By 
iStockphoto + Scrubs
I’ll admit that ever since I graduated from nursing school in ’07, I have avoided studying like the plague. Yes, I have taken some classes towards my BSN (the some-what easy ones that require mostly paper-writing) and I have kept up with things like BLS and NPR. I have had no real drive to continue on in school, just sort of pouted my way through EBSCOhost and bulletin board discussions, and no, not really learning much off the floor. (I must have been suffering from nursing school PTSD. Yes, I believe there is such a thing.)
But something changed when I started studying for this EFM exam. I would be taking a two-hour, 110 question test very reminiscent of the NCLEX, so I broke out the highlighters, made flash cards and came up with mnemonics for learning things like how BPP’s are assigned. Reading, studying, and yes a little cramming (those darn blood gases!) led me to my final destination: the computer test that I passed with some ease. All that studying paid off…
But something else happened: I came home from the test and realized that this nurse has missed studying! WHAT?? Please don’t tell my nursing school, instructors!
On that realization, I whipped out my checkbook and signed up for the next certification I need and want–the RNC. And I have been thinking more about this BSN business and actually finishing it before I turn 50 (that gives me a good 12 years).
Yet the best thing that came from this employer-forced-studying is I have such improved confidence over reading the strips at work. I actually learned something OFF the floor that would make me a better nurse ON the floor. Go figure!
