There were some hairy moments...like the time my paper was due to be submitted online by midnight and I was still working on my careplan at 11:45 pm. Or the time when I got a phone call at 7 am on a clinical day from my sister. She called to let me know my brother had died during the night. I actually went to pre-conference and fully intended to go to my unit...my clinical instructor was having none of that! I did it though...I earned my BSN.

Everything fell into place so nicely at the end. A month before graduation, a full 3 weeks later than just about everyone in my cohort, I submitted my application and resume at the medical center my school is affiliated with. The next day nurse recruiting called and asked me to come in that day. I shadowed on my first choice unit and interviewed on the spot. 2 days later I had a job offer (which I accepted).  I took the NCLEX 3 weeks after graduation, it shut off at the minimum number of questions and I cried on the way home.  I passed!

It is official.  I am a brand new, baby RN. Orientation starts in 16 days and I can't wait!

The End is Near!!

I had intended this blog to chronicle my experiences in nursing school...that hasn't happened!  My posts are few and far between.  It's update time.  I am almost done.  I graduate in 6 weeks, 2 days, 9 hours, 56 minutes and 30 seconds (29, 28, 27, 26...)!

As of this am I have one presentation, one exam, two days of med/surg clinical, one reflection paper, and 100 hours of capstone to go.  That is all!  Then of course I must pass the NCLEX. 

Nursing School

A pictorial review of my first and half-way through my second semesters of nursing school.

what my desk looked like on the first day of classes

My real study space!

A sample of textbooks for nursing school...my stack is actually bigger!

What happens in study group stays in study group

What I learned in long term care.

Acute care...C. diff.  Enough said.

Me in OB/Women's Health clinical.

I know, A stereotype...it's true for the nurse on the PEDS unit I am on now though.

Psych in 4 weeks...will this be my unit preceptor?

Official nursing Dx for my cohort.

One Month Down...

Eleven to go!!

Quick and dirty update....

I made it to North East USA, cats and partner made it, too. Got some loans. Found a place to live within easy walking distance of medical center and school of nursing. School is CRAZY...I won't say its hard academically, so far...but dear God, the time commitment! Just finished week four and it was such a nice, relaxing week...ummm, yeah...really that just means we had no exams this past week. Next week however, we have THREE!!!! The third pathopharm exam, second assessment exam, and the CNET. YAY...or something!

Much Anticipated Update (for me anyway! ;))

It is official...the above will be my new home for at least one year beginning in January! Of course I will be living in an actual house/apartment of some sort, but I anticipate spending most of my time in the building pictured, and the building across the street from this one (university medical center). Yay!!!

I am so excited! I am also completely freaked out...finishing CNA program right before xmas and packing to move all the way across the country. Saying goodbye to lots of people. And biggest thing of all...trying to find and apply to any and all nursing scholarships that I may even remotely qualify for in an attempt to get this paid for! Don't know if I can get student loans since I already have them for my BA.

Stressed but happy!

I Got An Interview!!!!

I am SO extremely excited (and a bit nervous)! I have an interview with Small Prestigious Northeast Nursing school!! Interestingly, very early in my considerations, this school was my first choice school. It got replaced by Large Prestigious Southern Nursing school and HUGE Ivy Nursing school...both of which sent me the "sorry, no" letter quite rapidly. I wonder if it's a similar situation to multiple choice exams...you go with your first choice and don't change it.

Clearly I won't be placing all my eggs in one basket, I still have other applications to submit....but I GOT AN INTERVIEW!!!! Just thought I would shout that out one more time!

Thanks to all who replied to my request for help...I did rewrite entirely. My years of childhood trauma became "a difficult childhood" which helped me to learn to "thrive in chaotic environments" (hat tip to Kim at Emergiblog).

The interview is August 31.

Seeking opinions, comments, and/or advice from nurses in any specialty

First, the lead in....

I am having difficulty getting accepted into a nursing program. I have been applying to combined second degree BSN/MSN programs with Family Nurse Practitioner as a chosen specialty and working in Indian Health as an intended career goal. I have a couple more of these programs to apply to since application deadlines are all different. I am now also considering applying to second degree BSN programs with the intention of completing the MSN later. There is a local ADN program and a BSN bridge at the University I just graduated from; however, the ADN program is nearly impossible to get into. I have a friend that applied to the program 4 times (once a year), had a 4.0 and was working as an EMT, was wait-listed each time. She gave up and is now pursuing a different degree. I completed my BA in Sociology with a minor in Biology (human concentration) last December, so traditional BSN programs are not an option at this point. Neither school offers pre-nursing advising...it's a situation of take the pre-req's, apply, if you get in then you get advising.

Second, the potential problem...

When I met with my adviser to go over additions to my C.V. and changes in my personal/goals statement for the next round of applications, she had a thought...maybe "my story" is the problem. I spoke with my Aunt who has been a Psych RN for 25 years and she agrees that this very well could be the issue.

I had an extremely difficult childhood. I do not go into details on my apps, and I won't here either, but I will give a little bit of info. At 6 months old I was dropped off for a weekend visit at my great Aunts home, my mother came back 3 1/2 YEARS later with one hour notice to pick me up. So basically, my earliest years were as the baby in a family of 5 children, 3 older brothers and an older sister, then suddenly I was the only child in a very young military family...with parents I didn't even know. I saw the great Aunt two or three times throughout my childhood and early adulthood, I saw the "big sister" once, and never saw the "brothers" again...until the funeral of the great Aunt, when I was 27 years old.

After being taken back by my mother, a little brother arrived, we moved A LOT (military), and I never felt I fit in either where we lived or in my own family. My parents were emotionally and physically abusive...severely. I barely made it through school, and moved out as quickly as possibly after I graduated high school. I made a few attempts at taking classes at the community college, but never succeeded...either dropping with W's or just not bothering to go or drop and getting F's. As my life fell apart, I sought help initially because the Golden Gate bridge was looking like a viable option for a "direction" for my life to take, since it's a local landmark, this was a very real possibility. Fast forward to now...I was diagnosed with a dissociative disorder and severe anxiety. Both of these are now very well controlled, the dissociative disorder may even be "resolved" (as much as is possible). I graduated with a cumulative GPA of 3.491, a major GPA of 3.91. I've completed all my nursing pre-req's with a 3.0 and I am repeating one class this summer (anatomy). I was a teaching assistant for physiology 3 times, and for microbiology 2 times. I have my BLS for healthcare, am enrolled in a CNA program for the fall, and am working on all the paperwork to be able to volunteer at the hospital. I am a lifetime member of two honor societies, and was president of the campus chapter of one of them for a year. I was also chosen to sit on the Disability Services for Students advisory committee for a year ( a huge honor, appointed by the University President). All of this is good...right?

So...is it true that my past psych issues are what is hurting my chances? My overcoming these challenges is a HUGE part of my life. This also is what explains my lower GPA (compared to other applicants), I will never have a 4.0 because of the earlier attempts at college. I am very frustrated...I really don't have any other "story" to tell. I worked very hard to get in the place of healing that I am at now, and I worked very hard to achieve success in school. I know I will succeed in a program, even an accelerated one. I also know that I will be a damn good nurse. Can anyone offer any suggestions?