Clinicals. They are not what you expect them to be, not that I really had any expectations.
Today was a hard day. Mondays are generally pretty slow going on our floor. we have a lot of surgery patients, and most of them don't come to our floor until Monday afternoon, after we have left.
This morning, while waiting for our nurses to round, another student nurse and I agreed to give a bed bath. we followed the night nurse to the patients room. He was on contact isolation which meant we have to put on gowns, and gloves and face masks to go into his room. He was a stroke victim as well and was almost completely paralyzed and suffering from a respiratory infection. We did our best to clean him, just two student nurses in our seventh week of nursing school, but eventually an RN had to come in to help us. It is emotionally draining to see postings like, "please take care of our dad." in this patients room. It is physically exhausting to have the visceral reaction of dry-heaving in reaction to the patient coughing up phlegm.
but it is monday. and i have a pharmacology test tomorrow. so i come home. i set the alarm for five minutes and I give myself just that amount of time to relive my stress through tears. when the buzzer rings the tears must stop. because tomorrow is tuesday and i have to get up to do it all over again.
there is reward in the work. there is.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Things are Heating Up
Today was our last day of skills lab. Wednesday is our first day in the hospital. for our first rotation we will mostly assist with basic hygiene, and other activities of daily living. fondly known in the nursing world as ADL's.
each week brings its own challenges and stressors. this week not only do we have our first day in the hospital, but we also have a midterm in our clinical class and a "quiz" in our health assessment class.
so far things are going well. lets hope that keeps up
each week brings its own challenges and stressors. this week not only do we have our first day in the hospital, but we also have a midterm in our clinical class and a "quiz" in our health assessment class.
so far things are going well. lets hope that keeps up
Friday, September 9, 2011
One Week Down!
I have successfully completed my first week of nursing school. Granted, our week was short by one day due to labor day, but it was still a "full" week of classes.
to celebrate, I went afternoon-drinking with 2 of my cohort members to raise a glass in recognition of the fact that we only have 14 weeks of the semester left. exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time.
Today our class was Health Assessment, which is where we learn how to do a health assessment. which includes a complete health history and a full physical exam. Our lecture professor is amazing, perhaps the most amazing professor we have, and our lab professor might be the most hilarious professor I have ever had in my entire educational experience. People who are warm and kind, and who can laugh at themselves really do make this whole experience that much more enjoyable.
to finish off a long day, I went to go see the movie THE HELP with one of my nearest and dearest friends. Based on my mood last week I was sure that I was going to sob through the whole movie because I was going to be missing my boys, but instead I really just got to enjoy it. It made me more appreciative than I already am of the relationship I continue to have with my nanny-family. When a person decides to become "the help" there are times when you will just click with a family, and times when you won't. The times that you don't can seem tragic and full of despair, but the times that you do are like magic. I think there is something incredibly special in the bond a child shares with their nanny or babysitter or mothers helper or whatever you want to call it. Allowing a complete stranger to come into your life to take care of your kids is one of the best things you can do for the stranger and for your child. you are giving your child the gift of another trust worthy adult, another point of view, another history of life experience. You are bringing an adult into their lives just for them, to enrich their lives. And for the person who gets to watch your kids, you are giving them the precious moments that they will carry in their hearts forever. moments of time with the kids, where it is just the nanny and them, special things that they share, just the two of them.
whenever I am out in public with any of the kids that I sit for, it is always assumed that the kids are mine. I always correct people if the situation seems worth the correction. but in truth, the moments that I share with kids are mine. the walks home from school with J and Baby Boy, those are my moments with those two incredible kids.
the moments of M singing her heart out at the park, the moments of N fulling engaging in an art project, of C not sharing her toys, of L rolling around and smiling. all moments that I got to be a part of. because there are some incredible parents out there who allow me the gift of time with their kids. and I am forever thankful.
to celebrate, I went afternoon-drinking with 2 of my cohort members to raise a glass in recognition of the fact that we only have 14 weeks of the semester left. exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time.
Today our class was Health Assessment, which is where we learn how to do a health assessment. which includes a complete health history and a full physical exam. Our lecture professor is amazing, perhaps the most amazing professor we have, and our lab professor might be the most hilarious professor I have ever had in my entire educational experience. People who are warm and kind, and who can laugh at themselves really do make this whole experience that much more enjoyable.
to finish off a long day, I went to go see the movie THE HELP with one of my nearest and dearest friends. Based on my mood last week I was sure that I was going to sob through the whole movie because I was going to be missing my boys, but instead I really just got to enjoy it. It made me more appreciative than I already am of the relationship I continue to have with my nanny-family. When a person decides to become "the help" there are times when you will just click with a family, and times when you won't. The times that you don't can seem tragic and full of despair, but the times that you do are like magic. I think there is something incredibly special in the bond a child shares with their nanny or babysitter or mothers helper or whatever you want to call it. Allowing a complete stranger to come into your life to take care of your kids is one of the best things you can do for the stranger and for your child. you are giving your child the gift of another trust worthy adult, another point of view, another history of life experience. You are bringing an adult into their lives just for them, to enrich their lives. And for the person who gets to watch your kids, you are giving them the precious moments that they will carry in their hearts forever. moments of time with the kids, where it is just the nanny and them, special things that they share, just the two of them.
whenever I am out in public with any of the kids that I sit for, it is always assumed that the kids are mine. I always correct people if the situation seems worth the correction. but in truth, the moments that I share with kids are mine. the walks home from school with J and Baby Boy, those are my moments with those two incredible kids.
the moments of M singing her heart out at the park, the moments of N fulling engaging in an art project, of C not sharing her toys, of L rolling around and smiling. all moments that I got to be a part of. because there are some incredible parents out there who allow me the gift of time with their kids. and I am forever thankful.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
And It Starts All Over Again
I saw the boys today, I just couldn't help myself. I told myself all week that I would get to see them on Thursday, and it really was the carrot that was dangling in front of me urging me to keep going. Sound crazy, but I bet you have never sat straight through ten hours of nursing classes.
So, after a morning of actual paid babysitting and an early afternoon of study time, I went over to the house and hung out with Magic J until the baby woke up.
kids are pretty funny, and J is especially hilarious at moments. I showed him my lab coat, and he put on his doctor coat so we matched, and then we talked about his doctor bag.
"Suzy, do you have a doctors bag"
"no buddy, I don't."
"well do you have a nurses bag"
"Nope, I am going to need to get one, where did you get yours?"
"I got it in a shop"
"oh, what is the name of the shop?"
"Ukelele"
"okay, do you remember where the shop is?"
"in South America."
a minute or so of silence
"actually, I just made that up."
what an awesome lie. I love it.
it was slightly easier to leave this time, and I think it will get easier each time, as time goes by.
so, a great day is over, and another day of class looms in my future.
almost 1 whole week down!
So, after a morning of actual paid babysitting and an early afternoon of study time, I went over to the house and hung out with Magic J until the baby woke up.
kids are pretty funny, and J is especially hilarious at moments. I showed him my lab coat, and he put on his doctor coat so we matched, and then we talked about his doctor bag.
"Suzy, do you have a doctors bag"
"no buddy, I don't."
"well do you have a nurses bag"
"Nope, I am going to need to get one, where did you get yours?"
"I got it in a shop"
"oh, what is the name of the shop?"
"Ukelele"
"okay, do you remember where the shop is?"
"in South America."
a minute or so of silence
"actually, I just made that up."
what an awesome lie. I love it.
it was slightly easier to leave this time, and I think it will get easier each time, as time goes by.
so, a great day is over, and another day of class looms in my future.
almost 1 whole week down!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Perceptions on a First Day
ELM. It stand for Entry Level Masters. In such a setting, you do not get the luxury of pacing yourself to complete your degree. You are pushed into the deep end, and are expected to already know how to swim; that or you will sink.
8am-6pm. Class ALL day. it is tedious and long, but time seems to pass quickly when your hand can barely keep pace with the powerpoint, and when your mind is reeling trying to synthesize information from a million different places.
the reading list is intense to put it mildly. the professors so far are incredible, mostly because they are seasoned vets in the world of second career students and know how to (lovingly?) guide us.
tomorrow is the first skills lab, where all of us are expected to come dressed in full uniform. hip hip hooray for w(h)ine colored scrubs.
in other news: today was the new nanny's first day. I hope the boys acclimate to her soon. I am going to see my precious littles on Thursday. I dare you to try to keep me away.
8am-6pm. Class ALL day. it is tedious and long, but time seems to pass quickly when your hand can barely keep pace with the powerpoint, and when your mind is reeling trying to synthesize information from a million different places.
the reading list is intense to put it mildly. the professors so far are incredible, mostly because they are seasoned vets in the world of second career students and know how to (lovingly?) guide us.
tomorrow is the first skills lab, where all of us are expected to come dressed in full uniform. hip hip hooray for w(h)ine colored scrubs.
in other news: today was the new nanny's first day. I hope the boys acclimate to her soon. I am going to see my precious littles on Thursday. I dare you to try to keep me away.
Monday, September 5, 2011
25 Years Ago
25 years ago, a young woman boarded a plane back to Denmark after living in California for one year, taking care of 4 rambunctious children, including the newborn baby girl. Baby girl was only 6 months old when her Au Pair had to leave.
fast forward 25 years, and baby girl is now a nanny. Nanny has been taking care of the most precious Baby Boy since two weeks after he was born in February, and has been taking care of Baby Boy's Big Brother, the four year old Magic J, since Magic J was 2 years old.
leaving is never easy, leaving the most amazing children in the world is the hardest thing I have ever done. Or at least it feels that way right now. At least I am not moving half way around the world, and will only be ten minutes away from my precious littles.
if you are wondering why I would leave the most amazing part of my life, why I have spent the last two days in tears, why I can't bring myself to think about them or look at pictures of them for fear of tears, it is because I am ready to start my next chapter: Nursing School.
join me as I transition from Nanny to Nurse
fast forward 25 years, and baby girl is now a nanny. Nanny has been taking care of the most precious Baby Boy since two weeks after he was born in February, and has been taking care of Baby Boy's Big Brother, the four year old Magic J, since Magic J was 2 years old.
leaving is never easy, leaving the most amazing children in the world is the hardest thing I have ever done. Or at least it feels that way right now. At least I am not moving half way around the world, and will only be ten minutes away from my precious littles.
if you are wondering why I would leave the most amazing part of my life, why I have spent the last two days in tears, why I can't bring myself to think about them or look at pictures of them for fear of tears, it is because I am ready to start my next chapter: Nursing School.
join me as I transition from Nanny to Nurse
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)