Tag: studentnurseblogger

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How to Deal with Boredom During COVID-19 Pandemic

by I am Nurse TiffanyLeave a Comment on How to Deal with Boredom During COVID-19 Pandemic
How to Deal with Boredom During COVID-19 Pandemic

Since COVID-19 has come along our lives have drastically changed. For many it has been a struggle due to the unsettling loss of wages, business closures, travel bans, shelter in place orders, and even 24 hours lock downs. Despite this, life is still happening around us and we must make the best out of an unfortunate situation.  Below are some things to do to stay busy during this difficult time.

Things to do While Practicing Social Distancing:

1. Consider doing a puzzle. Recently, I found a puzzle at Target and honestly it was one of the best purchases I have made to date. Puzzles increase the production of dopamine in the brain which regulates mood, memory, and concentration.

2. Listen to an audible book. Recently, I used my credits with Amazon to purchase a few Audible books that I can listen to during this leisure time. This helps builds critical listening skills and improves focus and attention. Listening to an audio book also improves concentration.

3. Working out is still an option. Most people think that you need fancy and expensive gym equipment to get the job done. However, that is far from the truth. If you need some assistance with ideas, I offer some suggestions below.

Resistance Bands: 

https://amzn.to/3areoum

Adjustable Ankle/Wrist Weights: 

https://amzn.to/340JEOt

Exercise Ball: 

https://amzn.to/2WLePeL

Jump Rope: 

https://amzn.to/2UpvS4K

4. Yoga and meditation are also a great idea. During this time, our minds are racing leading to much fear and anxiety. Try challenging those feelings by freeing your mind of those thoughts. While the physical benefits are vast such as, increased flexibility, improved respiration, and vitality.

5. Listening to Music. Music has always been great, Music releases mood enhancing chemicals in the brain. Music can also have a direct impact on physical, emotional, and cognitive functioning.

6. Pick up a Hobby. Arts and Crafts is a good way to practice creativity and can be used to express oneself. Head to your local Michael’s or Joann’s and pick up a few items. You will be glad you did.

7. Download the Calm App. The Calm App helps if you are needing to meditate and relax, having trouble sleeping, or high stress and anxiety levels.

8. Take a Walk. Sometimes being in the house for too long can cause Cabin Fever. To prevent this, take walks around your neighborhood. Remember to continue to practice social distancing though.

9. Practice Self-Care. With all non-essential businesses closed, it can present some challenging with services such as, manicures, pedicures, waxes, haircuts, etc. Despite this, we should not let ourselves go. This is the perfect opportunity to learn how to do those tasks for ourselves. Below I have attached some links for products necessary to make this possible.

No chip Manicure Machine:

https://amzn.to/2QSwFsK

Foot Spa: 

https://amzn.to/2WNxV4b

Wax Kit: 

https://amzn.to/2xpCVkS

Hair/Facial Steamer: 

https://amzn.to/2QNvfPW

10. Properly disinfect. COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus. Currently, illnesses range from very mild symptoms to severe, including illness resulting in death. Although, there are many other things that can be done to prevent the spread, taking time to make sure you are disinfecting can be one of the ways to combat this nasty virus.

Blog Post

How to Deal With Anxiety in Nursing School

by I am Nurse TiffanyLeave a Comment on How to Deal With Anxiety in Nursing School

Anxiety

I have recently been having a hard time dealing with stress and anxiety. I think the reason for this is the constant going of nursing school. There is always somewhere to be and something to do. Regardless, this is what I signed for so I have to stay on top of things. If you fail to it is very easy to get behind and even fail out of nursing school. Luckily for me, I have finally been able to get into a flow that works for me. I wanted to share it in hopes that I am able to help someone else.

Step 1:

Get organized!!! You can start by getting a planner. This helps because my syllabi are always at least ten pages long on average I have at least three classes per quarter. Seeing what I have to do on a daily view is better than seeing what I have to do over an entire quarter. I also do not want to carry around several folders each class in order to stay on top of things.

Step 2:

Make sure that you are incorporating ME TIME! People often forget just how important this is. This can be achieved by making sure you are doing things that you love such as, hanging out with friends and treating yourself to something nice. Self-care is a must in nursing school. If you do not take care of yourself, it often develops into stress, anxiety, depression, etc.

Step 3:

Avoid Caffeine! Like majority of Americans, I too enjoy a cup of joe each morning. However, when you have anxiety sometimes coffee can make it worse. What is more, caffeine is know to cause gastrointestinal upset.

Step 4:

Practice Relaxation Techniques! People often underestimate the benefits of this. This can done by meditation, yoga, aromatherapy, etc. One of my favorites is tuning into the relaxation music on YouTube. It helps to put me in a better mood so that I am capable of being more productive.

Step 6:

Tell yourself Self-Affirmations! This is important because if you do not believe in yourself and can motivate yourself, you cannot expect someone else to. For example, you can do this by adding sticky notes to your bathroom mirror. Additionally, when you feel negative thoughts creeping into your mind, you can silence it by speaking something positive to counteract it. For spiritual or religious people, you can download applications to your phone that can send you daily devotionals.

Step 7:

Do NOT Cram! Cramming can create the most anxiety because you are putting unnecessary stress on yourself by not properly planning for an exam. In nursing school, there are usually minimum 6-7 chapters on one exam and these chapters have a wealth of information. When you wait until the last minute, you likely will not remember everything you studied. Also, you will not remember the information long term and that will not do you any good when it is time for the NCLEX. That brings me to my next point.

Step 8:

Shut Your Brain Off! You heard that right. Sometimes you have to learn to quiet your mind. I usually do this when I go into what I call “information overload.” This is basically when I studied for too long and now feel like I cannot retain any more information at the time. I step away from the material and go relax. Once I feel that I can handle looking at the information again, I go back to it. This can also be done the night before the exam. Instead of cramming more information the night before, just take a step back and do nothing. This will help you sleep better, feel refreshed the day of the exam, and hopefully help you perform better.

Step 9:

Seek Help. Unfortunately, sometimes are mental health can get far beyond our control. It may be some lingering trauma that we have yet to deal with or some genetics that are out of our control. If you feel that you are unable to maintain control of the anxiety, do not be afraid to seek professional help. This can be by way of a Licensed Clinical Profession Counselor, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, and Therapist. Their services include but not limited to, therapy sessions (one on one or group) and medications.

Well that is all the tips I have for now. I really hope this can help someone. I am placing a link here for those who may be interested in aromatherapy. It is super useful for relaxation and stress relief.

Link: https://amzn.to/2JRGCCd

Lastly, for more tips on dealing with anxiety, check out my YouTube video below.

Blog Post

2nd Quarter!

by I am Nurse TiffanyLeave a Comment on 2nd Quarter!
2nd Quarter!

As you guys know, I am in the second quarter of nursing school. It is going by pretty fast and I couldn’t be more exited. I wanted to come through and discuss a little bit about what this quarter consist of.

Currently, I am taking three courses. The first class is the Art and Science of Nursing I. The second class is Applied Pathophysiology. The third class is Theories and Philosophical Components of Nursing. Below you can see the course schedule.

Each class meets one a week for four hours each. They are offered in hybrid format. Moreover, the Arts and Science course encompasses a lab/clinical portion. The lab meets weekly and we are tested out on skills necessary for patient care. While, the clinical portion we will apply those skills in actual practice. The Theories course requires us to complete 12 hours at out designated service organization. Here we provide services such as, fitness classes, potlucks, etc. Below I have listed course descriptions.

The Art and Science of Nursing Course Description:

The foundations of the art and science of nursing are developed through the study and practice of basic nursing skills, therapeutic communication and critical thinking in classroom, laboratory and clinical settings. Foundations are strengthened through exposure to theories of human development, aging, stress, health teaching and health promotion. Knowledge is applied to the care of older adults in the clinical setting, facilitating student understanding of individual expressions of wellness, health and illness, and the development of a professional value system.

Applied Pathophysiology Course Description:

A synthesis of organic & inorganic chemistry, molecular biology, and cellular physiology that serves as a foundation for advanced understanding of pathophysiology and pharmacology.

The Theories and Philosophies Components of Nursing Course Description:

This course is designed to examine the nature, function, and development of concepts, models, and theories for their relevance to advanced nursing practice and nursing research. The structure of theory is analyzed by examining the relationship between theoretical components. A variety of types of theoretical statements utilized to conceptualize nursing practice and research are presented and evaluated. A process for developing a conceptual framework for inquiry and data-based nursing practice is presented. Course includes 12 CbSL hours (MENP req. only).

So yes, this is Quarter 2! Hopefully this post was helpful. Until next time guys! ❤️

Blog Post

In Need of a New Nursing Shoe???

by I am Nurse TiffanyLeave a Comment on In Need of a New Nursing Shoe???
In Need of a New Nursing Shoe???

Am I the only one who is very picky when it comes to my shoes??? I have been searching high and low for the perfect clinical shoe. I am excited to announce that I have finally found it! You will not believe that I was able to get them for free too! That is right, the entire purchase was FREE99. I was able to use cash back from prior purchases through Amazon and I could not be happier with this product. The shoe that I have is the Crocs Neria Pro II.

According to Crocs:

Women’s Neria Pro II Clog
Who is Neria? She’s dependable and ready to make the rounds with protection and comfort every step of the way. This updated version includes removable, washable foot bed liners. Designed for a relaxed fit—a little movement in the heel is normal—adding a dose of freedom without sacrificing the security of a closed shoe. Perfect for workers in healthcare, restaurant, retail and any other demanding “on your feet” industry.

Women’s Neria Pro II Clog Details:
1.) Enclosed toes and heels meet workplace standards.

2.) Fit is relaxed, with extra room in the back of the heels for easy on and off.

3.) Enhanced arch support adds to the comfort.

4.) Fully molded, easy to clean with soap and water.

5.) Triple Crocs Comfort™: contoured molded foot bed with moisture-wicking liner
Crocs Lock™ slip-resistant tread.

I can attest that what they claim is true. So if you would like to purchase. Here is the link:

https://amzn.to/2D6JgS5

Also, I did a full product review. Watch below if you would to see it.

Blog Post

Working While in Nursing School???

by I am Nurse TiffanyLeave a Comment on Working While in Nursing School???
Working While in Nursing School???

This tends to be a question that comes up a lot when making the decision to go to nursing school. It is a very valid question and can be viewed from various angles. From my personal experience, it is all person dependent.

Since I knew about my acceptance into the program 6 months in advance, I had time to prepare. Before making a decision, I explored all options. My first thought was to reduce hours to part-time. However, that plan fell through when my employer of five years would not allow it.  I figured I could possibly find another job comparable to the one I already had. However, when looking at pay there was a drastic difference. I was then left with no choice but to quit.

This was by far the hardest decision I had to make in life. Despite of, I knew it was the leap of faith I needed to have to put me in a better position. So I saved for 6 months as much as I could before quitting my full-time job. I have not looked back since. I think that this has contributed to my success during my first quarter of nursing school as well (I will do a follow up post in regards to Q1). Below are some factors to consider when making the decision to work while in nursing school.

Factors that contribute to if you should work:
1.) Flexibility of Job- Are they generous on PTO? Will they be understanding that school is priority? Do they allow a temporary leave of absence?

2.) Job Position- Usually jobs that have fancier titles are the ones that requires more work. While, some positions you may have mastered it, which may allow for down time to do other things once work is completed.

3.) Pay- If you are able to make a significant amount money, then you could potentially work less hours. This will allow more time from studying and school work.

Other factors to consider:

1.) Class Load- The number of classes taken, the amount of assignments and/or exams given, the days and hours of clinicals, etc.

2.) Time Management- If you can effectively study within a reasonable amount of time that can potentially free up time for other things not school related. This means totally getting rid of the procrastination habit if applicable.

3.) Prioritize- Understanding that school comes first and everything else is second behind it. Making use of a good planner is also helpful. This will allow to keep a log of task that need to be completed and helps you to stay on top of things. Link on where I got mines is here.

May Designs Planner: https://amzn.to/2HKMrCS

I may not have touch on every single thing. However, I feel that these are some of the most important. After you have evaluated you personal circumstance, then you will be able to determine if working is possible for you.

Although I have yet to experience what it is like to work while in school thus far, I will eventually explore the possibility. Whether you choose to work or not is a personal decision. Although people give their opinions often, only you can decide what will ultimately work for you.

Be sure to check out my YouTube Video on this topic as well.