I'm starting nurse practitioner school in 2 weeks. I'm a little scared but mostly excited. After getting accepted there was a list of things I had to get done. And get done quickly. This is what I've been doing the past couple weeks - T Rex in tow. So, of course, it takes at least twice as long.
Update immunizations: Tdap booster - evidently the CDC recommends all adults get one at least every 10 years. Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) - with the tetanus component it does pack a punch. My arm was sore for 3 days. I was current on all others - that's pretty good actually. Are you current on yours?
Vaccine titers: for the immunizations I am current on I had to get blood titers drawn - three vials of blood later I show very good immunities, especially to varicella (chicken pox). No surprise I had quite the case of chicken pox as a kid.
TB Skin Test: no big deal except when I went back to the clinic to have it read T Rex and I waited in the lobby for 45 minutes before the MA took me back to look at it and declare me negative (which I could have told them) - reading it took a whopping 30 seconds. Let's just say my little toddler was well acquainted with every square inch of that place!
Criminal background check: we went to three separate police departments before finding the correct one that would do my finger prints and submit the paperwork to the university. T Rex was very interested in the fingerprinting machine. Now they scan your fingers and a laser printer puts the prints onto a paper. It was actually pretty cool to watch. It took a whole container of puffs for T Rex to sit through that! Good thing they are calcium fortified!
CPR certification: yes, I let mine lapse so I had to spend this past Saturday morning (minus a T Rex but also not feeling well) doing multiple sets of five. That's 2 minutes a set but it really is hard work - harder than riding the elliptical! Not exactly what I wanted to do with my free time this weekend but it had to get done. Next time I can test out should I chose to.
Renew RN licence: this was the easiest part - just mail in a check. T Rex put on the stamp and put it in the mailbox.
Now I can take a little break before online class starts in a couple weeks. I know many folks think I am a little crazy to do grad school with such a young child at home but I am only going part time and not working. When I was in nursing school I worked part-time, finished my psychology degree, and danced four days a week - I was also on a bowling league - seriously, what was I thinking?!? This should hopefully be easier than that was!
It will take three years but it will be worth it. I probably won't be able to post as often but I will keep you updated and I will also try to keep the giveaways going too!
7 comments:
You are starting such an exciting journey! I'm thrilled for you :) I know that you'll be able to juggle everything. I'm so glad that there are online education options open for stay at home moms. You're going to be one pro multi-tasker during the next three years. Go Jenn!
That is great.
Yay! This sounds like a great new journey and it will be so worth it! Once you get into a routine - when I went back to work it took about two months to feel relaxed about Deaglan being away from me, getting used to work, less time spent with Deaglan etc - you will be able to relax.
Sheesh, that is a lot of poking and prodding you have to go through! At least you get a thorough once over on yourself.
I'm so excited for you. You're going to be great.
I think you will do great, and everyone will survive. I did my graduate degree with 2 little ones at home. It was nuts, but do-able. Congrats! I'm excited for you!
That is a lot of things you had to do. I hate shots and I think the last time I had any immunization was when I was a kid so I am probably not updated at all.
I wish you lots of luck because I couldn't do it with kids. I require lots of study time and no noise. Sounds like you are ready for it and the reward when you finish will be great.
Congrats on the decision to be back in school. It's work, but worth it. I did my first master's degree (four years ago) attending full-time with a one-year-old and worked 20 hours per week (most of my work was online, so that helped tremendously). This second master's degree I figured I'd do the same thing--9 hours per semester and now I have three little ones at home (5 y/o, 3 y/o, and 1 y/o) and I'm teaching 4 college short courses each spring.
Life is sometimes crazy, but it means I finish my degree much more quickly. :)
Have a great time!
~Shaye
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