The RN journey

Day 4.   No those rediculous assignments are not required; thank goodness. After today’s classes, hopefully I have a better grasp of what the actual assignments are.

We are supposed to review chapters being covered before class, but only skimming the important information. It should take 5-10 minutes per chapter. I actually read “5 minutes”, and told my classmates this. Some of them were struggling with prereading, while I had not even considered cracking the book. None of us had a productive preclass experience, and we will now be following the approx. 5 minute rule going forward.

Med Surg class went well. I  like what I’ve seen of this instructor. I think she’s very knowledgeable and experienced. My RN year of Med Surg has the potential to be better than my LPN year was for a couple reasons; I have at least heard of this information before, and it’s more interesting to me now. I was young when I took my LPN classes; really young, just like some of these girls. I don’t remember being quite so cocky though. Just because you know a lot for your young age, doesn’t mean you know a lot . I think some of these younger girls have a lot of maturing to do. They think they have it all figured out, so I will be watching them closely on the clinical floors. The purest form of entertainment. Comedy had to start somewhere. I could be surprised by these ladies, however, and I realize that successfully completing nursing school is no small feat.

My theoretical strategy on the clinical floor will be the attempt to balance humility, confidence, and the actual degree of caring on a professional level, while being cold hearted personally. What I do as a graduated RN will be my decision, but until then I need to reflect what this school, and these instructors are looking for.

-Looking for

Day 3. I got myself pretty worked up today. I know I should never allow myself to become worked up, especially over nothing more than the first week frustrations of “figuring it out”, but I did. I was on the online program for testing and quizzing etc….. and I spent about 2 hours going through the lessons that are posted. They were on note taking, basic study skills and yes verbs apparently. That’s when I lost my cool. “Which of these verbs means that you should describe different points of view?” What difference does it make? There is no such verb that describes all of that without the sentence. If there IS such a word, only an English professor could find it. Am I in nursing school or not????? Choose your college wisely people. That is all I can say. You get locked in where you are because you don’t want to repeat or take different prerequisites somewhere else just to be accepted into the program you really want to be in. Changing colleges costs you a lot of time and money if it’s not done the smart way! So I was locked in to this college and I stressed all summer about the program I don’t want to be apart of, however I want my RN and I want to be a good nurse. The only upside to this that I can see right now is that IF I pass this, there’s a huge track record of previous graduates being top nurses. I guess the more BS you put up with, and the more soul sucking you go through, the better nurse you will be. So congratulations to this college for providing such a TOP of the line program. Now I’m wondering if these petty assignments are required or not, but when you’re new to a system and they don’t give you any training on it because LPNs from their school already know what they’re doing; those bogus assignments look legit. I stopped trying to do these, obviously because I have actual nursing things to learn like what to do when someone’s lab values are off.  The only thing that has saved my day was when another RN student invited me to her house down the road, and we were able to study some together. I am already so thankful for her, and I think we will be good friends. After that I feel ok again. I guess I’ll be alright . -I’ll be alright

Day 2. No scheduled classes, just online homework. Getting my barings and reviewing my LPN skill sets. Our RN hospital check-off lists are outrageously long and precise. I know I didn’t sign up to be a surgeon, and my IQ is more than likely  south of 200, so it will be a miracle if I can remember all of this! I better be praying!

I spent a few hours today trying to scratch the surface of the surface. I’ve printed off 4 of 6 syllabus’s, (which is a lot for having “9” credit hours this semester don’t you think?) I’ve made 1 discussion post, turned in a 10 question hmwk assignment and finished a few practice questions online. Tomorrow I will be taking a serious look at the costly online program we are working with.

I am so glad to have a good friend in the LPN classes….. We are able to support each other though our journeys are on different parallel paths. I might convince her to be a guest blogger in the future!

– The future

Today the wonderful, dreaded, sought after, and stressed over RN classes began. I drove up to the college, and had a mental flash forward of the last time I’d ever see it’s ugly walls. I long for that day to be here already,  but I understand the perilous risk of pulling on your life’s string, and not being content in the moment.

This first day back has been a brand new experience mixed with the faint whisper of a younger LPN. Every other second I wonder “Can I do this?” “Is this possible and realistic for me to complete?” “Will I pass? or waste my time and money like so many others?” The odd seconds are filled with “Ok, this isn’t so bad” , “I can get through this”, and “I remember this.”

Will I remember this?

Certain events in life shift an uncomfortable magnifying glass our way. Nursing school is one of those things. Most people squirm around and get all anxious (myself included) and a few bust out in flames. There are very few exceptions to this rule. Inner-reflection is never fun, and today I found myself to be a little too outspoken, at times, and even borderline aggressive. I need to dial it down. I like the one teacher I’ve met so far, and I wouldn’t want to come off wrong while on my first impression probation. I’m an outsider to this college, and to this state. Everything is vastly unusual around here.

Walking away from this revisited college diet I overheard a class mate mutter “how do you like the new girl?” Another replied “She’s an odd ball” they agreed “yea”. I wondered if this bothered me…. It didn’t for several reasons. 1. I’m not here to make friends, 2. these people know, actually less than, nothing about me, and 3. if I’m odd because of my mannerisms, my physical characteristics, etc… then we’re all odd. They’d also be delusional to think they’re above the cut, which is funny to me. Who cares what other people think. I will tone the outspokenness down because I’m annoying myself, and it’s valid that I wouldn’t wish to unnerve my instructors, whom I want to respect and learn from; but I will not change for anyone but myself.

I hope the secret to passing this program is to keep organized and move forward. Years ago my student success teacher announced the advice she’d been given, “If you can’t get it all done, get something done.” – Get something done

This blog is dedicated to nursing and medical students/staff.

If only more people could glimpse our view behind the scrubs…..