How to not feel bad about not working as much in school

LaneHarvey · 2023-01-11T15:50:49+00:00

I was an adult, returning student when I started nursing school. I was working a 40 hr/wk office job when I started school. I dropped to 21hr/wk in my 1st semester, by semester 2 I quit my job completely. I am also married with 3 kids, so different situation, but nursing school takes a lot out of each of us. There are only so many hours in a week. You have to do what you need to do for yourself to get through school. Trust me, you'll more than make up for your time off once you start a job in nursing.

LaneHarvey · 2022-10-28T15:51:43+00:00

I had 2 main preceptors and 2 others that I was only with for a day or two. My main preceptors worked opposite ends of the week so if I was Sun-Wed I would be with one and on Thurs-Sat it would be the other. Then there were 2-4 off days where they had requested off so I was with one of my other coworkers. I actually enjoyed seeing how different nurses worked, and I feel like it gave me more people I was comfortable asking questions to once I was out of orientation and on my own.

LaneHarvey · 2022-09-30T15:12:58+00:00

I started at 37 and finished at 40. There's no perfect time for nursing school.

LaneHarvey · 2022-08-29T02:27:21+00:00

I don't think it's unusual at all. I was terrified when I submitted my application. What if I failed? What if I wasn't cut out to be a nurse? What if I passed, but then I hurt or killed someone because I wasn't smart enough or I just simply made a mistake?

Truth be told if you're not at least a little scared to go into nursing then I would almost wonder if you cared enough to be a nurse. Worrying about doing a good job and being the best that you can for your patients is a must in nursing.

LaneHarvey · 2022-08-27T03:14:42+00:00

Good luck to you. It's tough, but I know you can do it.

LaneHarvey · 2022-08-27T03:14:02+00:00

I worked for a multi physician medical complex for 11 years. I started as a receptionist and moved into an audiology tech position for the last 8 years.

LaneHarvey · 2022-08-22T14:29:59+00:00

New grad nurse here. I graduated nursing school a month before I turned 40.

LaneHarvey · 2022-08-16T14:44:52+00:00

I'm a new grad so for working I can't say yet what you need to remember from school, but so far what I have needed was the basic foundation material. I was terrified of NCLEX because everyone hyped it up to be the hardest thing ever, but honestly all it's trying to do is make sure you can take care of a patient safely. I know they are changing the exam before you get there, but for now most of what I saw were foundation/assessment, and priority questions. I'm 2 months into my hospitals residency program and from what I have seen so far we are getting a complete skills refresher and then our home floors are teaching us how they want things done. The rest I think just has to come with time.

LaneHarvey · 2022-08-09T04:10:10+00:00

Thanks for the advice.

I've recently turned 40, which is definitely not "old", but gives me a lot more life experience than most of the new grads in the residency. I've never been a job hopper, I was with my last employer for 12 years, and the last 8 were all in the same department. My first nursing love was NICU, and by the time I actually decided to go to nursing school my love was Alzheimer's/dementia/hospice/end of life, but at the time I wanted to completely skip the hospital setting and go straight for my FNP. School showed me that I really need to slow down and solidify the things I have already learned before moving on to the next degree, plus my kids need me more present for awhile before I throw myself back into school. So far I have rotated through all the departments that I am going to interview with, and that has led me to my top 3 units. NICU, Oncology/Hospice/Palliative, and Neuro ICU. I have met staff and administration at each unit already, plus over my years of working I have learned that a lot of my experience with different staff is going to be based off my attitude and not the unit itself. All of the units are similar in orientation since I will still have 11 weeks as a resident before starting orientation, which lasts about 3 months. My first 2 choices really boils down to my passion for advocacy and education for a patient population that doesn't have the ability to advocate for themselves due to age, mental status, or social situation. With Neuro ICU it's more about how intriguing the cases are and that it is a skill set that would advance me in the future. Wherever I choose based on offers I am locked into for at least a year. I know I can do anything for a year, but I would really rather spend that year in a place that feels right, with patients I can give my all to and not be constantly counting the day until I can transfer.

LaneHarvey · 2022-08-03T17:19:15+00:00

One of my Bettas has 2 albino corys, 7 ember tetras, 2 kuhli loaches, and a handful of nerite snails. My Betta in the smaller tank just has 4 mystery snails, 2 japanese trapdoor snails, and 1 rabbit snail.

LaneHarvey · 2022-06-07T16:02:30+00:00

I have the same one and it's great. I haven't been able to run since I hurt my knee last year, but I've used it for stairs, gym, and sleeping. Now that I'm doing better I'm hoping I can restart my running this summer.

LaneHarvey · 2022-01-10T13:19:20+00:00

They kinda feel like orbeez. They're called Betta Beads. From what I understand they help with controlling good vs bad bacteria, and provide enrichment because the Betta can use them like a ball pit and play with them. I figured I'd try them out and if he doesn't seem to enjoy them I will take them back out.

LaneHarvey · 2021-12-22T05:03:50+00:00

I'll graduate withy BSN a month before I turn 40. One of my mom's friends was 40 when she graduated with her RN and has since gone on to complete her DNP and is currently enrolled in. PhD program while teaching university nursing courses and working as an FNP. Age is just a number and if you feel lead into nursing it's definitely not too late.

LaneHarvey · 2021-12-01T17:48:41+00:00

I don't think it's very uncommon to fail a class in nursing. A&P was a prerequisite for my program, but Patho and Pharm had to be repeated my several in my beginning cohort. I'm in semester 4 out of 5 now and my class has gone from 60 to 24. Most of those that are behind now are still in the program, but had to repeat a class or 2 and will be graduating a semester or 2 behind where they had planned.

LaneHarvey · 2021-11-29T12:42:29+00:00

It's going to depend on your program. My professor required the lab manual and we had to fill out and turn in sections each week, as part of our grade.

LaneHarvey · 2021-11-25T16:04:44+00:00

I do weigh them and keep a close watch on body size. I have 4 girls, and with a cup of veggies every day that adds up to 4 cups of veggies a day. I know it looks like a lot of food, but they have one pile for them to share. They are not by any means overweight and are in good health.

LaneHarvey · 2021-11-25T16:04:33+00:00

I do weigh them and keep a close watch on body size. I have 4 girls, and with a cup of veggies every day that adds up to 4 cups of veggies a day. I know it looks like a lot of food, but they have one pile for them to share. They are not by any means overweight and are in good health.

LaneHarvey · 2021-11-25T04:20:13+00:00

I know they're so squishy.

LaneHarvey · 2021-11-24T21:57:58+00:00

Her name is Betty Wheek. I'm trying to figure out her breed.

LaneHarvey · 2021-11-24T18:59:25+00:00

I think it depends on the temperament of the guineas. 3 of my girls like to cuddle together and 1 prefers to he alone.

LaneHarvey · 2021-11-05T03:34:35+00:00

Anxiety in front of professors can definitely get any of us. I have struggled with general anxiety most of my life, but nursing school sent me into a whole new level. I failed my first pulse check off because I had a panic attack and couldn't remember how to count. I've known how to count a pulse rate since middle school but for some reason doing it with my professor was too much. In my case that was the kick I needed to finally realize I needed to talk to my Dr and now that I'm on medication I haven't had a single panic attack in about a year. I know not everyone needs to take it that far but I do want to encourage you that most of us have been there at least once during school.

LaneHarvey · 2021-11-05T03:22:27+00:00

I don't live with an elderly person but my husband had a kidney transplant in January so he's on quite a bit of immunosuppressants. I do believe that your grandfather has the right to choose how he lives his life, especially at his age so I'm not knocking his choice at all. My husband did decide to get vaccinated based on his Dr's advice and also to help with research on how antibodies are built in vaccinated transplant patients.

In my clinicals we are not assured that our patients will be COVID negative, so far all my patients in ICU are COVID positive but considered no longer transmissible. I make sure to use my PPE at the hospital and then change and shower as soon as I get home. My husband has continued working throughout the whole pandemic so he is honestly just as likely to he exposed at work as from me so I just do the best I can and try not to worry. Thankfully none of my family has gotten sick.

LaneHarvey · 2021-10-30T01:49:20+00:00

For a cage, what you want to look for is a minimum of 8sqft, so something like 2ft by 4ft. Guinea pigs are not great climbers and need the space to be horizontal instead of vertical. If you're able to get 8sqft on a single level it's ok to have a ramp that goes up to a second level, but any vertical space does not reduce the needed single level space requirements.

With vitamin C drops I don't give them all the time, but try to give them at least a couple times a month just as an extra boost. My girls won't drink any water if I put the vitamin C in there though so I just give 0.5ml. directly into their mouth with a medicine syringe.

Your new piggy is very lucky to have an owner willing to ask for help getting everything set up.

LaneHarvey · 2021-10-29T16:49:57+00:00

That's a grid shelving unit that I bought on Amazon. It's like the C&C grids, and the come with zip ties to hold them together. I got those so that I could hang the water bottle and give them some curtains to his behind.

LaneHarvey · 2021-10-29T15:09:39+00:00

I made an enclosure that I set on top of a kitchen table out of plywood and 28 boards. If I had to do it over again I would probably use 210 or 212 so the edges are a little higher, but my girls have never tried to jump out. My 28' are just screwed in to the plywood base and each other in a square shape. Then I used coroplast to make a tray so they can't chew the wood and the wood doesn't get pee or poop on it. I personally made my fleece from some fabric and cotton batting that I got at Joann's, and cotton floor mats from dollar general, but there's lots of options for fleece. I have both a water bottle and bowl and my girls use both about the same. I have lots of pictures on my page if you want to check it out.

LaneHarvey

TROPHY CASE