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