kfry

I am also going back for my second degree in nursing, and during my physical they also discovered that I have Hashimoto's disease, which is a type of hypothyroidism. It's not a problem at all. Just a little inconvenienced at having to take Synthroid at the same time everyday for the rest of my life :) Don't presume too much before you are diagnosed by a doctor. You will drive yourself crazy! Hypothyroidism is very common in women, and alot of women go undiagnosed if no signs and symptoms are observed. Good luck in school!

Hi there, I'm heading into the nursing program in the Fall, and I also have a B.S. in Biology, and I never had to memorize the periodic table. You just need to know how to read it, i.e. Metals from non-metals, you may need to know the halogens, H+, N+, etc. Once you learn how to read it, you'll be fine. There are tricks of the trade that you will understand once your teacher explains it to you, and if you have a good book, it should tell you too. For instance, the colums are set up the way they are for a reason. You'll see Roman numerals at the top of each column, ie. I-VIII, and then back down to I. This tells you how many electrons are in the outer shell of that element. Anyway, it's a good idea to be familiar with it because you should be doing electron shell mapping in your class. Hope this helps!

Congratulations on your new job! Not to be a downer, but I have one of those "real jobs" now, and I'm applying to nursing school for the Fall. Prepare yourself for much of the same though. Don't get me wrong, I like my job very much, and I'm in a nice new building with lots of intellectually stimulating coworkers, but you still have to deal with office politics, HR crap, yearly reviews to fight for your yearly merit increases, and a lot of butt-kissing. You may sit in your office all day without a lot of interaction with others...and lots of other stuff. Every job has it's pros and cons. As long as you have a great attitude, which it sounds like you do, then you'll be fine. Enjoy your newly found freedom!! Makes me wonder sometimes, why I'm traveling in the opposite direction!:)

Hello everyone, This is my first posting. I have wanted to be a nurse since my senior year in college, but I decided to finish my B.S. in Biology, and then pursue nursing thereafter. I started my prereq. classes for the nursing program in Fall of 2001. Shortly thereafter, my Dad was diagnosed with inoperable cholangiocarcinoma (only 47 yrs. old!) Cancer does not discriminate. I dropped my prereq. to spend time with my family. It is an understatement to say that it is the most difficult thing that I've every had to deal with. My Dad was a trouper though, and he responded well at first to the chemo and dealt with his biliary tubes and many infections. He got really sick though, last March, and was sent home from the hospital on hospice care. The doctors said that there was nothing more that they could do. He passed away a week later. I continued with my prereq. courses and am finishing up my last one this semester. Hopefully, I'll be starting the nursing program in the Fall, and one of my interests is in oncology nursing. I'm sure that there has to be someone out there in this field who has had a close family member succumb to the effects of cancer. How do you deal with your job everyday, and is it emotionally draining? Is it feasible for someone with my personal background to survive in this specialization? I just want to be able to give the kind of support and care that my Dad had to someone who is in his same position. Sorry so long. Thanks for the help!