Why I Want to Be a Nurse

Once upon a time I promised to post my "Why I Want to Be a Nurse" paragraph. This was required when I applied to my nursing program. It's kinda fun to go back and read my thoughts from over two years ago.

Why I Want to Be a Nurse!

I recently spent a year living in West Africa where I worked with a health-oriented NGO. My days were a mishmash of emotions as I poured myself into my work as a nutrition volunteer. I experienced great heartache as I uncovered the willful neglect of a malnourished four-year-old child. And then experienced profound joy and pride five months later when that same child was growing and laughing and learning how to walk again. Those experiences, and many more, revealed to me that I have the heart of a nurse, but I am frustrated with my lack of knowledge to really be effectual in that role. I carry in me a desire to educate and to bring hope and encouragement to my patients. To advocate and fight for those who have no voice and to empower those who have lost their voice. To help families find solutions for themselves and to laugh and cry with them as they walk uncertain paths. To promote dignity and life in the midst of the most challenging of circumstances. I want to be a nurse so that I can make a positive difference in people’s lives—whether they are taking their first breath or last breath. I also want to be a nurse because the nursing field is diverse and affords limitless opportunities for learning and professional development. The demand for nurses has also made it a field where there is excellent income potential and opportunities for advanced education. And finally, I want to be a nurse so that when earthquakes and tsunamis, wars and famines happen across the world, I will have critical skills that can be put to use immediately!

Copyright © 2010 Joy Hancock.
This is my intellectual property. Please do not steal and/or use any portion of it for your own use. It would be unwise and unethical to take my words to use as your own. Think.

ACCEPTED!

YAY! Was notified this evening that I've been accepted into the nursing program for fall 2010! I'm so excited! We will receive our admissions packet in the mail this week and we'll have to either accept/decline the offer within two weeks so that they can start bumping people from the wait list.

It was hard to hear from my microbiology lab partner that she was wait-listed. I was so hoping she'd be accepted right away so that there would be a familiar face in my first nursing class. Hopefully she'll get bumped and be able to join me.

What's next? Notification to the church (my employer) of my expected departure later this summer. And I'm hoping to start official nursing classes THIS summer (end of May) with a ten-week class and two five-week classes--all while still working "full-time". Although now the pressure is on to maintain GPA (so that I don't get kicked out of program!). I may drop hours back at work, although not sure yet. Seems like a good idea. Fewer hours now might provide for longer transition later with my replacement. But will have to find time to prepare for a turn-over (documentation, etc). Will be a busy and interesting summer for sure.

Maybe in a few weeks I'll post my "Why I want to be a nurse" paragraph.

Still Waiting

Well, the date we've all been anticipating has come and gone...and we still don't know more than we knew a couple months ago. We were all told that we would be notified of our acceptance status by April 15th. Nothing yet. I'm just anxious. I'm ready to know...my life is about to change in some major ways if I get accepted. A wait-list response would almost be harder to deal with (especially if I'm in the top 15 of the wait list). But I also do rest in God's sovereignty and trust that He's got it all worked out. I think I'm ready, but He knows best. Waiting is hard...

The Waiting Begins Again

Well, my application for nursing school is in. Nothing more I can do but wait to hear back. Should know something by mid-April. Again, 300 applicants (or more) and only 90-100 available spots. Last year, same statistics and I was 57th on wait list. At least now I've gotten Anatomy & Physiology out of the way (with 4.0 in both) and this semester's classes underway. Hopefully my application will have heavier weight this year. If not...sigh.

In the meantime I'm BUSY with microbiology and developmental psychology. Both classes are primarily online, but I do have to attend four all-day labs on campus this semester for micro. First lab is this Saturday. I'm strangely excited!

This past week when I was wandering around PVCC, I saw a flyer for Navy Nurse Corps. Hmm? I went through a phase a handful of years ago wondering if I might want to join the navy. And here I am again thinking about it--but this time with nursing. Hmm? interesting way to pay for college (although they want BSN nurses, not ADN). The navy would be one way to help with humanitarian efforts and to get LOADS of training and experiences. Plus I understand the doctors are on the floors all the time, compared to normal hospital systems. Mom, if you somehow found this blog...don't worry, I'm nowhere close to calling a recruiter.

But the idea keeps rolling around in my head. 35. single. Why not sign up for some adventure? Perhaps I should just focus on PVCC plan and then if I'm still unattached after I get RN license, consider NNC. Right now...nothing is certain and I'm okay with that. Much like the steps I took to get to Liberia...taking one at a time in gracious uncertainty.

Anatomy: Part One--almost finished!

Well after 12 weeks of anatomy consuming all my non-work hours, I am almost done. I take my final test (on the cardiovascular system) either on Thursday evening or on Monday. HOPEFULLY on Thursday--cuz I want my weekend! :)

I've been so glad that I took this class online. While it's a lot of work and requires self-discipline, it has really been rewarding. NVCC's course really provides you everything you need to be successful in this course. I've scored 100's on two of my tests, scored mostly As and 2 Bs on my exams and the extra credit quizzes have made is possible for me to maintain an A throughout the entire course. At this point I can forego the last class discussion (10 points) and score only a 40 on the test...and STILL pull an A in the course! It's kinda crazy, but I love it.

Another thing about the online format that works for me is that I can do the class work whenever I want (which basically works out to every evening after work and about 4-6 hours on my days off from work). It's been anywhere from 15-20 hours of study time per week for me. Sure I've slacked off and paid for it (with Bs on test), but at LEAST I did not have to waste time in a classroom taking notes...when I've learned everything from the books, workbooks, and CD (lab component). I am so grateful to my friend's mother-in-law who pointed me towards the NVCC online courses! So grateful.

Once I finish my last test/exam, I'll have a two week break and then will start Anatomy/Physiology #2 on August 24th for the fall semester. At least this fall, I'll have 16 weeks to complete everything--whereas the summer course was only 12 weeks. What's great is that for the fall online course, they give you 3 different completion options. 16 weeks, 12 weeks or 8 weeks. I know I can do the 12 weeks--so I will start there. But knowing I've got nursing school applications to work on this fall in October/November--I'll be very grateful for the extra four weeks.

I can't believe that I'll be applying for schools in just a few short months. I haven't a clue how to write a compelling application for UVA or VCU grad programs. I've never competed for anything this signficant in my life. Undergrad was no big deal, I didn't have amazing SAT scores or highschool grades--yet still got into my first choice. So this feels kinda scary; kinda desperate too. ugh. Guess I'll probably spend my small break talking to people and doing research on nursing school applications. fun stuff. lol.

Next spring I'll probably be taking microbiology and developmental psych. Not sure if I can do micro online or not. sigh. Then Statistics next summer. Hopefully grad programs aren't too fussy about classes I haven't taken yet.

Another thing that I've found really hard about going back to school is the limited social life. And if there was a guy who wanted to be in my life...it would be tough! holy cow. I think it could be done, but still very hard. I do have a guy friend who just finished nursing school this past May and he just got engaged...so I suppose hope is not lost. I just have to wonder what God is up to. I'm not getting any younger and dating just gets harder as one gets older. I have to trust that God has put me on this path at 35 for some reason that will bring good to me and glory to Him. So I walk the path with hope and expectation of God's goodness and provision. And hopefully a few surprises too.