After graduating high school in 2000, I attended Oklahoma City University for their Bachelors of Nursing program. I failed out my third semester. I continued on my nursing journey and acquired my LPN license in 2005. In 2010 I graduated with an ADN. During this time, I worked and took care of my sick mother. Taking care of others has always been a passion of mine so I was determined to get to my finish line. I ended up taking my RN boards six times before passing in 2019, six months before my mother passed away.
Its been three years since she has passed and I am accomplishing things that Ive always wanted to and I’m not letting anything get in my way. I started travel nursing in August of last year and this felt like the perfect time to complete what I started twenty something years ago.
I really don’t have any concerns about finishing my degree this time around. I’m older, more mature and way more disciplined. I know that anything that I put my mind to I can accomplish. We can be our own worst enemy at times with our thoughts. Its all about positivity with me. At times when I feel overwhelmed, I will take a step back, close my eyes , take a deep breath and pray as I do now.
The most important characteristics of a successful student in my opinion are sufficient rest, managing time, focusing and asking for help when needed (Murphy, 2015). Ive learned over the years that if you can’t master these it is difficult to be successful. Strategies that I can implement are self discipline and focusing on what is important to me at this moment and that is furthering my education. Any distractions that I had have already been eliminated such as social media. But at the same time, I know that distractions and issues will arise. My life right now is all about work and school. Everything else can wait.
Murphy, P. (2015). 7 habits of highly effective nursing students. Minority Nurse. https://minoritynurse.com/7-habits-of-highly-effective-nursing-students