RN2B...er RN!

Happy Robbie Burns Night! I need to go get me some haggis...!

Anyone up for some Haggis, Wine and a "bean" game (Bohnanza)?

Why do I always get the teacher who doubts me and my abilities for clinical? I swear, I must have bad luck when it comes to this. The teacher I have now (for the next 3 months) says that I should NOT be a nurse, that if she were my mother she would not allow me to do this, taht I have been through enough hardship already in my life,... BLAH BLAH BLAH! All this BEFORE she even sees my in clinical and/or speaks to previous teaches who can stick up for me!

I can see that I have a fight on my hands and will have to prove myself EVERY day I have her! Great!

ARGH! GRRRRRR!

I feel sad, my friend is leaving for the USA for a year (I hope not 2). I am happy for her, she will experience new things, be with the guy she loves, and learn new things on the job.

It will be weird not seeing her, not that I see her every day, but now I know I won't be... I can pick up the phone and call her I know or email (as we often do now) or use msn messenger, but still, in a weird way feel like I am losing a friend. (I know I am not, it's just what I feel).

Good Luck my friend, have fun and COME BACK WITH the guy!
SO I won't say goodbuy, but see you soon!

Ok, I made it through DAY 1... LONG lab day, but good. Had fun too, found out who would be in my clinical group, out of the 7 of us I know 4, the other 2 are from the previous year.

My clinical teacher is apparently the one to have, the others are jealous, so I guess it's a good sign. She is strict, and demanding in what she wants, but has a sense of humour and is friendly. We'll see what she's like in clinical. I am on 6 medical at the RVH. Never been to that ward, been told that we get a real mix of diagnoses. Should be interesting...

So, here we go! Oh ya, she also told us that it is impossible to get 80's-90's in Med-Surge II... great! NOT a good sign when the teacher tells you this... oye!

Well, I'll keep you all posted (literally) on what happens, that's it for now, I have to go do some homework for TOMORROW!

This is what I will be doing in Nursing 322 this semester (my 4th out of 6);

For my Theory class:
Professionalism
Pancreatitis,
Pneumonia,
Abdo sx & Peptic ulcer,
COPD,
Occupational health; Pulmonary embolism, TB,
UTI/Pylonephritis,
Diabetes (adult),
Ethics+Values,
NSG process/Family, Coping w/ Loss&Grief.,
Adrenal imbalance, Thyroid imbalance,
Neoplasms, Chemo & Radiation,
GU obstruction, GU: renal failure, IBD,
Cancer Lung/Skin, Colon cancer, Breast cancer
STD, HIV&AIDS,
Transfusion Reactions,
Allergies & Anaphylaxis,
Spousal abuse/rape

Nursing Lab/Practical (ALL this is done in 6 labs!):
Clinical Skills review (aspetic technique, IV therapy, physical assessment, chest assessment, O2/aerosol equipment/tx)
Tracheostomy care and suctioning
Sputum collection (review), oro/nasopharyngeal suctioning (review)
Chest tubes
NG tube insertion
Enteral Feeding
Blood Glucose testing/monitoring (review)
TPN/PPN via central & PICC lines
Urinary Catheterization (insertionn/specimen collection/irrigation..)
Communication lab/patient teaching/OSCE Practice!

I change the template for my blog in order to play with font and colors, it re-formatted a little weird for some of my older posts... I'll fix it at some point, just have fun reading!

I start Med-Surge II tomorrow. The hardest semester in nursing school. I have to focus and just do it. Study like crazy without going crazy. I have worked so hard to get this far, from being paralyzed and in hospital for 10 weeks, to rehab hospital for another 8 weeks, out-patient for another year, going back to work, then going to nursing school. I can walk now, albeit with a brace and cane and at times have had to prove myself to others and to myself. This won't stop, I know, but with time others will accept it and not question whether I can or can't.

I jokingly said to a friend (and former nurse of mine) that I should write a book. I was only half joking, she said I should too. Maybe one day, when I have more time. Though I should start now, bit by bit, while I can still recall all that has happened.

To those who read this, continue to support me, leave comments if you like and even though I tend to go into crazy-student- study-mode during the semester, I am still here and do enjoy the distraction of getting an email or phone call!

I look at this picture and remember all I've been through and remember how far I've come.

One day left of vacation and it's too damn cold to go out!
Unless you are a penguin, of course!

Well, went to school, bought my class and lab workbooks... now I have to actually start reading! I still have a week, well 6 days.
Just reading through what I will learn in the next 15 weeks gives me a headache and I feel nauseaus, GREAT! Let the stress begin!

Sorry blogging has been been so lght lately, I am still on Christmas break. I start up again January 18th, a Thursday.. a LONG lab day!
Will update as it comes! Stay tuned.

You Are Kermit

Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know. You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems. Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green. Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

A Graduate Nurse throws up when the patient does.
An experienced nurse calls housekeeping when a patient throws up

A Graduate Nurse wears so many pins on their name badge you can´t read it.
An experienced nurse doesn´t wear a name badge for liability reasons

A Graduate Nurse charts too much.
An experienced nurse doesn´t chart enough.

A Graduate Nurse loves to run to codes.
An experienced nurse makes graduate nurses run to codes.

A Graduate Nurse wants everyone to know they are a nurse.
An experienced nurse doesn´t want anyone to know they are a nurse.

A Graduate Nurse keeps detailed notes on a pad.
An experienced nurse writes on the back of their hand, paper scraps, napkins, etc.

A Graduate Nurse will spend all day trying to reorient a patient.
An experienced nurse will chart the patient is disoriented and restrain them.

A Graduate Nurse can hear a beeping I-med at 50 yards.
An experienced nurse can´t hear any alarms at any distance.

A Graduate Nurse loves to hear abnormal heart and breath sounds.
An experienced nurse doesn´t want to know about them unless the patient is symptomatic.

A Graduate Nurse spends 2 hours giving a patient a bath.
An experienced nurse lets the CNA give the patient a bath.

A Graduate Nurse thinks people respect Nurses.
An experienced nurse knows everybody blames everything on the nurse.

A Graduate Nurse looks for blood on a bandage hoping they will get to change it.
An experienced nurse knows a little blood never hurt anybody.

A Graduate Nurse looks for a chance "to work with the family."
An experienced nurse avoids the family.

A Graduate Nurse expects meds and supplies to be delivered on time.
An experienced nurse expects them to never be delivered at all.

A Graduate Nurse will spend days bladder training an incontinent patient.
An experienced nurse will insert a Foley catheter.

A Graduate Nurse always answers their phone.
An experienced nurse checks their caller ID before answering the phone.

A Graduate Nurse thinks psych patients are interesting.
An experienced nurse thinks psych patients are crazy.

A Graduate Nurse carries reference books in their bag.
An experienced nurse carries magazines, lunch, and some "cough syrup" in their bag.

A Graduate Nurse doesn´t find this funny.
An experienced nurse does.

Happy New Year to all!

T'was the week before Christmas, and all through the floor,
The Lasix was filling the Foleys galore.
Stockings were worn to prevent emboli.
They came in two styles: knee- and thigh-high.

The patients were nestled half-assed in their beds,
While visions of stool softeners danced in their heads.
We in our scrubs, and they in their gowns -
Fashions created to hide extra pounds.

When down in the E.R. it became such a zoo.
They called for admissions for me and for you.
They're coming, they're going, they're looking the same.
My patience for patients is starting to wane.

Now call lights are ringing, the patient expounds
"I have not had my peri-care, please send someone down."
So now delegation seems like a good plan.
We pass on to others the needs of this man.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But Santa himself and 8 tiny reindeer.
He states that he came in from Central Supply
To bring us LR, NS, and D5.

The doctors then scribbled what no one could read.
Orders for patients, to measure their pee.
We try to decipher illegible words.
Orders for patients, to guiac their turds.

The new shift arriving, our day is now through.
How'd the stool and the emesis get in my shoe?
We give them report and pass on the facts,
And tell them of Duoderm lining the cracks.

And the Nurses exclaimed as they drove out of sight,
"Ambien to all! And to all a good night!"

Hope Santa brought you all you wanted!...Zoe got sparkley pipecleaners and Bear got wrapping paper bits... the other 2 were still sleeping! Lazy bums!

The semester is over, got through the OSCEs in one peice (barely!) and I am now ready to sleep in, relax and strart revising notes for next semester (yes yes I know, I am on vacation). I have made it through yet another semester and still cannot believe that I have made it half-way through nursing school.

WOW!

1. Schizophrenia -- Do You Hear What I Hear?
2. Multiple Personality Disorder -- We Three Kings Disoriented Are
3. Dementia -- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas
4. Narcissistic -- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me
5. Manic -- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and.....
6. Paranoid -- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me
7. Borderline Personality Disorder -- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire
8. Personality Disorder -- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why
9. Attention Deficit Disorder -- Silent night, Holy oooh look at the Froggy - can I have a chocolate, why is France so far away?
10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder -- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle,Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells...

A quick post about me as a bridesmaid for my good friend Irene this past weekend!

It was great! I had a blast and am glad that I was able to go. It was in the USA (Salem, Mass.). A really cute place to visit btw.

OSCE, aka: OMG, just let me pass!

Last day is tomorrow, we have OSCEs, 6 of them then I have a month off. YAY! In the meantime the stress is high and we are all stressed out. To make matters worse, my hip hurts, my BP is in the toilet (too low), my pulse is tachycardic (great) and my neuro wants me to do a sleep study (among other thinsg) and all I want to do right now is crawl under a rock and HIDE. I am just so fed up with school and need a break so badly. I am afraid of failing the semester (about 1/2 of us are in the same boat, so at least I am not alone). I have to do well on the OSCE if I don't want crap grades this semester.

You may wonder, What is an OSCE? It stands for "Objective Structured Clinical Examination". Basically they give you a scenario and you have to act it out, describing what you are doing and why. Talk it out and do the necessary skills. That's how you get the points. Scary shit at times. So far I have always managed a good grade, but this term we have 6 of them for our final and we're not entirely sure what they will ask us! We have to do it in uniform too... odd.

So any of you out there reading this, cross your fingers for me and wish me luck!

I got this off another nurse's blog...
#10 is especially pertinent to me and my classmates at the moment...

It's time...to impart wisdomses!
1. If you tell a resident that you'll take care of bowel management for them, not only will he or she sign anything you write, s/he'll love you forever.

2. Don't call at 0300 for a sleeping pill for a patient.

3. White is a magnet for ook of all sorts.

4. Your favorite clogs have just been discontinued, and your favorite pen is about to run out of ink.

5. The cutest bartender is always taken.

6. There is no substitute for dental floss.

7. The volume of ook that will splatter on you is directly proportionate to how much you like the scrubs you're wearing.

8. The doctor who yells at you is actually trying to make up for the size of his or her genitalia. Don't let it rattle you.

8a. Remember that you can go home at seven; they're on call. Smile.

9. The word "pomegranate" never looks like you've spelled it right.

10. If you're a student, don't fret: you'll never use care plans again.