Month Eight is Finally Over!

Today was our final for MusculoSkeletal Class. This has probably been the hardest class I have had to date. I had to study! I passed the final with 100% today which gave me a 4.0 in the class. So, thanks to the good Lord above and some sweat equity on my part my GPA is still a 3.9!

After the final, we all hung around class and waited for our grade. Then we had plans to go to Hacienda for a celebration. The Fab 5 plus 2 meet for drinks and lunch. We had the best time. We let our hair down, laughed and celebrated and forgot about books for a few hours. Following are a few of my favorite photos!

Last Week, Month Eight

OMG! I can't beleive I haven't blogged in awhile. I was trying to, but got frustrated because I kept erasing everything by accident. Anyway. SO MUCH DRAMA!!!!!!! I am at my witts end with some of these people.

Some questions I have been pondering and stewing about: Why does drama always follow women? Why do certain people think they are so much better than others? Why do certain people think they deserve special considerations? Enough of that.

This month's clinicals has been one of my better experiences. Great clinical instructor, I learned so much from her. I sure hope I can have her sometime in my next seven months again. I finally feel very comfortable doing my physical assesment, pain assesment, and passing meds. So much fun. You just know when something is a great fit for you and your life! This is mine passion. What a way to be able to give back to so many people and pay it forward.

I will be back in Theory Class with my original class next month. This is very exciting. Although, I have moved on and made additional friends, I wonder how things will fit in now. I will be in Needs of the Older Adult for February. I am excited to continue to move forward with my education. I am in love with learning and discovering new talents that I have. I am evolving in my middle age!

So far this has been an intense class, with lots to learn and the instructor is awesome, but tests are hard!!!!!!!!!!!! I appreciate her test style, because I have learned to critically think while testing. I know that she has helped me tremendously with my confidence in taking the NCLEX. So Jane, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and can't wait to have you continue to teach me. Oh, Wise Woman, teach me all you know. My brain has so many open pages for you to fill!!!

Clinical Day #2

A great day was almost had by all!!! We passed meds today and I loved it. It was as if I had been doing it all along. I was all nerved up for absolutely no reason! I tracked my patient down and did not let her out of sight until my mission had been accomplished!

I attended her Movers and Shakers excercise class with her today and I felt pretty good after we were done. This is something I need to do every day. It only took 15 minutes and I felthe

Snow Day

Today, was a snow day. I spent practically every waking moment yesterday studying for the test I was going to have today and school was cancelled. I mean, come on, 14 inches of snow and -20 degrees! What's up with that? lol

All lecture notes have been posted on my e class. I have to go to school tomorrow morning to see if I can print them off. I am not really very adept at studying with notes still on the computer. I love my computer. I have a Toshiba lap top and I love it. I have had some trouble with it, but hey, my son in law is a computer genius. This is so helpful. I am becoming fairly able to stand my ground with the computer.

I sold some of my books in December. I sold about $400 worth of books for $50 bucks. Can you believe it? I should have just kept them, but I needed to buy Christmas gifts for the grand babies. Yep, I am experiencing the whole poor college student thing. I am still waiting to hear about my interview with the hospital last week. They told me it is a long process, but I still would like my instant gratification!

Barely cracked a book all day and I still have my care plan for clinical on Monday to do. I found out my clinical instructor is the toughest one at the college. I am very nervous about this. She is a real stickler, so the story goes. I am hoping to learn allot from her. I think I need another class on time management!

Well, my whole class is freaking out about the test on Wednesday. Glad I am not the only one! Just have to stay one or more steps ahead of the instructor!!!

Holy Crap Batman, That Was a Slap In The Face!

Well, it happened and my instructor won. Just this first round though. I took my first test of the month yesterday and it blew me away!! I knew it was going to be an issue when I stuttered on the very first questions. Oh my goodness! Now don't get me wrong, I didn't flunk, in fact, I did pass, however, way below my normal standard of test passing! Let's just say at this very moment, I am tittering on a very fine line between an A and a B. Gasp!

I can understand my instructor's point of view. She wants us to concentrate on the information and learn it and not be so focused on the grade. Well, I have to tell you, I have been physically nauseous since I saw my grade. She told me last month when she was my clinical instructor that she was going to break my GPA wide open. I didn't think I let her get to me, but obviously I did. I am not the only one in my class to have been slapped in the face with our instructors philosophy. I respect her and I know that I am going to learn mega information from her, also, since she will be my instructor next month, I will have her number as well. I will show her and myself that I can do this and do it well!

On a happier note, my interview at a local hospital went very well last week. They told me that hiring is a very lengthy process and I know that to be a fact. However, it still doesn't take care of the anxious feeling that I have in the very pit of my stomach. I really need this job, but so many questions are brought to the surface. Can I do work and school? I guess it will be a YOU HAVE TO DO WORK AND SCHOOL in my present situation.

I have to stop blogging now and hit the books, there is a test tomorrow! Ugh!!!!

New Month!

Here I am in my eighth month of school. Can't believe I only have seven more to go! Whew! These upper classes are killers! My first clinical was awesome. I am excited for this month to unfold. So many new experiences and skills to gain! We pass meds this month! Clinical group is going to be good as the Fab Five are still together! The facility is very nice and I am looking forward to having different patients each week, even though it means a new care plan each week, which is going to be a heavy load on top of theory class and other studying which will need to be done!

I must now vent and move to a tad negative. Why is it that those students who can't seem to make it though school without illegal "colaborating" and not making it to class on time or leaving early seem to take on an air of "holier than thou"? One classmate even has the nerve to say one group talks too much, changes clinical days and then has the nerve, to show up at least four hours late on the first day of school, take up the time when we should be moving forward with the lecture to have things repeated for them? In fact, we actually, got through way more material while this person was not in class and then they have the nerve to say people talk too much and take up "learning" time. WHATEVER!!!!!!!!!!! Don't ask for my help, it ain't coming your way!

On a happier note, I had a great job interview today at the hospital which I seriously would love to get my foot in the door at! The first interview went to well that I immediately had my second interview! The more I am exposed to Health Care, the more in love I fall!

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!!!!!!!!!!!! Month Eight

Well, Christmas has come and Christmas has gone. The New Year has been rung in! Up next will be my wedding anniversary, my 33rd wedding anniversary. How can that possibly be?

Anyhow, I am soooooo ready to go back to school, yet, I have some trepidation. My first day this month will be clinicals. It will be a 12 hour day with a one hour drive on each end of the 12 hour day. Yes, I am going an hour way from home for clinicals, in January, in Northern Indiana. Crazy!

We will be having a brand new clinical instructor. My last experience with a clinical instructor that was brand new, was not. . . . . . . . .let's say, rewarding. I am now into the real "meat" of my nursing school. This month is Musculo-Skeletal. A schedule change this month, Clinicals on Monday, Theory on Wednesdays and Fridays. I wonder just how much study time I really am going to require. There are lots of thoughts rolling around in my now, somewhat, cobweb filled head. I can't have too much time off, I'm too old!

I am ready to go back to school and have been since, about, oh, say, Monday of this week. I am ready to get on the ball and finish these last eight months. Seven months of classes and one month of preceptorship! Let's go, Kimmie, Here We Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!