Student nurse extern program, summer 2012

I'm pretty sure I mentioned that I was scoping out student nurse extern programs for this summer...between here, facebook, twitter, and the real world, it's hard to remember what I've mentioned where.  Anyhoo...I applied and interviewed for an extern program at a hospital about 45 minutes away, was told that I would get a letter by today.  Got my letter...I'M IN!  They want me!  And I got my first choice, orthopedics!  I'm quite excited, feeling like maybe I can actually be competitive in this whole finding-a-nursing-job thing! (could I use any more exclamation points!!  YES!!  I could!!!  !!)

So now that I've been accepted, I need to call them and say yes, I'm in, then they will formally offer me the position.  Then I get to do all the fun stuff, like go fill out tax forms and get a physical.  I don't know what all they will do at this physical, but it's 2 different visits over 2-3 days.  I'm assuming there will be a drug screening, plus I have to show proof of recent flu shot and TB skin test.  I'm good on all those...no drugs, plus I had my TB skin test in December and my flu shot in January.  But what else they'll do...?  Seeing as how I'm in good physical health and condition, I'm not concerned.

So, starting in mid-May, I get to go to the orientation stuff - new employee orientation plus the actual extern program orientiation - then I assume the role of student nurse extern.  I'm really looking forward to it, hoping I'll learn a lot, get practice on my skills and procedures, learn charting, and just get a better feel of working as an RN.  This should really help out with my precepting in the fall as well, even though that will be at THE hospital and I'll have to probably learn different protocols and computer systems.

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In other news...had my 2nd and last OB clinical yesterday.  I started out on the Mother-Baby unit shadowing one of the nurses.  I helped get start-of-shift vitals and assessments on her 2 established patients, and then helped her get her "checking-in" assessment on a mama who had given birth earlier that morning.  Right after that, my clinical instructor said that there was a mama over in L&D that was getting close to delivery, and that I could go over and be a part of that.  I had asked if I could get in on a vaginal birth since I had never seen one.  I figured I would go to L&D, see the birth, then be back in Mother-Baby by lunch.  Well, little baby had a different idea, and I was in L&D until an hour after we were supposed to be finished with clinical :-)  It was a great experience...one of my classmates and I were with the 2 L&D nurses and got to help with mama's care.  We were having her push with contractions to get the baby to move down - she was dilated to a 10 and 100% effaced, but baby was up at a -1 - and one of the nurses had me watch the strips and the internal monitors to let them know when mama was having another contraction and to push again.  We got baby's head down to maybe a +3 or +4, then called in the OB to deliver the baby.  After such a great day in L&D, it's now back on my list of potential units when it comes time to find a job.

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And in something completely unrelated to nursing...I placed 3rd in my age group in a 5K run last weekend  :-)  I went into the race wanting to set a new PR, do my best, go hard...and never even thought I would come close to being in the medal winners.  When they were calling the awards, they got to the females age 35-39...called 1st and 2nd places...then "And for 3rd place...Kendra <student nurse Kendra's last name>"  !!!  I was shocked, thought there had to be a mistake, but no, it was really me!  My official time was 28:05, average pace of 9:02.  That shattered my previous 5K time of 31:33.  That was in 2004, almost 8 years ago.  Nice to know I've improved as I've gotten 8 years older!  There's another 5K coming up at the end of April, I'm going to try to run in that one as well.  I'd love it if I could improve a little more...like drop those 6 seconds and get into the 27 minute range.  We shall see!

And with that, I'm off to resume school work.  Meh.  Happy Friday, y'all :-)

Merry Christmas!

A few hours early, but wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas 2011!  Special holiday wishes for those who are working this weekend, sacrificing your time with your own families to take care of those who are in the hospital during the holidays. I know that will be me at some point, so I am enjoying what might be my last work-free Christmas.

I will spend the rest of the night watching "A Christmas Story", trying to get kiddos to sleep so Santa can come, and cleaning the house like a madwoman in anticipation of company tomorrow.  I was smart this year -- making Christmas dinner in the crockpot and letting it do the work.

Peace :-)

Less than 3 weeks to go!

3 weeks from today I'll be a few days into my 2nd semester of nursing school!  Yay...and yikes!

Yep, only 3 more weeks of summer break.  And since my kiddos start school before I do -- my oldest starts 3rd (!!!) grade August 10th -- my last day of summer break is more like August 9th.  Back to getting up at 6 AM, back to corralling kiddos to bed at 8 PM.  The getting up at 6 AM is really not my thing.  Buh.  But I know I'll have some early clinical report times this semester, so I better get used to it.

As I mentioned last time, I got books ordered.  One shipment has already come in -- my Medical Terminology workbook and my Nursing Research text.  Gotta love Amazon Prime...my books arrived the day after I ordered them (I'm so going to miss Prime when my student membership expires later this month *sad*).  I still haven't gotten the 2 books I ordered from the school bookstore...haven't even gotten notice that they're shipped or anything.  I hope there isn't some stupid SNAFU.  Probably should check on that.  Also mentioned in a previous entry, I got my HepB vax.  Good gosh, those suckers hurt!  I got the thing a week ago and my arm is still tender.  I really really really...and some more really...hope this is the last one I have to deal with, at least for now.  I'm tired of being a pincushion.

From my comments on my last post, it appears there are many fellow textbook nerds out there!  Most excellent...glad to know I'm not the only weirdo who stalks the mailman when the books are on their way, but then starts to hate those same books just a few weeks later.  ;-)  And also, thank you for validating my thoughts on the photo-taking, foot-loving creeper.  That was a few weeks ago and I still think "Was that real...did that really happen?  Who does that kind of thing?"  *shudder*  I told the story to a few of my other friends...their reactions were all much the same -- dude was CREEPY.

Not much else going on.  Really need to start making my review notecards...intended to start that this week, just been a bit busy the past few days.  Maybe that will be tomorrow's main task.  I think once I get started and into the groove, I won't want to stop...just got to take that first step.  Waiting to get our formal schedule from our program secretary, waiting to hear back about a scholarship I applied for, waiting to see if I get my financing from The Hospital before my bill is due....WAITING.  And to toss in a bit of superficial vanity, I'm trying to take advantage of the remaining 3 weeks laying out here and there (like Sookie Stackhouse says...I don't drink, I don't smoke...my sunning is my vice), running when I can, walking when I can't run...and plan to dye my hair again the week before school starts.  Between the RED hairs, the tan, and the 10-11 pounds I lost over the summer, I'm shooting for a whole different person than I was in May.  OK, not really...but still.  Told you I was going to be vain, there.  ;-)

And with that, I shall wrap this up.  I do want to say a big thank you for reading my inane ramblings and leaving comments.  I appreciate anyone who stops by  :-)

Later gators

Home improvement project

Ever since we moved into our house in February 2005, I've been making a list of things I want to change/upgrade/update/fix/re-do/make better.  Either through our own decisions or as a response to Mother Nature or age-related breakdown, we've been marking things off the list over the past 6 years -- new garage door, new roof, painting, new canned lighting in the kitchen, etc.  We still have a long list of projects, but we're getting some done each year.

I've always wanted to re-figure the girls' bathroom because I never liked the design.  Their bathroom is divided into 2 separate areas -- the main area has the bathtub, toilet, and a vanity/sink...a typical full bathroom.  The other area is a very narrow walk-through area that has the linen cabinet on one side, and another vanity/sink on the other side.  So...from the hallway you walk through a door into the walk-through area, then through another doorway (I took the door off a few years ago) into the main bathroom area.  2 separate and different sinks in the same bathroom, but in separate "rooms" = really dumb idea.  And I realize this would make more sense if I had a picture or a drawing... 

One thing I've missed in this house is a hall/coat closet.  I have no place to hang coats and store scarves, mittens, luggage, and anything else that gets tossed into a hall closet.  So my poor youngest daughter shares her closet with the coats, scarves, mittens, luggage, and anything else that belongs in a hall closet.  Not ideal.  We've gotten away with it up until now, but I foresee a need for more closet space for her stuff as she gets older and accumulates more stuff.  So...my non-architect self had the idea to remove the vanity from the walk-through area of the bathroom and make it into a closet.  I mentioned this a couple years ago and the idea was shot down...but for some reason, it not only got resurrected recently, but it's now becoming reality.

The kiddos are spending a week with my parents to attend their church's Vacation Bible School this week, so what better time to re-work their bathroom when they're not around to "help" and "supervise".  Plus things removed from the bathroom are temporarily hanging out in their rooms.  We're currently on the 3rd night of work -- water supply capped off and water lines cut, vanity/sink removed, various holes patched, linen cabinet area demo'd (forgot to mention...we're replacing the crappy plywood linen cabinet with nicer-looking ClosetMaid wire shelving)...we've been busy!  Still have to install the vinyl floor "patch" where the vanity was, paint, buy and install the wire shelves, and move the light from the wall to the ceiling.  Our goal is to have all work completed by Saturday night, if not before, because kiddos are coming home Sunday.


So that's my week.  Making a big mess, cleaning up a big mess, getting another project crossed off the list.  And enjoying some nice solitary peace and quiet during the day.  That part is absolutely wonderful  :-)

And just so I mention something to do with nursing school -- school starts in less than 10 weeks.

Loves, smiles, happiness

I shamelessly swiped this from another nursing blogger -- Estelle, and if you haven't already, check her out...she is one tres cool chickadee!! -- and thought it would fit here during my summer break from nursing school.  Anyhoo, the idea is to list things that you're currently loving or that are making you smile or that are making you happy.  So here we go:

• My new red hairs.  Totally frivolous, but hey, my blog, my topics, my choices  :-)  I dyed my hair the other night and went with a color that I've been lusting after for over a year, but was too afraid to try it in the event it came out horribly wrong.  Like Ronald McDonald or Bozo the Clown wrong.  But I bit the bullet and gave it a shot....and I *love* it!  It's a true RED color...think the color of red velvet cake.  I'm so totally doing my hairs in this color again before school starts.  Yes, folks, proof that I have my moments where I am quite a girl.

• My friends.  ...including local friends, nursing school classmates, friends I've known for years, Internet friends, etc.  I could go on and on here, but I'll condense it down to one sentence: My closest friends are the bestest ever.  Period.  'Nuff said.

• Running.  After my previously mentioned knee injury, surgery, and recovery, I am so thankful to be back to running.  Granted, it's short distances yet since I'm having to build up from essentially nothing, but it's still running.  I feel so much better when I'm able to get out and run 3-4 times a week.

• Reading non-school books.  My reading-for-fun habit was severely affected by nursing school last semester.  I did plenty of reading in my textbooks and notes and what not...but that's just not the same as curling up with a good bit of chick lit or romance (more proof that I am quite a girl).  I've been reading pretty much non-stop since the semester was over, both real books and on my Kindle.  I'm reveling in my bookworm-ness once again. 

• Our hummingbird feeders.  I got them all cleaned up and filled and hung out on our back porch yesterday.  The little dudes are already fighting over them.  Due to my immobility last year, the feeders didn't get put out and I was afraid the hummingbirds would remember the lack of food here and wouldn't come back.  But within an hour of getting them out, hungry birds were buzzing around.  This will be my entertainment for the rest of the summer  :-)

• Pinterest.  My fellow nursing tweeple were discussing this on twitter recently, so I succumbed to the peer pressure.  Very simple concept -- like a virtual bulletin board where you "pin" things you like.  And you can have different boards with different topics -- books, movies, food, wedding ideas, decorating ideas...just anything you want.  You can search the site for ideas or you can pin things from elsewhere on the web.  I've spent hours on it in the past few days...just browsing, pinning, browsing some more, pinning some more.  I'm developing an addiction.  (proof: when I went to Pinterest to catch the link for this post, I scrolled through the main page and started pinning more stuff,  I need help.)

• My tumblr.  I have my nursing school blog, twitter, and facebook...but my tumblr is like my own personal pensieve a la Harry Potter.  My tumblr is my therapy...where I can be raw and emotional and not have to filter my words.  It's nice to have a private place to unload my thoughts.  It serves its purpose well.

Alrighty...I think that's a pretty good glimpse at some of the things that are keeping me sane right now. 

Enjoy thy early days of June...keep cool and hydrated!

Trying something new this summer

I'm doing the Couch 2 5K (C25K) program to get myself back to running condition.  Not that I was ever a hard core marathon runner or anything even close to that (I can only wish).  But once upon a time, I used to enjoy running for fitness and hobby...and I've always liked the time to myself to think about things and ponder life.

And why am I not in running condition anymore, you may ask?

Almost exactly a year ago (May 24th), I tore the meniscus in my right knee.  The orthopedic surgeon was able to repair it instead of having to remove it, which meant that my recovery would be significantly longer.  As in 6 weeks non weight-bearing, then 2 more weeks of physical therapy before I learned how to walk again (literally), then another 2 months of physical therapy to get my ROM back to normal.  I was cleared to try running again about 6 months post-injury...I tried, but I couldn't run without having some significant knee pain.  But I was persistent and kept at it, doing a little bit of running when I was out walking over the past few months.  And it's paid off -- I can actually run now!  There is some pain when I first start, but it goes away.  Yay progress!

New problem is that my lung capacity is shot.  I have asthma which has always been a factor in my running, but I can manage it.  After a year of not running, I'm basically starting from scratch.  I can get out and run and my knee feels fine, but then I start to huff and puff and wheeze and sound like a 70-year-old COPD'er.  *sigh*  So, I thought maybe I could benefit from an actual running program that builds up from nothing.  Enter the C25K program.

I finished my 1st week today...all I did for 3 days was a 5-minute brisk warm-up walk, then I ran 60 seconds, walked 90 seconds, repeat 8 times to get to 20 minutes.  It doesn't sound like much, but hey, you gotta start somewhere.  And after the 9-week program, I'm hoping I'll be back to my norm of running 3-4 miles at a time.

So...new project, new goal to work for...and hoping it will help me drop those few (*ahem*) pounds that I picked up this past semester, thanks to my nursing school diet.  And I've missed my good endorphin rush the past year.  A runners' high beats out a walkers' high, no contest.

Have a good weekend  :-)

I've become boring...lol

At least regarding my discussions about nursing school.  Having the summer completely off is giving me nothing much to talk about in that vein.

The only thing nursing-related I have to mention is that the local hospital has a Nursing Assistant job opening that would fit with my schedule -- medical, 7P - 7A, 48 hours biweekly.  I could totally do 2 nights a week this summer, no problem there.  The only thing that has me concerned is keeping up with that 2 nights a week once school starts back up in the fall.  I just don't know if I can do that...my only "free" nights (as in, nights that don't fall before a school day) are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.  Not sure if I could work out my schedule like that...and I don't want to work a night before a school day.  I wouldn't handle that well at all.  I don't know that the hospital would hire me for just the summer.  If they would do that, hey, no problem there.  Dilemma.  I would love to get my name in the system and keep up with at least some skills over the summer, not to mention earning a regular paycheck would be nice...just don't know if it can work out.  Guess I should look into it a bit further...

But yeah, that's it, that's all that's going on with anything nursing right now.  My scrubs are washed and hanging in the closet, haven't been touched in a few weeks...my much loved Danskos are sitting on a shelf in the closet, just waiting...haven't touched my school bag or books...haven't used my stethoscope or BP cuff (although I probably need to start finding human "patients" so I can keep current on auscultation and such).  It's odd...something that was such a huge part of my time for the past few months isn't even on my radar right now.  I miss it  :-)

Mad Men update:  I got through season 2, need to start season 3.  There isn't such a sense of urgency to get them watched as quickly now -- I was at Target a couple weeks ago and they had all 4 seasons on sale, 50% off each season.  Too good of a deal to pass up, so all 4 seasons of Mad Men are now in my possession.  No more having to coordinate my watching schedule with library deadlines and waiting for a fellow Mad Men-loving library patron to return the disc I need.  So...may have to get started on season 3 tonight.  The season 2 finale was a pretty good cliffhanger and I want to know what happens next!

Alrighty...other stuff is beckoning.  And the 4 yo is wanting lunch. I swear, these kids...they expect you to feed them regularly...sheesh...  ;-)  Continued good luck wishes for those taking finals, starting summer classes, graduating (lucky ones!!), and starting new and/or summer jobs!

Peace out

Grades confirmed!!

3 A's, 1 B, 3.71 semester GPA.  I'm happy with that!

That gets me on the Dean's List and that's plenty good to keep my hospital funding, which is pretty darn important to my being able to stay in nursing school.

So I've been finished for a week now.  It's been so nice to not be stressing about some paper or quiz or care plan or whatever.  I feel much more calm and relaxed already.  I'm able to sit here at night and watch TV or read a non-textbook and actually enjoy it.  I'm really thankful for the mental break from school.  Although I'll admit I miss my classmates and the daily interaction with people older than 4 and working with patients in clinicals.

On a related note, I've finished season 1 of Mad Men and am starting season 2 tonight.  I love it!  I mean, the way the men treat the women has made me raise an eyebrow more than a few times, and I can't believe how much everyone smokes (everywhere...in the office, in restaurants, on the train, in doctor's offices...).  But the storyline and the characters have sucked me in and I intend to get all 4 seasons watched as I can get the DVD's from the library.  It doesn't hurt that the main character is ~hot~ and so nice to look at.  I would gladly be Don Draper's secretary  ;-)
 
And on that note, Don Draper et al beckon, so it's time to curl up for a few hours of indulgence.

Cheers!

Migraines are no fun

While I've known this fact for awhile now, having family and friends who are plagued with migraines every so often, I'd not had personal experience with them.

Until today.

I was sitting at lunch and felt like the left side of my face had been slapped.  Repeatedly.  And then as the day went on, that feeling got worse and went from superficial discomfort to deep, head-splitting pain.  The whole left side of my head hurt in a way that I'd never felt before.  I've had plenty of tension/stress and sinus headaches before...but this was totally different.  I happened to be talking to one of my friends online and mentioned this weird headache.  His words were along the lines of "sounds like a migraine...consume some caffeine immediately and go hide in the dark for a few hours".  So I did -- Dr. Pepper...Advil...headed for the bedroom...sleep.  3 hours later, I woke up feeling much better, thankfully.  But now, hours later, the left side of my head and face are still sore and I feel like I've been run over by a truck.  Fortunately I no longer have the desire to chop my head off to relieve the pain, though.

So now I'm wondering what might have triggered this...and if it was just a random thing where the stars lined up just right, or if this is the first of more to come.  Hmmm.  Might be reading up on migraines this weekend...just to educate myself some more.  Just in case.

If nothing else, I now have even more sympathy/empathy for people who get these suckers.  And that's never a bad thing for a nursing student/future nurse  :-)

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2011!

Here's hoping for a good year...for nursing school to go well, for my family and friends to remain happy and healthy, for negativity to stay away.  I'm looking forward to what the new year brings.

Happy New Year...may your 2011 be a good one  :-)

Merry Christmas 2010!

**OK, so I know this is my nursing school blog...but I'm taking the option for an off topic post.  It's my blog, I can get away with it.**

So I've been awake for over 14 hours at this point, but I'm running fairly strong on adrenaline and excitement and probably more than a little bit of sugar/caffeine from the various goodies I've consumed.  Yay for sugar cookies and chocolate and candy!  I feel like Buddy the Elf with his 4 food groups...

Our day started off a little earlier than I would normally be up and at 'em on a Saturday morning, but when you have kiddos, that's just how Christmas morning goes.  I should be thankful it was only a 6 AM wake-up call, rather than one at a much uglier hour.  Once the groggy adults came to our senses, we ventured into the living room to see what Santa had left behind.  We spent the next hour opening presents and then unpackaging and setting up various new gifties.  The kiddos had enough to keep them occupied for awhile, so I was able to get myself together and get started with my stuff for the day.

As has become tradition, I was planning for an afternoon meal with my side of the family.  However I was playing hostess to more than just my usual family today -- I invited one of my closest/bestest friends over for the day as well.  He grew up not celebrating Christmas (or any holiday or event, for that matter) and I wanted to make him feel welcome and comfortable without feeling awkward.  And I know it's sometimes difficult to be the "new and strange" person stepping into an established family dynamic, even when the people involved are nice and friendly.  I just wanted it to be a nice day for him and for everyone...and I think I managed to pull it off  :-)

Everyone has since headed back to their respective homes and we're beginning to wind down for the night here (except for me on my sugar high).  So here I sit...curled up in my comfy chair, watching new toys and games being played with and reflecting on the day.  I'm about ready to grab my main gift (Santa brought me a Kindle 3 *squee*) and use one of my Amazon gift cards to order me up some books.  I know what I will be doing the next few hours  :-)

Christmas 2010 was very good, and I am thankful for my many blessings -- high among them are my family and friends.

Well, wasn't that fun?

Nothing like a good ol' calling-out to bring a few busybodies around.  Folks must lead dull lives.  *shrug*

I made my point, we'll see if it was heard and comprehended.

For now, I will now resume my "boring, self-absorbed" blogging.  Yeah..I'm OK with that.  :-)


Cheers!


PS:  Go derp somewhere else

I've had enough...

...and I'm going to break my silence and say something.

To the person who has been hitting this blog and my others on a regular basis -- and you know who you are -- why?  Really...what purpose does that serve?  Why would you make a point to keep checking on someone who has made it obvious they want to get away from you?  That's well into the realm of creepy.

I've noticed you lurking for awhile now, but I kept quiet, thinking you would tire and move on.  But apparently, you just do not get it.  This kind of thing is why ties were cut.  And before you even play the victim -- and I know you're going to, because that's just how you are -- think about it.  You are the one who has pushed people away, not the other way around.  I know you will never believe that, because it's easier for you to blame everyone else.  However, the more you dodge reality, the more you look like a total jackass.

If there is anything you should take away from this, it's that you need to stop.  Seriously.  You have an unhealthy fixation on situations that will never change...and they will never change because of you and your actions.  You really should learn to respect boundaries, not constantly challenge them.  You seem to be under the mistaken idea that such an MO endears you to people, when in actuality, it has quite the opposite effect.

Move on.  Enough is enough.  Leave me alone.