Great Advice!

I discovered a wonderful youtube resource! A woman, who is older and has a family, has a channel walking through people through her nursing journey. She has some AMAZING advice! There are 3 videos with her going through what you can do to prepare before starting nursing school as well as what to expect when you get there. She also is nearly done with a 4 part series on how to prepare for clinicals and what to expect there. Her videos are very thorough and she always seems to think of EVERYTHING! Check her out if you're nearly there, and I'll do some updates later on and let you know how her advice has worked for me, since everyone learns differently.

 http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5_t5CWfXFZ38IKqav1RFzw

Make sure you take notes! She gives you a lot of really useful information!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

My first Vlog in a Blog!

Just going through some of my supplies and books. I am sorry about the background noise from the kids, but really, anyone following my blog will likely have kids and understand, right?

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

End of the year update, and new year ahead!

So, I just realized that I never really went into how the year ended. I did manage to get the lowest score on the test and still get an incentive. I got a 63% on the HAPS, which gave me an automatic B+ in the class, which is good, since I would've flunked it with the professor I had. She was good, but very tough. Overall I did really well and ended with a 3.8 gpa for the semester.

Now it's just a waiting game. I worked as a tutor over the summer and now have a little time off before nursing school starts. My orientation is August 15th and I start on the 19th. I will hopefully have a video up for you guys either today or tomorrow going over the books and supplies I have so far, as well as introducing you to my wonderful children! :) There will also be a follow up video detailing the rest of my books and supplies as well as orientation. 

I'm super excited guys and I can't wait to finally start this long journey. I really hope someone finds this helpful in some way or another. 

Keep on going guys! We're almost through the calm before the storm! Let's be ready!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

End of year 1

I'm wrapping up my first year of college. Tomorrow is the start of finals week, and I'll begin it with a bang. I'll be taking the HAPS exam, for anatomy and physiology. For those that haven't heard of the exam, it's a nationwide exam given to students who have finished both semesters of anatomy and physiology. It's fully cumulative, so it covers every last detail you learned in 1&2. Because of this, it shouldn't be surprising that the national average is 50%. My instructor is not using this as the final. The actual final will take place on friday and will only cover a&p 2. Instead, she's offered us a bit of an incentive to do well, since this determines her funding. If we manage to get better than a 63, we get a B on the final. If we somehow manage to not miss more than 29 questions, she'll give us an A in the class. Needless to say, I want that A, but I'll take the B as well. It's tough, since there's nothing I cam do to prepare, except read over notes and just refresh my memory. To make matters worse, I also have an algebra test tomorrow just before my HAPS. Nothing like good 'ol math to mix up your thoughts.

Once this is over, I'll be taking the summer off in order to take a breath and relax before diving into nursing school. I'll let you know when the time comes whether that was a smart decision or not. I'm taking a speech class alongside nursing. I'm not too worried about it. I've already had speech, but it didn't transfer, so I have to retake it. My nursing course is just Fundamentals of Nursing. It's 8 credit hours and includes a clinical block, two lecture blocks, and a lab block. I have some of my books and supplies, but I'll do a full blog once I get all of my supplies.

Well, wish me luck tomorrow. Hopefully, if I drown in this test, perhaps I'll be able to give you some basic swimming lessons! ;)

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

Guess what guys...

I DID IT! WOOT! I was told it could take as late as May to find out if I made it into the nursing program, but a surprise showed up in my email a bit ago! That's right! I am officially a nursing student! I still have a lot of hoops to jump through between now and this coming fall, but I'm going to sit back and enjoy my accomplishment!

More to come after I've finished partying and celebrating!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

How I survived Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy and physiology. I searched for months around the internet before going into college for nursing, and the biggest challenge that everyone spoke about? This single class. Yes, they complained about clinicals and the nightmarish pharmacology tests, but this was the single piece of nursing school that stuck out. When I finally went to my first day of A&P I, I honestly half expected a meaner, nastier Trunchbull to be standing at the head of the class. You know, the disgusting principal from Matilda...

I remember having nightmares with her in them. Instead, I was greeted with a wonderful professor who seemed a tad timid, at first, but certainly was passionate about her subject. I'd like to share with you some things that I wish I had known going into this class the first time around:

1. It's only a nightmare if you make it one. This class is really just like any other. You get what you put out. If you don't come to class, or if you decide not to study too much or at all, then you are going to have much to show at the end. It's basic logic. You put in the work, and you get rewarded with a good grade in the end.
2. Use all available resources! By resources, I'm talking about more than you textbook and lab book. I'm talking, using the lab any chance you get. There will be a lot of models to know and not enough time IN CLASS to know them. Therefore, you will need to put in more effort outside of class to really be familiar with them.
3. Find out how you learn best NOW. Everyone has SOMETHING that helps them learn. For some people it can be as simple as reading the textbook and reviewing the notes. For others, it can be flash cards, or a simple game. For me it's music. This semester I used a song to help me learn the bones of the body as well as the muscles. I couldn't use a song to really point out the muscles to me, but it at least gave me a word bank on the test itself. Find your method BEFORE you enter those doors. You want to find a good study plan and stick with it!
4. Study Groups! These can be hit or miss. Some people find they get off topic too much and do more talking than studying, but if you can get your group focused, this can be the absolute BEST way to study! If you don't know something, you have a wealth of knowledge surrounding you, and if they don't know? You have something to find out together, and I guarantee you, by the end of it, you'll know it by heart. It's also nice to have someone there that can quiz you. You can look at terms all you want, but it's wonderful to have someone there who can come up with questions you may not have thought about.
5. Get your sleep! This is one that you should already know, but I will reinforce it because it's important. Cramming for a test the night before, all night, is a sure way to fail. Don't believe me? Ask anyone who's done it. Even if they've never failed, they probably don't have an A or B in the class and, trying to get into nursing school, you can't afford to having anything less. So if you find you forgot about a test until last minute, don't be tempted. Review your notes, let me repeat that, REVIEW your notes, then get a good nights rest! Get up a little earlier if you need to and go over them again and I know you'll do better on the test than if you had given into that temptation.
6. Keep your study sessions SHORT! I watched a study skills lecture online once that put to words something I already knew. When you sit down to study, you're really attentive the first bit, then you start to get that brain fog. EVERYONE knows what I'm talking about, that fog that makes it hard for you to focus and comprehend the information. That, my friends, should be your cue to take a 15 minute break. No more no less, but that break MUST be taken. I like to review my notes before a big exam, but I always make sure that I time it so I have 15 minutes before the exam to take a quick break. The worst thing you can do to yourself is go into the exam with that fog looming over you. I did it once this year, psychology, and failed that exam. I was frustrated that I couldn't comprehend the questions, and stressed because of the timer that wouldn't stop so I could clear my head. Not a good feeling!
7. Finally, Don't freak yourself out! Everyone should have a bit of stress going into an exam. This is normal and actually helps you. Keep your goal in mind and work your butt off for it, but don't over do it. This is easier said than done. The beginning of the semester, I literally cried and started tallying points on my lab reports in chemistry scared I wasn't going to pass. I nearly cried during the first exam. Needlessly. I had myself worked up over nothing. You can do anything you believe you can do. If you freak and constantly tell yourself you're stupid or that there's no way you'll pass a test, then you're right. You are stupid and there is no way you'll pass that test. STOP THAT! Break the cycle and put forth your best effort. Remember, your best effort is whatever you believe it to be. I believe I am capable of A's. Did I come close to straight A's in high school? HA! My first two years of college? HAHA! I got overwhelmed and settled myself in to the fact that I am a C student and can't get straight A's. So what did I get? Mostly C's. Hmmm... My first semester here I had something I wanted more that anything, a nursing acceptance letter. I knew I needed good grades to get in. If I really was a C student, then I should've even bothered trying. No one will take someone who can't get above a C in their generals. I finally had something to work for, and I went into the semester telling myself that I will get there, no matter what. I CAN get the grades needed. I'm a smart person. Before you think it, no, you're not dumb. If you were dumb, then you wouldn't have a high school degree, the college wouldn't have accepted you, and you wouldn't even be trying. If you're dumb then why are you in college? Because you know you can do this, you just need the confidence to accept that thought. You aren't bragging, you aren't showing off, you're accepting yourself for who you are, and you are a very intelligent individual who is capable of getting the grade you go after. You still have to put the work in, of course, but I imagine you'll find test taking and studying a TON easier.

These are my secrets. Nothing special, nothing fancy. Just an order of self confidence and a great support group. You can do this. You can do ANYTHING. This is a challenge, and that's what it's suppose to be. Embrace that and love it! If you go into nursing for the right intentions, then this class should be an amazing journey! Not an insurmountable nightmare. Just take a deep breath and jump in head first. As long as you're prepared mentally and physically, then there's no reason why you'd drown.

Keep working hard and NEVER give up!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

Finals and full schedule

As of today, I have finished 3 out of my 4 finals. I still have to take my anatomy and physiology final tomorrow, then I'll finally be finished with this semester! I was finally able to get my last couple classes. I'm taking medical terminology. My adviser said it would be a huge help in nursing, and every nursing student will testify that you should take every leg up you can get! I'm also taking study skill online. I'll wait and see if it's worth adding to the load, but I'm told it's a fairly easy class, and could potentially help me.

I will go off and do what everyone has been looking for, my guide to anatomy and physiology. I will also be doing one for chemistry, but I feel A&P is more important right now.

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey