Preparing for Semester Two

I blissfully neglected to remember over the holidays that I still have 75% of my DNP to go. The reality came crashing in this weekend when I opened up Blackboard (now available as an Android app - yippie!) and saw the updates syllabi and book lists for this semester.

Thank heaven the Amazon Store card offers 6-months deferred interest because I have over $800 in reading material to buy. The good news is that most of it I will actually use after graduation. Most of it.

This is the breakdown of courses:

Leadership & Health Policy 
I have already expressed my resentment at having to take this course again, but I would like to take this opportunity to stomp my feet and pound my fists - the reading and reference list for this course makes me feel like I should be eligible for a cabinet position. We have 7 discussion boards (35%), three essays on a book, podcast, or webinar review (30%) and a policy brief (30%) plus a lovely 5% just for showing up to class. Since I am teaching a section of health policy in undergraduate nursing this semester, this class will come in handy whether I like it or not. Book cost so far: $110

Assessment Strategies in Psych/Mental Health
This was the class I wish we had on webinar or podcast.  Our first assignment is a discussion board on the movie "Rachel Getting Married" which I will probably steal for my psych class this spring. Our grade is 60% weekly discussion board and 40% final exam. Book cost so far: $140 . . . not bad, except I have to purchase Kaplan & Sadock's comprehensive textbook of psychiatry which is running $350 for the 2-volume set.

Concept & Theory Analysis
This class does not kick off until later in January and there are a lot of moving parts. Weekly discussion boards with multiple essays and leadership responsibilities (30%), concept map (20%), concept analysis paper (20%), concept analysis presentation (10%), and theory evaluation (20%). There is only one thing more obnoxious than theories. Nursing theories. Oh, and the textbooks I have yet to order are going to run about $215.

Individual, Group, and Family Therapy
This is what separates the healers from the prescribe-and-gos! My first clinical class and I am so fortunate to have found a few really interesting preceptors, one of which is getting her certification in hypnotherapy and sex therapy. I have already read the better part of Man's Search for Meaning and have earmarked several point to ponder. We have 120 hours of clinical to complete with discussion board (30%), exams/quizzes (40%), and comprehensive final (30%). Book cost was $90 because there is crossover with texts from other courses.

This is one less class than last semester, however this is a meatier one due to the clinical component and depth of material that I must absorb and retain to be an effective provider. I see many massages in my future . . .