Week 4 is proving to be more challenging. We have had two long days. Maybe they just seem longer since I now have lab at 8 am for almost 3 hours followed by a 4 hour lecture. I am realizing just how much I am sitting during the day. That will continue for the next couple weeks, until we start clinicals! Then I will be on my feet for HOURS! I need to enjoy sitting for now.
This week in lab we have skills tests. We learned today how to administer injectable medications (subcutaneous and intramuscular). We are being tested tomorrow! We have these blocks of what feels like water and fat to stick with needles and actually inject "medicine," which is just saline. It is great to practice, but I know I will be terrified the first time I pierce someone's skin to give an injection. There are flu shot clinics in the fall where we will have LOTS of practice and get over that fear really fast. It is pretty exciting to be using the syringes and learning yet another aspect of nursing. We are also learning so many safety precautions to keep our future patients and ourselves safe. So much to remember, and again they tell us, it will all become familiar, routine and part of our standard practice.
On top of getting prepared for the many lab tests, we have our first midterm where our notes and books are not allowed! I am not sure how I feel about this. I am slightly glad, and slightly nervous. I find open book exams to be stressful. Don't get me wrong, I used my book and notes like crazy in the previous exams...but I also felt way less confident and didn't trust myself. This week, I am stepping up my game, reading, watching required videos, going through hours of tutorials and hoping I am able to learn and retain enough information to ace my exam in a few days!
I am feeling very tired this week too, maybe the most run down I have felt in the past 4 weeks. I am staying up late and getting up early. I bought my first coffee at school today, around 1pm, and I am still wired from the caffeine. It was a latte made with Peet's coffee. My dad, the coffee connoisseur, is probably smiling at that. My uniform was delivered today too! I will try to post a picture soon :)
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