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.!!!"

One Step Closer

The end of another semester! I celebrated this very successful term by taking the family to Disney World for 6 days. After this past year I know they have missed out on a lot of the one on one time they so deserve.

Only one more semester left!!!! Or to be more exact only one more 8 week class then Preceptor! It seems like I spent forever on the waiting list just to get in an now this program has just flown by.

Cardiac, ECGs, Dysrhythmias oh my!

So there isn't much of a purpose to today's post. Just wanted to share some links I have come across that may help in this portion of the class.




Some NCLEX cardiac questions:
nclex-style-practice-questions/

Powerpoint reviews:
cardiovascularsystem.htm

ECG Exercises

Then test your skills with a quiz!
The Second ECG Simulator

Add your favorite study tips below if you want to share :)

Pump your Blood

Going old school for a moment here. Figured since we are studying the structure of the heart and all, might as well add it to a tune.

Let's bow our heads

Dear Lord:

I know we go through this every day, but please give me the knowledge as to why I actually wanted to go to nursing school.

Lord, give me the strength to make it through those boring three hour lectures without falling asleep.

Lord, please give me the patience to make it through clinicals with instructors who can't just give you the right answer. On the same note, give the floor nurses the ability to remember what it was like to be a student and give us just a little more respect.

Lord, give me the endurance to read all the assigned readings and be able to remember it when I am taking a weekly quiz or a test with 4 right answers.

Lord, give my family and friends the ability to realize I really am on the edge of insanity.

Finally, Lord, give me the vision to see that one day I will be a real nurse and I will never have to wear this ugly uniform again.

Amen

A few lessons learned...

Wow, okay. So it has been a little over 3 months since the last post...figured it was time to grace the internet with my presence again.

Yes, I am still in the program. Not much has changed in the way of school... still busy as heck. We just finished up Ob/Peds by taking the HESI yesterday. By some miracle I actually got an A in the class!

The next class: Adults II, which started with clinicals today. With these clinicals we are being introduced to the great skills of Trach care and suctioning (yummy!), starting an IV (along with caring for it, med pushes, issuing blood products and starting piggy backs). Theory for this class will be focusing on the Cardiac/Pulmonary systems.

So, the realization has come, that we only have 16 weeks left of classroom time!!! Of course there is still preceptor time, but that is far more interesting then sitting in a classroom. (and a lot harder to fail!) Making end of the insanity more of a reality, we were told to apply for graduation today! (We have to apply the semester before we graduate.)

So here are a few things I have learned so far:

1. Some instructors are crazy! Just smile, do your job, and pray that the crazy isn't contagious.

2. Pediatrics is boring! I am sadden by this fact, I thought Peds was the reason I joined nursing school! Oh how I wanted to find an extra bed and partake in designated nap time when the lights were lowered on the floor! However, I did really enjoy the day spent in the Pediatric ER...guess that will still be a consideration in preceptor location choice.

3. Psychiatric nursing is one of those love hate things, and I loved to hate it! Something about being in a locked ward didn't sit well with the claustrophobic side of me. Or maybe I identified a little to well?

4. I like my new dysfunctional family (aka classmates, or sometimes they are called friends too). They are the only ones who fully understand the chaos that nursing school entails. It makes the daily monotony a bit more bearable, I care about their success as much as my own.

5. Mistakes happen, take note of them, laugh at them, and move on. Or even better...tell your classmates so they can get a good laugh out of the deal too!

6. If you get beat up by a confused patient, be prepared to get teased by your clinical instructor, who is secretly glad she was standing out of arms reach.

7. Sometimes the exams you take in the class have nothing to do with what you have learned, or in fact the correct answer was really the opposite to what you were told in class.

8. Just like the military there is a lot of "hurry up to wait" and there is a lot of time wasted! Today for instance could have been over before noon; however, we were there until 1530. I have learned to always have extra reading material on hand.

9. Nothing in this program is worth raising your anxiety level....take a deep breath and say "goosefraba". This is only temporary.

10. Patient safety is a must; however, restraints are around for a reason!
Okay, I am there is much more I could add to this list. But my head hurts and I have some chapters to read....first quiz is on Friday!

One more month!

We are officially (as of yesterday) one month out of being able to check off another completed semester. If I make it to the end has yet to be seen, I have struggled a little bit on the last exams in both classes. Thankfully, I am not to the point were I must get a certain grade on the final...but if I don't shake things up soon I will be looking for a new major.

In light of everything here is a bit of humor...

Stages of Life in Bottles

(Thanks Tracey)

Nanda Nursing Diagnoses

Top 10 Diagnoses for nursing students…

10. Fluid volume deficit related to dehydrating effects of caffeine as evidenced by increased student sightings at coffee bars.

9. Impaired social interactions related to inappropriate topics of conversation as evidenced by excessively detailed discussions of bowel and bladder functions.

8. Sexual dysfunction related to time constraints and stress-induced impotence as evidenced by increased irritability of nursing students and their significant others.

7. Functional constipation related to lack of time to go to the bathroom as evidenced by moving at the speed of light and still not getting everything done.

6. Impaired skin integrity related to increased intake of fat, chocolate, and alcohol as evidenced by the return of adolescent facial breakouts.

5. Anticipatory grieving related to impending midterms and final exams as evidenced by fits of crying and social withdrawal in October, December, March, and May.

4. Maturational enuresis related to trauma-induced regression to childhood as evidenced by frequent changing of linens.

3. Ineffective individual coping: obsessive compulsive behaviors related to high demand of nursing school as evidenced by the continual checking and rechecking of calendars, date books, course syllabi, and other nursing students to reassure that one is not forgetting assignments.

2. Altered thought processes: caffeine-induced psychosis and paranoia related to increased coffee consumption as evidenced by the overwhelming feeling that all the instructors are out to fail you from the program.

1. Self-care deficit related to being a nursing student as evidenced by weight loss/gain, insomnia, and mediocre household cleanliness.

Confession...okay more of a gripe

So I confess...I am not a very good blogger. However, I am a fairly good student, which explains my lack of blogging here lately. Maybe I should rename the blog from "chronicles of" to the "occasional rantings of an allusive student nurse." Hmmm, I think it's kinda of catchy :)

A few other blogs I read occasionally just stop at random points, and I wonder if they are in the same boat as me? Or are they not posting because they are no longer on the student nurse to registered nurse path? Rest assured my loyal readers (all 10 of you) I am still trudging away, just busy as all hell!

I can't believe how much work there is actually to do! Three weeks ago I wrote all the assignments due for each class in my weekly planner, color coded to match each class...yup, I still have a migraine from it!

I feel it is taking everything I can offer just to try and keep my head above water. There is this overwhelming sense of overall disappointment, looming over my household. I feel guilty "hiding" in my room behind a mountain of books instead of crawling around outside intriguing the young minds of my kiddos. Or when I do take some time off of school the work, it is always in my brain that I should have a book in hand. Any other task, not involving nursing, never really gets my full undivided attention.

Something has to give, I am crossing my fingers and toes hoping it wont be my sanity! There are still 11 more months to graduation and pinning! I find it befitting that we are studying hypertension this week. I think I need to re-review the signs and symptoms of prehypertension for a little self diagnosis.

Alright this has completely veered off the intended topic and I end the complaining here. Back to the books...I have to find someway to cram all the information required to pass two exams on Monday, into a already nearly necrotic brain.

No Longer A Nurseling

Today brought in a brand new semester of Nursing. We have now progressed to Adult Health I and Mental Health. If it is possible, even though it was only an orientation day, I am already feeling the stress. There is this overwhelming dread as I look over the two syllabus'. I wonder how it is even possible that we are going to be able to meet so many objectives. Seems impossible for a normal semester, but this is summer and there is a month less to cram in the same amount of material?!? Oy vey. Sleep is going to be a distant memory! Have I mentioned how much I love coffee?

I am very sad to confess... I think I have killed a small forest today and quite possible a few more will be cleared in my name before the end of these 12 weeks. The notes need to only cover the information for the first test in both classes is unbelievable. I think I am going to have to go buy a bigger binder tonight! We had it so easy last semester....

Tomorrow is a clinical day, without the benefit of having at least having one theory class. Nothing like being tossed into the fire. My first three weeks (2x a week) will be spend doing my Mental Health rotation. I was told the hospital I am going to still practices electric shock therapy. I thought they did way with that in the 70's....hmmm. Promises to be a learning experience like no other. The Clinical instructor said we will mostly be on a woman's floor but we will also be making rounds on the Children's floor as well. I thought Peds was going to be hard to see sick kids, the mental health aspect of illness never even crossed my mind. Don't know how those days are going to go

Alright, I am off...I need to go locate where this hospital actually is before early morning rolls around.

Nurse's Appreciation Week

In honor of Nurse's Appreciation Week a few prayers to help you through your day:

A Nurses Prayer

Give me strength and wisdom
When others need my touch;
A soothing word to speak to them,
Their hearts yearn for so much.

Give me joy and laughter,
To lift a weary soul;
Pour in me compassion,
To make the broken whole.

Give me gentle, healing hands,
For those left in my care;
A blessing to those who need me,
This a Nurse's prayer.

Copyright 1995 Allison Chambers Coxsey

Also for you certified nurses aides:

A Nurses-Aides Prayer

Lord, before I leave for work today,
I need to take the time to pray.
I want to serve You faithfully,
And perform my tasks with dignity.
When I 'counter moments of stress,
I pray for help to do my best.

While assisting cares for a resident,
I heard her whisper a prayer lament.
If a resident is upset with me,
I ask him to forgive, I plea.

Residents suffer, expressing fears,
Others grumble of aging years.
Some residents glow from faith inside,
Where dignity rules their hearts of pride.

Some residents feel they live in despair,
When in the "Home"their destined there.
"Resident Rights" are a vital must,
For quality care to us they entrust.

Grant me compassion O' Lord I pray,
as You guide me through my working day.
by Linda Fisher Adams, CNA

HESI

It stands for Health Education Systems, Inc. For some schools this is the type of exam you take to even enroll in Nursing School, until recently my school used the NLN to enter the program(though I hear that is changing to the HESI.)

Once you are in the nursing program it becomes another dreaded exam you have to take prior to the final. The people that created this test believe that how well you do on this exam is directly proportional on how well you would do when it comes to take the state licensing exam after graduation...NCLEX.

It covers everything you should have learned during the semester. I say should have, because there were some questions on the one I took today that was clearly not from anything we covered in the past three months. However, I know they will be covered in Mental Health or Adult...which does come next semester. Maybe they were just testing our critical thinking skills with our limited knowledge base? HA

From the beginning of classes convening we knew we had to achieve a numerical score of 850 or have to do a remediation plan. Not a lot of fun when you have other class assignments to be concerned about. Last week the Nursing Department sent out an email stating: If you receive a conversion score greater then 80% you can opt out of taking the Final Exam. No added pressure or anything.

I know quite a few people that devoted countless hours studying for this. And I will most likely be hated for admitting...but I didn't study one bit. I didn't know what I should study or where to focus my time. So instead of wasting the time all together, I gave my undivided attention to things going on at home. (My son sure did enjoy his 4th Birthday, without mommy being buried behind a mountain of books.)

Isn't he cute!

Alright, enough playing around. Turns out I will not be taking a final for this class! I received a numerical score of 1017 which converted to a 92%. (Don't ask me how they convert it because I don't have any clue!) So all that is remaining for this semester is: one case study that must be finished tonight and a unit exam on Thursday! Sadly I still will have to take a Chemistry final as well.

You know you are nursing student if.....

1. You open the refrigerator door and notice that the already opened milk jug has been dated and timed and has your initials on it.

2. You keep the sterile field even when you cook dinner.

3. You have used restraints...and it was not a sexual experience.

4. Your family has filed missing person reports on you during finals week.

5. You shake a person's hand and you find yourself feeling for a vein to decide which size IV catheter you would use.

6. You discuss the consistency of your patients' poop on your lunch break..and that's not weird to you.

7. Your normal friends all graduated in business or mass comm.

8. You've canceled your gym membership once you realized your Pediatrics book can double as a 10 lb weight.

9. You are determined to figure out how to administer caffeine through an IV line before finals week.

10. You know that the correct answer is not on the test and you will argue to the death for those 2 points.

*****

About Number 4. that explains my lack of posting. We are now on our down hill slide to the end of the semester. We did our last clinical day this past Tuesday. Tomorrow the HESI. Next Thursday one more unit test and the following Monday and Tuesday Finals!!!! I am going to try and post tomorrow, today's class was way to much fun not to :)

Let the shit talk begin

That line was actually spoken as the theory instructor walked into the room on Friday.

For good reason, topic of the day: Bowel elimination (deification or even poop if you prefer) this topic also included flatulence and hemorrhoids. So, yes, there was literally a whole lot of shit talk. I may never think of chocolate in the same way again. Just in case the Bristol Stool Form Scale doesn't do the trick in determine if your own poop is good or bad...Milk Duds (Type 1) BAD, chocolate milk shake (Type 7) BAD, the goal of each deification to match a Baby Ruth consistency(Type 3 or even sometimes 4). Good thing I am on a diet kick. I mean, who really needs to eat chocolate ever again anyway, right?

Okay this class wasn't a fun as the topic alluded to, oh well. Maybe next week things will perk up a little, the next topic will be Pain Management....Narcotics! That may be good for a story or two.

Lesson of the day:
Proper fluid and fiber intake, plus a little exercise is all that is needed to prevent things from backing up!

In case you missed this when it first played on Scrubs (the funniest nearly medical like show out there!!!) a few years ago...I present you the POO SONG! (this pretty much sums up the lesson, well we didn't doing the song and dance...guess my class just isn't that cool!:)