Back to Reality

We all went back to school today and I have to say, it's good to get back into the swing of things. The kids had lots of fun playing in the snow, sleeping in and just generally goofing off. I've got a very busy and somewhat complex schedule this quarter with some very early mornings and some late nights at the hospital. Tonight I've got last minute studying for dosage calculation test tomorow and some I.V. therapy reading.

Our other news......... is, we're getting a dog! We are sooo exited. I'm picking him up at the pound tomorow. His neutering was today so hopefully he'll rest tomorow and we'll pick him up after school. He is a silky terrior mix, very cute, about 10 pounds or so with lots of energy. Hopefully he'll be a great walking partner for me. I'll post pictures soon!

AAAHHHH a break!

Oops! I didn't mean to let this much time pass between posting. I finally got my transcripts posted for this quarter, two A- and an A! Now I'm just kicking back, reconnecting with the family and catching up on loads of laundry. I would post a picture of my Christmas tree but my camara is out of batteries. I've tried the rechargables but they work for about a day and then they give out.
We had my daughters Christmas program on tuesday night and it was wonderful, so cute. The kindergardners were angels with cute little halo's. I was afraid she might get too figety(sp?) on the stage but instead she kept yawning and rubbing her eyes, but, she made it through and and all was good!
We've had some snow days yesterday and today, although I think the school was only two hours late today, we didn't end up going because my husband took my car to work assuming she didn't have any school. Oh, well the kids are having a great time playing outside and hanging out with all the neihborhood kids.
Okay, I promise next time I post I'll include some pictures! Take care.

Final on Monday!

It's been way too long since I've posted! We had a great thanksgiving, we went to Mom and Dad's house. I made the potatoes and stuffing and I also brought a cheesecake( way too sinfully delicious!). These last three weeks have been a lot of studying but I also got a bit of a thanksgiving break so I did have some down time. This week is one more day at the hospital, one more careplan to turn in, and a heavy duty weekend for last minute studying.

I just can't wait for Christmas break! I get practically four weeks off, yea!!! I plan to clean the house, especially scrub the kitchen floor, catch up on laundry, vacuum all the lamp shades, and of course get the Christmas tree and have fun decorating it. Hopefully the kids and I will lots of fun baking Christmas cookies and just hanging out, I really miss that.

Wish me luck on this test, I am very close to an A- in this class and I don't want a B!

More of the same

It's been a couple weeks and the reason I haven't posted is that my routine seems to be incredibly boring and overwhelming at the same time. Those of you having gone through this understand. Lecture, lab, clinical, tests, papers due, careplans, research and on and on. When one thing is over another one begins, round and round like a ferris wheel that's going too fast for you to jump off or take a break. Hence the title of this blog, I'm taking things one week at a time.

Some new experiences in clinical this week were seeing a large wound packed and dressed, watching a IV nurse finally get a good vein after numorous tries, and taking care of someone with a NG tube, oxygen and a picc line that they were using to give TPN. I always walk away from the day with new experiences, but also little mistakes that I make that stick with me and I hope teach me to be a more careful nurse. The gravity of how important it is to do this job well sinks in and stays with me more and more every week.

I did my second concept map this week and I have to be greatful that it only took 12 hours, not 18 like last week. I know they will become easier with time with more practice. It's the indicision that gets me, should I use impaires physical mobility or activity intolerance? Are my interventions realistic? Are my priorities correct in my diagnosis boxes? It's all a little overwhelming but with Gods grace I will get through it. Take care

Five weeks left!

I can't believe we're heading into the last week of October already! These last couple weeks have flown by. When I'm in school, time always seems to go soo fast. I've been busy doing the usual, reading. studying, lab, clinical,rinse and repeat. Tomorow is my second big theory test on Inflammation, Immune responce, Surgical asepsis, Acute care nursing, Perioperative nursing, Anesthesia, Pain management, Wound healing, Fluid and Electrolyte imbalances, Acid/Base imbalances and Urinary/Renal impairment.

I've been studying so much I'm feeling a little burned out, but I always feel so much better after the test is over. This week is our first week that we go to the hospital, pick our patient, gohone and write up our care plan and go back the next day and take care of that patient. I'm exited and nervous; not so much about the patient care but managing my way around the other nurses, cna's and generally not having a comfort factor which this facility yet. I'm on a med/surg floor that see's a little bit of everything, so I know I'll learn a lot!

That's about it, back to studying, take care!

Fun with nasogastric tubes!

Don't you love great spider webs covered in the early morning dew? I do, and I had to snap a couple shots. We've got LOTS of spiders around here because I'm such a plant lover, and there's plenty of little buggies for food!

On the school front, I had my first out of four theory tests and was pleased to get a 90%. Yea! One down, three to go. Then I had a test in lab on medication administration, that went well, I'm pretty sure I got a 100%. A lot of it was common sense. Then in lab we got to learn how to insert nasogastric tubes! I was hoping we could practice in each other, but no, once again I will have to practice on a real patient. Last week was enemas, and actually I was greatful for the dummies for that procedure!

I had my day at the nursing home, which infact, to me is boring. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy visiting with them and I really do feel very comfortable with the geriatric population; it's just that I like to feel needed, and this nursing home is so overrun with all kinds of staff, numerous students from all kinds of schools (med assistants, lpn students, other nursing students) and I swear that this place has a 1;3 ration of patients verses help.

When I worked as a patient care assistant in the assisted living, I felt like I was really contributing, but hear, we are expected to do a complete head to toe assessment on our one client, but in all honesty, that can be done within about twenty minutes. The cna's don't need any help, I ask but, oh well.

We'll be going to the medical surgical unit in to weeks and hopefully I'll have my hands full. I always work better under pressure!

Next time I'm in lab I'll TRY to remember to take some fun pictures. I brought my camera last time, but I completely forgot. Until next time, have a great weekend!

Very Full Week!

This week went by like lightning! I'm beginning to get into a workable routine and don't feel as overwhelmed as last week. We had our normal scedual this week and not all the crazy orientations that were thrown at us like last week.

I miss having the time to read some of my favorite blogs but if there's a will , there's a way! I thought I'd share some fun moments I've had recently. I got to visit the restricted, behind the scenes areas for surgery at out large local hospital. They walked us through where wer'e supposed to go for report, to change into surgery scrubs and scrub in. In a few weeks I'll have a chance to spend a day there and hopefully be in on several surgerys.

Today was fun also, it was our first chance to play with needles! We learned all about the different types of injections and got to practice on fake skin, bummer, I was hoping to practice on a real person. That will have to be at the hospital on a patient. Shh! Don't tell them I'm new! haha Have a great weekend!