Where would you like that?

Today was my "check off" for medicine administration. It included intramuscular/subq shots, IV push, IV bolus and oral meds. We had to pick, out of a hat, our one that would be tested. I "lucked up" on IV bolus. It isn't necessarily hard, it just has the most steps. I'm proud to say I efficiently gave my fake patient 2 ml of demerol in a very safe and professional manner. Nobody died! I love getting these check offs done; however I'm sure in real life it will be like doing it new all over again.

I have two more tests next Thursday - but I'm on the downhill of the semester. Exams will be December 11th and then I will be off until January. Then clinicals start. I hope to be working on Saturdays for my clinicals - it sure will help with babysitting. I heard yesterday that the preceptor for the clinical I want is incredible. That really made me happy!

Was that you God?

I had clinical orientation today. I'm so excited to be finally starting my rotations at the hospital (in January). Today we learned the basics, signed all our lives away to our hospitals and talked about what is expected of us. One interesting issue that was taken care of was the election of committee members and class president. We were told what each position requirement was and then told we could begin nominating. There were 50 of us students and about 10 faculty members in the auditorium. I turned to my nursing buddy and asked if she wanted me to nominate her for anything. After hearing her interests, she asked me if I wanted to be nominated. I replied, "absolutely not - I'm good." As the nominations began, I heard my name called out from the row in front of me for president of the class. My two friends sitting nearby shot me a glare - knowing that I didn't want to be nominated. But, I honestly felt God urging me to leave my name in and just see what happened. After the nominations were completed, we were asked if anyone wanted to withdraw their name. My mind wanted to say - "yeh, me - take my name out of that," but my heart said, "be still." Then we were told that the five class president nominees would have to give a 1 minute speech - what?!?!? Okay, where is this leading. I was the lucky one to have to speak at the front of the auditorium first. "Hi, I'm SSSSS and I am a non-traditional student. I have a degree in journalism from XXXX. I have been married for 14 years and I have three boys. I have gone into nursing because I feel like it is a calling by God. I just hope I can be an extension of his ministry. Thanks." One of my classmates yelled out, "Hallelujah." The others that followed gave reasons for voting for them. All but one were traditional college students, so they talked about being president of their sorority or organization. After hearing the other speak, I looked at my nursing buddy and said, "do you think it is bad to not vote for myself - I thought the girl talking about organizing the 250 girls through rush sounded organized. I think I'll vote for her." Then the vote took place. The results were given about 45 minutes later. Once again, I almost said, "please withdraw my name," but I kept quiet. As the winners were announced, I was surprised to hear my name. So here I am, class president - where are you leading me God?

Just a stick and a burn....

Things are moving along at a really swift pace at school. In the last three weeks we have learned all the specifics of taking vitals (temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respirations), how to give subcutaneous and intramuscular shots, and how to do an IV push or bolus. We have these fake little sponge things that can be strapped on to a person to practice shots. Our lab group is made up of four ladies. Two of us are the "non-traditional" a little older type. We affectionately named our sponge, Ms. SpongeBob Squareform. The young whipper-snappers in our group look at us like, "those poor women, they have already lived the best part of their life." They have know idea how great thirty something is!

I had two tests yesterday. One in health assessment. Who knew an assessment was so - um scientific. Identifying abnormal data, clustering, taking inferences, throwing out, validation - and on and on. I made a 94 on that test. So good start there.

The second test was in my skills class. We are required to take a medication calulations test. Like the physician orders 250 mg of such and such drug. The drug is available in 60 g/10 ml. How many ml do you give per dose? We have to make a 100 on the test. We are given three chances to make a 100 - after that we are forced to withdraw. I felt pretty confident about my knowledge, but I have terrible test anxiety. I took the test, pushed the submit button on the computer and it came up that I had missed one. My heart sank. It seems only a few of the 27 even made a 100. I stayed after class to find out what I missed, so I could work on it for next week's retake. The one I missed, I had entered .5 ml instead of 5 ml. The professor said, "did you turn in your scratch paper?" (We figured it out on scratch paper, then had to enter the answer into the computer). She pulled my scratch paper and low and behold - I had the right answer on the scratch sheet - and bless her heart, she gave me credit. She said, "you have someone looking out for you." I told her, "you have absolutely no idea!"

B+L+E+S+S+E+D

I just found out I was awarded the Lettie Pate Whithead Foundation Scholarship! This scholarship will cover all tuition for Fall semester and have some left over for books. It will also cover the majority of my tuition for Spring semester (I take more hours Spring than Fall). What a true blessing!

Just more proof that when I let go of the reins, God can truly have control!

The countdown is on...

I can't believe it, but I am a week and a half from finishing my first semester of nursing school. It really has been wonderful! Time consuming? You-betcha! But so worth it!

Monday, I will have my last pharmacology test, Wednesday will be a theory presentation, and the following Monday will be my pharmacology final. So far, so good. I seem to have As in both classes.

I just registered for next semester. I'll be taking Health Assessment and Skills I - so finally, I will learn something nurse-like. And if I don't go any further than next semester, I can always check my family's BP for the rest of their lives :-). I also have to take a library research class because I needed one more institutional elective credit, so library research it is. Actually I tried to find the easiest, less time consuming class available - and this was the consensus. Hopefully, it won't end up being the opposite!

I've been blessed to have a very supportive friend that is in class with me - that helps a lot! Also, my family has been wonderful (immediate and extended).

So, I'll check back in about a week, with the latest info. Also, I am supposed to find out in the next two weeks about any scholarship I may have gotten (wouldn't that be nice!)

Not a computer science major :-(

I had my first pharmacology test this morning. We were to do it online at home because of scheduling conflicts at the school. But - this weekend my internet provider was having difficulties. It kept kicking me off. The people at the tech center said, you might want to find somewhere else to take the test. UGH!!! Thank goodness for my aunt and uncle. I picked up the babysitter for the kids and then headed over to my uncle's house to use his internet. At least I did well on the test - made a 92. My first official grade of nursing school. I was just looking to pass!

First week of nursing school

I've just now had the opportunity to update about my first week of school. Lots of information! It is crazy how much they try to jam into these short 8 week summer semesters! I am loving it though. The reading is a lot, but all so interesting. I told my husband that I hope I keep up the enthusiasm. I felt this way the whole time I was taking Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology. Maybe I have truly found my interest - I really can't read enough!

They have changed up our curriculum plan a bit, but I still won't have clinicals until January. I'm ready for it! Lots of reading and prep to do first though. Next semester will be Nursing Skills I and Health Assessment. These classes will prepare us for the basics of nursing - so that we can put them into action for spring.

I'll try to post more later - but I have a lot of reading to do. When I come across something interesting (interesting to you and not just to me (hopefully!)), I'll post it.

Oh... one funny is that whenever it is time for a bathroom break, my pharmacology professor says, "I think it is time for a bio break."