Surprise, Surprise!

Well, I recently found out that once you are accepted into the nursing program there is a humongous list of requisites that need to be taken care of before you start. Now, you would think they would tell you that once you receive your acceptance letter. No. They don’t! There is a very brief list on the website along the information on how to apply. Among the list is CPR/care provider course, mask fitting, police clearance and immunizations up to date. It turns out that the mask fitting which I though I would just go and get fitted, actually requires you to register for a session. I already missed all the sessions available for 2012 and the first one available in 2013 is on the day of my orientation. On top of that, you need to take 4 brief online courses, a TB test which comprises of 4 trips to the doctor over a 2 week period, blood tests and several immunization shots (more trips to the doctor). Some immunizations requiring more that just one shot with a wait period of a month between. So, now I’m panicking that I won’t have it all done in time.

How did I find out about this, you might be asking. Coincidence. When I was taking my CPR course, my CPR partner happened to be starting the same nursing program as me and she has a friend already in the program who told her. Do you want to know what else I found out? That the program I’m registered in is an accelerated nursing program and it runs for 16 consecutive months with only 1 week off between semesters (in spite of the website saying it is a 2 year program). I nearly had a heart attack when I heard. Good thing we were right at a CPR course. I was so pale that I might have been the opportunity for some of the students to do some live practice.

Those last couple of weeks have been full of stress for me. I still haven’t written my final Biology exam, I have to fit in all those doctor appointments & endless needles and come up with a plan to survive the Summer going to school full-time with five kids at home. Not to mention that my girls do competitive dance and this year is a National Year meaning they have their finals in Virginia Beach in the middle of July. How are we going to manage when my husband can’t take time off work? I don't know. I’m trying not to think about all the plans I had made for the Summer which included a trip to Virginia Beach and several camping trips with my family. Those lazy Summer days camping by the beach is what really keeps my sanity throughout the winter.

Looking on the bright side, I would be a nurse in less than a year and a half. That's very exciting, but scary. Can they actually teach me everything I need to know to be a RPN in only 16 months? Can I take in that much information without a break or without breaking? But there is hope for my dilemma... If, and only if, I got accepted into Midwifery and switched programs, I could have the Summer off. Wouldn’t that be sweet!?  I would find out probably around May, shortly after I had started my second nursing semester. Just in time to ask for my tuition money back. For now I’m just hoping to get an interview at McMaster for the MEP, and trying really hard not to think about the endless possibilities of ifs.