The Life of a Student Nurse

I am so over this semester honestly. The amount of exams, papers, projects, clinicals, and just studying has really gotten to me. Especially this past month. There have just been so many exams so close together that I just have lost all hope in studying before hand. I used to (well technically I still do)  record every lecture. But in the beginning, I used to re-listen to them and take more notes and outline each freaking powerpoint… Like I was on top of all this…and now.. I still record the lecture but I dont think I have re-listened since the first peds exam. My brain is shutting down and I just am ready for break. My grades are saying.. “Go girl.. get studying!! You know the information…” Hey well I do know it, but when it comes to the exam.. I dont understand what the world they are asking and how to best answer it.

 

I need to be lounging in my PJ’s with some hot chocolate watching movie and not drowning in all this information.

 

Please refer to the picture at the end of this post. This is what I look like currently sitting in my ATI for Med Surg. My hair is falling out in clumps soon to look just like her. These exams are killing me. Especially being this early. Like yes, we are almost at Thanksgiving break. Hallelujah! But surprise there are still finals to come. And back to back. AND AT FREAKIN 8AM. how do these people think my brain works this early. ok bye

 

Can I just say that nursing school is stressful… I mean I think we all know this already but wow. I’m stressed. “Hi stressed, I’m (insert name here)” (if you know you know)

Any way, so I just wrote my EHR paper… correction, I attempted to write it but what the heck is APA and how do I do it.

 

Honestly, I am so surprised I wrote this a whole week before it is actually due because it is for an online class. I hate online classes because 9 times out of 10, I forget I’m in them. If I dont have to go physically be in a room listening to someone lecture, I mentally am just not present. It is the last thing and class on my mind. But hey. One paper down and only a cover letter, studying for too many exams and finals (whaaat), work, ATI remediation (hello what the heck is this knowledge synthesis class gonna be now that Mills is gone.. RIP to a real one), clinicals, a shoebox project, editing my peds care plan, and 2 pre-simulation worksheets to go.

 

Will I ever sleep? probably not

My body says yes and 90% of the time so does my brain. I am so tired I am unable to describe in words. I am just physically, mentally, emotionally exhausted. I’m too overwhelmed and stressed and just dealing with my own life problems to sleep. I am having trouble turning off my brain (whats new) but especially after studying. You’d think it’s good that I can’t stop thinking about Prozac’s indications and side effects at night but pretty soon I’m going to need to be prescribed. LOL (jk but anything is possible). I need sleep people. If you know me, I am a chronic sleeper. I used to be able to nap for hours everyday but now I am lucky if I can stay asleep for a full 2 hours without waking up. It’s a struggle but life goes on with or without sleep. Am I right?

 

RIP my sleep schedule.

RIP my mental health
but most importantly,

RIP to my favorite professor, Dr. Mills. You made learning fun and personal. You were always so happy and excited to teach no matter the time or weather outside.  Widener Nursing will never be the same.

Nursing school will be the death of me I swear. I mean come on. Two big exams every week. I’m stretched so thin right now and continue to wonder if I can really do it. Like I’ve said before, nursing is all I’ve every wanted to do (other than the whole princess phase). But this semester is really making me question if I am really cut out for this; if I can really retain all of this information I am cramming in before the next test. I talk to my professors about the exams and they seem to think I have all this time to sit and read every book and to all of these study techniques when I am having trouble fitting sleep and eating into my schedule. My life does not revolve around your class. Hello?? but really it is. All I do is study and read and cry and read and go through the powerpoint again and pretend I know the information.

 

I keep trying to tell  myself that it will be worth it when I walk for graduation and pass my boards. I hope I’m right. I just have to get through my 2007 Brittany Spears phase.

Catch me bald at the Pathopharmacology test in T-2.5 hours.

 

Thanks for joining me!

Hi! My name is Ellie Batson and I am currently a junior nursing student at Widener University. This blog is mainly a place where I am going to share my experiences throughout this semester of classes and clinicals. Nursing school is something that comes with so many joys but with that comes so much stress. I mean come on, in less that two short years,  I will be out in the real world and in charge of care for sick patients. How scary is that?! I can barely take care of myself.  It will get easier right? I hope!

Even though I am terrified every time I have to interact with a patient and take their vital signs in clinials, I am so blessed and sure of my decision to choose nursing. I have been passionate about nursing and helping others in need for almost all of my life. After I got over my “princess” phase, I told my family I wanted to be a nurse. I am still sure of my decision to this day. Don’t get me wrong, I have my moments of studying with tears rolling down my face, unsure if I chose right, if I can really be a nurse one day. But I know what I want and that is to be a nurse.

I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy. I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.— Art Williams