It’s almost 2 weeks into my new program. This transition to a new stage of my life comes with many emotions, impressions, changes and choices.  I’m going to skip my New Mexico stories for the moment to take a few minutes to settle my brain down about these changes.  For those just joining me on this blog-journey, I am a scientist who has spent the last ten years of my life doing research, sales, tech support, and training in the academic, biotech and clinical diagnostics sector(s). After much reflection and self-evaluation I have made a transition, back to school for degree number three and I have entered nursing school.
My program is an integrated intensive 20 month program and we are the first class to go through the program after extensive changes.  I’m pretty excited about the program, and we are well supported by instructors who are passionate about having us develop into well trained nurses.
My classmates and I are a diverse group and range in age from 21-47, with a variety of experiences and backgrounds.  Most of the first week of school was spent learning about how the program works and interacting with the other students. I think we all are in the same boat in terms of thoughts, feelings and fears and I am curious to see who will end up being those key friends who will continue beyond school and become ‘real life’ friends.  I’m sure after 20 months the connections I make here will prove to be invaluable.
Classes — I’ve only had a week’s worth of classes so far, but with one course completing after 4 weeks I’m already thinking about how to review for the final exam.  I’m not sure how to do that yet but I’m sure that as the weeks roll along we’ll figure it out.  The one thing that is very true is that it may not be difficult work, but it’s a huge volume of work. HUGE.  Also, it’s a different type of work than I’ve done a lot in the past — much of the work revolves around emotions feelings and communication. This plays as much of a role in our jobs as the practical and scientific knowledge.  But for me, who’s spent much of my education and career focusing on the technical — whether it’s scientific or one of my non-sciencey electives — my education has never examined the feelings and emotions behind situations. My education has never examined my feelings and emotions.  Not directly anyways.
This different type of learning it’s challenging. Not the basic pharmacology, and when they do the immunology lectures I’m trying to turn my brain off since I keep wanting to correct and expand on what the instructor says. These lectures are just fine. But the different style of learning, looking at the philosophies behind the theories of practice this is the area that’s newer for me.  But, fortunately, I think the evaluation for that course will be fine, it’s just very new.
That’s what this all is right now — new. I’m getting to know people, making friends, and trying to find a routine in the midst of the insanity.  Because really it’s a high volume of work and that’s the main thing.
Clinical — I had my first clinical placement yesterday. It’s a practice session shadowing a leader in a nursing field.  My particular leader is in hospital administration and she has a varied background. My session was very introductory, and it included an important meeting at the hospital. But I loved it. It may sound crazy — I didn’t see a single patient in a professional capacity but it made me realize this career choice is right for me:

• there’s diversity — I can do so many different things, including connecting my new career with my past in biotechnology, science and most certainly clinical diagnostics (let me tell you, one of my texts — it would have been useful to own 5 years ago when I worked for that clinical diagnostic products company)
• I can affect change in a way that will have a direct impact on people’s lives
• My satisfaction can come from where it matters to me — impacting people

All in all this is hectic, crazy and I’m stressed about things to a certain degree (lack of money, but also not enough time to study, balance, personal life worries, etc etc) but really as people keep telling me — I sound more at peace with where I’m at. This isn’t going to be easy but I’m in the right spot and I’ve chosen the right field.

And since my brain shut down ages ago I’m giving up on  reading and going to bed.