Prenursing Student

I am no longer a prenursing student, as I started actual nursing school 3 weeks ago. Nursing school has exposed to new expectations for learning new material. Nursing Theory is a broad discipline and filled with fluffy, non-factual material that you have to learn. The material reminds me of Sociology and Human Development Classes. I know that, as long as I adapt to this new expectation and apply my study techniques consistently, I will do well in nursing school. But, it has been a little stressful, so far. I have started a new blog detailing my journey in Nursing School, which you can read by browsing to ANursingStudent.com

My study buddy asked me about the techniques that I use to study. I told her that I am the kind of nerd who actually read books on how to be a better student.

I also explained to my study buddy that I am pretty good at reading comprehension. I have a large vocabulary and enjoy reading. However, in spite of these advantages, which helped me immensely in other courses, when I took classes such as A&P and Micro, I had to revamp my learning style. I learned the type of learner I am and how to adapt the material to my learning style.

I purchased several books over the years of taking college classes that have helped me to make my study time more productive.

Here is the list of books that I own that I gave her so that she could learn how to earn A’s in nursing school:

Breakthrough Rapid Reading, by Peter Krump

This book helped me learn to read tedious and boring material faster while staying focused on comprehending the material.

I also own, “How to Become a Straight A Student”, by Cal Newport
This guy hosts a website with tons of study hacks that I’ve used to help me progress this far in my nursing education.

When I realized that I needed more time to study and subsequently realized that there was no additional time available for me to study, I read, “What Smart Students Know”, by Adam Robinson so that I could learn how to get more done in a limited amount of time.

The nursing school I’ve been accepted to requires that we wear all white, leather shoes. This was my excuse to finally be able to buy the Danskos I’ve been lusting after!

 

I feel like my Danskos are the most beautiful ugly shoes ever! I love them!

 

I’m at work at my CNA job breaking in my Danskos. I’ve not seen too many people wearing Danskos at the hospital where I work. I have seen Allegrias on nurses feet. In my A&P class last semester, some of the girls wore cute Danskos (or at least Dansko style shoes).

 

Most of the nurses at my job wear tennis shoes, which has suited me perfectly.

 

But nursing school requires us to wear all white, leather (or faux leather) shoes. This provided the perfect excuse for me to purchase my coveted danskos!

 

It also gave me a good reason to buy 2 pairs. My feet sweat a lot. Like puddles  Even when trying on Danskos for just a few minutes, I left sweat prints in my shoes. I learned a long time ago that once I sweat out a pair of shoes and cause them to stink, I can no longer wear those shoes. There’s no amount of bleach, pine sol, washing or drying that removes the funk.

 

During CNA school, I noticed that when I wore the same pair of shoes 2 days in a row, they began to stink. So, I learned to rotate. I never wear the same pair of tennis shoes 2 days in a row if I work in them. This was my excuse to buy 2 pairs of Danskos.

 

Cost: the xp pros cost $140 plus tax. The plain pros cost $109 plus tax. If you decide to buy some, I recommend that you have them fitted by a professional at the mall. Do not go to one of those hole in the wall scrub shops, because I think they are more interested in getting you to spend a lot of money, than making sure you get a good shoe. In my city, there is a store at the mall called The Walking Company.

 

I bought 2 pairs of Daskos, a pair of XP pros and a pair of regular professionals. Even though I bought both in size 38, the XP pros fit a lot better than the other pair, which I plan to return for a larger size. //Update: after wearing the 38′s for 20 minutes inside of my mom’s house, the white sole became discolored and the store refused to honor an exchange. Luckily, I do think I can manage to make them work, I will just need to break them in. I did not need to break in the XP Pro’s in the same size, as they have a roomier toe box. The other difference between the XP Pro and the regular Pro is the fact that the XP Pro’s have a removable sole insert, similar to the Allegria style shoes. If you get fitted at a good shoes store, they will take a scan of your foot so that you can get an insert that works for you at no additional cost. One of my feet needed the metatarsal support. I do like they way that my foot feels in those. Further, the support can be replaced for a cost a lot less than a new pair of Dansko’s would cost.

 

I’ve read that it’s important to break in Danskos slowly over time, which is why I took the plunge and wore them to work. My job is a patient sitter CNA and I’m working a noc, so hopefully this will be a good way to ease into these shoes.

 

Nursing School Supply List:

 

• Danskos
• Granny panties
• Scrunchies
• Hairspray
• Watch
• Moisture wicking socks
• 3 pairs royal blue scrubs
• Long sleeves in white or black to wear under scrubs
• Tupperware style lunch containers

Other nursing stuff

I nearly cried myself to sleep tonight while trying to nap before work. I was thinking of my 7 year old son and how much he misses me when I’m not able to sleep under same roof as him or pick him up from school. My heart literally began to split.

 

I tell myself that it’s okay for him to miss me a little bit. I tell myself nursing school will only be from 9am-5pm and he’s in school himself 8:30-2:40. But we spend time away from each other when I work, go to his brothers activities, or have adult time away from him. He told me today, “I wanted you to pick me up, not Grandma.”

 

I realize that I have other life related stress occurring in my life and that this is probably affecting my stress levels, too.

 

I am starting to get nervous about starting nursing school. At first, everything was happening so fast that I didn’t have time to get nervous.

This is because I was enrolled in 14 units of BSN prerequisites last month when I received a call to come into a Career Center for an appointment. I’d wanted to apply for funding from this organization for nearly a year, but they were out, then they said there was a lottery, and they said they’d get back to me. I had been following up with the career center every few months for about 10 months and had figured I wouldn’t be able to get funding through them.

So, I continued taking BSN prerequisites at the community college, because these were basically free, whereas LVN school that I wanted to attend for cost about $20,000. I started the Fall semester in late August. September 10 was my appointment at the career center. They told me that I was eligible to apply for funding. I dropped my other enrolled classes because in order to get funding I had to be able to start ASAP. It seemed like everyday for the next several weeks I was asked to bring something to the Career Center, to or from my welfare worker, to the nursing school or from my prior college. I had to schedule immunizations, TB tests, drug tests, entrance exams, etc.

School was supposed to start mid-October, but the school moved the start date to late October. So, I’ve got a little gap. Free time, if you will. And I am thoroughly freaking out. Bad nerves. I have other things going on in my life as i assume most everyone does. I took on a few graveyard shifts at work which is really stressing me out, though I love my job. I just keep saying to myself, don’t think about the worrisome things, block them out, thinking about my problems isn’t helping, I just have to take an action after I make a decision.

In some ways, I feel my attending nursing school is a disservice to my children. I know that having a career in which I can financially support them is a good thing. But, because my husband left me, we have no real home, and they’ve had to switch schools once and may have to switch again, my heart bleeds for them. They don’t deserve this. I hate leaving them.

On the other hand, I didn’t do this to them. I didn’t leave my husband and my decision to go to nursing school and ensuing lack of income was not a valid reason for him to leave us. He is the one who refused to pay me any child support when he lived away from us for the last year. I have to remember that I’m doing the best I can and in the end, my kids will benefit.

But I’m scared.

Does this have anything to do with my nursing blog? I’m not sure. But this is what’s on my heart as I excitedly count down to starting nursing school.

I think I’d feel a little more excited if I were going to RN school, my original goal. But this is a good thing, no, this is an EXCELLENT thing for my children because I will be able to establish a career for myself so I can provide for them.

I fight against a spirit of anger by thinking forward. I chose to not dwell on the….if he wouldn’t have that, I wouldn’t be in that situation. I’ve learned/ realized that this is my situation. God is in control. Even though I don’t believe God wanted bad things to happen to us, I have to admit, we are okay. Both me and my kids.

But sometimes, I do get angry. When I think about my kids having to switch schools mid school year, I get a little angry. Only because I’ve worked my arse off my kids whole lives to give my kids stability. Then, my husband jerks the rug from under us?!?!

I chose to view these experiences as character building. A little tiny bit of hardship won’t kill them and should strengthen them. (though it’s weakened me, or maybe given me a new definition of strong) I just want my children to stop having to go through changes!

I’ve been telling them “I’ll fix it” since last year. I haven’t fixed it yet. I feel like liar. But I’m on my way. Finishing nursing school and working full time as an LVN making ~$20/hr will fix things a lot.

I’m So sad.

And mad.