This Thing Called Life

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

     Some of my classmates have already received their ATT letter to pick a date and sit for the NCLEX. I'm stressing because I haven't received mine yet. I contacted Pearson Vue and tried contacting the Board of Nursing but they never picked up the phone. I want to pick my date and test ASAP while the information in my head is still fresh. As far as my routine goes, it feels pretty strange not having to wake up and go to class or clinical. I miss some of my classmates and I hope they are doing well. I am beyond ready to start working. My bills are still piling up. My boyfriend is paying my important ones like my car payment, rent, and so on. I just want to be able to start paying bills on my own again and stop asking for money to pay my bills. I feel like it stresses my boyfriend out because I know good and well it stresses me out. I'm glad that school is over. It was well worth the stress, tears, and smiles. Learning all of the skills I acquired makes me feel aweso...

     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!

     I passed! Here is a video with more detail and emotion of the hell I overcame :)

     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!

     I've been looking into LPN-BSN bridge programs in my area and most if not all of them require Statistics and/or Chemistry. Math is my weakest point. I failed Algebra in high school like two or three times. If I pay off my community college, re-apply if I need to and then start my prerequisites there, I will need to take these math remediation classes that they require before taking an actual math class I need such as Statistics. I really want to go back for my Bachelors at some point because I would love to specialize and work in labor and delivery and postpartum on a mother-baby unit. After that last OB mod and going to the L&D ward, it made me realize I want my Bachelors regardless. LPNs are great, I can't wait to graduate and start working as one. Having your Bachelors will open even more opportunities. It all boils down to whether or not I want to take all of that math just to take the actual math classes I need along with microbiology, anatomy and physi...

     Today we took our Pharm 2 Kaplan and I got an 80! That converts to a 94 so it brought my grade up from a 68 to a 74! We still have our Immune test next week and our final the week after so if I get 80 or above on both of those, I just might be able to pass by. This really gives me hope. I'm so glad I didn't quit earlier this week and switch to nights. I feel like I can do this. Regardless, I'm not going down (or passing) this class without a fight!

     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...

     During class today I realized that people care about things and worry about things they shouldn't. I keep to myself 99% of the time. If I say my piece on a situation it is most likely because you pressed my buttons somehow. I may not talk much and my resting bitch face is always on point but I'm always listening. People need to stop worrying about what others are doing and start focusing on themselves. These last couple of mods I have became closer to some of my classmates but they know my true team is composed of me, myself and I and that is it. I don't ask others for homework answers or copy work. If I can take the time to complete my projects and assignments, so can you. This is nursing school. This is the real deal. Expecting to go through nursing school not doing hundreds of tests, drug cards, and assignments is ridiculous. Nursing is more than just throwing medicine in a cup and asking someone if they feel sick today. Putting myself first during this progr...

     With today being the first day of May and tomorrow is the first day of my new mod, I am beginning with a new outlook and mindset. I am not going to get caught up in the gossip my class is involved in or worry about what others are doing (not like I have done that anyways). I'm going to study very hard and strive to make and maintain an A in this class. Even though the classes ahead of us have warned us about the instructor, I want to learn as much as possible. After this class I will have Neurology and then leadership then I graduate! I cannot believe I am actually this close to finally becoming a LPN. This has been a tough journey along with dealing with other life obstacles like deployment, finances, and depression. But I know that this experience will only make me a stronger person and it will prove to myself and others that I can do anything I set my mind to. I am unstoppable. I can do this and I will do this.

     Today I took my finals for OB/Peds and Lifespan and I passed! I am so extremely happy. This mod was difficult and I had a lot of ups and downs. I'm glad I overcame my depressive state and pushed on to finish. I don't have class, clinical, or work tomorrow or Saturday and Sunday so I am using this weekend to reboot. I m going to refresh my mindset and reset my attitude so I can finish this program strong. I'm going to clean out my backpack and binder and make sure my planner is updated. The class ahead of us has already warned us that the teacher for Endocrine is a shark and she will even deduct time from the sign in sheet if we are not dressed as "clinically ready". That means we have to wear our hair up, white shoes and socks, watch, and our badge. They even said she will make us write scenarios on the board for a whole class if we talk while she is talking. Nursing is serious but jeez. 111 days closer to graduating and being able to take a small break!

     Today we took our OB Kaplan and I made an 83 which converts to a 93! I am hoping it will bring my grade up a little bit more since I am currently sitting at a 81.70. Tomorrow is our finals and I really hope I at least make an 80. It is hard telling what questions will be thrown in there. 112 days left!

     My grade in L&D went up from a 74 to a 78. Two more points and I will officially be passing. Most of the class is borderline like me, so that makes me feel a little bit better. I know the material and understand the lectures but when it comes to test time sometimes I freeze and sometimes I choose the wrong answers accidentally. Our Kaplan test and final is next week so I'm hoping I do good. I really want to pass and move on. Getting set back is the worst feeling ever. August is so close. It would suck if I bombed this class and had to wait to graduate in October. I just have to stay focused and keep pushing towards the finish line!

     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 ...

     126 days to go until graduation and I'm realizing that the closer it gets, the more agitated and anxious everyone is becoming. This labor and delivery class is not easy and now we started a Lifespan class in the middle of it. Learning nursing skills and terms for antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum mixed with psychology like types of families and social behavioral issues do not mix. Part of me wishes I could of just gone to a 4 year BSN program and been done but at the same time, I like learning this LPN stuff and I know I will have a good paying job but sometimes it's frustrating trying to stay on top of studying, in class assignments, and homework. I'm ready for this to be over. August is within reach and I just have to keep chugging along.

     We started our "lifespan" lecture today on chapters 1,2, and 3. It was so BORING. I've already taken this course a few years ago at my community college but since I owe my community college and couldn't request a transcript to get out of it, I'm stuck with it yet again. We basically talked about simple things about life like how important it is to eat right and exercise and use natural ways to relieve stress through breathing techniques and guided imagery. We also talked about how different cultures may want to receive different medical treatment. Like some cultures don't want to use pain medicines, they like to use essential oils and stuff like that. It is interesting information it is just boring the way that my instructor relays it to us. I'm ready to graduate and move on!

     This morning I checked to see how much my next power bill is. It's only $75! That is a huge drop compared to the winter time when it ranged from $226-$280. That makes me feel good knowing I will actually be able to use some of my paycheck to put towards my medical bills! Being a broke student sucks but when good things like this happen, it reminds me that after school is done I will be able to work full time again. The days are really narrowing down with just 128 to go until graduation. The labor and delivery clinical rotation is amazing. I love postpartum in the mother-baby unit. That was the motivation I needed to get my act together and it also helped me decide that at some point in the future, I will be going back for my BSN so I can work in the L&D unit. Nursing school is awesome and I cannot wait to start my career!