Momma, I made it!

On March 4, 2016 I received a letter from the health science administration team of my university. In this letter they informed me that I have been selected for a seat in their nursing program starting on May 16, 2016. I was napping at the time my email got to me, and my friend, whom I will be going through this journey with, texted me 5 times in the span of 5 minutes. When she saw I wasn't responding she called me and yelled "LOOK AT YOUR EMAIL!!!!" I don't think I've ever woken up so fast in my entire life!

Since then I've done 6 certification classes, gotten my fingerprints done, gotten a drug test, did an online background check, and made an appointment for my physical. I also attended the first of two orientations. I'm just so ready to start! Let me not forget to mention that I'm currently in a microbiology course, which I just want to finish so I can start the nursing program.

I can officially register for my first semester of nursing school on April 6, 2016 at 8:00am, and I'm just dying to get it done, just so I know it's real, it's actually happening. If you're a pre-med student, or a pre-nursing student, you know what I mean when I say, I JUST WANT TO START.

I know that for sure I'm going to be saying I JUST WANT TO FINISH within the first couple weeks of the first semester, but the fact that I made it, that I got in, just makes me so happy and excited!

I can't believe that after so many years of struggle and hardship, I can finally say I'm a nursing student!

MOMMA I MADE IT!!!!!

Have you applied to get in to your school? Have you gotten your acceptance letter? When do you start? When will you apply? I want to hear your stories of your journey to get in to nursing school! Comment below, and lets chat!

It's started with an apology... followed by advice

Can I just begin by apologizing at how much I let go of the blog! I'm truly sorry, this A&P class has taken over my life and I haven't blogged since. The course is/was 6 weeks, and has been so demanding that every spare second I had was spent studying for the course. I'm a little more than half way through considering that Monday is the last week of Lab and the following Wednesday is my final for the lecture. It's safe to say I've done well enough in the course, the last time I checked *this past Wednesday* I had a 85% in the lab, and an A in the lecture (she didn't give me the percent for that one). I'm hoping I can keep those, or make the 85% better when it comes time to finish the classes. I won't be stress free until I know what grades I got, but I will say this, there's nothing like taking a course, and feeling great through the whole course. I don't think I've ever studied for a class as much as I have for this class. 

If you want my advice, don't take anatomy until your last semester. People might say that's crazy, and you should always take easier classes towards the end, but I think that is bogus! When you start college you're transitioning from high school, and its a big change. You should start off with your basic core curriculum, and make your way up to the higher level, more intense courses. When I started college my first semester was ENC1101 or English Comp, MAC1105 or College Algebra, CHM1032 or General Chemisty (literally just the basics of chemistry), and HCP0001 or Health Careers Core Curriculum, which basically just taught us the basic in health care. How to put sterile gloves on, how to take vitals, how to wash your hands, etc. These classes were all the basic requirements in college, and I took them first, then I went on in my second semester, not knowing how difficult it was going to be, and took A&P 1. It's safe to say that I failed that class, and I can explain why. 

When you start college, your mentality is still the same as when you were in high school. You expect your professors to be as helpful as your high school ones, in that when you miss an assignment, they accept it late and they pretty much baby you. In college, you miss an assignment, then you've missed that assignment, unless you get one of those professor who really don't want to see you fail, and work with you. Regardless, you don't think about studying, and you don't think about working as hard. It really does take the few easy classes in the beginning of your college career to learn just how much you have to put in to school, and how much you have to study. 

The first time I took A&P, I wasn't spending that much time studying, I would go about college the same I did with high school, minimal effort, and to be honest, it worked with the few 'easy' core classes. When I took A&P I learned just how wrong I was about studying, and I had a lot to learn about how to study effectively. For me, it's important you learn that before you take the classes that will effect you in the long run, because you don't want those on the admission committee going through your application wondering, "Why did she get an F?" "Did they not put forth maximum effort?" "Do we want someone like this in our program?" 

It's not to say that you can't ever fail a class, hell I failed A&P with an F in the lecture and a WF (withdrawl fail; I stopped showing up) in the lab, and I'm still going to get in the program. I'm just saying you don't want that on your record because you don't want people to question you and keep a close watch on you. 

I'm retaking the class and hoping that I'm getting an A in the end. This way the nursing admissions committee can see how much I've grown and changed over the years, and they may give me a shot. But speaking from experience, you don't want to be scared about what's going to happen to you because of one grade, just listen to this advice, and when you've learned how to study effectively in college, start taking your more difficult classes. It'll help you so you can pass with flying colors! Trust me! 

I'm not expert, and I'm not a college adviser, but I'm speaking from personal experience! College isn't a joke, it's your future, and you should take responsibility in making sure you have a good experience, but you also have good grades.  

Study Tips

Today I purchased the books for my A&P class, well didn't purchase, but I put them in my cart to purchase in a few days. Of course purchasing books are pricey, but it's an affordable price this time. Doing this made me realize all the studying I need to do this semester, so I decided to do a post about studying,and tips for effective studying. 

• Get rid of every and any electronic device!

No that doesn't mean keep it at the table with you, nor does it mean to just put it on silent. It means GET RID OF IT! Sorry but keeping it near you is means for distraction! Now unless you need that electronic device for studying, there's no reason to keep it by you! I use my IPAD for studying because I take lecture notes on it. I have yet to find it as a distraction because I turn the wifi off! If I find it starting to cause distraction I tend to print those notes out and use them on paper as opposed to my ipad. If I make any new notes on it or change it I will scan it on my printer and add the document on my note taking app. I don't need my phone or computer for studying, that's what the book and lecture notes are for.

• Take quick and easy notes in class, change them later

Doing this will encourage you to go back and add information that your missing. For example, the professor goes over a definition in class and instead of writing down the definition because you know you can find that later, you write down the examples he gives. Professor that give examples are more likely to use those for the exam as opposed to just asking you to define a word. So write down what he says, and later go back to the book and look for whatever you're missing. Also using this method means you miss less of what he's saying by trying to write everything.

• Read the chapter twice

I know how odd that sounds, reading the chapter twice especially when you have tons to read and not enough time to read it. When I say read, I mean skim through the chapter. When you do this twice, you'll notice more things than before. Actually read each header, and while skimming through the paragraph in that area, find the main ideas. When I skim the first time I don't highlight nor write any notes. When I skim the second time, I highlight or make note of what I find important. I usually do this the second time, because I tend to notice that somethings are obvious which means I don't need to highlight or note those because if I know the main idea of the paragraph, I know the obvious facts. When I note the main ideas, I make bullet points to go with them and write my own facts and understandings of the lecture and chapter. It sounds like a lot of work but it helps to learn the topics of the class.

• Color Coding

Color code everything you write/read. Definitions in green, facts from the notes in purple, facts from the book in pink, facts from your own understanding in blue, etc. I hope you get the point, it just makes things easier to look for. Don't go and write everything in a different color if you don't want to. I write everything in black, but I make the bullet points color, or I write the specific topic in the corresponding color. I use highlighters on the headers of different sections depending on what information it belongs. I just add colors to make it call for more attention, and it helps remembering later because you use a different memory for the different writing methods. It also helps to find information on a fully written on sheet quickly. For example if the professor is asking me for a definition on an assignment, I'll grab the notes for that topic, look for the corresponding header, and look for the green writing or highlight. It makes it easier to look for.

That's all I can really think of right now, but I'm hoping to get some more tips out of my head. I'll write them on my phone as I remember, and update this post with them. I don't normally take pictures of my notes, and I don't really have any notes right now because classes don't start for another 2-3 weeks but I will post pictures of what my notes and stuff look like as soon as I start!

I hope that this helped, and if you want any more specific ideas for studying feel free to contact me; stacyh003@gmail.com!!

How do you study? What do you use? How do you take notes? Do you change it later? Tell me what you do to study, maybe we can collaborate and make a huge studying post! Don't be shy, comment below!

One bad day calls for a good next day

Life can be so complicated some times. If you follow my twitter you know that yesterday was a bit of an off day for me. After having a car full of ants and getting stuck in an elevator, I still wasn't able to register for my Anatomy & Physiology class for the semester. I now see the whole school dilemma as a "blessing" because had I not missed the original time offer of the class I wouldn't have noticed that they offered the class at the campus much closer to my house. Now that I can register I was looking at the time slots for class and found one early enough that I'm not on campus late, and late enough that I'm not waking up before sun comes out! 

Now to be completely honest, I'm really nervous for this class. I took this course once a few years ago when I started college (in 2010) and failed. I literally got an 'F' in the course and WF in the lab because I stopped going after failing the course. I'm obviously older now and I would like to say a bit more prepared when it comes to college, but it's still between scary to take a course a second time. There's nothing like failing a course twice. I'm fully prepared to record lectures and play them back like it's my job. I'm also fully prepared to study like I don't have a life, and the good thing is that I'm only taking A&P so I don't have to worry about studying for anything else, except the HESI of course. 

Lets talk about that stupid elevator situation yesterday! In the morning when I parked in the garage, the left elevator had a sign on the door that said "Temporarily out of order" and I really didn't pay mind to it until that door opened for my 'elevator ride.' I sent the elevator down to the first floor, and waited for the other elevator to come up because I was not going to get in that elevator. The other one never came, and this "out of order" one returned. I was already late for work so I got on it and rode to the first floor without a problem. When going back to my car after work, I got on the same elevator with 4 other people. Two of those people got off on the third floor, and the other two got off on the fourth. When the elevator went to stop on the third floor it attempted to open the doors before stopping, causing the elevator to shake. After that happened, I started to panic. When we reached the fourth floor and everyone got off, the doors closed, but stopped inches from being fully closed, and wouldn't move. I was alone in the elevator and was now in full on panic mode. I was smacking the doors, trying to close or open them. Finally after about 5-10 minutes of hitting the doors they began to close slowly. The elevator took me to the fifth floor and I ran out of there before the doors were even fully opened. I stopped only to tell the guy getting on the elevator what happened. He took the stairs. 

Now after all that happened, I sat in my car only to have a million tiny little creatures crawling all over me. If you know me at all, you must know how much I despise creepy crawlers. I hate all insects, and don't care to have them near me. I drove all the way home from work, in rush hour traffic with those ants all over me. I quite literally wanted to die. When I got home, I got one of the "RAID" bombs from the cabinet, and set it off in my car. 

Now I have to leave my car closed for 24 hours, and not drive it. I also have to go get it completely detailed to wash off all the RAID and get rid of all the ants little bodies. It's so cruel that they all died, but I'm not about to drive with them on me all the time. It's just not happening! 

The little RAID bomb was from home depot, and its quite simple. It's not liquid so nothing gets ruined, it's a gas that just spreads through every little spot in the car. It's poisonous so you have to wipe down whatever you touch in your car, and make sure to wash your hands after driving. I have to ride with the windows down for about a week as a precaution, and when I get the car washed I'm going to make sure they're extremely detailed. 

Aside from my eventful day, theres really nothing else going on! Have you ever been stuck in an elevator? For how long? What did you do? Have you ever had an ant infestation in your car? What did you? 

Ordering Transcripts

As most people may know in order to get in to a university, or even register for classes at a community college you must submit transcripts. Whether you're transferring or going straight from high school, they need to see your academic background. Since I'm transferring back to my community college in order to get the missing classes I need for the nursing program I had to order the transcripts from my university. I've order the transcripts 3 times in the span of 2 weeks, and the college has yet to receive them. I purposely ordered them electronic through F.A.S.T.E.R and they still haven't gotten them. I'm so annoyed about the whole situation because I made sure to do everything by my registration appointment so I would be able to pick up the class I wanted. Since my university keeps messing up the transcript delivery, I haven't been able to register for my class, and now the class I wanted to take is full. There are other options, but the time of the class I wanted is taken. I don't see how its fair to me to have to wait for some stupid university to take my classes. I'm frustrated, and completely annoyed with the school I am leaving, and just wish this transition went smoothly. That's why this morning I tweeted "When life throws you curveballs, you catch it and throw it right back" because this is slowing the process down for me to get in to nursing school. 

Honestly if I have to order those transcripts one more time, I'm going straight to the office on campus and giving them a piece of my mind! Isn't it enough that they screwed up some one my work before, now they have to screw up me leaving them too! 

I know I'm ranting, but someone from some university must see this and realize how frustrating they can be to students. I just want to make something of my life!

On another note, I've been doing a lot of practice questions for HESI A2 exam. If you don't know what the HESI is, its the entrance exam for the nursing school I want to go. I'm going to buy a book from elsevier.com to study for the exam and hopefully get an amazing passing score to impress the admission committee! Other than that there's nothing new to report! 

Hope everyone is having either a great semester, or a great summer break! Comment below and let me know if you ever had a problem with your college transcripts!  

Name Change

Welcome to the new blog, everything from before still remains, but the name and the point of this blog is completely different. I'm not going to medical school anymore, I've changed my mind to become a nurse instead. Now I know some people are going to think I'm crazy, and possibly criticize me but I know for myself it's the right decision. The reason I want to go in to nursing is because after I spoke to my sister about what happened when her incision got infected after her surgery, she told me that she mostly dealt with the nurses as opposed to the doctor. Doctors get most of the credit for the work they do, but nurses do a lot of work for patients too. I'm not in it for the credit or the pay, I'm in it for the satisfaction after every work day knowing that I did my best to make my patients feel better! I'm not 100% sure what type of nurse I want to be, but I would like labor and delivery nurse! 

I'm so excited but I'm nervous all at the same time. I'm only missing 3 pre-reqs to get in to the nursing program. Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2, so I won't be applying for the program until next summer. I will be taking these classes starting fall 2015. I will be in the nursing program by the time I'm 24, and will be graduating by the time I'm 25, and I plan to go ALL the way and get my doctorates. I wish to become a Nurse Practitioner. 

This blog is going to follow my journey through "pre-nursing" (only 3 classes) and then through my nursing program. I'm beyond excited to go to nursing school, and can't wait to be a nurse! If you look above there is two tabs called "Pre-nursing" and "Nursing school." The point of those tabs is to make sure that if you're here to read about nursing you can just go directly to that, but if you're here about the other post, then you just click "Blog", and nothing about nursing aside from this post will be there! I'm just trying to keep everyone happy! 

If you're pre-nursing, or nursing student please comment and let me know how everything is going for you!! I would love to know!!!! Follow me on twitter!!! *PreStudentNurse*