It’s National Nurses Week and Lydia’s wants to say, “Thanks!” to our nurses for all that you do. Today’s post is a profile of Amy, a Lydia’s customer and nurse in the making. She took a moment out of her busy schedule to answer a few of my questions about nursing school. Here’s what she had to say:

What factors influenced your decision to attend nursing school?  I always knew I wanted a job where I can help people, in the medical field.  A few years back, when I was in the hospital, I had a great nurse and right then, I knew that was what I wanted to do.

Has your decision to attend nursing school had a major impact on the other areas of your life?  Absolutely!  There is a LOT of work to do in nursing school and I barely have time for any extra activities anymore.  I barely see friends and I’ve had to decline going to events because I always have to study.  My life now is school, family (husband and kids) and studying.  Everything else is put on hold right now.  I knew that it was going to be like this going into nursing school, so I’m okay with it.

Now that you’re attending nursing school how is your experience? How does it compare to the expectations that you held before you became a student?  It’s a great, crazy experience.  I go to a great school and have awesome teachers, which I truly believe makes the craziness more bearable. It really hasn’t changed my expectations; it’s pretty much what I thought it was going to be.

What do you enjoy about nursing school and what do you dislike?  I enjoy my teachers and learning all these interesting things I never knew before.  What I dislike is all the work and the lack of a social life.  But hey, I knew it was going to happen, so at least I was prepared.

Are you required to wear medical scrubs for any of your classes or do you have a specific dress code? If so, what do you think about your medical uniforms? Have you found a favorite brand or style yet?  We have to wear scrubs for our classes and we have uniform scrubs for when we do clinical.  I absolutely love wearing scrubs all day!!  Doesn’t get much more comfortable than that!  I do not have a favorite brand yet, but I do prefer scrub tops that either tie in the back or have some sort of empire waist.  They make me feel more put together.

What career goals have you set for yourself upon completion of your schooling? Do you have a concrete idea about what you would like to do or are you still considering various options?  Right now I am in an LPN program and after I finish, I hope to find a job that will help me go on to get my RN.  Ideally, I would love to work in a labor and delivery setting.

Based on your experience so far, what advice or suggestions would you offer to others who are considering nursing school?  Be prepared for a lot of hard work and a lack of a social life.  Find a way to study that works for YOU and stick with it, it will help you succeed in school.  Always remember that school doesn’t go on forever and your life will eventually go back to normal.  All the craziness will be worth it in the end!