For many nursing students, the last semester of college is a wonderful, memorable time. Classes are winding down, people start treating you like the adult you are, and free time and good friends are easy to find. Then a funny thing happens. Reality sets in. And you can spell reality with three letters: J-O-B. Our Last Semester columnist, Chelsea, gives us a glimpse into the anxiety.

In the past few weeks of her clinical experience, Chelsea has been adjusting nicely. She worked her first 40-hour week and made her first trip to the NICU. Today, she tells us a bit more about her work experience on the maternity floor at a hospital in Boston. But first, she shares some stress:

The good weeks just keep on coming, but I will let you in on the secret that I am truly running around like a chicken without its head about this whole job application process! I wish they would give us a whole class on how to apply and who to talk to. I’m very overwhelmed and I have been taking it out a little bit on my loved ones. Thank goodness they love me! Anyway, I have spring break coming up, with no plans (:(), so I will work on my resume and cover letters. All I know is that I am going to apply to every single Boston hospital and pray to get a job anywhere!

Meanwhile, I am getting so excited about going to the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) Convention in Texas. It is going to be so nice to get away from school and to focus on something a little different. If you aren’t a member already, I definitely encourage everyone to join the NSNA because it gives you so many opportunities and new experiences. Since I have been in this organization, I have learned so much about my fellow nursing students and myself. I highly suggest getting involved with your school’s chapter.

Work just keeps getting better and better. I am taking on a full patient load and the nurse who is supervising me doesn’t even come and see my patients! I do all of the notes and all of the orders, even talking to doctors on the phone. Taking phone orders and calling to confirm something is pretty nerve-wracking though. One of my roommates (a lot of us nursing students live together on campus) got screamed at by a doctor the other day. But the nurses were very supportive and reassured her that it happens to everyone.

The initiation into RN land has started for all of us!

I’m heading to labor and delivery at the end of the week and I’ll write about that during spring break. Talk to you soon!

Editor’s note: Chelsea is a senior nursing student at small liberal arts college 20 miles outside of Boston. Her column “Last Semester” appears weekly, exclusively on StressedOutNurses.com.