October 2010

Well, I did it.  I finished the two classes and passed with flying colors.  It was hard but I feel proud that I was able to do it.  It’s such a good feeling when you finish one class successfully but to finish two is even better.  I started my Community Health Nursing class.  I am really excited about it because it’s a precursor to my Community Health Practicum and one class closer to finishing.  Not to mention that it’s only one class and is interesting.  It’s always nice to see familiar names on the roster for the class.  It makes it feel like we are getting through together.  It’s also nice to see new names too and get different inputs.  I am amazed at all the different places my classmates are from; all over the country and world. I have a classmate that is studying from Germany.  How cool is that?  The experience brought to the class because of all these different backgrounds is what makes the online format so great.

I started to think about where I want to do my Community Health Practicum which is my next class.  I am thinking about the VNA of Wallingford.  I emailed them today.  Hopefully that works out but if not, I have some other choices, like school nursing.  I also registered for the Spring 2011 classes today.  I love how easy it is to register online through WebAdvisor.  Then I looked and I only have 3 more classes after that for my BSN!!!! WOW!  I am thinking about taking two classes at the same time again for the 1^st summer session but I guess I have to see.  In order to take 2 classes at the same time I have to fill out a paper and submit it for permission.  The only reason I want to take 2 classes again is so that I finish my BSN by the end of the summer.  Then I go on right to the MSN. 

Some of my co-workers are starting to go back to school for their BSN.  It’s so good to have others that are in the same situation with juggling life and school.  It’s also good support too.  When I was going for my Associates degree, I had a friend that was also going with me, same school, and same class.  It was so good because we would study together and pretty much went through it together, thick and thin.  Having a support system in place is important.  It’s also great to have a good and supportive boss like I do.J

In my personal life, things are the same.  BUSY!  Church, family, work, school but it’s all good.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I’m looking forward to going to Maine to be with my parents for Thanksgiving.  We switch off holidays so we are spending Christmas in Connecticut this year. 

The kids in their Sunday best

My favorite apple pie recipe, can't go wrong with it.

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May 2009

“It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.”
~ John Wooden

Well, this is the last journal entry for me and I must say that it has been a wonderful journey obtaining my BSN through the Regis University on-line program. The entire experience was amazing and one that I wish I would have started a long time ago. I have found everyone at Regis to be very helpful, professional and the instructors all extremely knowledgeable about the topics. I learned so much more than I thought I would when I returned to school. Working full-time and going to school at Regis is a very doable process. Each class being only 8 weeks long means the classes are very involved however, if you keep at it a little everyday and make sure to prepare for the research papers and projects, the eight weeks goes by very quickly. I actual took two classes each eight weeks during the last three semesters and I would not recommend this when taking the two practicum courses because the practicum time adds to the classroom time. I do recommend establishing your clinical practicum early as they can be difficult to set up at times, and if the clinical site requires a contract, then this takes additional time. Of the many things that I learned at Regis, I must say that the community service and the formulating of a portfolio are the two things that I will carry with me for the rest of my career. I have enclosed many pictures with this journal entry from the last two weeks. I was lucky to have completed my major paper, interview, and clinical hours with two weeks left in class, allowing me to spend more time with the family. They were on vacation from school one week and the prom was the next weekend (which was also graduation weekend at Regis). During the next thirty days I will be celebrating many things: my graduation (finally) 18 ½ years after obtaining my associate degree with my BSN, my twentieth wedding anniversary, and my daughter’s high school graduation. I must say of all the things I think my daughter graduating as valedictorian of her class is what I am most proud of. To see her from the little girl who insisted on wearing “jelly” shoes that had to match her outfit to high school graduate and soon to college-bound women is amazing. I would like to say thank you to all of you who took the time to read my blogs over the last 1 ½ years. I hope you not only enjoyed them but also that they led you to also choose Regis to further education.

Cheryl

Picture of a castle made out of jelly beans

Picture of Sunny and Tyler

Picture of a golfing trip from Myrtle Beach

Picture of my kids, Sunny and Tyler, dressed up for the prom

Picture of my family before prom

Picture of my cat, Duchy, trying to go to the Prom with the kids

For previous entries from Cheryl and other RN to BSN/RN to MS in Nursing bloggers, go to http://www.regis.edu/rh.asp?page=journals.rnbsn.arc.

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