My First Week:

So I have finished my first week as a student nurse intern and if there is one thing I have learned it is that real life nursing is nothing like school. Sterile technique? Yeah right. 90 degree angle for sub-q's? Don't think so! How about doing an assessment so thorough you can describe the patient like the back of your own hand? Nope! In school you are taught perfection; in real life, there is no time for that. The first night I did assessments on 6 patients and had to document. It took me 2 1/2 hours WITHOUT documenting. Most of the patients were on isolation, which means you have to gown up which takes time. Then the most important question: Are you having any pain? And if so, I have to get my nurse so she can look up if the patient is due for any pain meds, what the patient wants if there are multiple prn pain meds ordered, then she has to go get them and bring them to the patient's room, practice at least the first 3 rights of med administration, scan the pt's band, the medicine, give the patient the medicine, then document it right then. Then while all that is going on I can assess skin, lungs, breathing, pulses, bowel sounds, abdomen, i&o....the list goes on.

And that is just one very small part of the shift! I am just very lucky that my preceptor is, in a word, awesome.

Needless to say, I have been pretty exhausted after my shifts and last week I did 3 12's in a row. I then had 5 nights off in a row. It was great. I took the kids to Six Flags all day Friday and my husband and I went out Saturday night with his family to celebrate his mom's birthday.





Jack on the trampoline.

















John and I acting silly (which we do alot!)











It's just so much sweeter to have that time off after working hard, wouldn't you agree? :)

I...can do this. (I think!)

Since 2008, when I officially started going back to school for nursing, I have dreamed about the time when I would sign my name with RN behind it. Then, in 2010, when I actually started the nursing program, I could actually see myself doing some of the skills that we were learning about. I couldn't wait to give out meds, start IV infusions, insert foley catheters, etc! (I know what you're thinking: WEIRDO!) But I also couldn't wait to take care of patients. To be their advocate, their sounding board, their educator....THIS is what I wanted to do.

But now, I'm a little worried.

Because, you see, it's not just a dream, or goal, or possibility. Tomorrow night is my first real shift as a student nurse intern. And while I am restricted in what I can do, there will be certain skills I will be able to perform. I will be doing assessments, which are extremely important. I will have the opportunity to start intravenous lines, perform wound care, irrigate NG tubes.....am I ready for this? You would think I would have a little experience, but the truth is with all the clinicals I have had, I have VERY little experience.

So here it is: my first shift. Tomorrow night. And while I'm nervous and worried and anxious, I am also very, very excited. So I guess I will dive right in...I just hope no one notices the jitters.

Something Small, Something Amazing

Reading is such an important skill to develop when you're young, and the key is to have fun. This can be easier said than done when you're trying to read a story to a little one who is preoccupied with toys, their clothes, YOUR clothes, and anything that can divert their attention. Needless to say, reading time in our house consisted of starting a book, pausing every couple minutes to remind our younger kids to be quiet or pay attention, and occasionally getting frustrated and threatening to stop. Yet all our 3 kids always get excited for story time, or even going to the library.

Now, John (my husband) is taking a children's literature class at the moment and the first book he has to read is Reading Magic by Mem Fox (a must read for any parent). And he was transformed by this book, as I was just by listening to him talk about it. One of the key points in the book is to keep reading fun. That means, if they are not sitting at attention hanging onto your every word, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. Just keep reading to them.

Huh! That honestly never occurred to me; however, reading time quickly became a fun event, not just for them, but for me as well.

Then today, John, Bella, and I all went to the library to get the kids started on their summer reading lists. Bella sat down and I started to read her a book, but she quickly took over.



I was amazed; so was the librarian and a couple of other people. My 3 year old daughter was reading by herself. It was possibly one of the best moments of my life.

Who's ready for storytime? :-)

Funny Story:

So I've had a sneaky suspicion for awhile now about something and it was just confirmed today.

My husband and I both go to the local community college: I'm in their nursing program, and he is doing his general ed classes to work towards getting his teaching degree. I've often thought that students at the college probably don't like the nursing students much. Why? Practically the whole back lot of the college is dedicated to the nursing students, in addition to dental hygiene and occupational therapist students. We've all got the newer buildings with the hi-tech equipment (nearly every classroom is supplied with computers, for example) while the other part of the campus is older and contains a lot of the original architecture (I believe the main building was built in the mid 1800s). My husband and I had a discussion about this awhile back mainly because most of his classes have been in the old main building and he agreed.

Anyway, today I went up to the local Subway to get a sandwich. I had my college t-shirt on since I've been cleaning and watching Disney movies with my 3 year old. As I'm paying for my food, the cashier, a man probably in his 20s notices my shirt and comments on it: "So you go to that school too huh?"

I answered "Yes I do, I love it."

"What are you going for?"

"Nursing."

His response which now included a sour look on his face: "Oh.....that's something I guess."

Sneaky suspicion confirmed!

The Basics:

So I created this blog a year ago and never really did anything with it. Since I have a little time on my hands now, I thought I would give it a shot :)

A little about me: I have been married for nearly 8 years and have 3 children: 2 boys and a girl. That in itself seems a lot. I am also in nursing school. I've just finished my 3rd semester for the associate's program, which is a 2 year degree AFTER you finish all the prerequisites. I started going full time in fall '08 and will graduate this December, so it has been a whole 3 years, by the time I'm finished it will be 3 1/2 years. Sheesh, I should have just done the Bachelor's program! Oh well. In addition to this, my husband decided last year to go back to school to get into elementary education, so needless to say, it's been a bit hectic around here :)

During all of this, we try to keep the kids active as well. Our 7 year old, Jack, plays soccer and baseball, and is in the Cub Scouts. Our 5 1/2 year old, Ethan, did gymnastics for awhile, then he played soccer last fall but liked to sit in the middle of the field rather than go after a white and black ball. He's been playing t-ball this spring and seems to like it, and we just signed him up for Cub Scouts. Our baby of the family, 3 1/2 year old Bella, is active all on her own but I'm hoping to sign her up for dance this summer. Who knew it would ever be so busy in our household? Not us, that's for sure.

:)