first experiences as a student nurse

After class today I headed into town to volunteer at the Free Clinic. It was for only two hours, but it was a very well spent two hours. I can't say enough about how nice everyone was, and niceness goes a long way! I was let loose to check clients in, obtain weights, BP, T/P/R, and then stood by while the RN took the meds history. It doesn't seem like too much, but it was great anyway! It was awesome just doing the real thing! I only did two hours, because in November I am going to go along with the local high school's Health and Medical Occupations class field trip to go watch an open heart surgery. This is all to LB's dismay, since it's his class! Oh bother, mom's coming along. I tried telling him the reason I'm going has NOTHING to do with him! Ah, the egocentric 15 yr old male!

We have to do 6 hours of community service, and the field trip will give me the other four needed.

I'd like to give a shout out to everyone who reads my blog, especially those who comment and "follow" me! The support is sooo appreciated!

The rest of this week will be spent studying for Nur100-Intro to Nsng, Exam #2. Can we say bleck? Tomorrow a couple of classmates and I are getting together to strategize for our study group on Friday. The first time we did study group we just kind of bumbled along, and we'd like to have a little more organization from here on out.

Yeah, so there are rough patches, and some smooth ones too. Those of us who have been on the fence, so to speak, are also strategizing on moving forward with a positive, determined attitude. After all we didn't work our butts off to get where we're at to give up!

to be or not to be

In my earlier post I said something about "hope" in regards to nursing school being related to my life for the next two years. Does everybody go through the whole questioning what you're doing thing in regards to nursing school? To even be accepted into nursing school is a major achievement, and for many it comes after a lifetime of dreaming of being a nurse.



I don't quite think it's been a lifetime dream for me, but rather since I figured out I was worth it, and could do it....which came after getting out of the Air Force and realizing my dream. While on active duty, as a medic I worked closely with many great nurses, some not so great. I can remember thinking that I was never smart enough, or confident enough to be a nurse. Confidence is something I constantly try to achieve...daily. It comes easier with age.



So now that I've worked my butt off, to get where I'm at today, and I find myself questioning my choices, all too often. It doesn't help that I'm burned out on school...or that I would just love to be working-right now!!-bringing home the almighty paycheck.



Do I take the easy road and quit? Is it just me being lazy? Scared? What will I miss over the next two years? Baseball, games, the guys' social events, simply the chance to play a board game with them because I'm busy studying? This doesn't even take into consideration working after graduation. Many times new nurses are put on night shift...ugh. Although there are many advantages to nights, such as less bureaucracy, there's still the fact that nights are tough, especially if you're no longer a night owl. Or there are evening shifts..but that would ultimately mean missing those things I cherish.

So what will I regret more not accomplishing my dream, or missing out my kids' lives while they're still young? Or is there room for it all? Why do I second guess myself?

impending doom

That's what I'm/we are in for. This past week our class was notified about ATI testing. (For non-nursing people who might be reading, ATI is a prep program for NCLEX-National Council Licensure Examination-how a RN truly becomes a RN.) I had been previously warned, so was not as shocked as some...until they told us the price for this semester's portion. Yeah, how does $109 sound...especially if you weren't expecting it? Subsequent semesters the cost will be $89. As far as I can tell the only forewarning given was in the nursing student handbook. Now after reviewing it, it would be apparent that cost is involved...had you read it. How many people actually read the handbooks? I do, really. But didn't remember the section on ATI, but like I'd already said, I had been forewarned-by another source. So on top of all the other reading we've been doing, we're now going to have more reading.

In other news...we received our test results for both Nur100, and Nur105. You may have read a couple of posts ago about my 96% in Nur100. Can we say cloud 9? Unfortunately, that's not the case for Nur105. I received an 82%, and evidently that was one of the highest grades in the class! What does that say for the test? That score was raised from the original 77%, after the instructor threw out 2 questions. 82% is a "C" in my program, and a "D" is failing. Let's be clear, anything 79% and below is failing.

It seems like not much else is going on. Hark! That's not true! The guys are doing well. They're very tolerant of me an my quirks. Let's face it, for the next two years everything is going to be relative to nursing school. (I hope, but will address that hope later.) So this past week in lab we learned asepsis, and safety. We were able to bring our practice gowns, non-sterile gloves and masks home, as well as a set of sterile gloves and a dressing tray. Practice makes perfect right? So I decided it would be funny to see the reaction on the guys faces. I donned my PPE (personal protective equipment), and set forth. First victim was AW. He was sitting at the computer, with his back to me. I walked up to him and said, "Boo!" He startled and exclaimed, "What the heck are you wearing?" As not to ruin the fun for Big B and LB, I quickly went out to the great room, sauntered in like nothing was any odder than usual. Yeah, well if they didn't think it already (fat chance of that), they certainly think I'm crazy now! Minnie, our 1 yr old Lab, who is very timid with strangers was very scared. And I'm her person! Even hearing my familiar voice didn't bring her around to coming within 3 feet of me!

reflections of...

For those who have entered the nursing world, at some point in time it has been brought to your attention, if you hadn't realized it already, the fact that nursing is not represented well on television, or in movies for that matter. If you're not a RN, LPN, or student nurse you may or may not have noticed. I came across a blog earlier that discussed this issue, and the source was from The Center for Nursing Advocacy website.

It really is a sad state of affairs. But I got to thinking about what shows there have been, and there haven't been many. Recently my class was instructed to do an assignment. We were given the choice to read a book or watch a movie, and then relate it in an essay to the three attributes we feel are necessary to uphold as a nurse. One of the movie choices was MASH. I had already started reading Life Support, by Suzanne Gordon, but didn't think I would be able to finish it in time for the assignment deadline. So I rented MASH and then proceeded to watch it. I had only ever watched the TV episodes, and thought the movie would be just as good. My opinion? WRONG! The theme song was irritating in it's entirety, as it plays on and on and on for the opening sequence. "Suicide is Painless"? Whatever.

I digress. Normally I am not one to give up on a movie, but found it necessary for my existence with my only viable neuron of sanity left. I did get about half way through. The representation of nurses? Not so good! As usual they were the typical handmaiden for the doctors, or were just an object of lust for the men in general.

Even in the latest episode, the season opener of Grey's Anatomy, the one nurse shown, Rose, was seen portraying a bitter woman cast aside by McDreamy-one of the surgeons on the show.

My thoughts led me to reflect-haha-on China Beach.
Dana Delaney (you might know her from Desperate Housewives), Marg Helgenberger (of CSI fame), and a few other stars graced the TV show during its run from 1988-1991. Delaney and Helgenberger, lead actresses, played nurses, in the Vietnam War setting. One of these days I might have to partake in a DVD marathon! I only saw a few episodes here and there, and can't quite speak on the quality level of the portrayal of the nursing profession.


Delaney can also be seen in Vietnam Nurses, a documentary on the entitled subject matter.

My reflections also led me to the Internet and some of the other choices available representing nurses. Nurse Betty with Renee Zellweger was front runner. Other selections were of the R- or X- rated variety.

Sad.

On a happy note there is plenty of reading material available. My latest find is Nurses: The Human Touch, by Michael Brown. As a nursing student I am finding that reading these non-fiction books about nursing help to put some of the concepts were learning into perspective.

That's all we ever want is a good perspective, right?

let me pat my back!

We received our scores for our NUR100 test....and I got 144/150 which translates to a 96 %...an A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We did receive extra points for the group submission, and without them I would have gotten a high B! I'm happy either way! Now if we can only keep up this momentum! Back to the books!

maybe this will stick...

...for a bit? I constantly get bored with the appearance of my websites and blogs, so it's quite often you might find them changed up.

it's ladies night

Went and saw Menopause the Musical last night in DC. Hilarious! They took songs we all know, well most us anyway, and remade them to fit the menopause theme. Like "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", of which many may remember from The Lion King (a weemawop a weemawop, in the jungle, the mighty jungle...) has been changed to "My Husband Sleeps Tonight". They changed “My Guy” into "My Thighs" and the lyrics go something like:“No matter what I eat, it’s always cellulite, on my thighs,” or "Nothing you could say, cuz they're stuck like glue, my thighs." I would recommend it to any woman, especially one in her late 30s and beyond!

I forgot to mention the other day that we also received our first assignments back from the dean, complete with a grade...I am proud to say I received a 49/50. Some others weren't so lucky. Our school website reports not only the grades, but the averages for the grades for the whole class. The average for that paper was 43! I'm willing to help those who might need help writing, or even with APA format. That's what is going to get us all through the next two years is teamwork!

Speaking of school I have tons to be doing, rather than typing this...but it's so much fun! Procrastinator extraordinaire? Easily distractable? Yep!

Aww well. We have our first quiz for the psych class I'm taking for my BS, better git 'r done! Have I mentioned I graduate in December...with that degree!?! Yeah, still, um, what, about 20 months (God willing) till we graduate from nursing school. Who's counting!

messed up

that's what my blog is right now...a mess. Under construction!!!

feeling testy

Five weeks into nursing school and we've had our first tests. Yes, I said, well, typed test"s". We had one in our NUR100, Intro class, and one in our NUR105, Skills lecture class. It was awesome though in the intro class, because after we completed our tests individually she had us split up into groups and retake the test as a group! Depending on how well our group did we will receive extra credit! I think I did ok, hoping for a B. As for the skills test. It went ok-they were both way more tolerable than I thought they were going to be-and I'm hoping for a B on it as well. Now we just have to wait for the grades.

Tomorrow is the skills test, for health assessment. I'm not too worried about it since we get to use note cards.

I've really been doubting my choice to become a nurse lately. I don't know if it's me doubting my abilities or if it's for real just not the right choice for me. I'm very intimidated. I am my own worst enemy and have always doubted my abilities. This is something I've been wanting for about ten years now.

If you think about it, it is pretty ironic. Back when I separated from the Air Force, after three years as a medic I swore I would never step foot into a hospital, other than as a patient, ever again. But as time went on it became apparent to me that the medical field is where I'm supposed to be.

How do you know if something is your calling? Is it when you have a lingering desire, or ambition to do something?

sweet sixteen

No, no one is turning sixteen today...except my marriage. Yep, 16 years ago Brian and tied the know! He has something planned for this evening, and it's a surprise. All I know is I don't have to get dressed up, just casual, and that I have to be ready to leave by 3. Meanwhile, I'm typing this and need to go study! Big tests next week!