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Nursing Journey

By Michelle Reardon posted 07-14-2017 09:38

  

Okay, so I am not a blogger by any means- but I am going to try to keep up on this so that I have something to reflect on my nursing journey. 
Currently I am repeating my second semester Health Restoration course, so I think I am hoping this will help me keep my goal in mind for the long hall. I sit here today and reflect on the past eighteen and a half months. It has inspired me to share my nursing education journey.
Rewind:

*Semester One*

So I passed my first semester of nursing school. Let me repeat that, I passed my first semester of nursing school. I am not going to lie, this semester has been hell. Not only this semester, but all of 2016, was just a mess. 

I did all of my pre-requisites at a community college and got an A in almost every class. I took my entrance exam in November of 2015. Early January 2016 I got the letter saying I would have a spot as long as I passed my last semester of pre-reqs. First nursing journey obstacle- January 2016 fiancée leaves me and moves out. Yeah, you read that right, just as the semester that I needed to pass started, I got hit with that. That left me and my four year old. This meant a whole new level of help needed. I worked full time and was enrolled in school full time. I needed help with my son. I hated the idea of asking for help.

Thank God for my parents, they helped me with my son when I needed to do something for school. Thank God for my brother and sister in law who helped me with books. Thank God for basically most of my family for all of the support emotionally and otherwise. This semester I took microbiology class and lab, CPR, medical ethics, developmental psych, and pathophysiology. I met some of my first close school companions. A gentleman in my lab helped me all of the time when I needed moral support. A woman in my micro class ended up being an old friends sister. I took CPR with a girl who was in my abnormal psych class the semester before and she let me cry on her shoulder for two weeks over my break up. Another guy in my CPR class recognized me from a photo from my online literature class. My CPR instructor even turned out to be my brothers friend from a local fire hall. All sorts of support- and boy did I need it.

I made it thru that semester with a 3.26. I don’t know how I did it. I spent most of it either spending time with my son, working, or when my son was gone with his father I drank and tried to date. Notice the “tried”. Thankfully I got my letter of acceptance by mid June. I straightened up a lot over the summer. I got my mind right about school, I didn’t drink as much, I met a guy who I saw thru the summer who was super nice and supportive--didn't last long now that I'm looking back ha, and my son got ready for his first year of pre k. My boss at work helped me set up using vacation time to be able to go to classes. Things looked up. I was excited for my new journey. I worked all summer on the homework that had been mailed to us to do before orientation.

I was late for orientation. What a first impression. Then I left early because my baby sitter needed me home by 9, another awesome impression. My schedule was set though: professionalism, medication essentials, assessment class and lab, and nursing fundamentals class and clinical. Small preview of how two weeks looked for me, they repeated this way all semester and did not include any life events or doctor’s appointments, you get the picture:

DAY

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

WK 1

Work 8-4

Class 5-8
kid home

Work 8-5
kid home

Work 8-5
kid visit, home 9pm

Work 8-4
Class 7-9
kid home

Work 8-4
Class 5-9
kid home

WK2

Work 8-4
Class 5-8
kid home

Work 8-4
Clin 5-11
kid home

Work 8-4
Class 5-8
kid visit, home 9pm

Work 8-4
Class 5-8
kid home

Work 8-4
Class 5-9
kid visit

Kid visit

Kid visit

Classes started in August and by week three I was too stressed out with baby daddy drama, missing the stability of my ex fiancée, my sons schooling, my schooling, and my work to keep up with dating someone. I ended up walking away from that. I started doing well in school and even enjoyed clinical rotations.

Semester snapshot:
-Medication essentials was one of my favorite classes. We got to practice all of the injections here. I got a B- in the class, not perfect but it made me happy. I felt like I really understood what was going on. I passed the college lab testing for this too!
-Professionalism: I met my favorite professor. She was so realistic about everything. No sugar coating. Ended with an A-.
-Assessment class and lab: So much information in such a short time frame but I learned a lot.  Ended with a B- which I will gladly take, I heard a lot of people failed this class.
-Nursing fundamentals: This class was taught by three different instructors. Talk about a new set up for me. Instructor A is also my advisor. She also taught medication essentials. Instructor B was an awesome older women who taught with notes and amazing stories. I never really had to study what she covered- she was that amazing. Instructor C literally read off a power point the whole time. It was awful. Clinicals are included in this class and I had a different instructor for that. Instructor D. It was her first time teaching clinical. My patients where awesome. Every- single- one taught me something different: (obviously I cant share specific details of why it taught me the lesson--HIPPA) Ended this class with a B.

**Semester Two**

I was so ready to start! I was excited. I had an awesome group of nursing friends and the best boss ever! 
That lasted for all of two week.

They removed my position with my company and moved me to a position paying about $4 less an hour. **extra stress**

I met someone in the new position though and started hanging out. It was nice to have someone around again, but I gave it too much attention and too much priority while I was in class. Lesson learned. 

My son played hockey while he was in school, thankfully it was just a Saturday morning thing. 

Here is a view of my new schedule:

DAY

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

WK 1

Work 8-4 Class 5-8
kid home

Work 8-5
Lab 7-9
kid home

Work 8-5
Lab 7-9
kid visit, home at 9pm

Work 8-4
Class 5-9
kid home

Work 8-5

kid home

hockey

WK2

Work 8-4
Class 5-8
kid home

Work 8-4
Clin 5-11
kid home

Work 8-4
Clin 5-11
kid visit, home 9pm

Work 8-4
Class 5-9
kid home

Work 8-4

kid visit

hockey

Kid visit

Kid visit

--during Feb I had maternity clinicals every Friday from 5-11--

Here is a snapshot of what I was taking:

Health restoration: This class was taught by one professor for the lecture. It was also composed of a seminar and lab, both with different instructors. The clinical had a different instructor. I loved clinical this semester. Sure- I had a ridiculously tough teacher, but I did so much more this semester with my skills. Sadly I ended this class with a C-. I cried for days. My four exam grades: C-, B-,B, B+. I am the only one out of my group of friends who did not make it.

Maternity: This class was okay. I ended with a B-. Pregnancy and infants are def not what I want to specialize in, but I learned a lot and had a wonderful instructor. You would think for having an child of my own I would have been more in tune with this specialty. 

Medication essential 2: This was a continuation of the class last semester. Ended with a B-. My instructor was an awesome person who really cared that we did our best. 

**Present**

I am still working for the same company (it's killing me slowly). I have talked to that guy for awhile from here, but he isn't looking for anything right now- surprise with all the attention I gave it, and doesn't work with me anymore. Its been a few months now, but I'm not holding my breath with the whole no title thing. I did actually go on a date the other day. I'm not focusing too hard on anyone while in school. 

I am taking Philosophy online. My one friend from school is also in the class with me so it is nice. We are three papers in and I have 9/10 9/10 and 8/10. I will take it. 

Hunter graduated pre-k and did above average in all of the evaluations. 

I am starting a study outline to start for my re-do of semester two. I am starting this next week. I will not fall behind again. 

**Semester Two Re-do**

Just Health Restoration 1 with all of its encompassing parts (lab, class, seminar, clinical, and sim lab). God please give me the strength to push thru. 

The new schedule snapshot:

DAY

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

WK 1

Work 8-Class 5-8
kid home

Work 8-5
Lab 7-9
kid home

Work 8-5
Lab 7-9
kid visit, home at 9pm

Work 8-5
kid home

Work 8-5

kid home

WK2

Work 8-4
Class 5-8
kid home

Work 8-4
Clin 5-11
kid home

Work 8-4
Clin 5-11
kid visit, home 9pm

Work 8-5

Work 8-5

kid visit

Kid visit

Kid visit



I am excited to share my journey and keep my focus! 

4 comments
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Comments

08-28-2017 13:40

I tell myself " Just keep swimming" I finally graduated my LPN. Failed Med Surg in 3rd Q. This put me behind as well. It financially destroyed me. 
Being older and going back to school was so hard. I spent my first Q feeling like I was everyone's mother's age. In the end, age was of no relevance. My besties are of all ages from 18 on up. I have met so many nice people. I must say that Nursing school made me a different person. Next wed is my NCLEX, please pray for me. I am scared. ~ Katie

07-28-2017 10:34

Thank you for sharing with such truth and transparency. Nursing school is difficult, then add in the stresses of "life" and suddenly you feel ready to meltdown at any moment. I am beginning my senior year, semester 4 of 5. For the first few semesters I measured my mental stability on how far into the semester I made it before breaking down. First semester, I made it to week 4; second semester week 5, and third semester week 2! I lean heavily on my family, friends, and faith to get me through. I remind myself this cycle of nursing school craziness is temporary and I am going to be an AWESOME nurse. Please keep us posted on your progress, I am cheering for you! I would love to hear from others about their journey through nursing school, too. You can do this!

07-28-2017 08:59

Hi Michelle,

Keep pushing through. Nursing school is hard. I also failed a class in my last semester, med surg which set me back a year and I didn't graduate with my class. But after giving it my all I graduated this May. I have two daughters and I felt so guilty for missing out so much but it was only for a short time. Good luck with school and work. P.S. sounds like you have such a great support system.

Best of luck,

Denise

07-27-2017 12:24

Michelle, thank you so much for sharing these blog posts! You're a talented writer, and I appreciate your honestly as you delve far further into just saying "nursing school is hard." You provide a raw picture of what it's like to balance a life with school that I think a lot of us can relate to. Keep it coming!!! We can't wait to hear more from you.