I Should Be Studying

Nursing school is no joke! It has been VERY challenging but I am having the time of my life! We have had exams every week which has kept me on my toes, and my nose in a book since I started this roller coaster ride!

I was told before entering this program, that if I expected to get straight A's, I would be severely disappointed. Well - it is so true! I have always managed to maintain an A through my college experience. Now, I am GRATEFUL for the B's that the Lord has allowed me to receive! This program is SO challenging and the pace so fast that you barely have time to finish up one test - before they throw another one at you. I am constantly struggling to kept my head above water! The content of the tests are ALSO nothing like anything I have seen before! They are all based on critical thinking skills - so straight memorization of concepts that you are learning, while it does good for you to KNOW the content, it really doesn't do you any good if you can't apply what you have learned to the situations that are presented to you in each question. For example - this is an actual question that was given to me in my Fundamentals of Nursing class:

A patient requires urinary catheterization but has difficulty keeping her legs in the usual position. The nurse has worked for many years and adapts the procedure to allow the patient to lie on her side. This action is based on the critical thinking element of
A. Curiosity
B Experience
C. Perserverance
D. Scientific knowledge

Now this question appears very straight forward, but it actually holds many different meanings. I picked the correct answer which was - B. Experience. You need to pick out key words in the question in order to answer correctly because in certiain questions - they may ALL be correct answers - you have to determine the best answer! In the above question the key words would be - has worked for many years and adapts the procedure. I don't know - maybe you can all see that "B" would be the right answer, but to me - it gets all so very fuzzy at times!!

Or try this one if you are not convinced. Now mind you - these are the easy ones - remember I am just getting started on my journey here - also - I am trying to give you examples that would be understandable without prior nursing knowledge:

The patient is able to ambulate without signs or symptoms of shortness of breath. Which statement by the nurse is the best example of an objective evaluation of the client's goal attainment?
A. Patient has no pain after ambulating.
B. Patient has no manifestations of nausea while up in hall.
C. Patient has no evidence of respiratory distress when ambulating.
D. Patient walked well and did not have any problem when up.

The correct answer - is C - Patient has no evidence of respiratory distress when ambulating.

I don't know - maybe it is just me - but THESE QUESTIONS ARE TRICKY!!! They really require you to stay on your toes - especially when you are taking an exam - because EVERY question counts against your grade!

If I fall below a cumulative grade of 75 in the class - I am out of the program! That is so stressful to everyone - because it is so hard! Every day presents NEW challenges that we have never been faced with. I could never imagine falling below a 75 - EVER! I study too hard for my classes for that to happen - but you just NEVER KNOW when it comes to this program!

I am trying to keep a positive attitude - my husband says I am so negative! I am sorry if I am coming across that way - this is all so new to me and I REALLY don't want to fail. I feel TOTALLy out of control which is disconcerting - but I NEED to start remembering everyday - that GOD IS IN CONTROL OF MY LIFE AND IS DETERMINING THE DIRECTION FOR MY LIFE!!! IF HE WANTS ME TO SUCCEED -HE WILL HAVE TO SEE ME THROUGH IT!

Please pray for me that I am able to get enough sleep - I have been surviving on about 4-5 hours a night and getting up at 3:00 in the morning to study. Please pray that I keep the RIGHT focus - and that I continue to put GOD FIRST in all tihngs - I am trying SO hard to find time to read His Word as well as study. I am trying not to panic and find the RIGHT attitude everyday. I am trying to keep pride out of my heart when I DO get a good grade - I want to remember that it is all GOD'S doing - when that happens and that He can just as easily allow me to fall on my face - if He wants me to!

More later - gotta run!
Blessings to you all,
Kymber

First Day of Nursing School

Yesterday was my first day of Nursing School and I think this picture says it all! YIKES!

I have been waiting for this day for so long and tried to be prepared for it. Our family went on vacation for a week to Florida before school started, and the whole time I was there I had my face in a book. Everyone kept telling me - "You should just relax and enjoy the time you have before school starts - because after it starts, you won't have any more free time". I am here to tell you - I am SO glad that I studied! Our first day of class WE HAD A DOSAGE CALCULATIONS EXAM!!!

Remember - this is my FIRST DAY - people! Dosage Calculations is a class in which I absolutely CAN'T make any mistakes! I have to get a cumulative grade of 80%. If I fall below an 80%, I will be asked to leave Nursing School. No stress right? Math has never been my strongpoint in school. I have to work very hard at it. To have an exam - without knowing how to REALLY do the problems, THEN having that exam count for a large part of my grade in this class - is insane!

Our day started off with wrapping up administrative paperwork, then we took time to get to know each other by everyone standing up and introducing themselves and telling why we decided to pursue Nursing. At Orientation, we started out with 33 people. One girl didn't show up yesterday - so she is out of the program. After our surprise exam, I am wondering who will fail to show up today! There were so many people yesterday who said they felt like throwing up due to all of the information being thrown at them!

After the introductions, we had a break and then we dove into Dosage Calculations - FOR THE NEXT 6 HOURS! My head was spinning and although the information was helpful, knowing that we had an exam at the end of it all - made it SO hard to absorb all of the material being thrown at us!

OKAY.....

I will calm down now - I will take a DEEP breath.....and I will prepare myself for day TWO of this wonderful new adventure......

I will remind myself Who is in charge of my destination and spend time with HIM in prayer -and I will jump back in with both feet- because I LOVE this rollercoaster I am on!

Blessings,

Kymber

Orientation

Orientation left my head spinning! Four hours went by in a flash and I STILL feel like there are questions that were left unanswered! Oh well - July 8th will come quickly now and I guess we will ALL find out then what we have gotten ourselves into!

Everyone arrived yesterday with a smile! We all have been waiting for this for such a long time and since the program is SO competitive - to have made it in, leaves us all feeling very honored to be a part of this awesome experience! There are 33 people in my class. 33 people that I will get to know well as we will be spending a LOT of time together this year! There are only 4 men in our class - and there is a wide range of ages.

We are in a new building so things are a little bit scattered right now - we are not sure where we will end up and as of now - we are elbow to elbow at our desks in a very small room. It is going to be interesting to see how small the room will feel when we each bring all of our books we will need for class every day. :)

Our class filled out the necessary paperwork and applied for background checks and drug tests, then we met with a uniform company to try on our nursing uniforms!! It felt SO great to be able to finally put one on! I am sure I will be sick of white by the end of the year! :)

We were given a large envelope filled with material to go over. There is just so much - I felt my head spinning. We went over our book list - I have nine books that I will need for the first quarter! I already have homework to be completed before the first day of class too - (Eek!)

A group of girls from the graduating class came to give us an idea about what the program will be like and to give us some ideas as to how to organize our time efficiently. We will need to bring ALL of our books with us everyday, so it was suggested that we invest in a quality rolling backpack. One of the girls said that her "Walmart" backpack only made it through 6 months! I kid you not - one of our books alone has over 1800 pages!

One of the girls said, "this program is no joke - you will have lots of fun here, but be prepared to cry ALOT as you will be pushed to the point of exhaustion. Be prepared to kiss your family and friends goodbye for this year of your life." She also said that she really didn't advise working - especially for the first quarter which has me worried - I HAVE to work two twelve hour shifts on the weekends! I have no choice in the matter. At least my hubby told me I could have a housekeeper come in every other week to clean so I don't have to worry about that.

This will definitely be an interesting year! I truly believe that this is all in the Lord's plan for my life - He has brought me to this place - He will have to see me through it! I will have to cling to Him - now just to find the extra time needed for reading my Bible - I really need to keep focused on Him and keep up my morning time with Him now more than ever - because I can't go to church and it would be TOO easy to just let my morning quiet time fall by the wayside - Lord be with me, and help me find the needed time to spend with You!!

I am SO grateful to Him for this wonderful new adventure I am on.

Off to order some books...

Blessings on your day,

Kymber

Countdown to Nursing School

It is Orientation day today and I am so excited!! I have been waiting so long for this! Today I will find out what I am getting myself into. We meet this afternoon from 12:00-4:00 to go over background checks, drug tests, order our uniforms and books and register for our classes which will begin on July 8th.

My plan is to journal as much as I can about this amazing experience so that others who are entering, or hope to enter into this wonderful field will know what to expect.

More later...

Blessings,

Temporary Home

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Blessings to you this day and always,

The Letter Is Here!

The long awaited letter arrived on Saturday. I finally made it! I received my acceptance letter FOR THE NURSING PROGRAM!

God is so good and His timing is always perfect! I was so distraught when the last school that I applied for fell through, but this school is so much closer to me and has a better reputation. School will officially start in July - which doesn't leave much time to get things done - (yikes!) With one letter, my life has been turned upside down - but I love it! My long awaited dream of becoming a nurse is coming true. I am so happy right now! (Can you tell?)

As you know, I have been severely neglecting this blog - but I just didn't feel like I had much to say - my life has consisted of just work and sleep lately! Now it seems, this blog will take a whole new direction - at least for the next year while I am in school. I will still write about my family, and turning our wonderful house into a home - but I would also like to journal about this awesome new experience that the Lord has graciously blessed me with!

For those of you who have hung in with me through my silences - thank you! I am forever grateful for all of your prayers on my behalf! I have enjoyed getting to know you and even though I haven't always been the best at commenting, I HAVE stopped off to visit you and continue to follow how you are doing. I hope that through all of this, you will continue to read and experience this with me. This is a whole new adventure and it looks like it will be a fun and bumpy ride!

For those of you who will be reading this for the nursing student experience, I will try to journal about it all as much as I am able.

SO... HERE WE GO!

Things I need to finish before school officially starts in July:

• Paint bathroom
• Paint bedroom
• Hang pictures throughout the house
• Deep clean entire house
• Prepare large meals to freeze for those days when I don't feel like cooking
• Go to the doctor for my physical/immunizations
• School Orientation at end of the month
• Order books and uniforms
• Fly to Washington for a week to visit my family
• Order glass for my new desktop

WHEW! Can I possibly get it all done in time?

I better get started - pictures to come of my progress....

Blessings,

Diamond Rio Song