5 posts tagged “dolphins”

I passed Integrated Skills yesterday. Basically, you're given a scenario and you have 15 minutes to prepare (look up your drugs, make some notes, etc.). Then you go into the room where the mannequin is set up and do your thing.

My scenario was a man with Prostate Cancer who had a TURP the day before. He was on continuous bladder irrigation (CBI) and had dime size blood clots in the tubing with no urine outflow.

This tells me that he needs manual irrigation (which he had orders for). Crap. I had heard that we wouldn't have to do open irrigation since we didn't have much instruction on it, so that was something at least.

Except it wasn't true.

I did closed irrigation and the instructor says "It wasn't successful. Now what?" I said that I would do it again. "Okay, still didn't work. Now what?" Sigh... "I would get an order for open irrigation." "You got it. Go ahead."

Ah, shit.

I actually did the procedure perfectly. I also had to do a central line dressing change and give medications. The instructor told me I got a 100% (although it's really pass/fail). I hit all the points they wanted me to. Woohoo!

Today was my final. I did some studying with Laura Tuesday night and then yesterday I went over and studied with her and 3 other people. Then I came home and reviewed the power points online. I felt well prepared.

The good news is I got a 91% on my final!
The bad news is I got a 90% for my class participation grade which gives me a final average of 89.45. I hope my teacher rounds up or something because I REALLY WANT THE 'A', DAMMIT! I'm going to be pissed if I get a B.

Either way though, I am done for almost 4 months! And there was a sign-up sheet posted to select your clinical site for next semester so Laura and I signed up for the same one (Palms West, days. Not that close to my house, but I'd rather that than St. Mary's.)

Tonight is the Dolphins Banquet which would be more exciting if I didn't have to work tomorrow. Ah well...

Being as I'm not working today, I should be getting copious amounts of studying done. I am getting *some* done and it's actually not too bad because it's the earlier chapters of Pharmacology I'm reviewing. It focuses on general pharmacokinetics (hey Firefox! Don't tell me I'm spelling that word wrong!), and not specific drug actions and effects that make me want to beat my head into a wall.

I took a break to surf around ebay for awhile. I bought Taylor a 'Charmed' shirt because the show plays 24/7 at my house and she said she wanted every Charmed item possible. For some reason the Australians have really corned the market on Charmed merchandise. That's the only place I was able to find them! The shipping sucks, but at least the US dollar is stronger than the AU dollar at the moment. Then I started looking at tart burners. Oh my, I could go nuts with that. They just have the cutest burners for any themed room you could possibly want. I can't wait until I have my own place again; I will have an appropriate tart burner in every single room. Oh yes.

Well, I guess I should get back to studying. I need to go pick up Taylor in a bit so we can get outfits for the Dolphins party next week and I also have to get some Christmas cards and pick up my dad's prescription for him. Crap. I also have to get a gift for Sabrina's birthday tonight. She says to me earlier, "I get a present?!?!" I said, "Well, it is your birthday." She replies, "I know, but I've learned the less I expect on my birthday the better." Aww. I will do my best to make the big 3-0 great for her.

Today:
8:00 am Midterm evaluation for clinicals I got a great review from my instructor, AND found out I get to do another OR rotation!
8:30 am Check off for meds This means that I am now allowed to dispense medication to patients in the hospital during clinicals! I did everything up to parental (injections). I feel confident about my technique, but I need to review the anatomical landmarks a bit more before I have to demonstrate that
Make loan payment
Drop off clothes to Goodwill
Get eyebrows waxed I also got a pedicure while I was there. I can't wear fingernail polish ever again basically (it's a no-no for nurses) so I might as well have pretty feet.
Deposit student loan check into savings account, minus $200
Renew car registration I did this in person because I wanted to change my plate. I had the Challenger plate for the past few years, but last year they changed the design and issued me a new tag without telling me. Well, the new tag was butt ass ugly, so screw you NASA. Now I have a Miami Dolphins plate. Yes, I know they suck ass right now, but I am no fair weather fan. I told Alex it was between that and the Miami Heat plate (who, of course, rule all). I said I decided on the Dolphins plate because it matches my car better. He laughed and said, "Oh, I thought you were going to say because I work there but okay"
Deposit remainder of student loan into my checking account
Mail out Shannon and Jim's anniversary card It is already a week after the fact and I finally found their new address and now I can't find the damn card!

And now I'm back home. I was up late last night doing my care plan, etc to turn in to my clinical instructor today so maybe I'll take a nap after I have a roast beef sandwich on fresh italian bread. Then tonight I have to go to a four hour class to get my CPR card renewed. Ooh, fun. SO much better than the Guns and Roses concert I could have gone to tonight (although since Alex ended up having to go to California on business at the last minute, it's just as well)

I love getting things accomplished. Too bad I don't do it more often :)

Well, there's ups and downs I guess.  Last week we had another Pharm test and I knew the first 6 chapters like the back of my hand...it was the 7th that kicked my ass and got me a 76 on the test.  It went up to a 82 later, because some of the questions told you to choose all that applied, but would only let you pick one answer.  So, anyway, screw the nervous system.  Receptor this and agonist that.  Bleh.

Today was my second nursing lecture exam.  It was only 3 chapters, but one of them (physical assessments) was 100 pages long.  I did okay, I guess.  I got an 84%, which is a B.  I guess I should be happy with that, but I missed two because I couldn't remember which was diastolic and which was systolic.  I hate missing questions for something stupid like that.  And I missed one because I changed my answer.  I knew I was going to regret it and I did it anyway. Dammit.  Oh well, it's still better than the last test, right?

Yesterday was our first clinical day where we had patients.  Laura and I were partnered up like we asked.  We had a blind guy in his 30s who needed total care.  I mean, he could move somewhat, but not too much.  He had one of those pressurized beds.  Nice because you don't have to tuck the sheets in and mitre the corners.  His nurse wasn't very nice to him (I have my theory on why, but in the interest of HIPPA paranoia, I'll keep it to myself.)  She told us on the way out, "Don't take any of his crap.  I told him the first day hear what a grouch he is."  Well lady, you get what you give, because this guy was nothing but nice to us, even when we had to position him in ways that made him hurt.  We gave him a bed bath, which went pretty well except that we weren't doing it exactly the way we were taught.  Laura and I kept looking at each other from across the bed and saying "Oh wait, we forgot to do..."  "Oh, right!" and then we'd do whatever it was we forgot.  Our patient had Sportscenter on to listen to and I asked him if he liked football.

"Yeah, I like football."
"You like the Dolphins?"
"Nah."
"Well did you grow up down here?"
"Yeah"
"Then what do you mean you don't like the Dolphins?  You're supposed to root for the home team, A!  I know there's not too much to root for sometimes, but come on!"
He laughed and told me he liked the Cowboys.  It was a good icebreaker and after that I wasn't nervous anymore.  It's nice to find some common ground.

Anyhow, we were doing the bath still when the wound care specialist came in to check on him.  He needed to be rolled over onto his side for her to check it, which worked out nice because we hadn't done his back yet anyway.  Our instructor came in at this point too, which really worked out well, because she cleaned up the tush area for us.  I was on the opposite side, but from what I could tell, it wasn't too pretty.  Yay for our clinical instructor.  Love that woman to death.  She's over there talking about cleaning up the 'poop-a-roni's'.  She finished up and went to leave and I told her we hadn't done the 'hmm-hmm' area yet.  Yes, these are the technical terms.  She told me to go ahead and do it while she and Laura went somewhere (don't remember where.)

This part wasn't as awkward as I would have thought either.  When you're taking care of someone who is sick, it just doesn't seem to matter as much.  I told him I was going to clean his groin area and around the catheter real quick, and he said okay.  I went around with the washcloth, but I probably didn't do too good of a job around the catheter because while I know I wouldn't be able to pull it out, I still don't want to yank on the thing.  I wouldn't imagine that feels too good. 

We were going to do his mouth care and shave him (oh man, I would have been so nervous about that) but his nurse came in to do vitals and feed him and we had to go to postconference, so I told him that we had to leave and thanked him for being such a great patient.  Sometimes when I'm studying for tests until I can't see straight, I really wonder if this is going to be worth it.  But after putting my knowledge and skills so far to use, I definitely know that this is what I want to do.  It's a great feeling.

I don't think I will ever forget my first patient. 

That's basically what I've been doing so far.  I think I mentioned during the first 3 weeks of clinicals, they are going to teach us basic patient care before they unleash us on the unsuspecting public.  (Actually, all patients will know we are nursing students and will have given their consent before hand.  From what they've told us, most of them love it because they are our only patient so they basically have a private nurse.)

Anyhow, the first day they put us into groups with our clinical instructor, and I found out that I will be doing my clinicals at JFK, which is oh, 10 minutes from my house.  I actually pass it on the way to campus.  Awesome!  I really like my instructor so far as well.  She seems really nice, and very down to earth.  I asked her if our first hospital day will begin at 7:30 and she said, "Oh no...I think 9am sounds better. What do you guys think?"  Schweet.

In our groups, we went around to 9 stations, each staffed by a different instructor to teach us a skill.  The first day we learned how to give bed baths (sponge baths, basically) and how to place a bedpan (fun!) and assist with using a urinal.  Mmm.  We also learned how to brush patients' teeth, remove dentures and clean those, and how to shave male patients.  We practiced that on balloons, but we left the blade guard on so I don't know how much good that does.  Without my schedule in front of me, I can't think if we did anything else that day.  I did pick a 'partner' though!  Her name is Laura and she's a single mom like me.

Somehow I feel like I already wrote about this stuff.

We missed the next day because Ernesto was on it's way. *eyeroll*  Not to say I didn't enjoy hanging out at Alex's for a couple days, but I was actually bummed about missing class.  Now our first hospital day is on Sept 19th instead of the 18th so we can make up our frontloading day.

We also only had one class this week because of Labor Day.  Yesterday we had to dress out in our uniforms so they could check them.  The pants aren't as uncomfortable as I thought they were.  I think I need some insoles for the shoes though.  Anyhow, we learned how to make beds (both occupied and unoccupied) and we also learned about restraints; when and how to apply them.  Rowr.

As for my online classes, I have a 6 chapter Pharm test tomorrow that I feel pretty ready for.  I'm going to do the workbook review tonight, and then take the test tomorrow before the Dolphins/Steelers game.  My cousin and I have an interesting bet on the game.  Next Wednesday I have my first test for Nursing Lecture.  It's on...14 chapters?  I've read 6 of them and I need to review the hell out of them.  I really couldn't give a crap about the history of nursing, or the nursing theorists, and that makes it hard to retain the info.

I'm going to have to make my peace with having no life soon...