Spring forward to spring break

Spring forward ... clocks all around the country zoomed up an hour in honor of daylight savings time. I have to admit, I was really starting to enjoy the super bright, sunlit mornings that I've seen when driving to 6:30 a.m. clinicals at Research College of Nursing. But even with the time "springing forward" an hour, I still think it will be a bit more sunlight in the mornings as we finally leave the snow and cold of winter and move into warmer days of fun in the sun.

Speaking of fun in the sun, it's Spring Break at Rockhurst University and Research College of Nursing. There are tons of flights heading to an array of destinations, full of college students ready to relax and rejuvenate ... far away from the land of textbooks, papers, and exams. People can enjoy spring break in so many ways. Some are hitting the beaches in Florida, others are shopping in Chicago, while others are taking in sites in New York City.

Rockhurst students also have opportunities to give back to the world we live in during service mission trips. Faculty, students, and staff of RU are traveling to Baltimore, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras — a world away indeed; but RU students are blessed to have these places within their reach of service. I look forward to taking advantage of a service trip or studying abroad when the time is right.

Rockhurst University really has something for everyone. This year's study abroad programs including places such as Naimey, Niger; Haifa, Israel; San Bartolo, Guatemala; (all offered through Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s alma mater — Boston University).

Summer studies include Universidad de Salamanca, Spain; Puebla, Mexico; and Montpellier and Paris, France. There are even studies abroad in the U.S. at an American Indian reservation located in Lakota Nation, South Dakota; or exploration of U.S. politics, law, and justice in Washington, D.C. For those who are interested in studying abroad this summer or need more information, call the studies abroad office at (816) 501-3441. There truly is something for everyone.

Spring break for me will be enjoyed here in Kansas City. I'm looking forward to spending extra time with my family; taking my children to the park and movie theatre, writing on sidewalks with chalk, and having a good water fight. Who knows, I may also visit the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art or take the kids to Kaleidoscope. Whatever I do, it will be with the people I love the most ... and that's a great spring break for me.

Everyone enjoy the time off and be safe! LJ

Back to School ... Spring 2009

Well, the break is officially over. I must say that it was wonderful being out of school during the holidays and into the first few weeks of 2009. I enjoyed it immensely and spent lots of quality time with family and friends near and far. What a privilege it is to be a student at Rockhurst University and Research College of Nursing!

As of Thursday, Jan. 22 it was back to academic business. The day began with a welcome ceremony for the incoming sophomores to the nursing program. There were speakers from the current junior and senior nursing students, faculty from RCON, and a presentation of nursing pins symbolic to those that will be received when they graduate. The program ended with breakfast and a room full of smiling, excited faces. It's amazing to think that I was sitting in that same "welcome to our program" seat just last year; now, I'm a junior student ready to help the next wave of students succeed as they begin this new journey. Again, what a privilege!

After the welcome ceremony it was time for our first class. Everyone exchanged big hugs and shared how their holiday & break was. And overall everyone was ready to dig in and get started with the spring semester of classes.

On Friday, Jan. 23 class began with a TEST! That's right ... there's no time to waste in nursing school. We had a drug calculation quiz first thing in the morning, which had to be passed with a 90% or better. All aspects of nursing skills and knowledge are critical to the health of the patients we serve; and while technology and machines are great we are ultimately responsible for knowing how to calculate medicinal doses on our own. After the test (and yes, I passed) we had orientation to our clinical sites for this spring. That was exciting and a bit nerve-racking as I realized just how much we'd be doing each week. Nevertheless, I'm ready ... because the best way to learn something is to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

The weekend has zoomed by and Monday morning class will be upon me before I know it. I can say this, I am VERY excited about being able to share another semester of "behind the scenes" as a student at Rockhurst University and Research College of Nursing.

In closing, I want to say "welcome" to all the new students at both college campuses. I hope your spring semester is fun, academically interesting and rewarding, and that you meet people who quickly transform from strangers to classmates to friends.

Remember, be who you know you are and the rest will fall into place.

Talk to you again soon! LJ