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.