For Fun

Top Five Nursing-Student Diagnoses

1.)Sleep deprivation related to caffeine intake, studying, and stress.
2.)Stress overload related to testing as evidenced by unpredictible bursts of anger, emotion, or screaming.
3.)Constipation related to the immobility of being in a classroom all day.
4.)Alterations in nutrition related to incessant snacking.
5.)Impaired skin integrity related to immobility as evidenced by pressure ulcers near sacrum.

These are just a few of the things that many of us might have experienced this semester. Hope this break gives us a chance to recoop!
Merry Christmas everyone! and a happy new year...

Fall Semester

This semester flew! (I only hope I have the same feeling with Spring:) Seriously, it seems like recently I was taking the Teas, and our first day of school. I think that if I were to give an upcoming nursing student advice, this is what it would be: it's ok to be a little freaked out AND don't stress out too much about the "little things". They all seem to fall into place. At first, I was really intimidated by how much homework we'd have to have, the testing requirements, etc. But it seems like those things aren't as much of a concern when I really get into the semester. The faculty is so helpful, and there are just so many resources for our learning benefit. Don't get me wrong, there were stressful days, but overall, I've found this is do-able and I am going to make it:)

Technology

The nice thing about technology is that is has allowed for a greater and much less inhibited flow of information amongst people; specifically in our case, knowledge was able to be shared and used synergetically to expand our collective and individual comprehension to levels that could not have been reached independently.
If you look at the past few centuries, particularly the 20th, you will seen that mankind has seen an explosion of technology that was nowhere near equaled at any other time in history. A huge part of this was due to the rapid and continual growth in the communications technology. It started with the printing press, then the telegraph, then the phone, then email, then cell phones. We now have Blackberries from which we can call or email anyone anytime from almost anywhere.
The important thing to note in all this is that the lines of communication allowed for a much greater expansion in technology and human development because people were able to coordinate and synergize their actions and force-multiply their productivity. It was longer Pete and Re-pete because people learned from each others successes and failures. In much the same way, I think that we students were able to learn from each other and become more effective in our learning.

This past week in clinicals seemed to go by very quickly. In fact, it all did. This whole clinical experience has flown by. I feel like I was just starting to get a feel for "being a nurse", and now winter break is right around the corner. I've loved my clinical group and how well we all get along. That's also been a really amazing part-- just getting to know each other better and realizing that we are all in this learning process together. It's great. I am slowly gaining new skills and I'm also enjoying that. It seems like every week I learn something new. Just the other day, I gave insulin and learned how to do the "sliding scale" for insulin administration. I'm beginning to feel like I can actually do this and do it well. Before, I didn't really feel competent. Now, I am feeling more able to be a "real nurse" and not just pretend:)

This Journey...

The deeper I get into this journey of nursing, the more I love it. My favorite part is learning about something and then actually going to clinicals and implementing what I've learned. I also love learning about my patients in clinicals and seeing what they need and why they need it. I had patients who came in with an unknown etiology, and I spent much time with critical thinking and trying to figure out what the problem was. Every patient is different, and it's exciting to learn the best route of treatment for each person. I am looking forward to being an independent nurse and having that wonderful challenge and opportunity to help others.

Acute Care

Acute care has been an adventure! It is quite different than long term care, and there are some good differences and bad differences. I like the spontinaeity and fast-pace of the acute care setting. I only have one patient now, but it's been fun learning about why they're in the hospital and also learning about each drug they are taking. I've had the privelege of giving a sub-q injection and it's exciting actually putting to use all the skills i'm gaining. Another aspect I like is working wtih the nurses and learning how they do things and what techniques they use. I do miss having the time for relationship building in the long-term setting. It seems as if things are more laid back in LT.
Overall, I am liking the acute care setting and being able to have more autonomy in my skills.

10/16/08

This thursday at clinicals went.... peacefully. Don't get me wrong, it was great, but it just seems I was getting so efficient at documenting and caring for my patient, that there wasn't as much for me to do:)jk Fortunately, I got busy trying to do a puzzle with a resident, as well as watching politics with another one. Between administering meds and giving blood glucose tests, I found I just had time to sit and talk with the residents in the "Cherry Blossom Cove". This is the favorite time for me, just being able to learn about their lives and have fun with them. There are so many great people, I love engaging in conversation with them.

Thoughts on "her"

My resident had such an amazing life. She is Norwegian, and comments on how beautiful it is there when I ask her about it. Her accent is pretty sweet too. So, she got married at age 23 (one of the best days of her life) to a "good man". They had four children, and said she loved raising children. "All her kids are good kids", she said. It seems she won't open up about much else. When I get her talking about her family, her eyes light up and she smiles. Also, she has a problem with fatigue. Most likely, if someone were to come see her, she would be in her wheel chair, head down, and resting. I'm not sure why she is always tired. I do know that if I ask her open-ended questions about her husband or her children, she will smile and talk to me about it. She turns into a warm person reminiscing about those days, even if it's only for a few minutes. All this to say, first impressions aren't everything. When I first met her, she was pretty indifferent to me and did not speak. I thought she didn't like me, but I quickly learned what makes her happy. From the surface, she looks like a fatigued, old woman who isn't very social. When one searches deeper, they find an amazing woman who had a life filled with love and happiness and adventure.

Thoughts on Clinicals

I must say I am really enjoying this clinical experience so far. It seems like it's going so fast, although getting up at 5:00am is not the preferred.
I think the reason I am enjoying this so much is because I get to really make a difference and apply what I've been learning. It's amazing to have someone under your care. I feel blessed to be able to help.
My resident is 84 and she is really sweet. I gave her meds the other day:) We talked about her husband and her family and we were able to connect. At first, I was really sad about the whole situation. It was an eye opener to see that people are winding down and our bodies will all fail us one day. It's just sad to see the residents want to be able to do things on their own, but unable to. There was this one lady who was getting so frustrated that she couldn't get out of her wheel chair and into bed, so she started calling for help. I happened to walk by and tried to help her get comfortable, and she said to me: " nobody cares if we're dead or alive. They're here when we don't need them, but never here when we call". Even though she was probably speaking out of her frustration, I couldn't help but wonder about what she said. It's sad to me that this is her perception of where she is living.
I've realized though, that I can only do my best and I can't make everyone happy there. This is a liberating thought for me.

The Goal

As I spend a nightful of reading endless pages, I find myself wondering how I came upon the great idea of nursing in the first place. It's not that I have doubts-- no, I'm still sure this is the right path. Rather, I ask myself why this is so important to me because I know there has to be a greater plan than just having a degree. There has to be a spiritual goal to which I am running towards. I cannot lose sight of that goal. "...forgetting what is behind and straining to what is ahead, I press on toward the goal..." (Phil. 3:12-14). The goal, for me, is to let God be the Lord of glory in my life, and for me to be a willing vessel. Let us not forget the reward, for that is an eternity of relationship with our Creator. Even in elementary school, I knew I would one day be a nurse. I wasn't a willing vessel yet, I just liked taking care of people. Now, the most important factor of this path is being open to hearing God's voice and then implementing that in my life. Assess (is this really God's voice?); Diagnose (yes, I will be a nurse); Planning (what are my goals?); Implementation (doing the best where I'm at); Evaluation (was I a faithful vessel? To be determined).

Welcome!