Another Favourite Big Bang Theory Episode

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A glimpse into my future....

Apparently, my singleness is an issue that my friends seem to be more concerned about than I am. I don’t really care, really...sometimes it can be pretty funny, sometimes embarrassing at times, but usually just funny....

One of my friends who also happens to be a nurse, has been trying really hard to be “helpful” in this area for me, and is definitely not shy about the fact! Recently I went to a neighbouring hospital for a meeting, where she happens to work, and she gave me a little tour of her hospital.

As we were walking down one hallway, she noticed that one of the patients had herself turned around in her wheelchair. So she quickly went in the room, redirected her, and promptly joined me back out in the hallway to continue my tour.

“Oh I just love her! She’s a former nurse you know! And a spinster too!...You know that’s gonna be you some day!!...”

“What???? Are you telling me I’m going to be an old spinster!!?”

“Nooooooo...I mean you’re going to be one of those patients that everyone loves...”

Ummmmm yeah.... I’m SURE that’s what she meant!

Hahahaha...... sigh......

Every little bit counts...

Random nursing experience flashback...

Part of the patient’s rehabilitation before going back home is to ensure they can ambulate well on their own before they are safe to be back in their own home. Many patients get frustrated at this, and LOVE to voice their frustration at our “evilness” of making them get out of bed and walk around the room/hallway.

Approximately 5 minutes of a “discussion” occurred to try to get this patient to get out of bed and go for her walk around her room... she had every excuse to try and get out of it...

“I’ll do it later”... “I’m too tired”... “The next nurse can take me”... (starting to realize I’m not taking a no for an answer) “What’s the point anyhow...”... “It’s no use”...

I’m starting to run out of encouraging things to say to motivate her, as everything I would come up with, she would have an answer for.

My last attempt: “Well, each time we get you up, it will get easier and easier, and we will get you stronger and stronger.... Every little bit counts”

“....Said the flea pissing in the ocean”

She won that round... I had to excuse myself from the room before I peed myself laughing. She’s a quick one!

Oh Where Oh Where Has She Been?

Wow!! Almost 3 years since I have posted to this blog!! Where has the time gone? So much has happened since I have last posted...
- I have graduated with my BScN RN degree
- passed my RN exam
- have been an ER nurse for a little over a year now in a small rural community (yes! Me! In the ER!!!! Who woulda thunk it haha!)
- my father passed away 2 years ago after a horrible fight with bone cancer

My excuses for not blogging:
2009 was a year from hell for me. 13 people I was closed to passed away. I had a vicious clinical instructor who made my life so miserable to the point I literally dropped out 4 days before the end of the year (which thankfully I had great support from students and teachers who rallied for me to not lose my year). I had several health issues that in hindsight were likely caused by stress. Then for the past year and a half I have been living in the "boonies" with limited internet access (dial-up only *gasp*). But now....(drum roll) - we have obtained high speed internet here!!!! Wahoo!!!

Soooooooo, if time permits....perhaps I am back :)

The Big Bang Theory

My new favourite TV show - and my favourite clip so far from the show:



Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock

Clinical Rotation - Obstetrics

Well, once again I am late posting my adventures in clinical. This last round of clinical was in obstetrics and it was very interesting. I know it is not for me, but is was an amazing experience! We spent 4 weeks in obstetrics, and we got to spend 2 of those days in labour and delivery. My first day in labour and delivery was amazing. I got to witness and assist with TWO vaginal deliveries! It was literally breathtaking! I've now sat here for almost 10 minutes trying to figure out how to describe it, and I still can't....so I will just leave it at that. It was such an amazing experience, and something I will never forget. (The second day in labour and delivery there were NO births that day!)

The rest of our clinical was spent caring for mother and baby post delivery. I got to give a baby an IM injection, removed a couple IV's, and did numerous newborn assessments. I also did assessments on the moms post-delivery. I was fortunate to get all fabulous moms that were so patient with me as a student. Thankfully this clinical was a lot more laid back where we weren't so rushed, so we got to take our time in learning our skills.

Overall, it was another great clinical rotation. So far this year, clinical has been a positive experience :) I have one more clinical rotation this winter - a 6 week medical rotation again, but I am still waiting to hear when and where...

Practicum Exam Time

I HATE practicum exams....no wait, maybe I hate my overly-emotional personality and hate that I do not know how to properly deal with stress...that is probably more accurate...

This year in nursing school we have had a LOT of information thrown at us - to the point that everyone is majorly overwhelmed. In addition to all the information thrown at us, we had labs 2 times a week to learn new skills. This is probably the BEST part of nursing school - practicing skills on each other, on fake equipment and on mannequins. We also had to buy ($80 worth!) of equipment to bring to lab so we can practice in lab and then take the equipment home and practice on our own. This included a catheter kit, dressing kit, IV supplies, etc.).

Now we are drawing close to the end of the first semester (Wednesday is our last day of school before written exams begin!). During the last 3 weeks of school, every week we had a different practicum exam. Last week was neurological and we did a neurological exam on our partner. It was super easy, and I could do it in my sleep! But of course, when under stress of the fact that you are being tested on it, it doesn't seem quite so easy. I managed to get through it disaster free, and in fact got 100% on it - wahoo!

This week, our practicum exam was on IV's, IM injections, catheters, and dressing changes. My mom was up visiting for a few days, so on the weekend I practiced with her. I practiced until I wore out the equipment and until I had no voice left from talking so much describing what I was doing. I had IV equipment hanging all around my living room, catheter equipment set up in the kitchen, and balled up socks made into fake gaping wounds full of packing. My poor dog didn't know what was going on! I knew my stuff! Then exam time came. I was REALLY hoping for a cathether or an IM injection...... well, I got IV's :( I was so nervous my mind went blank - I couldn't even figure out the basic math to do my drug calculation. I just started writing down numbers and moved on to the next step - gathering up the required equipment. When it came time to doing the actual task, everything that could possibly go wrong, WENT wrong :( I kept dropping things... twice the instructor pointed out wrong equipment I had grabbed (wrong sized needle, wrong IV tubing) and she had to go and get the right things for me while I kept on going. That just made me more and more nervous and stressed out, and by the time she went to fetch the new tubing I just felt so incompetent and started to cry.... yep.... cuz that's the appropriate response in such a situation! I hate being such an emotional person :( I was just so frustrated that I knew what I was doing going in, but yet when it came time to demonstrate it, I couldn't prove it cuz I allowed my stress to take over :( I did manage to stumble my way through and finish up, but I was so embarassed. If nothing else, maybe the instructor took pity on me.

I have one more practicum exam to do next week (cardiac, respiratory and abdominal assessments) and I am stressing already. This time I have TWO reasons to stress. First, we are practicing on each other, so when it is my partner's turn, I have to strip down in front of the instructor as the patient, and then second, once again going through the stress of having my assessment techniques scrutinized. At least I have 4 days off so am going to study and practice like crazy and hope I can handle myself better this time...........

Clinical Rotation

Time is sure flying by! My first clinical rotation has already come and gone and I start my next one this week. I had my clinical evaluation last week, and I got a glowing verbal and written evaluation. My instructor had so many positive things to say, she almost made me cry! To summarize, she mostly commented on my care and compassion, and how my patients are obviously well cared for and seem happy to have me helping them. So that made me feel good. I know I am headed in the right direction.

This past clinical I learned a few new skills – I have given my first sub-Q injection (low molecular weight heparin). The very first one didn’t go quite as smoothly as I was hoping cuz I was SOOOO nervous, but the patient and I survived! Administering the second one was a piece of cake (same injection, same patient, just on a different day). I have also given G-tube feedings and flushes (to my nursing readers, I know that it isn’t that complicated, but to me it was fascinating). We finally got to administer oral medications (once again, not that complicated – follow the orders, do your double checks, etc, but it was another step in the right direction). Plus we did the usual morning care and feedings. I can’t believe how nerve wracking it is to feed patients who are a high choking risk. I was a nervous wreck the whole time!

My highlight was assisting with a patient on a ventilator!!!! I was just so fascinated by the whole thing (I now know I never want to be on one, but it was fascinating nonetheless!) The technology behind it is amazing! That whole experience of assisting the patient on the ventilator made me now seriously consider looking into working in the ICU….

This week I start obstetrics – that shall be interesting! We have completed our 5 weeks of theory, and have practiced in the lab setting one week. There is a mannequin that gives birth that we got to practice on (technology is amazing!) Plus there were several practice stations for assessments that we got to practice – nothing compared to the real thing, I am sure! I am looking forward to this placement, although a little nervous about seeing my first placenta!! Not looking forward to that…… At least my back should have a bit of a break, as I will be going from 100-300 lb patients, to patients that are only a few lbs :)

All in all, I am LOVING school so far this year :)

"........oh where, oh where can she be?"

Now that school has begun again, unfortunately blogging has dropped down to a low priority in my life :-( Not only have I not been able to write in my own blog, I also haven't had the opportunity to peruse my favourite blogs as well :( Thank goodness for feedreaders that are stockpiling what I am missing out on.

A quick summary of the past few weeks:

I am no longer working nights - wahoooo! I am on a leave of absence from my government job until August 10th (unsure whether I will be returning, but as of now, I am scheduled to go back to work in late summer 2009.) Surprisingly, it didn't take me long to adjust to a daytime schedule again. Probably becuz I am so exhausted from my school schedule! Whatever the reason, my body is very thankful for the change!

School - well full-time school turned out to be a little more hectic than I expected! I still haven't figured out how other students manage to have a social life! I can barely plan in homework/studying - I am already 2 weeks behind on my readings (and we've only been in school for 2 weeks LOL)

Clinical - I am enjoying clinical so far - we are still limited in what we can do, but now we can administer medications, and we have a clinical instructor who encourages us to work ahead on skills, rather than only do the bare minimal we are allowed. My clinical instructor this year is fabulous! She is very laid back and easy going which makes the experience much less stressful :-)

This time I am in a complex care ward, and the things I have seen so far are pretty amazing - I will try and blog about it when I have more time. Last time I was in clinical we had one 4 hour shift a week. This year, we have two 8 hour shifts a week. BIG difference!! So many more opportunities to learn! I have 4 more weeks at the complex care site, and then I move on to obstetrics which I am really looking forward to. I have a friend who is expecting in November and I am one of her support people so I am anxious to have a few skills under my belt before helping her.

Time is ticking away as usual and I have procrastinated long enough, so I guess I better get back to studying :(

Advice from a dog....

I wish I had my dog's view of exercise. No matter how long it's been since the last "workout" (ie. wak), the enthusiasm that she displays always amazes me. She's ready to head out that door at full speed. Just hearing the word "walk" can stir her from a deep sleep. It is the highlight of her day!

Sure, once I'm in the routine of exercising, it's not as difficult to keep it up. But miss a couple days, and I literally have to DRAG my butt out the door and force myself. I envy my dog's attitude!