From a young age I knew I wanted to become a nurse. My father was an orderly at Bedford Hospital (where he met my mother, a medical biller) and I loved hearing his stories about his time there. I was always fascinated by medical shows and books, and especially surgeries on TV. When my father got sick, I was fortunate enough to help care for him during those years. During that time, I met incredible hospice nurses at Malachi House who years later inspired me to pursue my dream. To be sure that nursing was what I truly wanted, I opted for the shorter LPN program at first. I fell in love with nursing and decided to continue!
I attended Hondros College of Nursing for the LPN program and loved that there were no wait lists. The flexible schedule allowed me to work while attending school, and HCN is even close to home. I had to learn (sometimes the hard way) how to prioritize my time. I had to say "no" to social events outside of school, sacrificing a lot of time with friends and family. I learned to ask for help both academically and mentally when I got overwhelmed. I had to be disciplined in all aspects of my life, including self-care, for 15 months while working towards my ADN. At the end all my hard work paid off and I was presented 2 awards while at HCN, the Clinical Excellence award and the Nightingale award.
To anyone considering nursing school, learning how to prioritize and manage time is everything. There will be hard days ahead where you feel like giving up but keep pushing! Finding a support system, both in school and in your personal life, is crucial for a good experience. Those are the people, at the end of the day, who will have your back when balancing school and work become overwhelming. Try to sleep well and make time to take care of YOU. Keep believing in yourself and know that you are capable. The journey will not be predictable or linear, but it will be worth it!