runlikeagirl

I found that my feet hurt at the end of the day no matter what, but if I get up and run before work, then I have aching feet AND more energy. It puts an extra pep in my step, and while other people are dragging around later in the day, I can get through the whole day sans coffee, soda, or anything. I also make sure to eat three meals and two snacks daily. It helps me to not crash.

I take a daily multivitamin to supplement what I don't get in my diet. I also take my Zyrtec religiously and I've knocked my sinus infections down from 3-4 a year to maybe 1. Sleep is so important! I see that everyone seems to agree with that! Also, try to destress at the end of the day because stress lowers your immune system. Drinking plenty of water is important too. If I feel like I'm getting sick, I usually sleep more, get extra vitamin C through fruits (I drink smoothies just like that all the time), and sometimes dose myself with packets of emergen-C (sp?).

Utilize your crockpot! Dedicate "hours" every two weeks or once a month for the deeper cleaning. Otherwise, spot clean once a week and vacuum, sweep, mop. I keep to do lists and take serious pleasure in crossing off items. Take time to sit down and complete those annoying emails, phone calls, and tasks that tend to pile up. You could pay someone to come to your house once a month to do deep cleaning. I think the going rate where I live is about $75 for two hours of work. Also some good groupon stuff out there. Grocery shop once a week. Wash, chop, and prep as much as you can that day. That's helped me. Try to squeeze in 30 minutes of cardio most days a week. You'll sleep better and feel less tired and be more clearheaded when it comes to completing tasks. Drink plenty of water and eat real foods. The frankenfood we eat these days can make you feel more fatigued. Find something you can look forward to in the morning. I enjoy my cup of coffee and eating breakfast. I used to do this on the run in my car, but I found that if I wake up a little bit earlier and spend 15 minutes eating breakfast and having a cup of coffee, I'm in a better mood and start the day off right. NO iPads, laptops, cell phones, or tv in the bedroom. I read a book before bed but that's it. You have to set the mood for sleepytime and electronics don't do it. Good luck! It's a challenge every single day. I feel your pain.

I run! It's hard when you're exhausted and you just want to go home and plop onto the couch, but it's such a great way to destress. I'm in a better mood, sleep better, and I'm more conscious of what I eat. I try not to beat myself up when I can't work out as much as I'd like or I planned. Running is the choice for me because it's about efficiency. I burn a little less than 100 calories/10 minutes. It adds up!

I eat one of these things before breakfast unless I'm running late (cereal then, meh).. Most mornings, I make a smoothie with kale or spinach (start your day off with some greens!), almond milk, frozen banana, frozen fruit (usually mango, strawberry, raspberry, etc.), and a big dollop of either peanut butter or plain greek yogurt. Sometimes I add chia seeds, cucumber, and tomato. I usually use my smoothie as a way to use up fruit and some veggies that are about to go bad. I also swear by Ezekial english muffins with cream cheese. So yummy! And I also like flavored greek yogurt with bear naked granola. Aaand I love oatmeal too. I have oatmeal down to a science! 1/2 cup of oatmeal, 1/2 cup of almond milk, 1/2 sliced banana. Microwave for 2 minutes. Add scoop of peanut butter, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and whip it up. Add the rest of the banana sliced on top, a few chocolate chips if you're feeling crazy or a sprinkle of nuts. Delish!

If switching jobs isn't an option and you absolutely have to deal with it, then I have some advice. I recently dealt with this in my current job. Sort of a similar situation but perhaps not quite as bad. I had to force myself to find something redeeming in that person, some good quality that I could maximize to my advantage. Everyone has a least ONE good quality! Haha. In my situation, it was that she really liked to chat about her family and she liked to be in the middle of everything (see - stick her nose in it). I took the approach of "kill her with kindness" being extra nice (but not fake), asking about her son frequently, and going to her for advice to help boost her up. If you can't change a situation, change the way you think about it. Sometimes though, the best thing is to hit the road!

I will have the same problem next year, and I've started asking some people who are finishing up their clinicals or who just graduated where they went. They told me they would give me the contact info. I've read elsewhere that you can just cold call clinics. I'd also call the VA hospital, local health departments, and even student health centers at the local universities. These are my plans!

I became a RN when I was 26 and I'm starting a MSN program at 28. I'll be done when I'm 30. Hoping to one day get my DNP, maybe around 35-38? I want to have some kids first! Lifelong learning, right?

I have a significant amount of debt prior to starting my MSN program due to another undergrad degree prior to nursing school as well as a brief stint in grad school for a different major. I'm planning on applying to the NHSC to help with my repayment. I want to work in a rural area and they can pay up to $60,000 for two years of service (40 hours/week). If I can't find anything in a rural area, they have some need in the urban area where I live with the same repayment. Fingers crossed that I'm accepted in two years.

Does anyone know where you could learn about acupuncture, refloxology, etc..? I'm starting a FNP program and would love to be able to offer that in a clinic at some point. I have no idea if that's even something you need a license for or not.

If I'm studying 30 hours a week, do you think that two 12 hour shifts are doable? For the first four months, I have to work 40 hours a week. I have a very supportive husband who will be doing all the cooking and cleaning. And since I work in Radiology, we have some down time where people study and do classwork. I guess for the next two years, I will probably be doing something every single day. I can't wait until I can go part-time!

I chose Gonzaga University for my Family Nurse Practitioner MSN. I happen to live, quite literally, on the other side of the country (they are in Washington state and I'm in Virginia), so that's really the only negative. The program is ~ $38,000. It's online with eight campus visits during the two year program. I chose this program because I wanted to be able to have a flexible school schedule but still attend a brick and mortar university. Also, they didn't require a BSN. I have a BS in Biochem and a ADN in nursing. I will have to set up my own clinicals, but I like that we will have eight intensives to go over skills and such. The program is highly ranked among online MSN programs, and they have a DNP option if I want to continue after my MSN program is over.

I'm on the fence about the DNP program. I agree with a lot of the comments posted here. For the people who say they're either in a DNP program or have completed one, how long did you wait after you received your MSN to enroll? I'm starting a MSN program this fall and will be a FNP in two years. My husband and I would like to start our family after I'm done with school, and when I mentioned possibly pursuing a DNP down the road, he looked like he may faint. Haha. I was wondering if this is something I should do soon after getting my MSN or if it would benefit me to work a few years before going back.

Hi, everyone! I was recently accepted to the FNP program at Gonzaga University. It's an online program with eight on-campus visits during the last year of a two year program. I live in Virginia, so I'll be completing my clinicals here. I was wondering if anyone else was completing the program or will be starting with me. I don't know too much about the program other than what I could find scouring the internet. They have a 95% pass rate for the boards and are ranked in the top 100 graduate nursing schools according to US News & World Report. Midlevel U had great things to say about the program and I even found a blog or two about students. I'd like to hear some from current students, though. Anything would be helpful! I'm so excited to finally get going with a MSN program! I'm also really nervous. I will be working full-time until January, so I have four months of brutality ahead. At least the hubby is a great cook!