Tunnel Vision

I am forcing myself to take 5 minutes to add an entry because the whole reason I started this thing, was so I could document "as I go".....apparently "going" is pretty much all I can handle these days. I made it through week 6 (holy crap) and am on my second cold bug.....and this one is more like an upper resp infection that is also affecting my lungs....awesome. I have gained a few pounds (but am re committing myself to proper nutrition and exercise), made some amazing friends, given up on fantasies about 'pleasure reading' and 'TV nights', increased my caffeine tolerance by 300 percent, discovered my favourite Brand (or 2) of scrubs, questioned my sanity, and have somehow stayed on top of paying the bills, playing with Paige, book fairs, groceries, car maintenance (new 350 dollar air hose, pfffft) and maintaining my relationship with #1BF.......And that's just scratching the surface!
I can now do a full set of vitals, a head to toe assessment, including focused assessments, morning care, mobility/transfers, restraints and more. Med administration starts week 7. I know so much more about stroke, heart failure, pneumonia, inflammation, phenomenology, humanism, empathy and contact precautions....getting to know tumours.. and I have seen, heard,  and smelled ALOT of interesting things in the past 6 weeks!


Paige is doing quite well with her new schedule and we really enjoy our dinner talks about school. She is growing so fast and I seem to love her more everyday. I am so blessed to have such love in my life.


I am starting to get to know myself as a Nurse. I like this part of me. I have such a natural commitment to advocacy, it seems to be at the root of my being. I feel a real sense of responsibility, compassion, and care for my patients and I love to provide care for them....even if they aren't always super thrilled to see me :) I am still a little nervous when I get to the hospital, but I feel such a sense of duty that the nerves get pushed to the background. I feel at home in this role and it just "feels right", I mean it feels hard, and scary, and like so much more than I can handle some days, but in the core of my being it feels like home. That is an overwhelming feeling in itself, finally discovering what I want to be when I grow up. That little truth, that 'knowing' is what keeps me grounded, it is the calm in the centre of my whirlwind of a life. I have 2 midterms tomorrow, clinical on Tuesday including midterm evaluation and a quick patient presentation, clinical and another exam on Wednesday, PBL group thingy and 5 drug cards due on Thursday and sweet, sweet Pathophysiology on Friday.....Oh and I work Thursday night and Saturday night....It's a lot......I try to focus on that little nugget of truth..."I am exactly where I am meant to be". 


Almost....I mean right now 'exactly where I am supposed to be' is studying patho notes, so I will get back to that. I am tired, determined, full of hope,  and focused....20 sleeps 'til spring break.


xoxo
Alana- Student Nurse

Adjusting

Well, I'm done week 1! I am exhausted. The combination of getting up way earlier, not being able to sleep at night, and taking the long way to every class while carrying my 20 pound bag has officially tired me out. Aside from being  almost the most tired I have ever been (close second to the first week with a newborn), I am equally as happy. Even though the busy schedule of the past few days has had me explore every corner of  the beautifully spaced out campus....(which reminds a lot of that movie "the labyrinth") and has added at least 2 hours to my nightly reading, I feel calm. I have taken in so much information over the last 2 days that my brain hurts, and in 3 days I will be in the hospital dealing with patients, but I somehow feel relief. It's like everything I read is relevant, I understand the books, and I feel a bond, not only with my classmates, (who are awesome) but with Nurses in general. I am paying my dues. I am going to be tired for 3 more years. I am ok with that. I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be, doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing, and that somehow gives me strength....having Tim Hortons on campus is also helping :) I have been getting up at 6am and trying to go to bed around 10. This is a pretty big change for me, since my many years working night shifts usually landed me in the sack around 2 am. To me, midnight was going to bed early....hence the no sleep at night the past week. I have learnt that I love mornings though....(already I am learning about myself.) I love that I get to see the sky change from black to light purple on my way to school, I love the quiet crispy air, and I love, LOVE! the snuggles I get when Paige is still groggy after her morning wake up. Early mornings are filled with so much hope as a new day begins to unravel. Its like Nursing school is the morning of the rest of my life..so full of hope and potential. I feel so supported at BCIT. They don't lie when they say that they do whatever they can to help you succeed in this program. Free teeth cleaning, free counselling, did I mention Tim Hortons? Oh, and I have used the weight room twice (ALSO FREE) and it has literally EVERY machine that I love, so I'm happy.

I am still trying to find some flow with homework, but having only attended a couple of classes, there is not a whole lot I can do. I have impressed my self with my organization so far!. I knew going in that every day would have to be visually available at any given time, right down to what I would make for dinner, and that is going great, thanks to my 60 day-colour coded-white board calendar on my wall. I have connected with my level 4 mentor and am excited to meet up with her and soak up all of her wisdom. I no longer worry about "the unknown" because I know exactly whats coming up and I can mentally prepare for it. I can also mentally prepare my picky little eater for what will be hitting the dinner table that night. What a trooper, She has tried 4 new foods in the past 2 weeks and loved them all. We have started a new routine where we each tell each other our 3 favourite things about our day, and then any negative things (thanks mom for this one)....the conversations have been wonderful. I bought some more scrubs today...because  I love scrubs...and I wanted some separate ones for clinical vs school labs.....or I just LOVE scrubs :) anyways I actually do have a little homework to do and since I'm working all weekend, I don't have much time to squish it in, so that's all for now!

Have a great week everyone
xoxo
Alana

"Don't make yourself an island"

Orientation went great tonight.  It was pretty refreshing to hear from some current students, and to put faces to some already familiar names. I still feel like throwing up though, but I am getting used to that feeling. To add to the nausea, I also feel very overwhelmed emotionally. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what's going on in me, but it just feels like alot. I know I can do it, I know that I am meant to do it, and I am certain`that I will be "fine", I think it's just the "it" that is causing some anxiety.  What is class really going to be like? For me? How will it feel to be in clinical? PBL? What about waking up for 630 am clinical? What am I going to see, smell, and hear? and how will those things effect me? I could have a hundred people tell that I can do it, but until I know exactly what "it" is, I am going to have some level of doubt. What if I can't? What if it's too much? What if I screw up?....Even as I write, I know those thoughts are silly.....but this is a pretty big change for me, and for Paige. I am so lucky to have all of the support that I have, I have a feeling I am going to need it. Something that really stood out for me tonight was the comment by a level 3 student, "don't make yourself an island here, use each other for support". It's just that I am good at being an island...I call  it "independent" :)...It's pretty clear that I will be doing a lot of learning over the next 3 years, and not just about Nursing. I'm ready. The change will be good. I just need to organize....everything. A few more things to buy in the next couple of weeks and I will be as ready as possible.

Disneyland was AMAZING. The real magic was watching my little girls eyes light up during the fireworks. She is so beautiful. I am really blessed to be her Mom and everyday I watch in awe as she transforms into a little lady. She has another loose tooth! When she hugs me and tells me she loves me, I am so grateful for my Mom and her strength. It's because of her Mom-ing that I have the courage to take this leap. I am excited to enjoy Christmas with 2 of my favourite gals. 

Really?

I bought some books today for the program. 360 bucks from craigslist, for 6 or 7 books. I feel really sick. It is starting to sink in that I actually have to start school full time in only 1 month....I am so nervous. Being accepted  was such a huge relief and a big accomplishment considering where I started, but now I actually have to do it! Lately I have been feeling very confident, ready, and eager....then I saw the size of my textbooks :( I might throw up....It's 3 years....that's a long time!......I also have a big final exam on Saturday, I leave for Disneyland on Monday and another big final when I get home....not to mention I am still tired from Vegas (I know I know, what a rough life ;) I tell everyone that I can do it, that I am ready, that I have no worries about school...but really? It's terrifying. I am 29 years old and I am throwing myself into one of the most intense Nursings programs out there! Will I have enough time to work?, to play with my princess?, to snuggle my man? to even have a shower??? It's fear of the unknown...that's always been the issue. Once I'm in it, it will be ok....right?? I mean people don't die from Nursing school......

My baby turned 6 last week. We had a wonderful party and she was a perfect hostess. yikes...I suppose if 6 years can go by at the speed of light, I will manage 3. She seems to be growing everyday, I feel sad that I have to miss even a moment of that. I try to think about all of the fun times we will have when I work 4 on 4 off, get paid holidays, and make enough money to take her travelling. I'm doing this for us....kind of hard to explain to a 6 year old.....One day at a time......One day at a time.....

I'm In!

I'M IN! I'M IN! I'm in a little bit of shock still.... On Friday October 28 at around 445 pm, I received the email notifying me that a seat has been reserved for me and as long as I supply the outstanding documents (Birth certificate, WHIMIS, CPR HCP, fit testing, Immunization review, medical form, criminal record check) I will start the Nursing program on Jan 9 2012... I am sooooooooo excited! I bought 3 pairs of scrubs today, which I will need for simulation labs at school and  my clinical rotations (which start week 2!) I brought my immunization form to BCIT health services and had the Nurse go over it with me. I was sent to get some blood work done to check my Hep B immunity to see if I need that series of shots, and I was told that I will be getting a booster in January. I have already completed CPR training and am just waiting on more instructions for the WHIMIS and Fit testing. I am so excited and totally nervous. I applied  (and was approved) for a tuition deferral since my student loan won't kick in until Jan. I am in the process of figuring out after school care for little P, since Kids club is only available Mon-Wed.... Hopefully her Daddy can help out Thursday and Friday if needed.

I am really trying to focus on my 2 courses that are in progress, but am finding myself getting easily distracted searching for videos on IV start ups, and Neonatal Nursing. Sadly my Family/Maternity clinical isn't until 2nd year...but I know I have a lot to learn before then! I know I am capable of anything, but the task ahead is a little overwhelming. Full time school, plus work, plus being a good Mommy, plus keeping myself healthy....It will be a bit of a balancing act to say the least.

In the next 9 weeks (and 4 days) before classes start, I have planned a 4 day trip to Vegas with #1 sis, a 5 day trip to Disneyland with #1BF, and #1Kitty, Paige will turn 6, Christmas is coming fast and bringing a much needed visit with #1Mommy, I have to spend 1000 bucks on textbooks and attend orientation on Dec 15, 2 final exams...each worth 30 percent of my final grade.......plus I have to work, lose 5 pounds, organize a study space for myself and try to relax before the whirl wind of Nursing school hits!
Wish me luck? I am gonna need it!
xoxo
Alana (officially a Nursing Student)

Shortlisted

Today is good day. Today I got one step closer to the life I am trying to create. (Today was actually OCT 5). There were approximately 700 applicants for the program. 180 have been shortlisted. I am one of them. There are 96 seats for the Jan start, so I'm still treading in deep waters, but trust me when I tell you the excitement I am feeling right now, is something I plan to hang on to until the bitter end. I want this so badly, so I stay positive and do everything in my power to try and will it into my reality....and yet it is so far out of my control. What if I get in? lol. It's just that all my hard work is 'almost' paying off. I have to write a letter of intent and collect my references....HOLY COW!!! shortlisted.....finally! I almost didn't write this entry because I didn't want to jinx my chances...stupid huh? I have learned from my little princess that every achievement deserves celebration. Being in the top 25% is certainly an achievement. I can do this! I've got this....and if I don't get in...which is ridiculous....I'll get 'em next time.

I started receiving emails last night that some of the other members on my regular forums had been shortlisted....i started to panic. "where is my letter", "why haven't I been shortlisted?"... "oh no, they don't want me"....the mind is an amazing thing. I totally created this alternate world where they were picking from the best to the worst and I was not even going to get a letter at all. This morning I woke up, checked my email every 5 minutes for about 3 hours then decided I couldn't take it anymore. I emailed the contact I had in the Nursing department, told her I felt sick to my stomach about it, and asked for any insight she could offer. She said many nice things including that my application was well received and I had been shortlisted....also that they were going in alphabetical order :) not the best to worst scenario I had invented.....I have had butterflies ever since. I picked up Paige early and took her on a dinner date to celebrate. I'm still in shock a little bit but so grateful for this acknowledgement. Just being considered, I feel, validates most of the long hours I have put into my studies. MOST, not all. :) Staying positive that things will work out in my favour
xoxo

Time goes so Fast

Well everyone, it's official. My baby is in grade one!! First few days have gone smoothly....and she has become a teenager overnight... she still loves to snuggle though so I am thankful for that. I started ethics and anatomy, both online, last week. I am enjoying them both although I feel that ALOT of memorization is in my near future....I know quite well the difference between pulmonary and respiratory  systems now, as well as the major difference between ethics and morals and how we develop and shape these. I still haven't heard from BCIT but I did run into an old customer at the Rusty Gull tonight who, to make a long story short, might be able to put in a good word.....the things people say when they have had a couple drinks though....can't really take that too seriously. I have a good feeling. All I can do is wait and enjoy the experience of possibility. I may not know my future for certain, but that might be what keeps me going. A maybe is always better than a no. Tomorrow (or today I guess) is Monday. Time to start another week. Time to hit the gym and the books...and the salad :)

My little angel lost her first tooth tonight. I'm sad that I couldn't be there but with the way it was just hanging on, I knew it couldn't last. Time goes so fast. This is something that I am learning as I go along. The speed of time is not measured in seconds, but in moments, in memories. It's the moments that keep zipping by, the memories that fade. The seconds will tick and the hours pass, but those measurements can only be validated by the moments that fill them. It seems no matter how hard I try to breath in the beauty of the world, things are just zipping by. I am a Mother, to a grade one girl who is missing one tooth.......and yet just yesterday she was learning to walk. Where does it go? Time....And while my baby seems to be growing at the speed of light, when it comes to my career moving forward and the application process for school, time seems to be standing still.

I love hiking. I really didn't do much of it until the last couple of years, but I love it so much. Especially in Vancouver. I guess it's time to hit the grind again tomorrow. For now, I must sleep. It's late and I'm tired. I have a lunch date with a very special little lady tomorrow. Talk to you soon
xo