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.