Sam's from Chunk to Hunk Journal :)

hey all :)

I will try to find a great before pic and post it up on that thread Alta :)

I took both my Pharmacology and Nursing Fundamentals Tests today. I got an 84 on my Pharm and a 78 on my Nursing Funds. I need a 78 average at all times to pass my classes (C+ average)... I'm satisfied. Funds is a hard class, there is no doubt about it. The test still have yet to be parred (fancy way of curving them). I got an 85.7 on my Patho test last week and it was parred today and went up to a 90, so I'm happy.

This week has been rough. I'm ready to relax and not do anything school for the rest of the day, lol... A lot of a school projects have been dumped into my lap as well. I still have to work on my blood-pressure list, my 2 physical assessments, I have a Patho genetics group assignment, I have a Funds Medication group assignment, I need to watch videos in the library, I need to do the tutorial on Math and take the Math test again... I need to start making flashcards for my Patho next week as well... The list goes on and on, lol... I'll get it all done though. What is comforting is that I'm making a lot of friends at school and we are all in this boat together, and it feels nice.

On a side note... Last night as I was leaving work, pulling out of the parking lot actually my car started acting crazy... It sounded like I was running someone over that was wearing a full suit of armor... Then my brakes locked up and my car wouldn't move at all... I ended up having to call a tow truck and getting it towed to the place I get my car fixed by my house (luckily my insurance covers tow trucks)... Come to find out the "shoes" on my rear breaks just popped off and were obstructing the rear drums? I had to get them replaced and also a few other things done... 400.00 later is what it cost... So, my dad found out about it and paid for it before I had the chance. I'm so appreciative and love him for it but at the same time I kinda want to pay him back, or at least pay him for half... He's such a good guy :)

-Sam
 
Bummer about the car, but thank goodness dad came to the rescue! You're such a lucky guy :)

School sounds pretty intense. But you seem to be pulling it off quite well ;)

I'm assuming you're really enjoying yourself even though you're so busy.

Keep up the good work! We could all use some more Sam's in the world, that's for sure :D

Take care,
Mo
 
Hey all :)

Just thought I'd bop in for an update... I'm still doing well in school. I took my 2nd Patho test today and got an 84, and considering the circumstances I thought I did pretty well. It will probably go up a little bit after it's parred, I hope. My first Funds test went up to an 81.5 and my Pharm went up to almost an 89. I keep having project after project and group presentations thrown onto my plate... and if that wasn't enough things at my work are probably going to change now. In addtion to being a Tape Librarian I will also be a Security Guard? wtf... Some benefits go along with that, so I can't complain too much but I'm mostly concerned with the scheduling so that it's feesable and flexible for my school. I need the job and don't want to give it up, and I'm not about to give up on school (I'm doing too well :) ).

I went to the gym on Monday night and Tuesday night. I would have went last night but I studied for my test. Planning on going tonite although I'm pretty tired and really want to just go home and sleep and not do anything. I've been doing really well food wise too. I was weighed in at the doctor last Friday and found out that I hadn't gained back as much weight as I originally thought. I weighed in at 226 on the Doctor's scale, and that was with shoes, jeans, shirt, sweatshirt, coat, and scarf... and I'd also eaten breakfast, so I'm thinking about 221 or 222 would be a more accurate weight for me. I don't plan on getting back on the scale for awhile, not until I can take some of this off but, when I do I will only be using the scale either at the gym or one that I have at home.... Still deciding on that.

Not too much else new. It's really gross here this week, lots of windy snowstorms. I've had a problem with my left eye just leaking tears and "crying" throughout the day for about the last two weeks. I had a cold last week and now I'm better but it's still been kind of doing it. I was wiping it so much and drying the tears that the area around my eye was getting a little irritated (kinda red and puffy)... I ruled out pink eye because the actual conjunctiva isn't red or pink, and it isn't itchy at all... I went home last night and did a hot compress on it for about 20 minutes and it totally helped and it's been acting almost better today... Someone in my class (a new friend) mentioned something about "chakras" and how the fact that I'm so busy and stressed out could be a factor, and the crying eye could be how my body is manifesting it because something is out of balance? I dunno. I think I shall try to keep up with the hot compresses and keep up the running to try and let the stress out.

Hope everyone is doing well. I'm going to go try and get to some diaries but if I don't get to yours I'm sorry and I will eventually ;)

-Sam
 
:hug2:

**WOOHOO** Those are wonderful test scores sweetie.

I have a lot of probs with my eyes besides the mystery vision issues.
I was in a freak accident at a car wash when I was 18 and I was 'beat' to a pulp by the hand wand..(a car had run over it and broke it.)
When I put my money in to wash my car it flew out of my hand and was flying everywhere!! (it was stuck on high pressure)
Since this shocks you and you panic bc your car is being hit I grabbed the hose and the wand/handle part beat my face a ton of times.

I was in the hospital, had 2 very black eyes and they had been cut on the inside bc of the high pressure of the soap/hot water/bein' hit.

Ever since, my eyes have always been super sensitive to wind, the cold, laughing and gettin' tears, etc.

They will itch and itch!

I have bad allergy eyes as well since that happened.

Well...I 100% highjacked your J..LOL..:sifone:
Sorry..hehe..

I hope your eyes heal and stop that.
:grouphug:

Good for you re: eatuing well and doing the best you can to fit in exercise!
You are doing great since you have SO much going on!

<3 Stacy
 
Sam, you're doing FANTASTIC in your courses!!!! I'm so impressed :)

Fitting in your workouts will be really tough because you're so busy, but I know you will do what you can to make it happen!

Just keep thinking about the Pride Event in June ... that's your motivation, Sam!!! And I read about what you want to do with your hair ... OMG that will look SO cool! I hope you take some pics and post them :)

Have a nice weekend, Sam!

Luv ya,
Mo
 
Hey Sam, I know I haven't been by in a while but wanted to say hi. I've finally got a bit more time now since I took a semester off from school so I'm catching up with everyone. Glad to hear you're doing so great :) ~Lisa
 
Hey all :)

Another update from me, woohoo! This week has been extremely stressful and I'm literally fried. I just took a test today in my Fundamentals class and didn't do too great. I got a 70 and need to maintain at least a 78 average so I can pass the class... The test will be parred and I'm praying that my score will go up a bit but I don't know how much. I will find out tomorrow afternoon. Yesterday was 6 hours of lecture and a 2 hour SIMS man lab (in our school's multi-million dollar lab where I got to take BP's and listen to normal/abnormal heart and lung sounds on our life-like state of the art mannequins :) ) Tuesday was my lab day, and it was hell. We did meds and it was an extra large class due to the holiday and no school on Monday... I made it through though and now I know how to properly give meds, including interdermal, subcutaneous and intermuscular injections.... I was a little shaky :blush5: but I did pretty good.

There is this one instructor who is a bitch from hell... She made me physically ill on Tuesday from all her negativity and bitchiness... She is so mean to other students and other teachers and I can't handle it. Luckily she didn't direct anything personally towards me but I have friends who weren't so lucky... I just have to remember she has to live with herself, and she is a sad sad individual who gets off on picking on /embarrassing/ demeaning nursing students.

My clinical is about to start here in a week and a half or so and I'm a little nervous... It just seems very overwhelming and I don't know if I'm completely ready for it. I will do my best and hope for it all to work out.

Work is changing. That's been my other stress this week. They are changing my title and my shift :(... I still have to maintain my full time status but I think it's going to be alright with my 3x12 hour shifts each week, so a total of 36 hours... My dad is now my official boss and he won't let anything bad happen to me, so I'm covered there. It was just stressful thinking I might have to get a new job and that is something I can't handle right now. School is taking up so much time/effort/energy and I can't do that too...

I haven't been to great with going to the gym this week. I did make it twice last weekt though. I'm just so tired all of the time. I keep waiting for things to calm down and they never do. Food hasn't been too bad but not great. I'm working on that, like I always am. I would really like to get to the gym more but sleeping or studying or doing some dumb project always seems to win out... My bro has started hitting the gym more though, so I'm happy about that, and kinda jealous he has the time to go more than me. I'll get there ;) It's still early too. I got a little over 3 months before Pride and hell even if I can't take my shirt off, lol... I still could drop 20 or so lbs and looks sexy in a tight tee shirt or something? I gotta take the positives...

There is a boy prospect in the program with me... He's not in any of my classes because he's in the 2nd section (I'm in the first) but I occasionally bump into him... He's always starring at me and "hunts" or looks for obscure reasons to talk to me. My friends notice him hovering around me and trying to think up reasons to just talk to me :) I think it's cute. He hasn't announced he's gay or anything (LOL) but this guy is gay for sure. Let's just say "I can smell it in the kitchen" hehe...


Hope you are all doing well and I'm going to try to come visit some of your diaries,

-Sam
 
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Sam, I think you'll make the best nurse ever! You'd be the kind of nurse I'd want by my bedside for sure :hug2:

Once you get the hang of injections, they aren't nearly as hard as you thought they were ;) And practice makes perfect!

I've had instructors like that bitch from hell you've got. And they do tend to make you physically ill, mostly from the stress. It's so upsetting on so many levels, and it doesn't make for a very positive learning experience. It's very difficult to learn in a toxic atmosphere like that.

I hope things go well for you with the new work situation :)

The gym ... well, with your schedule, it's going to be tough to workout. I hate to say this, but you have to concentrate on your schoolwork first; gym second. The gym will always be there waiting for you. School doesn't wait for you :p

And there isn't anything more delicious than the prospect of new love :beating:

The fact that he seeks you out is a good sign! I wish you lots of luck with this new dude! :)

And I know what you mean about "sensing" whether or not a person is gay ;) I've got pretty good gaydar, and I tend to try to pay attention to my subconscious mind, because that's the part that is going to be aware of what's really going on with body language and all that jazz :D
 
I made it through though and now I know how to properly give meds, including interdermal, subcutaneous and intermuscular injections.... I was a little shaky but I did pretty good.

:hurray: Good work! Good for you!
Sam, I think you'll make the best nurse ever! You'd be the kind of nurse I'd want by my bedside for sure :hug2:
:iagree: If I ever get ill and incapacitated I'm gonna make sure to fly you out here to help me!

There is this one instructor who is a bitch from hell.....I just have to remember she has to live with herself, and she is a sad sad individual who gets off on picking on /embarrassing/ demeaning nursing students.
It's always easier to be complacent with the evil people when they're not in your daily life, isn't it? :ack2: Yuck, sorry you have to deal with that.
I've had instructors like that bitch from hell you've got. And they do tend to make you physically ill, mostly from the stress. It's so upsetting on so many levels, and it doesn't make for a very positive learning experience. It's very difficult to learn in a toxic atmosphere like that.
No kidding! This bitch needs to do 10 hours of Yoga a week IMO ;)

My dad is now my official boss and he won't let anything bad happen to me, so I'm covered there.

That's always good.

I haven't been to great with going to the gym this week. I did make it twice last week though. I'm just so tired all of the time.... I got a little over 3 months before Pride and hell even if I can't take my shirt off, lol... I still could drop 20 or so lbs and looks sexy in a tight tee shirt or something? I gotta take the positives...
I have every faith in you. Look at Dee; she weathered the stress and school and STILL got to her goal--I think you and her are constructed of the same fabric--you EARTH SIGNS rule :party: You can do it!!!

There is a boy prospect in the program with me... He's not in any of my classes because he's in the 2nd section (I'm in the first) but I occasionally bump into him... He's always starring at me and "hunts" or looks for obscure reasons to talk to me. My friends notice him hovering around me and trying to think up reasons to just talk to me I think it's cute. He hasn't announced he's gay or anything (LOL) but this guy is gay for sure. Let's just say "I can smell it in the kitchen" hehe..

HAHAHAHA! Niiiiiiice. My friend "Liquid Chicken," the self-proclaimed "only homo in the Dubstep scene" (he's wrong, and he has the WORST Gaydar, trust me!) says he's screwing a "straight" boy who has TWO GIRLFRIENDS :eek2: I say it's a cover! :toetap05:

Good luck with everything, remember to get enough sleep, and don't give up on exercise just because you're tired--I was exhausted yesterday and I STILL went bouldering in the indoor climbing gym and did Yoga 2. Gotta keep my belly button happy :)

HUGS!
 
Wow you're starting clinicals already...where does the time go? What you're doing takes so much dedication and hard work! I know you're exhausted and sleep is just as important as getting in work outs so I hope you're not being too hard on yourself. Juggling full time work and school with everything else is REALLY friggin hard...I know personally, lol. And "you can smell it in the kitchen"...I had to chuckle at that one. You have such an awesome sense of humor. So how much time do you have left before you're done with the program? Can't wait to congratulate you on becoming a hot nurse :D There's gonna be alot of lucky sick patients....oh wait that somehow doesn't sound right :X
 
Thanks all you guys :) Your all so sweet and it feels so nice to get on here and talk to you some. Lisa- I have almost two years left before I'm officially an RN, if everything goes right.

Thanks for your input on the crazy bitch nursing instructor at my school... I talked to my bros and my friends about her some and they think if she ever starts yelling at me I should just start laughing, like I usually do whenever I get really nervous... I know I should bite my tongue and never "talk back" to her if we ever had one of those tense moments she likes to create. My best friend in class would probably go off on her... I just don't like getting yelled at, especially when it's not constructive or helpful... I'm an adult and I can imagine myself yelling back, lol...

I was kinda sad at the beginning of today, actually for a lot of the day... Just feeling overwhelmed again, and the usual. So many ups and downs lately. I'm doing better tonite. I feel happy and I'm positive right now. If I can just keep myself positive, get in some exercise to get the endorphins at a more constant flow, and just believe in myself and my capabilities more, I think I will be okay. Like I say I'm just nervous to start clinicals, mostly because I want to be perfect and not "mess up"... That is way too much pressure to put on myself, especially considering I've never worked in a healthcare setting... I must remember, and I will remind others too, that I am a first semester Nursing student... I am still learning, and so if I need help or guidance that is exactly what my teachers are there for, not to make me feel insecure or inadequate... I just gotta remember that I deserve to be in this program just as much as the next person. I've gone thru the prerequiste classes and passed, I've jumped through hoop after hoop after hoop trying to please them and the ones the run this program, and I do work hard. I show up for all of my classes and listen, take notes, study, etc... I've done reasonably well on all my tests, projects, etc. so far. I do want to be there and I've rearranged my life around this schooling, so if that is not enough I don't know what is? I think I'm just venting a little bit, and definitely OVERTHINKING things. LoL... I just want life to be fun again. I want to be able to enjoy myself day to day and not stress myself out to the point of making myself sick over this school... I must start to enjoy myself and not be so afraid and worrying about things... I will not allow myself to get as stressed out over school again as I did this past week. I just won't. Life is too short.

-Sam
 
Sam, I get the impression that you are harder on yourself than anyone else could possibly be. Well except that bitchy teacher but she hasn't launched an attack on you yet so you must be doing something right to stay below her radar, lol. I think you made some good points in your self talk. The fact that you are a caring, intelligent and compassionate person comes through loud and clear just in this forum alone. You definitely deserve this! But I know when you're done you're gonna be really relieved...and probably sad too because when you look back and it's over you're going to remember having some awesome times in nursing school. While you're busy juggling it all and burning the candle at both ends I hope you get to stop and enjoy it once in a while :) We all think you're awesome so hope that you remember that when you need to :D
 
Hey Sweetie! :hug2:

Everything IS gonna Go Right!!

Hello Mr. RN-Sam! :hurray:

I'm so double dang proud of ya! :D

You deserve all the best and boy have you worked yer tail off..Got any left?! :sifone:

Hahaha!

* Super Big :hug2: *

<3 Stacy
 
Hey dropping by to say gl wit the 6 week challenge!! I think we all are going to do great!! Have a fab week,tammy
 
Sam, we can all get down on ourselves and overwhelmed with what's going on our life, but the reality here is YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

Just take it one day at a time and you'll get to the finish line in no time.

Relax ... maybe you need a massage ... is that dude any good at giving massages? :p
 
LoL Maureen... I don't know. I guess one day I will have to ask ;)

I'm doing much better this week, I think :) Just staying positive about it all. Being positive and not getting all down in the dumps is the key I think. I have to let my insecurities break or show through either. I'm doing the best I can and that's all I can ask.

I took my Math Test again this morning and found out I got a 98!!!! So happy about that, just wish I could have made it happen the first time. It will only be counted as an 85 because this is the 2nd time I'm taking it and it wouldn't be fair to the other people in the class who got above an 85 on the first shot...

Well, that's all for now. I will try to get back in here soon for more of an update :)

-Sam
 
So glad you're having a better week :) I know last semester with it so hectic and being tired alot I really had my ups and downs. And 98! NICE!! I'd have been pumped too. Anyway just stoppin by to say hi and see how you're doing. Oh and I know you're super busy but I posted this link last week of my new puppy (well new right before xmas). Thought this might make ya smile. Cya :) ~Lisa
 
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