As I am finishing up my years in Auburn’s nursing program, I’ve reflected on my time and what I would tell to those still in school, based on my experience.
While you are in school, here are some tips that I hope to help you through.
Continue reading “A few words of advice to nursing students”Short and sweet, be kind.
I was leaving work after a 12-hour shift with some confused patients this past Friday; I will spare you the inappropriate comments and combative demeanor.
Continue reading “What people teach 2/5”75-year-old, female, MS
We are all human. Warning: This post involves poop, reader discretion advised
This woman had Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and for those who may not know what that is, it is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. It affects people to varying degrees. In short: A person’s immune system attacks the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers, impairing communication between a person’s brain and body.
Continue reading “What people teach – a series 1/5”I’m so proud of you for stepping out of your home town and going to school 17 hours away. And joining a sorority, who would have thought?!! No one who knew you in high school, that’s for sure.
It’ll be a great learning experience.
I’m proud of you for realizing getting out was what you needed. You had big plans and dreams, and it fueled your sense of adventure and exploration. You will have so much fun in the next two years and learn far more than just coursework. You will experience heartbreak, stay out way too late, and meet some of the best people.
Get ready.
Dear 1st-semester nursing student Nicole,
Congrats, you got in!! These next few years will be trying, head up, and stick to your goals—eye on the prize. You are joining an incredible program with undeniably the best faculty. Each professor will inspire you, help you, comfort you, and teach you something that you will take with you when your time at Auburn up. One day you’ll tell them just how much their words or actions impacted you. But for now, this will do.
You will need to get a handle on that FOMO (fear of missing out) and fast. School comes first, and those rumors about this being 2 [*3] of the hardest years are most definitely real. Your friends will understand. You got this, but please remember you cannot do it all. Swallow that hard pill now, wonder woman.
You need to set boundaries for yourself, and just so we’re transparent, sleep is essential. Long nights and early weekend mornings to study will be standard, missed nights out, but you’ll be at the important ones. People will ask where you’ve been; it’s okay. You’re focusing and doing what you have to do.
2nd semester will be the hardest, so hard that you have to do it twice.
You’ll leave with a better foundation. Oh, for the record, you will cry, a lot. You get more in touch with your emotions in college, probably influenced by your roommates. You will scream out of pure frustration and even throw a textbook or two. Graduation will be delayed an entire year, and it won’t feel like it for a few months, but you will get over it. Your anxiety will be at an all-time high, and you will need to relearn what it means to relax. You will have your first experience in therapy too. Cherish seeing your friends, get off your phone, and practice being present. You won’t regret it.
You will meet the most supportive, patient, and caring man when you least expect it. Seriously, you had a concussion and shouldn’t have been in a bar handing out the candy and drinks you snuck in inside your purse. Anyway, he’ll become your rock. Try to take it easy on him; he’s only trying to help. He will keep your roommates busy by surprising them with mimosas and pancakes on weekend mornings when you need to be studying upstairs. He will give you pep talks before you walk into the testing room, reminding you to go with your gut and that you are smarter than you think.
You will comfort people as their loved one takes their last breath. You will tell people their loved one is dying and then cry with them. You will witness life brought into the world, and the baby won’t be the only one crying. You will get your feet wet with a Nurse Extern position. It will open your eyes to the Emergency Department’s beautiful, chaotic world and the never-ending surprise of what may walk or should I say roll in the door.
You’ll end up at Disney world for a few months, thanks to that graduation delay. That will be an experience in itself! A Fortune 500 company, time to learn how the magic happens to bring it with you into the hospitals and make someone’s day a little better. You will meet some more amazing people and have friends all over who you don’t talk to as much as you wish you did. You learned how to work the system and talk your way into free fast passes and upgrades. Look at that finesse!!! You go, girl.
Your last few months in school will be different, seeing as it took place online. Graduation gets postponed indefinitely, your family makes the best of it as always. A global pandemic sweeps through and changes life as we knew it. COVID19, a new respiratory virus, delays weddings, vacations, graduations, bachelorette parties and schools. The conditions will bring out the worst in people and bring out the creativity and kindness in others. Residents in nursing homes will become isolated. The whole world will struggle for more than a few months.
Control your feelings, you cannot control other people’s decisions, and that is okay- do your part.
Congrats, regarding the NCLEX — it took ya 2 tries but you passed the most important test. Hope it was worth it. Loved watching you grow,
Nicole Davidovicz, RN BSN
I wrote this over a month ago and have waited to post my cohesive thoughts. I’ve been vocal on other platforms, and I think it’s time for this one as well. But at this point, I want to encourage further conversation geared at a different audience.
Continue reading “An overdue difficult conversation about racism”
May is mental health awareness month; so, let’s talk about it.
This month also falls under the stay at home quarantine set in place across the nation. Yes, it is currently being lifted in phases. But the timing is quite fitting if you ask me.
People are home. Some are alone, some are trying to juggle kids and work, others are in unhealthy situations with abusive partners, and then more are falling under extreme financial hardship because they can’t go to work because their business is closed or they were furloughed and were already struggling to put food on the table before COVID19.
Continue reading “You are not alone”This slideshow requires JavaScript.
One of my favorite people on this planet moved to Ireland for 6 months and she was living it up. She became a tour guide whenever she had visitors, she had 2 this week! She planned an amazing trip that I want to remember.
I arrived after a connecting flight into Dublin, I didn’t sleep much due to chatty neighbors, but it was EASY to spot the american. Wide-eyed and on Facetime trying to find my friend. I was near baggage claim and security told me I couldn’t record anything, he didn’t want to hear that I wasn’t. I keep walking and I find my friend. I did not seem to grasp that it was 5am there because I screamed and ran and caused a scene. She laughed. We got in a taxi and I was LOST. For starters our driver’s accent was so thick it was difficult to understand, next he was talking about lighting a fag and some good crack (spelled craic).
This american was confused and a little scared, not going to lie.
Continue reading “My best friend moved to Ireland & I learned how to pour Guinness correctly”
Nursing School, the most rewarding challenge I never want to repeat. In second semester there is a Medical Surgical: Acute Care Across the lifespan (Med Surg) course that everyone is required to take and pass if they want to become a nurse.
Picture this: All disease processes throughout life; pediatrics, adults and geriatrics. Most Nursing Schools split it up into pediatrics and adults.
It is arguably the hardest class in most programs, if not then definitely a close second behind Obstetrics (OB). My cohort was taking Med Surg over the summer so was accelerated. We learned the material in 2 and a half months, instead of the usual 4 months in a semester, now add 40+ clinical hours and another course into the mix.
Good luck keeping your head above water.
I want to preface this post with you don’t need to have a problem with alcohol to choose not to drink it, not everyone is pregnant or in some kind of trouble, there isn’t always something wrong. I think that fact is greatly misconstrued in today’s society. And I think people should be more accepting when someone says, “no thank you” to being offered a drink.
England!?
Yes. But not this kind! This one in Atlanta, GA or Nashville, TN and there’s just one number that will go through.
About two years ago I learned about this (no so secret) secret bar, but you could only get into with someone who knew the password or because someone gave you the password! We were in Atlanta for clinical’s (nursing school), it was 6am and 5 of us were driving to the hospital for our first day. My friend couldn’t tell me where it was, but she knew they walked into a red phone booth, dialed a number and one of the sides opened up into this dimly lit bar. You had to hope they gave you the right numbers, or else security would come out and ask (tell) you to leave.
Continue reading “Where can you find a Red Phone Booth?”
England!?
Yes. But not this kind! This one in Atlanta, GA or Nashville, TN and there’s just one number that will go through.
About two years ago I learned about this (no so secret) secret bar, but you could only get into with someone who knew the password or because someone gave you the password! We were in Atlanta for clinical’s (nursing school), it was 6am and 5 of us were driving to the hospital for our first day. My friend couldn’t tell me where it was, but she knew they walked into a red phone booth, dialed a number and one of the sides opened up into this dimly lit bar. You had to hope they gave you the right numbers, or else security would come out and ask (tell) you to leave.
What's up with Nic