So....

So….the first mass email went out to the 18 of us who made it into Podunk U’s Accelerated BSN program.  So…now we can all get to know each other! :)

So…I’ve added 10 of them to my facebook friends already.  Pretty cool to ‘meet’ everyone!  I was in Chem I with one of the girls.  On the demographic front, out of the 10 I’m facebook friends with, 4 people are older than me; 5 younger; 1 unknown.  Youngest is 23; oldest 44.

So…oooooh.  So I’ve already done both good and bad on my first set of two Chem II quizzes.  Yuck.
So...I'm TB negative.  My Hep-B-shot-arm still hurts like hell.  My nurse Wendy is awesome and looked up that tetanus I got back in 2006.  They said it was a bug bite and I needed the shot; a week after that, the town of Podunk had an outbreak of staph infections of the skin that even closed a couple of the schools for disinfection.  That's what I think I had.

So…Looks like I’ll be traveling for the bank next week to help implement Reg E.  That’s the legislation that just changed that will keep you from being able to use Overdraft Privilege with your debit card, unless you Opt In.  So…I don’t know about you, but when I’ve got a basket full of groceries on the conveyor belt at Walmart, I’d rather incur an Overdraft fee and it clear, than have no fee but get declined with all my groceries sitting there and leaving the store with a red face.

So…I am worried about travelling when I have a chapter of a class that I struggle with due every other night.  But the bank pays me well to travel.  As long as my hotel has Wi-Fi, I guess I’ll get my homework done!

So…I’m taking a CPR class with a bunch of lifeguards at SIX AM tomorrow.  Wowza that’s early.

So…all of the ladies that I’m in class with are all fit.  Makes me a bit self-conscious for not having worked out in the last year.  Kinda makes me want to do a bit of a crash diet before Orientation on the 18^th! (I know, I know, crash anything isn’t good, blahblahblah).

So…tomorrow afternoon, all of my banking cronies and I are showing up at a collegue’s birthday party.  He knows about his party, but doesn’t know about us!

So…now you know.  

I'm out at work

LOL, as in, people now know that I'm leaving for nursing school.  It's not a secret anymore.
My last day at work is 7/27/10.  Craziness.
The two-best-bichon-kids-ever came home from their extended Memorial Day stay at the vet.  Tater, my boydoggie, has tested positive for heartworms.  Of course, a meltdown ensued.  My poor little boy.
It'll be about $500 to treat him, but how the hell could I not?  He's my kiddo.  And when I bought him, I told him I'd be a good momma.  So, we'll treat him and hope like hell he doesn't have any complications.   
He'll start those this coming monday.  Twinkie, my girldoggie, is fine, minus a bit of arthritis.  She IS fourteen, afterall.
Chem II starts today.  Thrilled.
Must....go...to....work....ugh!

Much ado about everything

Lots to do and all due quickly!  This IS an accelerated program ya know!
By June 18th orientation, I need:

• A TB Skin test
• Evidence of a tetanus in the past 10 years (pretty sure I got one in 2005-2006...now just getting documentation...)
• Another MMR (I'm old enough that I didn't need two for school)
• One of series of 3 Hep B immunizations

By July 28th start date, I need:

• Bunches of forms signed
• Evidence of CPR certification
• Transcript of 'C' or better in Chem II

I have also been waiting to pay my parking spot premium to see if I would need a spot across from the nursing building.  Regular paid spot, $250.  Across from Nursing Building (and in our new parking garage that is being paid for off of my premium), $400.  Ugh.  My campus has proven over and over again, though, that you'll be lucky to find a free spot at all.  Not a good free spot...one at all.  The $250 this last year saved my arse more than a couple of times when I was cutting the time close.  And I could cut the time more closely, which helped since I was at work until I went to class.

The good news about Chemistry II is that I don't have as much pressure on me.  As long as I pull a 'C' I'm golden.  Slacker as that sounds, this formerly-straight-'A'-student knows her limitations.  Now I'm in the program, and if I get a B, yes, it will drop my GPA slightly (from a 3.9, yo!) but it won't exclude me from the program--my main point of concern for the past year.  So yea!

The only CPR class I could find through an online search that fit my timeline was one that is a little over an hour away.  I hope to make some calls today and find a local class.  I did see online that it is National CPR week, so ya'd think that I could find a class a little closer.

I'm turning in my resignation letter today.  Wish me luck on that.  My boss has known all along that I would be going sooner or later, depending on what program I finally picked and depending on the program that picked me.

I hope the headaches that have been plaguing me as of late will soon abate (rhyme all the time!).  I enjoyed my Memorial Day weekend infinitely less due to headaches.  Guess I'll have to mention them when I go see my primary care doc for all my immunizations and script refills.

I'm REALLY glad I'm blogging.  Good to vent the ol' pressure cooker.  I've done YouTube vids under another moniker, but they take time to conceptualize and to edit.  Blogging, well, it's as easy as "Dear Diary."

Memorial Day Musings

Hanging out at my friends house for the Memorial weekend and all I
can think about is how I'm about to be a banker no more.
It's all I've done for the last 10.5 years. Pretty much my whole adult
working life.
What a radical change I've decided to make.
I have to admit, my first reaction when I found out I was 'in' was not
joy but overwhelming anxiety. It was an hour-and-a-half until I could
go home and cry on Goatee-Man's shoulder. Once I got that over and
done with though...I have to admit, I finally allowed myself to feel
the tiniest bit excited.

I haven't saved as much money as I wish I had. I don't want to cash in
my 401k. But I will if I have to. That was what my anxiety stemmed from.

Money.

Not the transition. As one of my friend's really wise hippy-sage-of-a-
dad says, " If money can fix it, it's not a problem."

So money can't be my emphasis.

I'm confident in my abilities. Not as a nurse, because I don't know
anything about that yet. But in ME, my abilities as a leader and
teacher and learner. That I am confident in.

I'm thankful for the last 10+ years as a banker for that.

Sent from my iPhone

No more waiting.

And so it begins!

I do think it's funny that it says "2009 class."  LOL  Oh well, it could say Whatever class, as long as the rest of the dates are on there...and I'm in!

Date to shoot for

Well, I now know that I'm waiting for the first week of June for acceptance/rejection letters.  That's only next week.  At least I have a date to shoot for!

I trained an advocate for the legalization for marijuana for the bank last week.  Wonder how THAT'S going to work out.  HR didn't know his stance before hiring.  He's smart enough to do the job...we'll see.

Hmm, also trained some Loan Assistants on a system yesterday that they have to know by a week and a half from now.  Last time the bank tried to take away the old system, an (a?  should be 'an' but it doesn't sound right...) union-esque uprising occurred and much rejoicing resisting was met.  I think it went pretty well yesterday...helps I've done that job before on the mutual-respect front.

And this is where I must admit I am procrastinating about getting ready for work!

To the shower and to the bank- ho!  Read that however ya want with whatever emphasis, lol.

Waiting Sucks.

That is all.

Still not in but still not out!

I hate waiting.  Today is Thursday.  As of yesterday, still no word on program placement. *Sigh

Maybe I'll hear something today.  I know this is neurotic.  Can't help it. :)  I'll be better when I get a 'yes' or 'no.'

In the meantime, I am working towards and planning and using all the learning resources I can find as if I am already in my program.

Here's a great site from Jamie Davis, the PodMedic, on Nursing School strategies for us all to peruse:
http://www.nursingshow.com/student-nurse-tips/ 

Waiting and wondering.

It's the 17th.  Applications were due the 15th.  Wonder if I'll get a call today for an interview?  Nervous!

Hoping.

Sad news, though--Dean of Nursing at Podunk U lost her husband friday.  Terribly sad.  I completely understand if it delays the the process.

Keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep you posted!

Grades and the waiting game

HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LAB II	A
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II	A
CHEMISTRY I  LABORATORY	A
CHEMISTRY I	B
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY	A
SOCIAL STATISTICS	A

So that’s what a semester of mind-boggling multitasking has netted me.  Not too shabby.  I know The Program will be harder, but if I get into The Program, I will not be able to work.  And in that regard, it will be awesome.  To be able to think about studying only and not studying plus thinking about what I have to teach someone at the bank the next day…!

I have one summer class.  Chem II.  Bleh.  I do believe it sheer miracle of God that I have that bright and shining ‘B’ next to Chem I.  Seriously.  It sucked big time.  I think I could have done better if two things:  if my teacher taught and if I would have taken it seriouser.  Yes.  Seriouser.

Chem I Prof is Chem II Prof.  Chem II is online and is only one month.  (no lab this time, yea!)  I’ll be breaking out the ACE Inhibitors to make it through, I’m sure.  Hope Chem Prof remembers me and is as generous as he was the first class with the ol’ grades.

The Program.  Still don’t know anything.  I hand delivered my application packet a couple of weeks ago.  Deadline for applying is in 2 days.  Who opens applications for this long? I mean, really.  The way this deadline cuts off, I’m ineligible for almost all scholarships I’ve found because I don’t have an acceptance letter in hand yet.  The other health profession depts had their people picked before the end of semester exams.  Sigh.

I will move if I’m not granted a spot. And I'm good with that--I plan to move for the next part of my education. I have my timeline and I do not want to deviate much.  I’m a goal-setter and a make-things-happen person.

This is the first thing I’ve ever wanted bad enough that when I found I’d have to wait a year and do a bunch of things (i.e. classes) before I’d even be ELIGIBLE to be LOOKED AT for it, I didn’t balk.

Sure hope they will ask me for an interview.  If they’d just meet me, I think they might like me.

Nursing School Admission Essay

My brother, a pain management patient for most of my life, had a heart attack and died on November 5, 2007.  The compassion the nurses gave my family as we sat in the ER with my brother’s body was remarkable.  Nurses took turns standing at the head of Johnny’s bed all afternoon, allowing us time to gradually absorb the shock.  They tended to all the undignified parts of death in a very dignified manner.  Despite our loss, we thanked our nurses for their efforts and understanding.  No doubts were in our minds that Johnny (and our family) received the best care possible that day; most of it from the nursing staff.  After this experience, I knew I wouldn’t be a banker for the rest of my life.

The reasons I want to become a nurse include many experiences; “candy-striper” memories, my grad work, volunteering, and finally, the experience when we lost my brother.  I also want to be a nurse because I love to teach.  I am good at taking something technical and breaking it down into everyday language. I love science and I am a ‘people-person.’  Nursing appeals to me because I can combine all of the things I am passionate about.

My very first experience in healthcare was as a candy-striper or “Volun-Teen” at a local hospital the summer after 6^th grade.  We handed out ice chips in the maternity ward while dodging screams and thrown pillows of the women in labor.  I passed juice, coffee, and food trays after checking the board to see who had dietary restrictions.  The nurses I worked for made me feel at home.  It was a great experience.

A huge accomplishment for me was earning my baccalaureate degree in 2007.  I am the first generation in my family to complete a four-year degree program.  I liked it so much that I went back to school and got my Masters in Health Education.  Throughout my Masters program, I enjoyed learning about public health, epidemiology, and grant procurement.  By the program’s end, I was sure I wanted to move forward and get ‘hands-on’ in healthcare as a nurse. 

 I have volunteered for the United Way and I have helped with fundraisers for XXXX Children’s Hospital with the group XXXXX.  Volunteering for these groups is a way I can help people with their health, even if indirectly.

Choosing to apply to the Accelerated BSN program at XXXXX was easy because of the time-frame, cost, and the excellent nurses I know who went to school at XXXXX.  The one-year time frame makes it doable.  Your program is half the cost of other schools I’ve researched.  It just makes good sense to apply to XXXXX.

I understand that time management is of the essence if I’m accepted into the program.  I’m no stranger to time-management, as I’ve gone to college while working my full-time bank trainer job. I utilize technology to help me stay on track and set up reminders of where I should be and what assignments are due.  I also carry around a Day Planner calendar everywhere I go!

 I have been in financial preparation to quit my job for almost a year.  When I decided to work toward getting into a program like this, I realized I would need the financial resources ready for my year off work and began saving.  My husband, also employed, is excited to help me reach my goals.

Receiving this education is invaluable to me; I want to know that what I do could change someone’s life for the better.   I think my hours a nurse, though trying at times, could change MY life for the better. 

Thank you for allowing me to apply.

Nursing School Applications OPEN

So it seems that in the hustle and bustle of life, nursing school applications have finally opened.  They don't close for TWO STINKING MONTHS, which means I have close to eternity to wait on finding out if I have an interview or not.  :)  It does make it tough for figuring out financial aid and looking for scholarships though.  I cannot even apply for those scholarships without an acceptance letter in hand. :(

All of my classes rock...sans chemistry.  I have met my match.  I really hope I can get the required 'C' for the course to get in to the program.  Seriously.  And I'm a straight 'A' student.  *Shaking my head.  I have made peace with this...it is just tough not knowing how things will turn out.  All I can do (and WILL do) is try.

I have one last prereq class that I will take this summer--Organic Chemistry.  The strange thing of it is, I think I'll do better, simply because it will be a different teacher.  Chem teacher I've got is a great guy--I'd probably have a beer with him--but his teaching style is put one equation on the board and tell us all to be able to slice and dice that equation all the different algebraic ways.  Well, I'm not really very strong algebraically.  Organic will be taken at Podunk University's stepsister school about 1 hour from home.  But it is web-assisted, so most of class is online, and then I show up 3 times for an all day lab.  Sounds cool!

Anyhoo.
I adore Anatomy/Physiology II class.  Great teacher, and developing some really good friends since we've all been hanging out for almost a year now (2 semesters).  I'll be sad when we're done with that one.

On the work-front, I've been able to do some fun Trainer-y things lately at work, and the Young Professional Network that I'm part of is throwing their Leadership Conference today.  I am the chairperson of Programs.  I scored some really great speakers and even came in UNDER budget.  Coo.  Now as long as everyone shows up, I'm golden.  Everyone else's parts of the program all come down to today.  I think I much prefer doing my stressin' during the whole year we've been working on this and get to enjoy today and tomorrow.

I have lots of days at work that I downright PINE to be learning about... the rest of my life's work.  I'll get there, though.

A day in the life of a Trainer turning nursing student...

5:00 am - Rise.  No shining allowed.  Fumble for iPhone to snooze alarm.  Resist urge to throw ridiculously expensive glass gadget through the wall.

5:30 am - actually get out of bed.  ADLs for the 2 fur-kids: to the exercise pen for potty, back in for breakfast, and general running around, Bichon-style, happy ruckus.

5:40 am - Drink the first of several cups of coffee.  With half-and-half, no sugar.  Thanks!

6:00 am - remark to myself that it is time to get away from the computer.  No seriously.

6:15 am - remark to myself, SHIT, now I'm going to be late.  Quick shower, and no time to shave. Yuck.

6:35 am -  hopefully fully dressed in business attire at this point.  Pour a travel cup of coffee, a travel tumbler of tea, pack a low-carb lunch, school books, casual clothes for class, 2 sets of keys (car/house), and purse.

6:45 am - loading vehicle

6:48 am - cursing profusely, grabbing one set of keys to go back to the house to retrieve my iPhone I left charging on the 'puter

6:50 am - hit the road, listening to NPR

7:10 am - arrive to my bank Training job a full 10 minutes late.

8:35 am - change pants and shoes into school attire

8:40 am - clock out and drive to class

9:00 am - Chemistry class begins.  So does the utter confusion.  Wish this guy was a TEACHer, not just really knowledgeable about the subject.

10:00 am - walk across campus.  Sit with Chem book, try to teach myself everything the Prof just didn't.  Wait on Statistics class to begin.

11:00 am -  Hand in Stats homework no later than 11:01.  Big penalties for turning in assignments late in this class, even by more than a minute.  To the tune of 20 points.  Listen to slightly strange, slightly animated, slightly growing on me Sociology Prof teaching Stats.  I can't believe I actually kinda like this class.

12:15 pm - trek across campus to over-priced parking place. (I thank God every day for the $250 spot.  It isn't a matter of getting a good spot to park on my campus...it's getting a spot at ALL.)

12:20 pm - Drive like a banshee back to the bank.  

12:35 pm - Clock in, change back to dress pants and shoes, eat lunch while catching up on work email.

1:00-4:00 pm - Teach new-hire orientation for new tellers.  Attempt to be enthusiastic, interesting, and a TEACHer.

4:00 pm - Change BACK into school clothes (jeans and snowboots), pee before looooong commute.  Long to me, at least

4:10 pm - Clock out, load up SUV, hit the road

4:12 pm - Dig on some more NPR or whatever I've recently downloaded on my iPhone

4:55 pm - Arrive at secondary campus of college.  Catch up with my secondary campus friends, pee, and arrange all my note taking paraphernalia.

5:00 pm - Anatomy & Physiology II 'til 6:15

6:15 pm - walk down to A&P II Lab. Get ready for sheep eye dissection. Cut up with my lab partner who likes to cuss as much as I do. (cut up with lab partner, huh-huh!)

6:30 pm - 8:20  AP II Lab.  Cool shit.

8:20 pm - pack it up, haul ass to SUV, turn on NPR, and hit the road.

8:45 pm - arrive home.  Greet 14 & 9 yr old 'puppies.'  Greet hubby who has come up with something for dinner.  Go to bev fridge, pour up a tiny bit of well-deserved Barefoot Pinot.

The quick update.

The quick update:
Chemistry Lecture sucks.  The teacher doesn't teach; he just throws things on the board, and wherever they stick is what we write in our notes.
Chem Lab is ok.
Statistics, which I thought I couldn't bear, is pretty ok.  I do think I 'get' it.  Cool.
Anatomy/Phys II:  Awesome!  I love A&P
A&P II Lab: Ditto!
Sociology:  My 'gimme' class.  Don't anyone get their nose wrinkled--this is an intro class.  I can see that an advanced socio would be nothing of the 'gimme' sort.
Blerg.  Still full time at work and school.

More later!
B2B

In which I give a school (what else?) update.

Got all ‘A’s on my finals; got all ‘A’s for the semester. Weeee!

Since I wrote last, I’ve been under some extreme duress.  Since I’ve decided I really do like the sciences, why not become a physician? Instead of nursing.  Well, I’ll spare you the neurotic details, but I had a moment of clarity yesterday that confirmed my original goal of Nurse Practitioner.  Happy days; now I can celebrate Christmas since this isn’t hanging over my head any longer.

Next semester is pretty full—A&P II & Lab, 3000 level Statistics (ugh!), Sociology, & Chem I & Lab.  Most of my classes are during the day for Spring semester, which adds CONSIDERABLE stress that I will not be able to work full time. CONSIDERABLE.  Motorcycle-Goatee-Man, aka my husband works hard but is in a venture with a friend that amounts to about a part time job. (never go into business with a friend, btw).  So we’re looking at a pretty large loss of income, but my Stay-at-home-Mom raised me on just Dad’s income growing up, so I know how to live lean.  Time for me to get back to my roots on that one.  Dropping the high def cable, the UFC pay-per-views monthly, and going out to eat lunch at work every day.  Those lunches alone costs me probably $300 a month which I think is ridiculous for ANYONE.

So here’s a very exciting tidbit—I applied to Duke University’s accelerated BSN program and I WAS INVITED TO INTERVIEW. Ohmagosh.  Not that anything is a sure thing, but I don’t think that I will go to Duke for monetary purposes for my BSN.  Local Podunk-U costs$19,000 before books and uniforms; Duke is well over twice that if I figure correctly.  Plus I’d have to pay for an apartment, too.  But it is DUKE and would be one of the finest educations I could receive.  I do think I will go to the interview—I’m honored and I’m hoping that one day if I apply to their NP program, I could get another interview…!

But as all of the experienced ones say, don’t even worry about NP for now.  Worry about BSN and the skills that will make me an awesome nurse.  I get to apply to Podunk U’s Accelerated BSN starting March 15^th.  Hope I get in!

Just put my tree up today—the latest I’ve ever waited, but then, this is the most I’ve ever had to study so who had time? J

Think GoateeMan and I are going to go see Avatar.