FtMurse

Just a transguy and his long journey to becoming a Nurse Practitioner

[ftmurse-blog]

PAX-RN and Moving forward

I took the PAX-RN exam and unfortunately did not get the score I needed. I was 3 points bellow the needed score as indicated by the program I am applying to. 

My advisor encouraged me to apply to the program anyway because my grades are high and I have a previous A.S. in Science from another college. (When I majored in Social Work/Human Services). 

Now, it’s time to complete the application, submit it after Spring Break, and wait. 

Until then, life goes on. Exams continue. Studying commences now that Spring Break is almost over. 

I hope everyone enjoyed their break, whenever they had it. I actually took some time to enjoy spending time with my boyfriend who is visiting from out-of-state.

Back to the grind. Gotta keep that A. 

Mursing (student) on.

[ftmurse-blog]

Sunday Morning. PAX-RN Panic

So, I was sick for a week and been dealing with bad allergies all winter (really all year round). Getting sick about every two weeks with a bacterial infection as a result (or it never really going away). Finally, went to see an allergist. Did one round of testing. Got a course of antibiotics. I’m finally starting to feel the effects of and starting to feel better. She gave me an Epi-pen and some other medications. Going back next week for the second round of testing. 

What does this have to do with the PAX exam that I’m taking April 4th. 

I haven’t prepared. For some reason, I could never get myself to focus on it. I’ve had the material for 2 years and there was always something more important. 

So, I need a 120 or higher on the PAX to get into the Nursing program at my school. I also need an A in the microbiology course I am taking this semester (which so far, hasn’t been an issue). That will keep my GPA in good standings. 

I believe the PAX is out of 160 pts. Verbal= 60, Science= 60 and Math= 40

People that I’ve talked to that have taken it say that the Verbal is difficult because you run out of time, it’s long, and you cannot go back to any section. 

I’ve always done well with reading comprehension. 

Vocabulary, I’m worried about. I have been trying to review as many words as possible, over and over and over and over.... you get the picture. If anyone has any tips on how to study for vocabulary. I will be grateful. 

The math is all from high school, which I did many many years ago. I don’t remember most of it. I’m trying to review it now and hope that it starts to click again. I was very good in math. I will accept any tips on reviewing for math as well. 

I’m not worried about the science. I’m good in science and I know how to study for it. It’s just about making the best out of the next 9 days to prepare for this. 

I chose a motivational video for today. Reminding me of my goal:

Save that starfish, people. 

Mursing (student) on. 

Thank you to all that read my blog, if there is anybody out there. 

[ftmurse-blog]

Studying and notes

Mornings breakfast: Eggs as usual, with tomatoes and cheese because it’s Sunday. 

Doing the home made coffee thing now. Able to consume a lot more coffee throughout the day while studying. Seems to be beneficial for studying, however, not sure how good it is for my body. We'll see how it holds up. 

Idk, how other people write such nice notes. I could spend the day reading and writing notes and mine still look nothing like theirs. You know what I'm talking about. The nice colorful neat notes that look like they should be in a magazine. It’s not that I don’t have colored pens or nice handwriting. Maybe I just don’t have the patience to take the time to write things that nicely?? 

1st I wonder how many drafts it took to have your notes look like that. 

I imagine re-write things a bunch of times helps with memorization. 

2nd, who has the time??? I always start to write notes out however, it takes up waaaay too much of my time. 

In order for me memorize something I need to write it out a couple 100x, depending on the word. 

If it’s a concept, I need to be able to visualize it in my head. How it works, what the process are or steps. 

Taking notes usually is helpful, however, it eats into my regular study time. It’s usually the first thing I do before I start to really study anything. Just to get the concepts out on paper. 

However, I am jealous of people who can make their notes so clean and clear. 

I’m not that guy. 

Mursing (student) on...

Relaxing study music:

[ftmurse-blog]

Busy Busy

I’m going to try to blog once a week on a Sunday, starting this week. (Not counting this blog entry)

Things have been chaotic with family life and school. 

I’m managing a small building, going to school for nursing, dealing with family stuff (to put it nicely), and debating going to medical school (before I realized by the time I graduate and pay off my debt I would be in my 60s. I’m 36 now) 

So, still going the NP route, emphasis in psychiatry. Going to take the entrance exam in April. Get my RN, then apply to Stony Brook (near my parent’s home) and hopefully attend there for the rest of my degree. 

Sounds solid. 

Now, to get back to cellular respiration and then Microbial genetics. 

Mursing (student) on.  

[ftmurse-blog]

That foggy feeling...

So, I just wrote an entire blog entry to have it accidentally deleted. Seems to be how my day is going in general. Today, I will not be entering anything about my morning’s adventure with trying to register for the NLN PAX RN exam. Nor will I be writing about yesterday experiences on 5 cups of espresso (not espresso cups but coffee cups). Right now I feel like:

I will leave you with this relaxing music. I originally posted piano music but found it too distracting to study. (I don’t plan these blogs ahead of time. I’m learning as I go) :

I will be listing to this music today while studying and try to get myself back on track. 

Too been continued....

[ftmurse-blog]

Morning Tumblr.

BREAKFAST: Boiling my eggs for the week. Currently, on a high protein low carbohydrate diet. 

(After reviewing my feelings of hypoglycemia with my endocrinologist. I’m not diabetic but my diet is having a major impact on my ability to concentration and study). 

I have decided it is time to start making my own coffee. (In this case espresso). 

I have this cool vintage glass percolator that was my great grandmother’s and makes amazing coffee:

 Today I will continue reviewing for the lab quiz.

I feel pretty confident in my abilities for the mid-term, so I’m not concerned on focusing on it atm. 

I also need to review more for lecture on the material covered, so that I don’t fall behind and have to cram for the exam. I hate cramming and I’m getting too old for it. At the age of 36, my body has grown to rebel and not function when it is derived of sleep. 

I've worked really hard at trying to get a good nights sleep. Even if it's not a full 8 hours, as everyone knows this is more often the case. So, to stay up all night studying instead of preparing down after day and then a review, seems crazy to me. 

It may work for some people and more power to them. It just doesn't work for me anymore. 

Today's study music:

If you have any questions, send me a message.  Everyone enjoy your Day!

Mursing (student) On. 

[tobeagenius]

I made this to put on my wall for revision, but I thought it might be helpful for some of you guys too so I thought I would share it!

[tobeagenius]

This should be helpful for anyone taking any biology classes!

[ftmurse-blog]

I saw this on another blog and I’m currently taking Microbiology (this happens to be what part of the material we are covering for lecture this coming exam). 

I thought it was really well done and definitely worth the share. I will be referring to it myself as well. Just wanted to share the knowledge.

Mursing (student) on..

[ftmurse-blog]

Busy day with Microbiology. Late to blog.

I woke up later than expected and had to quickly get ready to run out the door for a lab review before my mid-term practice starts on Friday. 

Breakfast: Consisted of 3 scrambled eggs (eaten in the car in the college parking lot) and coffee (while driving to school). 

The mid-term is in 3 parts that will take place during the next 3 lab classes. In addition to 2 quizzes that we will have. 

The mid-term is open book however, it is used to test your ability to on being able to gram-stain and then determine the morphology of the bacteria that you have stained. If done correctly, I should be golden. However, if you miss a step, leave the dye on too long or too short, you will get the answer wrong. 

So, it’s a fine line between awesome and a failure. 

Today, I did well in lab. After my last class where I was having difficulty seeing the bacteria. I had to go in to try to figure out what I did wrong.

I believe the first set of slides I did, I forget to heat fix. So, there weren’t any bacteria left on the sides or very little.

I did another slide to practice and once I remembered to heat-fix. I was able to see the bacteria. I should be all set for the first part of this mid-term. 

Today, I will be studying for my Microbiology Lab quiz (which is not open book). I did well on the last one, so I’m not worried about it. Just need to keep up with the same study habits. 

Today’s relaxing video/music, I am currently listening to: 

I happen to like the sound of rain and thunderstorms. When it’s sunny and warm, I get too distracted by everything. This helps me to stay focused. 

Mursing (student) on.

[ftmurse-blog]

Sunday is for Slow moving mornings.

Good Morning people. It’s 11:00 am. I’m still trying to wake up and working on my coffee. 

Sunday Breakfast: Coffee and ham, egg, and cheese on a sweet roll. (I’m trying to stay on a low carb and high protein diet to build muscle but, this was my cheat day).  

I was exhausted yesterday (Saturday), which happens. The night before an exam (which would be on Friday night), I don’t typically sleep much. Even if I’m not that stressed about it. Didn’t remember to plug in y phone before passing out or video my boyfriend. (sorry, baby) Luckily, this means my recoup day is Sunday.  This is good for me because: 

1. I don’t have class, appointments or construction people to deal with 

(Whole other story. I’m remodeling the 3rd-floor apartment or rather paying people to do it. If you are interested in my remodeling adventures. I can write a post or two about it. Drop a message) 

2. I can sleep in.  (I love sleep) (Which means I get up at 9:30 am instead of 6:00 am)

3. My next class and exam aren't until Friday. 

(since there is basically an exam each week in one or two classes) 

4. I can take it slow. 

( I still need to study of course but I also have other unavoidable chores on Sunday. This helps break up my day). 

For your Sunday morning, here is a low key video music relaxation video. I’m enjoying the melody of it. 

Enjoy your Sunday, whatever that may look like. 

Mursing (student) on.

[wiccawiccawitch]

✨📅✏️📄💯📓💯📄✏️📅✨

emoji spell to get good grades and survive school/college this year 

likes charge it, reblogs cast it

[ftmurse-blog]

LUCK is it.................

Sometimes we could all use some luck (or spells). So, I decided to reblog this. 

I got an 88 % on my Microbiology lecture exam today. Considering I had to learn 3 chapter of material in a week (due to switching into a new class), I would say I did pretty good. I can’t say it was completely luck or due to a spell. However, given that I didn’t get to cover half the material for the exam, I would say some luck was involved. 

What does everyone think about luck or spells when it comes to exams or tests? Do you get what you put in or is there luck involved?

Mursing (student) on.

[ftmurse-blog]

Morning...

Got my morning latte... Just walked to the bakery around the block to pick it up. 

A short walk earlier in the morning, even if I’m a zombie, helps to wake me up. (from a living dead state..haahaa...see what I did there)

This morning will be brief. I have an exam in Microbiology lecture that I’m not proud to say, I’m not ready for, at all. (At least it feels that way to me). 

So first off: 

And to the rest of the morning forward.... Some uplifting music. (Hope this helps you get the morning started. It seems to help me relax.)

Mursing (student) on. 

[ftmurse-blog]

Exam tomorrow!

Trying to not stress over a test, when you know the professor drops the lowest grade (and you’re an A type personality) is like:

Trying to take my own advice. Relaxing music. Playing Gin Rummy (It wake my brain up and motivates me for some reason) and just let it go. Deep Breathing and nice scenery. Until tomorrow, enjoy your night people.

Mursing (student) on. 

[ftmurse-blog]

Microbiology Lecture Exam 1

So, I got switched a new Microbiology lecture class due to an issue with Black Board. (Issue was that my name was being switched to my name. What people call preferred name, I have a whole other issue with that wording.  Other students were able to see my birth name. As a stealth transguy, maybe you can see the issue?) This is the online software the college uses for the type of class I was in, which was partially online. If you care to read it, the full story is here (see link below)

http://ftmurse.blogspot.com/2017/02/this-transguys-experience-with-return.html?zx=f3dd1679aabbfc3f

Now, the exam is the following week and I had not covered any of the material in the previous class for this coming exam. The lowest test grade gets drops. So, I could do one of two things. I could cram and try to get all the information in to try to get the A. (I do not strive for anything less)

OR

I could do some review but not kill myself over it. 

I'm not the type to not study at all. That seems like insanity to me. Some people can do it without an issue. I’m just not one of them. 

So, I prepared for this exam by going through each power point slide and reviewing the information. Reading what I didn’t understand or for more information. Also, writing important terms down. I have to write terms for them to stick in my brain. 

Will I get it all completed? Probably not. I’ll have a follow-up post regarding this exam and future exams. 

On the topic of exams, I got a 93/100 on my Microbiology Lab Quiz 1. The quiz was last week on the first two lab exercises. The mid-term starts next week and Quiz 2. I will go more into detail regarding lab on another post. 

Feel free to comment with any questions. I have a lot of people in class ask me about study tips. If you want to read another blog about study tips for Microbiology or college in general, leave me a message. 

Mursing (student) on. 

[ftmurse-blog]

Another day, another grind.

Breakfast is : Eggs and grapes. 

Don’t forget the Latte. It’s here too.

Today, I spend my time trying to study chapter 4 and 5 for my exam. (I will write a separate blog regarding the exam circumstance later and how I dealt with being switched into a new class that is much further along in the text, then my last one) 

Tomorrow, the plan is to review all the material I studied for Saturdays exam. Hopefully, I can pull it off. One of the biggest tools I have found helpful to me is always staying positive (attitude). Feeling confident in my abilities as a student, even if I don’t feel confident in the amount of information I was able to ingest for the exam.  It always seems to work out, as long as I put the full effort in. 

Today motivational parody video:  Study Maybe "Call Me Maybe" Med Parody

From University of Maryland School of Medicine 2015. 

The study music I’ll be using today is: 

Since it’s going to be a long day of grinding through course work. 

Mursing (student) on. 

[diaryofamedicalstudentblog-blog]

Short-term sacrifices for long-term pleasures

[ftmurse-blog]

How bad do you want it... (sounds dirty) but true. What are you willing to sacrifice to get your end result. I’ve given up my social life, my personal time, my career, my life in another state, my ability to move in with my partner, spending time with my partner, my sanity (at times) and soo much more for that end result. To be able to save and change lives in a way I was not able to do before. 

Mursing (student) on. 

[ftmurse-blog]

ADHD and staying focused on the grind.

How do I keep myself motivated and focused on studying when I have ADHD? 

First Coffee! Caffeine helps me. 

Then I listen to Medical Music parodies on Youtube. Today is Blank Script parody of Taylor Swift "Blank Space" by ZDoggMD.com. It is linked bellow. 

(It reminds me of why I’m doing this, to begin with. This particular song reminds me of a client I had that died from Opiate dependency when I was working as a Patient Navigator. Plus it’s catchy) 

Then I make a to-do list, so I have something to focus on in smaller manageable steps. Ie. I have an exam Friday in Microbiology Lecture. 

Today I will cover chapter 3 of the power point. Use the book as a reference for these slides. Also, my professor gave the class a list of 13 bacteria she wants us to know. So, I will cover 5 of those 13. 

In addition, I’ve previously made Quizlet quizzes for terms I was having difficulty with. ( You may be able to find premade quizzes by other people that cover the material you need) It also helps me to study the bacteria list while on the train or out going to appointments. This helps me be able to cover material when I’m not at home. 

I found if I have a hard time focusing while sitting down studying from slides if I change up the mode of studying it helps. So, I will switch to a Quizlet test or use the website that goes with the book. They have summary reviews, tests, flashcards, etc. 

Also, I found sometimes, I just can’t focus. If I take a break and do something fun. Play a game for 30 minutes or so. Then I am able to refocus and get to the grind. I found trying to force it just doesn’t work and brings more stress. 

They say surroundings is important. Yes, this is true however, I don’t always sit at my desk. Sometimes I just can’t focus. It’s too quiet. I actually find it easier to focus in bed later at night. I get more done. During the day I play Youtube study music on low so that it plays in the background. Low enough so that I don’t really notice it. The one I have been using is linked bellow. 

There are others with changing scenery but I find that can be distracting. 

If you have anything that works for you, share it. I’m always looking for new ways to focus. 

[ftmurse-blog]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV9RyXQyQ7Q)

Motivation! Learn, grow, make a difference!

Mursing (student) on.