I started my 5th semester of my DNP program for Nurse Midwifery and Women's Health today...
This semester is going to be a nightmare. Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful to be in school, able to pursue my education, my dreams, and to live in a country where this is possible. But this program is a kick in the buns. This semester there is going to be some type of clinical experience every week...whether it be a 4-8 hour day in clinic, or a 12 hour call shift. But most weeks, we will have both. I am going to die...(I know I am not actually going to die, I just feel like I am).
I don't know how all of the people who have completed this program prior to me have done it, but ladies and gents, rats off to you. I am so proud of everyone who has done this, because it is insane. Whether or not you stay in the field or continue working as a nurse midwife after graduation, I don't care, you are my hero. I think about when I accepted my position in this program, and I thought I knew what I was signing up for...but let's be honest, I had no idea. You think you know, but you have no idea.
Forget the clinical requirements, we also have a hefty academic course load this semester as well. A couple months ago, it was supposed to be even heavier, but thankfully, the course gods listened to our pleas and said we could take that class at a different time in our program. THANK YOU! Like I said, when I signed up for this program they said, the expectation was to only work a 12 hour shift a week...I said, "SURE!", because I thought that might be realistic then...but again I had no idea what I was signing up for.
Before I started this program, I thought that:
I would get scholarships...
There would be money coming in from somewhere...
I could afford to work just 12 hours a week...
...but I was wrong...
I also didn't know back then that:
I would fall in love and get married to someone from another country...
I would need to work to support his immigration...
He couldn't immigrate if I couldn't prove my financial support to him...
I would buy a house...
I would need to take out significantly more student loans...
...but I did, and I do...womp womp
So I am actually going to keep working a 40 hour week, in addition to the academic and clinical requirements of my program this semester, because I haven't gotten any scholarships, I do have a mortgage, and I do have to support my husband's immigration. I will keep doing this for the unforeseeable future, or until I drop.
Again my amazing boss has saved the day, again, because he is allowing me to work various hours to total 40, to accommodate my school schedule. I am so grateful! Thank you, and everyday should be bosses day!
If I could, I would take a hiatus from my program, but I don't think that is a realistic option. I am in my 5th out of 9 semesters, and am over the halfway mark. I have another 4 semesters left, about 18 months in total...I think I just have to keep going for as long as I can, doing both. It's crazy, but I'm crazy...so here goes nothing.
XOXO
Melz
This semester is going to be a nightmare. Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful to be in school, able to pursue my education, my dreams, and to live in a country where this is possible. But this program is a kick in the buns. This semester there is going to be some type of clinical experience every week...whether it be a 4-8 hour day in clinic, or a 12 hour call shift. But most weeks, we will have both. I am going to die...(I know I am not actually going to die, I just feel like I am).
I don't know how all of the people who have completed this program prior to me have done it, but ladies and gents, rats off to you. I am so proud of everyone who has done this, because it is insane. Whether or not you stay in the field or continue working as a nurse midwife after graduation, I don't care, you are my hero. I think about when I accepted my position in this program, and I thought I knew what I was signing up for...but let's be honest, I had no idea. You think you know, but you have no idea.
Forget the clinical requirements, we also have a hefty academic course load this semester as well. A couple months ago, it was supposed to be even heavier, but thankfully, the course gods listened to our pleas and said we could take that class at a different time in our program. THANK YOU! Like I said, when I signed up for this program they said, the expectation was to only work a 12 hour shift a week...I said, "SURE!", because I thought that might be realistic then...but again I had no idea what I was signing up for.
Before I started this program, I thought that:
I would get scholarships...
There would be money coming in from somewhere...
I could afford to work just 12 hours a week...
...but I was wrong...
I also didn't know back then that:
I would fall in love and get married to someone from another country...
I would need to work to support his immigration...
He couldn't immigrate if I couldn't prove my financial support to him...
I would buy a house...
I would need to take out significantly more student loans...
...but I did, and I do...womp womp
So I am actually going to keep working a 40 hour week, in addition to the academic and clinical requirements of my program this semester, because I haven't gotten any scholarships, I do have a mortgage, and I do have to support my husband's immigration. I will keep doing this for the unforeseeable future, or until I drop.
Again my amazing boss has saved the day, again, because he is allowing me to work various hours to total 40, to accommodate my school schedule. I am so grateful! Thank you, and everyday should be bosses day!
If I could, I would take a hiatus from my program, but I don't think that is a realistic option. I am in my 5th out of 9 semesters, and am over the halfway mark. I have another 4 semesters left, about 18 months in total...I think I just have to keep going for as long as I can, doing both. It's crazy, but I'm crazy...so here goes nothing.
XOXO
Melz
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