Because I didn't learn my lesson the first time!

That's right, I will be a student nurse once again!

Starting in May I will begin working towards my BSN. With only 26 credits remaining (which works out to be 10 classes) I figured why the heck not. I guess am a glutton for punishment as I am also scoping out schools for my Masters.

This program will take one year start to finish, and the classes will be 95% online. Stay tuned...maybe I will find something interesting to write about.

And the results are.....

I can put 

RN

behind  my name

Got a testing date

NCLEX is scheduled! 16th of June for that matter

I really could have taken it sooner but I am working my tail off for the next 3 weeks to save for a pending out of state move!!!

I guess I should be thankful for the later date, it will give me a bit of review time!

I will post with the results 48 hours after the test (that as soon as I get them)

Been MIA

Hello Internet followers...

I have been away forever, well so it seems like anyway. The last few months have passed by in a blur of exams and shifts at local hospitals; but it has paid off.

Tomorrow I finish up my last precept shift and the pinning will be on Thursday! Then on to find a job as a graduate nurse and the dreaded NCLX exam!

Found a Home

Today I had one of those pivotal moments in nursing school, the one where you know you have found the field you are meant to work in.... home so to speak. Today I won the "lotto." The prize was an extra opportunity to spend the clinical day in the ER.

I always thought I would want to spend my life working in emergency medicine, but with nothing to gauge it there was no way to be sure if I would even enjoy working in that field. I LOVED IT! I don't know if it was the diversity of the patients or the fact that not one patient had the same complaint or really what it was, but I was drawn in. I know one day I will end up working in that department.

In the seven hours I was on the floor there were patients aged between 3 and 92. There was everything between common cold symptoms, to EMS arrivals, to someone calmly being pushed in a wheelchair because he had a nail shot through the leg. There was hardly and down time; of course that helps the day fly by. In the long run, it is that diversity that will help prevent complacency.

Today I also had the chance to start an IV on a living person. Got it the first time! Unlike my lab mannequin experience this one didn't bleed all over. Nor did he scream or cuss at me like I imagined would happen. He was quite surprised to find out that was my first IV attempt.

For all the complaining I have done about the drive to the hospital, I take it all back. The location is great, the staff is even better. So much so I am considering putting in an application! Yes, the drive still sucks (well the waking up earlier sucks) but at least it scenic. I just need to come up with a constructive use of the 1 1/2 hour total drive time and all will be perfect.

Best quote ever

Today a classmate said the best thing I have heard in awhile, "after tomorrows class we only have 13 more classes!"

To sum it up nicely:
13 Classes
13 Case Studies
7 Weekly quizzes
3 Unit Exams
1 HESI Exam
and of course the Final

Seems like tons to do, but as the course instructor said today there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Clinicals this time around are going to drive me crazy, we were assigned to a location by the school. For the most part, up to this point we have had some choice about where we are going or they at least allowed us to swap if there is someone that was willing to trade hospitals. This time we don't have the opportunity to swap.

Guess I am ultimately complaining because I am heading to a small medical center about an hour from my house; that is without traffic. Uggg, that means LEAVING the house at 0540 at the latest! Also puts me back in the house at nearly 1700. Okay done complaining. For the bright side, some of the rotations will be cool: ICU, ASU, PACU, ER and hanging out with the case manager for a day. A lot will be learned with these really sick patients.

Alright, suppose I should look over the notes from today's lecture...first quiz is tomorrow.

Happy Holidays

Twas the night before Christmas.., and all thru the floor
Lasix was given, filling the foleys galore.
Stockings were worn to prevent emboli,
they came in two sizes, knee and thigh high.

The patients were nestled half-assed in their beds,
while visions of stool softeners danced in their heads.
We in our scrubs, and they in their gowns,
Fashions created to hide extra pounds.

When down in the ER it became such a zoo,
they called with admissions for me and for you.
They're coming, they're going, and they're all looking the same.
My patience for patients is starting to wane.

Now call lights are ringing, the patient 400 pounds, says-"
Didn't get my pericare, now send my nurse down."
And now delegation seems the best plan,
We try to send others, to the needs of this man.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Santa himself and 8 tiny reindeer.
He says he comes from Central Supply.
To bring us LR,NS, & D5.

The doctors then scribbled what no one could read,
Orders on patients, to measure their pee.
We try to decipher illegible words,
orders for patients, to guiac their turds.

The new shift arriving, our day is now through,
How did stool & emesis get in my shoe?
We give them report and pass on the facts,
and tell them of duoderm lining the cracks.

And the nurses exclaim as they limp out of sight,
"Ativan to them all, and to all good night.!!!"