Degree of separation
May 9, 2011 at 4:15 am 8 comments
Working nights has been challenging for me. I love the night shift, I have almost always been a night shift worker. My brain seems to function better during that time of the day. But, having the baby makes me reevaluate alot of things.
My parents have been watching him while I am in clinical and at school. This means that they have been the ones putting my sweet baby to sleep twice a week. And during the course of the last 4 weeks, my mother has managed to sleep train him. He sleeps pretty much through the night now.
It’s bizarre to me to imagine him going to sleep without me. It feels strange being home with him and not nursing him every two hours. I know this is best for him, I know he needs his sleep, but it feels like he really has grown up too fast.
School is coming to a close. Our time here with family and friends is ticking away. It’s almost time for us to separate from them. Time for us to get back to Japan and restart our lives as a little family.
It’s also time to make professional decisions. Am I going back to school? For what? BSN? MSN? What area of nursing do I want to work in? Should I try to work while we are overseas? Can I volunteer in disaster relief? When to take the NCLEX?
This last year has been so focused on getting school completed that I didn’t dare to think much further ahead. Now I am faced with a multitude of personal and professional choices. All have both positives and negatives. And the choices keep coming.
In the meantime…two more shift of clinicals and I’m done! I’ve survived!
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1.
Christine | May 9, 2011 at 7:28 am
So how does that work the NCLEX overseas?
2.
studentrntiffany | May 9, 2011 at 7:59 am
I’ve been looking into it and it seems that I can take it in Tokyo.
3.
M | May 9, 2011 at 9:28 am
You need a BSN before you can get an MSN. BSN is the “standard” for RNs and with all the changes made to the Masters programs (3-5 yr requirement work before going into NP program and if freshly graduated BSN only option for grad school is MSN CNS (Clinical Nurse Specialist). Just some things to think about.
4.
studentrntiffany | May 9, 2011 at 8:46 pm
M- Thank you for the information. I was aware that I needed a BSN before an MSN, however I have been looking at programs that group them together as an ADN-MSN bridge program in 3 years.
I do intend to continue with school, I guess I didnt word my post well. I was debating whether BSN would be my final step or if I wanted to continue to my MSN. Lots of decisions.
Thank you again for the information!
5.
Jim | May 10, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Take your NCLEX before you leave. Once you get back, there will be all kinds of new distractions, and time will only lessen your desire and knowledge level. Apply for your license ASAP, then sign up for and take a month to study for the exam before going back. My 2 cents.
6.
Jim | May 10, 2011 at 2:47 pm
You can always retake it in Tokyo, if you fail – after your remediation.
7.
Jim | May 10, 2011 at 2:51 pm
You want excitement? Flight Nurse… that’s real disaster relief!
8.
mrs spock | May 21, 2011 at 10:36 am
The area of nursing you start out in- or expect you’d want to do- may not be the area you find is truly your niche. I highly recommend starting somewhere in Med-Surg or in a critical care internship for at least a year before heading out to any specialty. It was the best decision I ever made!