A little less hand holding?!?!

That’s right. A little less hand holding.
This was a great last couple of weeks for clinicals.
Last week, I had an adorable client who reminded me of my great-grandmother. I really start to feel like a full-fledged nurse for the first time because I got to advocate for my patient. I set up consults to [...]

Guess Who’s Back? Back Again…

Hey! Basically, we’re getting down to the wire and my attention has been thrown full throttle into projects, papers, and tests.
The last test, I didn’t do so hot on…meaning more throttling at full force.
Also, clinicals is wiping me out. Now that the specialties are over, we are doing full patient care and charting for 8 [...]

Week 2 of Oncology

I had a patient that had everything but the kitchen sink wrong. From various psychological and psychosocial issues to an extremely advanced form of cancer to an advanced stage of an autoimmune disorder…I saw it all.
It was interesting to see the social stigma when it came to the autoimmune disorder. Some people refused to [...]

Oncology Floor

I spent this last week on the Oncology unit. I had to be at my school so that we could carpool at 0545. What a shock to my system! I’m a complete night owl and waking up early is always difficult. Waking up and being ready to work that early is even harder.
Oncology went better [...]

Feel-Good Moment

How scary is it to be admitted to a hospital? I don’t know. Knock on wood, I’ve never been.
I had a patient who had to go to surgery for a cyst and is pregnant. Terrified she was- and with good reason!
I was talking with my schoolmate about babies today and was reminded of her.
She had [...]

Simulation Lab

Well, today I’m at clinical in the simulation lab at school. I have to be honest, the Sim. Lab frightens me to know end.
Why? At the end of last semester, we had a simulation lab without ever being told what one was or what to expect. We actually didnt even know we were going to [...]

PACU.

It’s official. I am in love with the PACU. Post anesthesia care unit, that is.
Basically, this unit a is fast paced, on your toes, better know your P’s and Q’s kind of place. That’s where I went today with two other classmates. It was amazing.
Here’s how it works. There are 12 beds open. Today, they [...]

No sweat? Sure!

My teacher walks into the patient’s room to this sight:
S.R on one side, myself on the other, L.O in the front…and our amputeed patient with one leg sprawled sitting on the floor with his shorts around his knee yelling “awww now. shoulda helped me!!”
Let me back up to the beginning.
S.R and I were sharing [...]

I suck? Yeah, I know.

I had kept visiting here meaning and simply hadn’t had the time or energy. Lame. But my friend Kev mentioned it today so I’m back!!
And I’ve got a story or two.
I gave medications for the first time on Tuesday the 7th (not last week, but the week before) and I’m proud to announce that he’s [...]

Break is Over

So, Spring Break is long over and I’m back from my hiatus. I know you’re totally excited. Last night I went and saw the new Fast and the Furious movie with Ishaq and 2 of my brothers-in-law at 10:30pm. It wasn’t bad- as far as those kinds of movies go at least. The day before, [...]