So here it is, albeit a bit late, my recollections on clinical. So far I've been to the hospital about three times...twice for oreintationy type things, and once working with an actual, real live patient! I would have to say my biggest stressor about clinical isn't working with the patients or not knowing what the heck I'm doing, or having to transport a body to the morgue or any of that...it's the other nurses. Believe it or not, not everyone is tickled pink to see a gaggle of nursing students come on to the floor, and I worry a lot about inadvertently pissing someone off or being annoying, pestering or bothersome. But then again, I'm there to learn so I have to be somewhat annoying if I'm going to get my hands on any of the cool skills like catheters and enemas (ok, maybe "cool" was not the right word to use here). But you know what I mean.
The trouble with being a first semester student (well, a first MONTH student) is that we can't do much yet. We're basically operating at the level of a CNA and since our floor already has CNA's, our being there doesn't relieve the RN of any of his/her duties and we are basically taking up their time and space. But, the good news is, I should be getting checked off on PO med pass week after this one, so at that point I'll be functioning pretty much at the LVN level as far as the skills I am capable of doing and I'll be a MUCH bigger help to the RNs on the floor. I'm expecting they'll warm up to us a bit when we can handle their med passes, and accu-checks and vitals and head-to-toes and dressing changes...you get the idea.
So, for this coming week I have home health on my clinical day. I heard from the girl who went last week that it was pretty boring with a lot of time sitting around while the RN does documentation. So, I hope I can study for my theory exam while I'm sitting around. Then, the following week I'm back at the hospital and will hopefully get checked off for the PO pass.
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about...all the "major skills" we learn have a "check-off"...both in the lab (using a dummy) and then once again in the hospital on a real, live patient. So, I aced my PO check off (PO=by mouth as in oral medications) in the lab, but my clinical instructor has to observe me doing it "for real" before I'll be let loose to medicate my way around the unit. She also has to observe me doing my first Accu-Check (blood glucose test) before I'll be let loose to finger stick all the diabetics...my plan is to get that going week after next as well...just think how happy the RNs will be when I offer to do all their Accu-Checks in the morning. I am determined to be useful and helpful! I'll let you know how it goes.
Oh, and I saw a pretty darn big wound...my first! And no, I didn't faint, feel nauseous or wish I were at Nordstrom trying on shoes...it was way cooler than trying on shoes!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Monday, February 09, 2009
I'm a bad blogger
I just realized today that I've been terribly remiss in keeping the blogosphere (ok, all three of you) updated on my nursing school experience. The word for the day, ladies and gentlemen, is BUSY! Just when I think I'm caught up I'll take a look at my schedule and immediately feel like throwing up. Today was one of those days.
We are taking our first midterm in Med/Surg in two weeks and have to do write-ups on three case studies. I am currently working on one about cholecystitis, and it's already 6 pages long and I'm nowhere near finished. I am, however, learning a lot and it's totally interesting! The other two cases are about a guy with bladder cancer who has too many other problems to count and a pt with compression fractures of the spine. All of our test questions will utilize material regarding these three cases...so kinda cool.
On to other news...clinicals start tomorrow!!! Well, it's sort of a "clinical-light", because it's orientation to the hospital and includes a scavenger hunt on my unit. I am already freaked out about being late, but I suppose the usual 4 alarms I set will just have to do. As it stands now, I use a wake up call (www.wakeupcalls.net), radio alarm clock, cell phone and iPod. Yes...every day. I'm anal like that. Or is it OCD? Anyway...
I get to wear my snappy school uniform tomorrow, and look all nursey. Hopefully no one stops me in the hall and asks me anything because I will be completely clueless!
As for the school experience itself...so far I really like all my professors, though I have to say I endured The World's Most Boring Lecture last week...it was seriously torture. It was on the history of nursing and critical thinking...for hours. So far everyone seems really nice, though I'd be lying if I didn't say there are a few people that I'd prefer not to be stuck in an elevator with. But, I'm really trying not to be snippy, so I'll just leave it at that.
Here's hoping the nurses are nice to use tomorrow! That's one of my biggest worries...that the nurses will hate us and resent our presence on their unit. I will be as nice, helpful and professional as I know how to be...I guess that's all I really can do, huh?
Stay tuned for the post-clinical debriefing!
We are taking our first midterm in Med/Surg in two weeks and have to do write-ups on three case studies. I am currently working on one about cholecystitis, and it's already 6 pages long and I'm nowhere near finished. I am, however, learning a lot and it's totally interesting! The other two cases are about a guy with bladder cancer who has too many other problems to count and a pt with compression fractures of the spine. All of our test questions will utilize material regarding these three cases...so kinda cool.
On to other news...clinicals start tomorrow!!! Well, it's sort of a "clinical-light", because it's orientation to the hospital and includes a scavenger hunt on my unit. I am already freaked out about being late, but I suppose the usual 4 alarms I set will just have to do. As it stands now, I use a wake up call (www.wakeupcalls.net), radio alarm clock, cell phone and iPod. Yes...every day. I'm anal like that. Or is it OCD? Anyway...
I get to wear my snappy school uniform tomorrow, and look all nursey. Hopefully no one stops me in the hall and asks me anything because I will be completely clueless!
As for the school experience itself...so far I really like all my professors, though I have to say I endured The World's Most Boring Lecture last week...it was seriously torture. It was on the history of nursing and critical thinking...for hours. So far everyone seems really nice, though I'd be lying if I didn't say there are a few people that I'd prefer not to be stuck in an elevator with. But, I'm really trying not to be snippy, so I'll just leave it at that.
Here's hoping the nurses are nice to use tomorrow! That's one of my biggest worries...that the nurses will hate us and resent our presence on their unit. I will be as nice, helpful and professional as I know how to be...I guess that's all I really can do, huh?
Stay tuned for the post-clinical debriefing!
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Exhausted
I'm so completely tired...so so completely tired and clinicals haven't even started yet! Instead, we've been learning extra skills on those days in a fun process called "Frontloading" that makes the first two weeks of the semester a wee bit on the crazy side. I am, however, managing to stay on top of things...and boy are there a lot of things.
By the time I close out my first two weeks of school this coming Saturday, I will have a taken 17 or so quizzes (seriously), taken two exams that are 90% or better to pass and learned the following skills:
TPR (temperature, pulse, respirations)
Blood pressure & apical pulse
Bed baths
Oral care
Ambulation and transfers
Use of restraints
TEDs/SCUDS
Range of Motion
Accucheck (for blood glucose)
Oxygenation
Positioning
Urine elimination (Foley removal, specimen collection, condom catheters)
Bowel elimination (enemas, specimen collection, bed pans)
Ostomy care
Documentation
Infection control procedures
On top of all this, I have 4 other classes which are Med/Surg (the biggie), Professional Nursing (a theory class), Therapeutic Communication, and Pharmacology. Just writing this out makes me feel sick.
So, if you haven't heard from me (and you probably haven't!) then this is why I've been too busy, exhausted, distracted. Once frontloading is over (this Saturday...yay!) then things should mellow a tiny bit...but then clinicals start, so who knows.
Wish me luck. On Saturday I have to pass a math test and a medical abbreviations test with at least a 90%. So far, none of the work has been especially difficult...just a LOT of it. I'm sure that actually applying everything I've learned is going to be the hardest part. Oh...and the Med/Surg exams. Can't wait for those! ;-)
By the time I close out my first two weeks of school this coming Saturday, I will have a taken 17 or so quizzes (seriously), taken two exams that are 90% or better to pass and learned the following skills:
TPR (temperature, pulse, respirations)
Blood pressure & apical pulse
Bed baths
Oral care
Ambulation and transfers
Use of restraints
TEDs/SCUDS
Range of Motion
Accucheck (for blood glucose)
Oxygenation
Positioning
Urine elimination (Foley removal, specimen collection, condom catheters)
Bowel elimination (enemas, specimen collection, bed pans)
Ostomy care
Documentation
Infection control procedures
On top of all this, I have 4 other classes which are Med/Surg (the biggie), Professional Nursing (a theory class), Therapeutic Communication, and Pharmacology. Just writing this out makes me feel sick.
So, if you haven't heard from me (and you probably haven't!) then this is why I've been too busy, exhausted, distracted. Once frontloading is over (this Saturday...yay!) then things should mellow a tiny bit...but then clinicals start, so who knows.
Wish me luck. On Saturday I have to pass a math test and a medical abbreviations test with at least a 90%. So far, none of the work has been especially difficult...just a LOT of it. I'm sure that actually applying everything I've learned is going to be the hardest part. Oh...and the Med/Surg exams. Can't wait for those! ;-)
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