This truly hits the nail on the head. And I couldn’t agree more with the warped sense of reality concerning respect.

Great post. Be sure to follow the link for the original full article.

One very interesting fact regarding diploma programs—one that most  people may not realize—is that there is typically only a 10-credit deficit between the diploma or ADN nurse and the BSN nurse. That’s correct, only 10 credits—or, for example, an average of three humanities courses. Many of these programs also have twice the number of clinical hours as BSN programs, preparing their graduates to walk right into the NCLEX exam (and pass with flying colors), and from there right into the nursing workforce.

Don’t Cling to Tradition: A Nursing Student’s Call for Realism, Respect « Off the Charts

My wife rocks! This is what I woke up to on our front lawn. I guess this cool service ‘plants’ your gift in the early wee-hours of the morning. Even though it’s raining – it still looks awesome.

I walk across the stage tonight to make it official. I still feel like I should be ‘doing’ some sort of school project. Heh heh.

My plans are in the works for my next ‘phase’ of my education. I’m nervous. I’ll keep you posted.

Whew…

What a ride. I must tell ya. It got a lil’ ‘hairy’ there at the end with the amount of work I had to complete in such a short period of time. I had projects piling up left and right, due dates overlapping and assignments that would take 2-3 days to complete – on top of the ‘semester projects’ that were due. It was a tad crazy for a while there. I thought I was going blind from all the darn reading, writing and researching I was doing!

But I did it. I got through it. I can now put the auspicious BSN after my name now. I can’t tell you how awesome it feels to be done, to say I did it. To think I posted this a year ago: (I’m taking the BSN plunge)

There is no turning back now. It’s official. I’m a student (again). I’m a student for the 4th time. Luckily I will only need a total of 3 semesters. 3 semesters later I will attain my Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.

Wow. I still feel like it’s not real.

Maybe I’m making this more than it really is, but this degree was an important one for me. I learned a lot about me and my future as a nurse. I learned more about the nurse I am, the nurse I can be, and the nurse I want to be.

• I learned that my future as a nurse is full of possibilities.
• I learned that a job is not the same as a career.
• I learned that I truly do enjoy taking care of patients and their families.
• I learned I’m good at taking care of those patients at the bedside.
• I learned that I am at ‘home’ in the world of critical care – nowhere else.

Most of all, I learned that my high aspirations of wanting to be a Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) were based on false pretenses and misguided following. Being a CRNA is something that takes a great deal of education, training and skill. Most individuals in the critical care world ‘transition’ or follow along the ‘anesthesia’ path. It is not for me. Sure, the money would be GREAT – but I’ve learned the hard way that taking a job for the money is the quickest way to an unhappy life. Being miserable with a pocket full of money is not a way to lead ones life in my opinion.

My interests lie elsewhere, and I’m currently taking steps to get there. I’m nervous and excited at the same time! I’m anxious and full of energy at what my future as a nurse holds for me.

Yesterday I received some disheartening news. Positive self-talk only gets you so far. You actually have to believe what you’re telling yourself in order for it to work.

I have a very lofty goal ahead of me. A goal I have successfully dodged for the better part of 4 yrs. A goal which I know will take a lot of effort, time and of course money. It will have drastic effects on me physically, mentally and emotionally as well as directly and indirectly affecting my wife and family. A goal which I am well aware of is impossible for some, attainable for others, and down right difficult to achieve. It’s a goal that will be one of the more, if not the most, challenging things I will do in my life.

What is this goal? Well I wrote it down like all goals should:

Whew…

OK. I had to catch my breath there. That’s the first time I’ve made that public. Officially. OK. First time I’ve made it public to my Social Media family.

My family, friends, and co-workers of course have known for quite some time, but man! Putting this out there makes it so much more real.

I have tossed around anesthetist school for a long time. I first had an interest in nursing school, and during my short time as a nurse my interest has waxed and waned, until these past 2 years.

I consciously made the effort and made the first steps to complete this goal last year. As you may already have read, or remember, I have a Bachelor’s degree. I have a Bachelor’s in Exercise and Sport Science. Unfortunately for most Nurse Anesthesia programs, having anything other than a BSN simply doesn’t qualify.

Yes, they will tell you that there are ‘other’ options, and you can ‘get started’ with entrance into their School’s Master’s program, but all it really boils down to is you are still going to need to have the upper level Bachelor’s of Nursing classes before you can enter or even qualify for entrance.

And some programs won’t even continue their conversation with you once they learn you don’t have a BSN.

I have learned this the hard way.

A year ago I took my GRE‘s in the hopes that with my current degree I could gain entrance into the only school that WOULD talk with me. Those hopes were of course shot down.

So this past spring I made the decision to shoot for my BSN. I am currently 2 semesters away from that golden crown.

Prior planning is paramount in paving your road to higher education. I knew that even though my graduation date was not till May of 2010 I needed to start planning my attack for Anesthesia school. Luck would have it that one of the programs I was interested in had an application deadline of August 1st 2009. Uhh…. Yeah. That would be a week ago.

I discovered this little piece of info roughly the 3rd week in July! But… thanks to the powers that be and some awesome references and some good ole’ fashion leg-work I was able to get my full application with all the trimmings submitted on time. In fact I had it done almost a week ahead of schedule.

Well it all came crashing down yesterday when I received a phone call from the school. I originally got super-excited when I listened to the voice message. I thought ‘wholly cow! They are already calling me! It’s gotta be good news!’

Of course it wasn’t the good news I was expecting. The short version is that I did not meet their qualifications, and basically I was going to have to wait till the following year to apply for entrance. The details are mind numbing so I’ll spare you.

So I was devastated. I know, I know, it’s not the end of the world. But for me, I had built this up as the end-all-be-all. I had already pictured myself at the school. Already making my plans for starting classes, etc.

So I spent today reviewing, researching, and talking with other programs of interest to be sure all my ducks were in a row, all my I’s were dotted, and all my T’s were crossed.

I must admit, putting my goal out there for all to read makes it so much more real now. Yep, I’m a tad nervous now that you know. But, I’m also glad.

Don’t worry, I’ll be chronicling my journey towards my high hopes and barely reachable goal.

Yesterday I got knocked down. Today I got back up and took the bull by the horns. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Well, my first semester back at school has come and gone. I must admit, I was overwhelmed at first. Shaking off the cobwebs from the back of my brain was quite a task. It’s amazing how much you ‘forget’.

It’s been 3 years since my last ‘formal’ class. I made an attempt at continuing my education towards my BSN, but due to time, money and just plain lack of interest, I bowed out.

Fast-forward three years and here we are again. This time around I had the time and the motivation.

With my previous educational history luck would have it I only have to take a handful of classes to attain my BSN, so that in itself was motivating enough.

So my first semester was this summer. The last time I took summer classes was in nursing school, so I must say I was a tad bummed that my summer would be spent in school – but it was a needed sacrifice to get things done. My summer semester consisted of online classes. Also something I was leery about. Leery, but not unfamiliar territory. The last time I was in school was also taking online classes.

I had forgotten I much I enjoyed the freedom and flexibility of online learning. It affords you a great amount of ‘wiggle room’ in regards to getting things done.

Everything remains the same as ‘real-time’ live classes except for the part where you have to physically show up for class. All you ‘classes’ come in the form of assignments and tasks which are all time-sensitive.

Most classes give you a syllabus that will outline what is due, when its due. Each assignment and task fits the needs of the class and it’s goals. Every assignment can or cannot build on the previous assignment. It is pseudo-cumulative, meaning that what you learned from the assignments in the beginning of the semester will have applications that will contribute to the completion of the class assignments at the end of the semester.

Here is my breakdown of deciding between the formal and online classes:

Pros:

• You work at your own pace (great for the busy schedule lifestyle)
• Can do school work ANYWHERE that allows computer/internet access (Laptops)
• Everything is planned out ahead of time, so you know what needs done and when it needs done.
• Don’t have to worry about sitting in a class for 45min up to 4 hrs!
• Most of the time you don’t have to buy books – everything is online access
• You can work ahead, allowing extra time when you need it.

Cons:

• Have to have a good, sound, basic knowledge of computers and the internet (otherwise you struggle)
• The immediacy of problem solving is not there – if you have a question it’s done by email
• Waiting for responses can be time consuming (although chat clients can help)
• At the mercy of your computer and the internet (slow computers/connections can be tough)
• It is a tad more expensive per credit
• No human to human interaction
• Social aspect of school is not there.

The great thing about my first semester was I worked hard, and busted my butt in the beginning of the summer. I worked as far ahead as I could – and it paid off tremendously. I finished my semester almost a full month ahead of schedule (yes I busted my A@S).

So instead of being in school, finishing the summer semester with only a week break until fall semester starts back up – I have over a month break! SHHWEEET!

If anything else, the long break is worth any drawbacks to taking online classes. Case in point, my wife is taking summer classes as well and she’s in class all the way up to the day we leave for vacation!

Ever take online classes? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

http://friendfeed.com/bethenextstep/ea1cdb55/have-you-ever-taken-online-classes-good-or-bad-i-d?embed=1

There is no turning back now. It’s official. I’m a student (again). I’m a student for the 4th time.

As of yesterday the journey to my Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) has begun.

So here’s a little history.

I already HAVE one Bachelor’s degree. I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise and Sport Science with a concentration in Athletic Training. As most of you know, I’m not actively practicing as an ATC these days. I am a full-time RN.

Being a nurse and the nursing field is actually my 3rd career. Yes, you read that right, 3rd career.

Quick rewind of my career and education:

• Entered college as an Engineering major
• Dropped Engineering major after 2 yrs – started Exercise Sport Science
• Graduated after 5 more years of school
• During college and after graduation worked for Retail chain
• First year post graduation continued work in Retail as well as did per diem personal training
• First couple jobs as an ATC was horrible due to low pay.
• Left ATC world, back to retail world for better pay. Became a manager for 2 yrs.
• Realized how much I did not like the life of retail – back to ATC
• ATC for another couple years – got hurt as well as kindly reminded of lifestyle and lack of pay
• Applied for nursing school. Back to school (2nd time) to finish pre-req’s for RN diploma school
• RN diploma school (3rd time) – graduated
• Working as Full-time RN – now delving back into personal training
• Seeking Bachelor’s in Nursing to ensure long-term career placement and advancement. (4th time)

Whew.

Yes, it’s been a long journey and there doesn’t seem to be an end. This time around my BSN won’t take too long since I already HAVE a Bachelor’s in a health related field.

Luckily I will only need a total of 3 semesters. 3 semesters later I will attain my Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.

Woo Hoo.

Wish me luck.

I still want to blog about my nursing world, just don’t know how it will work into my current blog’s state of affairs?

I thought about creating another blog? But that would be such a hassle.

I guess I’ll keep on blogging here although the darn name and theme will confuse the heck out of my visitors. I have visitors from the fitness and exercise world, then I have my nurse and health care world visitors.

I wish I could find a happy medium.

Maybe I jumped the gun by changing my domain name?? Grr.

I would love to hear suggestions from my readers (the few I have).

1. What do you think about my new domain name forward/change from the mystrongmedicine to blog.bethenextstep?
2. Where should I blog about fitness?
3. Where should I blog about nursing?
4. Should I separate my blogging themes or keep them all in one place?
5. Should I go back to mystrongmedicine.com? Or keep blog.bethenextstep.com?
6. Is my blog more and more confusing these days?

I truly look forward to any and all suggestions. If not through the comments, please send me an email. I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for sticking around my merry-go round-like blog.

Carpe Diem