4 posts tagged “school”
I've turned into a coffee-drinking monster. Seriously! I drink at least 2 cups of coffee a day - at work, it's even worse because we have a flavored coffee machine in the break room. But I was a wreck earlier in the week, when I ran out of creamer and didn't have time to go to the grocery store until Thursday. I had to go to Starbucks before lab in the afternoon on Wednesday, and didn't even get to have coffee Thursday morning before going to the adult day care to volunteer. So I made up for it by have a grande mocha frap while grocery shopping, and making a pot of coffee at around 3 o'clock in the afternoon >.<
But it's just so darn good, I can't help myself... I'm chugging away at my first 2 cups of the day right now.
So here's to an end of a great week. I'm very pleased at how this week went, in retrospect.
- Monday was the math exam which had to be passed with a 90% or better - I got a 92%.
- Lab on Tuesday was lead by a substitute (which we later found out, was the real instructor of the course, but she's on maternity leave - our current lab instructor is HER sub!), who is lovely and almost made me want to grab her by the feet and beg her to stay.
- Wednesday, our real lab instructor redeemed himself. I like him now, and look forward to the rest of lab (ESPECIALLY clinicals in June!).
- On Thursday, a classmate and I spent the greater part of the morning at an adult day care a few miles from my house. It was interesting... let's just leave it at that.
- I was in the best mood on Friday. I worked, and had the pleasure of spending the day with my favorite coworker. She's in LVN school right now, and plans to dive right into RN school when she's done in December. Some of my favorite nurses worked on my wing too, so it was a nice day. I also FINALLY got to eat lunch with my favorite Amy, the unit clerk, who I hardly ever see anymore because I work one day a week. And, Gil, my fav physician, is working in the inpatient center with us this month, and EVERY Friday, he orders pizza from one of the authentic pizza joints down the street for the unit. It rocks.
I'm eying the breast cancer special edition stethoscope by Littman, big time. It's a nice in-between of baby pink and bright pink. I'm going to do some research as far as finding pediatric and neonate attachments for the Classic II SE in general, but I really want that stethoscope. For a variety of reasons, actually: we all know what my favorite color is; people will be less-inclined to use a pink stethoscope that's just lying around; I doubt every other nurse on the unit will have a pink stethoscope, therefore, I will be able to spot it from a mile away. And that's IF I ever put it down for a minute and misplace it. I want to get it soon, even though it's sold out right now. The sprague stethoscopes we got from school are double lumen, with that nasty metal clamp in the middle that keeps the two lumens nice and attached - that ALWAYS gets stuck on my hair, I hate it. Littmans are single lumen, which means NO metal clamp to get stuck in my hair!
Here's a good visual for you: bright blue (think Smurf blue) school uniform scrubs, and a pretty pink stethoscope. That's me!
Though, at this point, I'm contemplating cutting my hair off again. And this time, I mean COMPLETELY off. As in, semi-long side bangs in the front, maybe some shaggy detail on top to add volume, and spike in the back. I am tired of putting my hair up all day. I don't care if my hair will look more or less the same every day with such a short hair cut, at least it'll look like I tried if I do it. I got super annoyed with my hair yesterday morning when all I did was blowdry my bangs to the side after I put on make up and put it back with a hair clip. Boring. So yeah, I'll keep you all posted - haven't found the right hair style yet.
There is nothing quite like working with nurses and having them at your disposal when you have questions about nursing school, nursing practice, or just nursing in general. For as long as I can remember, one of the nurses I'm most close with has been giving me advice about what to do with nursing. And at first, I took her advice to heart and really believed it. But now, the more into the nursing program I get and the more sure I am of the specialty I want to pursue, I really don't know if I want to take her advice.
I was talking to another nurse last night about how school is going, and she asked me what I wanted to do once I graduated. I told her, and I knew we are on the same boat because in her youth, she was a pediatric nurse and that's truly what I want to be. She worked in the level 2 NICU, and she said she absolutely feels that in all of her years of nursing, NICU and hospice work have been the most rewarding. According to her, our local children's hospital has a great NICU, and have a great rep for on the job training of new hires. Everything she was telling me was making me so excited, because it's exactly what I want to hear since it relates to what I want to do with my degree. But my trusty nurse said that I still need to get experience in Med/Surg first, to get my basic nursing skills down and to be able to make associates like "ok, patient's such-and-such is this, and so this is why the doctor ordered that" or something to that affect. Which I totally understand and get... but even the peds nurse was like "see, I don't necessarily agree" and here's why. Med/Surg in general will be good for me to know, but very little information I actually learn from there, I will take with me to a NICU. Or so says peds nurse. I don't know...
But if anything, I will work in pediatric Med/Surg. If anything. I have little desire to work with adults, and 0 desire to work with geriatrics. That's just not where my heart lies. I want to help babies and children, which is fine, right? Considering more often than not, I meet nursing students who do not want anything to do with peds or neonatal. There is a person for every job. The closest I want to get to work with adults is to be a Nurse Midwife.
So can you see that I'm super on the fence about this? I mean, I totally value nurse A's opinion about starting out in Med/Surg or a floor that will allow me maximum experience-gathering time, but at the same time, my heart value's nurse B's assurance that I don't need Med/Surg experience for a NICU.
...but I think I just need to shut up and just try to get through the first year of nursing school.
Anyway, I spent a shit load of money today and I'm happy because it's rare that I spend money on myself anymore. Chris and I went to the mall, and I'm super stoked because I bought me some Dansko professional clogs (in white) for school and work; they set me back $114 but they're seriously the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. I'm wearing them right now. I can't wait for lab on Tuesday, so I can wear these babies with my school scrubs. I also bought:
- Incanto Heaven perfume - seriously smells amazing, and the bottle is so pretty.
- 4 oz. jar of Hope in a Jar
- A shirt and pair of earrings from shanalogic.com
Excuse me while I scream. Kittens are. Driving. Me. NUTS right now. Mocha has this way of getting up on her hind legs, with her front paws on something and scratching up and down. And Kona, he's just so aggressive to my backpack. Yeah, it's a The North Face pack, but there's only so much claw that thing can take.
School, school, school! Already, the end of day 2 and I feel exhilarated about it. I love nursing school (...right now, anyway). I've actually been enjoying my studies, and trying to stay on top of them. I can't believe this class will be over on May 3rd. Most of our classes are 8 weeks - this course, though, is only one month, and for all that we have to do, that doesn't seem like enough time! I'm a little anxious and stressed out about it but I know it'll be fine. You're not supposed to sleep much while you're in college, anyway.
And I absolutely love the fact that I have a lap top this time around. Last year, taking notes was such a pain. I type so much faster than I hand write, so now, taking notes is so much more... enjoyable? Yeah, actually. It is. Plus, the campus I am now attending doesn't make you pay for Wi-Fi (I wish I were kidding, but only for those who had laptops back then/who are attending that campus now...), so I have access to e-mail, databases where the professors and course coordinators upload all their slides and other odd bits of info, and if I really wanted to, Adium/Twitter/other distractions. However, I refrain. I kind of don't want one of my peers snooping over my shoulder and such.
We got our first clinical assignments today, for the last few weeks of June. I can't believe how fast everything is moving now, even if we're still 2 months away from setting foot in our first clinical setting. I'm excited. Have I said that enough time yet?
The only bummer about this next week and a half is that I'll be home all by my lonesome, with Mo and Konabear of course. Chris and room mate are going to be underway for the longest period of time since coming home from deployment last August (I think...). I'm just a little scared; I hate being the only human in the house. But the good thing is, the kittens can hear so much better then I can, and Mocha startles so easily when someone comes to the door. If we're in any real danger, they'll let me know of it well in advanced ;)
LOL. I sound like I'm 5.
And just various other odds and ends on my part. I miss my husband, who's been gone since this morning even though they're not leaving until tomorrow (duty); I miss my parents (my mom, especially), even though they live right down the street; I miss my brother, who sent me "bad ass" (read: goofy as hell) pictures of himself this morning, on deployment half-way around the world (even farther away than his usual Hawaii). But the good thing is, is that we're all healthy and happy. At least, I know I am. For now, anyway.
Can you believe that I actually set foot in San Diego's premier outlet center, complete with a Coach store, only to walk away with nothing for myself? I wish I were kidding.
Well, I should feel good, giving, etc. Chris got tons of much-needed apparel, and I bought my mom a gorgeous Coach purse and matching wallet for her birthday (the 25th of this month). And well, to make the situation a little more bearable, I went to buy myself a delectable double-chocolate, walnut, and caramel cookie from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory with my debit card, only to be asked if I had cash. Apparently, the cost the store would be charged to process the debit purchase is more than the cookie itself. So I couldn't even buy that; Chris had to buy it for me. Oh well. It's awesome, and half is in the fridge for later.
I can't wait to give my mom her gift! And we had the best lunch ever before heading up to Carlsbad, at this all-you-can-eat sushi bar owned and operated by Japanese people (so you know it's good...). I was full to the brim and in pain but totally ok with it. I love sushi. So today was, in retrospect, a great day.
I recently discovered the greatness of washing my dishes... wait for it... in the dishwasher. I feel riduculous for saying this, but as I loaded some dishes from tonight's dinner into it, I had this overwhelming feeling of relief. For the past 6 months, doing the dishes have become something I loathe doing, because it's something that needs to be done at least 2 times a day. I constantly ask myself how 2 and a half people (the half, being our room mate, since he really doesn't use that many dishes) can makesuchamess make our house look lived-in.
I've been a bit bummed/stressed lately (and I'm sure my skin is reflecting this...): school starts on Monday, and the house is a total sty, I haven't finished my reading, and my financial aid hit a bump in the road when I found out my loan lender isn't the same one from last year. I know all will fall into place, but me taking 2 hour naps for the last few days during times when I should be doing something productive doesn't help the situation or my mood. But at least the only person I can blame is myself, right?
Life is full of strange and magical things!
