A couple of weeks ago, we introduced you to Joye. Our new friend is like many of you–or at least in a place where many of you have been in your lives. She is a new nursing graduate. In the first chapter, Joye took us back in time a couple of years. She had just found out she didn’t get into nursing school and was turning to a brownie for some comfort. Now, let’s rejoin her:

It’s 8:30 a.m. on March 16, two years ago . . .

So the brownie didn’t help, I didn’t study for my midterm, and I didn’t get any sleep. It’s all I can do to get up this morning and go to school. The thought of the anatomy midterm just makes my brain hurt.

9:23 am . . .

I am out of breath and out of shape. (Note to self: You really need to get into shape, girl!) I have exactly seven minutes to cram everything into my tiny brain that we have studied since January. Oh the pain, the agony, the anatomy. It’s everywhere. I quickly find my seat and rummage through my backpack to find my notes. I probably should focus on the Renin Angiotensin Cascade (the blood clotting process). I can feel the blood clotting in my brain.

One minute later . . .

My friend Molly just sat next to me. Do I tell her or not? She is studying to be a dental hygienist. I don’t understand her. Why would you want to be in someone’s mouth? Nasty breath, food stuck between teeth, looking up someone’s nose. Seriously?

30 seconds later . . .

The tears came and I poured my heart out to Molly. To say the least, she was upset. Actually she wanted to walk over to the School of Nursing and crush heads in. Unfortunately, we had a midterm. Oh no! The midterm. Focus Joye. FOCUS! Just a few more minutes and then the test starts. The sooner it starts, the sooner the pain is over and I can crawl into the hole that will be my Spring Break.

Fast forward to 9:30 a.m. on March 26 . . .

Well Spring Break was a bust. At least I am back to school, back to anatomy class. Molly droned on and on about her adventures in Mexico. Molly is a bad friend!

Ten minutes later . . .

Great news!  Our midterms are graded! Ha! Ha! An “A”! Molly (the bad friend) got an “A”, too. We had the only two “A’s” in class. We need to celebrate and go out to lunch.

Later that afternoon . . .

Oh, how my stomach hurts. Can you die from your stomach exploding after eating too much? If I can only get into my house and to the couch, I just might be okay. Oh joy! My answering machine is blinking! Someone loves me!

Two minutes later . . .

It was the university. Someone didn’t want their spot in the fall nursing class and the position was granted to me! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Editor’s note: Joye’s column appears exclusively on StressedOutNurses.com. Write comments and share your opinions with Joye by writing to mbriddon@hcpro.com. We’ll make sure she receives your message.