Coronary Care Course...starts tomorrow!!!

Yep, I think I set a new personal best between finishing one major educational goal, and launching right back to the school setting.

Tomorrow, I'm lucky to be starting my Coronary Care course. It is a very intense, focused 40 hour course designed for ER nurses. And I get to start tomorrow!!!

Otherwise, I'm mostly just doing fun things with the family. I was volunteering a lot these past few days in my daughters' school. I simply love being able to do that.

As far as the job front is concerned, I'm also laying low with sending out applications. This weekend we are going on a trip that has been booked and looked forward to for at least half a year now. We are off to Europe -- I'm going back to my second home away from home, to France.  I've got dual citizenship, both European and Canadian. When I'm here, I want to be there, and when I'm there, well, I kinda want to be there, but also miss Canada a whole lot.

Any way I look at it, life is good. Life is great. And I am so incredibly grateful for it all.

Kate

Almost there!!!

Last night I took my Jurisprudence exam, and passed it.

I was stressed going into it, because I'd heard from people that it was very difficult and that they barely finished in time.

Well, it definitely was not easy, but it was very do-able. And, I finished it with 1 hour 43 minutes to spare. So much for stressing about the time constraint.

There is officially just one more exam standing between me and me being a Registered Nurse.

Bring on the NCLEX!!! (Yet, I still am waiting for my provincial nursing College to send me the 'go ahead' to register for it. In the meantime, I study more...)

Almost RN (so, so close now!!!),
Kate

The Anti-climax Phase of Nursing School

I must admit, finishing nursing school is extremely anti-climatic. After all those weeks, months and years (!) of counting down to the finish date, of doing last exams, last papers, last presentations and last clinical shifts, it is suddenly over. The toasts are made and the champagne is thoroughly enjoyed.

And now what? The anti-climax.

So nursing school is done, but we are in limbo. The huge licensing exam looms huge over our heads, since without a license, we cannot practice. Job applications are submitted, and we wait. And study. And wait some more.

It is another phase of transition in this career change, and those of you who know me, know that I am n-o-t a fan of transition. Deep down in my heart, I simply know that everything will work out and I'll be looking back at this post thinking, "If I knew then what I know now, I'd not be worrying about anything." And truth be told, I'm not worrying. It is more of an unsettled feeling. My routine and structure from the past four years of school is suddenly gone, the final clinical rotation that had us working full-time is over, and it is not yet replaced with working.

I think I spent about a good 10 days just de-stressing and relaxing and exercising. I hadn't realized just how tense and how much work the past few years have been. Now my head is clearer, and I've started studying for the licensing exam. On a very bright note, I wrote the CAT exam last week, to practice for the NCLEX, and got the "good" pop up after only 85 questions. So that, plus the HESI results, have greatly increased my confidence for the licensing exam, and have helped my motivation to start studying again (even though nursing school is finished!).

Tonight I will be teaching my daughter's Girl Guide unit their first aid badge. I have so many activities planned for them. It is going to be so much fun!

Rocked the HESI today!!!

I did the HESI, part one, back in November, 2014. I did OK, better than average, but not the 900+ score to be aiming for. The test gave me an outstanding study package based specifically on my results. In theory, it was going to be great to review all that and then take the test, part two, and improve.

Well, somehow, the second test sprang up on me, and it was today. I managed to review a few of the great gems of knowledge that I needed improvement on, yesterday. I spent most of last week, since Tuesday when the last class presentation happened, just feeling layer upon layer of stress evaporate and leave my system. It was a very strange few days, coupled with spring allergies/cold hitting me. I was definitely in a strange mental fog for the better part of last week. Post nursing school stress disorder??? Lol. Let`s hope not!

Today, I slunk into the exam, with all my great plans of studying gone. I was just hoping to not do worse on today's exam, than on the previous one.

I came out of there with a 914 and a new sense of confidence!!! Woot!!! Woot!!!

I am so happy and relieved. I guess I did learn something more in the past half year. Whew!

My first application package from my provincial college of nurses arrived, I'm mailing it back tomorrow, and then I wait for the official invitation to write the NCLEX. I'd love to get it done sooner rather than later, but want to feel (reasonably) confident that I'll be successful on the first try.  Here in Canada, we only get three chances to pass, unlike in the USA, where I understand they get unlimited attempts. Three strikes and you`re out. That would be a disaster.

To end on a positive note -- all is well in HESI land, and I expect full time studying for the NCLEX to start tomorrow!

Cheers,
Kate

Nursing School is DONE

It really, truly is finished. Today we gave our last presentations that summed up our nursing school journey and beyond. It was a nice way to end the program.

I am still a bit incredulous that it is finished. Back in another transition phase. Transition that I always find so unsettling.

The College of Nurses for my province has sent me a package that I need to complete so that I can write my licensing exam. I have filled out my temporary licence application form. I have a job lined up for as soon as I get my temporary licence, in primary care. I'll be working part-time at the clinic for the summer, and then switch to full-time in the fall, when the children go back to school.

In the summer, I'd also like to get to know the people in a couple clinics very close to my home, and try to get casual positions there, a couple nights per week, or on weekends. Variety is the spice of my working life.

In the fall, I'll head back to school, to get my post-RN certification as a trauma nurse. Hopefully, a year from now, I'll be working in a clinic part-time and at a local hospital ER part-time. That would be simply awesome.

In the meantime, I need to start studying for my NCLEX, so that I pass is on my first try.

We also have an awesome trip to Europe booked for May, so that is something I'm very, very much looking forward to for next month.

Life is so great. I am so incredibly grateful for the many blessings I've been lucky to receive in my life. Even though this is a transition phase, it is great.

I'm a nurse!!!!! I did it!!!!!

My nursing school courses are all done

Yes, it is really true. The academic component of my nursing program is finished. I've passed all my courses. I have no more quizzes, papers, tests or exams as part of my BScN program.

This new reality is still sinking in, even though its been a couple of days now. It is still sinking in.

I have 7 days left of my last rotation. The semester is officially over on April 14.

Even though its been a very long 4 years, it has truly flown by when I look back. I'm beyond grateful it is so close to being finally done. It seemed so daunting and far away at the start, and suddenly it is done.

Now I get to re-focus and start living my life again with no school stuff hanging over my head. Of course, that will last as long as it takes to start studying full-out for the NCLEX licensing exam, and then my post-RN certification courses that I'm already planning to take... But that is different. Those are purely interest courses that I'm choosing to take. Nursing school was a choice too, yes, but there were quite a few courses that I'd definitely not have chosen to take, had they not been a mandatory part of the curriculum! Lol. The courses I take from here on in, are purely my choice, based on interests.

And speaking of interests, this is the time when I get to re-awaken, and start re-discovering my pre-nursing school interests. Tennis? Play more piano? Dust off my saxophone that's been staring at me and making me feel guilty for the past 4 years? Writing for fun? Zumba? Pilates? I'm not quite sure where to start, and in my typical fashion, want to start everything at once...

Anyhow, this picture below captures EXACTLY how I am feeling now (I hope it gets better soon):

Signed, Sealed & Delivered

My last (hopefully ever!) scholarly article is finished, and was submitted yesterday. I'm still not quite truly believing that it is done, but my logical mind reassures me that it is. The email I also got that confirmed it being submitted, also helps reassure me. Anyhow, it is done, and I am feeling a sense of enormous relief.

I have about 20 more shifts left in my last rotation. I survived winter camping last weekend with my daughter, and am still recovering from the lack of sleep. There is a mountain of work for me to do around the house...stuff that's basically been 'on hold' for the last while, some since the second week of January.

The pressure and stress of the semester, and frankly, of the past 4 years is starting to lift. I have an evening shift today, so am basking in the free time I have this morning. One last little quiz to do on March 24, and then the academic component of the nursing program is officially finished.

What will I then do with myself and all my newly available free time?

Oh yeah, the "little" detail of starting to study for the NCLEX will become top of mind. Even though I may have soon finished nursing school and graduated from that, without successfully passing the licensing exam, the NCLEX, the exam that tests everything you've learned over the past 4 years, all that work is for nothing, as you cannot work as a nurse without a license.

Goody. More studying to look forward to. But not right now. This morning I am still basking in the post-last-scholarly-paper-submitted bliss.

Kate