Feature Friday: Tips For Your First Weeks In Nursing School

Happy Fri-YAY! I wanted to put together a blog post for all those who have just gotten started in Nursing School. Either those who are beginning their first few nursing classes or those who are coming back in to excel their degree or obtain a new one. Nursing school is TOUGH. It’s so much work, stress, and I honestly still kinda feel like ‘I’m in a bubble’. It’s getting better (especially since starting a real RN job), but it’s been a whirlwind the past 18 months.

Remember that you got into the program for a reason. It’s something that I CONTINUE to remind myself over and over again. It wasn’t a fluke, you have the potential to become a great Nurse. You already have so many tools in your belt to succeed.

One bad grade does not dictate anything. I have completed bombed quizzes or exams and I still passed with our 80% exam requirement. Maybe you had other stressors going on at the moment, or maybe you need to assess a different study technique. I didn’t always click with all of my professors-> which meant more ‘teaching myself’ and less relying on their lectures.

Find a study technique that works for you. This one took me almost 9 months to finally figure out. I always though that flash cards & extensive notes were my jam, but actually reading (& less notes) and talking through the patho helped me with every subject. While I can’t take back those 9 very stressful months of constant notecard making- I feel prepared to take future classes and succeed in them.

Find your study tribe and take time away from your books. Balance, self-care, & support from others is absolutely necessary. This really is the key (I believe) to everything in life-> you can’t do it alone and you certainly can’t take care of others if you can’t take care of yourself.
————————————————————————

-What tips do you have for new nursing students?
-What way do you learn and study best?

Feature Friday: How To Ace Your Online Classes

OK. I have most certainly taken a lot of online classes in my day (and yes, even before the pandemic)! I received my entire Masters degree from an online program, while also working an average of 45 hours a week, and then finished out my Nursing degree entirely online as well. It was TOUGH. Online classes are certainly not for everyone, but I’m here to say that you can do it. If you’re struggling, know that it is possible to thrive and succeed!

Tip 1: Adjust Your Attitude

Attitude is honestly a huge factor in whether or not you will succeed. If you believe it, you can achieve it. If you believe that it’s not a possibility or you don’t have enough time or you just can’t learn something online, then it’s not going to happen. Adjust your attitude now! Believe you can and you are honestly- halfway there.

Tip 2. Create a schedule that works for you.

Know when the best time for YOU is- that means when you study and thrive the most. I’m much more likely to be productive early in the morning and Friday afternoons? Forget about it. I create a schedule that works for me. I know that running and having breaks is vital to me getting things done, so I work my schedule around those things. I create a schedule (sometimes weekly, sometimes daily, sometimes monthly) and stick to it. I’ve found that if I start to become too flexible with my schedule, then I don’t take my work seriously enough and things do not get done. However, also know that things need to change from time-to-time and acknowledge that you do have the flexibility of “working from home”. Maybe I study an hour less today, but I can tack it onto the next day. It’s not the end-of-the-world and I can take advantage of the flexibility of online classes.

Tip 3. Find Your Study Space & Schedule Breaks

This took me a while to learn, but there are spaces in our home where I am super productive and others where I just do not get any work done. I know that when I’m at my “desk”, it’s serious study mode. I like to put my timer on my phone and have a clear space to get my work done. I’m much more likely to be distracted if I’m trying to eat breakfast, while also reviewing my notes. Multi-tasking doesn’t work for me (and honestly, it’s been shown that it doesn’t work for most people), so I set a timer for 50 minutes of dedicated study-time and then I go grab a snack for 10 minutes or get up and walk around. If I need to throw in some laundry, I know that I have time to do that during my break.

Tip 4. Have something outside of studying and classes that you enjoy doing.

Schedule your “me time” into your day. Whether it’s running, taking a bath, yoga, strength training, taking the dog for a walk, or reading for pleasure- make sure you have time in your day to do that. I’m more productive, happier, focused, and relaxed when I give myself some ‘me time’.

Tip 5. Be kind with yourself and adjust accordingly.

Know when you need a break or a day-off. It’s really easy to fall into a ‘I have to do: x, y, z today because I’m home’ vibe, however it’s not healthy and you’re putting yourself at-risk for burn-out. Give yourself a break and know when to call it quits for the day. Sometimes I take a run in the middle of the day when I find myself ‘glazing over’ or I take a longer lunch break to help reset my mind. Also- know when to ask for help from your professors or fellow classmates. If you’re struggling, then you’re most likely not alone. Reach out and ask for help. You’re paying good money for your classes and if you’re getting everything out of it that you want, then speak up.

My First Clinical Thoughts

I’ve been in my first clinical rotation at the hospital for the past month and thought it would be fun to share some things I’ve learned thus far. I had NO idea what to expect going into my first rotation (mine is medical-surgical) and honestly I’m really happy I didn’t have any expectations. It’s been nice to just go into things ‘blindly’ and just take a leap of faith each week (albeit, also kinda-really-terrifying). We had two simulation labs this summer that focused on both clinical procedures and patient assessments and now, we’re utilizing everything we learned on the hospital floor (supervised and guided).

Some of the things that I’ve loved thus far: how so-much-less-scary it was than I imagined - I was terrified the first 3 weeks of my clinical and finally, I realized that I’m actually really prepared for this next step! I was also really surprised at how much I really love it- it’s been so nice to finally feel like I’m ‘in my element’ and found something that I can be truly excited, challenged, and passionate about. I’m also really surprised at how much more I know than I thought I did! Those two labs this past summer taught me so much. They were really challenging, but I’m really thankful for them. I’m also surprised at how much I already know about reading patients charts, vitals, how to do the ‘little things that kinda seem scary’ like moving a patients bed/turning off their alarm/ assisting the patient with mobility etc.

SOURCE

Some things that I’ve been intimidated by: Going into the patient room by myself seemed real scary at first, but I’ve gotten ‘used’ to it. I’m still a bit scared, but I’m sure that will come with time! It’s also been intimidating being in the room with the team of doctors, however they are all so wonderful and supportive and value the nurses feedback - so nothing to be intimidated about there either! Just wandering around the hospital still seems a bit overwhelming (it’s HUGE!), but it’s already starting to feel more familiar which is nice.

I’m already surprised by: how much I’ve grown over the past month as both a person and a student nurse. I also cannot believe at how my patients and instructors have already changed how I ‘view’ the world- so much more empathetically and positively. I’m trying to spread those things like wildfire : )

Needless to say- I’m really excited to see where I’m at in the next month/ at the end of this clinical/ at the end of the program in August 2020!

————————————————————————————-

Any other student nurses (or used-to-be- student nurses) out there? I’d love to hear your experiences of your first clinical!

What It's Really Like Leaving Your Full Time, Salaried Job To Go Back To School

SO I’ve been ‘back to school’ for a little over a month now. I left my full-time, salaried job at the end of April and began classes full-time at the beginning of May. I also moved across the country from Colorado back to my home state, Maine into our family home (my great-grandfather built it)! Let me just start by saying that NONE of this has been ‘easy’ and I really will NOT sugar-coat it because honestly I feel like everyone that I’ve ever heard of that has made any of these decisions just glaze over all the crappy-parts to get to the happy-parts. If you’re looking for that then, maybe this isn’t the post for you because it’s about to get really honest. Before we get to all the tough-parts, here’s what I’m now seeing as my view most mornings when I study from home (this is nice, see!):

I didn’t decide to change careers overnight.

It’s been a LONG journey to get me to this point. I applied to Med School after receiving my undergraduate degree and have always been extremely passionate about working in the healthcare field. I’ve previously worked as an Orthodontic Assistant and went to school in (original hopes) of becoming a Physical Therapist. I won’t go into all of the details, but short story- none of it panned out. I also found a real passion for youth athletic programming and knew that a boost in my GPA would help my still dreams of going back to school to get my DPT or possibly DO degree, so I got my MBA in Sports & Recreation Management. I LOVED my schoolwork and learned so much. I’m 100% sure I’ll use it down the road in one way or another and it was also really beneficial when I was still running the Figure Skating program in Steamboat, CO.

SO, I guess long-story short, I started to dream of maybe going into Nursing was the perfect fit for me after I had a really really great experience with a Nurse Practitioner. She was AMAZING. After this encounter, I started thinking that I hadn’t had a BAD experience with any nurse and all of them were outdoorsy and had relatively flexible schedules and were obviously highly intelligent and had job security and I got along with any nurse that I met. I mulled this profession over for several years. I didn’t just want to apply to a program (especially now with all of those lovely student loans I have) if I wasn’t really sure this was for me. SO I finally decided to apply.

But, Why Move Very Far Away?

When I was looking to apply, honestly- Maine was really the only program that I even looked at (or even applied to!). Alex and I had been talking about ending up back in New England at some point (our entire family is in ME/VT/MA), so it just made sense (plus not having to pay rent was key if I was planning to go back to school). University of Southern Maine has an EXCELLENT nursing program, so I knew that if I got in I had to go. This was probably one of the easiest decisions throughout this journey.

How are you paying for all this?

Yes, I’m going to talk about money because honestly I don’t think most people DO. I always wonder how people go back to school after having all of these bills and remain unmarried and how do they afford it all?!? SO I’m kinda flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants with this one. I was able to save up some money to float me along for the Summer and as my classes wind down, I’ll be taking on a part-time job to pay for my bills and gas and food. I’m also currently teaching figure skating lessons, which helps. Honestly- this is one of the most stressful things surrounding going back to school. It’s so much easier when you’re younger (all around!), but I’m 29 and certainly no longer ‘one of the young ones’ in my class! I’m taking as little additional student loans as I can and hoping for a few scholarships that I’ve applied to. It’s helpful that this program is one year and then I’ll be able to apply to get my licensure. I wouldn’t go without saying that Alex and my mom have been super helpful with financial extras as well. I couldn’t continue to reach for my dreams without them!

Some things that I’ve found useful when cutting back on money:

• Packing lunches each day

• Limiting the ‘extras’ (Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts/ Purchasing less organic foods/ etc.)

• Evaluated any extra bills I have (reduced car insurance/ limiting electric bills etc.)

• Selling items that I no longer use (this was really easy since I had so many extra clothes still left in Maine that I no longer wanted/needed!)

So, Was It Scary?

Oh yeah, every step that I took to get to the first day of classes, first exam, first study-session, first round of books purchased was REALLY challenging and SCARY. If I let myself get easily deterred, then none of this would have happened. There were so many roadblocks, set-backs, wrong-turns, but I just keep moving along. Some days were frustrating, everything costs ten times more than what you anticipate, and I’ve had quite a few meltdowns along the way. Leaving a job (albeight one that I really didn’t love) that gave me security (although no health insurance) was HARD.

Leaving Steamboat was also really really hard. I had a lot of anxiety around the entire trip and continually questioned whether I was making the right decision. If it was meant to be, wouldn’t it feel easier? HOWEVER most things that are the most rewarding are really challenging and will test you (hello, take marathons or your first race as an example!). I didn’t get to say goodbye to a lot of people and left it a secret to most because Alex still hadn’t told most of his friends (and he had lived there twice as long as I had), so I kept it mainly to myself which also made it a lot harder when the day finally came to drive away. I also just really hate goodbyes, so yeah.

6 Weeks In

I’m 6 weeks in and can honestly say I am LOVING it. Everything I’m learning is giving me a sign that I have FINALLY found the career for me. I wake up in the morning really excited about what I’m going to learn today, how I can apply it to my future career as a nurse (and hopefully an NP one day!), and just general happiness - something that I had been missing for a really long time. School-wise it’s been great. I love studying and am absolutely a life-long learner, so even though there is still anxiety surrounding exams - it’s a new, fun kinda learning that I never had during my first undergraduate degree.

Relationship-wise it’s been hard. Alex and I are still figuring out our new dynamics - we’re in a new place, he’s working from home, I’m gone most days for 12+ hours, and money is obviously tighter than it has been. There’s been some bumps in the road and I wish I could say that we’ve been planning our Wedding or it’s already planned, but honestly that’s taken the back-burner and it just sucks (no sugar-coating here!). I’m remaining patient and optimistic and looking toward the future where it looks a lot brighter over there.

——————————————————————————————————

Any questions you have for me regarding this area?

Ever quit a secure-job for something unsecure? How’d it go? Any tips for me?

Anyone a nurse out there? Tell me more about your job!!