Has it seriously only been one week?

Wow, time flies when you're scared!

Tuesday
I had my very first class in the afternoon: Fundamentals Lab. Our teachers used the word "fun" a lot describing it. But I spent the whole time shivering cold and still sweating nervous. We did a very long but remarkably helpful game to learn everyone's names. Somehow I managed to do it and I'm very thankful for that. I feel like I can approach just about anybody in the group and start a conversation. We practiced washing our hands and dressing/undressing in personal protective gear. We watched some videos and took our first quiz. I over-analyzed two questions but came to the right conclusions and got my first 10 out of 10.

Wednesday
First lecture bright and early: Fundamentals. This class has a surprisingly laid-back atmosphere. I made some more friends and found several people who also have bachelors from USI and want to go back to their RN to MSN program like me. This classroom is also freezing. This class is only 5 weeks long like the lab. I discover that we have tests every Wednesday and our first one is over 10 chapters. The fact that my textbook that I ordered on December 31st has not arrived makes me nervous.

Back to Lab in the afternoon. We watched some very interesting videos where I had to make very sure I did not giggle in certain parts. We practiced bed bathing, putting on compression stockings, and making beds, occupied and unoccupied. I was still nervous, shivering and sweating.

Once home I called the textbook publisher about my missing book. They thought I already had the book even though they never shipped anything. Wow. So they plan to rush the book tomorrow and overnight it. I should get it on Friday.

Thursday
Lecture again. After class I meet with my advisor only to discover I technically have no math credits (my USI credits are too old). I was originally told if I got a 65 on my college algebra compass test I would not have to take math. I got a 99 so I relaxed. Now I have learned that compass does not award credits. It only places you. If I had been told that earlier, I would have taken math before entering the program. I was fuming mad. There is a CLEP test that awards credits so I think I will wait until the summer to prepare a little and then take that test.

Lunch time, no seats available and the food sucks. The bookstore does not have the drug guide I'm supposed to bring to class. I was mad and cold. I fumed a bit to some friends. I don't like being the complainer/drama queen of the group. They caught me while it was still raw. (Sorry about that, friends.)

In the afternoon I have Pharmacology. This class scares me, but sitting in lecture was not too stressful. I had several chapters read since I don't have my other book. We didn't really need the drug guide. Also, the tests are every 2 or 3 weeks since this class lasts all semester. This classroom is also freezing.

Friday
One more lecture of Fundamentals in the morning. We fly through the powerpoints and I'm done for the week. The sun was shining. I had some chick-fil-A. My book arrived and I did some yoga. I think I'll be okay.

It is time.

This week is the first week of classes. I have my first class tomorrow. It's a nursing fundamentals lab. This feels like ripping off a band-aid. I'm scared but the anticipation is worse. I just want to get it going. I've heard this semester goes fast. I'm sure that's easy to say after it's over. I have a feeling it won't feel that way while I'm in it. I'm afraid it's going to be too much at once and I won't learn anything. I'm sure I'll survive it, but will I know anything when it's over? Will I freak out for tests because it's too much to remember?

I've spent a lot of time designing a schedule that should in theory bring balance to my life. I've got plenty of study times incorporate throughout the week. I've got lots of exercise time and prayer time mixed in. I've got lots of free time on Friday and Saturday. I've even got yoga time scheduled in. This is all good if I have the discipline to stick with it. And I have to mention the benefits of friends. I have great friends helping me with Willow so she's not sitting around at home all spring. And I couldn't do this without Jason working from home and taking over virtually all of my responsibilities. Everything is in place. I have no excuses.

I'm adding a section for prayer requests. I have so many things I know God did over the past 2 years to get me through and I need Him more than ever now. I'm trusting this is where he wants me so I don't mind begging Him for help.

I'll try to update my blog more often now that things are about to get going. But it's possible I won't have time for more than once a week.

Updates Galore

Right after I posted my last...post, I decided to check the status of my criminal history. I'm not sure why I did it, but it was complete! I then called the school to set up an appointment to register. This was Thursday around 3pm and they need 24 hours notice for an advisor appointment. The administrative assistant said I could not see my actual advisor yet. I needed to meet with Mrs. Lindsey. She was one of the women at the initial meeting I wrote about earlier. (On a curious side note, I was assigned to my advisor over a year ago, and despite several attempts, I have yet to actually meet her.) She said I could meet her Friday at 3 or the Monday after Thanksgiving. Friday, please! I also found some paperwork saying I was registered for the CPR class. So I took that with me. Before I went up to her office I decided to check in the department that held the CPR class to see if by chance they had my certification card. They did! So I was able to turn everything in to Mrs. Lindsey. I chose the schedule I wanted and she said that it was a popular plan. I'll discuss my schedule on a later post.

The following Monday I got a call and an email from someone at school telling me my chicken pox titer number implied I was not immune. Now I know I had chicken pox when I was a kid and my doctor said the titers are inaccurate and that I was good to go. I should have been overly cautious and said give it to me anyway. Lesson learned. I was told I had to get the chicken pox vaccine by December 3rd or my registration would be pulled. Mrs. Martin (the one who called) suggested I go to the Warrick Health Department for a free shot. When I called them and said I needed it by the 3rd, she laughed. Apparently they are busy. So I called the nurse at my doctor's office. Carrie (or Kari) has been very helpful through all of this and she said she could get me in that afternoon but the shot is $160 if insurance doesn't cover it. Fortunately, it was covered. Keep in mind that this is right before Thanksgiving break. The school would be closed starting Tuesday at 5. I knew I could wait until the next week but it was driving me crazy to have this big thing undone. So that Tuesday afternoon I hurried in to Carrie, got the shot and the paperwork and hurried over to school. I made it by 2:30pm and it was a ghost town. The whole office was locked and deserted. They do have a drop box but I was scared to leave my original copy there. I made a copy of it in the library and dropped it in. When I got home, I emailed Mrs. Martin telling her what I did. I hope to hear back Monday. Hopefully that is all done.

Also, I checked Amazon again for my stethoscope. It was there! I ordered it right away and received it Wednesday! I've always wanted one of those.

And did I mention Jason "surprised" me with a laptop? It's like he's in my brain. I finished my office area with a lamp and actually took my medical terminology final at my desk with my laptop. I like it. I can see myself working well there for the next two years. I will try to get that picture soon.

Almost ready to register

I am almost ready to call for an appointment with my advisor. I successfully passed all of my TB tests and had my final physical exam this morning. All of that paperwork is signed by the doc and ready to go. I've signed all of my other papers (all 2 of them). Last Monday I ordered and paid for a drug test and a background check. On Tuesday I peed in a cup at LabCorp. This was a bit more dramatic than I had anticipated as I showed up with Willow and they wouldn't let her be there. I had to get a babysitter last second (thanks, Kayla) and get back there quickly. Then they locked up my stuff and wouldn't let me wash my hands or flush until they had checked everything. I even had to use the pen to sign my name before I was allowed to wash. That's fine except for the many who had gone before me. Yikes. Today I printed off the results (negative, that's a load off). My criminal history check is still "in process" but all the other parts of my background check are done.

I completed an all day long Professional Rescuer course (last Friday). I'm waiting on the official card for that, but I think in order to register all I need is proof that I took the class. I assume the school will have my card from Red Cross somewhere around the 24th but I hope to be registered for classes on Monday the 22nd...if I can figure out how to prove I was there. If my criminal history is done tomorrow, I will call and make the appointment for Monday. If not, I will just wait longer. Whatever.

I already purchased the pen light, stethoscope tag and scissors. Technically, I purchased the stethoscope, but the order was canceled when the one I ordered was out. I will get back on Amazon for another one soon. The one I want is around $65 on Amazon. I found the same one locally for $160. This is why local businesses go out of business.

I am creating my own office area in the house. I'm feeling a bit crowded mixing my school stuff with the kids' school stuff, bills, mail, crap, junk, and more crap that ends up in piles around my computer. It's in a dark little corner where I can't see the TV while Jason plays Call of Duty. I think having my own school area will be helpful. I may even take a picture of it when I get it organized. I'll need a laptop to make the picture complete. (That's a not so subtle hint for Jason, my personal IT director.)

The first meeting...

Last night was my first nursing orientation meeting at Ivy Tech. It was led by the nursing department chair and the dean of the school of nursing. I really liked both of them. They were both welcoming and down-to-earth. I believe, but I'm not sure, that I will have classes with them the first semester but not much after that.

At the meeting, I was able to turn in the "change of degree" form to be officially in the school of nursing. Then we talked about all of the health records I need to have turned in. I have to have MMR, tetanus, diphtheria, chicken pox, pertussis, hepatitis B,and TB stuff (= vaccines, boosters, disease or titer). I also have to have my doctor approve that I have the physical and mental abilities to do my nursely duties. I have already called the Vanderburgh County Health Department (I had some vaccines done a few years ago) and my childhood family doctor. Both places are already in the process of faxing my info to my current doctor. I have already made all of the appointments for my two TB tests and readings and for the final appointment to have everything signed. Not bad for less than 24 hours later.

Also at the meeting, I confirmed that my high school transcripts are on file. I also found out that the CPR class I applied for through the mail is already full. So I called to confirm that I am in that class on November 12. That's all good (I mean great).

I have more paperwork to fill out saying that I am physically capable and an info release form. That's easy enough.

In December I will need to go to the Ivy Tech bookstore to be fitted for a uniform. It's basically pants, polos, some patches and a lab coat. The have us fitted to make sure we aren't dragging our pants on the ground. Being 5'4", my pants tend to drag. We also have to get some white leather shoes. Yikes. Oh yeah, there's a lot of other stuff, too. This is going to be an expensive semester and I haven't even heard about the books yet.

I have to have a drug test and a criminal history check after November 14. That should be okay, but you never know.

Once I have all of this information collected and completed (after November 14), I can make an appointment to meet with my advisor to register for classes. For the first semester only, we have some options. I have a list of 6 different plans that I need to look through. At first glance they all look the same so I'll have to spend some time with them to figure it out.

And that's that. I have done just about all I can, other than shopping, until my first TB test on the 27th. I am so ready to get this started.

Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa is a...well, I'm not sure what it is. I do know that it is for students with good GPA's at two year schools. I guess that's me because they asked me to give them $65 to join them for life. I am way behind in networking since I have spent the last 10 years as a stay-at-home mom. So I gave them the money and went to the induction meeting last night. I felt very weird standing up and repeating a pledge of which I had no previous awareness or chance to consider before making such pledge. I hope I didn't just pledge to give up my first born or anything. I am sure I will get involved in a few of the charity events they do. But right now I just don't know enough about them to say much.

I am getting really excited for my orientation meeting Tuesday. I mailed my acceptance letter on Friday, the 1st. Now I realize I have just rested my entire future in the hands of the postal carrier. I can only hope that Ivy Tech actually got my letter. I am scared I will show up at the meeting and find out that they never heard back from me so they replaced me with the next person. An email confirmation would have been comforting.

I recently met with a friend who has gone though all of this nursing stuff before. I realize better now that this is going to be really difficult. I am going to have to jump through a lot of hoops, some of which will make no sense. I am going to have to accept less than perfect as some of what I will be asked to learn and do in such a short amount of time may be impossible. I may even have to be happy with an occasional B. The saddest thing I learned is that I won't be getting to buy scrubs.

Right now I am waiting in a car beside an expired parking meter in St. Louis, sipping on a bland java chip frappachino. I am waiting on Jason to get done working so we can go to the Bodies Exhibit. I have wanted to see that for years and it finally opened up here this month. I can't take pictures to post so just look at the website. You will understand why I think this is so awesome. I'll post more on it later.

Here We Go...

Received in the mail yesterday:

"Dear Laura:

Congratulations! I am pleased to inform you that you have been granted acceptance into the Spring 2011 Associates of Science in Nursing (ASN) program at Ivy Tech Community College-Evansville."

My hands were shaking when I opened it, although I could tell it was different than last time because there were extra papers. I felt strongly that my new score was good enough. Yet, I was still afraid of the "what if's", so I was extremely relieved to see that first word. Oddly, I wasn't excited. But I'll go into my "feelings" in a later post. (Like a cliffhanger.)

As for the facts, I have certain conditions I have to take care of in order to get started this January. First, I had to send back a letter saying I accepted their acceptance. I did that this morning. Why wait? Next, I have to attend a 2 hour Nursing Orientation Session. I chose one on October 19. At this meeting I will learn more about my schedule, uniforms, supplies and other paperwork. I also have to submit a Health Statement. I'm not sure what this is yet.

Next I have to attend a day long CPR course. That will most likely be November 12. I think I have to take care of that on my own and then show them some documentation.

I also have to have a criminal history check and drug screen. This will most likely be the easiest test to pass.

Somewhere along the way I suppose I will have to choose a schedule and get some books. I'll need to teach my children how to do all of my housework. I will then say goodbye to all of my friends and family. And then, finally, I will attend a Health Division Orientation on January 5th.

So, here we go.