Relocating for nursing school

Mami.Nurse2B · Jul 16, 2008

I am not in your situation but I would recommend making friends with your classmates and maybe hanging out some days and celebrating for all the hard effort you put into school. Or maybe take turns studying in each others house.

Hope you can figure out something out soon! Dont worry, its for the BEST!

2bNurseZato · Jul 16, 2008

Thanks Mami, the people in my class are okay, but it seems like everyone is so gossipy. I talk to people at school, but I feel like I need to keep a little distance until I know who I can trust. Thank you for the encouragement though!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2008

i moved from a busy eastern city to the california desert many years ago. i have a suspicion as to where you are and i may have lived there myself at one time. i, personally, love the desert because i like the quietness. at the time we had one drive-in and the va hall there played bingo on saturday nights--i kid you not! we rode a golf cart to our mailbox to pick up the mail and our address was one of those "box xx, rural delivery x" ones. everyone knew everyone else in the town. we had to drive into san bernardino or riverside if we wanted to go shopping at big department stores. i had no trouble getting into the nursing school of the community college. no waiting list.

might i suggest that while i understand that you miss your city life, that you take advantage of the culture around you. learn about the local residents and wildlife. learn about the indians who were probably isolated there by the government back when and how they survived the heat without the advantage of air conditioning. learn about the animals and plants. i wouldn't be surprised that there isn't a local museum where you can find this information. many of the old tv and movie people retired to these desert communities. many of the retirees started informal art groups of some type. it was how i got my introduction to theatre arts. i met some really influential people in the show business industry through them and sat and drank herbal teas and learned about health foods from some old time show business people who were just living retired quiet lives in a quiet desert town. many of the retired people in these communities love having young people around--especially nurses.

what i'm telling you is rather than be depressed over what you are missing, look for the positive, adapt, and learn about what the community you are in can offer you. one of the things you will find about nursing is that change and adapting is a big part of this profession. you never know when what you learn from the desert will come in handy some day. i found that i had more allergies living in the desert than i ever had living back east, isn't that weird? the pollen from those desert plants really does a number on me.

missjennmb · Jul 16, 2008

FWIW, I would LOVE to be in the desert in California. Like Daytonite said, you should really take advantage of the opportunity and try to see what you have in front of you, instead of what you are leaving behind. See it as a 1 year vacation and opportunity to see something new and different and beautiful.

I go on vacation once a year to the Palm Springs area with my husband, and the best part, for me, is when I can get into the canyon hiking away from the hustle and bustle of the streets. Is there anything like that for you? I was never a hiker or an exerciser or anything like that, but after a couple of hikes with a guide into Taquitz Canyon, my entire life has been changed, because it was so amazingly astoundingly beautiful and breathtaking. I never expected it, and was just hum hawing about having to be out there (my husband is there for a business conference every year and I was alone most of the trip). The hidden beauty and Indian culture is just absolutely amazing though, if you're open to the experience.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2008

The desert wow!....I'm soooooooooo glad I'm not there anymore....I HATED living there and was soooooo happy when my parents moved to a cooler environment...But one thing about the desert that is kinda fun, is going to the sand dunes and riding the motorcycle....it just relieves stress...The weather I HATED, but the quietness was nice....We had our parties (this was when I went back later as a teenager to visit family) and we did things like cross the border for the nightlife.... I know it's hard to leave the Bay Area for the desert...Two totally different places, but it's for a short time and you'll be back home soon....Good Luck

2bNurseZato · Jul 17, 2008

Thank you all for the encouraging words. That's so funny what you said Daytonight- I have an HC box for a mailbox. I think it means highway contractor or something I am trying to adapt to the change as best I can. I think it's just hard right now because it's summer and the temperature is over 100 every day. I'm just not used to the heat. I still go running, but not until about 7:30 when the sun is setting. But I am looking fwd to the summer being over!

The peace and quiet IS really nice. I guess I am just more of a social person and I miss having a social life. But I guess all of that will come in time, or I'll just have to wait for weekends that I can go out of town or go back home. I'm trying to have a positive attitude. I think part of the issue too is just feeling overwhelmed in nursing school. I've never had any medical experience so I feel so dumb sometimes compared to my classmates I'm hoping I'll start picking things up better. We just started clinicals a couple of weeks ago, but I still feel like a deer in headlights at times! :uhoh3:

cancergirl24 · Jul 17, 2008

i moved from a busy eastern city to the california desert many years ago. i have a suspicion as to where you are and i may have lived there myself at one time. i, personally, love the desert because i like the quietness. at the time we had one drive-in and the va hall there played bingo on saturday nights--i kid you not! we rode a golf cart to our mailbox to pick up the mail and our address was one of those "box xx, rural delivery x" ones. everyone knew everyone else in the town. we had to drive into san bernardino or riverside if we wanted to go shopping at big department stores. i had no trouble getting into the nursing school of the community college. no waiting list.
might i suggest that while i understand that you miss your city life, that you take advantage of the culture around you. learn about the local residents and wildlife. learn about the indians who were probably isolated there by the government back when and how they survived the heat without the advantage of air conditioning. learn about the animals and plants. i wouldn't be surprised that there isn't a local museum where you can find this information. many of the old tv and movie people retired to these desert communities. many of the retirees started informal art groups of some type. it was how i got my introduction to theatre arts. i met some really influential people in the show business industry through them and sat and drank herbal teas and learned about health foods from some old time show business people who were just living retired quiet lives in a quiet desert town. many of the retired people in these communities love having young people around--especially nurses.
what i'm telling you is rather than be depressed over what you are missing, look for the positive, adapt, and learn about what the community you are in can offer you. one of the things you will find about nursing is that change and adapting is a big part of this profession. you never know when what you learn from the desert will come in handy some day. i found that i had more allergies living in the desert than i ever had living back east, isn't that weird? the pollen from those desert plants really does a number on me.

daytonite is definately right on the money...sweetie,i know how you feel:heartbeat i came from orange county california, born and raised...after having cancer myself, and a 2 year old son we all packed up(1 mile from the beach might i add)and moved to none other than arkansas(total culture shock!) for me to come to school,no wait list,i do have a couple of family members tho. its hard definately i can relate to you on that.....and needless to say i havent made any friends. im trying to pull myself through the depression that i go in and out of. the best advice i can give you is to keep your eye on the prize and try and make the very best of it. :up: embrace all the knowledge thrown at you in school. get out in the sunshine and try new things. go to a park and bring a blanket and snacks and just study and think positive:dim pretty sure where abouts your at and its beautiful. just know that things in life happen for a reason and everything makes us a stronger person...hang on girl...youll make it!!!:redbeathe:nurse::yeah:good luck to you in school and god bless, kristen

cancergirl24 · Jul 17, 2008

Thank you all for the encouraging words. That's so funny what you said Daytonight- I have an HC box for a mailbox. I think it means highway contractor or something I am trying to adapt to the change as best I can. I think it's just hard right now because it's summer and the temperature is over 100 every day. I'm just not used to the heat. I still go running, but not until about 7:30 when the sun is setting. But I am looking fwd to the summer being over!
The peace and quiet IS really nice. I guess I am just more of a social person and I miss having a social life. But I guess all of that will come in time, or I'll just have to wait for weekends that I can go out of town or go back home. I'm trying to have a positive attitude. I think part of the issue too is just feeling overwhelmed in nursing school. I've never had any medical experience so I feel so dumb sometimes compared to my classmates I'm hoping I'll start picking things up better. We just started clinicals a couple of weeks ago, but I still feel like a deer in headlights at times!

I would absolutely LOVE to hear what your learning about in your clinicals and how you are doin':heartbeat Oh man I sooo can relate to you...Im in Arkansas in 100 degree humid weather, i miss the dry heat, and the ocean!!! :madface: And I also miss my earthquakes....I dont do very well with tornadoes lol:chuckle

2bNurseZato · Jul 17, 2008

Lol, wow you have a bigger culture shock than me! Humidity is the worst. I used to live in Chicago so I still remember the gross feeling of sweating like crazy right after taking a shower! Are you coming back to CA after you're done w/ school? How long is your program. Sure we can share clinical stories. I am starting to get a little more confident. Just scared to make mistakes when people's lives are on the line. I started clinicals 2 weeks ago in the subacute unit. It's a little overwhelming with the trach tubes and G-tubes. I'm still trying to figure out the oxygen and moving patients from their beds to the main room. It's just sad because some of them are so young- like 40- and they're there because they tried to commit suicide or drug overdose On the walls there are pictures of their children and families and it's just sad. But I think I'm handling it okay. How's it going for you Cancergirl?

cancergirl24 · Jul 17, 2008

Lol, wow you have a bigger culture shock than me! Humidity is the worst. I used to live in Chicago so I still remember the gross feeling of sweating like crazy right after taking a shower! Are you coming back to CA after you're done w/ school? How long is your program. Sure we can share clinical stories. I am starting to get a little more confident. Just scared to make mistakes when people's lives are on the line. I started clinicals 2 weeks ago in the subacute unit. It's a little overwhelming with the trach tubes and G-tubes. I'm still trying to figure out the oxygen and moving patients from their beds to the main room. It's just sad because some of them are so young- like 40- and they're there because they tried to commit suicide or drug overdose On the walls there are pictures of their children and families and it's just sad. But I think I'm handling it okay. How's it going for you Cancergirl?

Hey there:nurse: To answer your question...YES Im moving back to CA...ASAP! I actually havent even started my program yet, Im still going thru the admission process:yawn: I moved here in december and couldnt start school til I was considered a "resident", which means you have to live here 6 months first, or youll have to pay a ridiculous amount of money for out-of-state tuition its like triple the original amount:no: So finally here I am...WHEW! I've never been so driven to do something in my entire 26 years of living!!! Im a career change student. Went from doing hair for 6 years to going for my dream of being a trauma nurse. Ive been out of school for a looong while and didnt have much confidence til I signed up for my pre-req A&P this summer and passed with an "A":yeah: Now Im confident and excited as ever! (sorry this post is so long:rolleyes:,I love these little smileys lol) Anyway, it sounds like your doing awesome girl!! You shouldn't be nervous...you are in training and just take in every ounce of info and embrace it!! I understand your sadness when it comes to seeing patients at their worst with pics of their families in happier times on the wall. I took a CNA course in CA, so I have some experience with patients. But I didnt do clinicals in a hospital...they were all in LTC's and rehab units. My first day there I saw a man asleep at the dinner table and my instructor tried awaking him, and he wouldnt budge...that scared me and I started crying:crying2: But having the kind of empathy that you and I have is a great trait of being a nurse:redpinkhe The more you work with patients the more confident you will become!

To get back to answering your questions, my program is at a University and it is a year, full time...sorry this is a novel:bugeyes:

2bNurseZato · Jul 18, 2008

That's great you are changing careers. Same thing for me. I'm 27. I got my bachelor's degree a few yrs ago in Communications & Business, but I just got sick of working at office jobs not making that much money or advancing. A lot of people were skeptical when I decided to go into nursing. Some people told me it was too late to change careers and I should stay with what I started. So it made me feel a little old. But the funny thing is, in my class about half of the students are in their early 20's and the other half is over 45! So I guess it's never too late I hope you like the program too. Just be prepared for a lot of work! That sucks about living in state for 6 months, but isn't Ca 1 yr? Well anytime you want to write me, just write a private message. I'm not sure how! Thanks again for your support. :cheers: :pumpiron: (Like the smileys too!)