"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!!