Anatomy and Physiology Update

Anatomy and Physiology Update

My First Exam:

My first exam was pretty standard. It basically was a review from high school. I made a low A without studying really. I felt pretty good about this exam.

My Second Exam:

My second exam did not go so well. Since I had that feeling that I didn't have to study much I didn't study much. This resulted in a high C on my second exam. I felt really bad about myself and I felt guilty for not studying when we received our tests back. All of the girls around me had made 99% and I had made the lowest grade of my college career. But I took that fuel and turned it into a motivation to study smarter.

Where I am Now:

I now have a B in A&P. Which may be wonderful for some students, but I know that I’m capable of a much higher score. Which leads me to…

My Study Techniques:

Studying for A&P can be complicated. Our tests normally cover 3 chapters of material. For example, our upcoming test is over bones, the axial skeleton, and the appendicular skeleton. This is probably around 100 pages of information. What I try to do is briefly look over the chapter prior to class. My teacher also gives us power points. So I go to class and take notes on the printed out power points. After that class I take those power point notes and turn them into a typed out document. I use Google Drive so that I can access my notes anywhere. I then print out those notes and put them in my A&P folder. Then I take the A&P folder with me to work or the library and I turn each concept, vocabulary word, or section into a flashcard. I have all different sizes of flashcards and sometimes I will cut them into smaller cards. By now I have written down most of this information 3 times which is studying in itself. Starting about 5 days before the exam I will be going over these cards several times a day as well as adding to them anything that we get in that week of the test. Our tests are always on Fridays. We also receive a set of review questions that we can complete and turn in for 5 extra credit points. These review questions can be anywhere from 40-70 questions. This takes me a lot of time. I spend probably 3 hours answering these questions very fully and reviewing the answers as I go. I always know that the short answer questions on the test will come from these review questions so it’s important to know the information. I will do a study technique evaluation after my upcoming test and make an entire post just about how I study A&P.

Disclaimer:

Keep in mind that this is just what I do. I’m not saying that this will work for you. It may, it may not. Everyone learns differently and at a different pace and that’s okay.

Everyone remember to subscribe to my YouTube Channel to view the upcoming video version of this blog post. Let's get connected!

All About: My Nursing Program

My Nursing Program:

As I stated in my last post, I will not be officially accepted until the end of July 2015. I am on track and I should be able to start the program in the Fall.

What type of nursing program will I be doing?

My nursing program is a 2 year  RN program. I will start in Fall 2015 and finish in Spring 2017. While in the nursing program I will also be taking core classes that will go towards my BSN. My school is scheduled to start an RN-BSN bridge program in 2017 or 2018.

My Education Plan:

I will finish my RN in Spring 2017. I hope to be able to get a L&D position at my local hospital. Around that time my schools RN-BSN program should launch. I will go for an additional year to receive my BSN. By then I will have a year or more of L&D experience (hopefully). Then I will apply for a grad program for Nurse-Midwifery.

Everyone remember to subscribe to my YouTube Channel to see the upcoming video version of this blog post. Let's get connected!

Pre-Nursing Semester Update

Pre-Nursing Semester Update

What classes I’m taking:

A&P, Lab, History, Psychology, Pharmacology, and English

How I’m doing:

Midterm just passed and all of my grades are at an acceptable level I hope to either maintain or bring up my grades for the rest of the semester.

Anatomy and Physiology:

Currently going really well. It took a while to create a study routine that works well for me, but I’m retaining loads of information.

Pharmacology:

Started out really rocky. Studying for Pharmacology is hard if you have no prior knowledge of anything in the medical field. I tanked my first exam. Luckily, I reevaluated my study techniques and I brought my grade up to a B. We are only 2 tests in so I still have time to raise it to an A.

When will I be entered into the program?

I have already applied to the Nursing Program. I will be taking an A&P II course over the summer which is a prerequisite to my school’s nursing program. Over the summer (in June) I will also be taking the HESI A2 exam. I should receive a preliminary letter stating that as long as I finish up the A&P and take the HESI I will be granted acceptance into the program.

What type of nursing program will I be doing?

I will be doing a 2 year RN program to start, but hopefully my school will have a RN-BSN degree option soon after I graduate. I will be making a post that explains my education plan more thoroughly coming out soon.

Everyone, remember to check out my YouTube Channel! I will try and post more the closer I get to starting my nursing program.

Pharmacology Update

Hello friends! It has been quite a while since we last spoke. I apologize for not posting often, I got kind of caught up in the holidays and then I moved into my very own apartment for the first time. But, now I'm back in the swing of things at school, settled into my new home, and ready to share how my classes are going so far with you.
Let me start by saying I have very limited knowledge of anything to do with drugs, nursing, or the medical field. this has been my first nursing related class ever and I did horribly on my first exam. Luckily, we still have several more exams which will give me a chance to bring my grade up to a place that I want it to be, but that still doesn't counteract the feelings I had when I received that first grade. I did pass, but I know that I could have done immensely better. I did not prepare for this exam like I should have and I think that's where I went wrong. Studying drug names is like learning an entirely new language. You have to understand basic medical terminology in order to understand each category of drug and what each individual drug does to the human body.
Pharmacology is a course that is very heavy in memorization. You really have to relearn how to study for these kinds of courses. In most of my courses that I've taken in the past I maybe skimmed the chapter and took notes during lecture then reviewed them once or twice before the exam. Pharmacology is very different. I have to make myself read each chapter (there are so many chapters!). Then I go to lecture and take my notes. Here is where I've started to do things differently, instead of just studying from those notes, I retype them on my computer, This acts in itself as a study method, plus it makes my notes neat, organized, and legible.
I hope that my next pharmacology update is a much more positive one and I hope that all of you find this helpful. Also, stay tuned for my YouTube update on my Pre-Nursing courses this semester.      

Apply to Nursing School: What You Need to Know Before Applying

Deciding to apply to nursing school is a very big decision. Once you decide to apply to nursing school, your to-do list automatically triples in length. There is so much to do right away. Your first step is to decide what school(s) you want to apply to. Once you know what schools you're going to apply to you need to look at their website to find out what requirements they have. Many schools want for you to have many of your core classes done, as well as an entrance exam. At my school I must first complete several classes including Anatomy & Physiology and Pharmacology. In addition to those classes I must to complete the HESI (a general entrance exam to many nursing programs) and the Pharmacology Validation Examination. Then once you are accepted you have another round of things to do before you begin classes. Most likely you'll have an orientation, but before that even happens you may need to submit a drug screening, background check, physical, and shot records. You will also need to purchase your books, supplies, and uniform. So, if you decide to move forward with applying to nursing school know that it is very time consuming. You will need to make a commitment to spending time studying and clinicals. I wish you the best of luck in applying and potentially going to nursing school.  

Study Tips for Pre-Nursing Students

So, you've decided to pursue a career in nursing. This means lots of late nights, early mornings, and study filled weekends! Before you can even begin nursing classes you may be required to complete some of your core classes. These classes are called prerequisites. Prerequisites help to prepare you for all of the information you are going to learn in nursing school. These classes are also sometimes known as the "weeding out classes". If you can't make it through A&P or pharmacology then maybe nursing school isn't right for you. However, don't let struggling through your prerequisites stop you from pursuing your dream. Just reevaluate your studying methods and put 100% into your studies.

1. Find a study buddy! Having a study buddy basically guarantees that your notes will be solid. Sometimes with lectures going by so quickly, you can miss an important concept or fact. By having a study buddy, you lessen your chances of missing something. You can also quiz each other before any tests.
2. Exercise and eat healthy foods. You have to fuel your body properly to make it through those long days of studying human anatomy. By putting whole foods into your body you can receive all of the nutrition you need to keep your body energized throughout the day. 
3. Study in small increments. What I have found to help me is to break up my study sessions. I try to study for about 35 minutes at a time with a break in between each session. During these breaks you can grab a snack, walk your dog, or do some laundry. Anything to help you relax and get out of study mode for a few minutes will help. 
4. Take very thorough notes and spend time rewriting those notes! You could rewrite your vocabulary on index cards or even draw diagrams to help you remember what was discussed in lecture. 
5. If you don't understand it- look it up! You can always ask your teacher as well if you don't understand something, but when your sitting in your room at midnight studying your professor may not be easily reached. This is when Google and YouTube become your best friend. There are so many informational videos out there. I've even watched dissections on YouTube. So if you don't know it, find it.

These are just a few tips that have helped me in preparing for tests, quizzes, and eventually- nursing school. It is very important to find a study method that works for you. Just because these are the things that helped me, doesn't mean that they will get you an A. Good luck! 

Applying to Nursing School: How to Choose The Right School for You

When thinking of applying to nursing school there are many important details to factor into your decision. Going into this life changing decision you need to assess these details so that you can choose the perfect school to fit your needs. First of all, consider how you will pay for nursing school. Are you eligible for scholarships, federal aid, or do you have savings that you can put towards you education? I chose to attend a small community college so that I could save money on tuition and live with family. The less student loans the better! Secondly, you will need to factor in the type of program you wish to attend. Are you wishing to pursue an ASN or a BSN degree? Both qualify you to take the N-CLEX, but employers sometimes prefer those with bachelor degree over an associates. You may also want to look into the school that you are considering N-CLEX passing rates. Also be sure to look into the program requirements. Some schools have a very competitive nursing programs, while others have space to accept many students. Remember that you'll be spending several years of your life here, so make sure it is a place where you feel that you are comfortable and can succeed. Lastly, don't be afraid to ask for help when making this decision. Good luck! I'm sure that you'll make the right decision.