Operations GMI and BMS

This semester I've undertaken two separate, albeit closely related, operations. They are Operation Be More Social (BMS) and Operation Get More Involved (GMI).

Operation GMI:
I've been trying to be more involved on PLU's campus and in the Lakewood community. So, I joined the Pierce County YMCA and Delta Iota Chi, the School of Nursing's service club.

Even though I haven't really been "giving back" with my YMCA membership, I know I've gotten a lot out it. I love love LOVE my spinning class, taught by possibly the world's nicest drill sergeant. (Seriously, he showed up to class in fatigues one day.) And, the little 70-year-old women shaking their thangs in the cardio salsa dance class are truly inspiring.

Delta Iota Chi has been a nice way to explore the link between community service and the practice of nursing. So far, I've volunteered at a blood drive and am helping co-organize the ELMSN class's contributions to the annual Thanksgiving basket drive. We'll have to wait and see how that goes.

Operation BMS:
With all of this extra time on my hands this semester, I quickly realized that I'd like to leave nursing school with my education AND a new circle of friends. I also wanted to avoid spending my spare time annoying Andy and pining away for my Seattle peeps.

So, I played on my first ever IM soccer team (Team MRSA). Andy and I hosted a pumpkin pancake breakfast, and then attended our first ever PLU football game. I've also had more dinner/lunch/coffee dates with girls from school, in addition to our requisite study sessions.

Perhaps best of all have been karaoke nights at Bob's Java Jive. There's nothing quite like singing a duet with a big bald man named Vinnie Bob.

Never a Dull Moment

I just finished up my clinical rotation at the inpatient psychiatric unit. The final day was pretty uneventful, with the exception of the impending windstorm on everyone's minds. There were lots of new admits, although some patients that had been previously discharged were back. It was sad to see them in that state, but having a few familiar faces in the mix was oddly comforting.

After thinking about it, I realized that I learned quite a bit during my rotation. I became more comfortable talking with patients, and even came to appreciate having a nursing experience that is not so task-oriented. Hopefully I'll be able to maintain that focus as my move into my next clinical rotation this Thursday in the main hospital.

I also had the chance to wear this little number to class on Tuesday:

And it wasn't even Halloween! I played the role of a visual hallucination (specifically a talking cow) in a friend's skit about the signs and symptoms brief psychotic disorder. It was pure educational gold -- everyone learned something, and was wildly entertained! Fabulous.

And the "Most Likely to Make Mistakes" Award goes to...

Robin!

So.... perhaps I exaggerate. Let's just say, though, that medication administration was much more nerve-wracking than I had expected. Seriously, my hands were shaking. And I didn't do everything right. Sometimes I absolutely hate not being perfect.

The good news is, I was only responsible for the medication administration of 4 patients on the unit. I cannot imagine what kind of knowledge I would need or what kind of madness would have ensued had I been responsible for preparing the meds for all 15 patients.

The even better (and most important) news is, I learned a lot from the experience. As my instructor so kindly said, I couldn't have experienced more teachable moments in one day even if I'd paid for it. And I did a decent job of rolling with the punches and trying to think on my feet. I'm still trying to learn have the cajones to trust my instincts, though. If I had, it would have saved me a lot of trouble on Thursday!

By the end of that day, things improved. My hands stopped shaking once my instructor gave me some space, and I wasn't as conscious of being watched. I did a kick-ass job of giving an insulin shot. And, when I administered afternoon meds, the routine of asking each patient important questions about side effects and how certain medicines made them feel felt much more natural.

I know I'll never be perfect. But, perhaps my shaky hands and initial cautiousness will pay off in the long run.

This may be the week

That kicks my butt. Or it could be the week that kicks my butt out of nursing school.

Like I've mentioned before, I have lectures Monday through Wednesday, with clinicals on Thursday and Friday.

This week has been unusually hellish. I've had:
-two exams
-two quizzes
-a paper due
-a teaching plan due

And I have four papers due next week!

Thursday I'm responsible for medication administration (which I'm actually pretty excited about) for some patients on the unit, and on Friday I'm leading an hour long "Life Skills" group. We're talking about stress management. Maybe I'll learn something?

I remember a time when October used to be my favorite month of the year....

*sigh*

Those were the good old days.