I know, I know.....

Ok, so yes, a whole semester went by without one post. I survived Mental Health and Nursing 4 (which was the dreaded Med-Surg class for the second semester), learned a TON and achieved A's on my transcripts! I also took an online Sociology class- yet another graduation requirement- and earned an A in that class as well. That now brings me to halfway there!!! I am officially halfway through the program and am very excited to start the next semester. I was very tired- went to bed- and somehow started thinking about speech class- and have a handful of speeches running through my head! What is up with that? Who does this? Hence- I am awake and feeling guilty about not keeping the blog updated. So I am rambling here to get it all out of my head.

Regarding next semester- I have three more beautiful weeks off- I am wondering if anyone has ever 'challenged' a speech class. I would love to volunteer. I could give a speech and if I satisfactorily meet the objectives I'd gladly not show up to class every Tuesday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. for sixteen weeks. Unless I get blindsided when my transcripts are evaluated again- this speech class should be my last graduation requirement class... The light is at the end of the tunnel and its bigger than my thumb! Holy crap- its happening! I'm going to be a nurse!!

I will be starting the semester with an intermediate Med-Surg rotation and then finishing up with Pediatrics. I am enjoying the program very much- and the hospital days are the best. My day in the Emergency Department was very eventful. Started out with a bang and stayed busy all day. Started 5 IVs-- all successful on the first attempt. So I was very proud of myself for that- and grateful for my phlebotomy background. I think it really does help. But hey- its easier on this end of the needle! :)

I still feel like this is what I am supposed to be doing- right here- right now. I try not to get too stressed out about finding a job- got to get through school and pass the board exam... then I'll think about stressing about a job.

I will post more often during my third semester (oh my gosh I can't believe I am third semester!) and keep my fans updated! Thanks for all the love and support!

How'd that happen?

Someone should have been keeping me on my toes!! No new posts since March?! And absolutely NOTHING about Nursing 2?!! Well, this must be an indication that the last nine weeks just flew by! And they did!

Nursing 2 was more of the same schedule, same routine, the tests got a little harder, and I enjoyed my days a whole lot more! I relaxed a little and had fun with the days at the hospital. The routines of the documentation and the 4:30 am mornings weren't so bad. I finished Nursing 3 (pharmacology) with a B, and Nursing 2 with a B also. So, all things considered- 14 units, 2 As, 2 Bs, the first semester was a success!

As for the graphic stuff- an amputation dressing change tops the list. I observed it- didn't have to do it- but I'm pretty sure dressing changes that gnarly won't be on my top 10 list of things to do as an RN. And I was pleasantly surprised at the circulating RNs role in the OR. Now that is a job I could have fun doing! I think I do good with the support role, so that is a definite possibility for a specialty.

So, for the summer, I plan on catching up with my friends, having fun, and somehow trying not to forget everything I've learned during the spring semester. The fall semester starts with psychology and then beginning med-surg for the last nine weeks.

Yay! One semester down, three more to go!

Nursing 1 is over!!

So, I thought I'd write a reflective piece on Nursing 1. Most of it is here already. The semesters are broken up into two nine week sessions for the most part. This semester I am enrolled in Nurising 1, 2 and 3. Nursing 1 is Nursing Fundamentals, Nursing 2 is Intro to Medical-Surgical Nursing, and Nursing 3 is the blasted pharmacology class that I can't quite figure out. N3, or Pharm, is a whole semester class, while the other two are nine week classes. The way this works is you have to pass each one to move on to the next. Simple right?

Anyway- took the final this morning and scored an 86%, finished the course with a 91%, so off to Nursing 2 I go... now if I get to start Nursing 4 or 5 next semester will depend on if I can actually pass the pharmacology class- hence the importance of passing that class.

This is boring me so it's probably boring you too... on to something more interesting.

Nursing 1 in review...

• 4 a.m. mornings and I don't get along (who's surprised?)
• I'm more nervous working with the nurses than the patients
• I know the difference in a colostomy bag and an ileostomy bag- first hand! I successfully missed the splatter when a bag spilled its contents in the middle of the hall on a walk...
• I didnt get any blood or body fluids on my uniform
• I didn't kill anyone or hurt anyone
• And you can learn and do ANYTHING that you put your mind to!

So I'd say it was a success!! Thanks for all your love and support! Couldn't do it without you!

Grades

The third theory exam I scored a 90%. But the second pharmacology exam I scored a 74%- just above passing. This is the reason for my insecurity at this point. (I just noticed those details were left out in the time between posts.)

Evaluation Eve

So, I sit here sort-of insecure for finals week. I took a pharmacology test today that was just as hard as the last one. Put in a much better effort studying and reading the chapters thouroughly. Still hoping for the magical pass percentage of 72%. That's all that matters in this program. Some of us can kiss the A's good-bye! Tomorrow we have our clinical evaluations. Basically a one on one with the clinical instructor (mine also happens to be the theory instructor) and get our pass/fail grade for our hospital rotations. Then the final exam for Nursing 1 is on Thursday. I can't believe the first nine weeks is over! This is pushing me and stretching me beyond what I expected. Its all good though. I am learning that I need a little bit more cheerleading than I thought. This crap is hard and I feel really dumb somedays. But yet this is the easiest it will be. Fundamentals of Nursing, basic care and vital signs, nothing too intense yet.

I'll let you know the verdict as I know what happens. But hopefully I'm moving on to Nursing 2 Beginning Med-Surg, nasogastric tube insertion, IV therapy, and actually administering medications in the hospital.

I know, I know. Its been awhile since I posted. Yes, the snowball is still rolling! I am adjusting to the workload, and my goal is to get the clinical worksheets done faster and faster each week. I have just about stopped reading the chapters in the textbook completely. There just isnt any time left. I'm also realizing that I need to take big chunks of time and do nothing with my books, or papers, etc... and just CHILL! Amazingly, when I go back to it- the knowledge is still there! It doesn't go anywhere just because I didn't look at a book for a day. I'm also adjusting to the sleep deprivation. I don't take naps any more after clinicals. I just keep on going and maybe get a few extra hours of sleep on Sunday. So far I get a second wind when I need it and I am sleeping really good and hard- minimal dreams. So, I need to be in bed now, since 4 a.m. comes quickly, but my stuff's not quite ready and I need to iron my scrubs. I don't know why they are not just a little more wrinkle resistant... hmmm...

Anyway- I'm loving the hospital hours! Everyday you have no idea what you will be faced with and you've got to be ready for anything! Last week was very challenging, I finally found some humor with it and had a few good laughs and all is well. I definitely am getting a clear picture of the levels of RN competency and professionalism that exists (or not) in the hospital setting. This is quite the journey...

Last week got me!

Ok, so last week 'snowballed'... yep, the challenge and intensity I was expecting a month ago... The difference is the patient care and documentation that we started last week. The documenting of the nursing diagnosis and interventions took a lot longer than I expected. And my expectations of myself are SO high that I was pretty critical and hard on me. If you find your self in these shoes- the day that the textbook and real world collide right in front of your very eyes is a difficult pill to swallow. The instructors have been telling us that textbook and real world are different- but seeing it and experiencing it with your own eyes is way different.

I am enjoying it though! Monday morning is like the calm before the storm. Once I'm on my way to pharmacology class at 2 pm on Mondays- its all down hill and it's Friday before I know what happened! I did most of my reading for the week, and started my lab assignments, but I can now anticipate the time I won't have this week and it is more important now to be a step ahead on the reading and assignments. The other stuff I've got going this week revolves around my loans, scholarships, and course requirements/counseling. It's all necessary but not fun work...

Second theory exam was Thursday. The study guide review sessions are a MUST! Most of the students scored an A on the second exam and the lowest score was an 80. I think the test was created a little easier- and there were 3 extra credit questions to help out. So, I scored 100% on that one. I missed one and got all the extra credit- but the instructor capped the score at 100. Next week (Monday) will be our next Pharm exam... definitely need to spend a little more time studying for that one... and this weekend coming up is busy too... looks like its time to adjust to a little less sleep to get it all done.