The final semester of nursing school can be...stressful. Or dramatic, insane, incredible. Maybe a little fun. Maybe, but only a little bit. You would think that the first three and a half years of nursing school would somehow prepare you for the final semester, and then everything goes nuts.
1. There is no such thing as a break anymore. Ever d/t constant exams, clinical work, and papers being thrown at you r/t nursing school wants you to suffer so you can help the suffering.
2. You barely see your friends, except for in class or clinical. Or to study. Your best friend is your practicum preceptor now.
3. You die trying to finish 120 hours of practicum alongside classes and work. Work, practicum, class, paper, work, practicum, practicum, practicum...more practicum? Are we done yet?
4. You have a mental count of how many days exactly are left in the semester, even though you really have no grasp on what day and night are by this point.
5. The nursing school diet takes over completely: coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee.
6. You have suddenly been experiencing an odd amount of people asking you for medical advice.
7. The sweet satisfaction of actually knowing nursing things hits its peak.
8. Having to drop $200 on the NCLEX fee leaves you eating ramen for the rest of the semester. What's money? I don't know. When you click the confirmation button, it feels like:
9. The first realization that you'll be taking the biggest test of your life following this semester increases anxiety on the daily. Deep breathing. Deep breathing.
10. The second realization that after you finish, someone expects you to become a fully functioning nurse.......... Almost there.
But at the end of the semester, when you have your pinning ceremony and graduate from nursing school... You know it was all worth it. We're almost there! We're so close to the moment we get to say:
