Monday, March 14, 2011

Prioritization

Nursing school puts a heavy emphasis on prioritization.  Many of our test questions tell us to put the patients in the order that they need to be seen.  During clinicals we have to prioritize our actions to provide safe and effective patient care.  For example, if a patient is having trouble breathing I should know that it is more important to administer oxygen than to give them a bed bath.  It makes sense...but it is not always that easy.  I am finding prioritization even more difficult outside of nursing school.  Nursing school is demanding.  Our teachers are aware of this and their advice to to devote all your time and energy to surviving the program.  Well...they don't have a 6 month old. 

I know what my priorities should be.  Sorry teachers but school is not my number one priority in life.  It should look more like this:  Christ, my husband, my son, family, and then school.  Unfortunately I am bad at multitasking and the list often looks out of order.  And by often I mean almost always.  The worst part is that a few things often creep in the list...like tv (Thursday nights are my weakness.  Community, 30 Rock, The Office and Parks and Recreation all in one night??), planning to exercise but not following through (apparently you have to work to get the baby weight off...who knew?), and sometimes I even find myself looking at houses to buy online even though we are not in a place to buy one!  Another thing that is slipping is the house work.  It's embarrassing to admit but there has been a pile of dirty laundry I sorted in our bedroom that has been on the floor for a week.  A week. 

So why am I admitting all of this on a blog that I barely keep up with??  Asking for your prayers that I can prioritize properly and get rid of the distractions.  When I focus on school work I feel guilty for not being with Ben and Parker.  When I focus on my boys I feel like I am not getting enough school work accomplished.  Maybe the answer really is to do what I can to survive until school is over but I do know this...my survival and success is not possible without the Lord.  End of story.  Working on making Him the priority and resting in the fact He is over everything in my life. 

Just for fun, here is a list of the things I am looking forward to once I am out of school:
- Joining the ladies bible study.  Man I NEED the fellowship, and it's a great way to get to know people better and for people to know me better. 
-Not having to study for a test. 
-Learning how to use my camera better.  And taking tons of pictures.
-Learning how to sew.
-Spending more time outside.
-The ability (time) to be more intentional and invest in people's lives. 
-Keeping the house cleaner.
-Working out/getting in shape.  Muscleworks at the UAH fitness center rocks my world. 
-Having more time to love on my husband and son.
-HOPEFULLY having a job that I love and feel passionate about (e.g.  labor and delivery, fingers crossed!)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

praying for you friend!! and i agree (even though i so don't have a 6 month old... just a spouse in school) i think right now you do whatever it takes to finish :) an A vs. a B or a C (ok in my college years an A vs. PASSING) doesn't make you or break you in the end!! haha. love you.

ps, i can so teach you how to sew this summer!! all easy stuff, only because that is all i know too :)