Seeing the Light

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Specializes in ICU.

Can't believe classes are starting on Monday!!! I am totally not ready to give up my nice, relaxing summer vacation. I said to myself on numerous occasions, why not just stay where you are at? Take a part time job, relax, heck I'm going to be 40!! Who on earth would be starting a new career at this age, or going to school? I see my friends not having to worry about homework, care plans, tests, other annoying students...... Why am I putting myself through this only to work my butt off when I become a RN next year? I thought take the easy road, drop it all together. I could move to be with my boyfriend sooner, and we could finally start our happily ever after. I could keep my house super clean and be on top on things finally that I let slip through my fingers the past two years. I could finally focus on these extra pounds I need to lose and join a gym or get me a personal trainer. Why am I doing this?

Then, my closest friend texted me the other day. She passed her NCLEX-PN!!! She already has a great job lined up with two more interviews to go. She's going to apply to the transition program that starts in January and from there she will be an RN a year after that. She was so very excited. I was so happy for her. I thought about what she had accomplished. What I would be accomplishing. To be honest, I was not looking forward to going back. I got dragged into some things last semester I did not want to be apart of and it really sucked the life out me where school was concerned. I realized people will do anything when they are going down and will take anybody they can down with them. It was honestly mind-blowing to me. I didn't want to go back to that. I didn't want the stress of dealing with these people anymore. But my friend sticking things out and now becoming a nurse sort of energized me. It helped me to refocus my goals and I knew that I had to do this, no matter how difficult the path may be.

So, I went and got my books this past week. I attended a class to refresh my clinical skills. I was the only one out of my cohort there so that was nice. I ordered my scrubs needed for this semester. Today, I got a laptop so I don't have to take notes by hand. It was a back-to-school package that was not expensive at all, and has a microphone in it to record lectures. I'm all ready for next week except for getting the laptop set up. I'm ready to complete my final year. I had a meeting with my financial advisor on Friday who stated that the whole game changes for me next year and I get a job. My financial picture will be better than ever. That was kind of motivating for me too. And with my boyfriend's job and mine combined, we will be awesome.

At the end of last semester, I think I was burnt out. I was over school. I had a nice, relaxing summer, and I just wanted it to continue. I wanted to live in this bubble I had created forever. Unfortunately, no money was coming in in this bubble. A job will change that. Having a job that I love and want to do is important to me. I know how hard it is to have a job that you hate. That 40 hours a week drags on and on. Believe me, I know.

I have also had what I am hoping is a minor health issue come up. It could either be really bad, or not so bad. I'm hoping for the not so bad part as I get scoped in a week. Sometimes, I let my imagination get the best of me and that was affecting me in school. I decided to stay on course with my education and if the time comes that it needs to be dropped, so be it, but not to act before I knew anything for sure. My rational thinking caught up with my emotional thinking. This is something I will for sure keep in mind when dealing with patients. How often times their emotional thinking can just runaway. I will always try to reign in and get them thinking rationally.

I've found my confidence again and am ready to start on Monday. I'm ready to attack this final year!! I'm ready to be called a RN hopefully in a short year from now. I'm ready to start living my life when I turn 40 in December.

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

You can do this!!!! Just keep the end goal in sight.

After last semester I was so ready for summer break. It was a tough semester; had some sick kids twice (one hospitalized for a short time), had some personal stuff come up, and moved. It was just a rough semester. A few of my friends took final semester accelerated over summer. I just couldn't get myself to do it. I just knew if I had attempted I would have failed purely due to student burnout. But I attended their pinning ceremony a couple days ago and it was just the magical moment I needed to get myself ready to start my final semester next wednesday. Seeing them get pinned reminded me what I was working for and the pure joy on their faces as they offically were done with school and became graduate nurses was amazing to witness. I am now ready to jump back in and finish this off.

Sounds like you had a rough go of it too. Just power through and finish off strong. Youve made it this far and theres no turning back now.

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Only 1 year left. We've got this!! :) Can't wait to hear about your success story WHEN you graduate in May, not if.

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Specializes in Ortho.

It's technically only 9 months until graduation in May. That's when I graduate too. Really it's only 8 months since there's only one week left in this month. I'm keeping the countdown pretty accurate! lol! It helps me to think of it as 8 months instead of a year. My classmates make fun of me.....something about delusional thinking. Whatever gets you through, right?

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Specializes in Tele, Interventional Pain Management, OR.

Lady, you've got this. Really, you do.

Hard circumstances aside--get this thing done. I've read some of your posts, and you seem like a levelheaded, reasonable, hard-working person. Given those traits, you can surpass (and kick the a$$ of) nursing school.

Not trying to minimize or undercut your personal stuff. But you can do it. :yes:

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