Grad School Orientation

Yesterday was orientation for the Family Nurse Practitioner program that I am starting in September.

My cohort is rather small, only 19 people.  I'm not sure if I'm surprised by that number or not.  I actually knew one of my fellow students, as she was also in the second-degree BSN program with me that I just completed.  It was nice to see a familiar face, and certainly took the edge off the day.

Orientation was pretty informative.  I still haven't decided if I will be taking a full or part-time course load.  Everything is contingent upon if I am able to find a job or not.  I registered for a full-time schedule, taking advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, theoretical foundations, and human diversity and social issues.  If I can find a job, I will switch to part-status, and will only be taking advanced pathophysiology and theoretical foundations.

Full-time studies allow me to finish my FNP in 15 months, whereas, if I am part-time throughout the degree, it will most likely take me about 28 months to complete.  This isn't the end of the world, as I'd like to be working while going to school, but if it's not in the cards, at least I'll have someplace to focus my energy!

I have a phone interview with a really great hospital today, so I'm hoping that that will lead to an in-person interview, and eventually a job offer!! But, we'll see!

It's Official...I am an RN!

After 48 hours of anticipation, I received my results and I passed NCLEX.  Now the job search can commence!!

NCLEX is Tomorrow!!

So let me just start of with a big AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Ok, well now that that's out of my system...

Tomorrow I am taking the NCLEX-RN exam.  It's sort of a big deal.  For those of you who are not nurses, the NCLEX exam determines competency for all new graduate nurses; if you pass, you are granted a license.  If you fail, you have to wait 45 days (in NJ) to retest.

Since I'll be starting my nurse practitioner in the fall, I really need to pass, so I can actually attend the classes that I will be enrolling in...more on that in another post.

Anyway, I've been a bit stressed out, so I woke up this morning and decided that the best way to prepare for tomorrow would be to go to a nice, relaxing yoga class this morning.  So that's exactly what I did, but now it's 2 p.m., and I haven't opened a book yet...

So on that note, let me get back to the books, and WISH ME LUCK TOMORROW!!