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Semester Two, Round Two Comes to an End

By Michelle Reardon posted 12-18-2017 10:34

  

Semester two, round two, has officially come to an end! Oh and guess what, I'm still a nursing student!!! I passed and I am moving on to semester three in my program.

Thank fully my new job helped me with financials (removing some of that extra stress I had last semester). 

This semester was all over the place, I mean really it was crazy. Our instructor, I had the same one last semester, was being investigated because of the amount of failures and complaints that she had from the last semester and the first two tests that were administered. Clinical was always a "guess and see" show because the floor we had was not always receptive to student nurses on the floor. Oh and I started that new job in September right after the semester started. 

Exams this semester,  90 (b+) 75 (c), 90 and another 75. 

Things were all over the place with her teaching this semester. Things that were hard last semester were easy this semester and vice versa. But when it came down to the final exam I only needed a 55 to pass the course, and I ended up getting a 73. My final grade was a 81.25 (c+), I thought I had failed again so let me tell you the relief I had. So much that I actually cried. Cried probably as much as when I did when I failed last semester. As a matter of fact, all of my friends made it to third with me. 

Clinical was always something. I had literally a great clinical group, the best partner, and an amazing instructor. The floor was not always receptive of us, however I have to say when we did have the staff that welcomed us we had some really good times. 
First week--got to experience peritoneal dialysis.. It was AMAZING! I mean we only got to watch, but it was a really cool thing to see. 

By the third week I successfully started an IV with just the nurse watching. I was sooo excited. I was the first one in my group to get it in successfully. It was a really good feeling. 

I had an experience with a patient with a new diagnosis that they were unhappy with. (HIPPA) Cant say any specifics, but in general this was a really good way to expand my sensitivity and understanding of how someone accepts a diagnosis. 

Our instructor was a graduate from out program many years before, so she was very helpful and a good resource to have especially with having out class instructor under investigation. 

I did a really good job with asking for more help from my parents and my brother for study time. I separated my personal life almost completely except for a few exceptions. I did go on a date with someone from my new job--big mistake and it didn't last long. And then I met a guy who is an advanced emt and is nothing but excited to see me succeed and wiling to help me if there is anything he can help me with. 

My son is doing really well in kindergarten, but he did quit hockey spontaneously, yesterday actually. So we are currently in a huge disagreement about that. He has a christmas play this week and went to his first group friend birthday party. All of his christmas stuff has been purchased and I cant wait to enjoy this time with nights off to hang out with him. 

Now we are on to third semester. I have a ton of reading that is due for the first day. I am starting that this week. It will either look something like this, 

DAY

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

WK 1

Work 8-4 Clinical 5-11 kid home

Work 8-4
class 5-9
kid home

Work 8-5
kid visit, home at 9pm

Work 8-4
Class 5-9
kid home

Work 8-4
Clinical 5-11 
kid home

WK2

Work 8-5
kid home

Work 8-4
Class 5-9
kid home

Work 8-5
kid visit, home 9pm

Work 8-4
Class 5-9
kid home

Work 8-5
kid visit

Kid visit

work 8-12

Kid visit

or like this, 

DAY

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

SUN

WK 1

Work 8-5 
kid home

Work 8-4
class 5-9
kid home

Work 8-5
kid visit, home at 9pm

Work 8-4
Class 5-9
kid home

Work 8-5
kid home

Clinical 7a-7p

WK2

Work 8-5
kid home

Work 8-4
Class 5-9
kid home

Work 8-5
kid visit, home 9pm

Work 8-4
Class 5-9
kid home

Work 8-5
kid visit

Kid visit

work 8-12

Kid visit


It is a possibility that the Saturday clinical may be on the weekend that Hunter is gone (and boy am I hoping that is the case), but I will not know until the first week of school. I will also have my pediatric clinical that I need to do at some point in the semester. 

I have to re-certify my CPR before the semester so here is to hoping my card comes in before that happens!

Have a good holiday season everyone 

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01-24-2018 04:07

hi there! I commend you with your efforts in nursing school. There is a lot in this post, but what I can relate to here is that I too, sat in my truck in the college parking lot after 3rd semester, put my head on the steering wheel and just sobbed. I passed that semester and on I went to the last. I graduated last December and took my NCLEX in Feb. After the NCLEX, again, I sat in my truck, head on steering wheel, but this time I didn't cry, I was just so exhausted and thrilled that I knew I passed! I have been working as an RN every since, at my local hospital. You got this! YOU ARE A NURSE!