sleeeeeeeeepin'!

first, a few pics of the Gaylord where I stayed for the convention a wk and a half ago.

I'm on break this wk, so I am sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepin in! Yeehaw! I did work yesterday for part of my service hours at the MHA, the mental health association shelter. I had a great day, with a fellow classmate is so wonderful, we had fun, and saw a lot of patients. And I did my first accucheck correctly! I know, i know, a third semester student doing her first accu, it's a long story why, and i must say not very interesting, so i won't bore you. None the less it was fun. Somethings wrong w/me, I love poking a needle into people! Sick i know! I got to give some shots last wk, and a couple IV attempts, and just love the way it feels to put that needle in! okay, i'm scaring you now so i'll stop! hee hee

Our family did take a little trip to palm springs area hot springs camping. It was very relaxing, I loved every minute of it. Even with the VERY WINDY gusts that just about knocked our trailor over! it was still lots of fun.

I am also studying this break, of course, because i will have a big mother of a test next thursday. But don't worry, i'm still having fun, i will do a 12 hr crop on saturday. I feel a little guilty, but i will study before and after, honest injun.

okay so i'm back

The convention was excellent, I mean reeeeeeeeeeealy amazing. My favorite thing was the focus sessions. Lets see I went to: Easy ABG's, Oncology nursing, and ummmmm, 2 others i can't quite remember at the moment. You can see which ones were my favorite. And then of course, there's the booths. I have to tell you, i loved that too. You just feel so dang needed everywhere, I love that. And unlike hospitals that i search online, they would tell you, EVERYWHERE, what the pay per hour is. From CA, we saw UCLA, a children's hospital, a couple hosp's up north, and um.... oh yeah, City of Hope. I have really been trying to figure out where I want to go after graduation, and I'm feeling drawn a little to Oncology. I know that I am particularly interested in hospice...eventually, but I know I need a lot of experience before then. My CI says that cancer nursing is very unique, in that it has to deal with death and dying on a fairly regular basis. That sounds like a good preceptorship for hospice don't cha think? So, I am going to try to do some extra clin days there. We'll see.

And I decided to get a little tattoo to commemorate Texas. Isn't it cute? I look JUST like her! Okay, it's not my tattoo, I didn't get one, but wouldn't it be a hoot to get it! hee hee.

On to this wks clinicals. I had the sweetest pt, ever. I just about cried when he started singing little hymns and I got to join in. Before I left we and his wife prayed together. I am finally getting the hang of the computer at the hospital, so I will move up to 2 pt's next wk. My nurse (again) did not think highly of me, taking only ONE! But my CI, was great, and understanding since we had NOOOO training on their computer system, just a damn video for 1 1/2 hrs. And I am getting back in the swing of things, since we haven't been in med'surg for so long. I feel so dang inadequate, and the nurses haven't been that encouraging or helpful for us, especially myself. Next wk i'll be back in oncology, so I will really try to do better. Anyone out there in Oncology? Ped's oncology?

Back in class we are back to heart issues, and reading EKG's. We had a great lecture, but then i rather flunked a quiz after the conference, since i hadn't studied. Soooooooooo... my spring break begins today, and so does my studying. But alas I am sitting here blogging. ah well. After I blog.
(CLICK on the photo below)
We will be going to palm springs this wknd for a little R & R, thank goodness. (don't worry i won't go topless....) But I promise to bring my dern notes to study. We have a big mother exam when we get back on Rside, Lside etc blockage, and every other bloody heart issue.

okay, back to my studies, dang it.

I'm headed out!

I'll be leaving for Texas tomorrow afternoon for the student nurses national convention. I am very excited about going! How fun, what a little adventure! If anyone is going, look for me!

basket case

or maybe a case of baskets? I am soooo nervous to be back in med/surg tomorrow! I practiced my IV's today, and got one on one tutoring on insulin injections, etc. Still I haven't been on a regular med/surg floor since almost a year ago! Egad, I'm nervous! Okay, I'm backing away from the edge, breeeeeeeeeeeathe.................. Ommmmmmmmmmm. Okay. I'll fill ya all in later.

the double whammy

Hi y'all, i have been outta commission because this week i had 2 big psych exams. After the regular psych exam i was talking to folks in the class, and dang i missed quite a few. I was just praying i passed with a C. Then we had to take the ATI psych exam. i know a lot of you take those... they are soo hard. I thought, dang i think i failed, i'm gonna have to remediate. As i was leaving the ATI exam, my teacher thumbs up me.... hmmm that sounds rude, anyhoo i had gotten 78%, so phewwwwwwww! i passed it. The fun part was that a really smart student was shouting how he was above the national average, and was generally dancing because he had done so well. Out in the hall, he asked how i did, i said fine, he said how great he had done with his 72%! I wasn't going to tell him my score, he was just so darn proud of himself, but he pushed and pushed so i told him. It was so funny, his face was in shock, he couldn't believe that I scored higher. It cracked me up. Well, my 78% translates to 85% in my class, don't ask me how, i have no idea, some odd formula. Then later on i got my exam grade with a 86%! Wow, was i surprised! So I thank God big time, I am sooo relieved.

I am much relieved. Now I have been working on my skills since we step back into med/surg this wk. dang, it's been a year since the last time i was in med/surg, I hope i remember stuff. So we learned IV starts, that was totally fun. I am sooo looking forward to my first stab. Now i need to review my catheter etc.

I hear the third exam is indeed "a killer". So i really want to get up on all the heart system stuff.

This wk i go to the national stu nurse convention in Texas. I am soooooooooo excited. If you're gonna be there, let me know, i'd love to meet you.

Happy St. Patty's Day!!

Just a quick note to say happy happy! The dern leprechauns have hit our house big time! The living room had tons of blockades, there were leprechauns hanging from the kids doorways ready to bonk them in the nose as they exited their rooms, milk, juice, and toilets all green! Of course the kids had to locate their "treasure" before it disapeared at noon (luckily they did), and shamrocks and leprechauns all over the house! We're having fun, hope you are too!

Psych rotation.....CHECK!

I finished my psych clinicals last wk, yay!!!! Okay, I DO NOT want to be a psych nurse, I DO NOT want to feel threatened on a semi-regular basis. I passed so far with flying colors. We have 2 psych exams this wk, so i must get on the ball and study some more.

I have played with my new toy, and it is sooo fun.

Will start back at med/surg this wk. Dang it's been a while, I hope i remember everything! I'll write more after thursday.

is anyone going to the national stu nurse convention in texas? I'll be there!

first sunday

wow it was sooo odd working at the hospital yesterday. I kept thinking it was tuesday, but then we'd step outside, and there was this wonderful quietness. I never noticed before how sunday feels, but it was amazing. Everything went smoothly, but then i started getting the feeling that one of the pts was getting a little too sweet on me. It's my fault, i kept hanging out at his puzzle. He was the only one around during the groups. He is mostly deaf and swedish, so has a really hard time understanding almost any english so he didn't go to groups. Well after i noticed that i kept away, and he seemed to get the pt. Don't worry he wasn't dangerous. He had been in for depression, so he was just a tad needy.

Tomorrow is our last psych day. I guess that's good and bad. Good because the days would go by soooooooooo slowly. Bad because we are headed back to med/surg which is soooo challenging for me to stay organized and on top of everything. Still, at least the 12 hr days zoom by. We will have a new CI, so that makes me a little nervous. But everyone has said she's a total honey, so i am trying not to freak. Psych was interesting, and I think i have a natural affinity for it, but i think it would be a lot like when i was teaching, a little too stressful in the "danger" area. I just don't think i want that. Aaaaand it's just a little too not physical for me since i have ants in my pants all the time.

On the personal front, I bought a new toy on ebay that i CANNOT wait to get. (see pic!) It cuts out any words that you print out from your computer. It was pricey, but i have been chewing on the idea for quite a while. For those of you who don't scrapbook, I use it to label my scrapbooking pages, you know titles etc. It can also cut out designs that you have on your puter as well. I have found some corners and swirls as well as some cool fonts on dafont all for free. Can't wait to play with it. I'm such a gadget sucker.

a prayer request for me please

Could y'all send out a little prayer for me this wk pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease? My back went out Saturday, and I have been in a lot of pain. And so today, i could not even go to clinicals. Walking is extremely painful. Tomorrow a.m. i have a class that i should not miss (notes and quiz), and Thurs is our first big exam. The stress i feel about those things compounds my back pain, bc stress really adds to it! Thanks all who can.

just a little funny thing....

Wacky Medical Terminology!

Artery: The study of paintings

Bacteria: Back door to the cafeteria

Barium: What you do when CPR fails

Bowel: A letter like A, E, I, O and U

Caesarian Section: A neighborhood near Rome

Cat Scan: Searching for Kitty

Cat Scan: What dogs do when they enter your yard

Colic: A Sheep Dog

Coma: A punctuation mark

Congenital: Friendly

D & C: Where Washington is located

Dilate: To live long

Enema: Not a friend

GI Series: Baseball with teams of soldiers

Grippe: A suitcase

Hangnail: A coat hook

Impotent: Distinguished, well known

Labor pain: Getting hurt at work

Medical Staff: A doctor’s cane

Morbid: A higher offer

Nitrate: Cheaper than the day rate

Node: Was aware of

Outpatient: A patient who has fainted

Pelvis: Cousin of Elvis

Post-Operative: A letter carrier

Protein: In favor

Recovery Room: Where you have your upholstery done

Rectum: Darn near killed him

Rheumatic Fever: Amorous feeling

Secretion: Hiding anything

Seizure: A Roman Emperor

Tablet: A small table

Termination Illness: Sick at the airport

Tibia: North African Country

Tumor: An extra pair

Urine: Opposite of you’re out!

Varicose Veins Veins which are very close together

three weeks...DONE

not that i'm counting or anything, but um... okay i guess i am.
I know this painting seems a little disturbing, but I think it was great in how the artist, a schizophrenic seemed to be able to capsulize her feelings of the balance of looking normal on the outside but sick on the inside. She was finally able to find a medication that helped her, but the side effects were not great. She felt the side effects worth it to feel sane again. I have found these people so courageous, and scared too. It's been really interesting and touching.

Feb. 19: We had our third day there, and our first full 12 hours so I got to really get to know one of the pt's. The only thing i didn't like is that time goes pretty dang slow, with so much little physical movemnt. We also, don't do any of the charting. Thankfully our CI seems to know this and breaks up our day quite a bit with meeting or breaks. My prob w/psych is that i can relate a little too much. I know you're thinking haha. but my history of post partum depressn, really helps me to understand their pain. I guess I feel fairly certain that this is NOT the area for me, but i keep praying..."God, where do you want me?" so i won't shut ANY door completely.

Mar. 2..........another wk down, whoo hoo. too busy to write, must study for first exam on thur. And my boy's bday party. i'll check back soon, honest.

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack

YUP, the semester has fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinaly begun.. or is it began. The wk was hellish in the way that I had to get up at 5 am or before THREE times this wk! Absolutely hellish. I know, I know, stop the whining, but heck, we've been on vacation for two months sleeping in, my body is in total revolt. We had 2 12 hr. shifts in psych, that luckily got shortened due to our CI's daughter going into labor. and then 2 days of lecture. So i am breathing a little today. Need to hit the gym first, then put my mom hat on to do shopping etc, no dern food in this house.

I am loving my CI, and the lecture teacher. I think the heat will really crank up once we hit adv. med/surg in 5 wks.

Visited my mom yesterday (in rehab. facility). She is doing pretty good, but it sure is hard to see her in a bed with diapers on. But her mood was good, and had a nice visit. She's usually sitting up in her wheel chair, but they had just put her down for her nap, so i visited her there. You can pray for all of us (her, and our families) if you think of us. It is difficult to see her memory going.

Well have a good week all. Leave me a comment so I know i'm not talking to thin air!

P.S. Don't you just LOVE my new background? I do, it's so dang orange, which is my fave color. Although, i never did get all my old pics back that were mysteriously deleted! Grrrr.

so sorry, been outta commision

Here's a big kiss for all of you new RN's! You deserve, a big wet smoodgey one! (you'll notice the kissee is a nurse)


over the last month, my mom had a fall, and she ended up in the hospital, and later a SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility). It's been so danged stressful, trying to make a decision regarding her future. For those who don't read ALL my blogs, she has pretty severe dimentia, and her mobility has gotten worse and worse, so that now she can't walk more than about 3 ft without needing to sit, and even that is with much assistance. Soooooo...... when it comes to my mom, I tend to implode emotionally, and that's what I did. Just kinda took an emotional vacation, but now i'm slowly trying to deal with things. All prayers are much appreciated.

On the school front, I have been on a way too long vacay, and won't start until Feb. 11. I have been so antsy, I am READY to go back! I will study for the math test, and purchase new books, and review. And today, I hear I need to bone up on cardio. Not my strongest suit, so i will get on that as well.

Thanks! all for the birthday wishes, you are all so lovely :)
And a big humongous, gigantic, colossal congrats to those of you, who not only graduated from nursing school, but also passed the dreaded NCLEX!!!! WHOOO HOOOO! YAAAAAAAY FOR YOU RN's!!!

Happy Birthday to meeeee!

yep it's my birthday today, yayyyyyyyyy! Although do you notice all my pics have disappeared? I, along with many other bloggers, so hopefully it will be fixed. In the meantime, send me large expensive, beautifully wrapped and bowed gifts okay? Thanks! hee hee

Aren't those the cutest cakes you've ever seen???! They're not mine, but they are awfully pretty, and I of course deserve one of them! I am nearly 100 now... okay 46, but that's over HALF of 90 after all! My family is taking me out to dinner tonite, and I plan on getting a slice of something decadent. Have a good day yourself, even if it's not your half of 90th birthday.

2008....no way!

I say, no way because 2008 is the year I will (God willing!) finish RN school. That is just sooo weird. It seems like forever ago that I started the prereq's and nursing school. And if everything goes well, one year from now I should be getting pinned. Darned exciting I'm telling you! I am really starting to panic about which area of nursing I want to go into. I enjoyed the L/D but I don't think i'd want to do that constantly. I liked the Peds, cuz you do a bit of everything, without having to change, wipe grown up bottoms, but I also loved interacting with adults. Hmmmm. And here's the problem, I need to decide within the next few months, and here is why. For our fourth semester we do our preceptorship, and if you want anything other than adult med/surg, you need to be working there. ie:peds, get a job as a CNA this semester, and then get to do my preceptorship at CHOC (Chil hosp of orange county).... so i need to decide. I want to shadow some nurses at CHOC, in different areas, to see what interests me. Maybe Ped. Oncology, i dunno.

We had some friends over last night for new years eve. we had fun eating, playing games and laughing. It was great fun.

So my lil' cards up there say happy new year. Okay I get the four leaf clover, but the pig??? I don't know anything about a lucky pig, do you? And cash for the new year. Yep, we could all use a bit of that.

last two banners... DONE, whew!

Dang, these took longer than i planned! I kept finding new stuff to pile on. Remember, the doohickeys are not junk, but kitschy!

Merry Christmas

Well it was a lovely Christmas here at the Gier ranch. (okay we don't live on a ranch, but it sounds so dern cozy) We decided to stay home this year, with just our small family. Very relaxing. We all got some lovely gifts.

Eric got himself a plasma TV after many fights w/me, before i said, "leave me alone, and get the damn thing, but you can pay for it yourself". Derned eye sore it is, but at least I won't have to hear about it anymore.

Bryce got his unicycle. hmmm, not that i wanna say i told you so.... BUT, he is not so thrilled with it now. i mean, really, it's going to take MONTHS to learn. Ah well.

K just got this and that, she didn't have one big thing she wanted.

Back to nursing? Well i have begun to study fluids and electrolytes, since that is a weakness of mine. After that i will make flashcards w/ adult normal labs. Yeah, i had just memorized the Ped ones! Ah well. After that I will review blood pressure (cuz i always use the machine and i feel rusty), and I.V. machines and fluids. But mostly, I'll be relaxing, crafting, scrapping, cooking, exercising (notice what is listed last??). How was your Christmas? Do tell....

here's what I made

i'm so proud of me, isn't it cute??? Humility is not my forte' i guess. Don't you love it?? Make sure you click on it to see the detail 'cuz i worked ever so hard on it! I stamped the fabric first, twisted wires etc. made the mini victorian chrsms cards etc. what do you think??

I did forget to mention, that i copied most of this idea from a Miss Candice! (see, pride comes beferrr the fall!)

Two semesters down, two to go!

Yep, I passed everything. The last Peds clinical was Tuesday, and I met with CI, who passed me with flying colors! Yay! Thursday was the exam, and I did okay. Only 80%, but at least that made me safe. I put in a lot of study time over the last 3 wks, and I have to say I felt a little burnt out. I'd put in the time, but I had to wonder if I was really absorbing. I would like to have done better, but it's okay. I think I still received a B in the class, but I won't relax totally until i see my grade. I know I have 82% in the class, but I'm not sure that translates into a B in nursing. I asked a teacher, and she said she believes I have a B, but she certainly didn't sound certain.

But moving on....Vacation is here and I'm having so much fun. I read a book, am in the process of cleaning house (it'll take wks, since i've been ignoring all those dust bunnies! They have become mighty and strong, with sharp incisors! They have just nearly taken over!). I have begun to cook again which is nice, because I think we are all tired of hamburger helper and 'sketti. (though I am totally thankful for all the cooking my wonderful hubby has been doing!) Today I made a pot roast, it is cooking as I speak! Martha's got nothin' on me. Last night I stayed up making a christmas craft, I am having so much fun. I put all my nursing school stuff away, wheeeeee!

Next semester I will do my Psych rotation and intensive care med/surg. I am totally looking forward to it. I think it will be a VERY difficult semester, but it sounds so amazingly interesting, that I can't wait. Sick aren't I? JK.

How are you all doing, what are you doing with your free time??? Leave a comment!

Phew!

yep i survived, no that studier is not me, but that is exactly how i looked all wk, and the wk before. The muscle guys? Well, their expressions really fit how I felt.

All in all my week went incredibly well. I turned in my last care plan of the year, and I might add, my best. (humble ain't i?) and she passed it the first time. (believe me, that's a first) The following day, I had the ATI exam, which are sooooooo dang obtuse, you are never quite sure how you did. Well, I got an 85%! Whooo-hooooootable indeed. The following day, had the Ped. neuro, endocrine, GI and Ped. diseases exam, and got an 84%! Yeah me! I don't get those 80's very often, so it is time to celebrate........... well almost. I have the comprehensive Final to study for which is all of L/D and Peds. Ick. I swear, I've forgotten everything about crotches and babies. so that's what I'm doing this wknd. hey have a good wknd, and let me know how you all are doing.

hell wk is heeeeeeeeeeeeere

..........am cracking.... have turned in and passed last concept map....2 exams to go...........must breathe.......going down for count,..............need fudge..................send STAT...........last words..........myelomeningocele...........h-e-l-p.......

Hell week coming...

So it occurs to me, that next week is rather hellish. I didn't put it all together until today, just... how... hellish. So here's how it's going down: Concept map due Tues. during clinicals. (BTW, only 2 clinicals to go! whoo hoo!) It's true, some folks can spit those babies out in an hour or two, but me? Oh it takes closer to 6 hrs for me. sigh. Then on Wed, we have an ATI exam which BTW, are not, I repeat, NOT, like the one we study and practice for the week before!! But I digress. And lastly, Thursday I have another bloody module exam. The last one was extremely difficult, and I only got 74%. So I MUST improve on this one to be in a safe margin. So I'm a leeeeeeetle stressed, but as Gloria Gaylor said, "I will survive!"

Moving on, I got some great news today, that my registration date got moved up from December 20th to TODAY! Yeah! I would've gotten stuck with my clinicals being Sat. and Sun for the whole semester! Or even worse, I could've been stuck with a mean, make you cry new teacher. But yeah, with the help of some others, I'm all signed up with a nice teacher.

And last, but not least, I did my presentation today. It came out great, even with a few mess ups. We got a perfect score, whoo hoo! Our teacher, kept saying what a great job we did, and how much she enjoyed the slides. So all in all today was a lovely day. Okay, I really must go and hit the books. I think I'll make my concept map first.

How is your week going? Is your semester nearly ending?

so...how was your Thanksgiving??

This is a shot for our group presentation on Scoliosis. I thought it would be fun to make it a 1950's style Science class filmstrip. It was a little tongue in cheek, but with accurate info. It came out very cute. That is me as the mom comforting my "daughter" concerning her discovering her scoliosis from the school nurse. It was so fun, making it, and everyone in the nursing lab were watching, with much applause. That apron is from my collection of antique aprons, I love them.

Speaking of Thanksgiving..... (were we?) Mine was lovely, very relaxed. We were home, with Eric's brother here. We walked around Knotts (just the outside part) and then picked up our dinner that we ordered. We came home, pigged out, relaxed some more. It was great. Yesterday we had a mini-birthday party for the brother in law, he was very touched, since he usually is home without family during his birfffffffffday.

On the school front I took an exam the day before T., and felt like I totally bombed it. I nearly did. I got a 74%, and you need a 75% to pass, so you can see I didn't do very well. However, I'm okay because of my other exams, and all other points. Still, it was depressing. The exam covered Pediatric heart defects, along w/ blood disorders, diseases, renal diseases, and all lung ailments and diseases. Dang hard exam. I really focused on cardio, and the exam was heavily renal. dang it. So I will have to beef up on my next exam, and start flash carding it early. We have one exam and one final left. Only 3 clinicals, and one concept map, whooo hooo! Oh yeah, one ATI exam too. So, what I'm saying is, there's plenty of work coming, but the end is in sight, with only THREE weeks left, yeah!!!! Then I will officially be HALF WAY!!! Heather is happy bout that! How 'bout you? How are you????

Epiphany

Welcome Fall! Yep, this is my favorite season of the year. Even though you don't see drastic changes in scenery here in S. CA, I still enjoy the subtle changes in weather. The warm winds at night, the blowey days (yes, I can use the word blowey if i want to, this is my blog, dang it), the cooler nights. boy I'm waxing poetic. Anyhoo, I like all the fall holidays as well. Halloween was fun, and I saw a lot of cute little goblins coming to my door. This year, was the first year I didn't make the older kids work for their candy. You know, they come to the door without a costume, or they're wearing a baseball cap, saying, "I'm a baseball player", or a girl wearing make up, saying, "I'm goth". Generally fairly lame. So when they ask for candy, I say, You'll have to do a trick, meaning entertain me! They have to dance or clap, or jump up and down to get some candy. I have a lot of fun making those teens, act like kids. They leave smiling and so do i. BUT, this year, I had to study in between doorbell rings since i had a difficult exam the next day, so I just gave them the candy with a smile. By the by, I have done better with each exam, and I am safely in the B zone, at least for now.

I am fully ensconced into Peds now, and I'm enjoying it. I was in PICU last wk, and my nurse was also the charge nurse. She was great, very teaching, so i had a great 10 hrs of learning. Bad news: Got nasty flu the following day which i am still trying to recover from. (sorry Eng teachers; never end sentences with from) I am hoping i will not miss tomorrow's clinical with this dang flu. I am planning on resting today, and drinking lots of hot lemon water, and feeling all better. There! how's that for positive thinking!


My epiphany? This wk in lab, with the help from a classmate Robin, I finally get how to set an IV pump! Whoo hooo, all those numbers make sense to me now! I am so excited, and I can't wait to do a real one at the hospital! I am looking forward to an IVPB order, yeah.

Have a good week all, and please leave a comment if you've come by.

Starting Peds, finished OB

So, this was our first wk in Peds. It was very fun, and it's so nice seeing kids who can respond (as opposed to babies who are rather blobular). Let's see, my big accomplishment this wk was starting a piggy back. My nurse totally walked me through it, but now I feel like "I get it". The RN i worked with was one of those great nurses who want to teach all day, it was great. Next wk i will be in PICU, so that should be darned interesting. The little girl I had this wk was possible MRSA, which made it such a pain to go in, you know, suiting up gloving up, etc. So my interactions were not what I would have preferred.

The only down side this rotation is our new CI. I'm not crazy about her, esp since she expects all of us students to stand for 10 hrs a day! Yeah, we are supposed to never take a seat that a Real Nurse (RN) might want. I found this out after I had been sitting, charting etc. I didn't take it too seriously since another student told me, instead of the CI. I figured I would play dumb until she told me herself which she never did. She is not very warm or instructive for that matter. I am attempting to be positive around her, and not give into the fears!!!

Well I must get back to my studies, I've got another bloody concept map to do.

the updated "new"

First off, who's m? Dang I go crazy trying to figure out those anonymous commenters! Well, since the last blog, I took a test got a D+ (yep, a 74% in nursing is a D! eeeek, i'm usually okay on tests!), turned in a baby concept map, had 2 teaching projects, 2 one page papers, 2 community nursing days, nursery, and mom/baby clinicals. Had another exam this week with a 82%! Yay! This weekend I'm working on the mom concept map. So it has been rather busy! This week is our last week in OB, and i'm going to weep since we'll be leaving the best clinical instructor in the whole wide world! We'll have a new teacher for peds that no one knows. Yeah, that makes me a bit nervous, since I've had 2 hellish instructors previous (though not at my new school). I am really excited about the Peds rotation starting though, since I am thinking of heading that way eventially. Maybe PICU, or Peds Oncology, or just plain 'ole peds. We'll see. L&D was really fun too.

It is Erics birthday this coming wk, so we are gonna hit the Huntington library next wk, so that should be relaxing, I am looking forward to that.

Kierstin had her first boyfriend, and has been so sad lately trying to break it off with him, but she's so tender-hearted that she just can't stand to see him so heart broken. It is so sad to see her going through it. She is such a neat girl. Not perfect, but pretty darned sweet.... some of the time. hee hee.

bry seems to be getting the hang of jr hi a bit better now. I am praying that he will get a great buddy, someone he can have a lot of fun with, but a good kid.

so i think that's it for me for now. leave a comment if ya can. And heck, sign your name if i know you!!

what's new...

Well, I've been so busy. Last week I had to study all wk for our first exam. BTW, I didn't do well at all, I got a D! It was such a strange test. Very subjective questions. No excuses, but I really did feel ready. So, I'm buckling down to pull it up. I usually get B's on exams, but oh well. I went to the nursery for clinicals this wk. It was a bit slow, but the nurses kept telling us that, that is very unusual for them. The baby's were cute, but the day went very slooooooooooooow, with only 2 babies all day.

I did my patient teaching project also on Pregnancy Loss. I think I did well, I guess I'll find out next wk. Due next wk, is my concept map. Scary, so very different from what I'm used to. So that is what I am working on now.

I have to say, that I love, Love, LOVE the students over at my new school. What a great group of folks. (And.... nurseSF, I don't mention schools because I switched schools, and I don't want to hurt any one's feelings since I have friends at both schools. It's just a personal thing)

My dd has her first boyfriend. It's pretty cute, and the guy is a very nice guy who adores her. (maybe a bit much, but it's okay for now) My boy struggles a bit in Jr. Hi, it's such a big transition, and so very different. But I hope he's getting his footing now.

My hubby is doing pretty well considering he's got some pretty tough classes. (he's a teacher)

and me... as you know... I'm just a hangin'. :0

spread 'em bucko

yup, i gave my first foley. fascinating. and darned slimy. hard to keep those suckers open! I can't say I had much success, or finesse, but my instructor helped me, and it was just magic when that pee came down that tube. Beauty in a tube, I'm telling you. I tried to help out my nurse this week, but she is so danged skilled and fast, that i generally try to stay out of her way. There is so much to know in L & D, that it's very overwhelming.

This coming Tuesday, I will attempt the Foley once again. Hopefully without shaking so much. I did watch another delivery, and... egad.... an episiotomy! I will never be able to scissor chicken breasts again without thinking of her episiotomy since that is what the dr used. Eughhhh, i kinda shiver every time i think on it. Scary. Also witnessed an eclampsia pt. 14 yo. frightening! Poor girl. I hope she's doing better. So again, never a dull day in nursing. So darned fascinating, and I feel so privileged to be able to be part of peoples lives during such trials. I thank God that I am part of it. (Even if all I do is get ice chips!) And I never tire of hearing one more patient tell me, that I'm going to be a great nurse. I hope so.

Life is good....

Yeah, I continue to have a great experience at my new college and L & D clinicals. Me and my fellow transferees are constantly in awe at what we hear from instructors, and what is required of us. An absolutely positive experience. I am very overwhelmed however with our IV book. I swear i'm reading russian. I get how to run the IV machines, but the IV book so far is a lot of chemistry which i never took. We will have our first exam in a wk and a half, and from what I hear, most of the questions will come straight from the texts. I'm good with the mother/baby text, but I worry about the IV one. I will go to lab tomorrow, to see if i can get some help.

Last wk was amazing as I actually got to watch a real live baby get born! It was pure magic. Just completely amazing seeing one born from that angle. I tell you i could not stop smiling. I also got to observe up close an epidural being administered. What made that so interesting is that the anesth. was completely teaching/explaining to me personally each and every step. I've never seen a Dr. want to help out a student, me, before. It was great. I did get to be up close through the whole delivery, and after. By far the best day I've EVER had at clinicals.

Tuesday I will give my first Foley. I'm up for it!

a little help here???

does anyone have a microsoft Word I could download? I promise I will give it back when i'm done... pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease.

I keep getting downloads froms others which are not compatible w/wordperfect or Works, dangit. Thanks!

A breath of fresh air.....

Yup, that's what this week has been. Now, I understand that not every semester will be like this, but let's just do something together shall we?

Breathe in through your nose slowly, raising you hands to the sky, and release through your mouth slowly.... Feel that? That is something that I have been feeling this week.

Thank you to those who have sent up prayers for me, I so appreciated it. And God was in this move from one school to another. Now it occurs to me that the OB, Peds rotation might just have the most nurturing type teachers of the program, but I am just going to enjoy it. The workload appears to be MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE than I am used to. Not easy, but definitely manageable. I took a math test, which i did great in, and a quiz on Thursday that i did great in too. All in all a great way to start off the semester.

My first rotation (for the next 3 wks) in OB will be L/D. Kinda intimidating since I have SO much to learn. There is so much more going on down south than I ever knew as a mom, or even as a woman. But again, my fascination with Anatomy and Physio keeps me delightedly wanting to learn it all. I went to the lab yesterday to prep, which i watched a DVD on positioning during labor for pain etc. I feel so ill equipped to tell another gal to move it when in so much pain. Maybe if I suggested the new positions during the no pain cycles? Some of these positions would require a lumberjack to assist. Sadly I hung up my axe long ago.

On another note, the program really went out of their way to make us transfer students feel welcome and at ease. I have met so many very nice folk so far. And there are a goodly amt of us newbies, that we are never lacking for someone who understands what we're going through. I think one of the most challenging things homework wise will be the concept maps. I am a very linear learner, and the maps are NOT linear! It's a thing in the middle with lines connecting to other boxes, where it looks something like a spider web with a bunch of different colored boxes scattered in it. I know I will get used to it, but eek, it causes me anxiety at this point. Also, I don't have the Word program (not WordPerfect or Microsoft Works Word which is what I have!) that would make it possible to do ALL of it on line, as opposed to cut and paste (literally) that I have to do now. Soooooo if anyone has the software for that, that you would like to lend me, I would gladly give a foot or shoulder massage! I'm desperate. I'm not sure of the exact name of the program but I know I've heard it called Word, and it's not mine.

On the home front: We painted my little strip kitchen (AKA galley) a beautiful kinda pacific or Williamsburg blue (a tinge of grey in it). Once Eric put all my junk back up on the walls, it looked beautiful. I have always collected Delph plates/tiles, and it looks much more amazing on a blue wall than white. I am loving my little kitchen. We also got some much needed carpet replaced in the living room, and we splurged and got DEEEEEELUX padding! Yup, it's so squooshie, it practically bounces. I love it. The color is a little more brown than before, but it has some lovely little specks of color, that i will later take advantage of, with some new curtains. I will make them, so it will be a while before that happens. And Eric is presently tiling our shower, yup, real tile. He removed our fake tile piece, and I was glad to see it go since it had cracked and was molding, probably with some of that KILLER mold that is insidious, and makes everyone sick with it's flying spores.... but I digress. For now, we are all sharing the kids tub. Quite the hub, that. And thus we conclude the "This Old House" portion of our show.

Bryce started Jr. High this week, and so far loves it. Kierstin is liking 10th grade so far, with her new goal of being nicer, and smiling to those enemies of hers from last year. Both my kids are cute as can be. Okay, I am their mom!

So please tell me how you are doing? How was your wk back to school, or how was your week with WHATEVER you are doing! Thanks for reading my blatherings.

two days until D day...

That's my boy on the right taking fencing this summer. It was soo fun, and he loved it.

Now, on to me.... I am feeling a bit nervous about starting school on Monday. It's a new school, totally different program. I just don't want to make mistakes concerning how they do things there. So i'm having major butterflies! Today I will review all the drug conversions, and practice blood pressure and the pt exam. I need to practice some math probs that they gave us for peds. I think i understand the whole weight and dividing 4 times or whatever so i think i'll be okay. I just need to practice until i'm real comfortable with it. I will have a 10 hr. day on monday, but I guess my clinicals are not starting the next day, so at least I can relax a little bit about that.

I finished one of my fave books last night, and I kinda said goodbye to fun reading for a while, sigh.

Please pray for me, that I will feel more confident than I am right now! Thanks!

On Etsy

isn't this so whimsical?! I love this girls artwork. I am not stealing it, you can buy her stuff on etsy right here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=12865 Gosh, maybe I'll get a commission. no, probably not.

I took my french college students to get some free furniture yesterday at our church. That went pretty well, and then a couple hours later I took them to Walmart. They are amazed at that place. It was so fun watching there little eyes light up at all of the great deals. They were so cute and fun, I had a blast with them. There are four of them, three out of four are staying for 2 semesters, and one of them for one semester. I am hoping to keep up with them throughout the school year. They are all going to CSUF.

We got back from San Diego on Thursday. We had 2 days at a KOA, and 2 days on the beach dry camping. We had a great time going to the zoo, seeing the MIDWAY (that was soooo coool), shopping in Coronado and playing on the beach. It was our last hurrah before I start school next Monday.

I know some of you are starting school tomorrow, have a great week! I need to study up for a math competency that I will take the day i start back. I've done most of it before, but with children medicine it is a little different. My first day will be a 10 hr day! Egad, way to throw us into to the school year, aaaaagggggghhhhhhh! I guess I should be happy it's not a 12 hr. That will start the next wk with clinicals. But I am sooo looking forward to that, I love clinicals.

Wish me luck!

check, garcon.

(just a lil' pic of us at the redwoods up north)








physical? check
immunizations? check!
CPR? check!
background check? check!
malpractice insur.? check!
Pay for classes? check!
Pay for testing fee? check!
nursing clothes? nope, had to send back
nursing badge? check!
books? Not available yet.

So this is what I've been getting ready the last few weeks. Hard to feel like summer when I've had to keep up on all this business.

I also had a french student this week for a few days to help. Boy, they don't make it easy to get an apartment for them! We are still working on that. You can pray for her concerning that and furniture etc.

We are leaving for our last hurrah on Sunday. We are going down to San Diego for 4 days. 2 days on the beach and 2 at a KOA. And Eric is hoping to also squeeze in Lego Land before school starts.

We also celebrated my moms 72nd birthday by taking her out for Chinese food. It is still shocking to me to see how much her memory has deteriorated in the last 2 years. My sister tells me she is having a hard time w/her bladder too. I get sooo sad and overwhelmed every time i see her. But at least she is happy, and doesn't really seem to know what she has lost.

That's about it for now. School starts on the 27th, so i still have a few weeks to smell the flowers. Leave me a message, K? Hey and if you don't have an account, make sure you leave you name on your messages okay? I go crazy trying to figure out who the heck left the message!

august countdown...

I love these old books, they crack me up!

Geeps, i only have a few weeks left before school starts. It occurs to me that this summer has been somewhat surreal. Yeah it's summer, but I also feel like I'm in a waiting room. You know, like when you're in the waiting room of the dentist? You are not being tormented yet, but you sit there nervously trying to have some interest in "Daily Dental Stories" that you are reading. Well that is somewhat what i have been feeling. I am not IN school but feel like I am nervously waiting for the thing.

We went to Monterrey, and I had clam chowder 3 times, yum. We went to the aquarium there, just amazing. My favorite thing to see? All the little and varied colored jelly's.

We camped in the Redwoods up north. That was beautiful, and we had a lot of fun swimming, kayaking, and just plain old lounging. Beautiful scenery on the coast w/all those giant rocks on the coast.

I have been doing all the paperwork etc. for transferring schools, and everything has gone smoothly so far. Tomorrow I will get my school check up, Wed., I will take CPR again which is required. I have to mail back my uniform, because it was too big. Did my background check etc. Lot's of little details I guess.

I will start school on the 27th. My dd on the 30th, i'm not sure about ds, and hubby. How 'bout you? What are you up to?