Posts

Nursing School & A Job

Image
A combination that probably shouldn't be made but often is! I have now joined the club of working nursing students. I started a health care job, I am taking care of an older woman who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and suffered from a stroke. The hours are long but I feel like the experience is worth it! I got the chance to administer feed and medication through a PEG tube. I got to transport her from her bed to her wheelchair using a Hoyer lift which really eliminated the change of self-injury. I also got the chance to do range of motion exercises and speech therapy. I am so excited about this job and the amount of information and skills which I am learning but I am also afraid of the effect that it will have on my grades. I want this job opportunity to be a positive in my life. I am writing this after a 13-hour shift, exhausted but I know assignments need to be completed! I hope that I can dedicate the weekdays to school and studying and not have to worry ab...
Post a Comment
Read more

Finish Strong

Image
The semester is coming to an end FAST! there is only a little over a month left which is full of testing. We have our third tests for Med-Surg and Pathopharmocology, ATI testing, and Finals. I feel like getting overwhelmed is bound to happen at some point. I have not been overly motivated or focused recently because I have had the worst case of Spring fever. However, I have a couple tips that I have been implementing for the last couple of weeks which has really helped.  1. Early Productivity  I always make my bed as soon as I wake up which makes me feel productive, which then most of the leads to doing other productive things, like notes or blogs lol productivity leads to productivity!  2. Treat Yourself  whether that is a glass of wine with a movie or video games. I like to treat myself by taking the time to do facials, watching a youtube video and drinking a cup of coffee. It's not healthy to constantly be studying or working so...
1 comment
Read more

The Reality is...

Image
The tests are getting WAY harder.  I've come to realize that the study habits I had in High school and community college are not gonna cut it in nursing school. I use to barely ever study for my exam instead I would just review the night before and do fine. However, the Pathopharmocology exam made me realize that if I didn't change my study habits I wasn't gonna be in the program much longer. I studied more than I usually did for the Med-Surg exam and felt like I knew all the material well. I submitted my last answer and when saw my grade and my heart dropped.                                I couldn't understand how I got a low grade after studying. I began to study earlier for the pediatrics exam and reviewed with a group of people in the library. I got to the library at 8 A.M. the day of the exam to review. Honestly, I was nervous that the same thing was gonna happen that happened ...
3 comments
Read more

The Reward

Image
Clinical Experience  The difficulty of nursing school was made significantly clear to everyone at all points leading up to the day we actually started. The material, lectures, and assignments leave you wondering, " should I change my major?!" I have sat through a couple of lectures and have understood absolutely nothing! I would just end up nodding my head yes and hoping that I wasn't asked a question  😂😂 However, my first clinical experience really provided reassurance that I had chosen the right career choice. The clinical experience of Med-Surg and Pediatrics is very different but so rewarding. I got to help feed an older gentleman who was incapable of doing it on his own and it was amazing to feel like I was actually helping an individual. The clinical experience at CHOP is amazing! I got to learn so much about pediatric pneumonia and got to first hand observe symptoms I read about in real life. I am the first to complain about how much stud...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stay Motivated

How I Stay Motivated  I sometimes find it difficult to stay motivated in the midst of all the lectures, notes, and assignments. Social media platforms are a huge distraction. Social media also serves as a window into the "lives" of other individuals. It is extremely difficult to stay motivated when you see your friend's Instagram post in the Virgin Island while you're sitting in a 2-hour pharmacology lecture! However, I don't really think doing a " social media detox" is really an effective way to stay focused because I ultimately end up back on the apps by the end of the day.  I use social media as a way to stay motivated. Youtube is an application I use constantly whether it is on my phone, laptop, or tv. I found a youtube account which is owned by a Nursing student in an Accelerated Nursing Program. Holley Rojek just recently graduated from her program but has given incredibly insightful advice and inspiration in previous videos. Holley also touc...
1 comment
Read more