kay0324

I am not a nurse...yet. I am in nursing school. However, I do work in healthcare and I do work Christmas day. Today is a very special day to be working. While we are missing precious time with our families it is important to not forget why we are here. Sometimes that is easy to do when all of your family is at home opening presents, eating yummy food, and spending time with eachother. The best thing we can do is realize how important we are to the patients and family who have to spend their Christmas in the hospital too. This morning was very special to me. I spent some time hugging and holding the mother of a babies in intensive care. It literally made my day and in that moment I didn't want to be anywhere else. Even if a hug is all I can offer for the time being, it still makes a world of a difference. We all make a big difference and impact peoples lives every day. While we are working we can't forget that these people are our family too. I am blessed to be in a position that I can make a difference even if it means working the holiday. Cherish and be thankful that you have the opportunity to do the same. I want to say thank you for working the holiday. I also want to wish you and your family a very merry christmas. Lots of love

It seems like you mostly need to get time management down. Stick with it if this is your dream. The floor you are working on might turn out to not be for you but put your time in. Everything gets better with time =)

I just finished my first nursing semester with a high B in lecture and an A in lab. =) It was not easy but doable. Big word of advice read the ATI book along with the chapters 20 people failed the ATI test the first time and had to retake it after their final. Can you imagine the pressure. I think only a few got kicked out after they failed it the second time. It's so sad to lose them. Just take the ATI seriously... I wasn't sure how I passed it let alone got a level 2 because it was hard. Not trying to scare anyone just read the book. Good luck =)

They are all amazing this is such a hard decision! Great job everyone!

Just to let everyone know ...just because you didn't get your letter today doesn't mean you were rejected. It seemed like everyone got their letter before me. They got theirs on a Saturday and I didn't get mine until the Wed after and I got in!

I have Lab Mon @ 5 usually there til 9:30 then lecture Tues at 5 usually there til 8:30 then i go to the hosp tues night to get my patient assignment and have clinical 3-11 wed

Just because your in the night program doesn't mean that your clinical will be at night. Your lab and lecture will be. My clinical next semester is Friday 7a-3p! I love being in the night program I was asked if I wanted to switch to day by the director because they had open spots and day was my 1st choice but I chose to continue the program being in the evening group and wouldn't change a thing! Congrats to everyone that got in and good luck :)

I am in allegheny night ...we lost a few but there are 36 of us clost to 80 when you add daylight :)

I am in the allegheny evening and weekend program. My clinical for first semester is 3-11 wed and for spring its friday 7-3pm...we go night before to the hosp to get our patient assignment

fingers crossed for everyone!! hope you find out today ...good luck

oh forgot to mention we also have med cards due in clinical ....and study study study study study some moreeeeeeeeeeee

Let me give you some advice ...you want to have AP2 done before you get into the program...you want to have EVERYTHING DONE!!!...and they want you to have it done as well! You can still get in though. I got in without having ENG 102 done and taking it along with nursing this semester is so hard. For me english is a super easy but I fell behind and finallly just got caught up and I only work 2 12's a week with no children. Just to give you an example for nursing due EVERY week we have: -Lecture: quiz or test and a group or single project -Lab: have to get tested off on skills that you must pass, quizzes, 4 papers due by end of semester -Clinical: you have 2 care plans, 2 page assessment, and your patho -in addition to that you have to pass a drug calc exam with > 92% (easy I got 100% but some failed 1st time around ) and ATI exam (we didn't take it yet) towards the end of the semester which are nclex style questions, you only get 2 chances to pass each one - you must practice doing these questions every day I do at least 50-100 a day sometimes more Just wanted to give everyone an idea of how much time and work it is and how much time you need away from family and children if you have them...I knew it was going to be a lot of work going into the program.. but its not work you are used to. You can't just memorize everything anymore, you have to learn how to answer these types of questions. People lives really are in your hands and if you make a simple mistake you can kill somone in a second ( for ex: chosing a wrong insulin syringe) Sorry if I came off harsh but get used to that too... With all that said this is the most rewarding and challenging thing I have ever done. I absolutely love nursing school and what I am doing and if this is what you really want to do ..then you will too! Seriously good luck to all of you and best wishes

Just wanted to say good luck to all the spring 2013 hopefuls. I am in the allegheny campus evening program and let me tell you it is hard work. Get ready to study study study!!! I mean you literally work your butt off for every point you earn. Not trying to scare anyone just be prepared! We just got our midterm grades in and I have a B so far which is really great in nursing school, most of us have C's and very few have A's. Let me know if you have any questions. When do you find out?

First of all congrats to everyone accepted. I am currently in my first semester and its already going sooooo fast!! It's a lot of hard but if you put in the extra effort it really pays off once you see your grades posted. Take it from me relax and enjoy your time now and sleeep a lot if you can. You will do great!

Thanks for your support. I am feeling much better I think I just needed a routine and had a rough day that day and needed to vent. It makes me feel better that I'm not the only one that feels like I'm going crazy at times. I'm starting to get into the groove of things and even though the work load is tough my stress level is declining.

I take my drug calc test on OCT 8 and we have to get a 92 or above on it ..if we dont we get one more try to pass with a 92 then we are dismissed ...I AM TERRIFIED !

First I would like to say that I love nursing school and I'm doing fairly well with a B+ so far. However, ever since orientation on August 15th my whole entire life feels like it flipped upside down. I have a whole new set of friends (fellow nursing students that I abosutely love) and my friends I've had for a long time. Some of my old friends say that I am turning into a different person. They aren't being mean and I actually see why they are saying that because nursing school is changing me even though its only been 5 weeks. It's in a good way for the most part but I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything. I've been so emotional lately its not even funny. I am normally a tough girl and don't let things affect me, but lately I feel like I just want to break down and cry some days over nothing. I feel like I am on an emotional roller coaster. I really don't know where all of these emotions are coming from because I am used to working in the hospital setting. I work in the NICU so I have been through and seen a lot of hard things that I have had to learn how to cope with. On top of all of my emotions I have terrible migraines EVERYDAY that wake me up in the middle of the night and make me so sick to my stomach I throw up, my right eye swells, and I literally feel like my head is bleeding. It's the worst pain I have ever had in my life. I can't sit still and I can't move at the same time. I have already had an MRI done and everything is normal so now I'm just waiting to get my labs back, see opthamology, and the headache specialist. Has anyone gone through any of this or feel this way? Does anyone have any suggestions for me to calm my nerves? I already eat healthy and exercise at my gym regularly (about an hour 5 days out of the week.)I know I can't be the only one but I just want to reach out for support because noone in my family is in nursing and I feel like I am stressing them out by talking about it so much and my headaches! Any thoughts, feelings, or comments are appreciated.

I can't thank all of you enough! Thanks for your responses!!! Really excited to start!!

Wow I can't believe you got your letter so late. Congratulations though!!!! My orientation is next wed as well. I am so excited and nervous at the same time but it feels great to finally be on track. Best of luck to you :redbeathe

Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh :heartbeat

Orientation is next wednesday for my school and I'm really starting to think about the first semester. What was it like for you? What did you like/hate? Do you have and tips or advice? I have worked as a nursing assistant before is that anything like the first semester? Comments and advice are much appreciated!

Thanks everyone for your responses. I know with hard work and determination we will get through it and be the best nurses we can be. It made me feel much better reading all your responses. :redbeathe

Hey everyone 20 days left until orientation. I hope everyone enjoys their last days of summer fun! I'm excited

No Doc, it's not the zombie apocalypse! Just another stressed out nursing student.

Doc, I used to be a skeptic but now im a believer... Zombie apocalypse!