My nursing school courses are all done

Yes, it is really true. The academic component of my nursing program is finished. I've passed all my courses. I have no more quizzes, papers, tests or exams as part of my BScN program.

This new reality is still sinking in, even though its been a couple of days now. It is still sinking in.

I have 7 days left of my last rotation. The semester is officially over on April 14.

Even though its been a very long 4 years, it has truly flown by when I look back. I'm beyond grateful it is so close to being finally done. It seemed so daunting and far away at the start, and suddenly it is done.

Now I get to re-focus and start living my life again with no school stuff hanging over my head. Of course, that will last as long as it takes to start studying full-out for the NCLEX licensing exam, and then my post-RN certification courses that I'm already planning to take... But that is different. Those are purely interest courses that I'm choosing to take. Nursing school was a choice too, yes, but there were quite a few courses that I'd definitely not have chosen to take, had they not been a mandatory part of the curriculum! Lol. The courses I take from here on in, are purely my choice, based on interests.

And speaking of interests, this is the time when I get to re-awaken, and start re-discovering my pre-nursing school interests. Tennis? Play more piano? Dust off my saxophone that's been staring at me and making me feel guilty for the past 4 years? Writing for fun? Zumba? Pilates? I'm not quite sure where to start, and in my typical fashion, want to start everything at once...

Anyhow, this picture below captures EXACTLY how I am feeling now (I hope it gets better soon):

Signed, Sealed & Delivered

My last (hopefully ever!) scholarly article is finished, and was submitted yesterday. I'm still not quite truly believing that it is done, but my logical mind reassures me that it is. The email I also got that confirmed it being submitted, also helps reassure me. Anyhow, it is done, and I am feeling a sense of enormous relief.

I have about 20 more shifts left in my last rotation. I survived winter camping last weekend with my daughter, and am still recovering from the lack of sleep. There is a mountain of work for me to do around the house...stuff that's basically been 'on hold' for the last while, some since the second week of January.

The pressure and stress of the semester, and frankly, of the past 4 years is starting to lift. I have an evening shift today, so am basking in the free time I have this morning. One last little quiz to do on March 24, and then the academic component of the nursing program is officially finished.

What will I then do with myself and all my newly available free time?

Oh yeah, the "little" detail of starting to study for the NCLEX will become top of mind. Even though I may have soon finished nursing school and graduated from that, without successfully passing the licensing exam, the NCLEX, the exam that tests everything you've learned over the past 4 years, all that work is for nothing, as you cannot work as a nurse without a license.

Goody. More studying to look forward to. But not right now. This morning I am still basking in the post-last-scholarly-paper-submitted bliss.

Kate

My Last NS Paper is Still Hanging Over My Head

I've started it. I have an outline done. My reference list (thus far from what I've researched), is done. I even have my first sentence done! (that is usually the hardest part). Nothing seems to be helping me get going on this crazy last paper.

I even went for a run this morning, for the first time probably since October, or maybe even September. That felt like the longest 3 km of my life, but I'm feeling good and am so happy I went. But still, that is an element of procrastination.

There are eight pages of double spaced text (so really four pages of actual writing), standing between me and complete academic freedom from nursing school. Seriously, why is this so hard????  Maybe a subconscious part of me wants nursing school to go on and on? Nope. Definitely not.

I guess some habits just run deep, and even though I know this is the last thing that I need to do, it is still practically impossible to get it done early. Pathetic, I know.

LOL  - a friend just texted me as I am writing this post, that clearly going for the run was the much healthier choice between exercise and writing a paper.

Gotta love that perspective!!!

Kate