Posted by Sean on September 8, 2010
Full-time Graduate Student
Master’s degree program
5 classes
I used to be in bed early every night. Nope. That’s over:
Image Source: SPcollege
I also use to be relatively stress free. Nope That’s over too:
Image Source: sodahead
It’s only the second week of classes???
S.
O.
S.
SEND HELP
Posted in health, humor | Tagged: school, student | 2 Comments »
Posted by Sean on August 7, 2009
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.
Posted in health | Tagged: anesthesia, BSN, school | 26 Comments »
Posted by Sean on August 5, 2009
Read all about it…
Lot’s of things have been ‘happenin’ lately around here. When I say ‘here’ I mean my life inside and outside of work, as well as the ‘life’ of my good ole’ blog.
[Before I continue, no I'm not changing things up again. (WHEW)]
My first semester came and went. It flew by I must say. My feelings towards school changed as the semester progressed. I am now pretty darn excited to start my next semester and be one step (semester) closer to attaining my BSN! Unless there is something catastrophic, I will have my BSN by May 2010. Not bad for just starting May of this year. – Yes it helped that I already HAD ONE Bachelor’s degree.
Along the way I changed my plan of attack. I’m now completing my degree entirely online.
I found out the expensive hard way that I really should leave well alone. The big ‘change’ and master ‘plan’ I developed at the beginning of the summer bottomed out quickly. Not only did it take way too much money to get going, but once it started, the pay off was extremely disappointing.
I admit, it was a great learning experience. My hopes and intentions were shot down hard, but in the end it opened up many other great opportunities.
Along the way I ‘came out of the closet’ so-to-speak. I no longer hide behind a fake persona and pseudonym (an idea that some still can’t believe is me). And I ironically re-connected with a plethora of old friends via Facebook. Facebook was simply another ‘advertising’ avenue during the ‘master plan’. I ended up finding all kinds of old friends from high school as well as college, old co-workers from past jobs, etc. It was nothing but a great thing (tell that to my wife).
With that being said, I now have to watch my P’s and Q’s when blogging. I tend to speak my mind on my blog, the way I speak my mind in person (and at work). My mouth typing can be a tad abrasive and opinionated at times, so in keeping with the ‘complaint free‘ philosophy I’m being mindful of what I blog about. Of course I’m talking about pissing off co-workers, not violating HIPAA. So no matter how ‘crazy’ or ‘unbelievable’ or ‘WTF?!’ things may be at work… I really can’t or won’t be blogging about it. Even though I really wanna sometimes! Heh heh.
Last, but certainly not least, more doors of opportunity are opening.
I have started the ball rolling on applying for entrance into the Master’s Program. I’m keeping my fingers crossed at this point, since the task of getting into any program is daunting and could lead to some seriously large expenses. So I’m keeping things sort of hush-hush. I’ll blog more about it as the process develops.
I’ll also be blogging officially for another website in the coming weeks! They were looking for a male nurse who blogs…. Hmmm. I sort of fit that description don’t you think?
I’ll give more details once the new website is launched. I will say this… I’m super-excited about it!
I think that’s enough for now.
Stay tuned!
Posted in health, random | Tagged: blog, health, random, school | 12 Comments »
Posted by Sean on June 26, 2009
Image Source: seopher
I’m exhaustively happily doing research on my next school project. Research on a particular nursing subject, its applications to the current state of health care, medicine, the profession… blah.. blah.. blah.
I normally start by doing a simple internet search using my favorite : Google. I can’t say I use any other search engine in my travels. I do use Cooliris whenever I’m looking for images, but otherwise, I’m a habitual Googler’.
Any-hoo…
I was doing my initial search queries, gathering web pages, articles, blog post, new clippings, etc. I found a plethora of information (like I usually do). Well I always try to reference official professional citing and published works. I can usually find the ‘official’ stuff with Google, but I sometimes have to go the ‘official’ route. Official route being the formal search query databases. Everything from CINAHL, OVID, and all the other University-based databases.
I found even more information of course.
For any scholar student who has used a search query database, I don’t need to explain the complexities of getting it right and the difficulties of doing it wrong. Your word and preposition placement in your search queries can make or break your experience. Instead of honing in on that one piece of information you so greatly need… you could be running in circles perusing useless information and locating nothing.
The point of this story? (yes there is one)
In my official search using the database queries I found and selected the very same piece of material I searched for using Google. What took a great amount of skill, word placement, and multiple searches was accomplished with one search string using your run-of-the-mill internet search engine.
The internet is a wonderful thing indeed.
Go figure.
Posted in health | Tagged: google, health, school | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Sean on May 9, 2009
So it seems that I’m not on the up-and-up.
It seems that their are schools (private / parochial) out there today that do not condone nor allow public dances, rock music, hand holding, etc. This fact alone disturbed me and gave me flashbacks of the movie ‘Footloose’.
I really thought that whole warped theme was just for the movies?
Besides the fact that these schools exist, one school in particular is tightening its vice grip outside the schools walls.
The school is now enforcing their rules to include any activity outside the school that fall into the same category of public dances, etc. So one particular student is not supposed to take his girlfriend to her public-school prom.
When did discipline and structure warp itself into control?
Does this school really think it’s helping the youth by enforcing such strict rules?
The last time I checked the tighter you hold onto something, the more that something wants set free?
So the more you step on these youths necks.. the more they are going to break your rules?
There has to be a limit? I mean aren’t we flirting with disaster here?
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: control, school | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Sean on May 2, 2009
Image Source: TripAdvisor
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:
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).
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
Posted in fitness, health | Tagged: bethenextstep, blog, BSN, nursing, school | 26 Comments »
Posted by Sean on February 9, 2009
The never-ending recycling circle of life.
I’m in the process of applying for student loans so that I can continue, ergo, further my education. Further my education which will further my career. Further my career which will eventually earn me more money.
BUT…
In order to make money, it will take money.
Funny how that works out huh?
I think they did it on purpose.
Carpe Diem
Posted in humor | Tagged: money, school | 4 Comments »
