Well, classes have started and already the work has begun.  I have two classes this semester if I haven't already said so and they are Leadership and Management in Nursing and Synthesis of Knowledge.  The Synthesis course doesn't seem like it will be too hard, just a lot of reading and one or two projects/papers.

The Leadership course, on the other hand is going to be a lot of work.  When I read the syllabus I was dismayed.  I say that because I had signed up for the course before and had started it, when I became ill and had to drop out, so I knew what was coming.  I was just hoping the work would have lessened a little.  So much for wishful thinking!

This week I have to read 2 chapter for Leadership, take a quiz, post comments on the discussion board and write my clinical objectives.  The clinical objectives are what I'd like to accomplish during my clinical time and to help focus that time to help meet those objectives.  Things like that are difficult for me to write because you always have to write these things early on in the semester before you really know what the course is all about.  I will figure it out however.

For my Synthesis class I have to read about 70 pages (but it's been pretty easy reading...large print, big margins), read lecture notes and take a quiz.  I also have to check out a link that the instructor has posted.

So far, I have only read about 30 of the pages for Synthesis.  That's because I have just worked 3 12-hour days in a row.  Normally the info for the week is not available until Monday, but I didn't check earlier.. hopefully info will be available for these courses on Sunday.

I'll have to carefully budget my time this week.  Besides all that homework, I also need to do grocery shopping, clean the house, take care of the garden some (maybe do some canning or freezing) and all the other misc. chores of life.  Once I get back into the groove of things it won't be a big deal.  I also want to do some shopping.  I was officially engaged on Saturday.  There is a bridal store going out of business about 50 miles away.  My daughter, my best friend and I are going on Friday.

I'll let you know how I managed these next few days in an upcoming post.

Add to:                     

Hi Everyone!

Well, for me the countdown has begun.  It is only 10 days until the start of my final semester of classes to complete my Bachelor’s of Science – Nursing.  I absolutely cannot wait to get started.  The funny part about that is besides an email or two from U of M regarding scholarships etc, school has not been on my mind at all this summer.

For those of you who had been reading my posts earlier, I apologize for being gone.  I have had a very busy summer.  I’ve been working some overtime and when that means 4 12-hour days, one tends to get tired and only has time on off days for chores etc.  The garden has totally consumed what little time I did have.  I am now in the process of reaping the rewards.  Or maybe I should say I am paying for it.  I say that because I have a plethora of vegetables and so they don’t go to waste, you’ve got to do something with them… like can ‘em.  Now, the absolutely hysterical thing about me personally canning something is that I am such a city girl that it is a completely foreign activity for me.  But so far so good, things have turned out pretty good.  I might have to tell some canning stories another time.

Another activity that has captured me this summer is kayaking.  OH MY! Is that fun!  It is great exercise and it is so cool to see the wildlife when you are on the river and also cool when you kinda ride the waves on the lake (I live by Lake Huron which can be pretty wavy).

And then yesterday it dawned on me that class started in 10 days.  And I hadn’t given any thought to books or anything.  What a ditz I can be.  So Monday, while at work if time allows, I have got to call the college and get a list, including ISBN numbers, of the books I need.  I like to order my books online, because it is much easier to get a used book and the prices are almost always cheaper - even when you take shipping into consideration.

Oh, and one other thing that happened this summer.  I think I have found the man I’m going to marry.  Ok…. I know I’m going to marry him.   I’ve known him for years and now, well things have evolved.  We went to Massachusetts and Cape Cod and had a great time.  I’ll have to fill you in on more of the details another time.

For now, I’m going to enjoy one last Sunday before I have to get on the ball with school.  My boyfriend David and I are going to go to the lake or something.  Hope everyone else enjoys their Sunday as well.

Add to:                     

Hi Everyone!

Today I participated in some retail therapy.  One can never have too much retail therapy!  I found some great bargains at Younkers, as well as a couple other stores.  Now, this might not sound so fantastic to many of you, but shopping at a department store for those of us who live in the middle of nowhere is absolute bliss.  I sacrificed an hour and a half in driving one way just to partake of this much-needed therapy.  I finally bought one of those crinkled gauzy skirts that are all the rage.  Being only five feet tall, I was worried it would overwhelm me or drag on the floor, but I found one in the petite section so it’s just the right length. 

Another must do when “in the city” as we call it, is get things you can’t get locally.  I’m a bagel lover and you just can’t get decent bagels here.  So I went to Big Apple Bagel and bought a few, including my absolute favorite:  salt.  We also make sure we eat somewhere you can’t at home, so breakfast was at Bob Evans.  It wasn’t as good as I remembered, but it was pretty good. 

On my way into the city I spotted a sign for Great Dane puppies.  I was going to stop and see them on my way home, but I couldn’t find it on the way home.  I’m not really in the market for a dog, so it’s probably a good thing I didn’t see the sign.  I probably would be paper training one now as we speak. 

I still haven’t made my calls about my clinical placement.  When you go shopping it is an all day affair, let me tell you.  Tomorrow I will get started on that, as well as trying to get someone to cover part of a couple shifts this weekend so I can go to a Kansas concert (yes, of Dust in the Wind fame… showing my age here).  Hope everyone is have a good week!

Melissa

Add to: