VENTILATION.

Because I have many younger cousins that are starting to get their periods and despite their “health education” they have no clue wtf to do when it actually happens. And for my dear cousins in the Philippines that actually don’t even have Health Education due to many cultural/religious/social beliefs and values = Ate has your back. 

My dears, sometimes it will hit you at the wrong moments. Sometimes, you will have embarrassing accidents. That’s okay, you will move forward from it. Hell, you will be sharing those stories sooner or later. 

Background: I have PCOS and Endometriosis. I don’t always have my period every month but when I do, I bleed heavily and for a long time. It is often common for me to bleed for almost 3 weeks. The shortest ever is 13 days for me. Sometimes I go on without having a period for 6 months and then bleed for 2 months after. I get so tired, anemic, and riddled with pain that I have a hard time functioning. So, I made my own period kit. Not so much a kit but rather a large box I keep under my bed that I keep well stocked when I pull it out when I need it.

1. Make a Period Kit

Contents:

Heavy duty Hot water bag. ( I have 3 just in case - Stomach, Back, Extra)

Heavy duty Ice Bag ( I have 1 and a Gel Pack in the fridge)

Electric Blanket (Often I get that familiar Girdle like pain that runs and exacerbates my old spinal injury)

Pain meds and sometimes my prescribed muscle relaxers if I really need them (discuss thoroughly with your doctor). NOTE = Take pain med like Ibuprofen before your cramps start. It is better than waiting for the cramps to start and then having to wait for it take effect. 

Tea (I always have a spare box in there because I go through tea like crazy)

Relaxers - Essential oils for my diffuser, massage oil, face masks, candles, and incense. CAUTION - FIRE HAZARD - Things like Candles can cause a fire easily (especially in the PH) so please, keep your eye on it, extinguish before sleeping, keep away from things that might catch fire. 

Chocolate / Candy - My favorite ones. Always well stocked.

Napkins (Pads)/ Liners/Tampons/Menstrual Cup and Wet wipes- Only extras. I mostly keep them in the bathroom for easy access

Entertainment - (not actually inside the box, obviously) Favorite books, movies, video games. I like watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding, reading the Percy Jackson series, and playing Suikoden 2 or Persona 3. 

Emergency Premade kits mini kit for on the go

I make like 3 using a ziplock bag, and remake if I need to.

 I don’t always use it every day but my bag always has one. (If applicable) Keep one in your locker, your car/parents’ car/boyfriend’s car, work office, etc. 

Contents: Napkin (2), Tampon (2), Liner, Travel-sized Pain Meds, Wet wipes, a Hair Tie, Bobby pins (I have bangs), A chocolate treat, and extra underwear that is comfortable

 2. Be ready to share. HELP EACH OTHER OUT. 

Be it a napkin, tampon, liner, hair ties, or wet wipes.

3. Keep track of your period. 

It is imperative you keep track of your period because it is a measure of your health as well. As great as it sounds to not have a period each month, the negative health implications you will face is really not worth it. 

Use an app or track with a planner - I use the app Flo just to keep it easy.

4. Keep Clean and Change Frequently

Cleaning

Wash Regularly

Wipe/Wash your Vagina from Front to Back in one direction. DO NOT wipe up and down. You will increase your risk of UTIs that way. 

No, you don’t need fancy vaginal hygiene products as the vagina is basically its own cleaning mechanism.

Shower everyday please. You don’t need to wet your hair but your body will thank you for feeling fresh. 

Changing Frequency (depends on the heaviness of period)

Pads - usually 3 to 4 hours. I am always on the heavy side so I change every 1 to 2 hours. 

Tampon - at most up to 2 hours. Don’t go over 2 hours. I wouldn’t even recommend tampons on truly heavy days. Some use a tampon with a pad on heavier days and get away with it, but I can’t. Just change more frequently please. TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME IS A THING THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY DIE FROM OKAY?

Menstrual cup - Up to 12 hours. I typically still end up emptying around the 5 to 6-hour mark though. 

Panty Liner - Can technically be a one a day thing, but I change mine every 6 to 8 hours. Some recommend 3 to 5 hours. 

Dispose properly by wrapping sanitary products with toilet paper, please. Wash hands properly before and after changing. 

In a pinch? Stack toilet paper and use as a pad, try to find or ask around for a pad. Change every hour. 

5. How to remove blood stains

Depends on how fresh is the stain

Fresh Blood (still wet, reddish, smells bad, possibly with mucous and blood fragments) = Soap and run it through cold water ASAP

Old Blood (dry, brown or dark maroon in color) = Use Hydrogen Peroxide. ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide + ¾ to 1 cup water. Soak for half an hour. Rinse. OR Blot the stain out using Hydrogen Peroxide. 

6. Other stuff I should cover

For first-timers: Don’t be embarrassed or shy to tell an adult. They’ll help you or guide you to someone that can help. Periods are a natural fact of life. 

In school, simply slip your Period kit under your sleeve or in your pocket with your phone and ask to go to the bathroom.

Yes, the Acne is normal. First, you are probably in the midst of puberty and hormones play a crucial role in Acne development. 

Normalize Periods

Because it is idiotic to still be so hush - hush about the subject and treat it as though people don’t encounter it in their daily lives.

Because there are people who seek help about the topic, who are too shy or don’t know what to even say, and if it helps them in some way to broach the topic then kudos to all of us. 

Because you shouldn’t feel embarrassed to ask someone to buy you sanitary products at the store. 

Storytime - My dad was my go-to person to ask because he worked nights and could buy things at the daytime. He was there for my first period where I awkwardly called him on the cell phone to retrieve a pad from Mom’s stash and he did and was like, “Tell your mom, she’s been expecting it.” He always had pads, wet wipes, pain meds, and hard candy in his car for Mom and I. And he often bought me pads and such. I just sent him a picture of the exact product I needed. He would buy it, no problem because he has a wife and daughter and it comes with the territory. 

Because you shouldn’t be shamed for not properly concealing your period at all. I’ve heard stories of women being shamed by their brothers/fathers/uncles because they saw some toilet paper stained with blood peeking out from the garbage bin instead of being buried by a mound of toilet paper. You don’t need a mound of toilet paper to hide away the evidence. 

Don’t shame people on their preference of sanitary products. Their menstrual experience will never be the same as yours. 

You will still encounter people that will still act alarmed and squeamish at the thought of periods. I have met enough Boys in my life who just seemed so confused about the topic. They may react positively to a bit of education from you. It depends. Some may be repulsed you even said Vagina. But hey, it exists, it happens, it is natural. Just because you close your eyes, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.  

The Experience (because oh dear, oh dear, it is an experience).

PAD PLACEMENT IS IMPORTANT. Especially when you sleep. You may think you don’t need to cover your butt crack, but okay. I say wear tights and fitted cotton underwear when you sleep. 

Don’t be afraid to watch instructional videos on how to properly insert tampons and menstrual cups. 

It is not only blood that will come out of your vagina okay? There are clots (reddish, brownish ones) and non-period discharge (sometimes white, thick and mucus-like).

Yes, there is a smell. That’s why hygiene is important.

Gastrointestinal Problems = Gas, Bloating, sometimes Diarrhea, sometimes Constipation. Sometimes all of the above.

Despite it being called Pre-Menstrual Symptoms (PMS), you will be experiencing them throughout the period and after the period. But it depends per person. 

Sometimes your cycle isn’t always exact. You might get it earlier or later. You might get it twice a month. Your first few might not even be really red, but browner in color. It could be due to many factors, but if you experience prolonged symptoms go speak to your OBGYNE doctor. 

Your OBGYNE doctor has seen a lot of Vaginas in their time. They likely will not make it awkward for you. In fact, they might be more familiar with your vagina than you are. Pick a good doctor you will keep going to.  

Extreme Mood Swings can happen. I once cried over nothing - as in, my eyes started to water and then I sobbed for 10 minutes. I have also woke up sobbing a couple of times too.

We can have our periods together, at the same time, because of close proximity to each other. It happens.

You can have sex during your period, though it is cleaner to do it in the shower. Note = You can still get pregnant even if you have your period. Protect yourselves!!!

WARNING: LONG POST

To be honest, studying for NCLEX was one of the worst things I’ve done. I was riddled with anxiety and hated waiting for my CGFNS application to finish before even getting the okay to even do NCLEX. And yes it takes forever. Yes, waiting for that long is horrible because you forget what you learned. And yes, this is all normal.

My own NCLEX experience sucked but it was also because I was in the middle of a large family drama and had to stop studying halfway to help out. But even with that, I managed to pass. And I’m hoping this post helps others too.

Keep in mind that this is just what I did to study. There are always other methods. It is largely dependent on the person. Just pick and choose what works for you.

1) Make a study schedule/plan

This is largely dependent on when your NCLEX date is. You could have 2 months. 4 months. 6 months or more to study. Divide up your time according to then. I had to wait for my CGFNS application to finish which takes forever and a half (-about a year really before I got the okay). But I still studied lightly. I didn’t want to forget all I learned in Nursing.  I tried my best to follow the schedule through and revised when I couldn’t. After I got the okay from CGFNS, I scheduled my NCLEX 2 months after. Those 2 months were spent doing at least 100 NCLEX questions per day. Sometimes 200 when I had more time.

But really just plan it out. Plan out the sections you need to cover. The number of hours spent studying per day. Don’t forget to care for yourself. Plan according to your life.

2) DO YOUR NCLEX QUESTIONS. (At least 75 questions per day).

I truly think that your best way of passing NCLEX is being familiar with how NCLEX questions work. They have a particular wording. They have their own pattern. And your best way of understanding them is by familiarizing yourself with how NCLEX questions are given. You can know every Nursing fact there is and even then, you might still get a question wrong if you interpreted that NCLEX questions. Do 75 questions per day because 75 is the bare minimum questions to answer AND you learn quickly the pace you need to set in order to finish the whole 265 questions in under 6 hours.  

For my foreign colleagues: Focus on tackling the NCLEX questions because they are indeed different. So I went to the Philippines and the way they do exams for the Nursing Board is more clinical than NCLEX questions. The questions they asked were almost more suited for med students as they were clinical in nature rather than Nursing based questions. That doesn’t mean they arent Nursing questions but they are worded differently. So focus guys, you need to get in the NCLEX mindset.

3) Do I enter an NCLEX Review Program? Which one is the best? Will it help me? ANSWER: Depends on the way you study, your time and your budget.

This is what I did:

Self Study: My own College Notes and Sanders

NCLEX Review Program: Hurst (at home)

NCLEX Question Bank: UWorld - NCLEX RN

Youtube: Watched and added to my notes - RegisteredNurseRN and NurseMendoza were a favorite of mine.

Here’s my take. You could easily have done self-study without the review program, but if you need more structure and support then do the review program. I understand Kaplan and Hurst are a favorite. However, I really do recommend you do UWorld. It has a collection of NCLEX questions with rationale per question. I did 100 every day and wrote down questions and rationales I got wrong or thought were noteworthy to take down. I rather liked how their questions were broken down to each section tested by the NCLEX board and that they had a pre and post-test. I took their post-test 2 days before I took NCLEX and got a high probability of passing. That gave me enough motivation and hope that I would pass.

4) List of Things to know without any doubt in your mind

Because honestly, you should know and be sure of these things with just as much conviction and sureness as your own name and birthday. 

Labs: especially CBC, Urinalysis, Serum and Electrolytes, ABGS, VS per age group including Maternal and Fetal VS, and Therapeutic Drug Levels, Conversions

Safety and Infection Control Procedures: NCLEX is all about Safety. 

Pharmacology: Med Classification, Drug Schedules, Maternal/Fetal Drug Categories, and Popular Drugs always given

Prioritization: ABCs, Maslows, etc

Nursing Process and the Patient Rights

Common Diets, Positioning, and Cultural Considerations. 

Burns: Rule of Nines, Fluid Calculations

And I’m really sure there’s more but forgive me but these are all I can think of for now. 

5) Take Care of Yourself

You need to be in your best health when facing NCLEX. In order to have a good working mind, you need to care for your self. Sadly, I did not do this. Lol. I was a mess when I took NCLEX. I really was. Hell, I was anxiety-ridden, had a cold and low fever, and was freezing when I took my NCLEX. It wasn’t the best way of tackling the big exam that determines your future. LEARN FROM MY DAMN MISTAKE.

I’m not going to sit here and list out all the healthy things to do to care for yourself because if you’re reading this you know that this is one of the most common Health Education lectures you will keep giving as  Nurse. You know it by heart, just as much as we all know that Nurses rarely practice what they teach. But here’s the thing, it is time to stop the talk and start the walk. Practice that SELF LOVE dammit! You deserve this!

6) Don’t Panic!!!

Again. Learn from my mistakes, please. I had tried my best to follow my schedule but life happens and I actually had 2 more weeks worth of study material left when my NCLEX date came. I panicked. So bad. I crammed the week before just to finish. No, I didn’t learn crap. As I sat in the car with my dad who dropped me off because I was too damn anxiety-ridden to operate a car, I was cramming again. I was sick with a cold, had a low-grade fever, and was close to tears because I hated my life. Yep, Don’t be like me. I still took the exam because hey I was already there. 

Okay, here’s the thing about NCLEX. You don’t have to know every Nursing fact out there. Basics are the deal. Basics mean keeping your patient alive and safe. Basics mean even if you don’t know, you can infer and judge. So don’t panic if suddenly you come across something you’ve never heard of. It happens. It will continue to happen. The point here is learning to use your judgment to determine the best course of action.

7) The Day Before the Exam

To do:

Prep the bag you will be bringing to the exam: ID for identification, Cellphone, Water bottle, Snack

Prep Clothes to wear: Wear something comfy!! I was freezing in my exam room because I was sick. It does tend to be a bit chilly in the exam room so a nice long sleeve shirt, leggings, sneakers are a good bet. However, I really wouldn’t know in other countries how the exam process would go.

Get a good night sleep: I slept for 2 hours, was jumpy and freaked out an hour before the exam. No, don’t do that. Get that rest you need. 

Map Check your Exam Place: Check how long you need to travel, consider traffic, check landmarks to look out for if you are unfamiliar with the area, look at a real-time picture of the building you are looking for, consider parking or plan on who will drop you off and pick you up. 

Do NOT do:

 DON’T CRAM/ DON’t STUDY: You know, for some people they can easily cram and be fine. The thing is, cramming does nothing but increase anxiety. I didn’t learn crap.

Don’t over-caffeinate or overeat: It will hit you the day after and it isn’t a great feeling. 

Convincing yourself you aren’t ready. You’ll get that feeling. With all the studying and hard work, you will never feel ready. It will mess you up once you get to that exam room, trust me. The mind is a powerful motivator after all. 

8) The Day of the Exam

To do:

Eat Breakfast: Something light, nothing to spike your blood sugar, something fulfilling. You have 6 hours maximum to do this exam. Eat something because a small snack really won’t cut it. And no, an espresso shot is not enough. Don’t over-caffeinate yourself! PS. Gum isn’t allowed in the exam room. Leave that in your bag (which is placed in a locker) and chew on it after you finished your exam.

Be early! Look, as a Nurse, being early has to be in your genes by now. It is frowned upon to be late. If you are 30 minutes early to work/clinicals/class, you are barely on time. Early means having enough time to calm yourself, survey the situation and come up with a game plan. Time has to be on your side. You have little time to waste when working as a Nurse. You need to learn how to utilize your time well and being early is your first step.

Go in there with confidence! This was my saving grace. I’m serious. Despite how absolutely crappy and unprepared I felt, I walked in there with such deluded self-confidence that I was sure I was going to pass. I beamed at the receptionist as I signed in. I did friendly small talk with my exam proctor as I did my biometrics. And I took a deep breath and literally said, “I GOT THIS!” before I entered that exam room. My exam proctor laughed and it shook away my nerves. I sat there, in my assigned computer and put my game face on. I thought to myself: Oh yeah, this exam is my bitch. I got this! I am so ready! Let’s gooooo!! And then I clicked Next. Look, I was acutely aware that my self-confidence was fake. But it gave me the self-confidence and motivation to do that exam without having frenetic anxiety muddle my mind. It helped me focus. Like I said, the Mind is a powerful thing.

Utilize your whiteboard: They will give you a whiteboard and marker during your exam. Use it! The moment I sat, even before I even started the exam, I wrote down stuff I was afraid I’d just forget. I wrote down labs in one corner. The other I actually did a tally. How many types of questions did I get: SATA, Multiple Choice, Ordered, Hot Spot, etc. You don’t need to do this but I liked to keep track of them because the harder the questions, the more I know I’m doing something correctly. Use it as scrap! Use it to remember or work out a question! Use it!

Do NOT do:

Don’t freak out: Redundant, I know. I’ve been saying this since the beginning. But look, when you’re sitting there doing that exam, focus on your questions one at a time. Don’t keep staring at the number of questions you did. Don’t you dare lose your cool if you answer more than 75 questions! I answered 89 questions. I know people who did all the questions, those who only answered 75, and those who were in between.  The number of questions you answered doesn’t matter. What matters is that you passed. Don’t suddenly despair you didn’t get all 75 questions the first go. Don’t despair if this is your second, third, or more times doing this. Don’t despair, my dear, because you will pass this NCLEX.

Be a noisy tester: So, I know this is mostly due to nerves. However, please be aware that you are not the only one testing in that room. There are other professionals in there doing their exam and they aren’t all NCLEX exams. Please don’t be a noisy tester. There was a person next to me when I took my exam who would stop their feet, slap the desk, sigh and mumble as they tested. It was distracting. I flinched every time they slapped the desk. The headphones that were given to cancel the noise didn’t work. I could physically hear and feel the person squirm in their seats. Please don’t do that.

9) After the Exam

The next two days waiting for your Quick Results are torture. I know. I know. You have to wait 2 days. Ahem. Official business days – meaning if you took it Friday, likely your Quick Results will be given on Tuesday, 48 hours after you finished your exam. If Quick Results aren’t available in your region, likely you will get the official results 6 to 8 weeks after your exam.

You will be anxiety-ridden; so sure you didn’t pass. You will immediately go to Google and troll the forums, gauging others’ exam experience. So I had this much SATA, that much Multiple Choice, these kinds of questions…. And then, you will attempt to do the Pearson Vue Trick. No, I will not explain how that works. There are dedicate posts, videos, and such for your googling convenience.

My advice? Relax now, my dear. You did the hardest part. Why not just wait for your results?  They will come with time. Indulge yourself. I cried myself to sleep, hibernated for 2 days in a haze of sickness, and ate pudding. Lol. Aim higher than I did. Eat that chocolate! Eat that cake! Go have fun! Don’t do anything crazy that will have you arrested or hospitalized

10) Did you pass?

To those who passed:

Congratulations! You are now an official Registered Nurse with that beautiful RN following your name. You earned it. You likely have cried, spit, hurt, bled, and sacrificed to get it. Congratulations! Celebrate! Here comes the rest of your life! 

PS. Now I will be a buzzkill. Immediately Start Job Hunting. Don’t wait. I know it’s tempting to just relax after all that hardship. But Job Hunting means you will still have time in between looking for job, doing interviews, etc. Immediately start Job Hunting. Make use of that RN.

To those who did not pass:

Congratulations! No, I’m not being sarcastic or being mean about this. I mean it. I know you gave it your best shot. I know how devastating to get that news. I know you will feel tired, inept, and frustrated. And I know my words aren’t helping much. I’m not here to mourn with you, but here to give you some advice.

Look, you are now in the unique position to do some Real Self Assessment. This is the opportunity to look back and see what happened. Was it the way I studied? Was it because I didn’t do enough practice questions? Was I having an off day? How can I improve on this? How can I change my plans for the next time? How can I make myself better? This is an opportunity to do better and even more than that, you now have that story in your plethora of life stories that you can look back on and go, “Yeah, I conquered it. Yeah, I really did work hard for it. Yeah, I overcame.” It will make you appreciate yourself even more. So for that life lesson, congratulations. Don’t give up on yourself. You will get there.

You show up haggard to your exam room. Your classmates and you are marched in the exam room as a quiet, nervous, singular filed line. You spy microscopes set up per lab table. You have spent a week meticulously studying every microbe thrown at you. YOU GOT THIS.

So you head to your first microscrope with a false sense of security. Your future self laughs at your foolish idealism.

You wonder if there is anything there.

You stand there dumbly wondering wtf you should do.

You stand there dumbly wondering what you should write on your paper but time just keeps passing. You’re out of time.

You have no choice to move on, guess, and stroke your failing ego. It’s okay, you can still answer the other ones.

You realize you had no chance since the beginning.

Somehow, you managed to scrape by and pass the class anyway. You’re not sure how but you’re grateful. You still hold some resentment on those unfocused microscopes.

Because eventually, you realize that your Nursing Bag is needed and will save you more times than you would would like to admit. When I say Nursing Bag I mean the Bag that is taken in the clinical area. However, it can easily be modified to tot along in Uni. Personally, I had two separate bags for Uni and for Clinical Rotations. 

A. Nursing Bag 

I will not recommend a particular bag because it depends on people’s preference. I prefer back packs because of my shot back but others prefer cross body bags, etc. However I will recommend you find a bag that is : Made of sturdy material, Easy to Clean, Good Zipper/Button/Lock, Large Enough to Store all your items with room to spare, and waterproof

B. Pencil Case

Pens (Black, Blue, Red).

Note: I don’t recommend all in One Pens with all the colors. When charting in a chart where mistakes with ink are not allowed, it is easy to use the wrong color if you’re not looking. Pen Ink is largely permanent. (Erasure is often considered tampering with a legal document - remember that). But, mistakes happen. I did it, my group mates have done it, my own clinical instructors have done it accidentally. In my Uni, that is considered a Nursing Error and the punishment is a 3 day extension duty. Not worth it.

Extra Pen 

For that groupmate/patient who keeps asking for a pen. No. You will not get it back

Small pocket notebook 

Take everywhere. Your best friend. Assessments, Observations, Topics to study later - Jot it down

Pencil

Eraser

6 inch ruler

Sticky notes

Highlighter

White Board Marker

Sharpie Marker

C. Nursing Equipment

*Note: You do not need to have all of these things (though it depends on your Uni’s set guide lines). But I suggest you save up for them because I have used every single one so much I consider them must haves.

Bandage scissors

Pen Light + Extra Batteries (just in case)

Thermometer

Tape Measure

Medical Tape/ Surgical Tape

BP app/ Sphygmomanometer (properly calibrated)

Stethoscope 

No, you don’t need a Littman so early, but you need a decent one.

Pulse Oximeter

Wrist Watch/ Fob Watch (dependent on hospital/ Uni policy)

Calculator

Sterile gloves and Clean gloves 

Especially in the Philippines where generally there are a lack of supplies. PROTECT YOURSELF.

D. Hygiene Case/ Personal Case

* Because there will be days you will be stuck in the hospital, there will be emergencies, and frankly it’s better to be safe than sorry and suffer in silence.

Nail cutters

Hand Sanitzer/ Alcohol Spray

Menstrual Pads/ Tampons/ Diva Cup (if applicable)

Lip Balm

Hand Moisturizer (constant hand washing breaks down the skin in your hands very quickly)

Personal Roll of Tissue

Wet Wipes

Contact Solution (travel sized) + Contact Case

Extra Pair of Contacts/ Glasses 

Hair ties

Meds - Allergy med, pain med, imodium, personal meds

Band aid

Dry Shampoo (travel sized)

Deoderant

Moisturizer (especially for the face, if like me, you have dry skin)

Toothbrush/ Toothpaste (travel sized)

Make up (if you feel you need it and need a touch up)

D. Books

*Can be in a tablet if your Uni allowed them. Personally, mine did not because of high incidences of theft. But if it works, go for it. 

Med Surg Book

Folder/ Binder for your Assignments/ Papers

Clinical Nursing Skills Book

Latest Drug Guide Book/ MIMS

NANDA book = The Philippines primarily used FDAR charting using NANDA diagnosis

Personal Nursing Cheat Sheet - because honestly, you can’t memorize everything all at once

Uni Code of Conduct 

My Nursing School was strict and required we hold our personal Code of Conduct Books. It was small and pertained only to our School of Nursing but it outlined basically everything for us, especially the punishments set if you fucked up. Know the crime, know the repercussions. 

E. Sustenance

*Care for yourself. Feed and hydrate yourself. You are human despite what people think. 

Hard Candy/ Small Chocolate Bar

- Quick pick me up when you need that sugar rush. I prefer buying minty candy for my breath.

Packed Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner 

You can buy out, but that can be costly and probably not healthy. I suggest meal prepping when you can.

Water Bottle

Hydrate. Always. 

Tea bag/ Instant Coffee Packets

Snack

Quick grab breakfast bar, Cookie, Cut Fruit, etc

F. Optional Things I recommend

* You do not need to buy it but I found them helpful

Pocket Protector 

Because I slipped pens, markers, etc in my pocket and ink exploded. And bam, I had to work hard to remove ink on white cloth. 

Nursing Cap Protector

For those, who like me, wore old fashioned Nursing Uniforms for College. The 1940s ones with the Nursing Cap. Let me tell you something about Nursing Caps. They’re starched, pressed, hardened into shape. It is a fabric. My Uni had their own style you bought. Plastic ones are thought to be cheap and an insult. The mark of a Nurse is keeping them clean. Get a Case to Protect it.

Pepper Spray + Rape Whistle

You will have night shift. You will be waiting in a corner to get a cab sometimes. Keep your wits about you. I had bad nights walking alone. Try to meet up as a group, have someone escort you, text someone the license plate of the cab/uber that picked you up but please keep yourself safe.

Small Umbrella

In the Philippines, It rains and pours so much you would be fool to even forget an umbrella. 

G. Don’t Ever Forget

*Don’t bother going to Clinical without these.

ID 

Won’t even be let inside the building sometimes.

Phone 

Your communication network between group mates and your clinical instructor sometimes depends on a phone and not face to face.

Money  

Tip for the Filipinos - DO NOT BRING a lot of money. I found 200 pesos is more than enough to buy you a meal, to get you a jeepney home (maybe a taxi depending on where you live), and a snack. Never more. Do not bring over 1k. WHY? No point. And keep your wallet in your pocket fool. Nothing is secure.

Nursing Name Tag + Nursing Pin

Your uniform was considered incomplete if you forgot these. (Another punishable offense. Lol). 

1. True mastery of the topic means having the confidence to teach it without looking at the notes

- This means roleplay as an instructor. If you can teach about a topic than you nailed it. I don’t mean you just regurgitated information back either. It means, if your student asks questions, you have a grasp on the concept that you can supply an adequate answer.

- So I say, try some roleplaying. Grab a friend and give them a lecture. They might throw questions you will find difficult to answer. But if they understood the topic than it is all good.

2. Study early. Cramming for that Exam is counter productive.

- I met people who crammed and easily got a high grade. I have met people who didn’t study and still got a high grade. But if the exam you are tackling encompasses your entire Major, Say NCLEX, you best start planning a study plan ASAP. Your brain will have a harder time recalling every single topic if you cram. You will gloss over info superficially to finish studying and that simply does not help you understand the concept.

- So plan ahead. If an exam is a week away, break down all the info into manageable parts to study for the week. The day before should be a smmary of the concept as a whole. You will find your weakest spot easily if you go over it. Focus on those. Go in that exam room having eaten and slept well.

3. Avoid the Auto Pilot Brain at all Cost

- What is an Auto Pilot Brain? When you study for hours, doing all these study techniques, without truly learning something. You wasted time, effort, with fruitless results. So how to stop?

- Stop highlighting everything. You highlight the main topic. An important sentence that summarizes the concept. But if you find yourself high lighting practically your whole book STOP. If your own notes turns into rainbow STOP. This is neural overload your brain doesn’t need. Some people defend highlighting saying the color corresponds with a concept like - Pink = vocab. Great, if you don’t know what that pink word you highlight means it hasn’t helped you at all.

- Don’t read everything thinking your brain is a scanner that recalls the whole page. Read Smart. Understand the main topic. For example, Pneumonia. Understanding the Pathophysiology will help you understand the complications and treatment for it more than you simply remembering every listed complication and treatment in the book. Connect the topics as they come.

4. Do your Practice Questions

- Always. I’m looking at you Nursing Student. Your main goal is eventually passing your NCLEX and getting that license. NCLEX has a specific way of asking questions. You need to get into that mind set early. So do NCLEX practice question early. I used to do NCLEX questions after completing class. For example, finished OB-GYNE class = do OB-GYNE NCLEX questions.

- I also look at you foriegn Nurse who will do NCLEX eventually. Do your damn practice questions. The national board you take to get your license in your country has their own way of tackling questions. You need to change gears and think NCLEX.

5. Be leery of Large Study Groups

- Some study better in a group. I find Auditory Learners are the best suited because they learn through listening and often recall more when people bounce ideas off each other. And that’s great. If it helps go for it. But be leery of large study groups because a large number of people is a high chance of distraction. You waste time.

- At most a study group of 3 people is more than adequate to study with. But I’ve seen 5 to 12 people form groups before under the guise of studying and it was rather chaotic. They spent more time trying organize themselves instead of studying. So avoid it.

1. Have a dedicated , non-complicated email.

One dedicated for your classes, work, etc. Usually consists of your last name and first name such as - “[email protected]" 

2. Keep your email account organized.

Have folders to move files in such as folders for : Class, Sorority, Work, Amazon, Bills, Etc. Sub folders are up to you. Keep your inbox cleared. I check it everyday and organize before I log off.

3. Do a Social Media Check Up.

Log off all social media accounts (or use incognito). Google yourself. See what pops up. I do not have a generic name at all. It was easy to find me and to me, that isn’t good. I personally went through every link that had my name. I saw things I didn’t want the entire public (potential recruiters, potential co workers, etc) to see. I changed privacy settings. I deleted accounts. Remember: what you project online is how people will judge you first. Therefore, consider your profile pics, listed likes, etc.

I do the same for my friends who couldn’t grasp the importance of it in college. I found a catfish account using one of my best friends face, name, info and it had some blasphemous content. Promptly reported and deleted.

Do this as early as college even before job hunting. Be careful what you post from there on. And for god’s sake, do not be a spiteful person, make a fake account, and spread your hate. It will blow up in your face. A girl I knew did that once. Karma threw her down hard: expulsion from uni, still had to pay full for all the classes she took, black listed from certain establishments/career opportunities , and used as a poster child for misbehavior. Do not cut your own neck when you are so young. Yes, college kids do stupid things, but given you are expected to handle peoples lives (and I speak to mostly Nurses here as this is a Nursing Blog), the ramifications for your actions are handled strictly.

3. Networking - Learn, Utilize, Grow

Hoho. It is humorous I speak of this when I personally identify myself as socially inept and struggle with this but I must put it here because Networking will get you places (if done right). It helps to find jobs. It helps for your resume. And it helps your self esteem.

Join sororities/fraterninties/clubs/groups that focus on your major, on Networking, on finding and helping secure internships, etc. Do not join because you hear they have killer parties, crazy people, etc. That is a plus, not your sole reason to join. Personally I joined school clubs but the concept of sororities/fraternities here in the Philippines generally have a negative connotation and universities rarely have them. Often they are considered legitimate gangs rife with cruel hazing practices. Abort mission, be safe, do not participate please. You will find that feeling of belongingness in better places. (This is a generalization for frats/sororities in the PH and not everywhere else. Just please assess first.)

4. Learn more Skills outside your Career

And by that I mean, okay, you’re a Nursing Major. Cool. Yes, eventually you will work for other certifications pertaining to your field of nursing. Don’t stop with that one degree. Get your BSN. MSN. Whatever you want. BUT, dedicate your time to learning other things.

Look, you’re in college, go do things and experiment. If you’re not, save money, look at your schedule, and indulge yourself. Personally, I focus on practical skills I wish I learned earlier. Skills like - cooking, personal finances, sewing, etc. But also fun things like - learning a new language (I still try to learn ASL in my free time), dance lessons, self defense classes, art classes, etc. I like to chose classes that I think would be a good supplement to my personal and professional life. It’s a matter of knowing your weaknesses, embracing your failures, developing yourself and learning to love the journey of it all.

5. Relax

Just because I listed all these things to do doesn’t mean you have to do it now (or at all really as they are suggestions and may not pertain to you). Don’t freak and think, “Omg I have to do this now or I’ll be unhappy and destroy my career.” No my dear, no. I know life is so complicated. College is this confusing mind game. Life after gets even more complicated in a completely different way. So relax, take a breath and find time to slowly work yourself up to it. Do not compare yourself to others. Some go slow. Some go fast. Doesn’t quite matter in the long run. But obviously don’t procrastinate either which is it’s own thing. Just work at a pace comfortable to you.

1. Make your own notes

If you find yourself struggling on a topic, you will find making your own notes is the best way to break down info in a format you can work with. Making your own individual notes is largely dependent on what kind of learner you are. Some people learn the best by making brain maps, some use flash cards, mnemonics, diagrams, color coding, etc. You do you boo.

Personally, I was the type that always had to hand write my notes. I couldn’t ever type it in the computer. I hated color coding. And I never found flash cards or mnemonics helpful despite people swearing by them. And that’s okay.

2. Organization is key

Always and forever. Dedicate a notebook, folder/binder for each class.

For every class that you take - also dedicate a separate folder in your computer files for it. I kept all my college files in a secured folder called - College (aptly named lol). And then I had 2 major categories. (CLASS and CLINICAL ROTATION). Save every document pertaining to that class/clinical rotation in their own folder. Trust me, when you need to go back to it, you will know where it is.

Speaking of computer files: 

A. Always have a back up of all your files in a usb (on the the go) and an external hard drive (for home). Keep in routinely updated as you go on. 

B. ALWAYS title your file to its contents. You will hate yourself if every document you saved is untitled or a jumble of letters like - ksnxjaika - because you were a lazy dumbass who just wanted it done. Then you will be stuck opening every single one until you give up and do it again. Not fun. Title your files!

Keep your handy pencil case at hand with at least - Pens (Black, Blue, Red), that extra pen you don’t mind losing because a friend borrowed it and never gave it back, a mech pencil with extra compatible lead, white out, eraser, highlighter, sticky notes. Everything else is you need is at your discretion. Personally I love stationary and buy so much cute things because they’re so cute to look at. But, if the aesthetic is actually distracting you (as I legitimately found myself playing and admiring the cute things I got) then keep them out. Keep them at home. Use them for your planner not when you’re in class or something.

3. Planning - Planners are your best friends

Look, once you get thrown into the depths of nursing, planning needs to be a thing you just have to have. You don’t have to be anal and keep planning for every minute detail but I believe having a general game plan per day helps.

Planning is also largely up to you. My best friend lived on a daily to do list where she just wrote everything that needed to get done that day. That’s fine. I had a small blank note book that I transformed into a practical bullet journal of sorts. Broke down a whole week on 2 pages and updated it daily with my own to do list/ appointments/ case projects/ etc. No it wasn’t aesthetically pleasing as you see online. That’s fine too. It doesn’t have to be pretty as long as it is useful to you. And if you find making it pretty makes you happy, then go for it.

4. Make a conducive environment for studying

- Some people prefer getting cozy in a cafe. Some in the library. And some like me, need a quiet place for myself. I have my study corner in my room for that. I can work in a cafe but the noise gets to me. Plus I always end up people watching because I’m socially awkward like that so isn’t the best place for me to study. But hey find your happy place. Ps. DO NOT study in a messy room. You will find yourself distracted. I used to find myself procrastinating by telling myself - Omg my room is so messy. Gotta clean first right?? *Spends 2 hours cleaning a corner of the room*

- Room temperature if you can get it. Overly hot temp and cold temp is distracting and most likely make you fall asleep.

- Brightly lit room. Take advantage if natural sun light if you can. I used to study in front of the window so I got light and a nice breeze and when it was nice out.

- Music : Study music that has no lyrics/words. Not overly loud it drowns your thoughts. Or; if you’re like me, keep everything quiet. Noise distracts me. I was always sensitive to it so I invested money on some good old fashioned, hardy ear plugs.

- Hydration: Keep yourself from getting dehydrated. Drink water. Caffeine sounds great but limit it before you find yourself craving it daily that your day is complete shit without it. You can survive nursing school without becoming addicted. Yes. You can. One cup a day. You got this. I came from a region that is known for their coffee. I used to visit my grandmother, help her harvest coffee beans, dry them under the sun, grind them in our own personal heavy duty grinder, and pack them for her and all her 9 children and their families.My family are renowned coffee snobs. It’s hard to avoid coffee but limit yourself lest you find yourself having palpitations in the middle of class like I did.

- Food: Have a snack. I don’t mean like a large meal that would spike your blood sugar and make you want to have a siesta. NO. I mean a light snack that keeps you from grumbling. A healthy one. My grandma used to boil purple yam for me to snack on all the time. I’d have it peeled and ready for me with some water. I kept it away from my sight though before I’d be tempted to snack and study non stop. Also avoid snacks with some a good aroma that it makes your mouth water at the scent of it. If you want that snack, keep it in another room or place you won’t smell it. Lol.

5. Social Media is your ultimate distractor : Limit it

It’s usually your biggest distraction right? Before a study session, I used to place my phone on air plane mode, on silent, no vibrations and keep it hidden across the room. Out of sight, out of hearing, out of mind.

I had breaks every 15 mins for at least 5 mins. You’re studying to learn, not competing for a neural overload. I only checked my phone every 30 minutes. The rest I spent stetching, admiring outside, etc.

Exams: oh man. EXAMS. NCLEX. THE BIG ONE. Not only did I do all mentioned above but I personally deactivated by Fb account, logged off every social media account, and deleted said app. Yes. I was tempted to do App blocks but I was determined to keep myself in the zone. Everyone knew I was studying and could reach me via phone. Ill get the message eventually. But social media I blocked completely. This could be extreme for you so by all means app blocks work just as fine.

THIS SHIT WORKS OKAY, I AM DEAD SERIOUS.

The last time I saw this on my dash, I didn’t think it would happen, so jokingly I wished I could go to a fun. concert.

AND GUESS WHAT, I WENT TO A FUCKING FUN. CONCERT.

I SAW THIS ON MY DASH THE OTHER DAY AND THOUGHT “ITS WORTH A TRY” SO I WISHED I COULD GET A 3DS

LITERALLY LIKE 4 DAYS LATER MY DAD SENT ME A PICTURE OF THE 3DS XL HE BOUGHT FOR ME WHILE I WAS AT SCHOOL

GUYS.

HE FUCKING CALLED ME 20 MINUTES LATER

20 FUCKNG. MINUTES. LATER.

THIS SHIT WORKS OKAY, I AM DEAD SERIOUS.

The last time I saw this on my dash, I didn’t think it would happen, so jokingly I wished I could go to a fun. concert.

AND GUESS WHAT, I WENT TO A FUCKING FUN. CONCERT.

I SAW THIS ON MY DASH THE OTHER DAY AND THOUGHT “ITS WORTH A TRY” SO I WISHED I COULD GET A 3DS

LITERALLY LIKE 4 DAYS LATER MY DAD SENT ME A PICTURE OF THE 3DS XL HE BOUGHT FOR ME WHILE I WAS AT SCHOOL

GUYS.

HE FUCKING CALLED ME 20 MINUTES LATER

20 FUCKNG. MINUTES. LATER.