The RAM

Last night was the MEPN happy hour and about 30 current and incoming students gathered at the RAM for beer and info-swapping. (Is the RAM supposed to be in all caps? I don't think it's an acronym, but I swear every time I see it, the name's in CAPS.) For all of my foot dragging about school, it was really cool to get a better look at who I'll be going to school with and what I might get out of the first year of the program. The current students were all very friendly and chatty and seem really excited about what they're doing. It was really apparent that they've bonded over the course of the program and they all seemed very close. I hope our class experiences that as well.
I spent most of my time talking to the current students and learned:

• The program is HARD, but everyone says it goes by fast. I guess I'm still in denial - and from the conversations last night I'm not the only one - I just don't see how it could all be THAT hard. But there wasn't a single person last night who said it was anything other than hours studying/all-consuming/stacks of flashcards on the bus/taking over your life/difficultness. Some quarters might be lighter than others, but they're all tough.
• Nurses and BSN students don't always ken to the philosophy of the MEPN program. They can be a little tough on you during clinicals, so the students recommend a tough skin.
• There's no good way to finance school. It's just expensive. But it's not the MOST expensive MEPN program out there.
• It's possible to get a job as an RN and to take a year off to work before going on to the graduate portion of the program. Which is great news, cause I don't know how else I could afford it!
• The NP role is veeery different from the RN role. Many of the students saw the first year of the MEPN program as a required evil that has to be done, but doesn't necessarily have a lot of bearing on their future careers.

I write all of this to record some of the things that surprised me so that a year from now I can look back and laugh at how naive I was. I have a feeling a lot of things - a lot of me - is going to change through this program.

What to say about my fellow students? A couple of the girls I interviewed with made it into the program. There are a few people who seem really excited about the program, a few that are cautiously optimistic (I'm in that group) and the rest in between. I didn't have a chance to chat with the other ID person, but will definitely seek her out at orientation. Only two of the people at hh had kids (one has grown kids) and my impression is that most of the others are not married, but I could be wrong. No one there was really annoying and in fact, I'm really looking forward to learning more about all of these people.

There's a nice feeling when you find a path that throws like-minded people together. It's like there's an affinity before you even meet. And I felt that last night both with the current students and the incoming class. This is a good sign.