bfree1001

My professors are posting reading assignments dr next sememster. I'm giving myself a solid week or two to chill though. I have four weeks off. But since I'm taking med-surg next semester I'm going to brush up on my weak areas in anatomy I have a feeling I may need to remember.

I think you stand out by night feeling the need to stand out. Who do you want to notice you? If the professors can comment on your performance then you aren't lost in a sea of students. I call it the "gold star" mentality. Some of my classmates have it too. They want a gold star sticker everytime the do something right. It's not necessary and it sets you up to feel slighted when no one pats you on the back and says "good job". Honestly maybe you could find a way to be okay with not standing out but giving your best. I'm A student as well but one day when I'm a nurse, I will be a part of a team. And who cares if a patient says thank you, or notices me? I don't care if they can't remember my face or name. My focus is saving their life, or providing then the best competent care I can. Nursing school is no different. I don't care if the professors or students shower me with compliments on my performance. I still get good grades and I'm perfectly fine with not being noticed. So maybe a change of perception is all you need?

You need to be organized. The best thing I bought was a huge paper calendar to hang right by my desk. I also entered dates in my phone calendar and received alerts the week before important dates and the day before. Nursing school isn't so hard to comprehend, it just teaches you to be an independent learner. Meaning, the professors don't hold your hand and baby you. They expect you to be a professional , and hold yourself accountable. Also find a good study spot. I have a child and a puppy. While I can study at home, it takes longer with interruptions and the constant urge to nap. I tried it for the first half of the semester. When I started studying at a Barnes and nobles I only need maybe three hours and could get way more done. As far as content goes everyone learns differently,so how hard it is is going to depend on study habits and learning style. But if you're organized and get good meaningful study time you will be fine. I still find time to go out with my boyfriend, walk my dog and spend time with my daughter. It's not nearly as bad as it was hyped up to be IMO.

Well since you've been in nursing school I'm sure you've figured out that nursing is a completely new monster. You can memorize because you're learning concepts. You must understand the concepts because in real life, situations are dynamic. There are sooooo many variables that can change outcomes, interventions, assessment and blah blah blah. So when I study I try and get a grasp on the whole concept. Sometimes it may mean cracking open my anatomy book and drug guides or whatever so that I can have a complete understanding of how it all works together. Having a thorough knowledge really helps me when test questions only hint at things and expect you to catch the small stuff.

I read all the assigned reading before the lecture. At this point I don't expect to understand the material completely. I also don't try and skim what's important because I usually don't know until lecture. All I'm trying to do at this point is give my brain a base knowledge to work around during lecture. It's easier to understand and gain clarity at lecture if I have a basic understanding. At lecture I do not print power points. I take written notes, I will usually make it clear when the professor stressed something in their lecture as well. After lecture I look at my PowerPoint along with my book. I highlight what the PowerPoint covers in my book. (This will usually statements that the prof pulled from the book. Or concepts that I need more info on). Then I will do review questions from he book and the fundamentals success book at my school. By time I do those I know where I need to focus my last bit of studying for a test. Oh yeah. My school really stresses nursing process. Especially assessment and implementation. So if I'm in a super time crunch I will read those two sections thoroughly. (My fundamentals book has the chapters set up where they'll give you a base knowledge and then apply it to the nursing process.

I think while the information in the text try to help give a broad understanding of cultures, in the end it reall is just stereotypes. I like the think that I will deal with my patients on individual basis and each person is unique. I'm African American and most of the African American culture characteristics don't apply to me. Also I don't want anyone making assumptions about my lifestyle bases off my skin color because it will just cause problems IMO. I think through working with patients I will learn certaint cultural differences along the way (which is what happened after waiting tables for seven years). Until then I will try and give good care on a default respectful level as a newbie.

If your ex husband is offering to take them, atleast let him take them until you can get your financial situation handled. I have a four year old and I had to send her to my mom for five months because I had no support and needed to get some things in order. It sucked and I went through a slight depression, but I came out of it way more stable and able To complete school now. You may not need him to keep them the whole two years. But I don't think you should quit. You can't have everything the way you want in hard times. But struggling alone is better than having your kids go through it if they don't have to. Maybe letting him keep them for a semester will give you enough time to apply to some of these programs previous poster have suggested. And by time the end of the semester rolls around you'll have your kids again and a solid path ahead.