PICU

Last night I started my pediatric clinical rotation. I was assignedd to the PICU, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. My experience was amazing and I give credit to any nurse that does that job. I had the opportunity to see my patient's chest get closed up. He had surgery the previous day to repair a heart problem and they left his heart open, and last night they closed it up. I was very fortunate to be there for the surgery, and the most amazing thing was I got to see his little heart beating. The team work and coordination that goes into caring for these little babies it AMAZING! I don't think I could do that job. I have a co worker that used to work in the NICU at the hospital I was at last night and she said that the inital training for the job is 12 weeks long, and then for 3-6 months, you are assigned to low acuity patients. All I can say is that I am impressed with what those nurses do!

Time for updates

It's been over a moth since I have blogged, so I felt it was time for some updates!
I'm still moving along in school. Right now, I am in my OB/Pediatric rotation. I am learning so much, but I have realized that I have no desire to pursue this part of nursing. I am almost done with my clinial roations and classes. I have less than 1 month of class left and take finals the week of December 14th! I am looking forward to this, as then I have 1 month off of school. I am getting really excited because I am one step closer to graduating. I received my degree check in the maill a few weeks ago, showing that I am on track to graduate with an ADN (Associate degree in nursing). Woo hoo! I am starting preparations for that. I will enroll in classes for next semester on the 8th of December and on the 2nd of December, I will take my graduation pictures. I can't believe it!

Jeremy applied to OU for admission for the spring semester. He is planning on going back to school, but as for what type of masters degree, he is unsure. He plans on taking a few science classes and a business class in the spring to help give him some guidance for what type of degree he may want to pursue. I am really excited for him to go back to school!

Change of Heart

Up until tonight, I had been dreading OB clinicals. Tonight was my first night and after tonight, I think I'm really going to enjoy this rotation. I was assigned to Labor and Delivery and my night started out slow, but by the end of the night I had: hooked up fetal monitors, started and IV, got blood, hung IV fluids, discharged a patient, read the fetal NST, and got to deal with a couple different problems. I can't wait to go back tomorrow night!!

Wonderful Husband

I was so happy when I came home from school tonight and Jeremy was making dinner. He made beer can chicken, home canned green beans, biscuits and a salad. I was so happy! I told him he could cook all the time. I'm excited to see what he cooks up next.

Time for some updates

First of all, I can't believe it is already October! This year has flown by so fast, where does the time go???
Jeremy is working hard, seems like he works quite a bit. Radio Shack definitely keeps him busy. He decided a few weeks ago that he wanted to go back to school starting in January. He's thinking about taking a couple of classes before deciding what kind of masters degree he wants.

I have been in school for 7 weeks already. This semester is divided into 2 - 8 week sessions. This first 8 weeks we are studying psychiatric nursing and aging. It has been very exhausting so far. At our clinical sites, we are always having to use therapeutic communication and really listen to what these people are talking to us about. I came home every night was was mentally exhausted. I think psych nursing is not something I really want to do. I take a final this Tuesday night and then I have to take the HESI exam on Wednesday night. The HESI exam is basically a predictor test on how you will do on your NCLEX. If you score greater than an 850 on the HESI, you get 5% points added to your final grade. So if I have an 85%, it will bump me up to a 90%, which would be an "A". I am so happy for this 8 weeks to be almost over. Wednesday night I have orientation to my OB/Peds class. I have heard that this part of nursing school is very hard and challenging. There is so much information to learn. I will have 6 weeks of clinicals, 3 weeks of Womens (pregnant ladies) and 3 weeks of pediatrics (babies). I will finish this semester in mid December, and then I will have about 1 month off.
Work is keeping my busy, so far I have been able to find the balance between work and school, which is great!
A few weekends ago, Jeremy and I flew to Colorado and surprised my mom with a visit. I'll post more about that in another blog.

3 day weekend!

I am happy for the 3 day weekend, but I only ended up with 2 days off. And even with those 2 days off, I seem to have been busy doing other stuff, like laundry, and homework, and writing papers, and reading 5 chapters at a time.
School has only been in session for 2 weeks, and I already have a test on Wednesday. Today so far has been spent catching up on my online class for the week, doing much needed laundry and procrastinating cleaning out my scrapbook room. Tomorrow will be spent with a study group, studying for my first exam. I am a little nervous, but think that I will do good.
Clinicals have been really fun, tuesday night will be my first night at the mental health facility. I am really excited about that. We mainly interact with the clients and use all the skills we have used thus far.
Nothing else exciting to say!

Therapeutic Communication

This has been our topic of conversation for the last week at school, and we are utilizing it in our clinical sessions right now. Today and tomorrow I will be at a Rehab center. We started the day in group therapy and then we had lecture after that. I felt really comfortable in my group and I really enjoyed hearing everyone's stories and it seemed as if everyone wanted to be there and get help.
Part of therapeutic communication is listening.
I ask you, Do YOU really listen? Are you really paying attention to the person you are talking to? If you are thinking of what you want to say, while the other person is still talking, then YOU are not REALLY listening. I find it fascinating that most people don't listen well. I am included in that population. I feel my communication has improved over the last few years, however, it still can improve.
I challenge everyone to try "listening". Look the other person in the eye when you are talking to them, give them your undivided attention, paraphrase what they just told you and then respond accordingly.
I think we would all be surprised how our communication would improve, if we just take the time to listen!!