sunyata

I'm a single mom with two kids--one is in elementary school, one is a toddler. I'm driving myself crazy trying to decide whether 8 hour shifts or 12 hour shifts would work better for us. My family has helped with childcare in the past. For various reasons, that will probably no longer be an option starting this fall. I need day shift, unless they're going to spend the night at a babysitter's house--and I don't think it's really good for them to be moving around and sleeping in different beds all the time (complete lack of routine, etc). Plus I would still need childcare for the little one during the day. Any other single moms have experience to share? I like only working three days a week with 12s, but on those days I barely see my kids. When school starts again in the fall, I won't be able to see my older child during the day on weekdays, either, which doesn't leave a lot of time. But if I work 8s, we will have to go to bed early and get up early every day, which I hate and which cuts down on time spent with them too. Yes, I'm probably over thinking this, but I don't want to switch jobs then realize it was a mistake. Help?

I am graduating in December! I'm almost there! But... I am terrified of all that graduating means. Having to find a job, etc., but I'm especially nervous about my skills. I feel like I'm behind everyone else in skills, that I just don't pick up things as quickly as others do. I make silly mistakes in clinicals, which is at least partly because I get nervous. I haven't done anything that has harmed a patient, but I certainly embarrass myself. Some of it is lack of confidence, and some of it is really not knowing things that maybe I should. But I do try, and I do study. I know that this will get better over time as I gain confidence and get more practice... but I'm scared of the path to getting to that place. I'm scared that whoever I'm working with after I graduate will think I'm an idiot or that I'll get fired, either because I don't pick up things fast enough or because I'll mess something up. Does everyone feel this way or is it just me? Classmates seem so much more confident than I am, but then they admit things like that they cry every day on the way home from clinicals. At my last clinical evaluation, my instructor said, "You do need some guidance on the floor, but not really TOO much guidance." So maybe I'm not as horrible of a (future) nurse as I feel sometimes, but it's not exactly a shining recommendation, either. I'm rambling here but does anyone have any advice or words of wisdom?

Is there a counseling center at your school? I didn't even know that my college had a counselor for mental health issues until she came into our Nursing Fundamentals class and introduced herself. She said she sees a lot of nursing students : ). Anyway, I got the impression that she sees a LOT of people about test anxiety and is usually pretty successful in helping them. Maybe she has some tips/tricks you hadn't thought of, or helps you get accommodations, or teaches you how to think about things in a more constructive way so you can relax. I would imagine that any school psychologist should be experienced in dealing with the topic. I didn't see her for test anxiety, but she did help with other types of anxiety I was having. It's still there, but definitely better.

I'm in Madison County, close to Edwardsville... aka St. Louis Metro East. I'm hoping and optimistically planning to get into the nursing program at Lewis & Clark (Godfrey) for this fall. Might apply for SWIC and one or two schools in St. Louis, too. I would love to hear about experiences at LCCC. I hear they have a great nursing program.