goingtothedogs

Thanks. I had my final lab practical for A&P 2 yesterday... I feel good about it. I'm just bummed that I let everything get to me and have a negative impact on my education. I guess the whole 'if at first you don't succeed, try, try again' thing comes into play here. Just frustrated, and I'm sure that finals week has a way of making pretty much everyone feel negative. About everything. Aaaaaaah. off to study. Thank you for the hugs and the encouragement. I really appreciate it.

This semester cannot be over fast enough. I'm really disappointed in myself. I tried to be strong and stick it out, but I am still grieving my twin brother's passing, and probably should have taken a break this semester. (He passed away at the beginning of the semester) I thought if I stayed busy, it would help, but no. I'm a mess. My grades aren't what I wanted them to be. I will have enough points to get into my program in the Spring of next year, but possibly not the fall, but will apply anyway. Just very... ugh. Disappointed. Very disappointed. Anyone else just flat out miserable right now? I'm not questioning whether this is what I want to do, just really deflated right now. Ugh. Just needed to get it out. Sorry if this is a downer, but, gosh, the next week can't go by fast enough.

Two people. And I'll warn you, I'll probably get mushy. First, my twin brother, Nick. He fought a rare form of colon cancer for the last year, and his suffering was eased last Thursday. Throughout that time, he neglected to tell us it was stage 4. He contined to bolster other people's spirits, encouraged others, despite the pain he was experiencing. Years ago, he helped found a non-profit organization that helps ensure access to computers for everyone- for $50 or 24 hours of volunteer service, which includes education about building and using computers, anyone can turn to them and walk away with access to technology. Nick was an amazing human being, the outpouring of love people had for him is inspiring. He did a lot of really good things for a lot of people. The biggest, he donated his body for research. He didn't want anyone else to go through what he had. His form of colon cancer only accounts for two percent of all colon cancer cases. While I would give anything to be able to look at his face one last time, I am grateful for the giving spirit he had. I think we were meant to use our hands, hearts, minds, and whatever other means are available to us to help others. To increase happiness, ease pain, and perpetuate love. I'm working as hard as I can so that I can do nick's memory justice by being the very best nurse, mother, wife, friend, and family member I can be. My husband- he has been supportive and loving from day one. I want him to be proud. I want him to see that his patience and enthusiasm are not for nothing. Really, what we're doing, I really think it all comes down to love. At least for me it does.

Tomorrow, 8/16. Last semester of pre-reqs!!!

I took A&PI last semester, and for me, the absolute worst thing was neuro. Now, I was fine with most of it... But the pathways... Good lord... Honestly, probably the most involved set of information I have ever tried to learn/memorize. I'd be just fine if I never had to look at a diagram of a neural pathway again. Otherwise, I really enjoyed A&P.

Yes-- between Evernote, skitch, and penultimate (all provided by Evernote) I'm set. I use skitch to take photos in lab of models, and also to take pictures of useful diagrams and charts from my text. I can even annotate those pictures!! I save them and then insert them in my notes where I need them. I use penultimate for drawing diagrams and sometimes for note taking-basically as a substitute for pen and paper. And then the straight up Evernote. Can't rave enough about it. While taking notes, I simply hit the record button, and make sure to stop it at the end of lecture. The file is then automatically attached to my notes for that lecture. You can share your notebooks or even email individual notes to classmates who might have missed a lecture for some reason, if you're nice. :) I also use it to organize my personal stuff. It has really made me so much more organized!!

I'm finishing my last two pre-reqs this fall and then (insert dramatic pause here) applying for Fall 2014 at Wake Tech. Cannot wait to roll up my sleeves and get to it already!!! :)

I'm taking my last two pre-reqs this fall-- A&PII and micro. Based on my own experience, I (personally, anyway) would suggest taking nutrition with A&PI. You mentioned that this is your first semester of pre-reqs. A&P is hard, and requires as much time as you can imagine... and then some. I wouldn't personally pair it with something intense. Now, I had thought nutrition would be a walk in the park- but my instructor was a biochemist with her doctorate. While I anticipated a course that focused a lot on knowledge that we can pass along to our patients, she really got into the chemistry side of things. So be prepared for it to be harder than you might think, just in case. You didn't mention any other pre-requisites-- do you have any gen Ed type classes you could take and just do A&p with those this semester, until you get into the swing of things?? I don't mean to make it all sound intimidating. Grades are important and you want to make sure you give yourself enough time to truly learn and do well, so that you can be an exceptional nurse later on. Good luck to you!!!

Everyone has their opinions, and I'm certainly happy to offer mine. . I'm finishing my last two pre-reqs in the fall, and I primarily use my iPad. I take notes in Evernote-- you can type them in OR use Evernote penultimate if you do better writing by hand. In evernote's suite of apps, I am able to add diagrams from my book, pictures, video, and even the recording of my lectures. For me, it has been extremely handy and helpful. I've used my iPad for projects, to collaborate with other group members, and this morning, I used it to rough out a landscape design for my side yard. (Eeeeee!!! Fun stuff when school is out but I'm still busy as a bee preparing for teas and CNA exam!!) Personally, I have a laptop at home, and for writing papers and for some of the things my iPad just doesn't do (flash), the laptop wins. However, really, I use my iPad more than anything else. I always have it with me, and always have access to my notes, the Internet, etc. it's handy. If you have a laptop that functions for writing papers, and it doesn't need to be replaced just yet... A tablet might be helpful. But remember, you can't use them for absolutely everything, and you may want to check with your instructors to see if they'll allow you to use it in class. Otherwise, you might wind up buying something you can't even use.

Kml0807-- hiiiii!!! I'm good, preparing for A&PII, studying for CNA, and TEAS... What's been going on with you???

Just be sure to call health sciences advising, not jut regular advising-- regular advising can't help health science students. Good luck!!! Crossing my fingers for you!!

Talk to advising-- if you don't want to transfer that course, they might let you just retake it. Psych courses count for double points for us (I'm finishing pre-reqs at wake tech this fall) so it would be worth retaking it, especially if they will let you choose not to transfer over that D. Good luck to you!!!! We have some great instructors, and I hope you like it at Wake Tech!!!

This happened with my school also. Pre-nursing and nursing students do get early registration, however, we have staggered assigned times based on the number of credit hours we have taken at this school. I was able to register on the sixth, and had to reconfigure the schedule I had already figured out the day before I could register because the instructor with good ratings classes were filled. (He only had two sections) I had to choose a different micro section, which was hard to do because my options were limited- both classes require a lab and there were only two I could take together without having a scheduling conflict. (The labs would overlap). I immediately texted a former classmate to let him know to make several schedules just in case- he didn't get into micro, which means he will have to take one class only in the spring, which may delay his applying to the program. Being that we attend the largest community college in the state, with a brand new building on campus complete with lab space and classrooms, I'm a little confused. Many people will wind up not taking more than one class this semester. Also, with as many non-traditional students as there are, and as our school promotes how flexible an education they can offer, I would think there would actually be some real flexibility in scheduling by offering varied times for each course. I don't currently work, (thank goodness hubby said I need to focus on school) so the only conflicts I had were between those two classes. Imagine having four or five classes to contend with!! It was not like this during any previous semesters since I have been attending this school... Just crazy. I guess it bothers me for the people who won't get to move ahead with their dream, and it bothers me also that we have these amazing facilities available but aren't making use of them. Okay, that's enough huffing and puffing. Just wait list what you can, and plan several different schedules to make sure you aren't scrambling to figure out what will work at the last minute.

Wowzas!! I have two pre-requisites to go before I can apply to my program, and thanks to early registration, was able to register today. I had planned everything out, selected my sections weeks ago, and yesterday, I logged in to just double check things. I wound up having to change everything. Now, early registration started on the 3rd, but our times went by how many credit hours we have taken at this particular school. I managed to get a semi-decent schedule, though it was the result of taking a class with an instructor with awful ratings... I figured out that initially, total, there were 120 seats for A&PII. That's all. For the largest community college in the state. Being a community college with a large population of non traditional students, the courses were really not easy to schedule this time around. And I only had two. I messaged a previous classmate, who I know registers later than me and he said he can't register until the 10th. I'm just thankful I got into the two classes I needed. I don't know how anyone else later than this week is going to manage-- there's seriously barely anything available. Two seats left in micro. 40something for A&P. god forbid they need both, because none of the remaining sections will work together without creating a scheduling conflict. Anyone else experience this?? I was honestly quite frustrated. Maybe it's the result of the pool of prospective candidates dwindling down further and further, but I was anxious all day until I was allowed to register. Imagine how it would feel to need one or two more courses and not be able to get into them. Eeek. Just plan. Plan a, plan b, plan c, and then some.

I second that... We've been in Raleigh for three years (almost four) and couldn't be happier to have chosen to live here!!