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.

Grade Update!

Just an fyi... the first pharmacology exam grades are in... I got an 86%... missed 7 of 50 questions. I got all 25 of 25 on the dosages and calculations exam from last week. My grade on the theory exam from last Thursday ended up being a 90%- she threw out a question that everyone missed- so I ended up with an A instead of a B.

I think I've got a good idea of the testing style for both instructors. Need to hit the books a little more thoroughly and take advantage of the ATI web site by doing some practice exams every week. Overall, I am very pleased so far. Not extremely difficult, but I have the time and room to improve.

"Student nurse calls false code blue"

Today was orientation... lots of paperwork and a tour... and a brief bout of embarrasment. During the tour of a patient room I was the closest to the call light reset button and the code blue button. So I grabbed the curtain and moved it out of the way to show the other students. Then the instructor tells me that the code blue button is usually VERY sensitive and if I would have perchanced touched the button when grabbing the curtains well... just the THOUGHT of it had my face flushed with heat and bright red as I imagined it happening. I think if I would have set off the code blue alarm it just may have been necessary after the fact- I would have probably hit the floor from a heart attack! She made a joke about all the attention I'd get and blah, blah... all that to say I really couldn't remember the last time I was truly embarrassed. Not that a person wants to recall these memories but it's been awhile... and that also points out to me how badly I don't want to screw this up! We are told story after story every day about some other students mistakes all for the sake of learning from them. I'm trying to be a good sponge but I've got a fire hose pointed at me...

Certificate of Completion

Yes, they actually handed out Certificate of Completion Week #3 certificates. Really? I chuckled. The counseling faculty are so excited for us first semester students. It was cute and yeah, the first three weeks are over. Got a few pass marks in my skills book. Lived through the dosages and calculations exam (still don't know my score) and survived the first theory exam. None of it was that bad. I only got anxious once- and that was because I left my watch at home. It'd be a little difficult to count pulse with no watch but I found an extra one in the car- so crisis averted. Based on the in-class review of the test I took this morning, I missed 4 out of 30- so its a B. And I am perfectly happy with that. I've had worse first exams.

So we are off to the hospital next week. I'm sure I'll have much more to say after a day or two under my belt there. I'm enjoying it and just soaking it all in.

"You don't know what you are getting into"

Well, so far most of the instructors have done a good job of trying to scare us by telling us about the scary parts of nursing. Maybe not a scare exactly, but they definitely have laid the foundation to say "I told you so" if we were to complain anytime in the next two years. One instructor actually said, "You don't know what you are getting into." I believe him. I thought I had a good idea and a general knowledge of what a nurse does but there is no way I could know everything that nursing encompasses. Here's to finding out!

Today we did clinical rotations with several instructors to learn taking vital signs and measuring I and O's and putting on sterile gloves. It was interesting and fun yet kind-of slow and boring. Mostly because I have already done a lot of what we learned today. But there is always more to learn or experience from another perspective. Two of the instructors told student nurse "stories." Some of the stuff that they were sharing would really scare you or make you think twice before diving into this profession at the least. Then again, its stuff that's getting publicized more with the medical shows on TV - mystery diagnosis stuff and medical anomalies. And yes there is always the person who has shoved something where it doesn't belong!

Monday's pharm lecture went good. I only missed one of the problems on the practice dosages and calculations exam. This is the first time I have ever been exposed to dimensional analysis (I taught myself) and I love it! It is really simple and organized and once you get the format down you can calculate just about anything super easy and quick! I will admit the IV flow rates intimidated me at first, but I think I was letting it get to me. The numbers are the numbers regardless of it being a tablet, capsule, IV bag or suspension, etc.

Tomorrow we are learning the details for the head-to-toe physical assessment. This part is new to me and I've already made my flashcards to start memorizing the steps. So far so good- no complaints!!

The first week

So, this week got off to a slow start. Orientation was Tuesday. Lots of information was covered but no "meat" yet. I was so anxious to get this thing going- I still am. Its been such a long wait it seems. Then the campus was closed on Wednesday due to a power outage from the storm. So we basically started the program five hours behind on lecture. I'm still not sure how this is going to affect things. Finally, yesterday I got to hear lecture and it covered all the basic general foundational stuff like confidentiality, the theorys of nursing and infection control. I'm ready for more and still can't wait to get to the nitty-gritty. I know it will eventually snowball but I'm a little impatient at this point.

Today was fun- we actually got to DO stuff. We learned the task- not a skill- of bedmaking, handwashing and using personal protective equipment. I did well with reviewing the chapters that were required before lecture this week. I did the workbook assignments that were on the schedule (even though we didn't turn them in or discuss them). So far, I am staying up with the coursework and even a little ahead of the game. My goal for this weekend is to prepare for the first lecture of pharmacology (the class is Monday). The one thing that has most of us nervous is this pharm class. Apparently its pretty intense and is a lot to do along with the first semester of nursing. Time will tell. So far I am pretty positive and feel like I am made for this!

To blog or not to blog?

I've been thinking about creating a blog to reflect on my journey for the next few years. I did a little research and I think I am more apprehensive about this than I am about nursing school! Since you are reading this, I decided to give it a try. It seems easy enough- so its not the technical aspect but the ethical and confidentiality pieces are what have me hesitating. I intend to learn from others' mistakes and not violate confidentiality laws or name names in this blog, nor write anything that could haunt me during my education or future career. So... here goes...