Life of a Nursing Student

Senior Status

Can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve posted. Summer went by so fast and I spent it working and doing an online class. Now I’m going into week 2 of senior year this week and I already have a ton of studying and homework to get done! For some reason I’m not anxious though. I feel really calm and excited to start this semester. I’ve been waiting for pediatrics and obstetrics my entire schooling. Looking forward to all that clinical has to offer! Can’t wait to post about my experiences in my last year of nursing school. Ahhh :)

Thursday Afternoons

Never fails that once I get out of clinical on Thursday’s, I shut down completely. I never know how exhausted I am from the week until I hit that pillow for a nap and have to force myself to wake up! LOL oh man!

Spring Semester: Week 10

I love when my weeks end on a good note! The Dean of my nursing school found out I got the NSNA scholarship and all my professors were so happy for me. They set up a meeting for me next week to take pictures and I believe an interview and I have to dress in professional attire :)

This week at clinical I finished my carp experience and we all got certificates. At med-surg clinical I pulled out my first NG tube, did my client education project on how to use an incentive spirometer, and I emptied my first ileostomy!

Tomorrow NSA at my school organized a service project at Quantum House and we are cooking a St. Patrick’s day dinner for the kids and families. We are decorating the entire house in St. Patrick’s day theme and we are setting up cupcake decorating for the kids! It is going to be a blast and mostly all my professors will be there!

I love my nursing family!! Pictures of tomorrow will be up after :)

Spring Semester: Week 8

This was the last week before spring break and it definitely wasn’t what I expected. I never like to make excuses for performing poorly in anything so it was really hard to handle the events of this week. I’m still getting over my sickness and this was the busiest week I’ve had so far this semester. I had my second Med-Surg 2 exam was this week and I didn’t do well at all. Supposedly it’s always the hardest and longest exam and I’m still doing well in the class so I’m not too worried. At Med-Surg 2 clinical I absolutely did not perform my best. It’s partly because I stayed up all night before writing my case study and then went straight to clinical. I didn’t even eat anything until after clinical either. I could just tell how slow and not efficient I was the entire day. Definitely learned my lesson and will not be pulling any all-nighters ever again and especially before clinicals. Right now I’m on spring break and plan on getting ahead in all my classes! I want to work extra hard to prove that the way I performed this week was not my best by any means! Hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing break if you are on spring break! And stay safe :)

Med-Surg 2 Clinical: Week 7

Going to be the charge nurse tomorrow on my oncology unit :). So excited!!!

Week 1: Spring Semester

Sorry I have been M.I.A. lately.  First week of this semester was crazy, new, and exciting.  So many projects I am organizing for NSA and I feel like overnight everything has worked out perfectly.  It’s amazing how much things are turning around for our club with our new board.  Friday is our first meeting and I think it will go very smoothly since we are ahead of the game! 

Went to orientation for Psych. clinical and Med-Surg 2 clinical.  Psych. was interesting and Med-Surg 2 was AMAZING.  I feel so beyond blessed!  This semester is going to be awesome!!

My second official day of Med-Surg clinical was AWESOME!

I flushed my first PICC and gave my first SC injection :) Woooo!

It’s Med-Surg Timeeeee!

I had my orientation yesterday at the hospital I am doing med-surg I clinical.  How awesome is it that my first real hospital clinical rotation is at the hospital I was born in?  I cannot wait to start this clinical.  Also, during this clinical my group gets to work on the med-surg floor and the telemetry floor which doesn’t usually happen.  The only thing that stinks is that my clinical professor is out of the country so my group can’t start clinical until Nov. 3rd.  The upside is that I get extra time to study for my patho pharm II exam that I have on Monday and God knows I need this extra time.  LOL 

Tomorrow middle school and high school kids are coming into our school of nursing to tour, ask questions, and get a feel for our nursing school.  All of these kids are interested in nursing and it’s awesome that I get to be like a mentor for the day.  I’m excited to be volunteering even if I am sacrificing my first Friday off this semester.  It will definitely be worth it. :)

Thank Goodness!

I passed my ATI Fundamentals test today.  Now I just have to pass my final tomorrow and then it’s Med-Surg 1 time!  WOO HOO!

So about last clinical week…

You know how I mentioned that my resident last week reminded me so much of my great grandmother who passed away last year and I became emotional during clinical?  Even the next day my resident told me I could call her grandma…

Anyway, so I’m sitting here now filling out my resident’s DHAT from last week and I notice that my resident was admitted into the facility March 23, 2011.  My great grandmother passed away March 23, 2010.  How weird is that?!?!

Officially freaked out.

Met my second resident for Fundies rotation today.

She reminded me so much of my great grandmother who passed away a year and a half ago at age 100.  I could not believe it.  I even teared up today because it was like seeing my great grandmother again.  I feel like this woman was put into my life for a reason.  I am so grateful that I have had such amazing residents thus far.  I am amazed at how much I actually enjoy working with geriatric patients.  I feel like my presence alone makes a difference to these individuals and everyone always tells me that my presence can light up a room.  This really makes a difference, especially to the patients who suffer from depression.  Serving Christ through nursing fills me with so much joy and peace.  I love my life :)

This week has been AMAZING<3