This Thing Called Life

     I figured I would share some things you will encounter working as an intake nurse. These don't occur all of the time, but they do most.

    Anxiety is one of the worst feelings in the world. Just remember to breathe, get things done early so you can be ahead, and if your anxiety interferes with your daily life, please seek help.

     LPN school was stressful but taught me a lot. It was also expensive so of course I kept EVERYTHING from my program!

     I took my NCLEX-PN exam on Friday, October 7. Due to Hurricane Matthew, I had to wait all weekend because of power outages on the east coast. I finally got my results later that week! All of the stress, tears, tests, quizzes, and laughter are well worth it. I am very proud of myself :)

     I did it! I completed LPN school. I am currently waiting for my letter from state to take my NCLEX. I went to a job interview today and it went great! This was a rough 14 months of my life, but it was also the best and it is already paying off.

     I can hardly contain my excitement since my LPN pinning ceremony is only 3 days away! We had mock interviews this past Thursday with potential employers and I ended up getting an offer for a second interview which will be on September 1st. They own multiple clinics and work with different positions but the best part is the offer is for a position Monday through Friday, no weekends! After my pinning ceremony I plan on taking a week off to relax and really take in the beginning of my healthcare career journey. I still cannot believe this moment is almost here. I've worked really hard to make it through this program and it was all worth it.

     It seems like yesterday the countdown on my phone for my LPN pinning ceremony said 247 days. We are down to just 14! Today in class we filled out the application for the NCLEX-PN exam and payed for that portion. Basically all we do in this class is take a lot of Kaplan tests and prepare for our role as a nurse and prepare to take the NCLEX. I plan on using Kaplan and the pn mastery app as well. The goal is to obviously pass the NCLEX on the first try. No one plans on or wants to retake it multiple times. I'm mailing my invitations for the ceremony tomorrow. I don't have many people coming for me, but the ones that are coming are the ones that matter most to me and that is what counts. 

     Today was payday and due to being short this month, I'm going to have to defer my car payment. I hate doing it but it is what I have to do in order to keep other things in line. I need $40 for my copay at my neurologist appointment Friday, my car insurance is due, and I also have to pay my phone bill. Part of life is learning from your mistakes and I have definitely learned from every single one of mine. I'm hoping my job has some opening this weekend and the week of the fourth since I will be off from school. This current money situation isn't working out. I need more hours. 56 days until I can begin working full time again and slowly start putting all of this debt behind me once and for all!

     The beginning of this class really had me wondering if I would even pass and be able to deal with my instructor another mod. It took every ounce of willpower to keep going and strive to pass. It worked! I passed the class with an 83. I only have 10 weeks left of LPN school. 10! Technically only 9 since we have a week off for the fourth of July. I cannot believe I made it. I truthfully thought I would fail and have to repeat the class or switch to nights in order to succeed. This proves to me that anything is possible and to NEVER give up on anything I want no matter how hard it may be!

     Yesterday I ended up leaving my endocrine class early because every one bombed her test yet again except for three people. I left because I'm failing the class with a 66 and Kaplan is tomorrow and if I don't pass it along with the next test and final, I will fail and have to repeat this class. I was very discouraged and upset. I study a lot for her tests and when I fail it is like I wasted brain power for nothing. When I study I make flash cards, highlight in the book and even write in it, and I also study with my classmates. If everyone is pretty much failing the class then there is one common denominator here and it isn't us. I debated on even finishing the term because it will be a waste if I spend all of this time going to clinical and class and have to end up repeating it all over. It took everything in me to wake up this morning and go to clinical. So my new plan is to ride out this term regardless if I fail or pass. If I pass, GREAT! I will only have 10 w...

     Today in class each student had to present a powerpoint on a chapter in the pediatric section of our book. I had to discuss low flow oxygen administration, oxygen therapy, tracheostomy care, tracheal stoma, mist tent, airway obstruction, and IV administration. It wasn't too bad presenting to only 14 people. I'm hoping it brings my grade up. I've brought it up from a 70 to a 74 but we took another test today (I feel like I did okay on it) and I'm hoping this presentation was an easy "A". She is counting it as a test grade so hopefully it will boost my grade even more. I can't believe our final is next week already. We only have two actual nursing classes left which is endocrine and neuro. After that we move on to leadership which pretty much just prepares us for the NCLEX-PN. This is exciting. I can't believe this journey is just about done. I have been ready to work full time again since I stopped. I can't wait to re-enter the workforce as an ...

     Today I passed the cardiac mod! It was the hardest mod I have encountered during this whole nursing program but that is understandable because the heart is a VERY important and vital organ. Along with learning about CHF (congestive heart failure), arrhythmias, dysrythmias, and how to place EKG leads and read the strips, we also learned about IV therapy. IV therapy consists of learning how to set up an IV, change the tubing, and discontinue. We also learned how to spike bags and start antibiotic drips. The end of the mod consisted of learning about blood disorders, the main one being the different types of anemias. I could write a book about what I learned this mod, but I figured it would be easier to just share my vlog. Yes this video is long, it is longer than most of my vlogs, but I tried to give a lot of information to help fellow students or people that are just curious :)

     With 20 weeks left of school (hopefully I pass my final tomorrow), I have been making a mental list of things I want to do once I graduate. That list includes: Taking a week off from EVERYTHING. No work, stress, bills, or job searching. My mind needs to take a break. Study for the NLCEX and hopefully pass on the first try! Once my mental break is over and I pass the NLCEX, I will start applying for every entry level LPN job I come across. I will work full time again as a CNA until I land a job as an LPN.  Start paying off my debt immediatley Save money. I don't know what I will be saving for but it can be for a new truck, a safety net, or just emergency funds. It really made me sad that I closed my savings account last month because I literally only has $0.10. It would be nice to know I have a backup if I need it.       Even though that list isn't very big, it gives me something to look forward to. The main thing is graduating. ...

     Cardiac is by far the hardest class in nursing school. We have to learn the anatomy and physiology of the heart, the terminology, how to read EKG strips, IV therapy, diseases of the blood, and all kinds of other things. We are pretty much at mid term and I am sitting at a 76. We have to have an 80 to pass. I took a break from school one time due to failing and if I fail this class and have to sit out until a new class starts, I just might not go back. It is draining. I sit in class and work at clinical (for free) all week when I could get paid at my job and start paying off my bills. I love nursing school and I'm trying but this is hard. I really don't think I will want to redo this mod and re-learn it all and have to take the quizzes and tests again. I am one of the more fortunate people though. Some people in my class have even lower grades than I do. Once you reach a grade below a 75, 70 is pushing it, it is VERY difficult to make a comeback and at least pass...

     The end of another term has arrived! This was one of the best terms since the start of my program. I learned so much. Next term to conquer is Cardiac which starts on Monday. I am 185 days closer to graduating and being able to hopefully pass the nclex on the first try :)

     Two weeks ago the most embarrassing thing ever happened to me at clinical. I had a seizure in front of my classmates, instructors, and everyone working on the unit at the clinical site. I was mortified when I came out of my episode. I have never cried so much in my life due to embarassment.      Seizing in front of my class, which did not know I've had them before, meant that I had A LOT of explaining and apologizing to do. My classmates were freaked out, who could blame them? I know I should of at least mentioned I've had them before but because I hadn't had one in so long, I figured I would be fine. So with this happening technically on school grounds and in the school setting, meant that I had to go to the ER and get checked out and also get cleared to go back to work and school.       Seizures are not fun. Even though mine only last for 20-30 seconds, it feels like an hour. Your body is so weak and you feel so drai...