9 posts tagged “pharm”

Tomorrow morning is my nursing lecture final. I am somewhat comfortable in my knowledge for it. Laura and I studied last night, today, and tonight. We listened to her lecture tapes for Fluids and Electrolytes. I'm not going to stress over it. Either I know it or I don't, and I'd have to do spectacularly bad to fail the class, and that's all I really care about at this point.

Thursday I have my HESI exam, so today I did all the case study modules. It helped me prepare for my final and that's all the prep I'll be doing for HESI.

Now Pharm. I've been using a 'Review for the Final Exam' that was posted on WebCT since Friday. TODAY someone posts on the discussion board how they've been using it also. My PROFESSOR replies, "Oh, I thought I took that down. It's from last semester" and removes it from the site. So. Have I been using a review blueprint that is outdated and is going to fuck me in the ASS because the test will have different content? I guess I'll find out Thursday, since my teacher isn't in any sort of fucking HURRY to respond to the handful of us FREAKING THE FUCK OUT about this whole thing. I hate this teacher with the fire of a thousand suns.

That is all.

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.

I got a 90% on my Pharm test tonight. I even took it early, around 6pm, because I got to leave work at 2pm today. I am not going in tomorrow either. Stuff is just too messed up for them to worry about the doctors getting access to HPF until next week. Sweet, time to study for my final!

I procrastinate so much I procrastinated writing this entry.

The semester is almost over. I am very stressed, although not as bad as I was this time last week.

Last Thursday I got a 72 on my Pharm test, bringing my test average to 79. I have to have a 75% to pass. I emailed my teacher asking for help or advice and she said she would review my test and get back to me. Well, now it's WEDNESDAY and my next test is TOMORROW so when exactly was she planning on getting back to me? I freaked out for about an hour after that test. I cannot fail that class. It will set me back an entire semester. Come to find out though, I am the only sucker in the class not using the book for the online test.

I had a shitload of stuff to get checked off on in skills lab, but I got all of that done on Saturday except catheters, which I did on Monday. So I am all done with skills lab. That was a HUGE weight off of my shoulders.

I also had to meet with my mentor to get them to sign off on some form we have to complete part of every semester. Basically we have to give them our unofficial transcript and they make sure we are where we need to be credit-wise. I did that yesterday after my clinical final evaluation (went fine, done with that class too!) and she said she wasn't sure that my art history class counts for my humanities credit. Oh, it better. I didn't sit through that suck ass class for nothing.

So now all I have to stress over is my finals next week. And now I think I have to end this here, because the screen looks a bit swirly and I'm afraid that means I have a migraine coming on.

Today I have a Pharm test which I have to study for when I get home. I have a case study due tomorrow.

Next Thursday I have another Pharm test.

The Thursday after that is my Pharm final, PLUS my HESI exam.

The Tuesday before my Pharm final is my Nursing Lecture final.

And somewhere in there I have to get checked off on my skills like catheter insertion, NG tubes, bandaging a head wound (which my sorry teacher hasn't even TAUGHT US YET).

On the bright side I have two weeks off from school after that (and one of those I think I will take off of work as well). Also, the day after my final is probably the Dolphins Christmas Party. And the day after that, me and my clinical classmates are going out together to drink away this semester. If I make it that far.

I am having a really hard time with this IPR that is due tomorrow. Basically I was to have a conversation with a patient and then transcribe it verbatim while noting my "therapeutic responses" using "proper terminology". Sure, okay, except I talked to this guy a week ago and of course did not take any notes in the meanwhile.

Also, I got a 64 on a Pharm test last week because I tried to jam too much info into my head in too short a time frame.

So...I think I'm going to implode now.

This week I had a test in my nursing lecture class. I started the reading a bit earlier than I normally do, but couldn't make myself finish the last chapter of reading. I was told that only 5 questions out of 50 came from that chapter so I wasn't too worried. I also did all the review questions for all the chapters. I got an 88%. Of course I would prefer an A, but the effort to grade ratio is pretty good.

Then after my test, I had to go home and write a case study that was due at 11pm that night. I did the research part of it at Taylor's soccer practice and then compiled and typed it at home. Took maybe 1.5 hours I guess. I don't know what my grade is yet (and probably won't for awhile because my teacher takes for. ever. to grade) but I'm pretty pleased with it. It just made so much sense in my brain that I wondered if I was missing something. It seemed too easy. You know, I wanted to go into nursing to provide the type of L&D care that I got when I had my daughter. It's really great to realize that the booksmart stuff is a good fit too. I actually had fun writing that case study. I enjoy figuring out why a test has been ordered for my patient, what the results mean to me as a nurse, and what I need to do for the patient from there. It is just all coming together and that is an AWESOME FEELING!

In other good news, I am leaving work in just over 3 hours and my camping weekend shall begin. Alex is meeting me at my house around 3:45, we are loading up the car and heading off to the state park. We have a 'cabin' so we are not really 'roughing it' but we do plan on doing all of our cooking outside even though we have a kitchen indoors. The main reason we got the cabin was for comfort of sleeping. He paid for both nights at the campsite as my birthday present, in addition to a few other small presents (his words). I am beyond excited. Hopefully we get some fishing and canoeing in too, but 25 mph winds are forecast, so we might not be able to.

Speaking of birthdays! Mine is actually Nov 17, but we couldn't go that weekend because we have to plan around the Dolphins schedule since Alex works all home games. Anyhow, Sabrina called me last night and said that for my gift she is taking me to the Melting Pot on the 17th! Woohoo! I. LOVE. THE MELTING POT. So so excited. Now I just need to figure out when the heck I can see Shannon. She's going out of town my birthday weekend.

Anyhow, camping, birthday, school, Alex, wooooooooo! My life isn't perfect, but it's the best it's ever been. I'm lovin' it.

Monday I got to observe in Labor and Delivery here at Good Sam. There were two patients laboring but unfortunately neither of them delivered in the 6 hours we were there. We did get to take vitals on a mom and learn how to do an assessment on a newborn, though. So. damn. cute. I couldn't stay any longer because the migraine that I had fought off with Advil in the morning was making a comeback. What is up with two migraines in two weeks? I really hope that it's not all the beer I drink on weekends. I read in my Pharm text that that is a possible trigger, and it would explain why I get them early in the week. Maybe I'll cut down the next weekend or two and see what happens. :(

Aaaand last night I had my recert class for CPR. It was supposed to go from 6pm-10pm but I was done by 8:30. Kick ass. I got 100% on my written exam. They changed some of the protocol lately. Instead of 15 compressions and 2 breaths, the ratio is now 30:2 in all cases except 2 person infant CPR. Also, they are reprogramming all AEDs to give one shock instead of 3 for VFib. All in all wasn't a bad night. The instructor had a Southern accent that was very nice to listen to.

Oh yes, and we are having our first "cold front" of the season. It's been in the 50s at night and goes from the low sixties to mid seventies during the day. Yes, that's a cold front, people! I love it :)

This weekend is the premiere of Markham Horror!

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...