If you would have told me at this time last year that in just 12 months time I'd be waking up voluntarily at 5 AM... I'd probably still be laughing at you.
But here I sit, at 5:30 AM, sipping on a cup of decaf coffee -- and it's not even a clinical day!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
An even MORE Important Announcement?
Andy and I are getting married!
Let the planning begin! We've been engaged for a little over a week now -- and I don't think a day has gone by where one of us hasn't brought up an idea for our wedding. We have a tentative date set in late spring 2009.
Right now looking at wedding stuff is a reward for good study habits. For example, after reading another [terribly written] chapter out of my textbook, I get to look at wedding gowns for 15 minutes.
Let the planning begin! We've been engaged for a little over a week now -- and I don't think a day has gone by where one of us hasn't brought up an idea for our wedding. We have a tentative date set in late spring 2009.
Right now looking at wedding stuff is a reward for good study habits. For example, after reading another [terribly written] chapter out of my textbook, I get to look at wedding gowns for 15 minutes.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
An Important Announcement
I have never felt this way about a clinical experience before.
I spent my first day in pediatric clinicals in the observation unit -- an interim place for kids who are too sick to be sent home, but may or may not have to be admitted to the hospital. The census varied from teenagers to infants.
I started out mainly as an observer. Eventually, I performed an assessment on a wiggly toddler (my first!) and helped out with patients and around the unit as much as I could. I held and fed a five-week old baby that is failing to thrive, having gained just shy of one ounce of weight since birth. He has some serious reflux, so it was a major achievement that he didn't spit up half of his feedings.
I also watched the "real" nurse change the dressing around a gastrostomy tube (a tube going through the abdominal wall and into the stomach for feedings) on an infant, and use suction on that same infant's nose and mouth.
I put "therapeutic hugging" into practice while the nurse got a blood draw on one very unhappy toddler. No amount of soothing could help calm the kiddo during that particular experience -- but my heart positively soared later that afternoon when that same toddler smiled at me and let me listen to his heart sounds with my stethoscope.
Some of the kiddos have special precautions because the source of their illness is unknown, which means health care staff has to gown up, don gloves and masks. I wish those masks were see-through, especially with the younger patients so they could see when we were smiling at them and trying to calm them. Every time I put one on today it made me think of how Tyra Banks is aways telling her aspiring next top models to "smile with their eyes."
*sigh*
Let me just say that I think I at least have a major crush on pediatric nursing. I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but...
This could be the start of a very serious and wonderful relationship!
I spent my first day in pediatric clinicals in the observation unit -- an interim place for kids who are too sick to be sent home, but may or may not have to be admitted to the hospital. The census varied from teenagers to infants.
I started out mainly as an observer. Eventually, I performed an assessment on a wiggly toddler (my first!) and helped out with patients and around the unit as much as I could. I held and fed a five-week old baby that is failing to thrive, having gained just shy of one ounce of weight since birth. He has some serious reflux, so it was a major achievement that he didn't spit up half of his feedings.
I also watched the "real" nurse change the dressing around a gastrostomy tube (a tube going through the abdominal wall and into the stomach for feedings) on an infant, and use suction on that same infant's nose and mouth.
I put "therapeutic hugging" into practice while the nurse got a blood draw on one very unhappy toddler. No amount of soothing could help calm the kiddo during that particular experience -- but my heart positively soared later that afternoon when that same toddler smiled at me and let me listen to his heart sounds with my stethoscope.
Some of the kiddos have special precautions because the source of their illness is unknown, which means health care staff has to gown up, don gloves and masks. I wish those masks were see-through, especially with the younger patients so they could see when we were smiling at them and trying to calm them. Every time I put one on today it made me think of how Tyra Banks is aways telling her aspiring next top models to "smile with their eyes."
*sigh*
Let me just say that I think I at least have a major crush on pediatric nursing. I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but...
This could be the start of a very serious and wonderful relationship!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Happy New Year's Resolutions!
I'm always conflicted about the first of the year. It's sad to see the Christmas holidays go, but I love the excitement and anticipation of a new year. Like so many other people, Andy and I have a tradition of writing down our new year's resolutions. I'd like to share some of my school-related resolutions with you.
ROBIN'S NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
1. Ask more questions in clinical settings and in class.
2. Stop fearing having the wrong answer.
3. Eliminate the nervous hand tremors.
4. Pass the NCLEX exam on the first try.
5. Decide which track to pursue for my graduate program (nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist) -- and be happy with that choice.
6. Get hired as an RN!
I may add more as I think of them.
One of my other resolutions was to update this blog more frequently, but even just four days into the new year that seems to be off to a rather poor start.
Oh well.
ROBIN'S NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
1. Ask more questions in clinical settings and in class.
2. Stop fearing having the wrong answer.
3. Eliminate the nervous hand tremors.
4. Pass the NCLEX exam on the first try.
5. Decide which track to pursue for my graduate program (nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist) -- and be happy with that choice.
6. Get hired as an RN!
I may add more as I think of them.
One of my other resolutions was to update this blog more frequently, but even just four days into the new year that seems to be off to a rather poor start.
Oh well.
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