Realization

Badge I sport for preceptorships. 

It's been over a year now that I've been working as a Nurses Aide at the hospital. And I must say that my impressions thusfar have been favorable, both of the hospital as well as the different units I work (ortho, medsurg, icu). I've learned something very important these last few weeks in school, that working as an aide has been an invaluable foundation for my nursing career. I advise all nursing students to take on a part time job as a tech or aide. I don't know if I'd be making it through some of the stuff without complaining if I didn't have some experience. Make no mistake, aide work isn't easy. It's sweaty and gritty and filthy and exhausting. I often spend 10-12 hours a day on my feet. But I feel like it's fundamentally important to nursing care. I feel like, if I can do this part, I can do anything. And honestly, if you aren't prepared to do the "worst parts" of the job, how can you be expected to do a good job at the easier parts? 

The thing I love most about my work is the people I get to talk to. Of my few gifts, I feel that ministering to their emotional hurt is the most important and relevant for my daily life. Sometimes healthcare workers forget to look at a patient holistically. While I am caring for the body, I also place great value on caring for the mind and spirit. It is easy to write people off because of their behavior. It's easy to forget that people are human beings, not just diseases. Every time I go in a room, I take time to hear the person's story (because everyone likes to talk about their health). I feel it is making me not only stronger, but kinder.

But beyond direct patient experience, this job has been good for learning more how the hospital works. I am sent from place to place on various errands, and am finding out where things are located and how to get things done. The nurses often pull me into a room to watch procedures, so I'm gaining extra "class time" of a sort. And, lastly, I am making connections that will prove valuable for my future preceptorships and job interviews. The only real downside is that I work graves and am often tired all the next day but I can't complain, I'm doing what I've always wanted to do. 

Newport 2012

 August 4-10, 2012. Vacation with the Carter family. 

On my mind

A love like no other,
one that is of a unique kind,
a fathers love,
one that knows no bound,
a father there for me when I am in need.
He wraps me in stong arms,
holding me close and tight,
making sure nothing will ever hurt me.
A fathers love,
it will never falter nor fail,
a love I can count on to make me well.
A fathers love,
such a powerful spell,
one that can never be broken,
not even by the worst of crimes.
A fathers love will never die,
forever will it live on,
forever will it be mine.


-Roland Houston 

School

Stressed to the max

Well folks I'm one week away from being done with my first semester of nursing school. One semester  down..five more to go.

When I received my acceptance letter into the nursing program, I was filled with joy. Soon after, terrified.  Some changes are scary. I received my letter at the end of April and would be starting classes in May. This gave me about 2 weeks to worry and stress about my future and the challenges it would inevitably bring till I officially would be a nursing student. Those were the longest two weeks.

Study, Study, Study

Before starting the program I've received some advice from nurses I worked with. (I'm adding to the list.) This is my advice for soon to be nursing students:

- Never forget that every other person in your class is just as scared as you are. If they always look confident, it is just an act. Don't let that stress you out.
- Be prepared to work HARD (clearly an understatement). You will have to do a lot of reading, and it will be confusing at times. Highlight/bookmark/ however you want to mark that might sound important (50% of my book is highlighted).
- Find a study group you get along with and stick with them throughout each semester. Meet with your group regularly and go over the things your not understanding. They will be a great support.  In the moments that you want to quit, they always will talk some sense into you every time.
- Be prepared to feel lost and frustrated. If your an emotional creature like me, be prepared to cry.
-Even though you are extremely busy, take one day off. This means do not do any school work whatsoever one day every week. Monday or thursday (depending) are my days since my hubby has work off. It's always nice looking forward to one of these days each week.
-Be prepared to laugh at yourself. If you fail to do this, you will be more stressed out than necessary. When you do something stupid, laugh. Don't be embarrassed, we all do dumb things. It is normal to completely forget how to do everything (even the most simple tasks) when you are nervous. So don't let this make you feel stupid or inferior. It's normal!
- Find an outlet for your frustrations. My outlet has been to work out. Even though I usually only workout a couple times a week, it makes me feel a lot better, my mind becomes more clear, and have more energy throughout the day. I don't think I could keep going all those hours if I didn't have some way to release some steam.

Depressing? Trust me, it's mostly exciting!

July 5.

On my way home from taking a test. 

My pick.

Steak. Grilled Chicken. Mmm.

Spiderman. 

Beauty. July 5th.