out of commision

I haven't been blogging because my computer has been in the shop for two weeks. Still don't know if I will be getting it back, or if I will be buying a new computer. Well, that's if I can manage to pay my bills with money left over.

Nursing school is hard already. I'm doing well in all my classes except for Algebra. I really don't think it's me though. Considering out of a class of 24, there is only one person who is sitting at a passing grade. I'm not kidding. The teacher has no clue how to teach the subject, and there are times when we've had to correct his work on the board. He's nothing but confusion. The more he explains, the more confused we all get. Midterm Tuesday, so that will probably be the deciding factor, if I get to continue. No stress, right?

Well, not sure when I'll have access to a computer to update. I'll do my best.

The good news

So Friday, after a week of sitting in classes and not knowing if I'd be allowed to stay...I got the call. Two people dropped out of the RN program, which means I have the 30th seat! WooHoo. I'm in for the long haul. I'm so excited. Or was, until I then realized I actually have to do the shit load of homework that had been assigned all week. So far I'm in Microbiology, Anatomy 1, College Algebra (God Help ME!!) and English 101. So far, so good. Although the only worries I have at the moment are the algebra. It's already proving to be a real pain in the ass. I hate math. If I can make it through this, I can do anything. Bring it on.

Alternate

So after being told I had a seat in the August RN class, I find out I am merely an alternate. Here is what happened...

In February, a week before I graduated the LPN program, I went in and took the NET test. AT the time, this nursing entrance exam only required me to make at least a 57. Now we are not talking scores up to 100%..it's not scored like that. So 57 was passing. I made a 57.5. Barely did it, but I did it.

So 6 months later, I start the admissions process for the RN program. I'm told then, that merely 2 weeks after I took that NET....the national passing score was changed to 58. Are you kidding me? So the college emailed corporate office and got an approval stating that since at the time I took the test, I made the passing score and they would accept it.

A couple of days later, I get a call stating that they wanted me to come take the TEAS test...this is the new "NET" test. To top it off, they wanted me to do it the next day. What?? No study time?? It's ok...I got this right? Wait....and why do I have to take this?? "It's so we have a teas score on file for you in case anything negative comes up about it in the future." Hmm...ok. I'll do it. All I needed was half a point. Seemed easy enough. Well, I made less. a 57.3. Great. Now this put me into alternate status.

Now you are only permitted to take the NET test two times in a twelve month period. So I thought that was my last chance after I took the TEAS. Even though the TEAS is the new NET... They still viewed it as a separate test. The same two test per year rule still applied though. So I was asked if I wanted one more chance at the TEAS. Basically a third try at the nursing entrance test. With one day to study....again. I took it. All I needed was a 58 I was told. If I got that, I would still be an alternate, but I would be number 5 on the list. Hmm. Not very promising. However, the higher you make on the score, the higher up you move on the list.

My new score....a 64. YES! So, this moved me up to number 2 on the alternate list.

Now last Thursday, there was orientation. This is when everyone gets issued their books, and scrubs, student ID, schedule, etc. I was asked to attend, knowing I may not be in this class. The odds were slim. This was before I found out I made a 64. It sucks sitting through all that and not knowing, also not being issued my books, etc when everyone else was getting theirs.

So where do I stand right now? Tomorrow morning is the first day of class. I'm going in and getting my books and scrubs. Will change into those and join in the class. No one knows who the alternates are except for the alternates themselves. I believe I will sit through a week and a half of classes while patiently waiting to see if there are two drops outs, or two pushed out. Then that means I'm in it to stay. In that time, if no one drops...I will have to come back in April 2011 and start with that class.

No matter what happens...I'm not stressing. I have my LPN license. I can work until April if it comes to that. If I get in this time, I will be thrilled. It just really sucks to be relying on someone else's bad luck to turn yours to good. :(

Where it all stands..

So my start date isn't until August 23rd. In the meantime, i'm working on getting another loan. yay. After getting my stafford loans, and pell grant, I owe about a $3200 gap payment on top of $100 registration fee. It's all about the money. Isn't that nice.

So i'm trying to get a cosigner for my loan. Think I have one, waiting to see this week. Also need to go shopping for new shoes, notebooks, flashcards, pens & pencils, etc. On top of all that, I'm still getting my kids school supplies and preparing them for their start date.

Busy busy.

I'm crazy...yep...that's it!

Guess what I'm doing on August 23rd. I'm going back to school! I was accepted into the RN program where I did my LPN. So I'm moving up in the world. Going for that final degree. At least that is what I say now. Mwahahaha. I had to take a test to see how many of my LPN credits I cold transfer, and I did rather well. Seems I will get to sit out of quite a few classes come November and December..yay!

So with that being said....I'm back to blogging about the experience...Am I there yet? I've just begun...again!

Yes, we are there now!

It's official!! I passed the NCLEX-PN and I'm now a LICENSED Practical Nurse! I am so relieved today, I can't even describe my feelings! However, I don't know what to do with myself! This is the first time in a year and a half that I don't have to open a book or study notes! What do I do? I get to have a life again??!!

Well, I'm going to enjoy these next few weeks with my kids while I wait for that License to come in the mail. Then it will be time to hit the pavement and get me a job! Woohooo!!

drum roll....

So this is it. Today is the day I've been working so hard to reach. I sat for my nclex-pn test.

Now I graduated Feb. 26 and have been studying nothing but nclex review books, ATI, flash cards, etc..in preparation for this test. It is a pass or fail. No numerical score, no points here or there to save me. I went into this test feeling like I was going to puke, and still..6 hours later, I feel the same.

This test is random as far as questions. You are guaranteed to get at least 85 questions, and at the most, you get 205. Guess what. I was the lucky girl to get the whole test...all 205 questions. The computers just randomly pick the person. Yay me.

So, I sit here sleepless, stressed, wanting to puke and waiting for daylight. Then I can go into the Board of nursing website and find out if I have a license number assigned to me...which means I passed, or not...which means I failed.

It's going to be a lonnnnnng night.

Pinned and CApped. Feb 26, 2010

I made it! I'm officially a Nurse Graduate. Now I'm studying for my NCLEX-PN which I should be taking within a month.

My Nana is so proud!

My kids. My inspiration.

Our graduating class. 18 of us made it from an original 32. Two graduates could not be there for pinning and capping, so they are missing in this pic.

A mess

I've been enjoying the past week off from classes and clinical. I still have a little over a week left of vacation. I've had plenty of time to reflect on these past 11 months and the 2 months left have got me a little stir crazy. On one hand, i'm excited that I've made it this far. On the other hand...I'm scared shitless because...I've made it this far. Feb 26 is D day, so to speak. I'm not sure if I'm ready. I've had the book smarts to get this far and I feel in my element during clinicals, but still...am I ready to be on my own, taking care of other people. THeir lives in my hands. That's a huge responsibility....and part of me wonders just what I'm getting myself into.

I do know that I am going backj to bridge to the RN program, and will either start in the March class, or the August class. So there I go again...ready to stick my neck out there and go through this hell of nursing school even more...to be responsible for even more. Scary.

When i go back to class Jan 4th, I'm just going to focus on the classes we have left and take it one day at a time. Come February...I'm really going to be a mess.

Community Health..check!

Another class done, passed with an A (91). Today was crazy! Took our final, then an argument broke out between two girls...grown women acting as children. Amazing. One was called into the deans office, it felt like high school all over again! I'm not sure how things worked out for the two invilved, but the dean and president of the college were not happy. All I can say, is it wasn't me!

So I'm off until December 3rd. Hello vacation! Much needed, much appreciated and my alarm clock is going out the window!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

No more reproduction..

That class went by so fast and we finished yesterday. The final was harder than we had expected, but everyone passed. Now we are in the throws of community health and basically out in the community doing our clinicals every day until Thanksgiving. A one week break for that hopefully will renew me!

Neuro & Alzhiemers

So I have not posted a whole lot, once again. THis is due largely to the fact that nursing school and my most recent course of study..."neuro-sensory" has reduced me to a puddle of mindless mush.

I'm happy to say that after a crammed 9 class days and 7 clinical days on this subject, I have survived. I passed within 2 points of an A. Damn. Seems to happen to me a lot that way. It's all good as long as I pass!

Now I'm in the throws of community health 101 and ending up soon (next week) with Repro. REpro is CRAZY. I thought, "ok, I'm a female, I know what my vagina and inner plumbing does. I've got this." HAHA...I am amazed at how in depth this subject is, and just how in depth the human reproduction system is. Not to mention all those nasty STD's and aging problems. Ick. The teacher is less than organized too. So honestly, I can say that I think I'm doing well in the course, but since I have no clue where my grades stand right now, and final is next week...I'm a little stressed.

On a brighter note. I've been in a wonderful clinical setting this week, and will be next week. It's a place called Moosehaven. THe order of the moose....ahh yes....I am soooo going to join the Moose. This place is where I want to end up when I can't wipe my mouth or ass anymore. I'm telling you, it's like heaven on earth. Seriously.

I've been in the alzhiemers unit the past two days. It's been a very pleasant experience and the residents there are amazing, sweet and funny as hell! I love them all.

So that's the update. Peace and Blessings.

Great clinical rotation

Another week of clinicals is over! I spent these past three days in the vent unit, and my patients were wonderful. I was able to take pat in some new (for me) procedures. I learned a lot from this rotation. One of the patients I've seen in there since July is being discharged tomorrow! I love that....to see how he has improved over the past few months is so rewarding!

So tomorrow I take my endocrine final, my first Neuro test and we begin our Repro class.

GI....check

It's Friday and another class is finished. I finished Gastroenterology today with an A, and my Endocrine final exam will be next Thursday. Neuro class started today and already I'm loving the material, it's going to be an interesting subject for me, which hopefully means it won't be too difficult.


since it's only a span of 7 days to complete the subject, i've got to bring my A game.

Clinicals this coming mon-wed, so I'm relaxing the weekend, spending time with the fam, and my baby boy is turning 4 on monday. I think we'll celebrate sunday since I'll be in clinicals monday. Good times...

Happy Friday!!

It's the weekend!

long ass week over with Two midterms out of the way. Crap load of homework to do, presentation to finish and take home test. Oh well, at least I can do it all in my jammies and have a few drinks!

Until next time...

I can see the future

The college has a few new boards up in our hallways displaying pictures of the recently graduated senior class. Some from their pinning ceremony, some from their graduation and older ones from some of their final class and clinical days.

A few of these pictures showed them in the L&D area of a local hospital and NICU area. Holding babies, feeding babies. I'm so jealous. I'm so excited too! After this term which ends at the end of October, I believe...we start our reproduction/mother baby classes and clinicals. Me and one other classmate are so stoked for this. I have a goal to work either Labor and Delivery, or Trauma. Yes, two extreme differences, I know..lol. The more I see of the L & D though, I'm starting to set my mind on L&D.

I smell the new baby smell already!

Somber clinical

Today we were sent to a rehab/nursing home for our clinical. The moment we arrived, we found out that the staff had lost a nurse last evening. Apparently she crashed on her motorcycle over the weekend, and wearing no helmet, suffered massive brain trauma and full body trauma. Last night they took her off her ventilator and she passed.

The nurse that I was assigned to today was also assigned to the wing that this passed nurse had worked on. All day I heard countless stories from patients and colleagues about how wonderful a nurse this woman was. It's truly sad.

On a brighter note, the nurse I was with was amazing. She was extremely helpful and kind in teaching me. I learned so much from her and truly enjoyed the family like atmosphere of this facility. I've always said I never want to work at a nursing home/rehab center. However, after my experience with this one today, I would be honored to be apart of their team.

Great experience, somber mood, and I'm tired as hell. My body aches. I'm assuming from the flu shot I got yesterday. All of us who got it, about 3/4 of us are having side effects of one kind or another. So, with that being said.....it's my nap time. AC is on, big kids have the little monkey under control, I'm sleeping until hubby gets home.

Ciao!

10 week stretch

I dropped off the radar there for a bit. With an 10 day vacation, that's easy to do. I spoiled myself on being lazy around the house. I tried to sleep in every day, but now that my inner clock is used to those 6:30am clinical hours it was impossible.

So now we are at the beginning of a 10 week stretch that will end our third term. I'm in gastroenterology and endocrine right now. Both classes are ....not hard, but stressful in their own way. GI I'm "getting", endocrine I'm trying to get. It's just so boring right now. Maybe it's only because I've spent the past three class days in lecture all about diabetes and nothing else. I need variety to keep my brain from turning to mush.

I bought this voice recorder, and now when I get home, I recite my class notes and power points onto it, and walk around the hosue listening to it. It's so much better than trying to do housework, cook dinner, etc with paper notes in your hand. I'mgetting more useful study time in this way, and my grades and confidence on the subject matter is truly showing it.

I got my required flu shot today. Required for the nursing students if we wanted to still have full access during clinicals. The first flu shot I've ever gotten, so far no bad side effects, though I am tired as hell. Though that could just be becuase I've been up since 5am and had a very full and stressful clinical day.

Time to rest...

Musculoskeletal

We are doing this class in 5 days! Thank goodness it's a pretty easy subject for me, or I'd have lost my mind by now. We took midterm today, I passed with an 84, brings my average to a 90. Not bad. So unit exam tomorrow and then in a week from now, we go in for the final. It's only bones and muscles..........cinch.

On another note, I'm at a new clinical site now. The main hospital in Jacksonville that is a university hospital, teaching hospy and charity hospy all in one. I'm not crazy about it because they still do everything on paper. The charting....OMG....I miss passing meds and charting all with a computer. I'm spoiled, I know.

Four day weekend ahead....time to catch up on the house work, wash the dogs, get to know my kids again....maybe sleep in, if I'm lucky.

Double A

Passed Respiratory and Human Growth (psychology) both with an A. I'm so happy they are over. I thought cardiac was hard? No way....HG by far the hardest to date.

So I have this weekend with NO homework and NO tests to study for. I'm on cloud nine, and resting with a rum and coke.

I love Saturdays!