jamieekins

That is terrible! I have met some really amazing CNA's that are great at what they do. I feel like the CNA's are nicer than the RN's. I have NO idea what in the world I did to deserve the treatment I have been receiving. I did not take it personally until the other day when I was eating lunch in the breakroom. I was almost done eating and one of the nurses came in the breakroom and said "a group of us RN's are going to lunch soon, so you need to find a different place to finish your lunch." I about fell out of my chair! I mean I was almost done and you could see that I was finished pretty much and NO other RN's were even around. I ended up being the bigger person and not saying anything snarky...I just said "no problem, I was just finishing up" and walked out. The kicker is that no one took lunch like she was saying...I found out later. I have been reviewing over in my mind what I could have done to upset them and really, honestly nothing comes to mind. My clinical instructor even said that I have been going above and beyond. She did mention that the whole clinical group has been experiencing a negative attitude as a whole from the RN's. I dunno but I get that general feeling on every floor we have been to, worse on the floor we just left. I just don't get it.

I am half way through nursing school and LOVING every minute of it! I am so beyond stressed and drained but so happy I chose to do this. My only real "complaint" if you will is the fact that every nurse (minus 2 or 3) that I have had as preceptors are MEAN. Straight up superiority complexes and just plain caddy and awful. Its like I have a huge X on my forehead or something. I know I am at the bottom of the chain right now and that is all good. But do I not deserve any respect, even just a tiny bit as a fellow human being? I have not made any of my nurses lives worse...in fact I do everything I can to do all of the grunt work and take SO much off their plates. So why am I being treated like dirt? I told my husband about my frustration and he asked if I was going to turn into a "*****" too...lol! I sure plan on not being one! Maybe that is why I am going through this right now...to feel what it is like to be treated so badly so that when I am a nurse I can treat students like human beings. Seriously though, were they not students at one time?! Okay- I just needed to vent..thanks for reading.

I just finished Pharmacology and got an A. It was extremely difficult, it was my hardest class. I studied everyday, even if it was just for 20 or 30 minutes. Our class was podcasted, so I listened to the podcasts over and over until I had literally almost memorized them. If you can record your classes and are a auditory learner I suggest doing that. I would listen to the podcasts in the car, shower, even while I was at the grocery store shopping! lol. I also created drug maps because flashcards did not work for me. I could not see the big picture, which is what I needed and could see that with the drug maps. If you are interested, pm me and I can send you a copy of a few ones that I made so you can see examples.

What nursing program are you in?! All of the programs where I moved from in GA were all full of students your age. I felt like I was in the same position as you but reverse (I am 29). I say don't worry about it- you are not too young. Heck, I wish I would have finished my degree years ago, before I had kids and a crazy busy life. However, I was not mature enough to be ready at 20 to commit to nursing school. Good for you being ready and pushing forward! Just keep your head up and don't worry about what others say or think. Most people that think they are gods gift and everyone else is beneath them have plenty of their own issues and they are just using you as a punching bag so they feel better. Just don't let them get to you and you will be fine. Good luck!!

Yay! So exciting! Congrats and try to enjoy the ride :) I have orientation this Thursday and Friday, I am having the same feelings as you are. I have even looked at the syllabus in a few classes and noticed that I have several reading assignments that have to be completed by day 1. It is going to be a wild ride! We can do it!!

I was in with the popular crowd, although I never fully fit in. I looked the part (not to sound full of myself)...I was a geek with thick glasses and big hair in middle school- I just learned how to do my hair, makeup, and got contacts in high school. However, I always have been very interested in biology and science. I was a science geek, all of my "popular" friends used to tease me about that but I never cared. I chose to hang out with them but I also chose to hang out with other people that shared my interest in science as well so thus why I never fully fit in. I was always invited to parties, was a cheerleader, etc...but I also played soccer, basketball, I was in the science club, and also student council. I never was voted the prom queen or dated the most popular boys in school but I was someone that the "popular" kids still hung out with and called a friend. I would not say I was one specific type of person in high school. I was figuring myself out and I wanted to experience being popular but was not willing to give up certain things to be "on top" popular (my other friends that were not so popular and my love for science) like some were.

I have not started nursing school yet (I do in January)...but I have found in prerequisites that recording and listening to lectures have been a lifesaver for me. When I went back to college and was taking A&P 1 I got a 65 on my first exam and FREAKED out. I almost quit nursing all together feeling inferior, then I was told by a fellow classmate that she recorded the lectures and listened back to them to study and I should try it. I decided to give it a try and I made A's on the rest of my exams. I realized at that point that I am a auditory learner all the way- thankfully I am allowed to record lectures in the nursing school I am going to :) I think everyone has a specific learning style...once you figure it out your life gets a lot easier. I know reading NEVER helped me- I cannot read something and regurgitate or apply it.. I have to hear it. So if that means I have to read the chapter out loud and record myself and then listen back to it- that is what I do.

My friend that just graduated from the nursing program I am starting in a week and a half has been telling me to read all of these books to prep for school. One is a fluid and electrolyte book and another is a medical terminology book. She also told me to read a Pharm book. I have been looking at the books and I found that the fluid and electrolyte book to be a good refresher (I took Patho last year before we moved out of state- now I have to re-take it for this nursing program). However, I find myself wondering if I should be reading all of this now or just take a step back and relax with my kids for the next week and a half before I have no life or any time for my kids..? What do you all think? I know she had an extremely hard time with patho because she had a bad background with A&P and just struggled horribly. I on the other hand have an excellent background in A&P (my teachers were AMAZING) and I have already taken patho...I feel almost ahead of the game in that respect...maybe I am being naive but I just feel like I might be wasting time that I could be enjoying with my kids before I have no time with them..what is your take? Did anyone read any prep books prior to starting school? Did it help you? I think that the pharm is going to be my biggest challenge but I don't want to cram a bunch of info in my head that I may or may not need to know for class...

Thanks for all the good luck and well wishes!! I was thinking about starting a workout routine but I am so not a fan of working out. I hate it honestly, I appreciate those that can do it and stick with it but it is just not for me. I am a fan of music and dancing so I may try and take 30 minutes a day and listen to my i pod and jam out to myself a bit. The weight gain concerns me because I just lost 60 lbs after my last child and I do not want to gain that weight back at all, but when I stress I tend to loose weight drastically so I don't know...may not have to worry about that too much

I will be starting nursing school and it is all I can think/talk about! My husband is going nuts, he wants to relax and enjoy the next few weeks without any talking about school but I can't help it, I am so excited! If I can just get through Tuesday without talking too much about everything I think he will be okay :) Merry Christmas everyone!

Congratulations!! I remember when I got my acceptance letter, it was one of the best days in my life! I will be starting in January as well, I wish you all the best! Word of advice from others I know in the program currently: never ever forget the way you felt when you opened that letter and read those words "accepted"...carry that feeling with you while you are in the program so when you go through low points just remember that feeling and it will help to get you through ;-)

Hahahaha- that is hilarious ;-) 8 kids? wowzers! and I thought I had a lot of kids (4). Good for you making such awesome grades and being a busy mommy of 8! I have been talking with my husband a bit since I posted this and he and I both agreed we needed to have a talk about at least some of the logistics. Now, I know once we actually do this I am not going to push things being done my way but if he wants to know then I will share. I just am glad he agrees that we do need to make sure we are both on the same page in January. He knows I will not be around to help most of the time and I think he is okay with that...well he is now but you know once you jump into reality that may change. However, I know he will not make me feel bad for not being there to help. I am in an accelerated BSN program for 11 months so I will be lucky to even sleep, lol. We will figure it out- I just need to let him do things his way. As long as he knows what needs to be done and gets them done I am going to have to accept that it is all that matters.

I know nursing school will not be not low stress, my point was that I want it to be as low stress as it can be- on my family. If doing things a certain way (maybe not my way) is better than another then why not do it that way you know? I just simply was trying to talk to him about what would work to make his life easier while I am not at home. I am not worried about me...I will probably be going nuts but I just want my family to be okay- or as okay as they can be. Does that make sense? In my head I was only thinking about them...I know it will be hard on them without me here and I just know if my husband does not try to prepare a little it could be worse. I was only trying to have a conversation with him about how to prepare a bit but now I am learning that he will figure it out and he will adjust things to the way he can get things done most effectively and hey it may not be up to my standards but honestly I don't think I will have much time to worry about it anyway. Even with me being neurotic we have always made it work no matter what situation we are in. We are a team and have always been- we balance each other out. I am mainly worried because we never have been through something this life changing, I feel more preparation is needed but he doesn't. He lets things roll of his back and I tend to be the worrier. I know everything will balance out eventually, it will just take a while to figure it all out on both of our parts.

Eek! Lol I know he has his way and he will get the job done- even if it is not the way I would do it and even if it takes longer...he will get it done. I am darned lucky and I know it :) He really has been super supportive. Every time I say "well I can help do..." he always stops me and says he will take care of it and that I will need to focus and not worry about things at home. I honestly think the reason why he won't let me interject or give my 2 cents is because he does not want me to worry at all. I think he knows me all too well.

I think my sanity will be gone by the time this is over to be honest LOL. I have a real problem with being neurotic...my husband normally balances that out a bit for me when we are together but now that we will be apart so much and he will be in control I think I may go nuts. I think we are going to have to let one activity go at least...I just do not think it is a doable schedule without 2 parents. I feel bad for my girls but I know that in the long run our lives will be better if they skip 1 or 2 activities for 1 year while I get this done. When I read the last part "Sleepless zombies" I got the funniest image in my head of my kids...haha. Thanks for the laugh ;-)

I start my ABSN program in January...it is coming so soon. I am so excited but super nervous. I like to prepare, I am very organized and enjoy some order in my life. My husband however, is the opposite. I have been trying to go down the list of to do's with him to prepare the family for the big changes and also to just have some sort of order in the household while I am gone. One of the items on the list was food/dinner prep. We DO NOT have any extra money this next year to eat out or grab dinner at all..we will be living on a very strict budget. That being said I am a stay at home mom now and have dinner planned every week ahead of time so that everyone gets dinner at 6:30. We have the schedule so tight in the evenings because my daughters have activities they do after school and then they come home and have homework to do and so dinner has to be cooked and ready by 6:30 or we eat soup. We are too busy not to have a schedule. My husband does not know about all the details and work that goes into this schedule...he just knows to go here and there and when to be where. I am the one behind the scenes orchestrating it all if you will. Okay so here is my point...I tried to talk to him about meal prep and schedules once I start school. His answer? "I don't need to know the details...we will be fine. I will take care of it my way." OKAY...his way is they are late for everything and dinner (chick-fil-a or something quick) is not eaten until 8 at night and they don't get to bed until 10. NOT cool. My kids are going to before school care this next year and they will have to be up by 6am. They need sleep to function and we cannot afford to get quick dinners...not for a family of 6. I love my husband dearly, we balance each other out. That being said, we have never switched roles before...he has never had my job. He thinks "his way" is going to get the job done and I don't doubt it will but I know that his way is the harder way and more stressful way- I have left him alone for a weekend here and there in the past to fly out and visit family and I have seen his way. I am only trying to offer him tips as to how I do things- I have been doing this for 8 years..I have worked out the kinks and I know what works and what does not. I only was trying to speak with him about dinner and maybe scheduling crock pot meals a few days a week and freezing meals for the rest and he did not want to hear it. Oi vey. I did not push the issue but I am feeling a bit panicked thinking about how things are going to go this next year for my family. Maybe I am being a bit neurotic but I really just want this next year to be as low stress as it can be on everyone. So many people tell me to just let it go...I don't know why I can't. I have never had to hand over the reigns before completely so that is probably why. Should I bring this up with my husband again or just let it go?

I am reading a book right now called "fluids and electrolytes made incredibly easy" as a refresher before I start my program in January. It is a AWESOME book. It breaks everything down and makes it all seem simple. You should check it out. It was recommended by a current student in the program I am going into, she told me that she had a really hard time with that part of patho and the book helped her immensely. Good luck to you! I am sure you will be fine :)

I cannot even imagine! I am so SO sorry you are going through this. How much longer do you have left until graduation? If you are really close maybe keeping that in mind will help you and your family. I know that is easier said than done. I really have no advice other than having a talk with your husband/partner and seeing if you can work something out to fit in a little bit of additional time weekly with your family. Nursing school is temporary, in the scheme of things it is but a bump in the road. I really hope that you can get this figured out, family does come first- no questions about that. Good luck!

I start my Accelerated BSN program in January and it finishes up in December of that same year. I am scared right now, very scared...but excited all at the same time. I have children so it is going to be rough but I have worked so darned hard to get here and am planning on doing what it takes to get through it. Good luck everyone!!! I cannot wait until we are on here posting about graduating! :)

Thank you both! It is going to be harder on me than him, I know. He is going into a wonderful environment where he will be taken care of by some very patient and loving people and he will be mentally and physically challenged daily which gives me comfort. I think he needs to be around other children his age, it may give him that push to move forward and learn social skills which I cannot teach him at home. I feel as if my heartache about this whole thing is very selfish because I know he will be better off in the environment he is going into...it is me that will miss him and hurt because I do not see him every day all day, not necessarily him. I am doing this for him, and I need to just keep that in mind constantly to help get me through. I have a very loving a supportive husband that I know can take very good care of him in my absence as well so I need to get a grip, lol. My heart is just breaking thinking about leaving him but I hope that feeling will be replaced by even more love and appreciation for him, my husband, and his therapists. I know nursing will open up so many doors for me to not only help him but other children that are like him and that is what I hope to do with my education. It is tough putting those big girl panties on and being an adult. I can do it though! thanks for the encouraging words!

I have 8 weeks left, 8 weeks until I begin the 12 month journey that will complete my education in nursing. Up until now I have been saying nothing is going to stop me, get me down, and I have been over the top excited. I got smacked in the face reality for some reason today, I guess it was realizing that less than 8 weeks from now my son (who is special needs) will be attending daycare. I mean, I knew it was going to happen but it REALLY hit me today how much I am going to miss his sweet little face all day and night. I have been the main one taking care of him and all of his needs 24/7 from day 1. I have been so involved in his care, I really honestly don't know how to hand over the reigns to his daycare provider and my husband. It is so emotionally hard for me. I know he will be great at the daycare because it is a special needs daycare that is top notch (they had over a two year waiting list-I just got in because his therapists work there so he had an automatic in), but I am just crying and crying thinking about leaving him. He is 20 months and not able to walk yet...this has been what his PT and me have been working with him for months to achieve and I realized it is likely I will miss it and it kills me to think about that My first semester I will have class all day and then a class in the evening and because I live an hour away from my school, I probably will not come home until everyone is in bed. It is going to wreck me emotionally to only see my son on the weekends. I know everyone on this board has been through some form "mourning" once they started nursing school...whether it be for their family, social life, husbands, etc...HOW DO YOU DEAL? I am not even in nursing school yet and I am already a blubbery baby. Oh geez. I guess I will get past it and it is after all only a year but I really need some encouragement right now....

Don't give up! You can do it! Look at how far you have gotten already, you are doing it. Just give it that extra push...I know it is hard. Trust me, I have 4 kids and I have not started my program yet but I know going to school and having children is HARD. Think about all the rewards at the end, it will be all worth the sleepless nights and time away from the kids. If you can do this, you can do anything!

I LOVED A&P. More A&P II than A&P I but it really depends on your teacher. I had an amazing A&P II teacher so I really enjoyed that class but A&P I is all about memorization. It is the muscles, bones, nerves, etc...really hard core memorization and a lot of it. It really lays the groundwork for A&P II which is more the physiology. I know at my school A&P I was the "flunk out" course, I found it to be fairly easy but some people that took it with me were going on their 2nd try. I think if you take it seriously and DO NOT get behind you should be fine. STUDY, STUDY, STUDY and you should be just fine. A&P I lays the groundwork for pathophysiology and your whole nursing career so just make sure you try your best and you will be better off for it down the line. Hope that helps...

Awesome!! Congrats! I bet you are over the moon right now :) I am just beginning my journey in 8 weeks! Eek! You will be graduated and off on your own by then..good luck!

Thanks ladies! I definitely think it would be interesting to view an autopsy but I don't think that my school offers that. How would I find out? I guess I would feel strange asking...maybe its not a strange question. IDK. I am hoping that after seeing it happen several times in person I might be okay with it after a while...we will see. Its odd because I can watch them take my blood and I have no issues whatsoever but on others forget it, I get light headed. I think it is because I have the fear of hurting them...or that they are being hurt..it is odd I know but hopefully I will get past it.