This nursy plays dirty and does it with pain...

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Just like riding the bike... school

October 1998 was the last time I was in school for my BS Nursing... and now 2007... 9 years, and I am back at it again. Definitely out of practise with school and studying. It took me that long to decide to take on my master's degree. The deal really was that, I did not want to be a Nurse Practitioner which was my only choice when you get in the master's program. Until lately that they offered several pathways to choose from. I decided to pursue the Clinical and Leadership Pathway - Clinical Leader. What is that, you asked? I guess when I get done and somehow survive this that I can... head up the clinical aspect in the acute setting. I can be responsible with the nurses' clinical training and education, making sure each one is competent in their nursing skills. Or I can be an administrative something of a department (I am not into that - management). Or I can be a researcher for a medical entity whether a hospital, company, government, etc... Right now, I don't really have a plan of what to do with that degree when finished. I will cross that bridge when I get there...

This program is either 100% online or 90% online. I am a physical person which mean
I need some kind of human interaction so I picked the 90% online deal. That entails a drive to the campus every 2-3 months. The drive to the campus is great because it is such a beautiful part of California. Sure I have to put up with the Bay Area traffic but I already learned the trick from the 2 drives that I have made up there already. And I already found a reasonable hotel with great internet acess to stay when I drive up. The campus visit takes 2 days and those 2 days are hectic, full of school activities... all day.

First day of school reminded me how I like being in school... yeah, yeah, yeah, might sound strange to some people but that is my truth. Although being at this age, different perspective... especially looking at the majority of the students... YOUNG!!! Oh well, we are all students, carrying backpacks and dealing with the scholastic bureaucracy... no matter what our ages are. Besides I just have to be intimidated by the age factor every 2-3 months.

Online school and studying is something I will be dealing for two years... already a few disappointments and frustrations but I just have to learn to be more patient with the process. The good thing, the program has great resource people and very helpful instructors and hardworking student nurses. My group, 4 experienced BSNs are into this with every research projects and studies for 2 years and I already know I have a great group. We are from 4 different nursing backgrounds but all determined and eager to get through this...

We'll see!!!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

hehehe...Welcome back to school :) I'm pretty sure you'll be great (how many times have to say this). I like the sounds, sights and smell associated with school. I have to remember these things for I am planning to follow your path someday :)

Good luck and have fun!

Elyani said...

Good luck, you are a super woman :)

Anonymous said...

i kind of like of being at school too but i usually take one class at a time. last time, i took 4 classes of espanol, this time, i am into yoga. i want to go into creative writing eventually and photography.

wish you luck E. i know there is nothing you can't handle.

NursyE said...

Now there's the thought... YOGA, I do want to get into that. In fact I have been checking my choices about that around where I am.

I hate exercise and so I look for something that will not be torture like to me and get in shape... now that I am not getting any younger... I do Pilates, elliptical and thread climber (only sometimes) and my favorite... WALKING...