Best day yet

I got to see a heart today. A live, beating heart. It was amazing, except it looked just like a boneless, skinless chicken breast flopping around in my patient's chest. I don't think I'll ever be able to eat chicken again. Thankfully, my patient is recovering well from his open heart surgery. Great day.

Labor and Delivery clinical

I saw a woman give birth today. It was an incredible thing to witness. However, it gave me an idea-- you know those 'scared straight' programs for troubled teens- where they talk to inmates in jail? All teenage girls should spend the day with a woman in labor, preferably one without an epidural. The teenage birth rate would probably hit zero within ten months.

Pediatrics!!!!

I am really nervous (and excited) to start my pediatric clinical!!!! I can't think of anything better than helping sick kids feel better.

Operating room

After watching a surgeon operate on a broken hip with tools that are in my own toolbox, I have officially decided NOT to be an operating room nurse. Or to ever break my hip. Yuck.

Bad nurses

I had the misfortune of seeing first hand that some people are not meant to be nurses. I unfortunately had a run in with one of them and opened my mouth when I shouldn't have. I hope I don't get kicked out of school. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

Isis and The Monster

My babies!! I'm sure they have felt neglected since I started nursing school. :(

Elevator issues

Angela and I got stuck in an elevator today. Yea... it was user error. Not one of our finer moments. At least we have Thursday off for Thanksgiving. We need a break!

Volunteering?

I have to be in downtown Kansas City by 7 am tomorrow for our (forced) "volunteer" project. It is going to be cold. And I should be studying instead. At least Luke will be there!

My favorite clown

My patient today has been a clown his whole life. He is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. And he was just given six months to live.  I am gutted. I can't stop crying. There was nothing I could say to take his pain away.  I don't want to do this anymore.  Maybe I'm not strong enough to be a nurse.

Don't judge a patient by their chart

I was dreading clinicals today after reading my patient's chart-- he had so many complicated conditions. But he ended up being a wonderful patient and I learned a lot from him. Lesson learned!

Bring your poop to school day.

I wish I were kidding. What is wrong with our instructors?!

Darlene

Luke and I got in trouble today in skills lab. Our mannequin, whom we named Darlene, was a white woman with black male genitalia. I guess it's inappropriate to laugh at things like this. It was pretty funny though. :)

Suppository nightmare

Today was a very bad day in clinicals, in front of the Terminator. I am too embarrassed to even write what happened. I don't think I am going to survive nursing school.

Diarrhea. Everywhere.

That's all I have to say about my day at clinicals. Nursing sucks sometimes.

Death on the first day...

My first patient died. Don't worry, it wasn't something I did. I was hoping to never have to deal with death as a nurse, but obviously that wasn't a realistic wish. The funny thing is, I actually learned a lot about myself and nursing from this woman. And I can't stop crying for her husband. What a crazy first day.

Clinicals start tomorrow.....

I haven't been able to post anything in months because school has kept me so busy! I have absolutely no life.  A lot has happened over the last few months-- I've memorized more medical facts and medication than I ever thought possible. I've become close friends with my classmates- especially my skills lab group- Danielle, Angela, Melissa, Crystal, Jason, and Luke. Luke is hot, and seems like a good guy. I can't wait to spend more time with him in clinicals. :)  Clinicals are where we go to the hospital and practice things on real patients- giving medication, taking vital signs, charting, etc. I am really nervous! Danielle and I were assigned to the same patient - we went to the hospital after class to look at her chart. She seems really sick and has a ton of medications. I really hope things go well tomorrow and I learn a lot.

Swimsuits?

Why did they tell us to bring our swimsuits to school tomorrow? We are all really nervous.  What have I gotten myself into?

So nursing school is going to be a lot more work than I anticipated! After just one day I'm ready to give up. There is so much reading and so much stuff to memorize!! I can already tell that nursing is not as easy as they make it look on TV. 

Nursing school starts tomorrow!!!

I can't believe how nervous I am!! I am so thankful that I met Danielle in my prerequisites so at least there will be one familiar face. Hopefully we don't have to give each other shots or anything like that. Wish me luck!

Nursing?

After a lot of soul searching and working for minimum wage as a receptionist, I have decided to go to nursing school! Hopefully it's not too hard.  I found a one year accelerated nursing program and was already accepted. I just have some prerequisites to finish first. I'm already taking anatomy and chemistry, and have classes with a few people who will be in my nursing school program with me.

I can't find a job!!!

I graduated with a 4.0 in psychology and I can't find a job!! This is so frustrating!!!! My dad thinks I should go to graduate school and become a psychologist, but there is so much research (and money) involved in that, and I am just not passionate about psychology anymore.  I want to find a way to help people but don't know what to do. I'll keep applying to receptionist positions and hopefully get some form of employment soon!

I'm a Jayhawk!!!

I just started at the University of Kansas! I love my psychology classes-- maybe that's my future major? I guess I'll have to wait and see.  :)