let go & let god

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

the weather is so nice already today and it is giving me spring fever. I just want this semester over so I can at least enjoy my one week vacation! 

[kiara-1206-blog]

Studying

Does anyone else feel sleepy during their study sessions and then have to nap? I’ve never taken so many naps in my life. I feel like I’ve just ran a marathon during my four hour span of studying. This is exhausting and then having to think of doing it another three more semesters. God give me strength! 

[longrunsandcoffee-blog]

Girl, I feel the same way!! I find it so hard to get the motivation to really sit down and have a productive studying session! I don’t know if the material isn’t as interesting or if I’m just so overwhelmed with everything that I exhaust myself so easily! 

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

this is me! so i actually was talking to my crossfit coach about this the other day and she told me that when you are studying really hard its still burning calories and lots of energy. Its mentally taxing just as exercise would be physically taxing 

[nursingwithmartina-blog]

Finally Got Sometime to Reboot

We finally! have a little bit of time to relax till our next exams in a few week. This weekend I finally had so time to relax and catch up with some friends. After a tough week, it was much need. We all need some time to relax, reboot, or do whatever it is that you want to do which is not nursing related. Whether it’s laying in bed all they doing nothing or catching up with family or friends. All of us deserve a day or two off. All work and no play will drive you crazy. Sometimes, it is hard because I tend to feel guilty if I go a whole weekend without doing anything school related, but it was truly worth it. Now I feel less stressed out and I’m ready to tactile studying for our next exams. Even though the exams are 3 weeks away, those 3 weeks are going to come up really quickly. So, we still need to stay focused, study so we can finish out strong, but also please take care of yourselves and don’t overwhelm yourselves. Take some time off when you get a chance to ! 

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

I really enjoyed reading this post. It takes ALOT for me to put the books down even when we have a break like these next three weeks. You are totally correct though when you say that all work and no play will drive you crazy. I have definitely been feeling all sorts of burnt out. I also find it helpful to study in little increments over the span of a few weeks that way you still leave time for play! loved the post

[kiara-1206-blog]

Just a little humor….

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

hahaha this has totally happened at peds clinical with a few students hahaha 

[nursingwithmartina-blog]

What  a WEEK!

These past few tests felt like never ending hurdles. It seemed as if, no matter how much time and effort was put into studying a curve ball was always thrown. The good news is, we all persevered and got through it. No matter what the turn out was, continue to stay the course. This program may be challenging, but we all worked hard to be here today so giving up is not the answer. There are a lot of people who wish to be where we are today but, unfortunately did not make it. So, just by being is this program is evidence of your success so don’t beat yourself up if you don’t do as well as you wish. The Only Way To Get Through It Is To Go Through It <3 <3 <3 

[inthelifeofastudentnurse]

Martina I couldn’t agree more, these last few weeks have been tough. And nothing is more discouraging than studying so hard and believing you’re going to do amazing and then starting that exam with a question you have no clue about….I feel like curve balls are thrown at us more and more lately. But we’re still coming out on top and that’s all the matters! We’ve all worked so hard and have all come this far, nothing can stop us!

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

I literally cannot agree more. I have been so stressed recently and I wanted these next three week to feel like a break and now I think I'm just more nervous because I know I need certain grade. It is nice to know that we all have each other though. It is very comforting

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

1 month left

Leaving our last pediatrics clinical was bitter sweet. It not only signified moving forward in our nursing program, but it meant we no longer would be in AI DuPont for rotation anymore. I cannot stress enough the importance of loving what you do day in and day out. Doing something that doesn’t feel like “work”. Being so passionate about something that you wanna do it every day for the rest of your life. Doing something that can turn your most awful day into a good day, or something that makes your heart feel so full that it might burst. Being at AI DuPont did that for me. My patients were so so brave and so strong and they were almost always smiling no matter what they were physically feeling. They gave me more strength and determination then they will ever know. I am so thankful. 

With this clinical behind our belts it is so surreal just how quickly everything is moving. Id be lying if I said I wasn't nervous and excited at the same time 

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

“Fall down seven times stand up eight″- Yesterday was the first time I ever got lower then an 80 on an exam at Widener. I was a wreck. i took the night to gather myself and although my grade is still well above passing I am disappointed. I am starting today with a new clean slate and preparing for finals! I am nervous but excited for these next few weeks to be over ! Lets kick butt Wideners Nursing class of 2019!

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

Post Exam

This post is about a week late, however it was a good reflection to post due to how stressful nursing school can be, but just how important balance can be also. School has been super stressful this week. I was only able to make Monday and Friday. I thought it would throw me off..But in those two days I hit 2 PRS ! 140LB SQUAT AND 180LB DEADLIFT. I have been really mindful with my diet for about two weeks now and each week I have been incorporating floating deadlifts into my lift, spin classes, and cardio(with the exception of this week) Today was a huge accomplishment for me. Starting off my weekend with an awesome grade on my pediatrics exam and a few PR’S feels amazing. Thanks for being an awesome coach 🧡 @katiefeeleystrength #PR @ Power Plant Gym

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

This semester in Nursing school has been anything but easy. However, the days I go to my pediatric clinical make it all worth it. I absolutely love AI Dupont. The smiles on the children faces and the hugs make this struggle through school worth it. I love my pediatrics class and I look forward to learning everything I can about being a pediatric nurse. It is going to be hard leaving this clinical rotation in April. 

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

Balance

Going off of my post yesterday about exercise and how much it stimulates your mind a friend of mine told me it would be a good idea to share what I had posted on social media this morning. In life we need to find balance. Whatever it may be, but it should be something that centers you and serves as an escape from the world. This is what gets me through nursing school and I hope the message underneath will be inspiring to others as well. 

When your Crossfit coach is not only an amazing coach but a pretty damn good photographer. Warning 🛑 this post is in the feels... so when I first saw this picture my first thought was OH MY GOD 🙈 My shirt makes me look fat, my butt looks FLAT and it TOTALLY doesn’t look like all those insta famous models, my socks; that were supposed to be Philadelphia Eagles compression socks were now 70s ankle sweat socks #sockfail, AND I can see some cellulite. I paused for a moment, before completely picking myself apart and scrambling trying to find THE PERFECT FILTER, It was then that I saw something else. I saw complete PHYSICAL and MENTAL happiness, I saw determination. I saw drive. I saw a junior year nursing student with 5 classes and 2 clinical rotations. I saw someone who gets up at the crack of dawn almost every morning to run and go to 6am Crossfit even though her classes don’t start till 4:30pm. I saw GRIT and perseverance towards goals, I saw sweat and I saw muscle in spots I have never seen before. I saw a woman who has dealt with thinking she was fat most of her life due to a few immature grade school boys. I saw someone who battled skipping meals and binge eating just because it made her feel skinniest. I was mentally and physically drained. And then I found Crossfit, not just Crossfit but #powerplantgym , a place that feels like home. A place where you don’t have to be self-conscious about the number on the scale or how much you can lift. It’s a place that no matter what your numbers are you can feel safe and celebrate every little goal. I learned very quickly that skipping meals won’t get me a new PR and that beating myself up about the number on the scale won’t make me perform any better. It was only then, that I started loving myself. @powerplantgym

[itsirishlibra-blog]

Excitement outweighs the fear

I am someone who has extreme anxiety. I freak out about just about anything and over think everything (I am working on it by the way). So, this weekend I had my first ever clinical experience. I bet you could guess how my anxiety was then. It’s a pediatric clinical at Dupont, which let me just say is an amazing hospital. The entire way to the hospital I was filled with anxiety, nerves, and fear. However, once I met my clinical instructor and got in the groove of things, I didn’t want to leave. I definitely think that my clinical instructor is what made things a little easier, I really lucked out this semester with both clinical instructors and professors. In that case, even though I know that this semester is going to be a challenge and clinical for sure, I think its going to be a good year. 

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

Clinical can definitely be overwhelming, I truly believe that the clinical instructor makes all the difference. I also believe that clinical is what you make of it. If you go there with a positive mind and eager to learn like you did, it will be a lot more worth you time. I am so glad you enjoyed your clinical! I had clinical at AI also on Sunday and I fell in love with it! Best of luck ! 

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

Exercise & Nursing School

I hear a lot of different reasons why people don't exercise during school; “It makes me tired”, I don't have a gym membership, or “I don't have time”. I used to be one of these people. I had to make the time to go and I felt I could be studying or doing something better with my time. I was completely wrong. Did you know that physical exercise actually increases focus and concentration. The writers of the article I will attach describe the brain as a muscle and just as our muscles in our legs and arms, if you don't work them out they will atrophy. I have been doing crossfit for a little over a year now and although it is expensive, it is my out. It is the only time I have to myself other then nursing school. While speaking with a Crossfit coach i learned that there are actually Crossfit gyms that allow children to bring their homework. The gym does a 20 minute workout with the kids and then they are set up in groups to do homework for the remainder of the time. A lot of children showed and increase in focus, attention and appeared less fidgety. After hearing this, I started doing homework and studying right after Crossfit, Not only did it help me focus, but I felt as though it put me in a more alert state of mind. As school got harder, I began to bring my notes to the gym for the days I did cardio. I would listen to my notes from my recorder and flip through the slides. I could not believe how much I actually retained. I really hope you my classmates will benefit what I have shared and will take some time to read the article. 

[ciaralynnnn-blog1]

When you do not succeed try again. I have always wanted to become a nurse since I was in high school since I’ve always liked helping others, it is a great job choice, and it has so many areas. I first went to Neumann University where I was unsuccessful with nursing but ended up with a liberal arts degree with a psychology and spanish minor. I knew I wanted to continue to become a nurse so I applied to many accelerated nursing programs like Widener. I ended up choosing Widener University which I have enjoyed being apart of thus far! I look forward growing as a student nurse and following my dream of becoming a Pediatric Nurse! 

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

Ciara it is my second time around in nursing also and I am so glad that we have become the best of friends. It is really nice knowing that there is someone who went through what you and I did and they are going through it again with you. I think you will make an excellent nurse and any hospital will be lucky to have you. 

[aamburgerrrr-blog]

Made it too the second semester of nursing school..now what?

Am I the only student that feels like I do not have enough time in the day to get the readings done, study the notes and power points, sleep, eat, and exercise? I think this is the most overwhelmed I have ever been since I began nursing school. I thought I had it all figured out because this is my second time going through a nursing program and the truth is I do not have anything figured out. My time managment could use some work, my note taking could be faster, and my reading comprehension could be better. Sometimes I wonder why I would put myself through this again, and then I have a moment like yesterday. Although we did not get to work with any patients, we toured the facilities, looked at patients charts and discussed the medications they were on and interventions that could be done. Just learning and hearing about the children and what they are going through reminded me just why I am doing this profession. I don't do it for the grades or the stress of school. I do it for the look on a patients face when you have made their day. Regardless of any type of stress I may be feeling patients will continue to remind me day in and day out about why I am choosing this profession. Too feel so deeply about something and to actually be able to achieve it is something I won't ever give up and to the fellow nursing students, I hope you feel as deeply as I do.