second year: FIN!

And just like that, second year has come to a close. Hallelujah!

This semester has been unreal. 15 straight weeks of clinical, 3 rotations, flipping from days to evenings, doing assignments, re-learning skills, regurgitating medications, learning lab values and their meanings, cramming in disease processes, all while trying to maintain sanity.

While having no classes has been easier in some aspects - no midterms, finals, flash cards, etc - it has been grueling in others. For the vast majority of my classmates, it has been our first experience in the hospital, never mind actually caring for a patient. In the beginning, taking vitals seemed like the most exciting task. Now, giving IM injections and catheters is done without batting a lash. Talking with patients was once stressful, but now chatting with our patient, their family, and physician is done with ease.

It's really neat to see how much I have grown from week 1 to week 15. Although I wasn't scared of jumping right in, I my practice has matured tremendously in confidence and competence.

This last rotation has physically been the easiest, but mentally the most trying. This past week I have been unable to sleep due to my mind replaying the blood-curling sounds and sights of the ill patients on our unit. I am very fortunate to have had this experience, but it certainly is not for the faint of heart. I have certainly built up a few hundred layers of tough skin since our first week! Our unit has included those who:

• have uncontrolled schizophrenia, and have been picked up the police for going 'nuts' downtown, shaving off their eyebrows, hair, and getting 5+ facial piercings
• have attempted suicide because "the voices told me to do it"
• stabbed themselves in the throat four times, then slowly drove a pencil through their eye to the back of their skull (YUP.)
• picked their face, arms, and legs until they've bled due to anxiety and paranoia
• are convinced they are pregnant, despite countless negative exams/tests
• have had temper tantrums at their group home and attempted to choke another health care worker
• are convinced everyone is part of the Russian mafia, and is out to implant a chip in their brain

Unfortunately, many patients are familiar faces to staff. Mental illness is life-long and full of ups and downs. This rotation has opened my eyes and softened my heart to the struggles of folks who suffer from horrible illnesses that are not always physically visible. 

All in all, one-of-a-kind rotation! But for now, I am trying to unwind, relax, and get ready to head home for the holidays. 

Cheers!

D.

third rotation.

The third and final rotation has begun! This clinical has to do with mental health, and I am currently working in a acute care/lock-down psychiatric ward. Joy? I think so too.

I already knew going in that mental health isn't exactly my cup of tea, but I was motivated to make the best of f it. We were given the option to choose which unit we'd like work on: 2 rehabilitation options, and 1 lock-down unit. Seeing how I like a challenge, I jumped all over the last choice.

My clientele is different than anything I've other experienced - the patients have schizophrenia, mania, depression, paranoia, personality disorders, etc etc. In addition, their illness have exacerbated either by not taking their medication, self-medicating with ETOH/drugs, or a combination of both. All that to say, this unit is a little world in itself.

Only 2 students can be on the unit, so I feel privileged to work in such an intense/potentially dangerous environment. It is a 10-bed unit, but the primary goal of maintain safety can be challenging. The unit protocol takes some getting used to: counting plastic cutlery on returning lunch/dinner trays, taking away shoe laces & belts, patient rounds every 15 mins, bullet-proof glass surrounding the nursing station, routine checks from the security guards, etc.... it could be compared to a jail, I suppose!

Unfortunately, I'm having a hard time connecting with my Instructor. I can't get a 'sense' of how I am doing, and often his blank stares and silence leave me confused as to what I should do. It's odd. He's odd. Anyways. This unit has had no lack of surprises! I hope it makes the last 2 1/2 weeks go by quickly.

Cheers!
D.

second rotation: FIN!

Well, almost finished. Tonight is my final shift!

And of course, in typical karma fashion, I am caring for the toughest patient on my last two shifts.

Mr. Patient is going through ETOH (and suspected drug) withdrawal, and thinks he's being imprisoned against his will in a camp somewhere. So he screams bloody murder on regular intervals, bites out his IV, and yanks on his arm restraints so hard that we've replaced them twice. He yells at everyone for a large knife or a lighter, begs for a Tim Hortons coffee, and threatens to call his big brother. All while receiving sedatives and morphine every 30 minutes. Fun? I think so too.

I have never been sworn at so much in my life - I'm certainly building a couple new layers of thick skin!! I don't mind being sworn at, however I get really agitated when his expletives cause the visitors of the other patient in the room to escort their children outside. Now that's unacceptable. He was rather surprised when his 'Barbie-doll nurse' (yes, that's what he calls me!!) told him to shut-up on the spot. Swearing in front of children is NOT cool.

Dealing with someone in this type of mental state is exhausting. The constant yelling, swearing, attempting to escape... I have a deeper respect for those who deal with this daily: cops, psychiatric nurses, etc. Props to you. I don't know if it is the withdrawal that is making him act out in such a way, or if he is consciously doing this. It's really challenging to care for him as a person - making sure he is comfortable, having ice chips at all times, assessing his restraints, changing his bedding - while being told to f--- off and being called a variety of unpleasant things. Certainly a challenge.

And it's funny to think about how we've been taught in school to communicate with difficult patients. Let them get out their anger. Actively listen. Sympathize. Collaborate. Compromise. Communicate. Yada yada yada. Really, folks? That entire Communication class is of ZERO help right now. ZERO!

Besides all of that, I do like having him as my patient - my Instructor gave me this assignment (plus 2 others!) because she thinks I can handle it, knowing full-well what kind of shift I would have. I appreciate the challenge, it's making me think creatively and quickly to make sure that not only my patient, but myself and other nurses stay safe while caring for him. It's certainly never a dull moment!

D.

nursing + life

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in school and clinical that I forget life can exist outside of it. Lately I had been so consumed with 'hospital things' that I lost perspective on what happens elsewhere. I'm think it's problem most nursing students have - we are pushed to "go, go, go!" all the time that when we finally have a moment to ourselves, we fill it with homework or studying, disregarding any 'me' time.

I found a nice break from scrub-life this weekend. Seeing how it's Halloween on Monday, I went to a costume party at a friend of a friend's house. Now, I don't usually do this stuff. I like order and preparedness, not driving around without directions to a strangers house party. But, I seriously love dressing up, and I really love my roommate (who was going with me). So I sucked-up my bizarre social insecurities and off I went. Despite my hesitations, and just like my mother said I would, I had a blast!! 

Plus, I'm getting back into the swing of things with a 'Life' group (young adults small group) from church.  I've been missing church, so having this Sunday night routine is just what I needed. I already know quite a few people from the end of last year, so getting to know the crowd again has been fun. Our study is called 'The New Rules of Dating, Love, and Sex', by Andy Stanley. Who doesn't like to talk about that??

I put so much focus and thought into my weekly tasks that I often forget to just breathe and take a step back. I'm allowed to balance out my emotionally-draining experiences with a social life. In fact, it's probably good for me to get out there more! Nurse-talk can be entertaining for only so long. 

All in all, a fun weekend. Two more weeks left at this placement, and November is already in sight. It'll be HO HO HO time before I know it!

Cheers,

D.

rude awakening.

The reality of nursing can be a rude awakening. This week, I am caring for two gentlemen in a 4-person room. Another man in their room is dying. It's impossible to ignore his condition as the family has been at his beside for the past two days, just waiting. What makes it even worse is that I went to school with his son. He is way too young to watch his father die.

And there is no privacy. This poor man, not even 50, is dying while sharing a room with 3 men who couldn't even tell you what their name is, never mind where they are. There is no peace for him. It's disturbing.

This has been my week. I apologize for the somber post, but I am struggling with the unpleasant side of nursing.

D.

Rotation Two.

Can you believe we're 1/2 through October? I can't... I still feel like school has just started! My first placement - Orthopedics! - ended on a high note, which has continued to roll into the second rotation. Oddly enough, I'm back at the same hospital, but am now running around a Medicine ward.

It's taking a while for me to get used to working with 'sick' people. I know this sounds funny, but my last rotation in orthopedic surgery was like a well-oiled machine: people choose to have surgery. Care plans/flow sheets are massed produced, 90% of the patients have either their hip or knee replacement, and BOOM, they are in and out within a few days. Rarely is there a complication. Everyone left with a smile. But in Medicine, the patients are are truly sick. Organ failure. Pneumonia. C. diff. COPD. Pancreatitis. MS. Waiting for palliative placement. Some go home, others need long-term care, some pass away. In orthopedics, no one died!! Unfortunately, that's not the case here.

So again, another learning curve. Which is great, however it also plays on the heart strings. In terms of clinical group and Instructor, everything is good so far! Speaking of Instructors, I received a wonderful Final Review from my previous one, confusing me even more after his not-so-hot Midterm Evaluation. However, I'll take it! I took my solid A- and left him and his odd quirks behind.

Anyways. In addition to preparing for a new unit, I'm also getting things in place for my Ecuador trip! Which is such an unbelievable opportunity for me. I'm truly blessed! Lots more will be happening in the weeks to come. You can follow too! Go to: Dani in Quito 2012.

Cheers!

D.

CHECK IT OUT!

Dani in Quito, 2012

inspired!

Thankfully, last weekend's blues didn't continue for the entire week. I was still feeling rather negative towards my instructor for the earlier part of the week, but he left for vacation mid-way through (weird, right?), so I wasn't complaining. Anyway, the best part of the week was being able to actually see an operation! I was slotted to see a right knee arthroplasty - aka: joint replacement - and all the steps that go into the pre-operative and recovery stages.

Words cannot describe how amazing the OR was. It's like its own little world, tucked away from everything else. I could not believe that I had the privilege to be in the theatre. I mean, who else gets to be right in the action, rubbing shoulders with the surgeon, up close and personal? I was conscious of the fact that students may pass out or feel queazy despite their best intentions, so at first I stayed at the back as they prepped. But within moments of the first incision, I was on my tiptoes, craning to get the best view as possible without falling into the sterile field. The entire procedure, from first cut to final suture, didn't take very long. The OR sounded like a construction site with the saws and drills buzzing away, and with bits of cartilage and bloodied bone zipping around - I wished I was wearing a pair of googles!

Seeing that kind of 'amazing-ness' made returning back to the post-operative unit rather depressing... but inspiring at the same time. The point of the OR follow-through was to see the different roles of the nurses involved - OR nurses are very important, but it was the actual cutting and sawing that I loved... it definitely sparked an interest, inspired me to go further. So who knows? Maybe I'll just be a professional student for a while longer and keep working my way up the medical hierarchy. Who knows where I will end up!

Danielle

midterm evaluations.

As you probably know, I am a major keener. In elementary and junior high, I was that annoying kid who always answered the teacher's question, constantly flapping my hand in the air just itching to speak. I dominated group-projects, cried over 85%, and handed homework in early.

And not much has changed. I love school - that's just me. So when midterm evaluations came around this week, I was chomping at the bit to sit down with my instructor and review my skill development/professional progress during the past two weeks. 

Unfortunately, my instructor either 1) had me confused with someone else, 2) showed up drunk to my evaluation, or 3) is a totally ninny. I'm thinking all three. ANYWAYS. You know those lovely questions, ones where have to define your strengths and then define areas for improvement? Usually I say that a strength of mine is to appear confident and professional, even if my environment is chaotic or I don't know the answer. However, that self-observation died hard and fast because apparently I need to work on having 'confidence in my knowledge'. UGH. 

At the hospital, we are dealing some potentially harmful stuff. Every single time I gave someone an injection, I doubled and tripled checked with my instructor before giving it. I check more than we are required to - making a mistake with heparin or insulin does not have pretty consequences! However, my instructor interpreted this as a lack of confidence. He wants me just to start jabbing people with powerful drugs without double checking? Sure thing. I like giving needles anyway.

I was so upset with his comments. After spending endless hours researching and preparing for clinical, I was not expecting to get a review like that. Half my group shows up late, not prepared, and then ask me for answers before seeing our instructor. I thought I was doing great! I just don't get it.

All that to say, midterm evaluations did not go so well. But this is another week, with another patient, with many more learning experiences ahead. Thank goodness I had the weekend to cool my jets! 

D.

yet again another week...

I've had so many amazing experiences since last week, but have had trouble getting around to blogging because the internet in my suite has cacked. Wonderful! Just when life started to get interesting....

Here's another quick recap from the last week-ish:

• I can successfully and independently remove catheters! Yes, I am proud of my skills!
• I almost passed out while assisting with a dressing change on my patient who is battling a necrotic foot while in isolation with a super-bug infection.... irrigating and packing three areas of rotting flesh was a little too much handle while standing in a stuffy iso. room. 
• BUT, the second time I assisted with the above-mentioned dressing change, I was golden! Was calm and cool - voila! Easy as pie, except now I really hate isolation masks. 
• Unfortunately, I have encountered several pompous doctors. They do not sit well with me! This may be a problem in the future.

I really wish I could put out a lengthier post - not having direct Internet access is a challenge! Hopefully it will be repaired by Friday. 

Otherwise, my clinical experience remains the clear highlight of my entire education. School has never been so enjoyable! Our midterm evaluations are on Friday, and then a mere two weeks to go until next rotation. I can't believe how much I've learned in these past two weeks, it's incredible! Despite how much I prepare the night before, I am always amazed at how much more I need to learn. Nursing is definitely a life-long learning process. 

Cheers!

Danielle.

real nursing!

Where do I begin??

All of a sudden a week has gone by since clinical began, and I am at a loss for words! I don't know where the week went! I'll try to recap it the best I can:

• placed at an Orthopedics/Trauma unit - patients have had either A) elected surgery (ie: total knee replacement), or B) emergency surgery (ie: skateboarding, falling, etc.). For the most part, the surgery is bone related. However, the odd muscle surgery/pancreatitis/amputation gets snuck in.
• My first two buddy nurses on my 'shadow' days were phenomenal. I think they really helped with confidence when it came to running the show on my own.
•  Now that I capable of actual care, I have had two patients! One left-hip replacement, one bilateral knee replacement. Very exciting when you've never had a patient before :) 
• I have given a needle! Twice! 
• Dressing changes - oh my oh my, such fun! I can do them on my own, too! I've done a handful so far, and they are so so interesting. The whole process of surgery, sterile technique, dressings, healing, and any blood/guts involved is right up my alley. 
• We toured the OR! MY GOODNESS IT WAS MY FAVORITE PART. I was grinning like a kid on Christmas Day. And the best part: we get to freakin' WATCH a operation in the theatre! Right up close!! When we are deemed 'competent' enough by our instructor, we follow a patient through their entire elected surgery: pre/intra/post-operatively. HOW COOL IS THAT?!

My days zoom by like crazy. I am go go go, think think think, non-stop, all dayd - when I get home I zonk out like the dead. But it's the greatest feeling in the world - to be so engrossed in what your doing, to be learning constantly. I beyond thrilled to be where I am right now. 

Cheers!

D.

First Day of Clinical!

Look out, hospital. I'm coming!

Fingers crossed for a super exciting and learning-packed kind of day. Cheers!

D.

residence.

I must say, I am beyond thrilled with my living situation this year. I have one roommate, a friend and fellow nursing student, and we share a double-suite on the top floor. With a view! A HUGE treat seeing how the last 2 years I've faced the back of the building... over-looking the lovely bottle depot. A few things added to my 'home' collection really makes things feel cozy:

I'm not in a quad this year, and I'm beginning to miss the extra space! But on the plus side: I am on a Quiet Floor, so all the hooligans can party 12 floors down without disturbing my sleep. Another plus is that my RA is a serious cutie - and possibly the answer to my dilemma: I need a date for my friend's wedding that is in eight months. It seems ridiculous to plan this far in advance, but my options at the moment are basically... nill. Fingers crossed!

D.

I'M BACK!!!

Summer has come and gone - Fall is here!

I am super excited for this semester and living downtown for another year!

I have lots to say, a bunch to write about. I can't wait for another year of school!

Lots more to come soon.

Cheers,

D.

off for the summer.

I've decided to put this little blog on the back-burner over summer, with the promise to blog much more when I am back in school. I am looking forward to getting back in to the 'nursing' groove when September rolls around!

Take care,

D.

not for the faint of heart.

If you get the eebie-jeebies reading about people puking, don't keep reading. Please. :)

Part of my shift, regardless of which one it is, takes place in the dinning room - I help out with serving and cleaning up the meals in addition to my health care duties. A few days back, I was working over dinner time and was feeling a bit out of it. Dizzy, lethargic, sorta slow. I kept going, blaming hunger and lack of sleep. Although eating dinner didn't help - it actually made it worse - I didn't think anything of it. But later on, just as I was beginning my rounds, the dizziness turned into nausea and I started to feel worse. The evening shift usually goes quickly, so I kept going, especially since it was my last shift before a long weekend in Calgary.

But, the bouts of nausea are multiplied when matched with the smell of stale body fluids, sweat, old perogies, and half-eaten garlic sausage. As awful as it sounds, when I was in a resident's room, everything came up. I only got 2 steps away from him, but fortunately found the kitchen sink. Unfortunately, the sink drain was the size of a penny - so, I had to transfer its 'contents' to the toilet. And of course, the only 'scoopable' utensils in the entire freakin room were 3 styrofoam cups. Yes, really. (On the plus, the resident is deaf as stink and had no clue what was going on - I was out of his line of sight!!) Anyways, I somehow managed to get things cleaned and orderly, and another employee was called in to save my butt. I was out of commission for a solid two days. Through the grape-vine, I've heard I am not the only one - I'm sure a flu bug is hanging around work. Many people have been off since my incident.

Who would have thought that playing 'nurse' sometimes means you have to be the patient too?

D.

back to work!

I'm just getting back into the swing of working full time, and already I think I have paid my 'penance' for taking minimal shifts over the school year. In the two weeks I've been back at work, I've cleaned up 3 BM accidents (aka - 'sprays') from the same flu-stricken resident within a 4 hour span while being short-staffed, called 9-11 for a suspected back/hip break on a resident who fell, and then again called 9-11 for a epileptic resident who had a seizure, and then proceeded to have 2 more while waiting for the paramedics. All that to say, it has been a crazy few weeks at work!

I am really struggling with getting adjusted to the lazy pace of summer. Sure, work keeps me busy, but it's no where near as stimulating as being in school. I keep reminding myself to just take a breath, and enjoy the peace - fall will be here soon enough!

D.

in my next life,

if such a chance existed, I would be a book critic. I would get paid to read books, then write about them. My dream job! But, seeing how I am 1/2 way to my nursing degree, I figure I should just finish up this path first. :)

Truthfully, the best part about summer is reading. I am not a warm weather fan, or a beach person, so I fill the hours and weekends with reading and library visits. Yes, I am a nerd.

Stats has has begun, and so far so good (knock on wood!). I must say, my math homework has transformed since junior high! There is no comparison. When I was a teen, I don't think I knew what an easer was, or a pencil for that matter. I would do all my math in pen, scribble out my answers, and never ever double check. Fast forward to today: I wouldn't dream of using a pen. I have 3 back-up pencils and 2 erasers in my pencil case at all times, and meticulously re-do tables and graphs until they look perfect. And I triple check! My parents are thanking the heavens, I'm sure - they have made me redo my homework countless times until it was at least legible. 7+ years later, I've finally figured out how to do neat homework on my own.

Happy Tuesday!

D.

welcome home!

HORRAY! I have survived the infamous 'first semester of 2nd year', the hardest term of the degree. I was actually done on Thursday, but due to being brain-fried from studying, I couldn't bring myself to do anything requiring thought - like blogging - for at least a few days.

And the best part about being done exams? I came home to a BRAND NEW BEDROOM! While I was busy memorizing drugs and body parts, my parents were toiling away at home: cleaning, filling, painting, & moving all my belongings from room to room. And the kicker - I had NO idea. I'm pretty good at figuring stuff out. I catch a clue here, a hint there, and can usually piece something together. But this time, I was astounded. I just stood and marveled at my room in complete astonishment. Now I understand why some women on HGTV just loose it when they come home to brand-new bedroom or kitchen!! It's amazing.

Now I'm just getting back into the routine of living at home, opening a fridge full of healthy/non-college food, and sharing the bathroom with my brother. Summer will be great!

D.

on a positive note:

yesterday DID get better! My Assessment Final grade was upload and I pulled off a 98%. Wohooo! But I'm wondering where the measly 2% went...

D.

last lab of the year and....

I pass out. Yessir, during the most anticipated lab of the semester, the one where we can practice injections on each other, I just about collapsed after receiving an intramuscular (IM) injection. Just wonderful.

I'm not sure what's worse: that I volunteered to go first because I was so excited, or that my sister will be embarrassed that I couldn't handle 1 measly needle!!

I couldn't tell you why it happened. I've had IM's before, so I wasn't anxious. I rolled up my sleeve, watched my partner put it in, and all of sudden everything went dizzy. I felt sweaty, hot, and nauseous. Then, in a whim of brilliance, I decided I needed to go to the washroom so I could walk it off. I made it to the door, then slumped to my butt as I couldn't even see straight. Somehow, with the help of the firefighter/paramedic duo in our class (husband & wife), I managed to walk back to the bed and just rest until it passed. I remember bits of pieces, so I didn't completely black out, but man oh man.... it was the worst feeling ever.

Who knows why it happened. I had breakfast, felt gung-ho about lab, slept well last night, and feel healthy. My instructor took my BP about 20 mins after I was able to walk around, and it was at 92/60, which is significantly lower than my usually 110/whatever. But I couldn't tell you why it dropped so low!

Ah, well - I guess it's story I can laugh at in a few years. Plus, I gave the other students a chance to practice their 'nursey' skills... LOL. For now, I am trying not to die in embarrassment. For being a go-getter type of person, this is pretty hard to admit to. But on the plus side, the rest of today can only improve!!

D.

success!

Assessment final: Success!

I'm not one to get pre-exam jitters. I don't lose sleep, stay up late stressing, or feel queasy before writing. That was until this year! Two of the most obscure tests made me feel the pressure: Pharm Calc. (which ended up fine!) and this Assessment final. I woke up 1/2 a dozen times the night before, going over various pneumonics and ROM (Range of Motion) exercises for each system, panicking that'd that I forget the simple stuff.

I showed up bright and early for my Final, volunteered to go first, and drew up GI as my system. Of course, I'd pick the easiest system... not a toughie like Neuro or Musculoskeletal, ones that I spent the majority of my time on! But regardless, it went great - I nailed every point! Now I'm just waiting for my overall mark, which will include the Subjective Questions and Documentation portion. Wohooo! 1 final down, 5 more to go...

D.

hello, spring time!

Spring is here! Which equals final time! Already!! They begin next week, one of which is Pharmacology, the mother-load of exams. It's on Friday, so about 10 days away. And the drug list was just posted today: there are 70 drugs to know. 63 are brand new, 8 are from previous midterms. LOVELY! It's cramming time.

Tomorrow is my Assessment Lab final: we are expected to perform a Physical Assessment on 1 of 6 systems, along with a written section, based on a given scenario. We are not told which system we will be tested on until we arrive and read the case study. GAH, there is so much to remember, especially since we are required to talk and explain our actions. It's much different than a multiple choice exam, where you can use the process of elimination if you're in doubt. Verbally explaining everything is a whole different ball game. There aren't 4 choices to pick from if your stuck!! I signed up for the earliest slot, @ 730am, to get it done and over with. Fingers crossed for success!

D.

!!!

At times, nursing makes me just want to scream. Like when we are learning about caring for patients with a chronic disease or illness. We are taught to inform, give pamphlets, provide information, encourage, yada yada yada. According to our instructors, this is the magical way to cure all sickness/provide optimal care/ensure quality care. I cannot get over how ridiculous this is. Seeing how chronic disease has - as continues to - impact my family, I cringe at how us students are being taught that pamphlets and group information sessions are instant remedies for life's tragedies, band-aids for health problems. SERIOUSLY? Try giving my sister a pamphlet to read when you've just told her she needs to stick herself with needles and pens multiple times a day, every day, for the rest of her freakin' life. Mention the stomach bruising, too, that'll be fun. You try reading about the side effects of high blood sugar 30 years down the road when you are 15 and all you want to do is just be a kid.

My nursing class illustrated caring for patient with chronic diseases/illness seem as a walk in the park. According to my instructor, with the use of pamphlets and corny videos, all patients in our care will be perfect. Always smiling. No bad days. No resentment. No denial.

News flash: it sucks. All the time. There is a lot of frustration. Anger and tears. Most of the time, the condition is irreversible. Which is means forever. And not only does it impact that individual, but their family too - siblings, parents, everyone.

None of those things were mentioned in class. I am pissed without even having a disease - imagine how livid Brooklyn would be if she was in that class? Man oh man. Caring for people with chronic diseases is tough, especially when it's life-long. But to make it seem like a breeze when in reality, it's so much different? I am beyond frustrated.

D.

off the wagon.

So, I have fallen off the 'blog-a-day' bandwagon. I was getting frustrated with sitting at my computer, staring a blank screen, trying to make my day sound interesting when I all I wanted to do was go to bed. But that is OK - I wrote lots, so I am happy with that!

The end is so near for this semester: I wrote my final midterms this week (7 in total!) and handed in two papers. PHEW, I have never been happier to see Friday! I am taking this weekend off from schoolwork, which doesn't happen to often. BUT, I guess that is the plus side of having an absolutely nutty week.

Just a quick post for today - but I haven't forgotten about blogging!

D.

outdoor run: success!

This morning I successfully ran my pre-mapped route downtown! It was snowing very very lightly, but not enough to coat the path. Still, the first mile was freezing. FREEZING! Who ever said runners should dress for 20 degrees warmer than it is certainly does NOT live in Alberta. I wore a lot of layers, but my legs were different shades of red when I returned, due to my running pants being only calf-long and ankle socks not covering much. BRRRR. But the sight running over the bridge in the AM was unbeatable: the sun had just fully risen, so I had a lovely view of the downtown core at its finest. I found a few other trail options too, so I am looking forward to exploring those in a week or so.

Happy Monday!

D.

new running route.

Although I wasn't able to run in the 10k race this morning, I still went for a jog when I got back to residence. I trundled along my usual route, down to the bride, but went a different route back home. Turns out, a block or two can make a huge difference. Suddenly I was running behind office buildings, past dumpsters, a few make-shifts homes, and a couple of odd characters. Sketcho place for me to run alone. Thankfully, it was only 430 and still light out. Now I know which way not to run home!

I was able to map out a 5k run route when I got back, with the help of Google Maps and a running website. I'm excited to try it out tomorrow: it's over the 109th bridge and back again. I'm hoping for no snow tonight - the icy patches were just treacherous this afternoon. An additional skiff of snow on top would not be good.

But for now, I'm off to fill in one more hour of pharm studying... antidysrhythmics and antianginal drugs. What fun!!

Cheers,

D.

spring!

All the clothing stores have spring clothes in! While wandering the mall yesterday, I was surprised to see that every single store had spring stuff out. Capris, gladiator sandals, shorts, tank tops... HELLO, this is Alberta!! If it snowed again, no one would bat an eye. We are still wearing boots and winter coats while the rest of the country is happily enjoying sunshine. Yup, that's Alberta.

The bedroom reno has officially begun: the room is now glowing in all its pink glory as everything has been removed/thrown out from it. We just have to wash the walls, put on a coat of paint or two, and viola! The room will be bearable once again.

But otherwise, I'm just getting through studying, studying, and more studying... two more midterms then I'm FINITO. At least 'till finals start. So fingers crossed for two good exams!

D.

blessed.

Tonight I met up with some girls from the young adults group I've been going to. And it's so refreshing to go out, eat dinner, and just talk with like-minded friends. I haven't known them for very long, but we have certainly hit it off - during the bible study and while hanging out. I felt very blessed tonight... especially because I have met and connected with people I otherwise may have never talked to.

D.

St. Patty's Day

I did not realize St. Patrick's Day was such a huge event until I started university. For the past two weeks, I have seen countless advertisements for green beer - which I still haven't tried! - and various parties at local pubs. I think it may be the biggest 'drinking' day of the year - I rode the elevator with two very drunk guys at 33o this afternoon. I don't think people drink that early even for New Years!!

Last year, when I was living with the other roommates, one had a bunch of her friends crash at our place after drinking at the campus bar. I agreed to let her friends over on the condition that they would NOT puke/make a mess, but just pass out on the couch (classy, I know). But 'lo and behold, a friend of hers had one too many and proceeded to vomit ALLLLLL over the floor in front of our shared bathroom-sink area. Twice. Although I am a nursing student and supposed to love blood & guts and caring for the sick, I did NOT clean up her drunk-puke in my apartment, but instead made my roommate scrub the floor until it shined. I was straight-up mad. Oh dear... I am not very good at being a typical 'college student'!

But PTL for a change of scenery this year - a long weekend at home and already in my pajamas.

Cheers!

D.

redoing the bedroom!

This weekend my momma and I are going to tackle the dreaded 'pink' room and transform it into my future bedroom. If you haven't seen the room, it looks like someone poured Pepto Bismol down the walls. It's that pink. (Hm, I wonder whose room it was before... ) It's also become the Junk Room over the years - the place where anything without a place ends up. Game systems, photo albums, broken bean bag chairs, craft supplies, Christmas decorations, tools, old clothes... you name it, it's in there. Although we won't finish this weekend, I am stoked for the project. My current room at home faces the street, and unfortunately the neighbors are a bunch of weekend-hooligans. As you can imagine, I get royally ticked-off. So with a peaceful weekend of sleep as my incentive, and ridding the room of junk as my moms incentive, we are ready to go! Fingers crossed that we'll get a good jump on it. Maybe I'll take before/after pictures? I think that'd be cool!

Cheers,

D.

class this morning.

Just before our Patho lecture finished this morning, our professor allowed a student to make an announcement before we were dismissed. She was advertising Islam Awareness week on campus, and was encouraging us to check out their - the Islam Student's Association - booth in the main building. She had a poster too, one that I had previously seen hung in and around Residence elevators. There is a guest lecturer too, a professor in Islam studies from the U of A. I guess on Thursday, the last day, he is speaking/leading a discussion for anyone who is interested.

What's odd is that last year she was 'normal' - as in she wore street clothes to school, like the typical jeans and t-shirt thing. But when fall came around, she was in a hijaab and wearing long, floor-length dresses. And she isn't even ethnically 'Muslim' - I am darker than her! I know not everyone who appears Middle Eastern is Muslim, but if she was, her change in appearance wouldn't have seemed so odd.

Anyways, there she was, advertising her 'Who is God?' lecture/session/booth. My mind was racing a million miles per minute, but I'm at a loss of what to think of this. Just last night at bible study we were ask how we reflect and glorify Jesus during the week - I have never stood in front of a class and advertised my 'religion'. Was her speech even OK? Should we be allowed to advertise 'religion' in a class completely unrelated? And as a Christian, how do I respond? What should I think? I have also read a lot about women in the Muslim religion, and I am biased to think that they are often oppressed and not regarded as equals. There is a lot of debate about the teachings of the Quran in regards to abuse too. BUT - there are always exceptions, right? I am not a practicing Muslim, so how can I really know?

I don't mind at all that she's Muslim - just the boldness of her and her Association caught me by surprise. Perhaps this is just secular school at its finest. I mean, I'm not offended - I just don't agree with her views. GAH - I have so many thoughts, yet feel so clueless.

D.

a no-homework weekend.

As great as it is at home, I get zero homework done. On one had, I love it - forced distraction time! I relax, unwind, and momentarily forget about studying. On the other... I'm usually feeling anxious to get hit the books by mid-Sunday afternoon. I know - I can barely handle one day of rest!! The 35+ drugs I need to know for next weeks midterms are beginning to haunt me. PTL I'm on my own during the week! But the good new is: the end is so close. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel... Then summer starts! Well, summer for college students, at least.

I have decided to stay on with the oldie-goldies and spend my working hours there. I'm planning on doing lots of library runs, reading dates with my roomy and going to lots of the events downtown. I wasn't well organized, so unfortunately I missed out on a lot of stuff last summer, like the Jazz Festival and the Fringe. But, I've got it all marked down this time, so I'm looking forward to enjoying those events.

I'm a total winter-lover, but I must admit: I am ready for spring. The cold is getting a tad annoying. I'm a little peeved off because I was planning to run a 10k next Sunday, which I may be forced to postpone due to the icy runny trails. This is frustrating because I put some commitment into actually getting my butt to the gym before class, and passing on the extra pieces of pizza. But we'll see: there may be hope. I plan to head down to the trails tomorrow and check it out. Fingers crossed for clear paths in a week!

D.

it's still friday!

Ok, I didn't skip on blogging today - it's still Friday! Well, technically it's Saturday BUT I haven't slept yet, so I'm calling it Friday. And it's not my fault! I got caught up in ER with my Momma and before I knew it, 3 hours had passed... George Clooney shouldn't be such a babe. Sheesh.

It's great to be home. Although it's just for the weekend, I was really in need of an escape. I'm looking forward to just relaxing, beating off this cold I feel coming on, and recharging for the last stretch of the semester. My first final exam is exactly one month away - can you believe it? I feel like school is passing by way too fast.

But for now, I am just exhausted and in need of some solid zzz's. I'll post more tomorrow. Have a goodnight!

D.

New study habit:

ER + homework + cozy Mexican blanket = study time!!

I'm starting from the beginning, all the way back with Season 1. There should be no shortage of episodes, seeing how there are 15 seasons. SHEESH! It'll keep me busy for the rest of the semester, and probably all of third year too. But at least it's relevant... sorta.

D.

books.

I love reading. I wish I could do it for a living. Just sitting in my reading chair, book in one hand, coffee in the other... Sounds like the life!

It's so hard to fit in leisure reading during school, but I'm trying! I've finished three books this semester, so that's not bad - especially with one being 700 pages! Right now I'm reading God Sleeps in Rwanda. It's a true story about the author growing up in the terrible times of Rwanda, and his recollection of the massive Tutsi/Hutu massacres. Although I had heard of the genocide in the 90's, I did not know why it happened, who was affected, or that it had been going on for years prior. But through this book, which offers a simple overview of Rwanda's turbulent history, my eyes have really been opened. The atrocities that happened - and that may still be occurring - are unbelievable. I'm barely 1/2 way through, but so far I've been looking forward to it every evening.

However, in no time I'll have the days of summer to fill with books and library trips. Although I'm a bit of a grumbler about the sunny days, I do like the extra reading time. I've already started a list of books I want to read over the holidays - preferably books to read and buy - adding to my collection. Yes, I am that much of a book nerd. :)

Cheers!

D.

Professors.

I truly believe that professors can make or break a class.

This morning was had a sub for our regular Health Assessment lab instructor. (FYI - Health Assessment is where we learn to perform physicals on the various body systems. So it's hands on, practical, and full of information.) Our regular instructor is chronically unprepared. No handouts, no lesson plan, zilch. She'll just start to talk about the system, highlight what to look for, give a brief run-down of assessment techniques, and VIOLA! We are expected to be masters. It's even more frustration when she relates everything to her experience as a NICU nurse, an area of nursing not a single one of us understands. She'll go on about complex procedures, use medical terms like common slang, and rattle off medications beyond our second-year scope of knowledge. We can barely get through memorizing the 12 cranial nerves - how are we supposed to have an understanding about even remotely close to hers? The most frustrating thing is the lack of guidance our class receives in terms of doing the hands-on examinations. Last time I checked, it's a tad uncomfortable for newbie nurses to ask a stranger to remove their clothes and then proceed to feel them up. So we are basically thrown in the waters of 'awkward situations' and expected to float.

ANYWAYS. Our substitute was amazing - first, she brought in Timbits. Food is always a great way to start off a class. Then she provided handouts: one that described what we were expected to do, one that outlined techniques were aren't expected to know, and a third step-by-step reference/guideline page for performing abdominal assessments, followed by a complete demo. HORRAY!! Suddenly, Health Assessment became that much more enjoyable.

Way down the road, I'd like to teach. I think it would be a superb opportunity, a great position for when I'm older and have a family. I will remember these times, and I will use them as examples of how and how not to encourage learning.

Happy Tuesday!

D.

Cardio & your heart.

I found this article to be interesting since I've started to run regularly:

Getting to the heart of cardio fitness matters via. Edmonton Journal

Long story short: physically active people have a 50% lower incidence rate of cardiovascular disease than those who aren't. Higher fitness = lower mortality.

HA, easy to like now. Not so easy to like when the alarm goes off every morning. And so much for my run in two weeks... the average high is -20. LOVELY! Good old Alberta, the only place where March can be the coldest month of the entire year!

D.

baking apple crisp.

Mmm, mmm, good!

I hope there are leftovers for the week.

the future of nursing.

I had never heard of Nurse Practitioners until this year of school. From what I believe, it's a graduate Masters/NP course that can be applied for after a few years of work experience. It sounds like quite the growing trend! An article I read in Canadian Living, of all places, was an interview with a NP from Ontario. It went on to say that NP's handle 80 to 85% of patients on their own, without needing to see the patient's doctor. They are like the 'in-between' link from patients to doctors - NP's are person-centered, while Dr's could be labelled as more so health/illness-centered. NP's have the ability to prescribe most medications, as well as schedule tests and other previously known 'physician-only' tasks. Ontario and BC are really jumping on the NP train, and have put millions of dollars towards either integrating NP-operated clinics into practice or boost ingthe numbers of NP's within their province. NP's have a unique and independent leadership role within the health care system. It's really neat to see how the profession of nursing is evolving and gaining more recognition as a 'professional' career. It will be interesting to see how Canadian nursing has changed from now to the time I graduate!

D.

TGIF

Thank goodness it's Friday! Since I have no classes, I managed to be uber productive today: I ran this morning, cleaned the apartment, and studied all afternoon... but now it's time to relax!

Tonight's plans are not too flashy, but good regardless: finish the dreaded Mental Health essay, then roommate-date time: chowing down chips and watching chick-flicks! A great way to wind down from a crazy week.

Have a good weekend!

D.

lab time, again.

Alright, I have 45 minutes left to get a post out - I can't believe I almost forgot! And it's only Day 3! Oh dear...

I must say, catheters are not for the faint of heart. As I can only imagine, they cannot be a pleasant experience, for the giver or recipient. The 'art' of catheterization is what we learned in lab this morning. I'm pretty sure, for future labs, that I will be scheduling them later in the day - 8 am is too early to be learning about such things! But, I have a little issue with the realism of the mannequins. I thought that perhaps, with such an intimate and invasive procedure, that our dummies would be slightly more realistic. Cause last time I checked, nothing down there is remotely close to plastic...

But things are winding down - or gearing up? We have 5/6-ish weeks left, and about 75% of the nursing building has come down with the post-midterms/pre-finals cold. Everyone is just hacking and sniffing away - it's straight up nasty. I've made it this far with no issues: fingers crossed I can stay healthy until the end!

Cheers,

D.

what's up in health care

Here's a shocking article my folks cut out for me from the Edmonton Journal, just a few weeks ago. A glimpse into the future of the health care setting, my work place:

"It can take six nurses -12 experienced hands grappling with great masses of flesh - to turn some of the alarmingly growing number of obese patients in Canada's intensive care units.

There are men and women with so much abdominal fat that they can't lie flat on their backs and still breathe.

They spill over the sides of a normal hospital bed and require extra-wide bariatric beds that can support up to 1,000 pounds. Some of them are so large it can be difficult for nurses to find their patients' veins to insert intravenous lines.

They may weigh 400 pounds, 500 pounds or more..."

Obese patients take toll on health care (link) via. Edmonton Journal, February 19th, 2011

FYI: Bariatrics is a branch of medicine dealing with the cause, treatment, and prevention of obesity.

march madness.

The point of having a blog is to write about your life... the comings and goings, plans, and surprises of life. And seeing how my life is rather colorful, I should have no end of blogging material!

So this is my challenge, to myself: to blog once a day. I'm giving myself 4 'freebie' days, for the times when I don't bring my laptop home or just forget to write. Hopefully, by the time the 31st rolls around, I'll have at least 27 posts under the March tab. EEEP! Good luck to me!

D.

back on track.

Spring break has come and gone - school time once again!

Although my break was just lovely - filled with family time & work - I am relieved to be back in the swing of things. I'm really accustomed to the university/residence life!! And although I could do without the immediate due dates of various assignments, school gives me something to do and anything that can keep me busy is a good thing.

I have recently joined a small group that meets on Sunday nights, here in the city. We had our first actual 'study' session last night, which I really enjoyed. We are working through Francis Chan's book, "Forgotten God - Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit", along with his DVD series. The first little teaching was good - it challenged us to think about actually 'walking the walk'. How can you tell a Christian from a non-Christian? What does it mean to live with and by the Spirit? Lots of deep, unanswerable questions for us to chew on before kicking off a new week! But it was a great time, and our leader made us a fabulous home-cooked dinner which is always greatly appreciated by college students.

In other news, I've been getting ready for a 10K run at the end of March, in about 3 weeks. It's the St. Patrick's Day 10K, which completely owned me last year - it was such a bad experience that I had given up running entirely. But now I'm back, determined to run it again and to finish on a hugely positive note. However, seeing how the weather refuses to warm past -20, the prospect of this outdoor, river valley run is looking rather bleak. Fingers crossed for a rapid 3-week melting spree!

Happy Monday!

D.

as a kiddlet.

I distinctly remember playing 'Doctor" when I was a kiddlet. I'd hook up my patients - willing or otherwise - to home-made IV poles and bandage up all their injuries. My IV's were Ziploc bags filled with water, and my bandages were scrap sections of fabric from Mom's craft projects. My folks had given me a 'Doctors Kit' that was my favorite toy: a little black Doctor's case with a pint-sized stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, etc. From then on, I was set! My diagnoses would include broken bones, bleeding organs, or some gruesome condition my mind could make up. And finally, if my patients were fortunate enough to recover, I would give them a crutch - aka: my horse-head-on-a-stick. The poor pony's head was filled with enough stuffing to support anyone in need of assistance.

Fast forward 15+ years: life isn't that different! We are given 'Lab Kits' to use in the lab then take home and practice with - that's where my needle in the previous post came from! So far my 'grown up' collection of 'Doctor' tools include: IV bags & tubing, needles, syringes, ampules, stethoscope, REAL wound dressings, saline solution, and so on.

Being in lab is like being a kid in a candy store. Enough said!

D.

schoolschoolschool

Sometimes, school is just ridiculous.

For example, this was a question on my Health Assessment midterm:

What is the most appropriate teaching intervention for an adolescent male?

A: How to manage hypertension

B: The side effects of birth control pills

C: The importance of wearing a helmet during sport-related activities

D: The risks associated with high cholesterol levels

Yes, this is a second-year exam questions.

Moments like these make me a little mental.

FYI - the correct answer is C.

LAB: Intramuscular Injections

What I get to take home:

Needles & ampules. Look out, family! Hide your glutes and deltoids.

Kidding, kidding - I can't actually use it on humans. Yet. Just oranges and sponges.

a little bit of everything.

I figured that if I were to blog every time I'd log onto Facebook, I'd have a million posts! I'm going to try for more consistency here. :)

Yesterday was our first Pathophysiology midterm. All off the questions were something like, "A man walks into your ER with a knife wound to his thorax, puncturing his lung. What is this called?" or "While working at a day camp, a child plays with poison ivy and develops rashes all over his forearms. What type of allergic reaction is this?" It was like playing 'House', but on a low-key scale. All in all, I think it went well, but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed.

Spring break is next next week and marks the 1/2 point of the semester. ALREADY! The dates for final exams are posted, and then summer will be here. I'm still waffling over where I'll work: stay in town or go to camp? The convenience and stability of staying at home is attractive, yet the idea of living out at camp and working on my 'kid-nursing' skills is equally tempting. I flip-flop on my decision daily, which is OK for now - but I will need to make a choice pretty soon.

With Valentines Day coming up, the roommates and I have decided to celebrate our 'singleness' with a pizza-&-chick-flick night. Originally, it was just the two of us, Elisa and I. But a few invites later, and we now have a crowd coming over! It should be exciting... and it's a great excuse to take a break from studying!!

D.

learning to love.

Living with roommates comes with some interesting learning curves. I have realized a lot about myself, what my funny quirks are, but also how I interact with others.

One of my roommates is my polar opposite, in every way imaginable. Most of the time we get along - we're childhood friends. But at moments, our 'oppositeness' is really apparent. For example, when she goes over to her 'non-boyfriend' friend's house... or repetitively curses the big guy upstairs with every snowfall. Or when her crumbs leave a trail across the kitchen counter, or when she voices her position on pregnancy.

I know I am the only Christian influence in her life. I'm not wanting to go all preachy in her life, but I hope that somehow, I can model a better lifestyle for her. A lifestyle without frantic pregnancy tests and black-out parties. So when I want to pull out my hair at her quirks and comments, there's a voice in my head that warns me not to ruin our friendship over an opinion. On the days I want to just yell when she tells me stories of her 'escapades', I realize that somehow, despite her choices, I need to love her for just being her.

God does that for us - He loves us just the way we are: quirks and all. So with this in mind, I hope that my actions are what she'll remember, and that she'll see a better road for this life.

D.

listening in.

Everyone once in a while, it hits me - the human body is incredible.

We have been learning how to assess the respiratory system, and how to detect normal from abnormal. I don't know about you, but I don't pay much attention to my lungs and heart on a regular basis. They are constantly moving and beating, bringing air in and sending 02 throughout the body. Listening to them, via a stethoscope, it's like listening in on separate world, a realm that functions without our conscious effort. AMAZING!! Things like just excite me beyond no end. I am such a nerd. But the coolest part is learning about disorders, or malfunctions, and how to detect them: COPD, asthma, emphysema, pneumothorax, etc. SWEEET.

Today was also the reconciliation - aka test - lab on dressing changes. Again, I found myself so engrossed in wound care: definitely an area of nursing I'm becoming more and more interested.

I had my first midterm of year two, as well - pharmacology! I think it went well, and I'm usually OK with pre-exam stress. I tend to choose sleeping over late-night cramming, so I hope picking the extra ZZZ's helped. But still... all those '-cillin' and '-cycline' drugs can get pretty confusing.

Otherwise, my week is done! Finito! Having no classes on Friday has been just great - it's helped balance out school with work, and is a great day to use for catch-up.

Cheers!

D.

church & life.

Although I have been going to church for ever (and the same church for most of the time!), I've never really felt connected anywhere. My church growing up had a revolving door of youth pastors, so there wasn't much of a chance to connect with one, or to formulate a strong connection with a youth group.

Since moving out, I've been going to a different church in the city with my roomie. The services were fabulous, but since it's a monster-size church, I was feeling rather lost in the crowd. So, I went out on a limb a joined a young adults group that met off campus. Turns out, the leader is the same lady from my youth group in grade 11, and several people from camp/school are in the same group! Small world! All that to say, I'm so thrilled with joining. It's more than easy to just attend church once a week and then leave without meeting anyone. But stepping (ha - more like leaping!) outside my comfort zone and meeting people, without a clue of how things would go, turned out to be a massively amazing blessing for me. I now feel connected at church, like I am part of it. I still have many more names to learn and people to meet, but it's off to a wonderful start! God is too great.

D.

sunday mornings.

Sunday mornings are quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Here's how it works: Saturday I work in the AM, go to church in the PM, then back at residence in the evening. This leaves the entire Sunday open and free to fill with activities like sleeping, drinking coffee, wearing pajamas, and catching up on homework. It's so lovely to lazily began my day after a hectic week.

This weekend I was telling my mom about an awkward incident at the gym. While I was running, a guy was trying to catch my attention. I've seen him there before, we've ran side by side a few times, but that day he purposefully (I think, at least) came over to talk. Being the wonderful socializer I am, I kept running. Even through my break. And avoiding eye contact. UGHHH. I'm cringing just remembering it. And do you know what's silly? I have an easier time talking to patients, complete strangers, while giving them a shower. FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, I think I'm inept at life sometimes. Mom joked that I will be one of those crazy cat ladies, living alone with 20 cats, a huge library of book, deciding to gray naturally. Sadly, that COULD HAPPEN AT THIS RATE! Oh dear, oh dear. I need to work on this.

Tonight I'm going to a different small-group bible study. Through reviving old connections, I managed to find a group that meets on Sunday nights in Edmonton. So maybe this is my chance! To talk to strangers and fight-off my 'crazy cat lady' future. Wish me luck!

Cheers!

D.

wounds!

I must admit, I've been a little frustrated with nursing lately.

Every class has been about therapeutic relationships, active listening, how to conduct an interview, the nursing process, yada yada yada....

I don't always sit well with with the fluffy-lovey-dovey stuff.

But today, we started the good stuff: wound care. FINALLY! Some blood and guts! Even when preparing for class - doing the readings, watching the vidoes - I found myself enjoying all the strategies and techniques behind it. Asepsis. Surgical asepsis. Drains. Dressing. Sutures. Staples. At this point, my scope of wound care is just basic, but it's an area that I am surprisingly interested in.

At the moment, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology are my favorite courses. Learning how the body can malfunction is SO fascinating. It's like being in a House episode, just without a drug-addicted doctors and countless innuendos. Maybe because it's a stark difference from my nursing classes? Probably. I wonder what it would be like to just get my BSc (science degree) and work toward med school. Sans nursing classes.

Although I do feel frustrated at times, I would not trade Nursing for anything. The entire experience, at the end of the day, develops a balanced approach to patient care that is invaluable - I got a taste of that last year. It's just that getting there can seem painfully tedious at times. Who knows what I'll get into following my degree, but in the mean time: I'm committed right through to the end.

Happy Thursday!

D.

BP, oh my.

Second year nursing students weren't kidding when they said the workload was huge. Last night I already had to take a 10 minute breather to just relax and fight off the overwhelming feeling of never ending work. Hopefully it has to do with getting back into the routine of things too. It's not easy getting back into study mode after a lazy Christmas break!

On the bright side, lab - a class to learn and practice hands-on nursing skills - was great this morning. We did a review of skills from last semester, which included basic - but important! - procedures like blood pressure, temperature, etc. Finding BP manually is a finicky thing to get right. I'm sure it's a breeze for experienced nurses, but at 8 in the morning, it's a stinker. After a few attempts, however, I think I did just fine. Automatic BP, on the other hand, is a laugh. The hardest thing is wheeling the machine over and cuffing it to the patient. After that, all you really need to is press GO. I know - 4 years of school so I can press GO on a machine? Really.

Here's something cool I discovered: Last semester, in lab, my BP was 125/90-ish, more or less normal. My pulse, on the other hand, was 90-95. Significantly high for just sitting on a bed!! Today in lab, my BP was 110/60 (almost low!) and pulse was 70 (great!). I was astonished at the difference! Turns out, my new-found running routine has shifted my vitals significantly in a matter of weeks. Apparently, cardiovascular activity has almost instantaneous effects on heart health. Similarly, no activity can have almost immediate detrimental effects. I have always known that exercise was beneficial, but to see positive changes so quickly is something else. Although I mentally feel great from exercising, seeing the results in a physiological sense was really encouraging.

Although winter has only just begun, I'm already looking forward to summer. Not for the heat or sunshine (which I could definitely live without), but because I may be able to work as a camp nurse at Nakamun. Nothing has been set out or arranged, but the prospect is very exciting. Hopefully I can post an update soon!

Otherwise, I'm soaking up this lucky 30 minute break between classes. On a typical Thursday, my days run from 8 to 330 with back to back classes. Thankfully, lab was done a tad early so I now have a chance to chow down some grub and blog before tackling the rest of the day.

Happy Tuesday!
D.

classes and residence.

My schedule is just messed this semester. In two days, I've been to every class. Because I have no classes on Fridays, my M/W and T/R are the same, meaning that those days are CRAMMED with classes. Last week were just went over the outline and introductory lecture, but I have 200+ pages of reading already. I'm not complaining, but I can predict busy weekends in the future, especially when the presentations and essays begin to roll.

As nice as it is to be back in the city, I do miss a few things. One of them being HGTV, a channel I only get when I am home. Man alive - all Christmas break I'd just sit in front of the TV and watch for hours. Especially For Rent (all about renting and renovating apartments), seeing how I doubt I'll be renovating a villa in Belize anytime soon. I really wish I could hire someone to help me find an apartment, then decorate it gloriously. Wouldn't that be lovely? Oh man... I can dream.

Residence is just fine, but getting a tad old. Listening to loud foreign neighbors and riding elevators with drunks is only so entertaining. But on the flip side, my roommates are simply the best so living here is certainly not a hardship. I'm planning for an apartment in the future - hopefully sooner than later. But there's still a lot to get through before that, so for now I will just stick to my HGTV obsession.

Happy Sunday!

D.

happy new year!

Happy 2011!

Another year is here! Christmas went by quickly, but I'm excited for year 2 to begin.

Classes begin tomorrow, so I went to buy my textbooks, get my bus pass, etc. today. Here's what I came home with, $700 later....

Holy moses. I don't think it damaged my bank account as much as it hurt my arms, lugging these suckers back to residence. Just kidding - it damaged everything with equal force.

I'm fortunate to have a dandy schedule this time - only two 8am starts! And if that wasn't great enough, somehow I ended up with no classes on Fridays. Heck yes!!

So now, all that's left to do is wait patiently for classes to begin...

D.