So Close......

One more final left, and then J-1 semester is over, YESSSSSS

Coming to a Close

The semester is coming to a close and we are taking our last exams before finals. I'm very excited for the busy J-1 semester to come to an end and move on up! Anyway, clinicals have been wonderful! Last week I got to work the ER for 16 hours and it was tons of fun. I got to practice some of my advanced skills like IV insertion, fluid bag set up, urinary catheters and dressing changes. It was really exciting and busy most of the time. We had a point where three traumas came in at once for C-spine (neck) injuries from a car rolling accident and that kept us busy for a while. I would say ER is much faster paced, and there was a lot less charting for the students to do which was a nice break! I can't decide between the ICU and ER though since I enjoyed both of them so much. I think the more experience I get, the easier it will be to make a decision.
This week we are amping up for a pharmacology exam and getting ready for the next scenario right after thanksgiving. I plan to go home and practice my skills on my family, lucky them! I'll be back soon for an update, good night!

One month left!

We have one month of classes left in our J-1 semester! whohoo! We are almost there...thank goodness!
We have a scenario test coming up the week after Thanksgiving, in which we are given a case (patient) and need to figure out what the problem is and what to do with our patient in regards to meds, procedures, labs, etc.. These tests are the most nerve racking because if we fail twice we get kicked out, so fingers are crossed. Other than that the other exams are going really well, still getting my B to B+ average, going to try to bring that up!
Clinicals are going well, last week at Gritman the census was soooo low that I didn't have a patient, so I got moved over to ICU again, which was hoppin! The nurse let me hook myself up to an EKG (heart monitor) and analyze my heart rhythm, and measure my PR, QT, and QRS waves to check for heart pathology! It was cool, I will post a picture of it. Turns out my heart is pretty healthy. Anyway, next week I have two full day in ER. I am really excited for this because usually in ER there are many IV starts, injections, closed reductions, traumas, and of course drunk college kids from UI to deal with. Not to mention all the people who come in for the sniffles. Either way I'm hoping its fun, and I hate to say it but I hope I can stand in on a code... :) (crashing patient). I'm just eager to learn. I'll be back soon for an ER update. Peace to you!

BIG time

Gritman Clinicals are in full swing, and I am loving it! We get at least one patient to ourselves for every shift, but quite often we will get more than 2! We take full responsibility of our patient throughout the shift, we give all of their meds (by mouth, IV, or other various routes....) do any procedures the patients need done, and do all of the charting involved. We get post-operation patients, mainly, but every once in a while we get some comfort care (end of life) patients, or acute illness patients.
I had a stint in ICU where I cared for some very sick patients, and even got to assist the doctor in inserting a CVC- or central line! It's an IV that goes in through the neck (internal jugular vein) and is strung down into the vessel that leads to the heart ( Superior vena cava). To top that off, I got to put in an IV last night for the first time on a patient. It went very smoothly!
Overall I really am enjoying clinicals, and have many stories to tell. I get more assurance every day that I am on this earth to be a nurse! The patient interaction is one of my favorite parts of the job, its very fulfilling, and I truly enjoy taking care of people.
I am headed off to clinical again, but I will be back to post some of my interesting, and awkward stories..

In the Swing

Things are finally feeling organized and good. Stress levels are low despite two huge exams this week.

Clinicals have been going well, we have our anchor resident. Mine is a 92 year old man, who is terminally ill. We get to do assessments on them, detailed assessments, procedures, and give meds. Clinicals have been low key since we have been in a long term care facility, but starting the 28th this month I will be moving over to Gritman in Moscow for acute care (hospital setting), for the 2-10pm shift. I should be an awesome learning experience. So far the only real procedure I have been involved in was placing a catheter, but it was definitely interesting!

So far in lab we have learned how to do dosage calculations, give medicine, and give injections. We were able to practice on our classmates which was cool. I got to give/receive intradermal, intramuscular, and subQ shots (normal saline in shoulder, gut, and forearm). Things are going well, I am passing all of my assessments and doing well! Now I need to go study for pharmacology and Med/surg exams! wish me luck!

Time to think

It's finally the weekend and I have had the chance to reflect on my first week of school. Three words that would describe it are overwhelming, exciting, and challenging. I can definitely see my work cut out for me.

 On top of 6-9 hours of class or lab each day, we have a quiz in every class each week (5) and assignment due for each class (5) and multiple readings for each class. Not to mention preparation work for the next week and clinicals. I don't believe the word "bored" will be in my vocabulary this semester!

Overall the first week was crazy, and I'm excited to see how I handle this challenge and how it changes me and makes me grow up. I think it will be a fun ride! First clinicals are this Tuesday and I will be starting at 7am at Lewiston Rehab which is very close to my house. We get to choose an "anchor" resident and we get to examine them, do a health history check, drug research regarding their condition(s), and the fun part, we get to know the patient. We do a full work up on them, and we are with the same patient the whole 5 weeks of our LTC assignment. I am excited to finally start doing RN work compared to CNA work, I think it will be a big learning experience!

I am excited to start practicing my calling!

I will post again soon!

Whirlwind

      The first two days have come and gone! Monday we had prof. role development, and health assessment, both two hours each back to back, then we had both labs for these classes after lunch back to back! The sure keep us busy on Mondays. Tuesday we oriented for our clinical from 9am-4pm, and then I headed to work. Wednesday will be similar to Tuesday, as it is our other clinical day. I found out that my clinical site is: first 5 weeks at Lewiston Health and Rehab, for day shift. The second 5 weeks is acute care in Grittman Medical Center in Moscow ID, for evening shift. I'm really excited about clinicals, I think they will be a blast and a huge learning experience. Thursday we have pharmacology, (and prof role development lab II), which I think will be awesome because we learn our drugs, and everything about them. I think this info will be very useful in our jobs. Friday we have medical surgical nursing, which should be another tough one but again, very interesting!
    Overall, nothing too interesting has happened yet, but when it does be sure that I will post it! Goodnight all and I will be back for a new post soon!

New Beginnings!

I am starting this blog to keep my friends and family updated on my trials and tribulations in nursing school. I will be posting some funny, happy, sad, and bizarre experiences from my career here, and hope that in reading this someone, anyone, is entertained, or maybe even learns something! This will also be a place to vent some frustrations as well I am sure. Anyway, nursing school begins next monday, the 23rd. Clinicals don't start until the second week of school, but classes start out at a run the first day! I will be posting often (hopefully twice a week) in the evenings before bed. Happy (future) reading!

Until then, Goodnight!

-CJ