Age really is just a number

Age really is just a number

January 18, 2016

I am amazed at how fast my time in the Santa Fe nursing program has flown by. Hard to believe that I am in my last semester of classes! It seems like just yesterday that I was mulling around the idea of going back to school with my children, two of whom had already finished nursing school. Trying to figure out if I could get back in school after so long out of school, and then if I did, and completed all of my pre-requisite course work, would I possibly be able to get accepted into nursing school. It is an extremely competitive program, and in my first stab at college, when I was 17,  I was not a particularly great student. I did complete 5 years, but never studied or applied myself, and was on academic probation for my grades when I exited. The only good thing about it was that I had completed a lot of the science, and math courses that I needed for nursing school. I had somehow completed all but 3 or 4 courses needed to complete my Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, made it through Organic 1 – but Organic 2 was my stumbling block:)

Then there was my age:) If I was such a bad student at 17 – how did I know if it was my brain, or my lack of motivation to study the first time! And 35  plus years after  going to school the first time, was my brain still capable of learning at the fast paced level that the Accelerated nursing program required? Well, I am happy to say that not only did my brain still function, my motivation, and study habits had improved immensely:) I will be graduating the end of April with honors, and managed to maintain a high enough GPA to  be a member, and officer of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Also was an officer in the Student Nursing Association, and was able to maintain my involvement in all my other charity organizations.

By the time I graduate in April, during the sixteen months of nursing school I will have dealt with the ending of my 36-year marriage, two business changes, the weddings of two of my children, one in Maine, and one in Hawaii. The birth of my first Grandson, and the birth of my first Granddaughter, who is due on my Graduation Day! On top of all of these family events, I have experienced the loss of friends due to illnesses, the loss of pets, and having to have the sweetest mare I ever knew put to sleep one morning before a long night of clinicals.

This has probably been the most hectic collection of events in such a short time, I have ever experienced! I could never have done it without the support of wonderful family, friends, and classmates. Forming a great study group at the beginning of our first semester, was the best thing I could have ever done.  My nursing school friends have helped me through good and bad times. I love all the end of semester nursing school parties we have had at my house. At the last one, we had all three classes over. The graduating seniors passed along their words of wisdom to my class, as well as the class behind us. My horses loved all of the extra hugs, and attention, and many a deep conversation was held in my hot tub until the wee hours of the night!

I start my Med Surge three clinicals this week, on the Cardiology floor that my soon to be ex-husband was on when he had a massive heart attack at my house, last December 23rd. All of the kids were there, and knew exactly what to do, the paramedics were surprised by how calm everyone was. It was the first time I heard the word Stemi, that I now understand!  I am looking forward to this rotation, the upcoming one in Pediatrics, and then our final transition. Already looking at the various programs offered to complete my Bachelor’s degree, and signing up for an adult and pediatric advanced life support certification, to just add that knowledge to what we have learned in school. I am going on my first medical mission trip the end of February, where we will be hiking 6 hours a day into remote mountainous areas. We will treat about 1000 people in these areas, who have never had any kind of medical care.

I am just so excited about what the future holds for me, that I just felt the need to share with everyone that age should never be your limiting factor!