I Passed

I passed my nursing exam! This was my third nursing exam in the course and we have about three more to go. After failing my first two exams, I told myself something needed to change. What I started doing is first pray before I started studying and ask God to help me understand and retain the material and pray before the exam. Then I would read the book, do most of the questions on a workbook/study guide, and then do practice questions. I still need to do some enhancement in order to get a higher grade which is to increase the amount of practice questions. On the test I would underline the key words, read the question a second time if I didn't understand it, and do process of elimination. If I was unsure about the answer I would look for the clue word "assessment" and then think about Maslow's Hierarchy of needs and the ABCs (Airway Breathing Circulation). What I've realized is that most questions are asking about priority, what would you do first? I hope this helped and I plan on creating a post or video on how I study for exams once I finish up my first semester.

Quote of the week

Live life to the fullest, and focus on the positives. -Matt Cameron

When life gets hard you begin to forget about the positives and think about the negatives. Situations will get hard sometimes. However, it's best if you remind yourself that it can not rain forever.

What Color Is Your Study Space?

I believe having a good work space is essential for studying. Your office or work space is where productivity happens. Creating a functional and healthy space will result into beneficial studying and work. You want to make it personal and creative to make it enjoyable to do work. I think there is some truth to the psychology of color. I would suggest going with something light, neutral or subtle. For instance, a light green, beige or sky blue etc. Dark and vibrant colors can cause intensity, for example a red colored room will give off adrenaline vibes. While a sky blue color will give off calm vibes. I guess you can say I am kind of big on vibes.

My current room color is a nice light mint green. When I walk into my bedroom it allows me to unwind and be comfortable. In my bedroom, I added a white desk with a white chair. It really compliments the room. I wanted a desk and chair that would allow me to be in harmony and balanced. It is also the color of new beginnings.

Bible Verses that Helped me Through College

Psalm 23
- This lets me know that God is always on my side.
Philippians 4:13
- This helps me to stay encouraged.
Romans 8:13
- This verse helps me when I feel overwhelmed with school, if I failed a class, or people I cared about not supporting me.
Hebrews 11
-  This is a reminder for me when I doubt my faith or question God's timing.

How to Prepare for Nursing School

1. Do your research on the career.

You want to make sure this is something you want to do and invest your time looking up information about nursing. Look at the pros and cons of being a nurse. Nursing can be a rewarding career, but there are times when it will get very hard.

2. Research the program/school you want to attend.

There are two types of programs you can start with: there is the Associates in Nursing (ASN) or the Bachelors in Nursing (BSN). After you have decided on a program then the next step is to talk to an advisor or research what type of classes that is required to take before entering the program. Some schools only require the entrance exam and the science core classes (A&P, Micro...) taken while your attending the program.

3. Good grades are important.

Good grades are very important because most nursing programs are competitive and limited access. Depending on the school they will most likely choose the person with the higher GPA. For example, I wanted to attend a BSN program that was very competitive. I had a 3.57 GPA and was told by my advisor that it was good but not really high enough. The average people who entered the program had a GPA higher than 3.65. So, I decided to stick with an ASN program and later on transfer to a BSN program.

4. Study for your entrance exam.

Take the time to study a few months before the test. Do not wait 3-4 months after you have finished your prerequisites to study for the test. You want to study close to the time you have finished your prereqs or while your still taking your classes. It's good to study the teas or hesi while things are still fresh in your mind. Do not wait until the last minute to study for the exam either because there's a chance that your test results might not look so pretty.

5. Time management.

Start now and start making it a habit.

6. Saving money.

Nursing school is time-consuming and there may not be much room to work. So, while your taking your prereqs start saving. Also try to apply for grants and scholarship.