. Be prepared mentally for all the "reading" you will be required to do. It is mind blowing all that is required.

2. Be prepared mentally for competition and cliques in the classroom. Unfortunately this happens.

3. Be prepared mentally for "Group" work. Not everyone in your group will want to work as hard, are as dedicated etc....Be prepared to "suck it up" and work with people you would not normally work with.

4. Be prepared mentally for the stress of waiting for exam results.

5. Be prepared mentally for lowering your standards when it comes to getting all A's. Nursing school has a way of lowering your GPA in such a way that you are happy with just a C. And don't be too hard on yourself if you don't get all those A's.

6. Be prepared mentally for being overwhelmed. Take things one day at a time and one problem at a time.

7. Be prepared mentally for being "prepared". Do not take chances and leave things for the last minute. I have classmates who are notorious for that and when they are stressed over it, the entire class suffers.

8. Be prepared for not knowing. It is impossible to know everything and impossible to remember everything. There is just way too much info to know. Know the basics and don't be afraid to ask if you don't understand something.

9. Be prepared mentally for going to school or attending clinicals even if you are sick or not feeling well. Otherwise, any days you miss, you miss a ton of information as well. No more staying in bed when you have the sniffles.

10. And lastly, Be prepared mentally to work harder than you ever have, to be challenged even with simple things, to go to sleep dreaming of nursing, if you can sleep, when you have time to sleep.....and be prepared to accept that you can no longer be "supermom" and that your family will have to learn to survive without you temporarily.

Good luck!!

jov · Aug 19, 2006

9. Be prepared mentally for going to school or attending clinicals even if you are sick or not feeling well.

Just a comment-- you shouldn't be participating in clinicals when you are sick, not with patients whose immune systems already are compromised. :sniff: At any rate, you should be calling your clinical instructor with your sx and let her/him decide if you should be there.

Dratz · Aug 19, 2006

9. Be prepared mentally for going to school or attending clinicals even if you are sick or not feeling well.
Just a comment-- you shouldn't be participating in clinicals when you are sick, not with patients whose immune systems already are compromised. At any rate, you should be calling your clinical instructor with your sx and let her/him decide if you should be there.

I stand by my comments.

moongirl · Aug 20, 2006

9. Be prepared mentally for going to school or attending clinicals even if you are sick or not feeling well.
Just a comment-- you shouldn't be participating in clinicals when you are sick, not with patients whose immune systems already are compromised. At any rate, you should be calling your clinical instructor with your sx and let her/him decide if you should be there.

good luck with that one. Unfortunately YOU dont get to decide if you are too sick. Your program decides. In mine, you can miss ONE clinical, the second one, you are kicked from the program

You learn to eat healthy, wash your hands, and take care of yourself the best you can. And yes, take a final with a fever of 102.7,

and wear a mask to clinicals to protect your pts.

Dratz · Aug 20, 2006

good luck with that one. Unfortunately YOU dont get to decide if you are too sick. Your program decides. In mine, you can miss ONE clinical, the second one, you are kicked from the program
You learn to eat healthy, wash your hands, and take care of yourself the best you can. And yes, take a final with a fever of 102.7,
and wear a mask to clinicals to protect your pts.

:yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: even my nursing instructor came to class sick. You cannot miss a day being sick, that was my point. Get used to it.