So it has been a slow time waiting to hear what is happening.
Application form has been sent to Rotorua and papers have been discussed with Tutor.
Invoice for the first paper has been received and I have just paid it.
If I send them a picture I will hopefully receive my student ID soon as well.
So now I sit and wait for the first paper to arrive and then I scream when I realise how much work I have to do.
I am starting with "Introduction to Nursing Knowledge"
This course is designed to be thought provoking, enlightening and useful in your practice, it is hoped that your learning in this course will be enjoyable. The focus of this course is on the development of knowledge that underpins nursing practice, and then relationship and interdependence between nursing theory, nursing research and nursing practice.
At the beginning of the course, the historical development of nursing, nursing knowledge and the philosophies which underpin nursing practice are traced. In this way, you will achieve increased understanding of past influences that have helped to shape nursing today.
As you progress through the course, you will examine the development of a range of nursing theories and models, which facilitate the planning and delivery of nursing care. There is a focus on ways in which research links theory and practice, providing the basis for evidence-based practice. Examples from practice illustrate application of nursing knowledge and, through-out the unit, reflection on the links between this knowledge and your own practice will enhance learning.
So there you have it, my first paper.
Sounds interesting and thought provoking, but we will see as the papers arrive.
Will keep you posted as to how it is going.
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Hope
There is hope on the horizon.
Wintec were unable to help me with getting my Degree but they did suggest another place to try.
Rotorua of all places.
It means correspondence, which I have to admit, I am not a great fan of, I just don't have the will power to sit and study with so many other things going on around me, but it is looking good so far.
I was prepared to travel there once a week if it was required, but it isn't, only if I want to use their library etc do I need to go there.
I have been in touch with them and things are looking good. Because I qualified as a nurse after 1994 then I only have to take 4 papers.
Now these papers can be taken all together in 1 semester (fulltime) which means I would have them finished by Christmas or they can be taken very slowly, 1 or 2 a yr.
Me, well I am going to commence one of the papers this July, which will be finished by Christmas and then I will get the other 3 papers sorted over next year, so hopefully by the end of 2011 I will have my Degree.
This in turn then means that I can apply next year for the 1yr Graduate Diploma in Teaching to be completed in 2012.
This to me all sounds so much better than slogging away at a 3 yr course over 5 years!?
Wintec were unable to help me with getting my Degree but they did suggest another place to try.
Rotorua of all places.
It means correspondence, which I have to admit, I am not a great fan of, I just don't have the will power to sit and study with so many other things going on around me, but it is looking good so far.
I was prepared to travel there once a week if it was required, but it isn't, only if I want to use their library etc do I need to go there.
I have been in touch with them and things are looking good. Because I qualified as a nurse after 1994 then I only have to take 4 papers.
Now these papers can be taken all together in 1 semester (fulltime) which means I would have them finished by Christmas or they can be taken very slowly, 1 or 2 a yr.
Me, well I am going to commence one of the papers this July, which will be finished by Christmas and then I will get the other 3 papers sorted over next year, so hopefully by the end of 2011 I will have my Degree.
This in turn then means that I can apply next year for the 1yr Graduate Diploma in Teaching to be completed in 2012.
This to me all sounds so much better than slogging away at a 3 yr course over 5 years!?
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Update
Today I had the wonderful pleasure of finally talking to the Head of Health at the local Poly.
Yes I do need to do an 18month fulltime course with them to get my degree, but she doesn't recommend I do the course!
Unfortuately this poly changed their courses a while back and it sure ain't in my favour!
The maximum points that can be cross credited is 180, for a degree you need 360.
Therefore I would have to do 18 months fulltime at a course and this is where the funny part comes in....I would have to join a currently running Bachelors course for the last 18months of their course.
It would entale me taking 12 papers in that time.
When I enquired as to the timetable, then it would be fulltime, Monday to Friday 8-5pm.
AND I would have to do some clinical placements.
When I enquired further as to what that was for I was gobsmacked at the answer.
The answer was that I would be on a nursing programme and therefore I would have to do clinical placements like the STUDENT nurses I was doing the course with.
Yes that is correct, you read right, me, an already registered nurse with 15yrs experience, would have to go and do student nurse clinical placements to be able to get my Bachelors of Nursing.
Me, who is currently working 4 days a week as a nurse, would have to go on placements and be assessed to see whether I had what it took to be a nurse?!
I just about fell off my chair at work when she told me this. It was so belittling to me as a nurse, it made me feel stupid and useless.
I can not understand their logic in saying that as an already qualified nurse, to be able to upskill to get a degree, I would have to join student nurses.
What happened to going forward with your education, not 3 steps back!
So consequently I will not be going to the local poly to undertake my course.
I think that the easiest thing to do will be to apply directly to the University for the 3yr teaching course and start it part time.
It may take me 4/5yrs but at least I am working towards what I want to do and not going backwards to be able to go forwards!
Yes I do need to do an 18month fulltime course with them to get my degree, but she doesn't recommend I do the course!
Unfortuately this poly changed their courses a while back and it sure ain't in my favour!
The maximum points that can be cross credited is 180, for a degree you need 360.
Therefore I would have to do 18 months fulltime at a course and this is where the funny part comes in....I would have to join a currently running Bachelors course for the last 18months of their course.
It would entale me taking 12 papers in that time.
When I enquired as to the timetable, then it would be fulltime, Monday to Friday 8-5pm.
AND I would have to do some clinical placements.
When I enquired further as to what that was for I was gobsmacked at the answer.
The answer was that I would be on a nursing programme and therefore I would have to do clinical placements like the STUDENT nurses I was doing the course with.
Yes that is correct, you read right, me, an already registered nurse with 15yrs experience, would have to go and do student nurse clinical placements to be able to get my Bachelors of Nursing.
Me, who is currently working 4 days a week as a nurse, would have to go on placements and be assessed to see whether I had what it took to be a nurse?!
I just about fell off my chair at work when she told me this. It was so belittling to me as a nurse, it made me feel stupid and useless.
I can not understand their logic in saying that as an already qualified nurse, to be able to upskill to get a degree, I would have to join student nurses.
What happened to going forward with your education, not 3 steps back!
So consequently I will not be going to the local poly to undertake my course.
I think that the easiest thing to do will be to apply directly to the University for the 3yr teaching course and start it part time.
It may take me 4/5yrs but at least I am working towards what I want to do and not going backwards to be able to go forwards!
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Frustration
The local Poly got in touch this week to talk to me about my application to do the Bachelors of Nursing.
Unfortunately it is not looking good.
Turns out that they have a limit on credit that can be given out for prior learning, and that level is 180 points. This in turn works out to be 18 months of a 3 yr course.
So they have comeback to me to say that I can complete my Bachelors with them if I want to undertake an 18 month full time course!
I can, if I like, start this course in July.
Yea right, like I can commit to a fulltime course for the next 18 months, oh and then I would have to complete the fulltime 1yr course for Teaching after that.
That amounts to 2 1/2 yrs fulltime, so may as well just do the whole 3yr course for Teacher training in the beginning?
I can, if I wish, complete the Bachelors of Education as a parttime course, which I think would amount to about 5 yrs!
So if I am going to start anything parttime, then I think it may be this, at least if I am going to study anything over the next year, then let it be something that will go towards my Teaching and not Nursing, because at the end of the day I really do not need a Bachelors of Nursing, it was just the simpler way, or so I thought, of getting to be a Teacher.
I am still going to talk to the Tutor at the local Poly and see exactly what she has planned, but at the same time I am going to apply, very quickly, for the next intake of the Bachelors of Education.
Will keep you posted on how things go....?
Unfortunately it is not looking good.
Turns out that they have a limit on credit that can be given out for prior learning, and that level is 180 points. This in turn works out to be 18 months of a 3 yr course.
So they have comeback to me to say that I can complete my Bachelors with them if I want to undertake an 18 month full time course!
I can, if I like, start this course in July.
Yea right, like I can commit to a fulltime course for the next 18 months, oh and then I would have to complete the fulltime 1yr course for Teaching after that.
That amounts to 2 1/2 yrs fulltime, so may as well just do the whole 3yr course for Teacher training in the beginning?
I can, if I wish, complete the Bachelors of Education as a parttime course, which I think would amount to about 5 yrs!
So if I am going to start anything parttime, then I think it may be this, at least if I am going to study anything over the next year, then let it be something that will go towards my Teaching and not Nursing, because at the end of the day I really do not need a Bachelors of Nursing, it was just the simpler way, or so I thought, of getting to be a Teacher.
I am still going to talk to the Tutor at the local Poly and see exactly what she has planned, but at the same time I am going to apply, very quickly, for the next intake of the Bachelors of Education.
Will keep you posted on how things go....?
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Bac to Skool
I am British and have lived in New Zealand for 12 years.
I have been married for 2 yrs to Steve, who I have been with for just over 10yrs.
I am a mother of 2 little boys, Ben almost 7yrs and Alex just turning 5.
I turn 40 this November and for some strange reason I want to go back to school and retrain as a Primary School Teacher!
I am a registered nurse with 15 yrs experience.
To train to be a teacher I have 2 options....
- I can complete the 3yr Bachelors Degree Course in Primary School Teaching
- I can complete the 1yr Grad Diploma Course in Primary School Teaching
with my given life at present, giving everything up and returning to be a full time student for 3yrs is not compatible or suitable with the family. I could do the course part time, but placements would not fit in with my working life and so not achievable.
To complete the Grad Dip I need a Bachelors Degree (in anything).I do not have a Bachelors Degree!
So this is the first step in my quest, obtain a Degree.
I have been having my nurse training and other qualifications assessed to see if I could get recognition of prior learning towards obtaining a Bachelors of Nursing.
The local polytechnic does the Bachelors of Nursing and I currently have an application submitted.
The Head of Health is currently assessing my application and is in the process of working out my credits, which in turn would then show how many modules I would have to take to be able to be awarded my Bachelors of Nursing.
She is currently swaying towards 1 or 2.
So my quest is currently in limbo at present whilst I wait for my application to be taken to a committee meeting, where the Head of Health will present my case. In turn she is hoping they will accept the credits she wishes to award me and then will be able to advice me on which modules she requires me to undertake, which will then enable her to award me my degree.
This will allow me to apply for the Grad Dip Course that is starting early January 2011.
I am now in a waiting game which I can do nothing about....!
Sunday, 6 May 2007
Mum's Wisdom
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."
2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"
4. My mother taught me LOGIC. “Because I said so, that's why."
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to score with me."
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. Always wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."
7. My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about."
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONIST. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck?"
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!"
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"
15. My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home."
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING. "You are going to get it when you get home!"
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."
19. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"
20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me."
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."
22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"
24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."
25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you"
~Author Unknown~
2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"
4. My mother taught me LOGIC. “Because I said so, that's why."
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to score with me."
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. Always wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."
7. My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about."
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONIST. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck?"
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!"
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"
15. My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home."
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING. "You are going to get it when you get home!"
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."
19. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"
20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me."
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."
22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"
24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."
25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you"
~Author Unknown~
Thursday, 26 April 2007
Living with Diabetes
My partner of 8 years has Diabetes, has done for over 20 years.
It never actually affected me in the first 3 years we were together, although I can now imagine many of you wincing at how I managed to live with him and not let it affect me!
I guess I just let him get on with it and it never really came to mind, well that was until we moved into our new home 5 years ago and I woke one night to him standing behind the living room door in a major hypo state!
Consequently life changed after that due to the fact I started to take a huge interest. Life changed after we had the boys as well as now I had to think of them as well, also ensuring everything was ok if I went out, making sure sufficient carbs had been served at dinner and nagging every now and then about what the blood sugar levels were doing etc.
It doesn't affect my life, but to a significant part it is huge.
When, like happened today, you get a call from Daycare to tell you someone has fallen and smashed their face and it was not one of the boys, then it affects your life.
He had been feeling funny he says as he dropped the boys off, knew he was going low but thought he would be alright and be able to get to work and have some breakfast, but somehow he got out of the car, got the boys inside, followed one of them down the hallway and then tripped and landed on his glasses. One cut face later daycare are calling me to let me know.
He says he doesn't really remember getting out of the car and he can't really tell me why he was going down the hall with our son, but hey that's life.
So life goes on with Diabetes. I don't make an issue of it, because he is really well controlled. We could have it so much worse than it already is, but I have cancelled a conference I sought of wanted to go to in September because I don't feel I can leave him and the boys for 3 nights especially as we don't have any family support in town. A 2 and 4 year old really wouldn't know what to do if he woke in a major hypo.
Please don't get me wrong, they do not happen regularly, although our doctor says one a month is a good thing shows he is in control at a low level, but sometimes when you wake to him going low I thank god that it was one that woke him and he was able to react to it himself, rather than him waking and finding he can't do anything about it because it has happened too quick.
I am not complaining, this is my life and I wouldn't have it any other way. When the boys are older then it will be my time to go away, knowing everyone is safe and well. Till that time I will just be very grateful to him upstairs who blessed me with the family I have and the life we share.
It never actually affected me in the first 3 years we were together, although I can now imagine many of you wincing at how I managed to live with him and not let it affect me!
I guess I just let him get on with it and it never really came to mind, well that was until we moved into our new home 5 years ago and I woke one night to him standing behind the living room door in a major hypo state!
Consequently life changed after that due to the fact I started to take a huge interest. Life changed after we had the boys as well as now I had to think of them as well, also ensuring everything was ok if I went out, making sure sufficient carbs had been served at dinner and nagging every now and then about what the blood sugar levels were doing etc.
It doesn't affect my life, but to a significant part it is huge.
When, like happened today, you get a call from Daycare to tell you someone has fallen and smashed their face and it was not one of the boys, then it affects your life.
He had been feeling funny he says as he dropped the boys off, knew he was going low but thought he would be alright and be able to get to work and have some breakfast, but somehow he got out of the car, got the boys inside, followed one of them down the hallway and then tripped and landed on his glasses. One cut face later daycare are calling me to let me know.
He says he doesn't really remember getting out of the car and he can't really tell me why he was going down the hall with our son, but hey that's life.
So life goes on with Diabetes. I don't make an issue of it, because he is really well controlled. We could have it so much worse than it already is, but I have cancelled a conference I sought of wanted to go to in September because I don't feel I can leave him and the boys for 3 nights especially as we don't have any family support in town. A 2 and 4 year old really wouldn't know what to do if he woke in a major hypo.
Please don't get me wrong, they do not happen regularly, although our doctor says one a month is a good thing shows he is in control at a low level, but sometimes when you wake to him going low I thank god that it was one that woke him and he was able to react to it himself, rather than him waking and finding he can't do anything about it because it has happened too quick.
I am not complaining, this is my life and I wouldn't have it any other way. When the boys are older then it will be my time to go away, knowing everyone is safe and well. Till that time I will just be very grateful to him upstairs who blessed me with the family I have and the life we share.
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