Final posting before the final

All I can say is that I hope I didn't overstudy.  I Will be glad when lunch time rolls around tomorrow because that will mean Session A will be a past event.  There has been a lot of information crammed into my brain these past eight weeks.

Final Clinical Session A Fall Semester

     I'm curious about the upcoming schedule and group assignment. 

Head to Toe Assessment

This weeek in clinicals we were assigned to do a complete assessment.  It took longer than I thought it would.  We also had a lot of experience dealing with contact isolation issues.  Learning taking place.

Information Overload!!!!!!

I feel like there is too much information available to study for this course.  It can be really confusing deciding which resource to use.  For me, the "browsing" of all the resources available takes more time than I actually utilize studying the class topics, so for the remainder of fall semester (session A) I plan on utilizing only the resources purchased at the beginning of the semester (Fundamentals of Nursing, and Fundamentals of Success)

The midterm is over

Wow, the midterm really had the gears turning in the brain housing group.  Interesting.  I'm looking forward to the upcoming week, it sure doesn't seem like we've been back in school for a month.  Time is flying.  Only 19 or 20 months till the NCLEX.

First Clinical

Wow, time is flying by.  This week we had our first quiz and first clinical.  The clinical experience was definitely unexpected, I did not expect to be entering a hostile environment but that's what I got.  What helped me get over the barrier was understanding that my patient was simply not ready to surrender her independence and with empathy and understanding the communication barrier was breached.  I discovered, that by discussing what the vitals actually tested, I gained a little more trust and respect from her.  Also, sharing that knowledge helped boost my confidence.  Well, the midterm is almost upon us, I must force myself not to procrastinate and get some good studying in this weekend (Between the football games, of course.)  Good luck to all on the midterm.

Week Two

As week two winds down and Labor day approaches I feel relieved.  Me and a fellow nursing student, Gary Atkins, were talking about how good it felt to finally be doing things directly related to our future nursing duties and applying them with hands on training of taking a book or a model and trying to remember all that is labeled and listed.  I know it's not going to be a walk in the park but I feel really confident in the decision I made to choose nursing as a career.  I spoke to some second semester nursing students and they stated that they "hit the ground running" (An old military saying meaning they were busy from the first day of the semester.)  They stated that they had no free time to speak of.  I purchased an Aneroid Spyrogmomanometer (Blood Pressure Cuff) from G Willies for $28, another student said Helen's had them for $25, I know we didn't need our personal BP Cuff but I plan on using the family as guinea pigs.  I know it's pride, but does anyone else feel others looking at you differently when you wear your scrubs?  Well that's it for this week, can't wait till next.