Clinicals

Thursdays and Fridays are my clinical days.
In case I haven't mentioned it before, this is my first semester in Nursing School and that makes this my first clinical rotation. Me and 8 of my classmates (I have a class of 79, and they split us up into smaller groups at different hospitals and units.) are at the med-surg unit for 4 weeks and the oncology unit for one.

So I was in med-surg and will be for the remaining two weeks of the class, as I did my oncology rotation last week.

It was an interesting two days. Well, three really. Because on Wednesdays we go to our unit and pick our patients. You see who's available, ask their permission to be your victim and if they say yes, research their chart, condition and any other pertinent information you can get your hands on. That way you're prepared (or as much as you can be) for taking care of them. Normally Wednesdays are pretty short. It usually takes only about an hour to do what you need to do.

But of course, THIS Wednesday, our first picking our OWN patients - not assigned by faculty - THEY RAN OUT OF PATIENTS.

No joke.

You can choose your own time to pop in and pick and I chose to go a little later around 4pm (everyone else went around 1:30). My train of thought was by then, the docs and nurses would know pretty definitively who was going and who was staying. God forbid I do all of this work and research only for them to go home later that afternoon and have to do it all over again the next day! And for all intents and purposes, my plan worked. The problem was, everyone was leaving.

Yeah. When I got there at 4, two of the girls who had been there since 1:30 were STILL there! Just waiting to see if someone was either coming in from ER or not going to be discharged. And just our luck, exactly two were expected to. And if you've done the math that means three students and two patients.

Well, shit! I of course was going to let the other two get them. They've already been waiting two, coming up on three hours! I'm not going to swoop in and snatch the new patients! So I called my professor and she recommended coming back later, because in all likelihood all of those empty beds were going to be re-filled. So that's what I did. And at 7, back I come. The other two students are STILL THERE WAITING!! I had enough time to read a whole chapter while they were stuck here waiting! How cray cray is that?

Well, as luck would have it, at 8:30 when I think there is no hope and I don't know what I'm going to do, one of my classmates hears from an RN that there is another patient coming up from ER. And did I snatch that up faster than you can say FUCKTHISSHIT. So luckily, it all worked out, and I left around 9:15pm only to return at 6:45am. And the best part? I'm not even getting paid for this shit yet, lol. I'M paying THEM!

Turns out it was the first clinicals where I wasn't panicked and miserable all day, both days. I actually feel like I'm getting into the swing of things. Well, as much as possible, I mean I'm going to be clueless for quite some time, but at least I feel like I'm progressing like I should be. And that's all I want! I don't expect be the world's best RN the fourth week of school, but I do want to feel like I've got a handle on the objectives and situations expected of me!

Also, I think it helps that the staff is getting used to us and thus hating us a little less. Now that they know what our limits are, they are more comfortable asking us to do this or that and suddenly we went from 'annoying and in the way' (understandably so...) to the people they can shove all the easy, time consuming crap off on. And let me tell you: We are happy to do it. We want to be helpful and liked. And if that means helping with bedpans and bed baths, bring it on!

So all in all, a MUCH better experience than the last two weeks. THANK GOODNESS. I was getting worried there for a second, lol. Maybe this nursing school thing won't be SO bad, after-all.  Just marginally hellish is fine with me :) I'll let you know how next week goes!

Promise.

This last week I've really gotten behind in my studying!
I was ahead for so many weeks.
Then I slacked a little and was just doing things as they were assigned/needed.
And now I'm officially behind.

And it is a lot and all, but it is still completely my fault that I lost my lead.
I've been lazy
and procrastinating.

So tonight, it stops!

Tomorrow I am going to do all the crap I've been meaning to and planning on and putting off until tomorrow.

(((I know it's a bit ironic to talk about not procrastinating tomorrow, but today really is a lost cause.)))

I'm going to DO my stinking HOMEWORK! And I guess when I say this, I don't mean homework per se, I mean more like do the assigned readings BEFORE the lecture like I was. And finish my clinical paperwork the same night instead of three nights later right before it's due.

I'm going to follow my calendar. No more last minute re-working to make more time for procrastinating.

Eat healthy. I'm going to stop using food as a crutch for comfort because "I've had a hard day." Eating healthy is a must and if I'm going to be able to keep up with this grueling school schedule, I need to be nourished! Hydration will be a big priority and I'll use the My Plate guideline like I know I should (my nutrition professor would be proud), meaning half veggies and fruits and one quarter protein and one quarter carbs -Complex carbs, that is- oh and don't forget that dairy :) Milk with dinner from now on. Though, for the record, reasonable, nightly desserts will not be denied me.

Exercise. Twice a week minimum. I always mean to and I never do! I did well this summer, but since the semester began it's completely gone by the wayside. I always have all these excuses about why I won't or shouldn't, but the fact of the matter is, it's like a natural caffeine high! It'll help me stay awake during the day and fall asleep at a normal time at night. I don't have a gym membership and really want one (our local gym has a pool, which is my FAVE thing to do for exercise!) But it's expensive and I want to make sure I'm really going to use it (unlike my husband who has had his membership for 2 and a half years and hasn't gone in 2 of those -.-) before I go and shell out all this money. So, if I keep up working out at least 2 times a week (of course, the more often the better, but that's a good starting point) I will get a membership. In the meantime, running on the local middle school track or around the neighborhood (although, the pavement really hurts my joints) is free! Or calisthenics in my living room. Or I could start up Insanity again?? Though, I really think I want to wait and be a little more in shape than I am now to jump on that train again... Anyways...

Meditate when I get home from school or clinicals. I need to make sure I'm managing my stress levels to stay healthy and that's a great way to do it. Also, I think it will help me get centered and focused on what I need to accomplish for the evening or next day. I think I'll start with 5-10 minutes, probably setting my phone alarm in the beginning to make sure I'm not skimping.

Stop neglecting my husband. Now, we both knew that things would be a little harder when I started school. He has to pull more of his weight around the house; cleaning, shopping, meals, etc. And he has REALLY stepped up to the plate! (Have I mentioned that I couldn't do it without him?? Gosh, I love that man.) But by adhering better to my studying goals/schedule, I will have more time to spend with him. I shudder to think how much time I waste on facebook or just procrastinating around, when I could be saving it and spending it with him. Also, after a long, stressful/exciting day, I want to talk all about it. I mean, I do ask the required, "How was your day, honey?" but for the most part all I do is talk about me me me me. It's selfish and it's unacceptable. Also, I'm embarrassed to admit how long it's been since we had some bedroom time. My goal is to make the effort to be intimate at LEAST once a week. Now, when I say intimate I don't necessarily mean sexytime. I mean accomplishing my study goals and going and just SEEING the guy! Talk to him. Give him a hug and a kiss! BE PRESENT. And whatever follows, well, great :)

Be a Listener. Kind of goes with what I was saying above. I worry I might be an over-sharer and that it might come off as being self-centered or selfish. When people are talking about themselves, in my mind, a good way to bond is to share about myself in relation to the topic they were talking about. But I don't want to be the person people know way too much about, I want to be a Listener. That person you can go to and really be heard. Also, I think it never hurts to be more observant and introspective.

Get the FUCK off FACEBOOK. I waste so much time there. 98% of that time I'm on it, I'm just being nosy and procrastinating doing what I actually should be. My goal is to take a week long hiatus and see where I'm at. How hard was it? Do I have a lot more free time? Am I getting more done? It also kind of relates to the sharing less thing. People that half the time I wouldn't say 'Hi' to in the street really don't need or want to know most of what I'm doing on a daily basis! It's just not that interesting. (For the record, I totally don't count this blog. I consider this my journal, so it falls under the introspection category ;]) I think my overall goal regarding Facebook for the long haul would be for it to not be a daily occurrence, more like a pop in once a week and see what people are up to kind of thing. But like I said, I'll start with a week and see.

I think that about covers it. Now that you've seen my faults, you must think I'm a pretty awesome person, huh. Selfish, gluttonous, lazy. I know, until now you thought I was perfect. It's like when you first realized your parents have sex. Rocks you to the very core.

:D

I'll keep you posted on how it all goes. Wish me luck!