Seems like a lot of us like Instagram! If any of you have it, I’d love to follow you-. My instagram name is LisaOU11. Hit me up, please!
If you haven’t noticed, I’ve had a short break from Nursing School. I had all of the intentions of posting a few times a day, but sometimes, our best intentions don’t always make things happen.
I’ve literally been enjoying time spent with the dogs outside. I’ve walked them for hours a day just enjoying myself and my freedom. After that, I spend a little time with some weights, and then I plop myself on the couch and watch Mad Men. I’m finally on Season 4. The end is near.
I’ve had a few days to reflect upon my first semester of Nursing School. I am extremely pleased with how I did.
Considering an A is considered a 93, I’ll take what I got and be happy about it.
Throughout this semester, I’ve learned a thing a two about starting something new, experiencing new challenges, and how to get through Nursing School.
1. Make Friends: This is key. You better make friends and fast. Make a friend at orientation—as early as you can. I feel at home with my friends in Nursing School. They can make me laugh. They let me bitch. And most of all, they support me.
2. Lean on those friends: Part of being an adult is using the resources you have at your disposal. This goes for Nursing School…use your friends. Break up study guides. Help each other with learning medications. Offer to help each other when a concept or skill isn’t understood. Practice on each other (we even gave each other injections). You won’t be able to make it through school without friends.
3. My thoughts on Accelerated Programs: The material isn’t hard, but it’s quick. You have to learn a lot in an incredibly short amount of time. Be prepared to feel behind and inadequate. Just do the best you can and take it one step at a time.
4. Care Plans: Care plans are the pits. No, really…they are. If you are a soon-to-be Nursing Student, just accept the fact that you will be up late into the night working on these. They are beneficial and you do learn a lot from them, but that doesn’t make them fun. Again, rely on your friends to help you with these. Work together and laugh and it will make it that much more fun.
5. Hospitals: My three weeks in the hospital were eye-opening. I loved every minute, but it’s overwhelming. You truly see everything wrong with our health care system. However, you also see the power of a great nurse. That goes the same for a horrible nurse. Nurses really matter and affect a patient’s health and attitude.
6. Medications: The amount of medications these patients are on is a scary thing. Patients on at least 30 medications is not that uncommon. There is something wrong with that–there are other ways to treat things, but our medical system turns straight to the medications. (I need to write a whole post on this). I’ve realized that half of a nurses’s job is passing out medications all day and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
7. Injections: Love giving them. Enough said.
I only have twelve months of school left and I plan to savor every moment—even the horrible ones.
I’ve realized there is a lot I won’t like about Nursing, but at the end of the day, it feels amazing to help someone who is in pain. I feel good about myself at the end of the day. Sometimes a patient just needs to talk and sort out feelings, and I love being able to listen when they need it.
One more year and I’ll officially be a nurse.
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Rock on girl! What a fabulous 1st semester =) So impressive!
WhooooHooooo – you are awesome!!!! This year will be over before you know it and then you can begin your career and the rest of your life and land where ever it takes you.
There are NO certainties in life except that we are all gong to die someday so live each day and don’t worry so much:)
Wow look at those grads. You should be so proud! And i absolutely cringe at the thought of anything needle related so if I ever need an injection or blood drawn, I’m going to fly you up to Pittsburgh, k?
Oh, I remember that very well Brynnly in our sales training. And fly me to Pittsburg anytime…I’ll come!
Love this post, since I hope to be a future nursing student. All this insight is appreciated! I also love the fact that you realized the amount of medications people are on in the hospital is not normal. Most people in the medical field accept that it is the norm and never have a second thought about it. Our job is to question everything we see and hear in order to know whether the information we are told is morally right, wrong, true or false. I see a lot of people who go into the medical field that never question the system, and they should! I’m not sure if you have heard about stainslaw burzysnki or the burzynski clinic, but they recently came out with a documentary on his efforts in fighting the FDA with his groundbreaking pharmaceutical to cure cancer. He has even cured brain cancers that have been thought to be fatal in modern medicine. The best part about his medicine is that there are no harmful side effects, unlike chemo and radiation. I seriously encourage you to check it out. He has been fighting the FDA for 30 years to keep antineoplastons available to cancer patients, because quite honestly chemo and radiation are outdated and extremely toxic to the body.
Congrats on the awesome grades! These next 12 months will fly by, I’m sure. I am interested to hear more about the program and your experiences so keep sharing!
awesome job!!
Good job Lisa!
Thank you so much Lisa for a such a great recap of Nursing School. I’ve been thinking about starting the process of applying for Nursing School and have been wondering if it’s the career for me. Using all of this information helps greatly and I’d love to hear every single detail about Nursing School as you experience it
p.s. Great job!
Congrats on the first semester, you did awesome! Enjoy the break!
Congrats on being done with one semester!
Wow, smarty pants!
I’m glad you spent your extra time living rather than blogging. We’ll be here whenever.
You will be done before you know it!
Congrats! You should be really proud of yourself.
I write an exam on Saturday and than I’m done for a month or so. I’m heading home (northern Ontario) for about 10 days and plan to do a lot of sitting on my moms deck, drinking too much beer and taking afternoon naps in the sun. I find being a student that I REALLY take advantage of my time off because it’s so rare and treasured.
Woot woot! Congrats
. That feeling of being done with my first semester and then first year of grad school was amazing! You did so well! That’s awesome!
good job on the grades – keep them up. In this shitty economy where hospitals dont like to hire new grad nurses, grade could put you ahead of someone else so keep them up! I love giving injections too so much fun haha
Sometimes, however, tons medications are needed because people won’t take the steps (i.e. living better, exercising, etc) to get off of them. If it takes 5 different BP meds to get my patient’s pressure into a range where we’re not causing damage to the heart & kidney’s, you better believe I’m fighting them to take all five of those BP meds… in addition to their 3 cholesterol meds… and 3 diabetes pills. You’ve got to do your best as a practitioner to keep your patients the healthiest you can with the resources you have. Would I like them to be able to come off the meds? Of course, I don’t get paid for prescribing medications. But, unfortunately, medications are the main resources that practitioners can rely on to keep their patients alive.
-Your friendly Nurse Practitioner reader
Woohoo! Way to go, Lisa:) I can definitely see how making some good friends would make or break it!
Congrats! So proud of you!
Nice job on the first semester done and out of the way! Good luck on the next one!
Awesome job on your first semester! I am starting nursing school in just a couple of weeks and I hope I can do as well you have done! I love reading all of your post about nursing school…they get me so excited about starting school!
You killlled your first semester, Lisa! 3 A’s and one B is OUTSTANDING.! Way to show nursing school whos boss =)
I love what you’ve been learning- it seems intense yet it has so many fun and interesting topics with lots of hands on learning! Good luck with the rest of the courses!!! <3
xoxo
congrats on finishing your first semester! Nursing school can’t be easy, but it looks like you did AMAZING!
wow, you did really great with school. Congrats!
I will follow you on instragram
Congrats, lady! I agree that you savor that year, it will be over before you know it!
Congratulations on completing your first semester!
I have recently started a new job and making friends and suddenly become very important again! Reminds me of being back at uni…!
Congrats on your grades! You did great! I think you should be so proud! These next 12 months will go by so quickly. You will be a nurse before you know it!
Wow, that semester went FAST! Great job with your grades! I’m so proud of you….not only for what you’ve achieved but also for taking the first step to start the program. I’m sure the next year is going to move like lightening. You deserve every second you enjoyed relaxing!
Awesome Lisa! I am so proud of you!!!!
Damn girl!!! Congratulations!
Great job Lisa! So proud of you.
)
I could not image having to take all those meds. This is why I am losing weight the healthy way and getting into shape inside and out now. I don’t want to die at 47 like my mom or be like my dad’s side and have a heart attack by the age 50. I am too close to that to take that chance. Can’t wait to see you again (I will be the lean one that looks like the chubby one I used to be
You’re going to make a wonderful nurse, Lisa. I know you will, and congrats on the grades!
I agree with you on medications…that’s the first thing that most doctors do first: hand out medication like it’s the only thing that’ll work. I only take it when I’m desperate. lol I remember the nurses trying to push Lortab on me after I had Hannah. Push push push. No thanks…I stuck with a Motrin. I feel like meds make things worse in the long run.
Well done Lisa! xx
Big congrats to you on such awesome grades in your 1st semester! Hard work sure pays off.
Awesome job Lisa! Your hard work is paying off- this next year will fly!
Congratulations on your first semester! I understand the whole medication thing – it’s a fine line. My father takes many and wouldn’t be alive without them. The ones I take are necessary – but I am trying to be healthier naturally so I don’t take any more…. where do you draw the line? I trust my doctor and she knows how I feel, so I’ll start with her.
I am a Sooner fan! I actually live in Oklahoma! Love your blog!
You go girl! Congrats on finishing a semester with flying colors!
Congratulations sweets! People forget it’s not easy being a student.
CONGRATS Lisa on an AWESOME first semester!! PLEASE sit back & relax- you deserve it!!
Congrats!!
I dont like giving shots, but Ill start an IV in a second!
It is so great to hear how passionate you are about nursing! How exciting to think about all the lives you will touch by being a positive presence during someone’s vulnerable time.
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