NCLEX Prepping...

I feel like I have done this post before... oh yeah that is because I have ;-)

Anyway.. time to officially start the studying again. I have actually been doing the Kaplan Program for a while now, but have taken the past few weeks off from doing any questions. I did score pretty high on those.

I also have Saunders Q&A Review, Hurst Reviews, PrepU, and will most likely hit up the book store and do some La Charity questions or other review books through out this time. It's all about questions questions and questions.

I will also review some content areas I am a bit lacking in, and review those all important lab values.

So about 150 or so a day for the next 29 days and a few content videos. I think I may focus a lot on the SATA choices, since those are a weakness of mine.

ATTs are starting to roll in...

ATTs are starting to roll in to my classmates, so I am hoping to have mine pretty soon. I didn't realize that you had to pay the testing fee before you even got the ATT, so I paid that today. I expect then to see the ATT next week maybe.

Test dates for some are as early at the 15th of January... so who knows maybe I can get a date in January!

Fingers crossed. **Ok got it and scheduled as well @ 30 days from now***

PS... I really hate the staff at my old current job. They still suck and are still a bunch of douchey bitches! Guess who will not be the home health nursing company when I get my little kiddos!

Sound off... Are you working the Holidays?

Last year I worked every single holiday... all of them, including the summer holidays.

This year I decided to be frugal with my holiday work schedule. I am however working Christmas Night. I am NOT working New Year's Eve, but am working New Years Day (Night). The perks of working nightshift.

So are you working? Are you celebrating early? Are you just not celebrating at all?

Adoption

We have officially started the process to proceed with adopting through the foster care system. The plan is to adopt a sibling group, but we are open at this time generally to those of school age. Of course if the sibling group contains a child younger than school age we are ok with that as well, but we are not actively perusing infants at all.

We are also making plans to move into a much larger house in July that contains 6 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms along with some other great perks.



Surprisingly the entire family is excited about it, including my 18 year old son.

Training

So today was my first day of orientation for my RN job. Officially I have still to pass the NCLEX... but the training has begun and he keeps looking at me and saying, "This is especially important for you as the RN."

It felt surreal because this just all made it real. I mean my current job is going to convert to RN after NCLEX, but it won't change ever so much at first. But yeah weird! Oh and the best news... training is paid at an hourly rate.

CNA $15
LPN $20
RN $30

Guess what he said my rate will be for training!! I was a little shocked because at first they wanted me to train as an LPN and then convert to RN, but they agreed that since I have graduated and will be taking NCLEX so soon, they will do all of my training as an RN. I will be able to take cases as the LPN under the DONs case management and then will take over his group and any new admits as soon as I pass NCLEX.

Now hurry up school and send the damn info to the BON so I can get my ATT!!!

Oh and post my final grade for preceptorship so I can get my damn money while you are at it!

Orientations

So I have orientation for my new job on Monday as well as orientation for our new journey as well. Lots of new things about to happen.

A new journey will begin soon... stay tuned.

Graduation Pictures

My kids and me.



Hubby and me.



Travis my nephew and little buddy and me.



My Dad and me.



and finally my Mom and me.

A Special Thank you...

Today is my pinning ceremony and I wish all of my blogging friends could be there as well. It has been with all of your encouragement and help, even if it was just a comment on a stupid vent post, that I have been able to come this far.

So a special...





To all of you for having my back!

Status Update

The AZBON has received my application and my name has appeared under the Registered Nurse title. Of course I still have to take the NCLEX to get my official license... but this is an exciting step nonetheless. It's like really real all of a sudden.

Finally Finished!!

Final letter grade = None other than...

So at least I am consistent... Every semester I got a B.

So glad to be finished.

Overall pretty happy considering I was working full time and barely got any sleep for 4 months. Blocks 1 & 2 I received the same number grade 92, and for Blocks 3 & 4 I received the exact same number grade 85

and then there were one...

Not exactly grammatically correct, but nonetheless... 1 shift left!! It happens to be only 8 hours long and on Wednesday. Woot!

So today I took a full team of 5 patients. I saw something I had never seen before. A Pt peed in the cover of their dinner tray. Like really? I impressed myself and my Preceptor. Not many new grad's on orientation can take a full pt load of 5 patients by shift #6. I used her as a resource and I didn't do everything... because I am not able to do some things... but I am catching on pretty well.. not that it matters or anything at this point because it's not like I am going to be working there or anything... but it's nice to know I could handle it. Now ask me if I would ever do it.

Very tired... going shopping tomorrow to pick out my whites for pinning... to get a dress or not to get a dress... guess it depends on the Spanx :-)

Board of Nursing Application Mailed...

Ok it's in the mail. After the 13th my final grade will post and I will be able to submit to work my transcript for reimbursement and register for NCLEX and await my ATT so I can set my test date. Hopefully it won't be too late into January or February.


Can you believe I only have 3 more Preceptorship shifts left and 12 days until GRADUATION?!?!

Shifts 2-4

What can I say about Preceptorship? It has been a lot better than I had anticipated, I like it and can see myself doing it, working in a hospital on my own and all, but of course it's not exactly what I really want to do. Not that there are any openings or anything. 1st they are really pushing magnet status ie... BSN need only apply. 2nd they have too many nurses already and most days have RNs working as techs!

So one problem that I have is that despite my preceptor being awesome, because she is, she is a bit chatty with other staff members during times that I think would be better spent with getting the time management under control a bit better.

One of my skills is time management,since working in LTC and having 30 residents to get meds to, chart on, skin assess and manage 2 meals for, along with problems that arise, I became a master at priority and managing my time effectively. Heck even in my customer service job, I excelled at time management and priority. So anyway, because of the chatty, and the fact that I have to be supervised for more of the care on this floor ie- most things are IV push...I have to wait around for her to finish many off topic conversations (complaining about something usually), in order to get started with something or to attend to someone's needs.

I am pretty much a get what needs to be completed via clustering care type of person, she has a totally different method, which usually results in lunch around 1500... and a last minute rush around 1830 that will ultimately result in a bunch more things to do, last minute IV start, pain medication or whatever.

Report takes forever there too, which means I get home well after 9pm some days... needless to say the shifts had made it impossible to go to my actual paying job this week! (Updated: Which the scheduler B at the office tried to give me crap over. Needless to say I reminded her that our Company has a policy that some school hours count as "work" hours, and I could have made them pay me for them without having to cram the hours into the end of a week. This last week I just took a sick day to make my ours remain fulltime.)

Anyway... I am hoping to be let off the leash a little bit more today, like with the dressing changes that I would like to accomplish first thing instead of last thing in the day.

Oh and I realized one other thing... I need a freaking new stethascope... this one SUCKS!!!

Ok well off to shift number 4 out of 7...last one for the week. Debating on if I can manage to get to my actual job today after this shift... perhaps I can fit in at least 10 hours and a 14 tomorrow... perhaps a few on Saturday... though my next shift for preceptorship #5 is on Sunday.

Not enough of time in the week to make this possible

I need to figure out a way to fit in working 3 12-14 hour shifts at the hospital, 3 12 hour shifts at my actual paying jobs, and 5 8 hour sessions of training for new job.

Yeah so is not going to happen!

Decision Tree

This method really would have been helpful during nursing school... why do we wait until NCLEX prepping to learn how to solve NCLEX questions?

Not that I didn't know how to during nursing school, but the breakdown of the questions with this method, could have come in pretty handy when I had questions where I was not sure what the heck they were asking.

So far I like Kaplan.

Gobble Gobble

Best wishes to all for a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!!

Shifts 1 - 7

Preceptorship Day 1 over! Only 6 more to go. What did I learn today? Great people, preceptor is awesome... however, yeah I was right NOT a floor I would ever work on.

Complete double shift today... 1 for free now on to my other 12 hour shift. Wow this sucks!

Happy Turkey Day all!

NCLEX Preppin'

So we had Kaplan come to our school and give us a presentation about their review program. Today my course was loaded onto my computer.

So I have started officially studying for NCLEX. Tomorrow I will be sending off my application to the board. My goal is to get a first available testing date for the NCLEX after pinning. Of course I am well aware that will probably still be some time in January.

I will keep everyone posted on what I personally think of this program. Also we have a 3 day in person review that is given by Elsiver the week after pinning too.

I should be doing something

But currently I am not! This is crazy! I am still waiting to hear back from my Preceptor. I spoke with our faculty today and she said to try and email her and go down at least now and get my ID. So I emailed her today, after leaving 4 messages mind you. I mean come on... this does NOT sound like it is going to go over well.

What happens if I can't get my Preceptorship hours in before Pinning? Look this is NO fault of mine... I did EVERYTHING I was supposed to do.


URGH!!

Breaking Dawn Part 2

I have read this book 4 times... seriously it is actually the only one I have reread at all. I especially like the parts after she turns into the vampire... I can not wait to see the movie.



Tickets and time! Yeah what a novel concept!

PS... it is so WEIRD to not have anything to "really" study for right now!

Up my sleeve...

*** Updated***
Hubby kiboshed the whole thing! He does not want anymore kids no way no how. Hummm... I wonder how this will all pan out in the end?
*****************

I have a few things in the works starting in June.

Why yes it does include a move to a new house. No not one out of state or for that matter out of my current town.. it does however come with a few extra bedrooms to fill up.

Ortho... you gotta be kidding me

Med/Surg Ortho... is that like the pits or what? Who in their right mind would really choose this? Not only is it a heavy floor, but you spend all day chasing pain!

I will suck it up and learn as much as I can, but damn this is NOT a floor I ever want to end up on... which with my luck is probably where I will end up.


Oh and from Block 4 we lost 5 at the final.

Preceptorship Starts Today

Two days of classroom Professional Development and welcome to Capstone College. The most important thing is we get free stuff today! LOL Oh and recognition for all of our hard work thus far.

I will also hopefully get the contact information for my specific Preceptor so that I can get these "working for free" hours over and get my schedule for my other PAYING job set up.

I had decided that once I got my RN I would work two full-time jobs for a few years to get debt free and to stash away some cash for a change a la Dave Ramsey

I figured the RN pay grade would supply a big enough boost toward this goal. My plan, fit by 40... Financially and Physically.

Both of those easier said than done, I love food, hate exercise and like to spend money.

I also have this huge procrastination problem, but if I can get out of my own head I think I can do this! Or I sure as hell am going to try... I mean if I can work full time and go to school full time and do well... I can do this! Mainly because I chose jobs where each has a lot of down time :-)

First RN Interview

Today I had my first interview for an RN position. I am not exactly ready for interviews yet... I hate the questions...



Why should we pick you above all the other qualified candidates? "Because everyone I work with loves me?"

What are your strengths? "Not killing my coworkers or patients?"

What will you be doing over your first 90 days as a new hire? "Trying not to get fired?"

Hummm... But seriously, despite this not being for an acute care position, it actually is one of the options I have considered, while I work on my BSN. So yeah... $ year doesn't hurt either.

Mind you this is in addition to the $ that I will be making as I transition to RN in my current position.

So we shall see I guess... I almost talked myself out of it, when I was trying to get my hair to do something this morning, and then again while driving around lost... but overall the company seemed pretty put together and had a few other perks that appeared to be worth it.

We shall see I guess... there are many many more to look forward to in the coming year... I hope!

Follow me Fridays

New addition to my blog. Do you have a blog you want some action on? Have you felt like you just write away and no one looks at? Do you want some followers and don't know now to attract attention?


Well Follow me Fridays are here.... pick a blog and post it to your site that you think needs some attention. If your blog needs attention then request someone else link your site.

Got it?


So if you have a blog you want me to link, drop me a message on Thursday.


So today's Follow me find is...


http://calmehcrazy.blogspot.com/

Head on over and give this girl some love. She's a new blogger and just getting started out there in blogland and in life. Ah... remember your youth?


Nepotism at it's best... but yours could be next :-)

PASSED!!

Next week starts Preceptorship... but NO MORE TESTING!!! Well until NCLEX!!

Win or Lose... today is the day....

The third and final test of this week. Win or lose it all comes down to the final. Will I graduate? Will I become a "Super-Senior" as my kids call it? Well it won't be for lack of studying... because despite my anxiety about all of this I studied the best that I know how... including not staying at home the other night so that I had fewer distractions. I will review a few numbers for values before going in and look over a small table on vents... but other than that... there is nothing else going to go in this head-o-mine.

I just hope this stuff doesn't fly outta my head when that scantron is sitting in front of me.

So here we go...

HESI is my beeotch...

When going over the HESI scores of my past... I have noticed an increase in scores every semester.

This is an increase in "working" knowledge if nothing else. What I do best are the Analysis questions, which is a good thing since those are so very highly scored. Apparently my critical thinking skills are pretty strong, whereas my base knowledge- aka spew out facts, well that is a little lacking.


Why? Because I OVER THINK... yup you guessed it, where critical thinking and analysis are great in some aspects, they are not so great in others. I have issues with excepting base facts without knowing more information and debating the what ifs.


Well good news for me... NCLEX thinks the way I do right :-) Ok back to your regularly scheduled studying.



So here is a question for ya:

What would you do first? You observe your s/p 4 hour thorocotomy pt and noticed there is no evidence of tideling in the water seal chamber on a chest tube drainage system. Check for kinks or assess the insertion site?

At first I put check for kinks... yup that's an intervention, heck its the most common reason right. But then I was like, no wait a minute, what if the connection at the insertion site has come out of the pt for some reason? Checking the tube first would use up valuable time if the tube wasn't even in the patient to begin with. Then I think, well yeah... assess the pt first then the equipment next. So I changed my answer... Yeah I was wrong.

Y?

Part Deux

And with that... bring on HESI RN EXIT. I found a site yesterday called Prep-U, which is powered by the Lippincott people, who make an adaptive test quiz program, it helps you determine strengths and weaknesses and then creates a quiz for you to study from, scoring your mastery of the topics as it goes. I wish it were as hard as the tests that I take in my program, which it is not, but it is helping me gain back my confidence for today.

T-minus 3 hours...



****UPDATED*****

1147 = 99.99% = ALL of the available proctored points. But heck yeah I will take that I need all of the points and positive energy I can get!

And so it begins....

Yeah that didn't go too well at ALL. I accidentally forgot to study a whole section that was on the test, because it was left over from the unit previously tested on. FAIL!!

Once again, simple mistakes and I have left myself a slim margin of error. This is a first for me and I am not liking it one little bit.

SO... still passing, but JUST!


HESI tomorrow.


PS There are a million distractions going on in my life right now, not to mention my husband who thinks I give a shit currently about ANYTHING other than school. Why oh why can't he get it through his fucking skull that I need him to just DO things and not have me have to remind him, or direct him, or listen to his ass complain about doing them. Doesn't he have fucking eyes to see the mess, a stomach that needs food?



URGH!!!! FML!!

Studying Methods

Which do you prefer? I personally like to do MANY different things to study. I listen to lectures from youtube and also listen to my "Natural Reader" program read my lecture notes to me. I also read my notes myself while reciting the lists of things or quizzing myself. I read and reread Powerpoints, and let's not forget NCLEX style questions a plenty. I do the NCLEX questions on the Evolve website, in NCLEX books at the local B&N, and of course in the back of text chapters.

I don't however, spend much time reading the textbook pages. I try and look at the boxes or tables in the text, but sometimes I don't even do that. The abundance of information and filling in there is just too daunting, when what I really need are the bullets.

Does this work for me? Well most times it does, as long as I spend enough time doing it. I am not a crammer... my short term memory sucks, so I really have to start early now and continue daily.

Whereas, I used to have to only study for about 3 days for the tests, but that has changed a bit as my anxiety has increased... I think it may have to do with the lack of sleep and just ultimately that I am not really dealing with my stress effectively right now.

This weekend the boy was home and he helped me a lot with quizzing me on my notes and studying with me at the store. We took turns asking each other questions out of our respective study guides (his for the ASVAB). It was some nice PRODUCTIVE bonding time. I really miss him not being home this semester. I can't wait for May for him to move back home. Of course that is until he leaves for Basic Training, sometime in the late summer early fall, I am not looking forward to that AT ALL!

Anyways.... back to my notes... exam tomorrow, HESI on Tuesday and Final on Thursday. Did this program fly by or what?

Block 4 Lab Practicum

***UPDATE 100% ***


Is today. Which should consist of a written exam worth like 16-18 points or something, that does not count for your grade, until you pass lecture.

It should also include the ECG,ABG & Critical Care calculations.... please make the calculations as easy as that formula I discovered.

Of course I also learned another way last night as well for some ACLS math... which I thought was pretty cool.

After the practicum is more lecture... she wants to get through neuro and onto shock and emergency management before next week's test and FINAL!

Tomorrow we are all supposed to present a 5 minute EBP (Evidenced Based Practice) question... hummmm... maybe I should really get started on that :-)


PS... Are these cute or what?

Drug Calculations Made Easier...?

I stumbled upon a formula for Dopamine and Dobutamine dosage calculations based on a CONSTANT. You know the mcg/kg/min..... ones.... Has anyone heard of these?

I tried it out a few times and BINGO... it worked.

So it is based on Single and Double Dose concentrations.

Dopamine Single Concentration = 13.3
Dopamine Double Concentration = 26.6


Dobutamine Single Concentration = 16.6
Dobutamine Double Concentration = 33.3


Sooooo... what does that all mean?

Well if you use the formula of:

Dose x kg
_________ = you get the amount in ml/hr to set on the pump

constant


Example 1:

Order: Dobutamine 5 mcg/kg/min
Solution: Dobutamine 500/250 ml D5W (HINT: Conc. is considered DOUBLE)
Pt wt is 176 pounds

Step 1 you know is to convert lbs/kg = 80kg


Formula is:
5(80)
----- = 12 ml/hr
33.3

Ok do it your way... what did you get?

Example 2
Order Dopamine 2.5mcg/kg/min
Solution: Dopamine 800mg/500 ml
Pt wt 75kg


What is the concentration? Single? Double?

2.5 x 75
________ = 7ml/hr

26.6


long way 800mg x 1000 = 800,000 mcg / 500ml = 1600mcg/ml
2.5mcg x 75kg x 60min = 11250

Dose
11250
---- = 7 ml/hr
Conc. 1600



Of course follow the rounding rules for your Program/Policy/Pump

My first Troll...

Ah I have arrived I guess.

Please excuse the typos and grammatical errors... as this is simply a quickly written experience of MY personal journey, for ME to look back on.

Glory be to you, if you so chose to search out nurse blogs, especially us less than intelligent, apparently looked down upon, and considered ignorant, ones.

With that being said, comments are always welcomed... whether you are a douche or not.

Et c'est fin

With that said critical care clinicals are finished for the semester.

Next week... that Med/Surg written practical (EKG,Critical Care Calculations & ABGs)

The week after next... Exam on Neuro, exit HESI and the FINAL!!

Wish me luck!

CPP = MAP - ICP

T minus 18

Days till the final... I was in the car today on the way home from a road trip with hubby.. studying my notes and reviewing NCLEX questions for tomorrow's test... when it hit me... and my stomach actually did a butterfly flip and my pulse started racing.

I thought I was pregnant,,,

Course then I realized that I don't have a uterus anymore... but when I commented on someone's post those silly "you are not a robot" codes popped up with what appeared to be 2 pink lines in a verification picture (apparently it meant I should type in the number 11)

**Guest Post** What is the Value of an RN to BSN Program?

"What is the Value of an RN to BSN program?"

By Vera Mosely, Lover of education with a passion for people.

The role and responsibilities of nurses are changing as healthcare reforms are creating an increased demand for nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. It has been recommended by the Institute of Medicine that by 2020, 80% of all nurses should be expected to have a BSN degree. It's already started in most areas with and the abundant amount of new graduate nurses being spit into the job market at alarming rates are met with job postings saying, BSN preferred.

With these expectations in mind, along with the ever changing complexities to the healthcare system, now is the time to decide if the transition from being an RN to one with a BSN is right for you. There are many RN to BSN online programs that allow a person who is working full time and who may have family responsibilities, the flexibility to make the transition. You may ask yourself what is the value of obtaining a BSN? Here are just a few advantages of considering an RN to BSN program.

Flexibility. There are programs that offer complete online classes, while there are others that require some on campus attendance. Be sure to research several online programs before deciding which one works best for you. You may also wish to evaluate your own schedule to see what program best suits your needs, both economically and availability.

Increased Employment Opportunities. One of the greatest advantages is the one employers give nurses who have a BSN. They prefer them. Further, many employers require their current staff to obtain a BSN through continued education in order to retain their position – and will often pay toward that extra qualification.

More Responsibility Equals More Pay. As you would expect, an increase in education allows for greater responsibilities which leads to a higher pay scale. A BSN program provides the necessary skills for positions that require greater critical thinking, along with decision-making, along with leadership skills, and the opportunity to advance in management.

Career Specialization Tracks. Most nurses, whether they have a BSN or not, all usually start out as staff nurses. However, those with a BSN degree have more opportunity for rapid advancement. One simple reason is that, in order to continue on to a master's degree, which would allow for you to become a Nurse Practitioner, you must first have a BSN. Also, if you wish to pursue a specialty certification such as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, which is a nurse who assists with the anesthesiology prior to and during surgery, you must also have a BSN. With a BSN continued advancement is unlimited. So is there a benefit to continue from RN to BSN? The answer is yes.

So with all of the advantages outlined above why not choose an RN to BSN online program that works with your schedule and make the transition to a more prestigious career today?

***** Post Note*****

As you all may know, if you have been reading this blog for long, I have been going back and forth between which BSN program to go into, which LPN to RN path to follow. I have made a few stops and starts over the past few years and have change my mind more times then most of you change your fonts. I have bounced around between so many options for years, but after reading through the curriculum and speaking with the representatives at this College, I can tell you that I have found my choice. No waste of classes, no filler fluff, just career advancement at my fingertips.

Mini Medical School

Nursing is Mini Medical School or maybe it's more like a crash course in everything you need to know that medical school school should teach you crammed into a few semesters.

Why? Because as a nurse you need to know the pathophysiology of a disease process, the normal medical management of the disease process, and what to look for when said medical management does or doesn't work, so when shit hits the fan, or a doctor makes a mistake with an order, you are there to catch it.

So with my studying for Cardiology, I have been looking for some supplemental information to get all of the 79 pages of study guide, 1000 pages of reading, and numerious medications and side effects memorized... I have stumbled upon the medical school exam prep guru... and I think I am in love ;-)

Needless to say, if you need some help with the concepts in Cardiology take a look at this guy. CONRAD FISCHER
As I was sitting in my Cardiology lecture I realized that she was teaching us everything that he was teaching medical students... hummm... go figure.

Preceptorship Info

***updated**** Subject to change... may actually get something else. I will know come 11/9!


Med/Surg at LARGE hospital,I have been previously done a clinical rotation at during Block 2, but would have preferred not to go, because they are NOT hiring outside candidates with only an RN-ASN Degree. But anyway...

Good news... well, since I am seriously considering putting my time in on a Med/Surg position after graduation, instead of trying directly for a specialty, perhaps it'll give me a better idea of what I will be in for. 2 12 hour shifts a week during the day.
Plus 2 days of professional development classes on campus that are required and yet another 8 hours of SIM. I freaking HATE SIM!!

Is this real?

All this cardio studying and I am actually for real having chest pains. Is it somatic or actual? Heartburn or GERD or ischemia? I mean I am old and full of stress, but seriously?

WTF?

Self Doubt

I don't think I have ever felt like this when it comes to a class, ever. The total lack of confidence, the feeling like a failure all the time.

I second guess my choices and my skills and feel like an idiot right now.

Why? Because for the first time in my nursing school career I am playing catch up to get a passing grade and feel like I may be letting everyone down, because, hey with everything going on, I may end up having to repeat this semester if I can't nail this shit down and get a little help around here.

I wish I didn't have to work for this next month, but alas there are bills to pay and people counting on me.

But if ever there was pressure before, there is a CRAZY amount of pressure now... and it will not be cool to have to tell people I didn't pass.

FML!

Issues

This is the first semester that I am having testing issues. I can not believe this. I have no idea why I am having issues either studying the material or coming up with the answers that they want. I have no idea exactly how I need to fix this, but maybe it is just being too tired!?!

I know this shit but the SATA questions are really my downfall right now. Ok moving on. I did the math and broke down the points, and well time to buckle down.

See ya in 31 days I guess.

Testing Season is upon us...

Today is the first Med/Surg (Critical Care) exam of the semester.

We have a total of 3 of them to be exact, then the cumulative for all 4 blocks HESI, then the cumulative FINAL!

All in the span of exactly 30 days!!

From today October 8th to November 8th there is pretty much a test or two every week.

Up first is Respiratory and Burns

Next is Cardio and Neuro

Then looks like we end with Emergency Management/Trauma and Multi-system Dysfunctions.

Currently I am sitting at a teetering B but at this point am just looking for that PASS!

Wish me luck!

Test Taking Tips for Nursing School

1. ABC = Does the question contain Airway, Breathing or Circulation and is it appropriate to the question being asked? Many questions are tricky because we are taught if there is an airway question chose it... however, if the question is asking about urination or something like that, would airway be the proper answer just because it is listed as an option? I would hope an instructor or NCLEX test maker would not include that type of question... except we know better.

The nurse identified the client problem “decreased cardiac output” for the client diagnosed with a pulmonary embolus. Which intervention should be included in the plan of care?
1. Monitor the client’s arterial blood gases.
2. Assess skin color and temperature.
3. Assess urinary output is >30 ml hour
4. Keep the client in the Trendelenburg position.


Page(s): 204, Med-Surge Success'' A Course Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking by Ray A, Kathryn Caddenhead Colgrove and Hargrove-Huttel, F A Davis
. This material is protected by copyright.

The client diagnosed with ARDS is transferred to the intensive care department and placed on a ventilator. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
1. Confirm that the ventilator settings are correct.
2. Verify that the ventilator alarms are functioning properly.
3. Assess the respiratory status and pulse oximeter reading.
4. Monitor the client’s arterial blood gas results.

Page(s): 207, Med-Surge Success'' A Course Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking by Ray A, Kathryn Caddenhead Colgrove and Hargrove-Huttel, F A Davis
This material is protected by copyright.



2. Nursing Process- ADPIE... Is there a questions that asks what would you do first? ASSESS is always the first step in the nursing process. Usually these questions contain all of the steps or a few of the steps of the nursing process. Which we know all may be right, but we must assess before we take action.

Which intervention should the nurse implement first for the client diagnosed with a hemothorax who has had a right-sided chest tube for three (3) days and has no fluctuation (tidaling) in the water compartment?
1. Assess the client’s bilateral lung sounds.
2. Obtain an order for a STAT chest x-ray.
3. Notify the health-care provider as soon as possible.
4. Document the findings in the client’s chart.

Page(s): 207, Med-Surge Success'' A Course Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking by Ray A, Kathryn Caddenhead Colgrove and Hargrove-Huttel, F A Davis
This material is protected by copyright.



3. Maslow - Of course physiological needs come first, but generally if there is a Maslow question, it's about safety. Always err on the side of safe nursing practice and patient safety.

The unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) is bathing the client diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The bed is in a high position with the opposite side rail in the low position. Which action should the nurse implement?
1. Demonstrate the correct technique for giving a bed bath.
2. Encourage the UAP to put the bed in the lowest position.
3. Instruct the UAP to get another person to help with the bath.
4. Provide praise for performing the bath safely for the client and the UAP.

Page(s): 207, Med-Surge Success'' A Course Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking by Ray A, Kathryn Caddenhead Colgrove and Hargrove-Huttel, F A Davis
. This material is protected by copyright.




That's it for now... back to studying I suppose!

Just blame nursing why don'tcha...

Everyone has heard about the spread of infections in hospitals... MRSA for example, UTI, line infections to name only a small few. Now how does it spread like wildfire?

Oh it's the nursing staff. They don't wash their hands, they don't clean their equipment. They aren't cleaning the lines. Nurses, nurses, nursing, nursing. PFFT!


In the 12 hours I was in the ICU I witnessed this...

1. RT placing his stethoscope on the bed of a precautions patient then placing it around his neck. Followed by suctioning patient without goggles or mask in a sputum MDRO, then take off gloves then gown and NOT wash his hands.

2. Doctor's going from room to room and never once using the gel, or washing their hands after assessing the patients. (Hint: its the old timers)

Side note: Med students gel like fiends... as do nursing students who are gel addicted! Nursing students ask yourself this... when was the last time you passed a gel stationed outside a patient room and not used it? If you can answer this... you are not using it enough! LOL

3. Doctor going through the laundry bin of a precautions patient with bare hands searching for a missing item, and NOT washing his hands before leaving or even attempting to use the gel outside the room.

4. Every single nurse, either washed their hands prior to leaving a room, or washed and gelled their hands after leaving a room!!

5. On the flip side I did see a few not gel before going in a few times, but overall this was limited.

6. Every single nurse Cavi wiped their computer outside the rooms prior to using between shifts as well!



There was more but at this you probably get the point... it's all nursing's fault! Urgh!

ICU love

Didn't think I would like it... but I LOVED it. I love the total care of the TWO patients. The staff today that I worked with was amazing. What started off slow and low acuity turned into high maintenance and circling the drain.


So the nurse did her assessment, I did mine. I couldn't put into words the sounds I heard, I forgot them. I did mention that the rt lower lobe sounded like crackles, but sounded pretty loud. If that made since... not clear, just louder than I had expected. Now mind you I listen to kids lungs every day and they do sound loud pretty much everywhere, but with adults they sounds quiter, where I can never really hear breath sounds at the bases and for me they always sound diminished.

So anyway, I asked her what she thought, "She said the left sounded worse to her and both sides were diminished." But also said,"... that I should trust my assessment, because it is my assessment, and most times the nurse is right, even if the doctor hears something else sometimes."

So by this afternoon, guess which lung was consolidated w/ infiltrates and upon x-ray completely whited out at the base to through middle lobe? Which did not result in a great expected outcome for said patient. PaO2 50

Not that I don't have enough to worry about...

But I need some extra cash now that I bought a brand new car. 2013 Kia Forte

I needed one and it isn't all that expensive or over my head or anything... it's actually only $73 more than my current payment... but the down payment put a little dent in my wallet because I was upside down in the old car.

So never the less, I decided to apply for a PRN/Part-time position at another HomeHealth agency but this is just doing a few visits to the LTC crowd.

I know, I know, when will I find time? Well since my client at work spends an awful lot of time in the hospital these days, I need a back-up plan to pay the bills just in case. The client I usually do as back-up is going back to their parent's so there will not be any hours there.

I figure I have a few shifts in me somewhere... if I can push all my full-time hours in 3 days then have clinical 1 day, that still leaves me 3 whole days available.

What about family, what about studying? Well studying I got covered in my full-time job, plus in 30 something days hopefully I will have passed and will be done... freeing up more time! On the family front, right now it's a few hours here or there and I don't see that changing much.

It's not a done deal, as I just applied last night... but sometimes there just has to be a time where you have to spread yourself a bit thinner to get the finances straightened out.

Speaking of thinner... the trainer and gym are put on hold too... but the biking and hiking seasons are upon us finally... and there will be a treadmill in my living-room soon enough as well :-)

Enjoyment Reading... what a novel concept!!

So I have been doing a little light reading trying to get myself out of my funk. My go to book of choice was more of a go to genre of Austenish designs...



&



The later, I have not actually read yet... but it is on the agenda, at some point soon. I am trying to get out of this damn sludge I have been in all semester, while I still can... after tomorrow it'll be back to the grind and the next 38 days are going to be NUTS... yes folks that is how many days until my FINAL!!


3 freaking 8

Contemplating the Great White North

So I have a job, yay me... anyway, when I finish RN and finally get that new title, I still have a job, yay me! But the problem is that I did NOT go back to school to stay in Homecare or LTC, especially if they are not going to give me the promised HUGE raise the title comes with as they once had promised. Around here getting into a hospital or a specialty is pretty slim pickings without a BSN- which I won't have for another year.

So the choice... stay here, work where I work, possibly pick up some second job somewhere and finish up my BSN with hopes of getting into what I really want to do closer to home, OR pick up and move up to the frozen tundra for two years and get a job in a hospital, in a specialty and gain experience while I also work toward my BSN.

Since I have no idea where my kids will be living in the next few years, each has chosen a military path of some sort, there isn't much grounding me permanently to one specific state.

Hubby is up for the challenge, either a long distance marriage, with visits, or him moving up there with me, the relocation package is pretty sweet.

I guess I will know more in December and even more after I pass the NCLEX, but it has me seriously contemplating which direction my future could possibly turn.

I am up for an adventure!!

The clothes

So I broke down and bought 1 new outfit... ok it was for work, but seriously I couldn't go to work with stuff nearly falling off of me anymore.

Scrub top

Before 2x-3x depending on style

Now Large




Scrub Bottom

Before 1x

Now Med

Stuck, stuck,... goose

But seriously I spent the day in the ER today and I was a blood draw and IV start queen. Even learned how to do a 12 lead EKG... which has been alluding me for some time. Chest pain protocol abound and pretty much having to conquer my fears to just do it... so I did.

I honestly haven't gotten a successful blood draw until today and I spent pretty much all day perfecting the process.

1 missed IV and 1 missed blood draw... that I successfully converted! Go me!

Man am I tired.

Preceptorship

What an epic disappointment... not only did I not get ANY of the areas I wanted, I didn't get any of the locations I wanted.

Ultimately this is NOT going to be a networking opportunity that is for sure. Who knows what it will actually be at this point but the choices were an ICU or Med/Surg... no info about the floors or patients. Just that it will be one of the two because despite my grade and being able to make choices I got nothing!

I am pretty pissed off about this right now. Needless to say I have to go to a location I didn't want to go to and the "Preceptorship" is going to be more like freaking clinical except with a full patient load and a facility member being your "preceptor" that is totally not the way to learn how to be an actual nurse on a floor, also it'll be as a group too. This just fucking blows!

The good news?

Let the Season Begin

Bought the hubby tickets to see this for his birthday

Then the season really begins with some shows that actually look like they may be worth going to.

ICU

Today is the first day of ICU and Critical Care clinicals. Meeting the new instructor and freaking out about what will be expected of us. How many IVs will I have to start this rotation? How many careplans will we be stuck having to do?

1/3 done

Psych is finished for the semester. Thursday is the first day of Acute Care Clinicals and lecture starts on Monday.

I hear that we may find out about our preceptorships soon as the night program knows about theirs already.

Today's exam did not go so well... but honestly I have been in such a funk that there was no chance I was going to rock that test. Although I am not alone as most everyone is reporting a serious case of senioritis.

TERROS Ride-A-Long

For my psych alternative clinical I decided to do a TERROS Crisis Team Ride-a-Long. Well it sure as heck was a long ride. 8 hours spent from one side of the valley to another trying to talk people off the proverbial ledge.

I guess jaded comes to mind, because although the people I was with were very nice, they reacted to the clients a bit differently than I would have expected. But then again after all this time you probably become a bit underwhelmed at what has become the human condition.

I felt bad for 2 out of the 4 people that we saw. Of course I spent the entire time trying to figure out what they would have for a dx and let me just tell you that textbook is textbook, and I think one of the people probably read it.

So anyway, I have to write up a careplan on a disorder of my choice, write a 2 paragraph experience report from my ride-a-long (I will title this 3 Borderlines and a Schizo), and finish a process recording paper (which I have no idea how on earth to go about this one), and study for the final exam in psych, which are all on or due on Tuesday.

I wish I could wax poetically about how great of an experience I had, or how I feel more prepared as a future nurse, or how I feel a new connection with the human species. But honestly, I just kept trying to fix the medical issues they presented with, and when they named off their meds, I was trying to list the side effects :-) I have no interest in Mental Health or Psych Nursing!

After that it's Critical Care and the Respiratory Systems.

Do you want tips or the answers?

So I have been talking to this person on another website as they travel through the nursing program pretty much the same way I did. LPN to Advanced Placement RN Block 3. So over all I just give study ideas, books to get, tips on how to study for each instructor. I do not give any hints as to what was on the tests or anything.

So I have spent some time giving this persona quite a lot of good advice about how to study.

So today I see them post a dramatic cry for help about seeing a bunch of people in their class that are repeating the block and begging for TIPS on how to pass the block.

So at the risk of sounding like a bitch or whatever... but I wash my hand of someone who seems to be fishing for the answers to the tests or something.

I mean yeah I think they recycle tests, and yeah I probably remember more of them than I should, but I will be damned if I will give anyone some leg up or a more detailed focus on exactly what to study to pass... figure that shit out for yourself... sheesh... the gall of some people, but then again... people don't surprise me much.

This waiting is driving me crazy!!!

I really want to know what my Preceptorship is going to be. I know I got an offer because my choices are locked all of the offers have been accepted and everyone has been placed. So come already and tell us... I think it's great motivation, especially if I get what I want. Also I guess I would like to know in-case I didn't get exactly what I want. Truth be told there was only 1 real choice on there that I would rather not get.

Ok so I did talk to one of my nursing buddies from way back when today and she said the same thing that I did, about the after the high crash that is nursing school. I was wondering for a while why, since nursing school has started again, that I still feel depressed... now I know, because Psych is not stressful and thus, my body has not rebounded back into that hyper-state of anxiety where you focus better and concentration increases... I guess I need my fight or flight instincts to be in full force or my body is like, "WTF?"

Well at the very least its a theory... maybe I can do my psych clinical research paper on it?

On the agenda

I printed out my 79 page cardiac study guide a friend has nicely done up and posted to her site. If you have't checked it out already please do so. It is also going to be bound for me by a friend I used work with... so that will be nice.

This week is the last of Psych clinical and hopefully I will get a chance to work with the intake nurse in the ED. That should be interesting. I mean I am enjoying my time in Psych, which I am surprised with, but also knew I would enjoy at this location, but sitting around talking to the guys is getting old. I am pretty good with talking and am not afraid to talk to patients, residents, clients, or family's. This is not my first experience with patient care after all.

Of course the best part of this nursing clinical has been how welcomed they have made us feel.When we walk onto the floor the nurses are all, "Welcome students, the future of nursing..." Usually the nurses are like, " Oh man... students." As they run and hide :-)

So this week is the last of psych clinical, Monday is the psych last exam before the final and Wednesday we are back at clinical, but this time in our ICU rotations. It feels like this is flying, but then again it feels like the hard part has not even begun and I am sure I am right!

Toodles...

Psych clinical + odds and ends

My first day of psych clinical was a great day actually. There wasn't a bed to be made in sight! I enjoyed talking to the Vets and getting their insight on their conditions, their hospitalization and finding out about their history.

The Vets are my second favorite patient population, I like ante/postpartum the best of course,but if given the choice to work at any facility PostGrad I have and would always choose the VA. (Especially if offered the OR)

As luck would have it our Psych clinical instructor is also our Psych lecture instructor... and she is AWESOME in clinical!!

Overall great day and the first exam wasn't so bad either. If only I would have read one of the damn questions correctly I would have pulled off a 100%. Urgh!

So I also found out today that those that did not have a B at the time of the Preceptorship draft were all put in Med/Surg sites... except there are also those that have the option this term to forgo hospital Preceptorship in place of SIM Preceptorships. What that means is that they will spend their 6-9 shifts using the SIM lab, running scenarios, codes, and such... but they also get the chance to take the EKG class as well as get their ACLS certification out of the way.

Now I think I like that idea too... except... if I actually did get my first choice in preceptorship there is no way in hell I would give it up. Because I was one of the lucky ones that DID have a B at the time the selection was done and none of the options were changed. So....


Now they just need to tell us what we got already!!

Psych Review and EKG strips

In the midst of studying for the first Psych quiz. Make or break right as there are only two?

We also were introduced to the world of mcg/kg/per min and reading EKG strips... (baby boxes and big boxes, PR intervals, ST segments, QRS complexes.... what?

I have no idea what she was talking about and she talks FAST!!

So do you think I have a procrastination problem, if I spent a few hours cleaning the house from top to bottom and the housekeepers are supposed to come tomorrow?

LOL Ok... I did do a lot of studying, but sometimes your brain just screams.."DO SOMETHING ELSE."

Looks good and smells good in here... now I have to run to the grocery store. I am really trying to work on my defense mechanisms and response to anxiety and stress... yup that's Psych studying for ya!

No pressure but...

I was informed by my son and husband that I have to pass Block 4! Like I didn't know this, but they both said everything rides on this, we need you to be done with school already.

Them and me both right?!?

Week 1 Block 4

Was pretty mixed up, felt weird because we lost so many people, changed seating arrangements and have new teachers with totally different styles.

Psych lecture is up first and she is pretty laid back overall, but lectures in monotone so it's hard to concentrate on the content sometimes, but I have decided to physically write my notes with this class in hopes of doing some long term memory conversion that has worked for me in the past.

Today we had pre-clinical lab for Critical Care, which was pretty much just 5 hours of lecture on EKG... she is funny and really informative but speaks very fast!

I need to work on learning to measure and time the PR, QRS, and ST segments and memorizing the descriptors for the rhythms, but the good news is the ones she will test on I recognize on the strips :-)

First test in Psych is next week of course and clinical also starts then as well.

Loss of 12

Block 3 is a killer apparently... although I am pretty sure 4 will be as well. So yeah 12 people missing from last block. 3 new faces added to the mix. The girl that I sat next to today transferred into our group from the night class and she said they lost 9 from their group as well. There is also 1 other cohort that is the traditional day program and I have no idea if they lost anyone, but wow, just wow. That was way more than I had expected.

It was also weird because despite being in the same room this semester, half of the group decided to change up their seating, subsequently I had to change my seat.

It was all kinds of weird!

Have I mentioned this semester is going to suck!

Full Concentration on NS

This is it and it's all about this semester. I am trying to avoid further distractions and get these next 4 months over and be successful so I can finally achieve that RN... I mean I have been looking forward to this since I was probably 4 years old.

I am not worried about weight loss and working out right now, because with school and work, there doesn't seem to be much time left over. Of course I won't break all the rules and pig out and stuff, but I will try not to obsess about the weight loss or exercise part, that might actually defeat the purpose and be causing more harm anyway.

So onward to Block 4- Senior year. Psych tomorrow, 12pm WOOT!

Comment moderation

Just so everyone is aware I have started to moderate comments on this site because of SPAM comments only. I had been receiving quite a few, oh and it makes it easier to see when I get a comment, so I can reply to your posts as well. I have missed a few when people comment against an old post of mine, and it makes me feel bad :-)

...gonna B a nurse...

Block 1 B
Block 2 B
Block 3 B

Block 4 B


** updated 12/6/12**

:-)

Final Grade SNAFU

Yesterday was just a day from hell and it got worse when at about 1100pm I checked to see if they had posted the final grades yet and lo and behold they had.

To what to my wondering eyes did appear? A huge fucking shock is what was there.


It was a big fat ...... C???

I immediately pulled out the syllabus, calculated my total points again and wow were they wrong! I tossed off an email to the lead teacher and pretty much fumed over it the rest of the night and since I was working at the time, it was a long night.

The good thing was they fixed it to the B it should have been this morning, no problem,but the lesson I took away from this... a C would KILL my GPA and ladies and gents I worked pretty dang hard and had too many sleepless days to see it tank!

So C may = degree but NEVER in my book does that make it OK.

Do over

So I am heading out soon to retake my Peds Math Practicum that I failed liked a big dog earlier in the month. It's the last step to actually officially passing Block 3. So last night I reviewed all the formulas, the steps, and such... and they actually just slid right into my head like butter.

When I tried to do this the week before it was like NOTHING would stick and the simplest things felt like I was running into a brick wall over and over again.

Was it emotional stress that was blocking me or lack of sleep and rest?

I hope I can get all of this new semester's information to sink in just as easily.

***update**

That's done and passed. Nothing in front of me except Block 4!!
Now to get that final grade posted so I can submit it to work and get some frigging money!!!
!

The big crash

Emotionally speaking that is. It seems I am in the midst of my annual emotional meltdown and anxiety/panic ridden bottom out after riding the stress train that is school.

It seems to happen after every stress filled class is over. After LPN graduation it happened. After that Chemistry class from hell ended it happened, and once again it has happened.

I guess the good news is the let down will not be long until the stress builds up again next week.

But this sucks!!!

Anyone that has dealt with depression before will know, but this sudden low low makes it nearly impossible to concentrate and I feel this weird feeling of despair mixed with overwhelming anxiety and panic.

I wonder if the stressed out feeling and the reason I am getting through, what others seem to think is impossible, is because the stress comes with an emotional high that propels me through the lack of sleep related to working full-time and school full-time?

Hummm... sounds a little Bipolar doesn't it? Well whatever it is, I am breaking down and hitting up the doctor and perhaps getting on some meds to help avoid the crash next time.

Randomness

How do you put your mind at ease and concentrate on what needs to be done, when it isn't at ease and it's impossible to concentrate? Because despite what people say...it's what they don't say that drives you crazy and makes your heart hurt!!

I'm a Senior!

It's official.. Block 4 starts 8/20. Last semester!

On the agenda

Block 3 FINAL and OB Practicum retake/remediation.

Turns out instead of passing 2/3, I failed 2/3 Practicums. I guess that will teach me to NOT let personal marital problems into my brain no matter what, until the end of Block 4.

But anyway needless to say I only missed .25 from passing the OB one, maybe it'll be an oral retake today, instead of a remediation and make-up at another time? She definitely seems like the type to do that.

Expecting to hear from the Peds math one later this afternoon, so after the final and OB meeting, it will be home to tackle the math packet with a vengeance so I can do those problems like a pro.


Ok off to get this party started... Starbucks here I come!


*** update***

OB retake done and passed. Peds instructor said after the final is graded she will tell us the retake date. We probably won't find out the grades until late tomorrow or Monday. Which will suck since Block 4 starts on the 20th.

However, I did some math to work out what I would need to pass. 219 is the cut off... currently I have 155 with 108 up for grabs on the final (proctored points) So that comes out to needing to get at least a 59% or 64 points. Ummm... I had f'ing do better than that!!!!

T minus two...

Days and counting till the final. Then I find out about the retake of that practicum stuff and hopefully move on to Block 4! OK back to studying.

NICU

Last OB rotation today was spent in the NICU, although I loved my nurse and had a great experience overall, this is not a field for me. Spending the day changing diapers, listening to crying babies and feeds q3... nawww.. BORING!!

Easier said than Done

Well Lab practicum was today. Very sad face. I passed 2 out of the 3 sections. I totally blanked on the Peds math section and missed the pass by 2 points. Which means I have to remediate next week and retake the math section after the final. Which is OK... at least I know that if I go over it again with her than I will get it like I did the first time we went over it and it'll be fresh for the retest :-)

Good news is she said NO ONE has failed to move forward in the program because of failing the Peds math section.

Also, I ran out of time. We were supposed to have 60 minutes to complete it but at 30 she said times up. WTF was with that?

HESI news

94% 1087!! Woot! If I had stuck with my first answer on at least 4 I would have gotten only 1 wrong! But I changed the answer on 3 and the other 1 I was not sure between two and the 1 I had no idea and was just straight up wrong.


But I'll take that!

Pardon the Interruption...

Nothing going on right now. OB clinical on Saturday was BUSY and fun, 1 more shift there for the semester which will be in NICU. Still enjoy women's health and Postpartum was great.

In the throes of studying for HESI right now and the Lab Practicum, which are looming ever closer. Aug 1 and 2nd respectively.

Eeek... Block 4 information

So today was the last day of lectures for Block 3. Next week is all about the exams.

So in honor of that the Block 4 Instructors made their appearances and low and behold the glorious Preceptorship info was passed around along with the Block 4 Critical Care and Mental Health clinical sites. Yikes!



So we had to make 3 hospital choices with 3 department choices within those hospitals


Hospital 1: (Have been to all of these at this hospital before)
OR
PACU
IRR

Hospital 2:
PACU
L&D
Urgent care


Hospital 3:
ICU
L&D
Tele



Totally all over the spectrum but I was trying to avoid a huge system of hospitals, however I did stay pretty close to my heart and try and get as many options in Peri-Op as possible with a sideline in L&D.


BTW: We had to have a "B" currently to make our choices for a specialty unit instead of a Med/Surg floor.

***updated 12/6/13 - Yeah I actually didn't even end up getting ANY of these options. Trauma/Ortho/ Med/Surg is what I ended up with***

Worst test by far

Thank God for the cushion I had because of my other tests. This test was awful and I actually straight up failed it. 74% Although it appears so did half the class.


Whatever... onto the Final and I WILL study study study for that one.


Don't get me wrong, I still have a proctored points grade of a high B (which are exam grades) going into the final, with quite a few extra points already to add to that so I am not on the cusp or anything, but yeah maybe finally making my A has just been replaced with PASSING.

I'd make a good L&D Nurse

Is what my Primary RN said to me, which was awesome to hear, but I really don't think I want to do that type of nursing in the future.

I had a great day as usual when it comes to clinical experience in the Unit. I managed to do a lot of interventions, education and eventually saw my first C-Section. I bonded with the family and felt totally comfortable just getting all up in there.

Of course Women's health does interest, and I always have a great time, but to spend day in and day out in such a litigious field. I think L&D is the highest risk for lawsuits.

Two Lectures

Yup that is right two more lectures and that's it.

Next week starts exams! HESI on Wed the 1st, Skills Practicum on Thur the 2nd.

I can not believe how fast this semester went. Of course it's only just now started to get stressful and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Drug Test Debacle

So I get a phone call at 7am about the drug test that I took the day of orientation. Turns out the results were never sent to the college this whole time!

Now they want me to pay the $68 so they can send the results to the school finally because they forgot to collect the amount attached to my original order.

Mind you there are only 3 weeks left in this block and they have not mentioned this yet.

2 down 1 to go... Déjà vu!

Peds and Med Surg clinicals are completed. Today is OB Sim then 3 Saturday shifts of OB to go.

Of course Peds and OB lectures are already DONE!

First Med/Surg exam is tomorrow. I finally finished my paper yesterday, hope it is cited correctly as the majority of it came from quotes, paraphrases and stats from about 4 articles and websites.


Honestly this totally has a very Déjà vu feeling!! Can't believe the end of the semester is so close. Block 4 will be here before we know it and then the really hard work begins.

My month at a glance...

Week 1

Sunday -
Monday- 12 hour clinical 6a-6p
Tuesday- 8 hour clinical 8a-4p, work 7p-7a
Wednesday- class 8a-1230p (EXAM), work 7p-7a
Thursday- class 8a-1230p, work 7p-7a
Friday- no school, no work, Trainer
Saturday- 12 hour clinical 6a-6p

Week 2

Sunday -
Monday- Clinical 8-4, work 7p-7a
Tuesday- NO SCHOOL, work 7a-7p (Trainer probably)
Wednesday- School 8-1230, (EXAM), work 7a-7p
Thursday- School 8-1230, no work (Trainer probably)
Friday- no school no work! Trainer
Saturday- 12 hour clinical 6a-6p



After this all hell breaks lose because it's finals time!

Week 3
Sunday-
Monday- work 7p-7a
Tuesday- work 7p-7a
Wednesday- HESI Final, no work
Thursday- Lab Practicum Final- work 7p-7a
Friday- No school, no work, Trainer
Saturday- last OB clinincal


Week 4
Sunday-
Monday-work 7p-7a
Tuesday- work 7p-7a
Wednesday- no work
Thursday- FINAL!!
Friday- work 7p-7a, Trainer


And if I make it to week 5... there is 1 whole week off until Block 4 - the SENIOR YEAR begins!

I may have been at lecture today...

Except I can't remember it because I was inspired to complete my Powerpoint presentation on Advanced Practice Nursing moving toward Doctorate Level Practice instead of the current Master's Degree practice.

Now if only I could write the damn paper on this... but alas... not motivated enough for that yet!

ED Bust

This is not the time of year to actually be trying to get some clinical experience in. The census is so low hospital wide that there is too much standing around.

So let's see there is officially 1 month left of Block 3 and actually as predicted I did totally bomb that last test. I did pass, but it was a squeaker. So yeah I really should have gotten some sleep prior to that class because I could not remember anything, and these are actually concepts I was familiar with.


So what's up next? Two more Peds clinicals, 1 OB Sim Lab, 3 OB clinicals, and then 1 Med/Surg Sim Lab. Which all leads up to HESI 8/1, Lab Practicum 8/2 and the final 8/9.

Block 4 will startm if all goes well, on 8/20 and Senior Practicum is after that with graduation in early December.

Bindi Loo Who?

Ok I tried to change my mind, cuz I mean really who in the world has extra time for this with my schedule? But my hubby would not let me. Course I think now he is regretting it. But anyway...



This is Bindi our new Queensland Heeler (Blue Heeler) She is now 7 weeks old and has come into her "attitude" this week and is driving our other 3 babies crazy!

I'm loving it...

New clinical instructor for Peds does not believe in careplanning! Woot!

OB Lecture is done. Med/Surg lecture starts on Monday.

Was unable to make myself study for the last OB exam, really it was totally impossible and I have no idea why. But anyway I probably BOMBED it.

But we shall see, I know of at least 1 question I totally got wrong and a few others were very on the fence based on the post mourtum rumblings I listened to after the exam today in the hallway. I never talk to anyone about my grade at school or what I put for which question, I usually hide in a corner and listen off and on to the others around me as I see fit. So now I sit and await the final verdict.

2 outta 3 ain't bad...

Time for round two of clinical rotation. Peds on the agenda starting today. Not looking forward to it as usual. 5 12 hour shifts in total. Mon/Tue week, 2 Mon/Tue week and then 1 the Mon the week after followed immediately on Sat of that week OB clinical 3 shifts.

OB last lecture and exam is on Thursday and then it is on to the final lecture rounds with Med/Surg.


Med/Surg Clinincal- DONE
Med/Surg Lecture - 7/9- 7/16

Peds Lecture- DONE
Peds Clinical- in progress


OB lecture - DONE
OB Clinical - 7/21, 7/28, 8/4

Math :-P

The bane of my existence and the reason for a less than perfect score on my 2nd OB Exam. Will know later today what the official verdict is.


***update***

Damn math, yes that was the only 1 I got wrong... so damn close to a 100%. If only I had had looked over the math problems before class as I had planned. It was a really easy question too and I missed the original ml the med came in, those damn dilution questions are tricky! LOL Oh well an A is still an A.

Let's get this show on the road...

Last day of Med/Surg Clinical... the day I have been dreading. IR aka Interventional Radiology, home of the IV starts! Time to get over my fear and nervousness and drop some IVs like they were easy peasy!



*** update***

Two for two... IVs that is :-) Had a blast today, it's like Pre-Op, OR, and PACU all rolled into 1. MY FAV!! Of course that means that I ran around like crazy today. Boy am I exhausted!

I now have to meet with the trainer at 6 and because I don't have clinical tomorrow I said I would work, but man I am soooo tired already! Although if anything were to give it'd be the trainer right now, cuz I am happily losing right now without his or the gyms help and am OK with that too!