Jul 05 2007

About Me

Published by nurseSF

(Apologies in advance for any grandiosity.)

I’m making preparations for a long exotic journey, and like trips I’ve taken before, I’m excited, I’m anxious and I’m swearing that I’ll keep a travel journal. The whole way.

The trip this year is into the field of nursing at the University of California, San Francisco, Master’s Entry Nursing Program (MEPN), and this blog is my travel journal. My previous travels were into the realms of journalism, publishing and social work.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had a great track record with travel journals. By day four, my handwriting always gets messier and the details peter out. But this time I intend to try harder. This time I’m keeping this journal for some important reasons:

  • For community. I know there are current and prospective nursing students who are just as excited, anxious and maybe as idealistic as I am. I read some of their blogs when I was thinking about this profession. I found motivation, inspiration and sustenance in some of their stories when I was freaking out about the difficult aspects of nursing.
  • For sanity. Nursing school for someone like me who is switching careers and moving into a discipline unlike anything I know is going to be hard. If you make the program an accelerated one, like the one I’m in, at least one person will tell you it’s suicide. I think the person who told me that was being a little grim. But in case she’s not far off the mark, I hope this blog, among other nursing student blogs, will allow for cathartic release and perspective.
  • For balance. Most people have multiple identities. One of mine is as a humanitarian. The other is as a writer. When I’m in this intensive accelerated program, I’m not supposed to have any time to work, eat or breathe, let alone write. But that, too, is a bit grim to me. I hope this blog will keep me writing something, even if it’s unpolished or uncreative. I need to keep alive my writing soul, or I will not be true to myself and I will probably not be a good nurse.

But first a qualification: I need to be semi-anonymous for now. My last stab at blogging failed miserably because I was too self-conscious and self-censoring. I don’t want to be constrained by who reads this and what they might think.

A few promises:

  • I will write freely.
  • I will post pictures and stories.
  • I will sustain a life outside of nursing school and I’ll share it here sometimes.
  • I won’t take this whole thing too seriously.

Viewing 10 Comments

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    Hello,

    My name is Joseph Collins and I represent NursingHomeAbuseCenter.org.

    Our website is an informational resource created to help the elderly and their loved ones who are concerned about nursing home abuse. Our site covers everything from signs of nursing home abuse to what steps to take if you suspect abuse. We also provide additional helpful information such as how to go about selecting and paying for a good nursing home.

    As a nurse, you know firsthand that the elderly are particularly vulnerable and need our help in protecting them. Therefore, we would appreciate it if you would support us in our mission of protecting the elderly by posting a link to our site on your website.

    All we need for our link is "Nursing Home Abuse" linked to www.nursinghomeabusecenter.org. The link should look like this: Nursing Home Abuse (but, of course, it should be hyperlinked, made clickable)

    Please let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you.

    Joseph Collins
    jcollins@nursinghomeabusecenter.org
    Public Relations Coordinator
    Nursing Home Abuse Center
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    • v
    Hi, I'm a current MEPN. I was wondering if I could ask you a couple questions about landing a part-time RN job at a hospital. The market is so tight right now, I was wondering how you got it. Feel free to email me, and thanks ahead of time!
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    Thank you so much for writing this blog. I am considering applying to the MEPN program and am so glad to be able to read through your experiences. I was having a hard time understanding just what would go on in the program, but now I have a much clearer picture! One question...you mention that this is a career change for you. What (if any) health care experience did you have before entering the MEPN program? How did you know (or suspect) that this was the right career for you? Thanks again!
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    You are one of the courageous ones. Stay focused and calm, and reach out to those of us who are already working as nurses. We need you!

    (and consider yourself blogrolled!)
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    @ KAREN: Thank you for your comment. I wish you the best and hope you'll also consider keeping a journal about becoming a nurse. I haven't been keeping it up or as deeply as I want to, but your message helps motivate me. -NurseSF
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    In someways, I think you're living my life a year from now on the West Coast. I just read your blog from start to finish.

    I majored in journalism as my first undergrad degree. Right out of college, I worked in news, and then for 5 years, I worked as an editor in medical publishing.

    Then something just snapped in me. I needed to stop working in a cubical. I needed more action. I was sick of reading about people who work in the medical field, and I wanted to work in the field. I started taking my pre-requisite classes ...

    In May, I'm beginning a one-year accelerated program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. I'm so nervous, excited, and thrilled about the change. Today, I decided to search blogs to see if there's anyone out there like me---someone who loves literature and writing, but someone who also loves science, medicine, and new crazy experiences.

    I'm so glad that I found your blog. I book marked it and I really hope to keep reading about your interesting life!
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    You truely are a brilliant writter. Thank you for such an informative and real aspect of nursing and school. I have read your entries. It seemed you have grown each day and enjoying the best of your experience.
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    I came up with my blog name and just googled zen and nursing and up came your site. I really like your blog. I'm just starting mine. It's my first blog!

    I too am going to enter an accelerated program.
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    Hi NurseSF,
    I too am applying to UCSF for MEPN '08 (how funny - two Ch/Kristines have discovered your blog) and really appreciate reading it. Thanks for giving us an inside look - I've had a hard time finding student feedback online about UCSF... :)
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    Dear NurseSF!

    Thanks so much for writing this blog! I am currently applying to the MEPN program for Summer 2008, and reading your blog has been really informative.

    Thanks again, and I look forward to reading future entries!

    -Christine
 
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