Nursing IS for ME!

I can't believe we have our Final for Fundamentals on Wednesday! I'm excited to finish up this 8 weeks and move on to bigger and better things.
I have really enjoyed being at TMH Rehab for clinicals and last week was no exception.  We were assigned to the most fabulous CNA  and it was a great experience to watch her work and interact with her pt's and their families.  Although, I don't think I would want to work at a Rehab facility, the experience there has reconfirmed my desire to become a nurse.  I enjoy so much working with people and helping them at their most vulnerable stages; if I can leave a patient feeling that they still have their dignity no matter how much assistance they need, I feel like I'm doing something good...something worthwhile! And that makes me so happy!  
I am so ready to move forward and experience other places, people and situations .... I know I will find what I'm passionate about most very soon, but right now I'm thrilled that I made the decision to pursue this career!

Study Time!

I just wanted to take a break from the books and do my weekly blog post.... I am so focused on the final I don't have have that much to say LOL... Just for those of you that haven't checked out the Evolve HESI remediation materials...it's pretty awesome.... i would totally recommend printing and reading the study/review material it suggest.  The cool part about it is it goes over stuff that we haven't technically gone over in class so it was quite helpful stuff!! I hope everyone had a great weekend and was able to break away from the books for a little  and enjoy the beautiful weather!! See you in class tomorrow!   

So much to do, So little time....

I am starting to feel the pressure of juggling school, work, exercise and my personal life at the moment.  I have so much going on right now and don't have any time to spare (Which I'm sure everyone of us is feeling the same way)... too bad we just couldn't take a vote and extend each day  from 24hours to maybe 32 give or take an hour and then for good measure tack on an extra day at the end of each week.  I don't know about you, but I sure can use an extra 80 plus hours a week (Which is about 3.3 days)!! And honestly I'm still not sure I would have enough time....LOL.....sigh....

Well since that is really not an option, I really am going to have to get better at planing out my week. I just can't seem to get ahead on the studying part of everything...Isn't there a saying (or song) "It's like taking one step forward and two steps back"  ....well, that is exactly how I feel right now! For instance, I planned on reading and outlining the Nutrition CH this morning and somehow started reviewing the MAR/Med Sheet assignment  and then realized i didn't truly know everything I wrote down from the Drug Guide, so I ended up looking the medical terminology up online to start a spreadsheet of  words I wasn't familiar with. ... The "One step forward, two steps back" part of everything was I was already done with the assignment and just ended-up doing it over...sigh.....  But, on a positive note it was definitely worth my time and I feel 100% more prepared for our Skills Check-Off on Tuesday ;-).

All in all, as long as WE can take Two Steps Forward and only one back at a time, we will make to the finish line (eventually).  I know we all have a CRAZY week ahead so I wish everyone the very best!! See ya'll in class bright and early ;-)

Midterm & Moving Foward

I must say that I was a little disappointed in myself after the midterm... I didn't do horribly- horrible BUT I could of done better... First of all, I can kick myself for going back and changing THREE of my answers (That I had Correct and then ended up getting Wrong...Errr!!) But, I would of never been in that predicament if I would of knew the material a better.  I think I got overwhelmed with the thought of being tested over 11 chapters and bounced around so much I missed important concepts.  So, I have a new plan... Read and Do ALL outlines Ahead of Time.... And that is exactly what I did this weekend.... I also had the Knowledge Check answers printed out (from the CD) for Ch 23, so as I read and tried to answer them myself I could check to see if I was getting it right... Hopefully this new plan of attack will land me an "A" on the final exam :)! 
Question... Does anyone know where to find the Critical Thinking answers (Not sure even if they are out there)?? I haven't seen them on the CD and some of them are really really good questions!! 
Hope everyone had a superb weekend!! see you in class in the A.M.!!!

Oh, just because we pulled it off this weekend ...GO NOLES!!!!!! ;-)

I truly am Blessed

The past seven days have flown by, especially since Thursday. Thursday was my first Clinical experience and I enjoyed the opportunity to get to know the person I was assigned to.  They were just a delightful person who loved and gloated about what a wonderful family they had.  It was nice to hear someone talk about their family in such a postive way and made me even more excited about all the company that was coming through town this weekend.
This weekend our house became the local Holiday Inn! My dad and stepmom passed through on Thursday night and in just enough time to strip, wash and remake make the beds, my mom, stepdad and my fiance parents arrived  at our door a few hours later on  Friday afternoon. We hosted an FSU Football get together with the family and some friends on Saturday and then I had a mom and daughter date today; needless to say it has been nonstop . 
Five pounds heavier from all the food that was cooked and eaten,
the wedding dress purchase checked-off my to do list (Yes, We Found the ONE on Saturday) and lots of laughs and memories made, I sit here reflecting on my clinical experience and have come to one conclusion...I am truly blessed.
I just hope during the next two years as we continue to make our way from a student nurse to the real thing, we don't forget to make memories, laugh and sit back and remember what really is going to matter at the end of our life.... however, it's time for me to focus on the upcoming Midterm...I wish everyone the best of luck on Wednesday!       

Practice Makes Perfect

Sitting in the Nursing hall today in TPP, I over heard some 4th semester nursing students kind of giggle and look at us in envy as my group took turns assessing Vitals Signs on each other before our "check-off" today. One of the girls turned to another and said, "remember when we were worried about getting checked off on vitals?, Wish it was still that easy."  We all made some kind gesture, a few words and smiled at each other and then went back to whatever we were doing.  This brief interaction made me start thinking about what lies ahead.... although Vital Signs are a pretty basic skill, its brand new to me and I need lots of practice to feel comfortably at what I'm doing.  I figure as long as I study and practice doing skills over and over and over again; I can master anything...I am a firm believer in "practice makes perfect."  Right before we went into lab I said goodbye to the 4th semester group and one of them turned to me and said "Although it might get harder, it gets so much cooler, you'll just need to practice and you'll get it."   I smiled, said thanks and thought to myself, "Yep, I sure will get it."   

Today was a great day and I am so excited to what lies ahead...

Is Nursing for Me?

It wasn't until recently I decide to pursue a career in nursing.  I basically "woke up" one morning and knew I needed to do something more.  Something that I (and my future family) could rely on, a career that would be flexible, would allow me opportunities to grow and potentially earn a higher income and most of all something I could take pride in.  

Like most, I am fully aware that a career in nursing is not for everyone.  Sure there are some wonderful "pro's" of a being a nurse --- Job Security, Flexibility, the Self-Gratification knowing your making a difference in someone's life- all rise to the top of the list.  However, being able to handle the pressures of an emergency situation while understanding that your going to have to get your "hands dirty" does not appeal to all.  Luckily for me, some of the "con's" of being a nurse are strengths of mine.  For instance, I have always worked best under pressure.  I have this ability to stay calm and work towards an end goal when chaos breaks lose.   Plus, I don't really have a weak gag-reflex and can handle the sight of most anything (I hope..lol).  BUT....even with that being said....I have plenty of self-doubt....  

When I started doing initial research on this "career change" of mine, nursing jumped to the top of the list.  It was almost like a "no brainer."  I even had one of those moments where I kicked myself for not thinking about this before.  Although everything looked like a perfect match, I had some self-doubt if I would be able to hack it...I am not that concerned about the curriculum or the even the commitment (I got that!)... I wondered (and still do) if I would have that "right touch" ...Could I give someone a shot without hurting them? Do I have the talent to distinct between different heart sounds? Would I be able to keep my emotions in check and stay strong for my patients? Do I just really have what it takes to be a good nurse??...the nurse I would want to be.

I realized pretty quickly I would not know the answers to these question until I tried... So here I am, about a year later, in my first week of nursing school....

I feel so blessed to have been excepted into the TCC Nursing Program and I am ready to give it everything I got!