Nursing School During COVID-19

Ever wondered what it is like to be in Nursing School during a pandemic? Whelp, here it goes:

• Everything is always changing! No, seriously. When I accepted my seat in the Spring of 2020, I selected my clinical site and schedule, without even thinking twice. Well, since then... my schedule is nothing like how I planned. I am nowhere near my initial clinical site. In fact, I am not even in the class with the same students who I was supposed to have class with.

• Limited study time, which really sucks. Libraries are still closed, or if they are open, have very limited hours... so you are not always able to go there and work in a quiet area. My lab hours were even cut in half, to limit the number of people who are in one room during each class. We are actually not allowed to come early or stay late, because that is considered a "congregation" and its currently against C-19 campus policy.

• No one knows what is going on or what to expect. In previous years, I bet you could ask upperclassmen what things helped them succeed or ask for tips, but most of their advice is probably irrelevant now. Our exams have changed. Classes have changed. And of course, teaching platforms have changed as well. We are not allowed in the testing center, which means we test from home... so no one can tell you how to focus on an NCLEX style exam while your toddler is crying in the next room or your dog is barking at the mailman. It is truly unprecedented. At this point, we do not even know if this will continue into the next semester or if there will be a totally different format.

Nevertheless, I stay motivated and determined to make it through and be successful! The thing that is really keeping me sane is taking time for myself every day. Although I am in the Nursing program now, I still homeschool every morning and we have attended two field trips this year. We also continue to go walking on a daily basis, which Max loves. I have even stuck to my daily workout regimen, which I am still shocked about lol. So I am achieving a good balance right now and performing well in school.

I can and will do this!

-Cherisse!