I am finally deep into the second week of second semester {and already obtained that lovely back-to-school sickness}. My schedule is simple this year - one online class, two hybrid classes, and two all face-to-face classes. My only class on Mondays is in the evening and is a mini-course so after fall break, it'll be over. Also, I don't have any classes on Fridays which gives me the chance to catch up on that online class. Other than A&P 2, I think my hardest course will be Healthcare Economics simply because I don't really understand that kind of thing. So far though, I have an A and the course load seems easy for a 400-level class!
Because I've been so sick, I haven't really cared about what I wear to class as much - jeans, sandals, and a t-shirt have been my go-to. I don't like dressing down for class, especially at the beginning of the semester {unless I'm in lab - then tennis shoes it is!}. The graduate students are in one of the classrooms before my section and they all wear business clothes to class! I told my hubby this and he says his grad school will be the same way. That is very interesting to me because I can't imagine having to dress up for work and school.
Until next time!
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Everything You Need to Know About...
A&P!
Y'all, I was seriously dreading this class. To make it worse, we have to take TWO semesters of it! I eventually gave in and got a tutor who took it at her previous college. She told me she despises the way Dream School has A&P set up because the way she learned it was she had 1 semester of Anatomy and then 1 semester of Physiology, not combined like some colleges do.
Honestly, it isn't that bad.
I took A&P1 at the same time as Microbiology and although that was a huge stressor, a lot of the material we covered in one class was also taught in the other!
Science courses at Dream School are rigorous: we have to have an average of 75% on the quiz/exam portion of the course in order to pass. Meaning, you can have perfect attendance, get 100% on the homework assignments, but get an average of 73% on the quizzes/exams (meaning overall grade in the class is maybe an 80% or 85%!) and still fail the class. Say what!? This is meant to ensure students actually know the material because it is extremely important to not just skim through these gen eds.
Well, on the first exam, I got a 74%. Not too bad, right?
Second exam? Yeah, totally failed.
I knew I had to get help ASAP so I went to our academic counselor and got assigned a tutor who was the bomb! On the 3rd exam, I got a 100%. I saw the grade and I cried and cried because I didn't believe it!
Bottom line, do not be afraid to get help. I met with three of my nursing school friends and we all studied together and did the homework assignments together. THAT helped tremendously because if there was something one of us didn't really understand, there were three more explanations that were available.
A&P is typically at least 4cr because there is a lab portion. That means you should be spending at least 12 hours studying outside of class per week. That's a heck of a lot of A&P!
I invested in thousands of flash cards because A&P is all about memorization. Sad, but true.
Before each lecture, I printed off the PowerPoint notes my teacher provided online. Each lecture had anywhere from 20-100 slides… yep. It's a lot of material. I went through lots and lots of paper. I print my slides like this:
Y'all, I was seriously dreading this class. To make it worse, we have to take TWO semesters of it! I eventually gave in and got a tutor who took it at her previous college. She told me she despises the way Dream School has A&P set up because the way she learned it was she had 1 semester of Anatomy and then 1 semester of Physiology, not combined like some colleges do.
Honestly, it isn't that bad.
I took A&P1 at the same time as Microbiology and although that was a huge stressor, a lot of the material we covered in one class was also taught in the other!
Science courses at Dream School are rigorous: we have to have an average of 75% on the quiz/exam portion of the course in order to pass. Meaning, you can have perfect attendance, get 100% on the homework assignments, but get an average of 73% on the quizzes/exams (meaning overall grade in the class is maybe an 80% or 85%!) and still fail the class. Say what!? This is meant to ensure students actually know the material because it is extremely important to not just skim through these gen eds.
Well, on the first exam, I got a 74%. Not too bad, right?
Second exam? Yeah, totally failed.
I knew I had to get help ASAP so I went to our academic counselor and got assigned a tutor who was the bomb! On the 3rd exam, I got a 100%. I saw the grade and I cried and cried because I didn't believe it!
Bottom line, do not be afraid to get help. I met with three of my nursing school friends and we all studied together and did the homework assignments together. THAT helped tremendously because if there was something one of us didn't really understand, there were three more explanations that were available.
A&P is typically at least 4cr because there is a lab portion. That means you should be spending at least 12 hours studying outside of class per week. That's a heck of a lot of A&P!
I invested in thousands of flash cards because A&P is all about memorization. Sad, but true.
Before each lecture, I printed off the PowerPoint notes my teacher provided online. Each lecture had anywhere from 20-100 slides… yep. It's a lot of material. I went through lots and lots of paper. I print my slides like this:
For the layout, I print handouts with 3 slides per page, that way there are lines next to each slide in case I need to write my own notes. (This is a PowerPoint for Statistics - I couldn't bear to open up my A&P folder during summer ;))
During the lecture, I took any notes and highlighted my PowerPoint slides as the professor went along. Also, I got permission from him to record the lecture with a mini-recorder. Then, I uploaded the recording to my iPhone and listened to the lecture again while working out! When I met with the academic counselor, she had me do an array of tests to see what kind of learner I am… turns out, I am a bodily/kinesthetic learner. All along, I thought I was more of a visual learner, which is why I wasn't doing so well on my tests. After I got this bit of info, my test scores went up dramatically because I was absorbing the material in a way that works for me. She also advised me to get a stress ball or something I can squeeze while in class and although that might seem like a distraction, doing something with my hands helped! I'll make a post about these types of learner tests in the future. :)
After the lecture, I went back through my notes just to check if there was anything I missed or had further questions about. Being a kinesthetic learner, I have a hard time reading a text book. Instead, I keep the book on hand to go back through and fill in the missing information. I also make a ton of flash cards with vocabulary I might see on future quizzes or tests. Lastly, I invested in some colorful paper that I use to draw diagrams, make charts, etc that also helped me learn.
There were a few concepts I just couldn't grasp. One of them being everything that has to do with the nervous system. My husband knows nothing about A&P so I tried to teach the material to him and found this really works. Trying to teach someone something you aren't very confident about helps you to retrace your steps, especially if they ask questions. Even if he wasn't listening very intently, I still was able to put the knowledge in my head onto paper, then speak it out loud. Ironically, I aced my nervous system test ;)
The internet is fabulous. I used countless YouTube videos, Pinterest boards, and A&P blogs to get through my first semester of A&P. When there is something you just can't understand, try a search and find someone who does understand and learn it that way.
A&P2, ready or not, here I come!
Getting Ready for B2S!
Hi everyone! Today I'm going to share with you a few tips on getting back into the swing of things for next semester. It seems like just yesterday I was taking my last final and smiling as I scurried out of class. Before you know it, it's going to be August and you'll be faced with heading back to school.
1) Buy a great planner. I never used a planner through high school and barely used one at my other colleges, but this past semester [first semester of my BSN program] I heavily used the same planner from the first day all the way until finals week! I was so proud of myself because not once did I fall behind and deadlinessometimes rarely snuck up on me. Late June-early July is when companies come out with 2014-2015 planners. I've used a variety of planners in the past including Lilly Pulitzer, some from Target, and the one Dream School gave to us, but this year I plan on investing in a planner from Erin Condren. They are a little pricey but I've never heard anything bad about them and they are extremely cute. Once you have a planner, USE IT! A great planner will include both monthly and weekly views. I will post about how I organize mine in the near future.
2) Stock up on school supplies. This time of year is great for buying school supplies because they are incredibly cheap compared to during the semester. Also, nothing is worse than running out of lead or computer paper when you are right down to the deadline. My pen bag usually contains 3-5 mechanical pencils, 3-5 pens [a couple ball-point and a couple of inky ones], 5 highlighters [one of every color so I can differentiate things in my notes], a chunky pink eraser, and a couple of black sharpies. If you buy spiral notebooks, college ruled often works better because you can fit more notes per page. These notebooks from Target come in adorable prints or this Etsy shop can even monogram your notebook.
3) Check local ads and listings. I've heard of several states that do a tax-free shopping weekend in August so any school supplies, books, backpacks, and clothes can be purchased without having to pay tax. This saved me a ton of money when I purchased my graphing calculator (~$120) and medical dictionary (~$60). Also, many stores do price matching including Walmart. If Office Max is selling spiral notebooks for 20¢, Walmart can give you the same sale price even if they are priced at $1 there. This is a wonderful way to save on purchases!
4) Get back into a normal routine. When I was growing up, my parents always put me to bed earlier each night just to make sure I was able to wake up early for the first day. College is no different! We get into such a routine during the summer whether we're staying up late watching Netflix or sleeping in, so a couple weeks before your first day, try to train yourself to fall asleep at a decent hour and actually getting up when your alarm goes off in the morning. A few tips to have a better night sleep include not eating or drinking before bed, listen to soothing music while trying to fall asleep, and relaxing before bed (I like to do yoga or stretch, followed by a warm shower).
5) Organize your office or study space. This was huge for me when I lived in the dorms. I hated having so much clutter on my desk because when I would try to study, all I could think about was getting the mess cleaned up. To fix this, I try my best to keep my area organized. The dollar stores have tons of cute bins and containers that can hold all of your desk supplies. I prefer to do a deep inspection of everything I have and figure out where to put it so when school starts back up, I'm not stressed with a huge mess or forget to get anything (see #2!).
See you next semester!
-Leigh
1) Buy a great planner. I never used a planner through high school and barely used one at my other colleges, but this past semester [first semester of my BSN program] I heavily used the same planner from the first day all the way until finals week! I was so proud of myself because not once did I fall behind and deadlines
2) Stock up on school supplies. This time of year is great for buying school supplies because they are incredibly cheap compared to during the semester. Also, nothing is worse than running out of lead or computer paper when you are right down to the deadline. My pen bag usually contains 3-5 mechanical pencils, 3-5 pens [a couple ball-point and a couple of inky ones], 5 highlighters [one of every color so I can differentiate things in my notes], a chunky pink eraser, and a couple of black sharpies. If you buy spiral notebooks, college ruled often works better because you can fit more notes per page. These notebooks from Target come in adorable prints or this Etsy shop can even monogram your notebook.
3) Check local ads and listings. I've heard of several states that do a tax-free shopping weekend in August so any school supplies, books, backpacks, and clothes can be purchased without having to pay tax. This saved me a ton of money when I purchased my graphing calculator (~$120) and medical dictionary (~$60). Also, many stores do price matching including Walmart. If Office Max is selling spiral notebooks for 20¢, Walmart can give you the same sale price even if they are priced at $1 there. This is a wonderful way to save on purchases!
4) Get back into a normal routine. When I was growing up, my parents always put me to bed earlier each night just to make sure I was able to wake up early for the first day. College is no different! We get into such a routine during the summer whether we're staying up late watching Netflix or sleeping in, so a couple weeks before your first day, try to train yourself to fall asleep at a decent hour and actually getting up when your alarm goes off in the morning. A few tips to have a better night sleep include not eating or drinking before bed, listen to soothing music while trying to fall asleep, and relaxing before bed (I like to do yoga or stretch, followed by a warm shower).
5) Organize your office or study space. This was huge for me when I lived in the dorms. I hated having so much clutter on my desk because when I would try to study, all I could think about was getting the mess cleaned up. To fix this, I try my best to keep my area organized. The dollar stores have tons of cute bins and containers that can hold all of your desk supplies. I prefer to do a deep inspection of everything I have and figure out where to put it so when school starts back up, I'm not stressed with a huge mess or forget to get anything (see #2!).
6) Buy your books, get new scrubs, and find your ID badge. Although I'm not in clinical until 3rd semester (Spring 2015), I have already purchased my scrubs, shoes, and stethoscope required for it. Luckily, my tuition reimbursement I get through work came in early so instead of buying random stuff I don't need buying new clothes refilling my Starbucks card splurging on a new pair of shoes putting it all into savings, I decided to go ahead and get the required uniform. It was so nice doing it that way rather than waiting until the last minute, especially because that will be the Holidays, finals, etc! Also, I would have had a breakdown if they were sold out of my size at the scrub store and missed the first couple of weeks since my uniform would be backordered. Talk about a nightmare!
7) Have fun while you can! Seriously, nursing school is stressful as it is. One or two summers, Dream School makes us do a practicum so this is probably my last summer to just relax and hang out. Plan a mini vacay before it's back to school. You deserve it! :)
See you next semester!
-Leigh
Monday, March 3, 2014
Midterms already?!
I've been in school for 7 weeks already and time is just flying by! Everybody said it would be like that, too, so I should be a nurse in no time at all ;) To keep myself steady, I write every assignment in my planner and cross it off as it is done. I only look week to week so I don't get too far ahead or fall behind. I even have a schedule of when I can sleep and when I have to study! I'm working at the hospital overnights every weekend and a weekday evening shift here and there. I refuse to be blindsided by huge assignments or exams that I "forgot" about so organization is key.
As for my very first exam, I did not do as well as I had hoped. My second exam in the same class is tomorrow and I found a few girls in my class to study with and feel a lot more confident than the first time around! This is for A&P and Dream School's standards are set pretty high; you have to get a 75% average on all of the exams/lab practicals in order to pass the class. You can have 100% on all of the quizzes, homework assignments, participation, etc. but have a 74% average on exams and you FAIL. You cannot pass go and you certainly cannot collect $200. On the first exam, I got a 72% so I was depressed for a few days. However I got a 96% on my first lab practical which brought my exam average up to an 80%. Oh happy day!
One thing I absolutely love about all of these classes I am taking is that they are healthcare field related. I'm not learning about parasites that only infect whales and I'm not learning about sociology in random cultures. I'm learning about REAL things that affect humans that may affect how I care for them when I'm a nurse! And when I take math next semester, I won't learn calculus or how to find the area of a triangle, but I will learn how to calculate doses and convert from metric to US.
Lastly, I will just share a study technique that I have found really helps me and that is using Quizlet. I use my professor's PowerPoints as a guideline, then add to my flashcards things from the book that I don't quite understand. Quizlet also has an iPhone app that can help me when I'm on the go. I especially love searching topics and studying what other people have made flashcards for. :) I make flashcards for every class and can share them with my classmates. Making my own flashcards really helps me retain more information. What ways do you study that helps best?
As for my very first exam, I did not do as well as I had hoped. My second exam in the same class is tomorrow and I found a few girls in my class to study with and feel a lot more confident than the first time around! This is for A&P and Dream School's standards are set pretty high; you have to get a 75% average on all of the exams/lab practicals in order to pass the class. You can have 100% on all of the quizzes, homework assignments, participation, etc. but have a 74% average on exams and you FAIL. You cannot pass go and you certainly cannot collect $200. On the first exam, I got a 72% so I was depressed for a few days. However I got a 96% on my first lab practical which brought my exam average up to an 80%. Oh happy day!
One thing I absolutely love about all of these classes I am taking is that they are healthcare field related. I'm not learning about parasites that only infect whales and I'm not learning about sociology in random cultures. I'm learning about REAL things that affect humans that may affect how I care for them when I'm a nurse! And when I take math next semester, I won't learn calculus or how to find the area of a triangle, but I will learn how to calculate doses and convert from metric to US.
Lastly, I will just share a study technique that I have found really helps me and that is using Quizlet. I use my professor's PowerPoints as a guideline, then add to my flashcards things from the book that I don't quite understand. Quizlet also has an iPhone app that can help me when I'm on the go. I especially love searching topics and studying what other people have made flashcards for. :) I make flashcards for every class and can share them with my classmates. Making my own flashcards really helps me retain more information. What ways do you study that helps best?
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Staying Healthy in Nursing School
^Isn't that hilarious? Unfortunately, it is very true in nursing school :(
I have a confession. I love junk food. Gasp. I honestly find myself craving sweets, chocolates, cheeseburgers, and sodas so often that I get grossed out thinking about the nasty things I'm putting in my body. After all, I am in nursing school - I am being trained how to take care of sick people! If I am constantly chowing down, I won't be setting a good example for myself or my patients. Here are a few ways you can do to stay healthy while you're in school!
Join a gym or access your campus recreation center. Dream School does not have a gym but we do have a health center we can access for a discount. Also, they make us take one PE class during our four years… I think they should make us take one per semester myself, but to each their own! Through my work though I get an amazing discount to the local YMCA, which is such a blessing! To keep my awesome discount, I have to work out 3-4 times per week. Seriously, they will take away my membership or charge me more the less I go! That certainly gives me an incentive to go ;) I generally will read my textbooks while walking on the treadmill, riding the elliptical, or riding the bike. I go to spin class twice per week and lift weights too! Find a regimen that you like to do and stick to it.
Another important thing is to eat your vitamins! You likely won't have your mom badgering you to take them, so I'll do it instead! You should have learned or will learn in Nutrition class that Vitamins A, C, D, and E are crucial for maintaining your immune system. Vitamin A aids in the creation of white blood cells, the cells that help your body fight off viruses or bacteria. It can be found in vegetables and dairy products or you can take supplements. Vitamin C is in charge of producing neutrophils - more bacteria-fighting cells. Vitamin C is everywhere - fruits, vegetables, OJ, and some berries. Vitamin D is important for bones but also is a key to help express immune cells. It can be found in dairy products, the sunlight, fish, and supplements. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that prevents the formation of reactive oxygen molecules *deep breath* and regulates the immune system. Vitamin E can be found in eggs, vegetables, and some nuts.
Quick story here. A couple of years ago, right when I moved in with my husband, I found myself so fatigued day to day that I freaked out. I really had no idea what was causing all this sleepiness, but I would sleep for 12-15 hours per night and still feel the need to nap halfway through my afternoon. I went to the doctor, who then performed a whole slew of tests including TSH (to test my thyroid), CBC (to check for anemia), HCG (pregnancy), and my Vitamin D level. Everything came back normal except my Vitamin D level. Normal range for Vitamin D levels is 50-70 ng/mL (depending on the reference you're using) and mine were at 35. Yikes! No wonder I was so sleepy all the time. I started taking Vitamin D supplements and was fine within a few weeks.
Personally, I have a prescription for 2,000 IU of Vitamin D and take two different types of multivitamins per day - a Women's bone and metabolism gummy and an adult Vitamin B12/C gummy! I end up taking 3,800 IU of Vitamin D per day. The gummies I take are comparable in ingredients so I get more than enough of my daily value in the vitamin department.
Another way to stay healthy is to get your flu shot. My work and my school (which is at a hospital) both require the flu shot. However, I am allergic to the flu shot so I sign a declination form that shows I have a diagnosed allergy and is signed by my doctor. Therefore I wear a flu mask wherever I go during flu season. Yes it sucks and yes I get asked 24/7 why I am wearing the mask, but I haven't gotten sick once this year *knock on wood*.
By utilizing these few things, you are already on your way to being a healthy nurse! Keep up the great work!
Sunday, January 19, 2014
iPhone Apps
A few years ago, I purchased my first smart phone - an iPhone - and immediately fell in love. I had always been the owner of a "dumb phone" so I was set once I was able to have the internet at my fingertips. While I admit I am on my phone a little too much, there are plenty of perks to owning an iPhone. Over the last several months, I have been accumulating different (FREE!) apps that could potentially help me with Nursing School! Here is a list of what I've come up with so far. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to comment below and I'll look into it.
iTriage - It can be very frustrating at times to feel awful and not know the cause right off the bat. This app is good for everyone, not just nursing students. It can be used as a starting point when it comes to starting care plans and also has a medication database.
Resuscitation! - This is a virtual patient simulator where you get a case and have to diagnose and treat the patient. It is geared more towards medical students but I have lots of fun trying to figure out what orders are important. I've also learned a lot about different radiology imaging and lab tests. The app itself is free but to buy more cases, you have to pay a small fee. It gets fairly addicting, so be careful ;)
BlackBoard - Dream School does not use BlackBoard but my previous college did. I included this in the list because many people don't realize they have an iPhone app :) Notes, PowerPoints, and communication functions are readily available and you can even set push notifications to let you know when announcements and grades are posted.
Lippincott's NCLEX-RN Review - When I was doing research on what new nurses should do, I frequently read to start studying for the NCLEX the first semester. I only have this app for now until I learn more about different study books and which program is the better choice for the way I study best.
Figure 1 - Healthcare professionals use this photo-sharing app to learn and share their experiences. I have seen photos ranging from amazing to gross to how-are-they-even-alive. Best of all, there are editing options where you can crop or cross out any PHI to keep patients protected. Categories allow easy searching. I have learned so much from this app and seen many things that students don't get the chance to see during clinical.
Epocrates - I haven't messed around with this app too much but I have only heard good things.
8tracks - This music app contains user-submitted mixes rather than app-created playlists. You select what you are in the mood for to narrow down your options and I haven't really found a playlist that wasn't on point! For the time being, there aren't tons of ads either. I use this much more than Pandora, especially when I'm burning off stress at the gym. You can also go to their website on their computer to listen too!
Hippo Remote - Y'all, I can get really distracted sometimes. I love my laptop, but it's so easy to switch from PowerPoints and Bing to Facebook and Pinterest while studying. It got to the point where I would put my laptop on the coffee table, sit back on the couch, and use my toes to click through the PP. Seriously. I discovered this app that uses your iPhone as a clicker remote for PowerPoint so you can give presentations easier. I use it while studying! It's perfect in that I can't physically get distracted.
iTriage - It can be very frustrating at times to feel awful and not know the cause right off the bat. This app is good for everyone, not just nursing students. It can be used as a starting point when it comes to starting care plans and also has a medication database.
Resuscitation! - This is a virtual patient simulator where you get a case and have to diagnose and treat the patient. It is geared more towards medical students but I have lots of fun trying to figure out what orders are important. I've also learned a lot about different radiology imaging and lab tests. The app itself is free but to buy more cases, you have to pay a small fee. It gets fairly addicting, so be careful ;)
BlackBoard - Dream School does not use BlackBoard but my previous college did. I included this in the list because many people don't realize they have an iPhone app :) Notes, PowerPoints, and communication functions are readily available and you can even set push notifications to let you know when announcements and grades are posted.
Lippincott's NCLEX-RN Review - When I was doing research on what new nurses should do, I frequently read to start studying for the NCLEX the first semester. I only have this app for now until I learn more about different study books and which program is the better choice for the way I study best.
Figure 1 - Healthcare professionals use this photo-sharing app to learn and share their experiences. I have seen photos ranging from amazing to gross to how-are-they-even-alive. Best of all, there are editing options where you can crop or cross out any PHI to keep patients protected. Categories allow easy searching. I have learned so much from this app and seen many things that students don't get the chance to see during clinical.
Epocrates - I haven't messed around with this app too much but I have only heard good things.
8tracks - This music app contains user-submitted mixes rather than app-created playlists. You select what you are in the mood for to narrow down your options and I haven't really found a playlist that wasn't on point! For the time being, there aren't tons of ads either. I use this much more than Pandora, especially when I'm burning off stress at the gym. You can also go to their website on their computer to listen too!
Hippo Remote - Y'all, I can get really distracted sometimes. I love my laptop, but it's so easy to switch from PowerPoints and Bing to Facebook and Pinterest while studying. It got to the point where I would put my laptop on the coffee table, sit back on the couch, and use my toes to click through the PP. Seriously. I discovered this app that uses your iPhone as a clicker remote for PowerPoint so you can give presentations easier. I use it while studying! It's perfect in that I can't physically get distracted.
Monday, January 13, 2014
First Day!
Today is the first day back to school for many Nursing students! I went to bed early and woke up at 3:00 AM because I'm so excited - this happens every year since grade school LOL Good luck and best wishes to all!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)