Showing posts with label studying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label studying. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

OSCEs 101


As some a few most of you know, I did my OSCE {Observed Structured Clinical Examination} on Monday. 

I PASSED!!!

However, I would just like to share with you the moments leading up to and within this practical exam.
  1. Scrambling to figure out what content we'll be tested on and what content will be left out.
  2. Stress headaches . . . or as I am now calling them . . . stressaches.
  3. Chips & Cheesecake. Yep. I'm not proud. One whole month of no sugar or chips down the drain. Hey kids, don't eat junk food while under studying stress. It doesn't help.
  4. Role playing clinical scenarios.
  5. Waking up at 4am and wondering why.
  6. Shaking uncontrollably while attempting to draw up Demerol. Those ampoule openings never seemed so small.
However all of that was not in vain, because there are no more OSCEs . . . EVER! That's right, I just completed my fourth out of four, and I couldn't be happier. I said to a friend yesterday, now I can graduate, haha.

Also a little funny picture of me practicing NG tubes for your viewing pleasure.


I think I missed my nose. And I look a little crazy. I probably was.


Saturday, September 15, 2012

Back-To-School Study Tips

Well, it's that time of year again.
That time of year when a shopping trip to Staples is better than a shopping trip . . . anywhere else.
That time of year when assignments and deadlines and due dates and cramming becomes common conversation.
That time of year when we make goals . . . and break goals.
It's BACK TO SCHOOL!

Now, this is my third time going into it, and fortunately, I've found a few tips and tricks along the way that have greatly added to my scholastic {and social, believe it or not} life. Use them, change them, or throw them away, but here are Silver's Study Tips.
  • Daily Planner

This is my little black book on my entire life. Every class, every appointment, every assignment, every coffee date, yes, every blog post . . . goes into this book. And being the girl that I am, I got a pretty one, not your typical black scheduler. This is a must for the high school/college/university student. 

  •  How to Become a Straight A Student

My friend suggested this book to me last summer, and I've actually blogged about it before. I would recommend it to ANY student. Not everything Mr. Newport suggests is applicable, but I learned so much from his books {he has more than one}. Some chapter titles include "Manage Your Time in Five Minutes a Day", "Declare War on Procrastination", and "Choose When, Where, and How Long". Buy it! Read it! Do it!
  • Daily Schedule

As per one of Mr. Newport's tips, I do daily schedules. This is different than my daily planner, because I actual plan out every hour of my day. "That sounds like so much work" you say? "That is impossible" you say? Think again. By scheduling my study time, free time, eating time, etc., I actually am more proactive. It's a mentality. I will study hard because I know I have free time. 
Another tip is that I only schedule studying in one hour time-slots. At the end of each hour, I take a 5-10 minute break to get a drink, do a household chore, or check Facebook.  That way I give my brain a bit of a rest before diving back in. This takes five minutes in the morning and radically changes my study habits.
  • Coffee
Enough said . . .
  • Go Hard
This is something my sister told me awhile back and it stuck with me {the same sister that inductively studied the entire Bible in 9 months}. She said, "When you study, study hard. When you eat, concentrate just on eating. When you exercise, exercise hard. Then, when you rest, rest hard." And that is Biblical, folks. So whatever you do, GO HARD! You can do it. Two years, four years, six years, all time is relevant, and it will be over and done with before you know it.

Let's do this!


Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Two Hundred & Twenty-Seven Days...

...until the end of THIRD year {the picture was taken yesterday}. I mean, what?!?!?!? I still remember sitting in Indonesia wrestling with this decision with God over whether or not nursing was my calling, and now I'm over halfway done. I am so thankful for where I am and ready to face the year one day at a time.



A Few Facts
  • I am in the classroom setting until December, and then in the hospital from January-April.
  • My rotations this year include Mental Health and Medicine/Surgery.
  • My shadow day in ICU will have big implications for the future.
  • I am in a class of twenty-seven.
  • I am excited ;)




Wednesday, April 18, 2012

No. 251 - If I Had One Million Dollars . . .

So when you are in college, you definitely have smaller options in terms of money. Although this post is by no means a complaint or dissatisfaction with my lifestyle, I thought it would be fun to say what I would do if I had $1,000,000 dollars. 

  • Give a sufficient amount to Dad for all the "rent" I never paid over the last few years. 
  • Budget out whatever amount I need to complete school, including uniforms, books, and supplies.
  • Support sister at YWAM.
  • Put some in savings or stocks or whatever . . .
Now onto some fun stuff,
  • Buy a loft apartment. With big floor-to-ceiling windows. With no walls except for the bathroom. With a big bed right in the middle. With creative decorations and a cozy atmosphere.
  • Buy a car. I'm thinking either a VW Golf or a Toyota Highlander SUV. 
  • Either go travelling right away or put some money into a someday-I-will-see-Europe fund.
  • Open up a business in Fort McMurray. Thrift store with cute clothing and accessory options on the left with a coffee/tea house on the right.
  • Invest in a huge craft room with tons of neat little supplies and then host craft parties/tutorials.

Haha, so yes, this is what I think about when I am supposed to be studying for my last final.
So here is what I am actually doing this morning.



Thursday, February 09, 2012

No. 182 - Master Plan & Crazy Love Update

First of all, exciting news . . .
this is my halfway point for the 365 day photo challenge! Woot, woot!
Technically, half of 365 is 182.5 so this could have been either today or tomorrow;
however, I decided today would be the day!

As for my post, I am sharing with you my master plan for my nursing final! 
It is on Febraury 21st and is cumulative of everything learned over the past 7 weeks.

First, I wrote out all my testable topics and averaged how long it would take me to study for each. The total amount of hours is 44.5. Then I divided that up between 10 days, which ends up being approximately 5 hours of studying per day. I assigned day 11 as a review day. 

Now, here are some helpful aids that will enable me to kick butt on this final.
1) My faux-glasses (or flasses); they make me feel smarter and hence, study smarter. 2) Cal Newport's How to Become a Straight A Student; Amazing insight and tips. 3) Coffee - of course. 


Second update of the day. I wanted to touch base with my Crazy Love journey. I had started blogging about it here. Our Girl's Group is currently working on Chapter 4: Profile of the Lukewarm. Let me tell you, that chapter killed me. I had a moment of revelation where I realized I have more in common with the Pharisees of the New Testament than iconic Christians such as Peter or Paul. The question I asked myself is: "What part of my life have I actually given to God?" The answer was unfortunate . . . . Not to leave this update on an unpleasant note, but there is still a ways to go on this journey to find crazy love.


"The truth is, their [lukewarm people] lives wouldn't look much different 
if they suddenly stopped believing in God."
-Francis Chan, Chapter 4: Profile of the Lukewarm-


Tuesday, February 07, 2012

No. 180 - Drumroll, Please

So, remember that nursing paper I turned in last week? Well, the results are in and I got . . .

an A+!!!!!!


Guess how ecstatic I am! This definitely helps will all those crummy quiz marks I've been getting. Just thought I'd share the joy!


Monday, January 30, 2012

No. 172 - Nursing in an Ethical Dilemma & OUAT

I just thought everyone should see the finished product of why I have been a hermit for
the last month. Today I am turning in my scholarly paper! 9 pages! 25 references!
16 journal articles! Two copies! Yay, finished! It is always a scary thing to hand
in a paper, considering there is probably something I could still tweak,
but I've put it in the envelope and am ready to drop it off.


This was definitely the most difficult paper to write so far (I guess that's the point, things get harder as you get farther along in school). I think the biggest thing I learned though was that nursing care is not as black-and-white as I thought, especially when you throw in components such as dying or culture. Anyways, I'm crossing my fingers for an A 
(especially in regards to my inconsistent quiz marks). 



As some of you know, I am slightly obsessed with the new show "Once Upon A Time". To explain it would make me sound ridiculous, but I haven't been this invested in TV since LOST. Anyways, here are a couple thoughts on last night's episode "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree".
  • I love that the Magic Mirror used to be the genie from Aladdin. Great plot point!
  • When David and Mary Margaret met at the T(r)oll Bridge, I felt, at first, like I should feel guilty supporting their romance because he's married. But then I was like, they were married first as Snow and James and then, they got screwed over! Guilt went away.
  • I started the episode feeling sorry for Regina, but by the end I was back to refraining from calling her bad words.
  • I hate snakes, especially two-headed ones that slither under your bedcovers and bite you on the neck.
  • Graham's walkie-talkies!
  • What is up with the mystery guy?
  • Next episode: Claire from LOST as Belle!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Friday, January 27, 2012

No. 170 - Study Break

I may or may not spend my study breaks trying on virtual glasses.
What do you think? Should I get a non-prescription pair for fashion's sake?
I think I look smarter :)





Try on your own pair at Bonlook.



On a side note, I added a "Feedback" page for anyone who wants to 
let me know what they think of my blog. Check it out if you have time!



Monday, January 16, 2012

No. 159 - You Know You're A Nursing Student When...

Sometimes on my study breaks, I look at funny nursing student forums that are all too funny and *shifty eyes* real. So I thought I'd share a few of the great ones.

You know you're a nursings student when . . .
  • You've read more Potter and Perry than Harry Potter.
  • Your hands are so dry from "proper" hand-washing and alcohol-based rubs that they are beginning to crack.
  • Your friends ask for a diagnoisis on something just to save them a trip to the doctors and are quite upset when you tell them you have no idea, and they should go and see the doctor.
  • You secretly hope your patient has high blood sugar so you can give an insulin injection.
  • You sit and watch Grey's Anatomy and House just to point out to those around you how things are NEVER like that in real life.
  • When you're referencing books for your APA paper, and you need to type the Publishing Company (eg. Mosby or Lippincott), you don't even have to look at the city in which it's been published in because you've typed it so many times! For example, St. Louis: Mosby, or Philadelphia: Lippincott.
  • You've diagnosed yourself throughout school with whatever ailment you happen to be studying at the time.
  • The night before clinical you’re so anxious you can’t get a decent night’s sleep, and until you’re 2 hours into your shift your stomach is in knots.
  • You can take a morning break, but you don’t want to because you might miss out on some big experience.
A little humour from the nursing student found somewhere in the cave of textbooks and journal articles with empty mugs and glasses everywhere. :)

Sunday, December 11, 2011

No. 123 - Sunday Study Session

This is how my morning started out! Off to a good start.

Then, just like a little kid, I wanted to go out in all the beautiful, new snow.

I mean, who could resist this?

Instead, this is what my day consisted of...

...and this. Gotta love those long study hauls before final exams!



Friday, September 30, 2011

No. 52 - Studying


Plugging away at the books and notes.
It's been a rough few days....

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

No. 50 - Study Buddies


Karen & I