The White House
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Fences
When my brother and I were traveling through California, I got a really cool picture of a fence with an awesome background. It sprouted a series of pictures, as well as a fence-only inspired instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellokeechy/), that I've taken from all different cities and places. I'll make sure to keep adding as I take new ones.
I hope to one day frame these with adding real reclaimed fence metal over top of the fences in the pictures.
The White House
Both of these are views from the shores of Easton looking over the Chesapeake bay.
The White House
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Netherlands
A passage from Europe in your hands:
Upon obtaining employment,you must register with one of the Dutch insurance companies that will provide you with insurance card and register with so called family doctor and a dentist. You must also apply for social insurance number , a SOFI, at a taxation office in the place of residency. That will automatically start your contribution of 2% of your salary into Dutch social security system.
Upon obtaining employment,you must register with one of the Dutch insurance companies that will provide you with insurance card and register with so called family doctor and a dentist. You must also apply for social insurance number , a SOFI, at a taxation office in the place of residency. That will automatically start your contribution of 2% of your salary into Dutch social security system.
Friday, April 13, 2012
The Hussy Hesi
Of course a test cannot be described as an imprudent or immoral female. Or can it? From a handful of nursing students each academic term, it probably could be described in such a way, and I may be an instigator to this definition.
On February 27th, I fell victim to the HESI for the first time. And I almost escaped her wrath. It was like the recent Penguins- Flyers Game 1 of the playoffs. I thought I had defeated her, but she came back and beat me by inches (refer to this video for a visual http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcXoSYK8mn0&feature=player_embedded-- I'm the racer with the flailing arms that takes second).
The HESI is typically scored out of 1500 points. It is 160 questions and is cumulative of all the possible topics learned in nursing school- also known as a comprehensive exam. Each school expects a certain score, which correlates with a percent rate of passing the NCLEX. Pitt requires an 850, which guarantees a 92-94% pass rate for the nursing boards.
This test is difficult to study for since the body of knowledge from which the questions are picked from is so extensive. There are, however, strategies they teach you to improve your score. You are supposed to pick out key words in the question, read the entire question, read all the answers, and make your decision based on what information best refers to and opens what the keys of the questions are looking for. It is also helpful to eliminate answers you know aren't right to increase your probability of choosing the best answer.
With all these tricks in mind, the results still did not quite pan out the way I had hoped. On my first attempt I hesitantly clicked submit, answer 160, to find the score of 846 on the screen. My first thought was "you're kidding me". I had spent almost the full 4 hours allowed for the exam and had gotten so close (was one question away) from a glorious accomplishment. Pure frustration, disappointment, and agony set in.
I hadn't hit the benchmark, nonetheless. And so came my second attempt, which was preceded with more case studies, practice questions, and practice exams/quizzes. While the second exam took less time, and I tried to spend less time second guessing my answers, I still managed to fail; 790, even lower than my last score. This test was more difficult with more specific disease processes and required interventions. I felt so unaccomplished and incompetent. How had I done so poorly? This was a test I needed to pass to pass nursing school, according to my professors, but if I am not passing, what does that mean?
Initially, to me, it meant that I was not capable enough to be a nurse. That I hadn't studied hard enough, wasn't smart enough, or didn't have the devotion to becoming what I had hoped to be for the last four years. The nursing school tends to make this test seem like the precipice in the determination of your nursing knowledge.
After hours of contemplation, disappointment, and studying, I realized that this is not at all the case. This test is an important preparation tool for the test that really matters. After a meeting with my professors after not satisfactorily passing the third and final attempt of the exam, I was assured of this even more. This test now means, to me, that some people are simply not good test takers. This test also showed me that the HESI is difficult! It must be if getting a little over half the answers right means you are over 90% likely to pass the nursing liscensure examination.
It is that way for a reason though, and I am so thankful that I was required to attempt this test 3 times, because in the end, the hours I spent studying and the hours I spent reviewing will all lead to a more successful outcome when a lot of money is involved, and my license is on the line in the NCLEX.
So, to any HESI test takers that are reading this: do not be discouraged. This test is your friend, although it seems incredibly intimidating, and immoral, and imprudent at times. It is here to help you succeed. Much like your nagging parents, it wants what is best for you in the end, despite all the transient obstacles it may divert you with in the meantime. Keep your head up.
On February 27th, I fell victim to the HESI for the first time. And I almost escaped her wrath. It was like the recent Penguins- Flyers Game 1 of the playoffs. I thought I had defeated her, but she came back and beat me by inches (refer to this video for a visual http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcXoSYK8mn0&feature=player_embedded-- I'm the racer with the flailing arms that takes second).
The HESI is typically scored out of 1500 points. It is 160 questions and is cumulative of all the possible topics learned in nursing school- also known as a comprehensive exam. Each school expects a certain score, which correlates with a percent rate of passing the NCLEX. Pitt requires an 850, which guarantees a 92-94% pass rate for the nursing boards.
This test is difficult to study for since the body of knowledge from which the questions are picked from is so extensive. There are, however, strategies they teach you to improve your score. You are supposed to pick out key words in the question, read the entire question, read all the answers, and make your decision based on what information best refers to and opens what the keys of the questions are looking for. It is also helpful to eliminate answers you know aren't right to increase your probability of choosing the best answer.
With all these tricks in mind, the results still did not quite pan out the way I had hoped. On my first attempt I hesitantly clicked submit, answer 160, to find the score of 846 on the screen. My first thought was "you're kidding me". I had spent almost the full 4 hours allowed for the exam and had gotten so close (was one question away) from a glorious accomplishment. Pure frustration, disappointment, and agony set in.
I hadn't hit the benchmark, nonetheless. And so came my second attempt, which was preceded with more case studies, practice questions, and practice exams/quizzes. While the second exam took less time, and I tried to spend less time second guessing my answers, I still managed to fail; 790, even lower than my last score. This test was more difficult with more specific disease processes and required interventions. I felt so unaccomplished and incompetent. How had I done so poorly? This was a test I needed to pass to pass nursing school, according to my professors, but if I am not passing, what does that mean?
Initially, to me, it meant that I was not capable enough to be a nurse. That I hadn't studied hard enough, wasn't smart enough, or didn't have the devotion to becoming what I had hoped to be for the last four years. The nursing school tends to make this test seem like the precipice in the determination of your nursing knowledge.
After hours of contemplation, disappointment, and studying, I realized that this is not at all the case. This test is an important preparation tool for the test that really matters. After a meeting with my professors after not satisfactorily passing the third and final attempt of the exam, I was assured of this even more. This test now means, to me, that some people are simply not good test takers. This test also showed me that the HESI is difficult! It must be if getting a little over half the answers right means you are over 90% likely to pass the nursing liscensure examination.
It is that way for a reason though, and I am so thankful that I was required to attempt this test 3 times, because in the end, the hours I spent studying and the hours I spent reviewing will all lead to a more successful outcome when a lot of money is involved, and my license is on the line in the NCLEX.
So, to any HESI test takers that are reading this: do not be discouraged. This test is your friend, although it seems incredibly intimidating, and immoral, and imprudent at times. It is here to help you succeed. Much like your nagging parents, it wants what is best for you in the end, despite all the transient obstacles it may divert you with in the meantime. Keep your head up.
Belgium
It has been less than a week since I purchased my plane tickets to Europe for the month of May. Among all of Europe, my roommates and my countries of interest include Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. I think it behooves me to read up on the countries to have a general and at least minute comprehension on what to expect from these historic landmarks. I will be sure to post blurbs about interesting information related to my study of independence as I go along.
For example: Belgium requires that ever resident must register in the health insurance system. Contribution amounts depend on various factors. You will typically have to pay 50 euros a year for health care coverage, and around 3.55 % of your salary will go to health insurance (according to www.svb.nlwww.svb.nl). When visiting a doctor you have to pay upfront for a doctors visit and part of it will be reimbursed by insurance later. You do not have to pay anything for hospitalization under a years time.
To be continued...
Books used for information:
Europe in your hands
http://www.allbookstores.com/Europa-Dlani-Stanka-Vane-ikov/9788096778362
For example: Belgium requires that ever resident must register in the health insurance system. Contribution amounts depend on various factors. You will typically have to pay 50 euros a year for health care coverage, and around 3.55 % of your salary will go to health insurance (according to www.svb.nlwww.svb.nl). When visiting a doctor you have to pay upfront for a doctors visit and part of it will be reimbursed by insurance later. You do not have to pay anything for hospitalization under a years time.
To be continued...
Books used for information:
Europe in your hands
http://www.allbookstores.com/Europa-Dlani-Stanka-Vane-ikov/9788096778362
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Golden Hat
I recently picked up the book The Golden Hat by Kate Winslet. Recently inspired by an Icelandic documentary titled A Mother's Courage, Kate Winslet had an epiphany while brushing her teeth at bedtime. She thought to herself- what if we created a foundation that could collect many for the good of children and adults with nonverbal autism. The idea for the donation would be a book, filled with the written email relationship that developed between Kate and the mother of Keli, a nonverbal autistic boy. Another component to the book includes multiple celebrities who took a self portrait with the "golden hat". The Golden Hat was born in one of Keli's poems that he wrote. This hat had the capacity to allow autistic children the ability to communicate what they are thinking to the world. And so, many artist photographed themselves with the hat, and gave a quote that defined what they would share to the world and their loved ones about themselves if they only had a few words. I was inspired by this book, and in fact, read it in one sitting. This is a good book to read on a rainy day. To realize and appreciate the little things in life, and the value they have in our everday living. Also to reinstill the fact that people are given dealt unlucky hands. We must be more accepting of people's inescapable differences.
Education: Book vs. Physical
Education and knowledge are multidimensional concepts. In addition, every person learns and retains the knowledge they study in different ways using unique techniques. For that reason, there is no way of choosing the "best" way to learn. In many lessons, there always seems to be a need for balance.
What I have learned in attempting to get through nursing school is that the knowledge I have retained and use in my practice is 90% what I have gained from hands on experience in clinical. One of the things I have retained from textbooks, however, is that knowledge theorists believe there to be many different kinds of knowledge. There is logical, semantic, systemic, empirical, rational, to name a few. There are also different learners. I have come to find that the significance in learning about knowledge itself, is to find out what kind of knowledge I have retained, what strategies are best for me to retain that information and the relevance it has in my overall intelligence.
From my experience, I have found that I am good at many things. Good at many things, but not great at any particular thing. I like to believe I am good at physical goal acheivement, interacting with others, learning new information, being creative and curious, and experimenting. I think practically. I am impulsive. I am intelligent in topics of my own interest. I like math. I enjoy learning from other people and their experiences.
I need more time, though, to process. Process all the information that is given to me. If there is a time limit, forget it. Reasoning is also not my strong point. Nor is critical thinking. Anyone who knows me is aware that I am incapable of making a decision most of the time.
I have come to find that I am more equipped in learning kinesthetically and enjoy learning about concepts that have physical meaning to me. That link up with an experience I am familiar with, or seen in the past, and am then able to expand on. I am also interested in learning through conversation, application, and peoples expression and emotion of a certain topic. While I can read it in a book, to experience a person in that situation is the type of knowledge that I am able to truly understand.
What I have learned in attempting to get through nursing school is that the knowledge I have retained and use in my practice is 90% what I have gained from hands on experience in clinical. One of the things I have retained from textbooks, however, is that knowledge theorists believe there to be many different kinds of knowledge. There is logical, semantic, systemic, empirical, rational, to name a few. There are also different learners. I have come to find that the significance in learning about knowledge itself, is to find out what kind of knowledge I have retained, what strategies are best for me to retain that information and the relevance it has in my overall intelligence.
From my experience, I have found that I am good at many things. Good at many things, but not great at any particular thing. I like to believe I am good at physical goal acheivement, interacting with others, learning new information, being creative and curious, and experimenting. I think practically. I am impulsive. I am intelligent in topics of my own interest. I like math. I enjoy learning from other people and their experiences.
I need more time, though, to process. Process all the information that is given to me. If there is a time limit, forget it. Reasoning is also not my strong point. Nor is critical thinking. Anyone who knows me is aware that I am incapable of making a decision most of the time.
I have come to find that I am more equipped in learning kinesthetically and enjoy learning about concepts that have physical meaning to me. That link up with an experience I am familiar with, or seen in the past, and am then able to expand on. I am also interested in learning through conversation, application, and peoples expression and emotion of a certain topic. While I can read it in a book, to experience a person in that situation is the type of knowledge that I am able to truly understand.
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