Nursing School…Second-to-Last Semester Thoughts
My first thought about the blog question was about how every day in nursing school I encounter more and more topics, specialties and vocabulary to learn…and that the journey seems endless. It is amazing to me that I have spent two years now in nursing school and I can’t believe there is an end!
Other thoughts have crossed my mind as well: Should I have done an ADN degree instead of BSN? Can I manage the debt of student loans? How long will it take to be a RN? How long will it take to get a job? What specialty will I be doing?
One big question and concern I have always had is whether or not I should have pursued an ADN degree instead of spending more money on a BSN degree. One always wonders, especially when money is concerned. Santa Barbara City College offers a program whose tuition is a mere 10% of CSUCI’s tuition costs (Goleta). On the other hand, one doesn’t receive a BSN degree as quickly…downside of the BSN degree is that the student loans are quite hefty, so it’s a trade-off. Graduate not in debt without a BSN degree or graduate with more credentials/degrees, yet spend time paying back thousands of dollars. This is a tough decision, and one that has already been made for me now. Paying back student loans it is…
So now that there is my student debt to be concerned about, I do also wonder about the possibility of getting into a new grad program. I thought I would look up exactly how my (future) BSN degree may benefit me. According to a survey and study by the AACN, approximately 30% more jobs are being offered and claimed by BSNs than RNs. This is somewhat reassuring!
One of the other revelations I have experienced during my time in nursing school so far (besides the state of my debts) is how much I’ve gotten to know parts of myself. The evolution of what I knew about nursing as a profession then vs now, is legion. When I first started, I really had no idea of the scope and depth that nursing as a field, encompassed. As I learned about the many aspects, specialties and professional opportunities, I found that I needed to fine tune where I wanted to be. It was no great surprise that I found my principal interest in surgery/OR and SICU, but surprisingly, I also found a large interest in psychiatric nursing. Initially, when I entered nursing school my vague idea was to work in critical care or hospice. I have since opened my mind to all experiences and rotations at school and have tried to evaluate my reactions to each one.
This semester has by far been my favorite semester at school. I think it’s due to the fact that all classes are focused on a main theme (critical care) and gives me more opportunity to experience immersion in a field of personal interest. Although I had an idea of what unit I preferred, I was taken by SICU in particular this term, so much so that I requested an additional day there. I truly feel that all the semesters of nursing school have prepared me for critical care…all the med-surg classes, clinicals and studying have accumulated to assist me for this particular semester and it feels good to combine it all together.
In critical care all previous knowledge really comes into play. I see this in our mind maps that we do for homework. All the critical thinking and knowledge that we have been stuffing in our heads is now flowing onto graphic pictures to show our thought processes. A year ago I don’t think we would be as good as we are now in creating those. Seeing the mind maps makes the fruits of our labors seem so tangible and real…just not the same as seeing words on a page. I would have liked to have seen a mind map from me a year ago compared to now…I’m sure the growth would be measurable.
I am looking forward to the final semester, as it includes two subjects that I am interested in: leadership and community health. As a nurse, I look forward to what I can contribute to the community, as helping out/volunteering and providing for the less fortunate is important to me. As to the leadership class, I look forward to learning about how nurses can lead, move forward to create progress and be role models. One thing I am positive about: those classes will only serve to enhance my current knowledge and make me a better nurse.
Overall, I know that the difference between then (beginning of school) and now (second to last semester) seems likes more years than it has been. When I look at my library of textbooks, and the myriad amount of material there is to review at all times…I can see that the nursing school experience will probably never end. The learning process is an ongoing one and luckily I have an insatiable curiosity about life and enjoy learning…because it is obvious nursing involves an evolution and utilization of knowledge that will last my entire life.
References
Employment of New Nurse Graduates and Employer Preferences for Baccalaureate-Prepared Nurses. (2013, November 1). Retrieved November 19, 2015, from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/leading_initiatives_news/news/2013/employment13
Institute of Medicine. (2010). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
