Ok, actually 9 more weeks to go if you consider that our last final for the quarter is on December 11th! hoot-hoot!
Week 2 was tough, to say the least. I took 2 exams and sucked on both of them. I did score better than passing grades on both of them (73% is considered passing in nursing school), but..... Whatever - it's definitely not the end of the world!
One problem is that I did the reading a week prior to the exam. I reviewed BRIEFLY, thinking I 'had it down' but some of the questions really threw me. (as if THAT isn't obvious).
Weekend #2 was pretty stressful. I had to write a paper on fluid & electrolyte balance as pertained to my patient (in clinical on Friday). I understand F's & E's as I read about it, but when it comes time for recalling..... OMG - there is just SOOO much information! And when I took a break for dinner, and then watched this PBS show on Eleanor Roosevelt (that was fantastic). But while enjoying the break, my computer shut down and I lost about 80% of my f&e paper and had to re-do it!
And as if THAT wasn't enough, I also had to write a short "peer teaching" paper. That was actually kind of fun. Hopefully I'll get a good grade on it to make up for the sucky test in that class... haha
Today is the "mentor meeting" where we get together with mentors and choose mentors if we haven't already. Heather is still my mentor for this quarter and in addition, I think I am a mentor to some 1st quarter students. Yay!
Ok, so brief as it was, that's my update. I need to pack my lunch and get outa here!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
1st Clincal of 2nd Quarter
Well, today was the first clinical of this quarter. Actually, I wouldn't even call it a "clinical" because it was just a big training session.
It was a fairly good day though. We had been forewarned about the "jerk of a training guy" for 2 days prior. We went in prepared for the worst, but in reality the guy was just fine. A bit sharp sometimes, but not so bad that he hurt anyone's feelings or anything like that. Thank goodness, 'cause I went in prepared to fight (just stand up for myself and not let him be mean to me). haha! That training lasted 3 hours.
Next, get lunch and go to meeting room for a "working lunch" with our clinical instructor who, by the way, I think is very cool. :-)
She seems very similar to my 1st quarter clin. instructor in the way that she really wants us to be successful, doesn't seem "out to get us," and is sooo open to helping us get it all figured out! Like, for instance, giving us her home phone number & e-mail, along with her pager number... Makes it very easy for us to reach her. Yay!
So what she did was answer our multitudes of questions while we all had lunch. I'd like to say there were no "stupid questions," but..... when someone asks a question that was just addressed (for the 2nd time) like 15 seconds ago.... No further comment.
But for the most part, most questions were probably about things that a lot of us didn't understand. Shall I say that they don't exactly "spell out" how clinicals are going to go and what we need to do?
We also had a tour and scavenger hunt (which we didn't have time to really do). We're in the new tower at this particular hospital, and the views of the mountains (Hood & St.Helens) is just AMAZING!!! These patient rooms are 100% private and very nice! They're set up well - our instructor said that they really paid attention to nurse/staff recommendations. Woo-hoo! I was pretty confused as I walked around the floors (we go between 2 floors throughout the quarter), but I know that they will all make sense as early as next week! So that's all good. OH, and the nurses that passed us in hallways and who were at the nurses stations (etc.) all seemed pretty nice and gracious about us being there. I hope they're nice. Sometimes they're not!
We'll be learning a lot about a lot of medications this quarter! We'll also be learning about a variety of illnesses & conditions. I'm not overly nervous, mostly excited! OH - and can not WAIT till my OR & SDS (operating room and same-days-surgery) rotation days!!!!! That will be the biggest thrill of the whole quarter!
Ok..... gonne sign off. I'm sleepy! (obviously not getting any studying done on Friday evenings....)
It was a fairly good day though. We had been forewarned about the "jerk of a training guy" for 2 days prior. We went in prepared for the worst, but in reality the guy was just fine. A bit sharp sometimes, but not so bad that he hurt anyone's feelings or anything like that. Thank goodness, 'cause I went in prepared to fight (just stand up for myself and not let him be mean to me). haha! That training lasted 3 hours.
Next, get lunch and go to meeting room for a "working lunch" with our clinical instructor who, by the way, I think is very cool. :-)
She seems very similar to my 1st quarter clin. instructor in the way that she really wants us to be successful, doesn't seem "out to get us," and is sooo open to helping us get it all figured out! Like, for instance, giving us her home phone number & e-mail, along with her pager number... Makes it very easy for us to reach her. Yay!
So what she did was answer our multitudes of questions while we all had lunch. I'd like to say there were no "stupid questions," but..... when someone asks a question that was just addressed (for the 2nd time) like 15 seconds ago.... No further comment.
But for the most part, most questions were probably about things that a lot of us didn't understand. Shall I say that they don't exactly "spell out" how clinicals are going to go and what we need to do?
We also had a tour and scavenger hunt (which we didn't have time to really do). We're in the new tower at this particular hospital, and the views of the mountains (Hood & St.Helens) is just AMAZING!!! These patient rooms are 100% private and very nice! They're set up well - our instructor said that they really paid attention to nurse/staff recommendations. Woo-hoo! I was pretty confused as I walked around the floors (we go between 2 floors throughout the quarter), but I know that they will all make sense as early as next week! So that's all good. OH, and the nurses that passed us in hallways and who were at the nurses stations (etc.) all seemed pretty nice and gracious about us being there. I hope they're nice. Sometimes they're not!
We'll be learning a lot about a lot of medications this quarter! We'll also be learning about a variety of illnesses & conditions. I'm not overly nervous, mostly excited! OH - and can not WAIT till my OR & SDS (operating room and same-days-surgery) rotation days!!!!! That will be the biggest thrill of the whole quarter!
Ok..... gonne sign off. I'm sleepy! (obviously not getting any studying done on Friday evenings....)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Day Fore
Don't even tell me - I already know! I did it on purpose.
Ok, so today is day 4 of week #1. We had our first "lab" class today. It was pretty fun! We're learning: IV Piggybacks, IV Push, IV Flushing, and IV D/C (discontinue). We will get to IVDC this quarter on our own after we check off in the lab AND do it in clinical in front of our instructor. Like a real REAL nurse!! I'm so excited!
Now, no worries... We won't get to put an IV IN until at least next quarter, if at all (during nrsg school). I assume we won't have the chance - just like with many other procedures. You know, it's like this: There are hundreds of opportunities to give insulin in a given hospital each day. There are lots of opportunities to add additional meds to an IV. So, students have plenty of opportunities to do these things. But.... How many times to they have to put a trach (pronounced TRAKE) tube in? And are they really going to let a student do that? Well, they don't particularly love to let us START an IV, either. We just HOPE that we are "the exception" for any particular day, like I was last quarter when I got to put in a catheter!! I was one of only a couple of students last quarter, and the only one in my clinical group, who got to put one in!
Gee, was that a soapbox? I didn't mean any of it in a negative way, just as an explanation.
Tomorrow is our clinical location orientation. We go to the hospital (I'm at Southwest Washington Medical Center this quarter) and have some computer training. Then we have a Treasure Hunt, and then have a hospital tour. Yay!
Ok, so blah, blah, BLAH! I'm blabbering.
The REAL reason for this post is because of pure excitement... Each day, I am so much more excited about "what I want to be when I grow up!" For years, I have wanted to be a NICU nurse. That's "neonatal intensive care." Part of me still wants to do that. But..... (but, but, BUT!)... But there are so many other things that are increasingly exciting to me! Labor & Delivery, trauma, surgical nursing (??)..... It's so much more than NICU, now, that gets my little heart going a pitter-patter. I'm sure that more specialties will be added to the list, but I'm most excited to see where this experience takes me and where I actually end up!!
Cheers!
Ok, so today is day 4 of week #1. We had our first "lab" class today. It was pretty fun! We're learning: IV Piggybacks, IV Push, IV Flushing, and IV D/C (discontinue). We will get to IVDC this quarter on our own after we check off in the lab AND do it in clinical in front of our instructor. Like a real REAL nurse!! I'm so excited!
Now, no worries... We won't get to put an IV IN until at least next quarter, if at all (during nrsg school). I assume we won't have the chance - just like with many other procedures. You know, it's like this: There are hundreds of opportunities to give insulin in a given hospital each day. There are lots of opportunities to add additional meds to an IV. So, students have plenty of opportunities to do these things. But.... How many times to they have to put a trach (pronounced TRAKE) tube in? And are they really going to let a student do that? Well, they don't particularly love to let us START an IV, either. We just HOPE that we are "the exception" for any particular day, like I was last quarter when I got to put in a catheter!! I was one of only a couple of students last quarter, and the only one in my clinical group, who got to put one in!
Gee, was that a soapbox? I didn't mean any of it in a negative way, just as an explanation.
Tomorrow is our clinical location orientation. We go to the hospital (I'm at Southwest Washington Medical Center this quarter) and have some computer training. Then we have a Treasure Hunt, and then have a hospital tour. Yay!
Ok, so blah, blah, BLAH! I'm blabbering.
The REAL reason for this post is because of pure excitement... Each day, I am so much more excited about "what I want to be when I grow up!" For years, I have wanted to be a NICU nurse. That's "neonatal intensive care." Part of me still wants to do that. But..... (but, but, BUT!)... But there are so many other things that are increasingly exciting to me! Labor & Delivery, trauma, surgical nursing (??)..... It's so much more than NICU, now, that gets my little heart going a pitter-patter. I'm sure that more specialties will be added to the list, but I'm most excited to see where this experience takes me and where I actually end up!!
Cheers!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Starting with a Bang - Woo-HOO!
School started Monday. Today I took my first 2 tests! Yeah, on the 3rd day of the quarter! Geesh.
Anyway, I hit the "send" button on the first exam thinking I did very badly - like 70% or maybe even less..... So when I hit the button, I closed my eyes - up it came (my grade).......................... 88%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HEEEE-haw!
I was so excited and relieved that I had a minor emotional breakdown. That just means I shed some "de-stress tears." I'm in nursing school - get used to it! Tears are "a given." Ok, whatever.
Ok, so then I had to study for and take the math exam. There is a math test every quarter, except the 6th quarter, and every one gets harder. I had a hard time remembering how to calculate IV drip rates, but Bobbi helped me figure it out. I helped her figure something else out. We studied for quite awhile & went to take the test....... Damn if I didn't score 100% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Could that have gone any better??? No!
I am soooo excited to have these first 2 exams over with! There is no break, though. We have roughly 10 chapters to read for next weeks classes. That means they must be read before Monday morning.
Hup-two-three-four. Hup-two-three-four. Hup-two-three-four........ :^)
Anyway, I hit the "send" button on the first exam thinking I did very badly - like 70% or maybe even less..... So when I hit the button, I closed my eyes - up it came (my grade).......................... 88%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HEEEE-haw!
I was so excited and relieved that I had a minor emotional breakdown. That just means I shed some "de-stress tears." I'm in nursing school - get used to it! Tears are "a given." Ok, whatever.
Ok, so then I had to study for and take the math exam. There is a math test every quarter, except the 6th quarter, and every one gets harder. I had a hard time remembering how to calculate IV drip rates, but Bobbi helped me figure it out. I helped her figure something else out. We studied for quite awhile & went to take the test....... Damn if I didn't score 100% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Could that have gone any better??? No!
I am soooo excited to have these first 2 exams over with! There is no break, though. We have roughly 10 chapters to read for next weeks classes. That means they must be read before Monday morning.
Hup-two-three-four. Hup-two-three-four. Hup-two-three-four........ :^)
Monday, September 24, 2007
1st Day of 2nd Quarter Nursing School!
Wooo-Hoo!
Well, 1 day down, quite a few more to go.
I've been really going back & forth on whether I'm excited about 2nd quarter or not. I think it's just because the break was soooo long. It really got me out of the habit of studying, so my inclination is to just be lazy. Lazy, lazy, lazy!
After today, I'm pretty excited. A bit nervous, as usual, but I think this quarter is going to be fun and it just may change my mind about where I want to specialize..... I've thought that "NICU" is where I want to be. But in nursing school, we hear about all of these things that sound like so much fun, and..... surgical nursing is sounding quite exciting right now. If I pass out from blood, however, I might think differently!
I noticed 2 people not being there today and there were 3 people new to our class. I think this will happen most quarters, but ya never know.
Bobbi and I were two-peas-in-a-pod as usual - that is so comforting!
Also, our friend Jessica started her 1st quarter today! I'm so excited for her! I remember how much the first few days of 1st quarter scared the hell out of me, so I'm feeling really protective of her! Hey, she has a brand new baby, so I don't want her to be overwhelmed... I'm sure she will do just fine! :-)
I guess that's it. Just thought I'd add an update stating that I'm happy as He** that this day is over and excited to move on with it!
Well, 1 day down, quite a few more to go.
I've been really going back & forth on whether I'm excited about 2nd quarter or not. I think it's just because the break was soooo long. It really got me out of the habit of studying, so my inclination is to just be lazy. Lazy, lazy, lazy!
After today, I'm pretty excited. A bit nervous, as usual, but I think this quarter is going to be fun and it just may change my mind about where I want to specialize..... I've thought that "NICU" is where I want to be. But in nursing school, we hear about all of these things that sound like so much fun, and..... surgical nursing is sounding quite exciting right now. If I pass out from blood, however, I might think differently!
I noticed 2 people not being there today and there were 3 people new to our class. I think this will happen most quarters, but ya never know.
Bobbi and I were two-peas-in-a-pod as usual - that is so comforting!
Also, our friend Jessica started her 1st quarter today! I'm so excited for her! I remember how much the first few days of 1st quarter scared the hell out of me, so I'm feeling really protective of her! Hey, she has a brand new baby, so I don't want her to be overwhelmed... I'm sure she will do just fine! :-)
I guess that's it. Just thought I'd add an update stating that I'm happy as He** that this day is over and excited to move on with it!
Friday, September 21, 2007
Getting back into the grind
I want to say that I'm excited, then I ask if I am needing to be institutionalized.... School starts back up on Monday. Our last final for 1st quarter was on June 13th. So, yes - this means we've been ON BREAK for 3 months and 10 days!
Ok, FUN!!! you may say...... Yes, it has been fun being off for so long with not much to worry about, but.... I need to say that, quite honestly, it has been WAY too long of a break! I have to take a couple of classes next summer regardless, but even if I didn't NEED them, I would take some anyway - just to keep myself busy with education.
So yeah, school starts on Monday. I've read most of the material for the first week. I've read NOTHING in the past 3 days though. I was intending to do a lot today, but ended up in bed with a nasty migraine. Shoot! So now, I'll be spending the weekend reading. I'll probably drive to Barnes & Noble because I do better when I take myself away from the computer and all other distractions when I really need to get things done! (sad, huh?)
I'll also be making up a calendar over the weekend. For some reason, I function (in nursing school, anyway) MUCH better with a calendar in hand.
So anyway, after this weekend, my "not in school" friends may not be seeing much of me. I've made a pact with myself to focus solely on school because this is supposed to be one of the two most difficult quarters of nursing school. And... I want to kick my own butt in grades! Woo-Hoo!
Ok, FUN!!! you may say...... Yes, it has been fun being off for so long with not much to worry about, but.... I need to say that, quite honestly, it has been WAY too long of a break! I have to take a couple of classes next summer regardless, but even if I didn't NEED them, I would take some anyway - just to keep myself busy with education.
So yeah, school starts on Monday. I've read most of the material for the first week. I've read NOTHING in the past 3 days though. I was intending to do a lot today, but ended up in bed with a nasty migraine. Shoot! So now, I'll be spending the weekend reading. I'll probably drive to Barnes & Noble because I do better when I take myself away from the computer and all other distractions when I really need to get things done! (sad, huh?)
I'll also be making up a calendar over the weekend. For some reason, I function (in nursing school, anyway) MUCH better with a calendar in hand.
So anyway, after this weekend, my "not in school" friends may not be seeing much of me. I've made a pact with myself to focus solely on school because this is supposed to be one of the two most difficult quarters of nursing school. And... I want to kick my own butt in grades! Woo-Hoo!
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