I am now finishing out my second week back from break. This is my second week of advanced Med Surge. Advanced it is! Our professor for the first two weeks was intense, but maybe one of my favorites so far. She is high energy, keeps my attention and explains things so well that I actually understand what she means. Her focus was all cardiology; so I feel like I know so much more about the heart. Now to study a lot to retain this information! Along with this new course comes my third clinical placement. Today was my first 12 hour shift. It went as well as can be expected. I was really tired and ready to go home. I felt overwhelmed, inadequate, not prepared and over half the time I was clueless as to what I was doing. Ahhh the familiar feeling has come rushing back to me!! Hopefully these next few weeks go by quickly. Not that I want to wish away my experiences, but I know I do not want to do critical care and I simply cannot wait for the spring where I will be doing pediatrics and OB!! I cannot wait!! Critical care is a bit more involved (I say this now as I have completed one day..one day! Who do I think I am?!) The nurses have at most four patients. At my previous med surge clinical, the nurses had up to eight patients. Big difference. The patients on this floor are definitely more critical. I am not in an ICU, but a step down ICU floor. Most patients have had surgery and are not so critical they need the ICU, but they need closer monitoring then they would get on a typical floor. I need to brush up on my basic nursing skills. After so many weeks in psych (we didn't touch patients or do vitals or head to toe assessments!) I was thrown right back into the trenches today. Next week we will be giving medications and I am sure held to higher expectations. I was able to have a new first today; I checked my patient's blood glucose! We were not allowed to do that at the previous rotation. It was a small thrill. I hope to challenge myself and my comfort level in this rotation. I know I will be pushed by my instructor, which scares me but will also keep me on my toes. I have a good clinical group and we seem to all get along really well.
I turned in my application for the service trip over spring break. The instructor who is in charge of this trip has been sending out desperate emails due to a lack of interest in the trip. I am really hoping she doesn't decide to cancel the trip! I am still holding out hope I will be chosen. Today, in her latest email attempt to get students to apply, was to do a last call to our group. If she doesn't get any more applications, she will open the trip up to other groups of nursing students. I will keep you posted on what happens!!
Tomorrow is Halloween; I will be spending my evening in Pharm class. I was thinking recently, I am pretty positive I have yet to have the chance to pass out candy with Erin since I met her. I have always had an evening class on Halloween. This should be the last year!! Sadly, next year I could be working on EVERY HOLIDAY!! I must enjoy the perks of being a student while I still am one :)
Speaking of Erin, she has convinced me to do this 90 day workout. It is kicking my butt!! The last two days I have struggled to walk due to my insanely tight calves. It is ridiculous how out of shape I am. She is further ahead of me and has become a rock star at these workouts. We can do them in the comfort of our own home. Some nights it's only 10-15 minutes. So far I hate it, but I have an accountability partner and Erin cheering me on!
Off to try and convince my calves it will feel good to do another workout!
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