BUH-BYE Peds Clinical...

Ahhhhh, the week is over and I survived it all! Had a quiz Mon (got a 100%) and a med surg exam on IV Therapy Tues (got a 92%) and then finished off my week with my last two days of Peds clinical. I am really tired today and have to work on my clinical make up which is about 8 hours of assigned paperwork that is really monotonous. I'll tell some stories later...gotta get to work!!

Peds test #1

88% (class average was an 80%)

Did not study enough. Der. Thank God it was somewhat easy.

Later: I am praying we get snowed out tonight--why? Because I can't get any studying done with a sick kid (who tested + for strep today and is just plain miserable) and my stupid lack of determination to do the deed. My CC never calls classes off, but the kids wont have school again and we will have to arrange care or DH will have to call in to work (again).

Let me just say I have THE BEST MIL EVER! She watches my kids and does so much more that I am just flabbergasted by how much she helps. Need to find a neat little gift when this nursing crapola is all said and done. How 'bout a big picture of me in my nursing cap! *snicker* Nahhhh....

Ok, off to pick up some penicillin, and finish my studying of IV therapy. Can you name the three kinds of IV solutions? How 'bout the three types of crystalloid IV solutions?

(Comic from Nursetoons.com)

Just woke...

...from a 3 hour catch-up nap. I've had a yucky, stressful week and my body is telling me. Just had to take some Protonix for some gastritis that I have now and then that really hurts.

Went to my clinical site at 4PM on Tues and got my patient. Researched for 2 hours and had my database all done--went to get the MAR and the nurse stopped me to say my patient was just told they would be discharged in the morning. Paged my instructor and she gave me a new patient. Spent two more hours researching them, and then 8 hours in required paperwork at home, only to walk into the hospital Wens afternoon to catch sight of the NEW patient being discharged...

My instructor is SOOOOOO awesome--she gave me another patient but didn't require me to write up a new set of paperwork--which is unheard of. Instead, she assigned me to another patient with a similar dx and I worked with them all day.

But this STILL really threw me. I feel like I did everything wrong all day long--didn't know how to run the new-to-me equipment and I didn't know where anything was at on the floor. Combine that with not knowing my patient fully and I was a wreck. I spent the whole day sweating in contact and droplet isolation trying to figure out what to do "next." I was unorganized from the start and was in a foul mood. My classmates were all be-bopping around, happy with what they were learning, and I was trying to just hang on.

So, now I know the true value of paperwork. Because I don't have the education and experience to know what to do, the paperwork is the backbone to what I am learning. It helps me mentally wrap my head around what I will be doing in terms of care when I interact with my patients and help me understand their medical diagnosis so that I can help them effectively.

My patient had asthma/pneumonia/FluA/dehydration on Wens and it was so weird to not KNOW what I was dealing with because I hadn't written a patho on any of it or looked up any info. It was good to see that I could narrow down the fact that he would have impaired respiratory function and I knew what to do for that--and thankfully I didn't have a more complex patient. I was writing mental care plans all day--a good thing!! I guess I am retaining something!

Made me realize how much I DO NOT know, how much I am learning, and that even crappy days teach me loads of stuff. I think my organization will be better next week and I have a better attitude about all the prep work I have to do.

Also met an especially snotty tech who "already finished all my pre-reqs for school, but I decided I don't want to wipe butts for the rest of my life, so I went into dental assisting." She proceeded to tell me that I could kill someone if a doc messes up a an RX and I don't catch it. Yeah, I know that, honey. Trust me, it scares the poo out of me daily and I have been taught to check myself, the med, etc etc over, and over and over BEFORE giving it. She was thoroughly unimpressed by us students and let us know by her actions and words. ("Oh, you guys are JUNIORS? I thought you would have done more and would know more by now." Geez. Thanks.)

So, I am on antibiotics for my respiratory goo, and Protonix for my GI goo, and I hope next week goes more smoothly. I did receive some happy feedback from my clinical instructor, who wrote that I have "excellent critical thinking skills" on my eval and gave me a great set of marks. The point is to get through this, right? 3 more weeks of PEDS! Woohoo...


(Comic strip from Nursetoons!)

Peds Clinical Week One

Well, I think I may actually like Pediatrics. Had a good day on the unit--even though I still have NO IDEA what I am doing. Was able to jump right in with my patient and do a tube feeding, strip a Blake tube, perform some ADL's, assessment, stuff like that. We didn't give meds yet because our drug calc test isn't until Tues, so we aren't "safe."

I definitely need to keep my pockets more organized! Ha.

The paperwork is really, really hard. And extremely time consumming. I know it teaches critical thinking, but I wish they wouldn't cram everything into a two day period like that. It would be great if we could start all our paperwork but be able to revise and turn it in later? Anyway, that is the worst part of nursing school. Honestly, I learn A LOT from doing it, but it is probably the hardest thing I have ever done.

Lots of really, really sick kiddos with NO parents or visitors WHATSOEVER. It is so sad. These little guys just want love and attention--and they get TONS of it at the hospital I am at, which is great. I have a whole new apprciation and love for Peds nurses. WOW! Maybe if OB doesn't work out I will migrate into Peds or Peds Nursery or something...I like the babies, especially. Teenagers not-so-much.

Ok, not much more to say as this was an introductory week. Lots to learn and do. And my CI is FAB--she is so real and funny. Cracks me up!

Reading and drug calc studying this weekend. Feeling pretty good and was able to use my metrology in clinicals yesterday without problems. Need to practice though--don't want to rest on my laurels.

Nap time today. YES!!!

Currently in paperwork hell...

4 hrs research at hospital (learning new computer and all) yesterday.

7 hours last night and 3 hours this morning doing MASSIVE amounts of paperwork and concept mapping.

Now, tell me why I am doing this again? This might just be the end of the whole thing. I. am. losing. it.

Off to clincal to take care of my Down's baby who just had open heart surgery to corect her AV canal.

Good times.

Classes Begin

Plopped down in my weird, springy chair in class this morning and noticed that lots of new people had migrated down towards the front of class. New faces everywhere. Most of them anxious?

Ahhh, yes, the influx of LPN's has occurred and with them a new batch of blank stares and strange questions that are reminiscent of the first semester freak-outs the rest of us had a couple semesters ago. I tried not to get irritated as everything we have known for over a year was re-explained.(But why didn't they explain stuff in LPN transitions class?)

If I had to hear one more question about the stupid clicker, I would have snorted diet coke through my nose whilst trying to stay upright in my springy seat. (I drink a lot of DC, BTW. It is kind of a family joke. My liver is def. laughing.)

After all that was cleared up, we proceeded to trudge through the scary syllabus and endure the numerous threats of failure that always comes with that lecture.

"You will fail lecture automatically if you fail clinical."

"You will fail clinical automatically if you fail lecture."

"You will fail lecture and clinical automatically if you fail next weeks drug calc test."

You guys out there in nursing school know the drill, right?

Took a break, went and got another diet coke, and then listened to an hour of metrology explanations that made no sense, as usual. Tried to tune it out as I have figured the math out "my way" and just want to get the test over with.

We were theatened a bit more at the end about missing class, clinical, assignments, and paperwork and I left feeling actually quite good. Like a woman who has been racked all day and night, I must be getting used to the torture? Maybe I am numb? (Or just plain stupid for comparing nursing school to being racked.)

Let's just say I am very happy about a few things and leave it:
1.)I am not freaking too badly.
2.)I am fitting in nicely with my new clinical groups.
3.)The instructors are organized--it seems! How different from the instructor-from-hell situation I had last sem.
4.)I am actually more interested in my classes than I thought I would be? Suddenly Peds sounds kind of neat. Um, except for oncology.

Hope you guys are doing ok out there and having a good start to the semester!

Suffer through it...

Had pediatric orientation yesterday. Went in thinking to myself that I would NOT get overwhelmed. It KIND OF worked--everything IS overwhelmng, but I am getting a handle on it early on. I know what I am in for, I guess. The paperwork is just. going. to. stink.

Overall, this semester is going to kick my butt. AND I have an annoying classmate who is taking up brain-room in my head. This person managed to turn up to orientation at 1130 when we needed to be there at 0900. Bragged about how they didn't think they were going to "get in trouble." Was rude all day to everyone. I was hoping when they weren't there that possibly they had dropped--couldn't imagine anyone missing that much of orientation. Thankfully, I don't have them in clinical and can steer clear--but they still annoy me. Need to get over it, right??? I wouldn't wish failing nursing school on anyone...but I'm not sure this person will make a good nurse. Clinically, they seem ok--just very cocky, which can be dangerous?? Constantly talking about how "nursing school is a piece of cake and if I applied myself I would get straight A's." Who says that?? ANYWAYYY!!!

As for the work load in Peds, it is enormous and very frightening. I will be breathing Peds for the next 5 weeks in clinical and honestly can say I am very scared (what a weenie, eh). I'm on a cardiac floor for my rotation with an observation day in oncology. Yeah.

Ok, off for another fun day--this time med/surg orientation with my clinical group--all of who are good peeps.