I've always been a lover of school supplies. I loved getting new pencils and pens and binders and a new backpack at the beginning of the school year. Being an adult college student hasn't changed that. What I am finding, though, is that over the years I have found some tried and true supplies that I love. These are the supplies that I always come back to after trying the newest fad and finding it not to my satisfaction...

My husband bought this bag for me from amazon.com last year for Christmas.


It all started when my husband decided he wanted a messenger bag to carry his laptop in. I spent days searching amazon.com for just the right bag. I kept coming back to this bag, and attempted to convince my husband that this was the bag he wanted. He didn't agree and I ended up buying a different bag for him, but was sad that this perfect bag would not be coming to my house. I know my husband, and he never sticks with anything for very long. I had figured that if I could get him to want this bag I could use it once he was on to something new. Instead he bought me the bag as a surprise.

I love this bag. It does everything I need my bag to do with style. The craftsmanship is fantastic, it still looks new after a year of abuse. On the inside there is a laptop compartment lined with corduroy fabric and great padding. I don't have to worry that my laptop is going to be abused while in my bag. There is also just the right amount of organizing pockets on the inside. Two pen holders and 3 larger pockets that fit my graphing calculator perfectly! Under the front flap are two zippered compartments. I find them to be the perfect size to toss in a book, or a can of pop and snack, or my day planner! They seem to be slightly padded also, and this works well when I have a can of pop of yogurt... my snack is still cold when I'm ready to eat! Next, the outside of the flap; there are 3 pockets, one with a grommet that allows you to put your MP3 player inside and have your earbuds threaded out the grommet. This zippered pocket often has my wallet and keys for quick, but protected, access. On the sides of the bag are 2 pockets. One has a gusset and is designed to carry your water bottle. The other does not have a gusset, but smaller water bottles would be fine. On the back of the bag is one last zippered pocket, perfect for a folder or some papers. There is also ample padding on the back of the bag so you aren't beating yourself up with your heavy bag on your way to class.

I see this bag taking me through nursing school and well beyond, I have no disappointments what so ever.

So now you've gotten to class and it's time to take notes. I have one preferred pen, and one mechanical pencil.


I'm sure everyone has seen the RSVP pens. I've used them since high school. It never fails that I am in some store and see a new pen that promises to be everything you've ever dreamed about in a pen. I buy the new shiny pen, take it home and decide this new pen was not worth the money I paid for it. And then I'm very happy that I have my trusty RSVP pens waiting for me. I find the ink quality to be great, not skipping and refusing to wright every other letter but not flooding the paper and leaving streaks. I'm left handed, so I have trouble with pens smearing onto my hand and then smudging across my paper. These come in colors also, which I really loved in Chemistry. My instructor would color code our chemical equations and I would copy it down in full color. They are cheap too... bonus!


These pencils have saved my hands. Having an autoimmune disease, the joints in my fingers can become swollen and painful. This pencil is the right mix of not too heavy, nice wide barrel and comfortable cushion grip. The thing that seals the deal for me is the metal tip on this pencil. I had another pencil that I was quite fond of, however by the end of one quarter I had broken the plastic tips on two. I have had the same sumo grip pencil for over a year now, and no breaking! I have purchased two more to carry in my bag in case the unthinkable happens and I lose one somewhere, or the manufacturer decides not to sell these wonderful things anymore. Also, they come in three different lead sizes; 0.9, 0.7 and 0.5. I like to use 0.5 lead as I like the small precise line I get. Others prefer the silkier line of the 0.9, everyone loves this pencil after they pick it up.

One more and then I'll let your eyes (and credit card!) rest.


I see I've already lost most of you, but wait! I too am a coffee snob. I live in Washington, love of coffee is a requirement. My husband and I have gone through not a small number of coffee pots in search of the perfect one. For us, for everyday coffee, this is it.

I can't say a lot about the K-cups that come all ready to be tossed in this machine and made into coffee, we use the filter that came with, and freshly grind our own beans. But, the convenience of this little machine means that I never have to whine about the coffee being 'old' and 'yucky!' which was anytime the coffee had sat more than 30 minutes. The tricks to great coffee (beyond working as a barista and knowing what it takes to make good coffee) is good beans, freshly ground, served and drank immediately. No really, it's imperative.

The younger members of the family also love this machine. Since the water reservoir is keeps the water ready all the time, there is much more cocoa and tea for them.

The one downside we have found is that since coffee is always an option, we find ourselves drinking considerably more coffee than before.

If anyone is still reading... I need suggestions for the perfect highlighter. I hate highlighters that smear the ink all over your page. Anyone?

Today was our first test in Therapeutic Communications. It went better, and worse!, than anticipated. Most of the questions it was easy to pick the right answer. There were 2 short answer questions, and one of them was a fairly detailed question from a chapter we didn't cover and had been told to just skim the basics when studying. Drat! Both my husband and I had 3 multiple choice questions that we waffled back and forth between two answers (same 3 questions out of the whole test) and funny enough... we picked the opposite answer on all 3. It will be interesting to see if one of us gets all three right or it it's a mixed bag.

In Pharmacology we went over some sample NCLEX questions, lectured a little bit on mechanism of action of medications, and then got out of class nearly 2 hours early! And, she doesn't feel like grading homework next week so she told us no homework!

Another class tomorrow and then we are done with week 3... man this is flying by!

Yesterday was one of those days where very little went as planned. Originally on the schedule was Santa pictures in the morning, followed by a nap, Christmas crafts with the kids. Concluding the evening with a drive with my best friend and our children, sipping hot cocoa and looking at Christmas lights.

Instead, after doing Santa pictures with the kids I went in to check on the elderly family member we are caring for. I intended to get her all tucked in for a nap and then head in to lay down for awhile myself. When I got to her room, I found that she was not well. I knew right away that we were heading to the hospital, but called her home health care nurse anyway. She also wanted us to seek medical care. It was decided that she was feeling poorly enough that transporting her in one of our vehicles would be very uncomfortable, and possibly dangerous, so we called for an ambulance transport. And then I called to cancel our evening plans.

I have come to the point that I generally don't mention my pending nursing school, preferring instead to be a 'commoner', but my medical speak that is so second nature gave me away. The medics that came to transport us to the hospital took down my quick report and in the next quiet moment asked if I had medical training. We explained that we were both accepted into the nursing program, and that my husband had worked for this very ambulance company previously. They were thrilled that I had her current medications all laid out for them to easily copy down and we were ready to go in just a few short minutes.

I opted to ride with my father instead of in the ambulance and we followed them in. When the ambulance pulled to the side of the road with it's flashers on I watched for a moment and then let my worried father know that since the driver wasn't leaving the drivers seat to assist in the back it was likely that they were just pulled over while the medic placed an IV line. Better to place them while the rig is still if you have the luxury.

Thankfully, our hospital stay was short... she was discharged again 8 hours later. And, as we could not have given the required treatment at home, it was a necessary visit. I feel good about making the call to transport, we didn't waste their time with something that could have been handled elsewhere and we didn't wait too long and thus prolong her stay.

I was impressed with the level of compassion and care we received. It was obvious that there were many patients to be seen, and yet the time we spent with doctors, nurses and techs didn't feel rushed. The nurse was very surprised when I offered to glove up and help her get the patient cleaned up and ready to go home.

I couldn't help but feel caught in limbo while I was there. I've not yet received any nursing training so I'm not one of them... but I know more than the normal family member in the ER with a patient. Also, although it would seem like being with a patient in the hospital would be easy, I came home exhausted and with one of the worst headaches of my life. Just another experience to carry with me as I learn to be a compassionate nurse not just for my patients, but also for those with them.

Less than a month until classes start! It all still feels very unreal. Well, except for the part where our babysitting just backed out. That feels very real, and sends me into a bit of a panic. I don't know what we are going to do. It isn't easy to find someone to take care of three children for the hours of this particular program. I guess we just keep looking and holding with the thought that everything will work out.

At this point I can't help but feel very sorry for my children. They didn't ask to be put in this situation, and their lives are about to change in ways they never could have anticipated. They have never had to get up for school extra early and then been dropped off at childcare. And, Thursday nights they will likely not see us at all for the next 18 months. This is going to be really tough.

It feels like we are living in some sort of alternate universe. I am both stressed about getting everything done on time and feeling like the start of the program is so very far away.

There are still many things left to do on the to-do list. Honestly, the timing couldn't be worse. It's nearly December and Christmas is staring us down and the money is stretched so tight that it causes me to lay awake at night trying to calm anxiety. Is there enough money to do both a small Christmas and get all our supplies we need for the start of the program? If I wait until January will they have scrubs in stock in my required colors and fit? What about a stethoscope? Can I buy one locally or do I need to order one? Don't forget a watch... I must have a watch, and I keep forgetting it on my to-buy list. If I could feel like I had anything under control maybe it all wouldn't feel so overwhelming. We don't know our schedule for our classes/lab/clinicals yet and likely wont until the day after classes start. This makes lining up people to care for our children difficult.

Inhale. Exhale.

It will all fall into place. It has to.

We received our letters of acceptance in the mail this weekend, as well as a long check list of tasks to complete before the end of November. Which was a little surprising since I thought we had until the start of the program to complete them. That's ok, just gotta come up with the money to get all this done.

The next 4 weeks will be spent getting our criminal background checks done, a health assessment performed by our physician, verification of all vaccines, CPR for the health care professional, 7 hours of HIV training, HIPPA training, and proof of medical insurance. I think that's everything.

I was planning to take the CPR course after finishing my finals in early December, so I'll have to move that date up. No biggie I guess.

I'm also on the look out for some good reference books to have before classes start. I'll welcome any and all suggestions.