Our darling dog Wrigley has went missing. (He's in the orange.) He got out sometime this morning through a gate that wasn't secured properly and we can't find him anywhere. The bad thing is...my husband had to go to work and I had to go to school, so all day I was thinking about him and wishing I could leave that stupid class and go look for my dog. As soon as I was finished with class and got back to town I drove all over the place searching with no luck. It's dark now and there's nothing we can really do, but my husband is out posting flyers hoping that someone, anyone can provide a clue. It's cold out, and I know he's hungry and misses us and I worry he just can't find his way. This is terrible, he's a part of our family. How can I cope not knowing? He's been a part of our family for a little over 2 years and he's the best dog I have ever had. I was just telling someone this yesterday before he was gone. All I want to do is cry. He has a tag on with our address, his vet's office and our phone numbers which leads me to believe that no one has found him or maybe someone did but didn't think to stop him or anything. And of course I have all kinds of other terrible thoughts too.......

I just hope that whoever finds him is an honest person and wouldn't keep him for themselves or something. I'm desperate and afraid and just don't know what to do. I just want to know where he is. Knowing is better than not knowing anything. I've heard some dogs will come back after a few days. I hope this is one of those cases.

Poor George!

Last Thursday was a new episode of Grey's and I always talk about the show and recap so I figured I'd do it now since I know I won't have the time this week.

I'll try to remember all that happened. It was hilarious whenever George went to the refigerator and noticed the check was missing and started looking around on the floor for it. I was cracking up. He thought Izzy lost it or something. Too cute! George's dad.....sigh! What a sad moment for him and his family. Knowing there was nothing they could do and having to pull the plug on him. I loved the speech he gave to Bailey and Weber..."He didn't know better! You knew better!" That was so sad and you felt yourself yelling inside right along with him. Izzy getting involved with the scoliosis pt...she did the right thing. I mean walking around in a 90 degree position forever....that's not a good quality life. Cristina and Burke finally opening up to eachother....somewhat. I loved how she brought his meal to him trying to see if his hand would shake when he took it from her ....genious...lol. Never underestimate Cristina. I don't really know what's going to happen to him after his gay slurs. I wonder if the network will fire him. I know TR Knight and Katherine Heigl are upset by his comments. (You tube-see TR Knight on Ellen) I, too am angry I'm not even gay, but I'm still offended that he can be so racist and verbal about it...and lying that he said it on top of that. Just cop to it so you can move on dude. Sorry if there are a lot of typos in my posts. My wireless mouse doesn't have a good connection and a lot of letters are left out of my words. Oh well.

I can't remember anything else from Grey's right now. I'm tired and not thinking clearly. Maybe tomorrow I'll come in and edit to add more. I do remember that it was a good episode though...as always. I love Grey's Anatomy. I hope the squabble doesn't hurt the show. Until next time...Work hard and play hard!

Christy

It Is What It Is

I have done nothing but study and make notes all day and I'm not even near close to being finished. There just isn't enough time in the day...honestly. I wish I could hire a transcriptionist to take all of my notes, then I wouldn't have carpal tunnel syndrome. Ha! I don't like lower GI. Atleast that's something I can now mark off of my list. Feces and ulcers and fistulas...oh my! No thanks. I'm stressin' y'all. I know I say this in every post but I can't over come it. It is what it is and it's HARD!!! If I can get past this first test maybe then I'll know what to expect. Each instructor's tests are different and you never know their style. We have 3 instructors for each semester. Each one is an 'expert' in the field they are teaching and it's inspiring....intimidating but inspiring. Our oncology teacher passed out Live Strong bracelets to the class and made a $1 donation in all fo our names. Yes it's only one dollar, but that's a nice gesture and I appriciate it and her for doing it.

Now that we're juniors it is our job to have set up the 4th semesters/senior graduation and pinning ceremony. We have to compose video, raise funds for food and decide how the even will go etc....kinda. I'm not sure of our exact role, but it's something like that. It sounds like fun, but I don't know when we'll have the time. Oh well. For those of you who don't know what a pinning ceremony is...it's kind of like an initiation sort of honoring the lady with the lamp, Florence Nightengale the "pioneer of nursing". They take lamps and light them in her honor and recite a pledge in an intimate ceremony with only close family, friends and classmates. In most cases you get to decide who will pin you. Some people choose instructors and some people choose friends or family who helped them get through school. Either way, it's supposed to be a special moment. Sounds kinda cheesy? It is, but it's a tradition that dates back to more than 50 -60 something years. Click on the link to see an example. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzeqmqyLOXM The graduation ceremony is separate and for everyone. Cheesy or not, I think it will make me really proud to recite the pledge, it's an honor to be called a nurse and to follow in her footsteps. I think it will be weird for the guys though. LOL

I just cannot wait for graduation. I'll be more than ready. I don't care how hard the last/4th semester is. Atleast then I'll know it's the last of it. This semester is difficult because it's right before the "end" and you kow you still have so far to go. Oh well....let's pray I pass. That's all that matters to me right now.

Well, thanks for listening to me complain some more. That's what my blog is for....for me to vent it all out so I don't go postal on someone. Ha ha ha!

Peace.

p.s I enclosed a pic of some of my buds and I at our Wellness day function at school last year. We served the community by giving free BP screenings, cholesterol checks, flu shots, literature about certain diseases (diabetes, smoking (ours..how ironic), and on and on It was a fun day.

Overwhelming 1st week

How is it possible to be overwhelmed after the 1st week of school? Well, I am. My micro class, as I'm quickly discovering, is going to take a lot of my time. I'm not worried about failing that class so much as I'm worried that the class is going to take time away from my nursing class and damage my grade. At this point I don't care if I get a C in both classes...I just want to pass. C= RN too as they say. SO far in 203 we've covered all of the lower GI and begun oncology/cancer. I have so much homework and 2 quiz's coming up in micro this week. I have my 1st nursing test over oncology and lower GI next Friday. I have gotten some of the homework done and plan on spending the weekend finishing it, studying for the quiz on Monday, finishing my GI and oncology notes and try to understand what in the hell I am reading at the same time. Overwhelmed....understatement.

My youngest son's 4th birthday is this coming Wednesday and I'm so excited for him. He's my little angel. I can't believe he is almost 4. It makes me want to cry. I loved his baby age and his toddler years and I'm not ready for him to transition into childhood. He's starting to speak like an adult saying things like....I'm angry at you mom and you're my bestest friend evew. Yes he says ever like evew. So cute! He told me the other day that he wanted some possibilities. I had no idea what he was talking about so he took me to the cabinet and pointed at the Campbell's Soup can and said see mom...possibilities. What a little doll baby! Don't ya just love those commercials? My twin boys, who are 10, both made the A/B honor roll and I'm so proud. One of them was one point away from straight A's....that teacher ripped him off. What a bummer. He has such a great work ethic. He comes home, begins his homework and never complains or has to even be told to do it. He's 10! When I was 10 I was hiding my homework in my desk and telling my teacher my dog ate it or that space aliens transported it to mars....or something else equally ridiculous. My oldest son is doing ok in school. He's in the 6th grade and I think that middle school is a challenging time for him. He hates to read so his reading class grade has taken a dive but the others are pretty good. I worry about him and his adjusting to so much independence and responsibility. In grade school you're held accountable for everything. ...we had to sign their homework every night and now he just says he did it all at school. Whatever...I wasn't born yesterday...I had those same excuses. Regardless, he is a pretty good kid. Spoiled, but good. My son will be 13 this year and I'm only 31. I had him young and it's as if we grew up together more than anything else. We argue sometimes like brother and sister and we're so much alike we often times clash. More than often. A lot. I don't know if it's because he's coming upon his teens or what but he's being such a brat. LOL He asked for a cell phone for Christmas and I was really hesitant...I mean come on!!!! "But everyone else has one!" SO of course I gave in but the gift came with restrictions....lots of them. It's going to be a rough road raising 3 teens at once and now that puberty is starting to rear it's ugly head I'm getting scared. I sometimes feel only 18 myself. lol I have to admit that I am a strict mom. All of my boys have game time restrictions, homework and chore rules etc... , but some kids are harder to mold than others. My oldest is definitely on of those kids. He thinks he knows everything and it cracks me up sometimes. The frightening thing is....sometimes he does know everything. He's an adult in a 12 year old body and always has been. Anyway.....that's my life being the mom of 4 boys. It's crazy, fun, hilarious and maddening but I enjoy all of it. Every single day I hear them say something or see something that puts me in a different perspective and it's nice. It wasn't long ago I was their age and going through the same feelings and things. I just hope, as all parents do, that I'm doing right by them and that they grow to be open-minded and well-rounded. I know they're compassionate and good...everyone tells me so and they're right ...they're awesome good natured kids, I just hope they become great men.

Sorry about the typos, I'm tired.

Peace....

1st day back

Yesterday was my 1st day back to school. The whole day seemed weird to me. The students were acting strange, the teachers didn't come across as very nice...it was just odd. I think the rest of the class were just as bummed about being back as I was. No one talked much and everyone acted grouchy. The teachers all knew our names and we never even told them. I think they have dociers on us and study them...seriously. The same thing happened last semester and I know they keep a picture of us on file because they took one 1st semester. We didn't do much really except get oriented to what we'd be doing this semester and we went over our care plans and what's expected of us at clinical. Today we had our clinical orientation. There are 7 of us in my group and they're all pretty cool, so hopefully this rotation won't be too bad. We are on a 40 bed, super busy medical/surgical unit of our hospital. The instructor seems a little scatter brained, but nice....so far. You never really know an instructor until you have clinical with them so we'll see. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Myself and another student had to leave early in the day to drive 30 miles back to school to attend our second class...medical microbioligy. The class is from 1-4 every Monday and Wednesday. I've heard it's the hardest of all the nursing pre-req's....can't wait! After this class I have one more pre-req to get and it's my humanties/elective class. I'll take it in the summer.....no biggie. If I could turn back time (Cher) I'd have finished them all before starting the nursing classes, but when I got the letter saying I was accepted I couldn't reject. For those of you who aren't in the program yet....finish your pre-req's first!!!
So far we've been given about 3 pieces of homework to complete and we have 2 quiz's next week in micro. This class is going to be really difficult. It's a lot of busy work that I don't have time for right now but I'll do my best and see what comes. Atleast I know I'm not alone and there are others in my class taking it as well. Isn't it awful that I'm glad I'm not alone? lol Misery loves company, or so they say. Our 1st nursing test is next Friday (lower GI and oncology), we haven't even had 1 hour of lecture yet....hopefully that's a good sign. Maybe there won't be much on the test. Yeah right! LOL Well..I must go get busy on my assignments. I've pledged to do everything the night it's assigned so I'm never behind. Good luck to everyone going down this road too!

Until next time...

Mr. CHF

Two more days folks. Two days until I go back through the gates of hell...nursing school. I drove to school the other day to pick up my books and the second I saw the school sitting on top of that hill I felt sick. Ugh. It looked all dark and ominous. Not a good sign. I hope I don't scare any of the hopeful nursing students away with my posts. LOL It's not that bad really.........well, yeah it is, but I promise it's worth it. Don't judge your school program by my own and don't take anything I say to heart because I'm really negative when it comes to school. I always get this way before a semester, so don't let me frighten you too bad. He he. Once I get there I'll be ok...I hope.

I have yet to complete my care plans... I plan on starting them tonight. Judging my my case studies I'll be up until the wee hours of the morning. Here is one of them:

A 85 yo man is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure.
Nursing assessment findings include: A & O times three. B/P 170/100. Apical/radial pulse of 130 and irregular. Respiratory rate 22 and shallow at rest with increase to 30 a minute and irregular with exertion of walking to bathroom. Oxygen at 3 liter per nasal cannula. Bilateral coarse crackles in bases anteriorly and bilaterally half way up in posterior lung fields. Heart sounds distant S1 S2. 3+ pitting pedal edema. Radial pulses 2+ and pedis pulses 1+. Extremities slightly cool to touch. Skin turgor loose over sternum. Requires assist of one with bath and help of one to ambulate. Weight of 170 on admit and noted 160 upon discharge one week ago. States “no appetite” and admits to maybe “one good meal” each day consisting of “some taters, ham and beans” with “some cola and coffee”. Lives alone. Daughter lives four hours away. Attends local church regularly. Denies regular checkups to family physician. “I go when I have a problem.”
Reports “I have only two vices. Smoking and a few beers now and then.” Does confirm when questioned that he has smoked 2 PPD for 45 years. This is his fifth admission in 9 months to the hospital for CHF. Admits he gets up “four or five times a night to pee”. Medications sent home with him last admit were: Lopressor 50 mg BID, Lasix 40 mg qam, vasotec 5 mg daily and nitcotine patch to wear daily. Diet to be 2gm Na.
You administered Lasix 40 mg IV at 8am and Lopressor 50mg po at 9am.
Initial labs results: HCT 31%, BUN 26, Sodium 136, Potassium 3.0.
Four days after admit: HCT is now 35%,sodium of 136, potassium 3.4 and the patient has lost 3 pounds.
Thinking question: Why was the initial HCT 31% and the potassium 3.0? Why did the sodium remain the same?

Okie dokie! I'll get right on top of that.

My first impression is that he has .....obviously...fluid volume excess r/t CHF..but I'm sure that's too simple of a dx for them. How about Impaired breathing pattern r/t CHF? I think the reason why his HCT is low is because he's holding onto all of his fluid in his extracellular space and it isn't in the cells, therefore he's dehydrated ( As evidenced by: poor skin turgor), low cell volume = poor O2 echange = resp rate of 22-30 (trying to compensate). The weight he gained is obviously because he's holding on to the fluid and the weight loss is because of the Lasix. Was he not taking his meds properly? Hmmm. The edema, crackles in the lungs and distant pulses are r/t the excess fluid. Anyhow, getting to the NA (sodium) and the K ( potassium). I have no idea why his NA remained the same. This stumps me. Normally if you have excess fluid you have a low NA. My critical thinking tells me (and what do I know, I'm only a student?) that because there isn't much fluid in the cells that the NA has shifted there, but that wouldn't make sense either really b/c it says it's NORMAL. Hell...that needs to be investigated. Listen to me trying to sound all smart. He he. Anyway..... I think the K was low because he's getting up all night to "pee", therefore losing the K. If it were me I would have put the man on aldactone because it's a K sparer instead of the lasix, but again....I'm could be wrong, I'm only a student. I think a secondary diagnosis would be noncompliance...seems as though he comes to the hospital to be corrected and is somewhat stable then he goes downhill again....but this is only an assumption and assumptions aren't to be made, according to our student handbook. (HA!) Well, here I have sat trying to work on my care plan all while blogging to you fine people. Maybe I'll do all of my homework on my blog so it won't seem like work, but fun.
I kid. Don't worry, I won't put you through the agony!

Incase you haven't noticed, I have updated this blog to make it look better. It was so boring before. I've also discovered how to add videos and I've become obsessed. I cannot stop adding them. Many of my videos are some of my favorite songs that hold special meaning to me...in one way or another. ;-) What would we do without music? I can be in a foul mood and listen to the Dead and feel better instantly. It's my happy pill.....music. Therapy for the soul. Sometimes we get so caught up with life that we forget the more important things. I admit that I do it often. So, when I feel disconnected I just pop in some tunes and heal my soul, and dagummit you should too!

My advice to Mr. CHF: Take one happy pill q day every day for the rest of your life...and oh...take your other meds as ordered, visit your phsycian regularly and stop smoking and drinking too!

Until next time....
Peace!

McSexy Pants

I was so busy complaining in my last post that I forgot to mention the new episode of Grey's Anatomy. Speaking of Grey's....check out those pics of McDreamy/Patrick Dempsey....Sigh! Need I say more? The images speak for themselves.

Now that I've regained my composure, let's talk about the episode. First of all..what's with all the lying/covering up on the show? Cristina lied about helping Burke...Burke lied about his hand...Dr Bailey and the chief are lying/witholding from George about his dad etc...etc... It seems like these people are always keeping something from someone and the something that they are keeping is going to create a lot of problems in the future. Did that make sense? Anyway, I feel so bad for George, he's going to be so hurt when he finds out about his father and what Miranda and the Chief did, but he knows what's going to happen...inevitably. He's a Dr and sometimes being a Dr or a nurse can be inconvenient because they know what can and will happen. Sometimes it's best to be ignorant. I wish George were ignorant about his dad's illness. I hate to see him struggle the way he is. I loved how Callie has stood by him during everything, she really does love him. I also loved the part where George was checking the catheter bag awaiting the urine and when it cam Callie and George jumped up and down all excited and then kissed eachother. Only people in the medical profession can really appriciate and understand how important that urine can be. It made me smile.

Izzy at the bank depositing that 9 million dollar check of Denny's.....she played that scene so well. I wanted to cry right along with her. It was as if that was all she had left of Denny and she was finally letting it go. Metaphorically she had to deposit that check so she could move on in her career and life now didn't she? I saw in the previews she was going to want to pay for that girls spinal surgery and Miranda was telling her not to get personally involved again. Sigh...oh Izzy, your heart is too big. The man at the bank was hilarious, he looked at her as if she was crazy and well, she kinda was in that moment. I think having that much money can sometimes be more of a burden than a relief. It comes with great responsability, I just hope she keeps some for herself. LOL

The Cristina/Burke thing was really cute and touching. She kept trying to get everyone to ask how his hand was doing for her because she was too proud to ask herself. He wasn't falling for it. They were both too stubborn to speak the first word because then the other would 'win'. I loved how at the end of the episode they were both just laying there staring at eachother, neither saying one word. It spoke volumes about their relationship...this is why I love the show. One look says more than words and Shonda Rhimes gets that and executes it with perfection.

Speaking of looks...the way that McDreamy looks at Merideth...he doesn't even have to open his mouth. His eyes speak volumes. I bet they could have a show where all he did was stare into the camera lens and people would watch and be just as intrigued as if he were speaking. His style is so subtle, but so moving. Sigh..again. I love him. When he and Mer were talking by the nurses station and she tells him about her abandonment issues and that he has to sleep with her from now on and all he says is 'ok'.....perfect!!!!!! They should sell him in a jar.

OMG..I almost forgot about Alex and Addison! I can't believe they almost kissed, I mean I knew it was coming, but it was still a shocker...the sweetest moment. I've never seen Alex so vulnerable. She asked why he left the plastics (or something) and he said...because he was mean to you. Awwww...what a softie. When he backed out of the room....hehehe.

If you haven't seen this episode or any of them...head on over to www.abc.com to watch all of them. If you aren't a fan now, then you will be. It's the best show on television.

If you haven't noticed I updated my blog ..I'm still trying to get it right. It might be a while as I havent' a lot of time.

Peace out.

Vent!

I got an email today from my instructors saying that we had 2 care plans to complete by our 1st day of class. We aren't even back to school yet and they're already loading us down with assignments. ARG!!! What if we pretended like we didn't get the email? What would they do about it? I don't want to spend my last few days of "freedom" doing care plans. Save it for clinical....geesh! Nursing instructors assume we don't have a life outside of school, not to mention other classes. Example: I am also taking micro this semester and my 1st day in that class is Wednesday and guess what? They scheduled clinical orientation on Wed from 6-5. Hello...some of us do have other classes! Our clinicals aren't even on Wed. they're on Thursdays....so why not have our orientation then when we are scheduled to do it? What do they expect those of us who have a Wed class to do...miss it? Anyway...I just needed to vent. I had my weekend all planned out and now I'll spend it doing those care plans....which I hate to do. Yes, I know it helps the nurse to think critically and all that other stuff...but save it for when we're back in school and you have my time because until the first official day of school I'm not yours! Maybe this is their way of preparing us for reality. Many nurses I know are called in on their days off and are made to feel crappy if they say no. I, however, will not feel bad about saying no, in fact I might not answer the phone at all. LOL Maybe I'll just play dumb and act like I didn't get the email...LOL That'd be nice, but I'm sure I'll complete them because that's the kind of slave I am.

While I'm already venting there are a few other things I need to get off of my chest. As part of our clinical hours we were told we had to go to the site the night before to get our assignments. This really isn't a problem for me because I happen to live in the town where I do my clinical...but what about the ones who don't live here? I go to school about 30 miles from where I live and a lot of the students who are actually doing their rotation in my city don't live here, meaning they will have to drive 30 + miles every Wed night just to get handed a piece of paper with their patients on it. Last semester we were emailed our assignments from our instructor. I just hope that I don't ever have a clinical 30 miles from here and have to drive there just to get my sheet of paper...I think I'd be extremely upset about it. There...I've said my piece. I'm finished venting and I feel better already....not really, but what can ya do?


Onto other things...I think my house is haunted. I won't go into details about the happenings just now, but I will say that my ghost friend likes to scare the crap out of me while I'm alone. Where are TAPS when you need them? I think I'll do a little investigating on my own and let you know what I find. I just hope that I don't hear or see anything. If I saw a full on apparition I'd lose all bladder control. On the other hand, I don't like feeling like something is there, but not seeing it either. I don't think the spirit is a bad one, but good or bad I don't like noisy invisible shit.

This reminds me of something comedian Mitch Hedberg says " I think Big Foot really is blurry, and a big out of focus monster roaming around the countryside is scary."

Peace

You Know You're a Nursing Student When...

Most of these I wrote from my own experience, but some of them I read elsewhere...either way, they are the common denominator among us students. Enjoy!


Your backpack is on wheels because it weighs more than you do

Your arms are toned from pulling your backpack

You can discuss a stage 4 decubitus ulcer over lunch and not think twice about it

You are like a kid at Christmas when you open your lab kit each semester and shriek with delight because you got a foley catheter this term

You have nightmares about your clinical instructor

You have nightmares you forgot to chart your assessment findings and clinical instructor gives you a big fat U!

You are standing next to a gorgeous guy and you think...he has nice veins.

You diagnose yourself with whatever ailment you're studying at the time

You secretly hope that your patient has high blood sugar so you can give an insulin injection

You study until 1:00am and get up at 5:00am to study some more

You can cry in front of your classmates because you've seen them all cry before too (men and women)

You look older than you did a year ago

You live off of coffee and snacks out of the vending machine

When two of the four test answers are correct but you have to pick the most correct answer (hate those)

You can eat breakfast, study for a test and talk on the phone all while driving to school

When Maslow's Hierarchy and Davis's Drug Guide becomes your bible

Your family members only visit if they have an illness

You can spot microscopic germs from a mile away

You check the expiration date of your Tylenol and you never did before

You point out all of the medical mistakes on television shows

You wash your hands before using the bathroom

You subconsciously diagnose everyone in your family

You shout "I'VE GOT BLOOD!" with joy if you get a blood return on an IV stick

You write everything in nursing shorthand

You hear a stranger cough up phlegm and not only do you assess it, but you instruct them to drink plenty of fluids and to turn, cough and deep breath qid

You have more ink pens than Bic, but most of them have drug names on them

You notice every person in a restaurant who is about to choke when no one else does

You mentally prepare the steps you'll take when they actually do choke

You praise Jesus silently when they don't and go back to your meal

You read license plate letters and they become medical abbreviations (HCT=hematocrit, SOB=short of breath, DKA=diabetic ketoacidosis etc...) and you wonder if the driver knows they have this problem. Ha!

Your patients look scared when they see your student nurse badge and that you're holding a needle

You assess your children's urine for color, clarity and smell

You witness someone wash their hands and turn off the faucet without a paper towel and you CRINGE!

Your laundry pile is competing with Mount Everest

You use your pen light to look down drains

When someone tells you how much they weigh and you mentally convert it into kg

You don't ask questions anymore that require yes or no answers, because it wouldn't be 'therapeutic'

You bend down to pick something up and you feel a strain and you shout "I think I pulled my sternocleidomastoid!"

You get excited when your patient has a big BM

Your classmates start to know you better than your own family

You and your classmates fight over who will get to put an NG tube in

You see someone with a blown up 'beer belly' and know they probably have ascites

When a friend tells you they're thirsty you reflexively assess their skin turgor and they yell OUCH!

You look at your paper cut and notice it is scabbing and think to yourself... epithelialization phase.

You forget what it's like to have free time....what's that?

You make a mistake in your lecture notes and you draw a line through it and initial it with the date and time

You let your classmates stick you because they need the practice

When someone complains of numbness and tingling in their feet you automatically wonder if they're diabetic

You get excited when you hear an S3 or S4 in someones rhythm

Your text books and supplies per semester cost more than your mortgage payment

You now know that Lasix and "water pill" are the same thing

Your kids and pets become your guinea pigs

You empty you lab coat and find alcohol pads, saline flushes, tape and gloves in them

Your backpack looks like a garbage can

You open doors with your back

Hearing rhonchi or stridor makes you giddy

And finally....you know you're a student nurse when: You're on a break from school and spend everyday thinking about all the work you'll be doing the next semester instead of enjoying your time off!

Keep on Keepin' On

It's late and I'm not tired. Ever since I've been out of school I've been on this weird schedule. I stay up late and want to sleep late and I hate sleeping in. I like getting up early and if I don't then it ruins my day. I hope I can get back on schedule by the time school starts in 11 days, 264 hours and 15,840 minutes from now. Yes, I'm counting...and dreading. I'm being pessimistic, I know, but without it I wouldn't survive. It's how I cope. I always feel dread before the beginning of a semester and I always think I'll fail all of my tests. Before every exam I proclaim that "I'm going to fail, I just know it!" Then I hear from everyone, "You always say that". Granted, I haven't failed a test yet, but someday I will and then I can look at all those people and say... I told you so! Ha ha. At least I can now tell people I'll be graduating this year, that's a positive right? Wonder how many minutes until then? Nevermind, I don't want to know.

Even though I'm going to hate going back to stress town I am excited to see some of my classmate friends again. They speaka my language and they know my pain. It's hard talking to civilians about this nursing school/boot camp life because they just don't understand it and I don't expect them to. You may as well be speaking Yiddish. Heck, half the time I don't even understand it myself. LOL If I had to explain it, I'd liken nursing school to jogging up a mountain for months at a time without stopping. At first you have some steam and you're moving at an ok pace. (This is usually over by the 1st day)You run into all kinds of rough terrain but you find a way around it. (Instructors, skill tests, 6am clinicals) As time goes on you feel like you've been running in the same spot for weeks.(Mid-term blues) You're out of energy and you're running on fumes. (Coffee and vending machine food) You look around and see your fellow classmates and they're all huffin' and puffin' right along with you and you keep on treckin'. (Looks like Jane may need some oxygen, she's way back there) Finally you start to see the top (I can only miss 10 on the final or else I fail the class!) and after another upward, rocky climb you finally make it. (Shew, I missed 9!) You collapse in exhaustion, but you're elated. You don't know whether to laugh, cry or hit something. (I did all three) You're just d*mn glad it's OVER! (For a few weeks anyway) You look down that mountain and see everything you accomplished all you surpassed to get to the top. (How the hell did I do that without medication?)And you then realize you forgot something at the bottom and have to go back....just kidding!

Ok, enough of my stories. Let me just tell all you people who don't think this is difficult and who like to compare it to "regular" college classes that you are just plain stupid....just kidding again...let me just say that until you have walked a mile in a nursing students shoes you should never say such a thing because it might result in a harmful injury.
Nursing diagnosis: Impaired mobility: related to being hit in the knee with a heavy Littman stethoscope.

He he he...THE END!

I'm gonna miss you sucka

Here's a picture of my clinical group, minus one. I think she was sick that day, anyway....that's our teach in the pink. She turned out to be a really cool lady, but I'm glad we won't be going back there. LOL The unit was great, but I'm ready for something else.

Well, I found out one of my nursing home girls isn't coming back next semester. (She's the one in the front, on the right in the photo) I'm sad about it, she and I had many a laughs and screw ups at clinical together. We could figure out how to draw up meds and give shots, but neither of us knew how to refill the coke machine/dispenser and we ended up with syrup all over our pristine white uniforms. Classic! It's nice to be around people who don't take their selves so seriously and she was my partner in crime. We'd always meet up in the hallway and tell eachother about the stupid things we did or said and laugh till we were in tears. Sometimes life throws things at you and knocks you off course, but everything happens for a reason. I wish her well and hope she goes back to school to finish someday. Peace out sista!

Happy New Year !!!!!

It's New Year's Eve y'all. Come midnight it will be 2007, I can't believe it. When I was young I always thought in the year 2000 we'd all be driving around in space crafts like the Jetson's had. I just drive a minivan. Ha ha! I envisioned us in silver space suits with helmets and cheap flights to the moon. Pretty ridiculous right?

Every New Year's we have went out on the town and partied it up. This New Year's Eve we plan on a nice quiet little party at our house with drinks and music and games. I guess that's what you do when you get older. LOL Plus it saves the frustration of getting a cab. The last 2 years we took a taxi out and it took the cab 2 hours after the party to pick us up. Arg! Needless to say the transportation dept in my town isn't well equipped and aren't the nicest ppl you'll ever meet either. I'm putting it nicely.

For those of you who are driving...be safe. No drinkin' and drivin' people.
p.s. call ahead a couple of hours for a cab!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's Christmas Eve Eve

I can't believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I love Christmas and all, but I feel more stressed out this Christmas than I normally do. Perhaps it has to do with the family. I love them and all but I can only take them in small, infrequent doses. Plus, I always feel so broke this time of year. Having 4 kids is expensive, especially at Christmas time. Maybe this is why so many people get drunk on New Year's...they're washing away their Christmas time blues. I also dread the taking down of the lights and tree. Ugh!
Anyway...
I finally finished my book Outlander. When I wrote the post about the book I was only 500 pages in. (See Outlander post). It was so good I can't even say, but there are some things about the book I forgot to mention such as....the violence. This book is extremely violent in some parts and I'm not typically squeamish, but DANG! What Black Jack Randall does to Jamie toward the end of the book is horrifying and it was really hard to read. I had to set the book down a couple of times to regain my composure. Also there was a lot of sex in the book , some of it violent and also hard to read. You have to read it to know what I'm talking about, but it's terrible too. THat kind of thing happened a lot in the 1700's though and that is what you have to keep in mind while reading. Glad I didn't grow up them. Ha!

Well, I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to all and I hope everyone gets what they want from Santa.

Peace out!

Craigh Na Dun (see Outlander post)

Go and and get ye this book Lads and Lassies

As often as I can I try to make time for a good read. And no I'm not talking about Medical Surgical Nursing either. I'm talking about a great story to get swept up in. Well, I have found it. The book is called Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. (www.dianagabaldon.com and www.amazon.com) I normally don't include my favorite books in my blog, but I felt I must tell you about this one. While shopping at my local book store I came across this book and noticed it was a mother of a book....a little over 800 pages long!!! I had heard from several people that this book was really good, but the size was daunting. (Don't let the size deter you, or the plot description on the back...it's much more than a romance, believe me!!!) Despite all that, I thought I'd get it where it would probably sit on my must read pile like all the others. So, being out of school and having some free time I decided to pick it up and take a gander. I haven't left the book since, except to tend to such things like eating and the occasional trip to the toilet. I know my family is about to go crazy, but I just can't put it down. It's been a long time since I have been this submerged in a book. This is the 1st of Mrs. Gabaldon's novels I have read and it won't be the last considering this is the 1st book of a series and judging by the reviews the entire series is fantastic. Let me just say that this book isn't just a story, it's an epic adventure full of romance, humor, passion, action, adventure, mystery, danger, magic and intrigue. How she pulled all of this off in one book is incredible. You will be spellbound from beginning to end and taken on a journey through the Scottish highlands seen through the eyes of Claire the heroine. Not one page is boring and not for a minute can I put the book down. This book is for men and women alike. Yes it has a lot of romance and some hot sex scenes, but it's so much more than that. It's perfectly balanced and written in the most honest way possible.

Ok, so here is the synopsis: Claire Beauchamp Randall was a British combat nurse ( go figure eh?) in the 1940's during World War II. The story picks up at the end of the war where Claire and her husband Frank are reunited after a 6 year long separation. Married in Scotland and separated shortly after, Frank , a history professor, was shipped off to war and Claire was left to nurse the sick and injured. They meet up once again for a second honeymoon back in Inverness, Scotland (the site of their marriage)to rekindle their burning flames and so that Frank can do a little family history research of his late descendants/ancestors. He makes a big discovery and finds that his great, great, great... (realllly great) grandfather was a captain of the British army in and around 1740's and he had a reputation of being somewhat of a dictator. Claire, being uninterested and bored by his research spends her days milling around the rolling green hills of Scotland collecting different plants and flowers for her own botany research (she's interested in the plant's healing powers). (Sounds boring? Well It isn't ...keep reading) She stumbles upon a great fairy hill and nestled at the top is a miniature'esque Stonehenge called Craigh na Dun. Fascinated, she tells Frank and they decided to venture up the hill on the next day. While upon the hill they discover some visitors. Frank recognizing them as Local "witches" coming to do some kind of ritual, hides himself and Claire so they can watch the ceremony without disturbing them. The women do some chanting in some native tongue and they leave. Frank surveys the site and can find no signs of anything different and they decide to go. On their way out Claire discovers a rare flower she'd read about and decides to come back later to get it. Later that evening as Claire is preparing for bed and Frank's return, the weather takes a turn for the worse with the wind picking up and the rain pouring down. Frank is walking up to the B&B where they are lodged and notices a man in full on kilt and everything standing outside staring up at Claire's window watching her. He asks the man if he can assist him in any way , the man walks away without a word and Frank notices despite the wind and rain the man's kilt and hair never moves and Frank swears the man dissapeared like a ghost. He gently questions Claire assuming for a moment that while they were apart she took a lover and she becomes immediately defensive that he would ask such a thing. Moving on....the next day Claire ventures back to the fairy hill in search of the flower. Moving between the stones she suddenly hears a loud noise such as shouting, buzzing, sounds of war as she's heard them before. Feeling odd sensations as though she's fighting an invisible force she finds herself on the same hill, in the same place but it's different. There is shouting and shooting and fighting. Claire witnesses men in red coats and men in kilts of a different time period and assumes she bumped her head or is on the set of a movie which she quickly finds out she is not when she is captured and almost raped by none other than Captain "Black Jack" Randall, realllly great grandfather to her husband Frank. Terrified and confused Claire struggles for her life and just when Jack Randall is about to have his way with her he's hit over the head and Claire is saved and captured once again and led off on horseback by none other than a real Scottish Highlander. This is where the story actually takes off and begins.

Claire finds herself in a real life castle surrounded by dirty, huge Scottish brogues and this is when she meets Jamie. (Sigh!) Sitting by a fire nursing a badly cut shoulder wounded from battle Claire sees Jamie and recognizes instantly that if she doesn't help him clean the wound it will become infected quickly and he could possibly lose his life. Watching some of the other men try and clean Jamie's wound with soiled rags Claire steps in and offers to clean and stitch his wound. Claire instantly notices Jamie's body is covered in scars and that his back looks as though it's been thrashed sometime in the past. Badly scarred and looking horrifyingly painful Claire makes no mention so as not to stick her nose where it doesn't belong. The men immediately recognize Claire as an asset, a healer and quite a bonny (pretty) one too. They are also more genteel than the English soldiers and realize she could be in danger if found by them again. They also realize she may be a threat as well because they recognize her accent as Sassenach (Outlander/English) and think she might be a spy of some kind. They decide to take her along on their long journey back to the Leoch (the home of the Mackenzie clan) so they can keep a close eye on her and to also let Laird Mackenzie (Colum) decide what to do with her. On the run from the English soldiers and other enemies of the Mackenzie clan they begin their long journey back to Leoch traveling in the shadows in constant fear of danger. Jamie MacKenzie Fraser is told to take Claire on his charge for the journey and to keep her safe. Along the ride Claire gets to know a little about Jamie and recognizes that he is as friendly as he is handsome. He thanks her for the mending of his shoulder and vows to keep her safe on their way to Castle Leoch. The friendship is instant, but also distant as there is a lot that Jamie doesn't know about Claire and a lot that he keeps from her as well. Throughout this trip to Leoch Claire does a lot of thinking and comes to the conclusion that some way she will escape and find her way back to Craigh na Dun so that she can somehow get out of there and get back home to Frank, but she will wait until the time is right and hopes that maybe the Laird of Leoch will help her get back. Deciding to keep her "secret" to herself she feels a little better knowing she has a plan. In the meantime finding a friend and protector in Jamie helps her ease her fears and take her mind off of her bizarre and frightening situation for the time being. Once they arrive at Leoch is when the story takes off and flourishes. Claire is welcomed at Leoch as a guest but is watched closely by the Clan upon orders of the Laird. And thus the story begins and no I haven't given anything away, but let me say that the love that develops between Claire and Jamie is real and pure and without those (whatever!) moments. There will never be two characters like Jamie and Claire again. They've made an impression on my heart forever. In fact, every character in this book is so meaty and rich that you feel as if you know them and you keep turning the pages to find out what happens with them next. As the story goes on Claire and Jaime discover that they are a part of one soul and this leaves Claire with all the what if questions and forces her to face herself and her future plans. It's interesting to see them on this journey through time travel and space. I don't mean to go on and on, but you must read it to become as engaged as I am, believe me...it's worth it and will never be lent out to anyone!

You either love it or hate it

You know how when you go on My Space to visit a friend's site and before you know it hours have passed and you've looked up everyone you've ever known and more likely than not they're on there? I love looking up the ex's. They're the most fun to look up because it helps you remember why you aren't with them anymore. I once dated a guy who refurbished Volkswagen Vans for a living. He still does it, I'm sure it's a very lucrative career. I remember our break up like it was yesterday. Everything was fine then BAM, no phone calls, no nothing and we were together for a
couple of years. He was out of my life as quick as he entered it. I had heard he joined a commune somewhere and is living off the land. I saw him about a year ago and he was hitting on me...the nerve of some people. It felt great to turn my back and walk away and never turn back. I also saw a lot of people I went to high school with.
Most of them haven't changed a bit. That is why I don't go to reunions. I have several friends from high school that I still speak to regularly. Why do I want to go to a reunion to see people I didn't like back then? Maybe I'll attend my 20th, we'll see.

As I was reading many of the My Space pages I noticed a lot of them had their likes and dislikes and I thought..hey what a great idea so I'm going to post mine. Ok....where to begin...let's start with the positive shall we?

What I like:
Getting hugs from my kids
Falling in love
Reading a fantastic book
Laughing till I cry
Deep conversation
Laying in the sun
People who are chill
Sunsets
Being alone
FLowers...especially daisies, orchids and lilacs
Peace
Seeing my kids smile
Passionate people
Peter Gabriel's song In Your Eyes
The Allman Brother's Soulshine (obviously)
Passing nursing school
Open minds
Road trips
Warm towels
Clean sheets
A fridge full of food
Teaching my children
A voice full of soul
Rainy days
Tie Dying t-shirts
A good cry
Hearing my husband's voice
Good manners
A great photograph
Connecting with my spirit
Meeting new people
Traveling to places I haven't been
Intelligent people
Cozy fires
Hot baths
Candles
Oprah
Being silent
My groovy music
Dancing to my groovy music
Caring for others
The colors white, blue, green and brown
A great kiss
Heartfelt moments
Being silly
Laughing at myself
Talking on the phone with friends
Learning new things
Feeling young and alive
Having money in my pocket
Shopping without guilt
Reading gossip mags
Looking into someones eyes and knowing they love you


Things I hate:
Rude people
People who make fun of the disabled or mentally challenged (GRRRR)
When one of my son's are sick
Fighting
Chewing with your mouth open
Getting bad grades when I studied
Studying
The colors orange, hot pink and mustard
Closed minds
Drunken stupid people
Being broke
People who can't drive
Feeling stuck
People who want you to listen to their beliefs but won't listen to yours
Fanatics
People who are uptight
Movies about Satan
Feeling sick and tired
Being alone
Plane crashes
Nightmares
Anything with ketchup on it
Vomit
The sound of a ringing phone
Bills in the mailbox
Weeds
Dirty dishes
Cave crickets
The end of a good book
Getting older
Feeling older
Not being good enough
Not getting enough sleep
Feeling hopeless
Confrontation
Not being heard
Not feeling validated
Punishing my kids
Marilyn Manson
Flying
Potty training
Being misunderstood
Racism
Know-it-alls
Waiting a week for my favorite show
Checking my email
Sending email
Dirty teeth
Feeling fat
Having buyers remorse
Smoking
Feeling neglected
War
Bill O'Reilly
Paris Hilton
Crime
An empty fridge
Conflict
and finally...I hate hate

Two Down, Two to Go

Well....nursing 202 is complete....CHECK! I'm officially half a nurse. How about that! As we go through this little thing called nursing school we learn that we live one moment, one test and one skill at a time. Every thing is an accomplishment that means we're on to the next accomplishment that gets us to the end of the semester. I missed 9 out of 80 questions on the final exam making an 88% , which is a B and I made an 87% (B) total for the semester...not bad if I do say so myself. Only two people out of 30 made A's in the class. They must have photographic memories or something. I think's it's almost impossible to make an A in nursing and if you do then right on!!!!!! Congrats Michelle and Denise....you rock sistas!!!!!! I wish I were one of those people who remembered everything that was said to me. I have a terrible memory. I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning, much less hours of lecture. Oh well....this is the brain God gave me...ha!

This past weekend was pretty much a nightmare. Everyone in my family had some kind of ailment and I had my final exam on Monday. I was stressing out big time. My youngest son was admitted into the hospital for dehydration. He had the terrible stomach virus for the second time since November SIGH! Bless his heart, he's better now and we're all still recovering, but getting there. My exam was 11:00 on Monday so I got to school at about 8:30 to try and study in some peace. As I sat in my car chugging my coffee, trying to wake up from being up all night nursing my kids back to health, I began to panic. I was reading all the material and it just wasn't sticking. My breathing became rapid and I couldn't gather my thoughts. My mouth was tingling so I automatically thought I was hypocalcemic and was experiencing tetany. LOL But then my rational mind told me I was hyperventilating. I tried my deep breathing and the more I did that the more panicked I became. Since when did I become so anxious about tests? I began to have test anxiety when I started nursing school, but this was the worst case I've ever had. I started feeling clostrophobic so I got out of the car and decided to go inside and find a quiet place to hide and gather myself. When I walk in the door I see one of my teachers doing some kind of relaxation therapy with a couple of other students and heard others talking about feeling like hurling. This did nothing to calm my own nerves. I ran into one of my first semester teachers Michelle and she must have noticed the panic on my face and began guiding me back to my happy place. She talked to me and helped me calm down and it really eased my mind and I owe her. God bless ya Michelle! I'm just glad it's over.

It's funny, when I would go to clinical and talk to the nurses about nursing school all they would say was...."it was difficult". They wouldn't say anything else. Maybe they blocked it out of their minds never to be thought about again and I can see why. I'm not trying to be a whiner or complainer, but this is the most challenging time of my life. If it weren't for my family and my nursing school buddies I don't think I could have made it this far. I'm glad it's over....until January anyway.

I am going to relax and spend a lot of time with my kids until I go back to school. Relax and re-energize....that's my goal.

Until next time.....

Merry Christmas Everyone!

The time has come

It's the end of second semester and I couldn't be happier. This semester has been like...wow. I'm studying for my final (comprehensive) exam and looking back on all we've done and I'm amazed at the amount of material we have learned. IV's, Trach care, NG tube, Central line dressing, blood administration, cardio, respiratory, ortho, lower GI, endocrine, diabetes and on and on and on. This semester was difficult, but I believe I'm coming away with a B. I'm fine with that. Getting an A in nursing school is incredible hard so I'll settle with my B thank you very much. Our final is tomorrow and I'm so tired of studying I thought I'd catch up on my blog. Tomorrow is the last day of school !! WOOT! Well, at least until January 18th...waaaaaaaaaahhh!!! :-( I'm going to get caught up on my housework. Lord knows it needs some deep cleaning. I'm going to spend time with my family and just enjoy the holidays and my free time. Next semester will be the most challenging yet. Not only will I be in NSG 203 (OMG!) I'll also be taking Medical Micro. Here is what my schedule looks like:

Monday: 10:20-12:20 Nsg Lecture
1:00- 4:00 Micro Lecture
Tuesday: no school

Wednesday: 10:20-12:20 NSG lab
1:00 - 4:15 Micro Lec and Lab
Thursday : 6:30-4:30 clinical
Friday: 10:20- 12:20 NSG Lecture

I wanted the Tuesday off in between my crazy Mon/Wed schedule. I hope this is something I can do...it's going to be hard doing both, but hey I took A&P I with 1st semester and I did fine so we'll see. One good thing..no skills in NSG 203...yay!
Next semester out clinical is on the neuro and renal floors. Should be interesting...I hope. It seemed like yesterday when I was beginning 1st semester, I was all skeered and anxious...he he he. Now I'm a pro and I see the little freshman come in looking scared and hopeful and I can't help but smile. They have no idea what's coming at them. I still think 1st semester is the hardest so far, only because it's new and you're trying to get organized and use to the grind. 2nd semester was definitely hard, the material was harder for sure, but 1st semester has all the Nurse Ratchet teachers...glad I don't have them anymore. Well guys, I hope all my fellow nursing students did well this semester and for those who are just about ready to begin let me give you some valuable advice.... don't get behind, manage your time, try to take deep breaths....it will be over soon and one other thing, enjoy it, you'll never have an experience like this again!
Peace for now...

Operating Room AKA for Gross!

I had to do my OR (operating room) rotation/observation last Thursday. I'll be honest and tell you it isn't something I was looking forward to. I'm not a big fan of surgery and all that that entails. I could care less and live happily ever after if I didn't get to sit in on a kidney transplant. I'm not a surgery junkie like some of my classmates. So we get there at like .....early in the morning....and we stand in the hall awaiting our nurse to tell us which surgery to go in first. The first one I went in was a breast reduction. The doctor (plastic surgeon) was an asshole, the anesthesiologist was a perv and the nurses were all hating on eachother. Just my 'observation'. It was a really pleasent room to be in...let me tell ya. There are a lot of horrors I witnessed that day, but I'll spare you because I don't think many people would believe it, I can barealy believe it myself. Anyway so the pt needed to be catheterized and the surgeon points at me and says "Shouldn't she be doing it? She's the student." Fine, no problem, this is the only skill I ever failed (then passed the second time) and I haven't even practiced it since last semester, but fine I'll do it. So the surgeon is standing there watching with his arms folded over his chest mind you (he loved trying his hardest to intimidate me that day). As if I wasn't nervous enough right? I get the kit open and do everything I'm supposed to and when I (pardon) spread the labia, I'm having a hard time finding the ...hole. I finally found it and inserted it and everything went fine....besides the fact that I felt I fumbled a lot. There's a first time for everything right? SO the surgeon says in a creepy voice... "Did you find the hole?" UGH! GROSS! ICK! WEIRDO! He was seriously giving me the creepy/pervy/jerky vibe all day.

I sort of stood back during the beginning because I've never seen someone cut open before with my own two little eyes and I wasn't sure how I'd react. I was ok, but every now and then he'd use a little thing to burn the skin and the smell was really bad. It smelled just like burned hair, because hair is, well, skin. I leanred that in anatomy. Ok so he cuts open the breast, removes the nipple (that part made me hurt). It took him 2 hours to remove 15 lbs of fat from the left breast. When he was finished sewing the breast back together he looked at the nurse, put out his hand and said and I quote... "Nipple". Not scalpel, not retractors, but nipple. Bejeezuz. It just sounded so foreign. Oh and yes it is true what you hear about surgeons listening to music while they work. The surgeon had his Ipod in there and kept screaming at the nurse to change the song. ie: "CHANGE IT, TOO LOUD, HATE IT!) What an arse.

Ok, so I'd had enough of "Dr. 90210" and decided to move on to something else. I was in on a hernia repair and a cyst removal on this one poor fella. The cyst was intact and it looked like an egg...it was wild how he brougt it out right from under the skin....cool. It was quick, and pretty interesting and the doctor was kinda pleasant. He really wanted me to get a good look and instructed me where to stand and stuff. The anesthesiologist was pretty cool too and kept asking me if I was comfortable. He asked me about school and the instructors, because he'd also went to my school, he asked me if I liked surgery etc... I guess he was trying to distract me from the horror of which I was about to see, but little did he know I'd just seen someone open up a breast, cut a nipple off and sew it back on. Classic first day.

So the nurse comes up to me and asks if myself and the other student who was with me if we'd like to see an AKA. I always thought AKA meant incognito or in other words. So she explains there is a pt who is having an above the knee amputation. Oh no, nuh uh, count me out lady. I can see a breast sliced, an abdomen hang wide open but to see an amputation..hell to the naw! My friend of course says yes because she loves all that gorry crap. Finally and after much persuasion I say OK! ARG!!! So I plant myself behind the nurse on a chair so I can't see a thing. I can see a little in between her and the surg tech and that's all I care to see. It isn't the cutting part, obviously I've watched that all day..it's the removal part. Kinda like the M & M's commercial...now you see it, now you don't and I didn't want to see anything NOT there anymore. Just weird! So they're dancing around and singing and talking about trivial stuff while I'm thinking that this poor person is having their leg amputated (already had one amputated) and will never walk again. Sad! SO the time comes to cut through the bone. Wow the femur really is as big as they say! The siatic nerve is huge too, it's as big around as a coaxe cable and it's white....that was really cool to see. The doc asks for the saw, I think it's called a bodey or a body or something. So the curiosity got the best of me and I watched a little of him cutting through. It really is like you see in the movies....blood and bone was going everywhere. So it was done...removed. Horror! I didn't want to see them take the leg away so I turned my head and low and be-friggin-hold the nurse had the leg in her hot little hands, turned around and dumped it in a biohazard bag.....RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!! I saw it...the whole thing go in the garbage. Just like that...there goes a leg. I'm forever haunted by that and will never eat a chiken leg again.

All in all it was an experience. Can't say it's something I'd like to do for a living. One reason is because I couldn't handle standing on my feet all day the way those in surgery do. My feet and back were killing me bu the end of the day. Seeing that AKA was something I didn't expect, perhaps if I did expect it I wouldn't have gone in and it is BY FAR the coolest surgery that any of my classmates have seen so that felt kinda good too. Oh and I forgot to mention that I got to intubate someone...very groovy.

I did pass my central line dressing skill...glad that's over. Now we have one more skill...NG insertion. We have 3 more tests....G.I., Endocrine and the Final exam. Seems like a lot in the next 3 weeks huh? I thought so too.

Until next time....
Peace

3 and a half weeks left!!!

Because of all my ranting and raving about Kevin Federline and President Bush I forgot to mention nursing school. Ok, so we're going over G. I. right now and we have our test over it next Friday, the 18th. This Friday....the 11th I have my central line dressing skill. Wish me luck y'all.

p.s the countdown is on....less than a month before second semester is over. Shew! It's be challenging, but doable and I'm more than ready for it to be over. I am not ready for 3rd semester so I am going to soak up every day I'm out of school. I'm really going to take advantage of my time off and be a bum for a while and I can't wait. I can't wait until Christmas. I love the music, the atmosphere, the shopping, the food. I love it all!!!! (Just don't love spending the money if ya know what I'm sayin'). Hope all of my fello nursing peeps out there have done well this semester and are ready for it to be over as I am. LOL!

Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas is my sanity back, my sanity back, my sanity back. Can't wait for you to visit. Will leave the cookies and milk by the fire.
Peace out!
Christy (yes, the same one who also wanted an Audi last year. Please don't dissapoint me again. )

Donkies, Elephants and Fed EX, Oh My!

Haven't we all dated someone or perhaps even married someone who was really wrong for us, and our friends and family tried to warn us? Did we listen? NoOOoooOOOOooo! Apparently Britney didn't either...UNTIL NOW!!! Well, hot damn, hallelujah! Britney Spears has finally left Kevin Federline!!! Yippy Skippy! We all saw it coming though didn't we? She had the baby, he's partying in Vegas with his friends, she's at home with the kids, he's out with his homies. C'mon K Fed, you didn't really think you could mooch off of Britney forever did you? He made me so sick. It was so apparent he used her for her money...what a phoney! I am so happy she dumped that loser so she can go back to being the Britney we all know and love. His album came onto the Billboard charts at #151. I know this sounds horrible to find glee in the fact that someone is getting a divorce, it's very sad for the kids, but don't you think they'll be better off? I mean it seemed as though she's raising them alone anyway. Yes, it will be hard for Brit because, well he was her husband, (SIGH)but she'll get over it like we all have before and finally find someone who is worthy of her. Let's hope this isn't a publicity stunt. My theory is she waited until his album was realeased to break the big news so that atleast he'd have some kind of income and she wasn't leaving him out in the cold. Don't give in Britney...you deserve better girl, we all know it and are glad you finally came to your senses. Wonder what K Fed will have to say about all this during his upcoming appearances to pimp his album. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.................

If you go over to TMZ.com you can check out the actual video of K Fed finding out he was soon to be the ex Mr. Spears. Unfortunately he finds out via text message, oops! Guess little Britney didn't let him onto this fact. Also glad she has an air tight pre-nup because this dude seems like a money grubbing BLEEP! Sometimes it's better that way....while they're away and out of the house. Change the locks Brit! Can't wait to see you back to your normal self.

Onto other, and possibly more important, news. The democratic party has kinda taken back congress and I luuurv it! My husband feels quite the opposite, but that it his problem now isn't it? Ha....just kidding. Seriously though, it is really hard being a democrat living with a die hard republican. Come to think of it, I don't know how this little oversight didn't rear it's ugly head until 5 years later. Where is Britney's mom when you need her? Just kidding again. I'm having a hard time coping with this war. The more I hear and see, the more I am frightened. Also, the more I hear and see, the less I know what to believe. The media has undoubtably manipulated us to believe one thing or another. Fox news for instance....Bill O'Reilly...that's all I have to say about that. I want to know what's really going on. I want facts, truth and justice. I mean...isn't that the American way? Isn't that what our country was founded on? I want to know what news channel and what newspaper is reputable and credible, but how are you to know, how does anyone 'really' know?

People....our President has lied to us. If the President of the United States of America can lie...then who can we trust? Well, as the coin says....God. Isn't he the only trustworthy one? I believe so.


Ok so I'm drifting off....I just think the world has gone crazy and having the race turn towards democrats atleast gives me some hope for our future. Now...if we could just get Borack Obama to run for prez all will be right with the world again. Let's hope and pray we can come out of this war with as few injured and dead men and women as possible and move forward. God bless to all the troops and their families.

Peace!

Trick -or- Tweak

So... it's been like forever since I've posted and a lot has happened. We had our cardio I exam and I made a B, then we had our cardio II exam and I made a B again. We had our second math exam and guess what I made? Yet another B. B...B...B... What can I say..I'm just average. Needless to say I think for NSG 202 I'll come out with a B. I don't ever see myself getting an A in any nursing class and that's ok with me. I don't know how your program is set up, but ours is one big ol' class. We don't have separate grades for pharmacology and etc...ours is all on one test and that's that. Not that I'm complaining or anything.

I think the last skill we had was trach care and suctioning. I passed both...shew! Our next skill, which is on Friday is central line dressing. It should be a piece of cake. I mean how hard can it be to remove and apply a dressing right?

In case you're wondering... that is me pictured on this post. I thought the picture was cool so I posted it. I usually hate...I mean hate photos of myself, which is why I never have any...this is the rare exception. I need photoshop. You know those celebrities don't look like they do in real life like they do in their pictures don't you? If you don't believe me there are several websites dedicated to before and after photos so google them and check em out. When I'm feeling really down and ugly I always look at their before pictures. It makes me feel better to know they are just like everyone else... Us! Wrinkled, blemished, imperfect. Hooray! For a while I thought they were aliens from some celestial planet where everyone had perfect skin and hair. Whatever.

I hope you had a good Halloween. It was cold here, but it was good. Nothing like getting candy to make you feel good. It's really odd though when you think about it. Knocking on strangers doors and begging for candy. Actually I had a lady, I think that's what she was because honestly it was a little hard to tell if she was a she or a he. Anyway, they asked me for money so she/he could get their diabetic medicine. Now, normally I'm a charitable kinda gal. I don't judge and I'm not a hater, but when someome comes and knocks on you door and is looking all paranoid, and acting really peculiar my first thought isn't that they need money for some insulin...if you know what I mean. This was on Halloween by the way, in the middle of the day when I was alone, which made it all the more odd and creepy. I didn't know if it was trick-or-treat or trick-or-tweak, cause this person was surely on somethin', I don't know what, but it wasn't good. I didn't give her any money, for one I had none, two I wouldn't do it anyway. When I told her I didn't have any and perhaps she should try the local health department she had the nerve to give me a dirty look. How rude! Needless to say, I was a little freaked out and kept my door locked until the kiddies came out later that night.

Jim Morrison was right...people are strange. Everyday I encounter some weird person. I live very near to a public park and let me tell you all the freaks come out at night. Tree huggers...literally, 16 and 60 year old pot smokers, 13 year old kids on their bikes at 10 pm with babies on their laps, one weird man who stares at the kids all day...I got my eye on him, people having affairs and oh believe me you can tell who they are. They act just as paranoid as the crack head who came to my door. (NO JUDGEMENT!) There is just always some strange walkin' around. My husband and I treat it as entertainment. Some of them come around like clockwork. "Come on honey, it's almost 11. Tree huggin' Mary should be on her way." He he he.

Grey's Anatomy was awesome this week. I'm beginning to love Alex more and more. I thought it was so funny how he was standing in the window eating that apple eaves dropping on Callie and McSteamy's conversation. His face just cracked me up! Will Bailey figure Christina out and what will she do? She knows what happened the last time she caught one of her interns doing the unethical on the job (Izzie and Denny...rip love) now she'll be forced to out Christina...or won't she??? Hmmmm.....this will make for some interesting television. I feel sorry for Bailey right now. Thinking that everyone thinks she's an incompitent doctor because of what happened with Izzie. Surely she can't let yet another intern get away with "murder" will she? Bailey knows now after she saw Christina writing on Burke's surgery board. So she's forced to make a decision. Shame on Dr. Burke for letting Bailey believe he didn't want her in his surgery. Shame, shame!! Shame on Burke for allowing Christina to cover for him to save his own ass. Frankly, after what he did to McDreamy (grabbing him by the neck) in real life and how he outed George in real life (calling him a f*g) I just don't like his character anymore. Pbbbblllllllltttt on him!!!! BOOOOOOOOOOO on Isaiah Washington AKA Dr. Burke!!! He's still hot though, can't change that. I think he'll kill someone because his hand isn't right and he'll be booted for using an intern to perform his surgeries and then ABC can write him off the show. Good riddance...sorry to all those Burke fans out there.

Poor little Izzie feeling all left out. I'm dying to know what she's going to do with all of that money. It had to be hard for her to have Merideth as her boss and for Merideth to be so bossy made it even worse. Yes Merideth was given a job...to watch over Izzie..BUT...Merideth is her friend and her roomate and so what if she talked to a patient...who's going to tell? If Mer is a good friend she'll let some things slide and not be so suck upy. Is that a word? No it's not, but it is now. ;-)

George...he just wasn't ready to "catch" Callie even thought he was chasing her was he? Poor George. That's all I can say. He just doesn't know what he wants. Ham and eggs George, Ham and eggs!! Are you the chicken or the pig?

I knew that Alex was going to love the Gynie Squad. I think he'd make an awesome baby doctor...awww.

I think McDreamy made the right move about taking some time. He really needs it. His sister really was McBitchy too. I love how he told her about Addison and he told her to finish her dinner and shut up....basically. LOL. Loved it!!!!!!!!

Well..I'll try not to wait so long to post next time. As if you all are waiting with bated breath right?

Till' next time.......Peace, love and happy nursing.

Ghost Hunters

One of my favorite shows is Ghost Hunters which airs on the Sci Fi network on Wednesday nights. I absolutlely LUV it. For those of you who don't watch, it's a "reality" show that follows a group of investigators from New England trying to "debunk" hauntings. What I love about this show is that it isn't all cheesy like that other haunted show where some become posessed and all of that other fake malarchy. These guys are ligit, they're trying to disprove that places are haunted and most of the time they do disprove it and find other reasons for the supposed sights, sounds, smells etc... A lot of the time, they don't find it isn't haunted and those shows and their evidence is proven and legitimate. It's awesome. The 2 main investigators Jason and Grant who formed TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) began their ghost hunting investigations because of separate unexplained experiences they had of their own. They're both best friends who work for Roto Rooter as plummers so they use that expertise to debunk a lot of investigations that are caused by gas leaks and pipe issues that I don't know anything about. Ha. The show is aweome and I think anyone who likes paranormal things like I do will love this show. One of the shows that sent chills up my spine was the lighthouse show in St. Augustime Florida. You can actually hear a woman's voice say "help me" and you can see an apparition lean over the balcony..it's wild. On Halloween theyre having a 6 hour live broadcast in the real Shining Hotel which is said to be haunted. They've been there before and it is really creepy. So check it out. The show is also funny because of the chemistry between the investigators and you get to know a little about their lives. So watch and enjoy. I'll be posting my thoughts on the show on Thursdays. You can see a lot of video footage from the show on the sci fi networks's website and at the official TAPS site.

Peace out Denny Duquette

I watched Grey's Anatomy last night and had to comment on it. First of all what's with the story that Dr. Burke grabbed Dr. McDreamy by the throat...in real life on the set? That is seriously dissapointing. I hope this doesn't cause either of them to quit, that would really suck.

I thought last night's show was great. It felt like our old Grey's. My favorite moments...Merideth being drugged up on Morphine embarassing George, poor George. I'm glad he and Callie are calling it quits though...he just doesn't love her. You can't make someone love you Callie!!!! Merideth saying she had all her boyfriends in the room. Ha ha ha. That was cute. I was so sad to hear Denny's voice again. I just loved him so much and when she opened that envelope with that check for 8.7 million dollars I about died! I was starting to get really angry though when his dad implied she was only after his money. GRR! But all was well with that in the end. Who could be a more perfect man than Denny? No one...that's why I'm still mad he's off the show. Moments I didn't like....Derrick telling Merideth he was letting her go. After all of that you're letting her go to be with the better guy? Yes, it's probably what he should do because it's the right thing, but make up your damn mind! Then Merideth let Finn AKA McVet go because she knew in her heart she woulnd't ever feel the way about him that she does about Dr. Sheppard. Sigh! Goodbye Finn....it was fun while it lasted. Now what? Merideth and Derrick go back to the loving looks across the room, the hospital bed trysts, the flirty back and forth banter? I hope they take this is a good direction because we're ready for some changes. What's with McCocky McSteamy? Is he arrogant or what? I was kinda mad that he treated Alex like that, even though I always thought Alex was the most arrogant of all the interns. McSteamy is definately the cockiest of all. I'm tellin' ya, Alex is going to give up the plastics and go for the va-jay-jays...I know it. I wonder if he and Addison will hook up. Hmm....speaking of our dear Addy...I thought it was cute how Addison took up for Merideth and as soon as she told him (Sheppard)not to hurt Mer he waltzes in and does exactly that. Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! McSteamy and Callie hook-up...totally unexpected, but what is expected on this show? I'd like to see how that plays out. Is she going to become all obsessed with him too? I can't wait to see Izzy back on the floor. She needs to be there because that's where she belongs. Now that Derrick gave up Merideth I think the show will get interesting. I can't wait to see how it unfolds. Until next week....

I know what's going on inside my cells...do you?

It seems like forever since I've written a post. First of all..I passed my trach care and suctioning skill with no problems. Surprisingly, a lot of people didn't pass that skill. I think one of the main problems was their elbows roamed over their sterile fields while they were laying the drape down. For those of you who know what I'm talking about...don't you hate those sterile drapes? It's never laying in the box with a perfect corner to pick up. You're always left to feel you're playing that fun childhood game Operation. You just know the moment you touch it in the wrong way a buzzer is going to go off... BAAAAHHHH ... and you're doomed. Not to mention while you're taking it out and preparing to lay it down in just the right fashion you have to be concious not to let you arms or elbows cross over that kit. What a nightmare. This is why I would never make a good surgical tech...I'm a hand talker, I'd have everything so contaminated I'd get kicked out of the OR.

I'm on fall break this week... yay, but it's almost over....boo! We have our cardio test on Wednesday and I made a plan to study all week long and strive for an A. Did I study all week? Um...no. I decided last Friday I'd atleast give myself the weekend off, that's fair right? Monday came and I decided I'd begin on Tuesday. Tuesday came and my family started to hound me..."aren't you going to study?" So FINALLY on Wednesday I began and I wish I'd started on Monday. Oh well, can't turn back time.

This next test is going to be a booger. It is the first cardio test of 2. It covers the basic anatomy and blood flow of the heart (wish I'd paid more attention in A&P), then it moves on the how the signals travel (sa node, av node, bundle of HIS, purkinge fibers etc...), then diastole, systole, preload, afterload, meds, blood pressure, EKG interpretations and so on and on and on and on and on. I'm diggin' this EKG interpretation business. It's so very cool. Things are kind of starting to come together as far as how our cells work then onto more of the body functions. I feel things clicking around in my little brain, but not quite yet ready to put it all in an orderly fashion. Someday maybe, someday. I was talking to a classmate/friend and we were talking about the NaK pump (that's sodium and potassium for all you regular folk) and how the meds have an effect on it and how fluids and electrolytes have effects on our cells and we started to actually sound like we knew what we were talking about for a moment. I think I'm going to have a t-shirt that says...I know what's going on inside my cells...do you? Ha! Let's just hope I pass this test.

There are only 7 more weeks left in this semester. I think we only have a couple more skills left too. Woo hoo! I can't believe that this time next year I'll be preparing for graduation and once that day is over I won't ever have school work again. I can't imagine my life without studying and school work. It's going to feel so foreign, but oh sooo good. BUT that is far away and after this semester is complete I'll beginning 3rd semester. I hear 3rd semester is the hardest of them all. One thing is... we don't have any skills at all. Right on. On the flip side we have more tests. I've heard it's something like one a week. Bugger! I also have to take medical micro along with next semester. May the good Lord help and keep me during that difficult time.

Speaking of our trach skills I must tell this story no matter how utterly humiliated and embarassed I feel about it because it's going to go down in the quote book hall of fame by being the stupidest thing ever done....EVER! Please understand that this was perhaps the biggest brain fart moment of my life...try not to judge. Ok...so it was two Wednesdays ago, (the same day we got checked off on trach skills), the night before clinical, and I was writing a paper/speech about diabetes I had to give the next day at clinical. My friend/classmate calls and asks if I got the patient assignments for the next day, I told her I did. I noticed her pt had a stoma from a trach, but no appliance and she was on a soft diet... applesauce, jello etc... So she asks me....if I feed her that applesauce will it come out her stoma? I was like....oh my gosh, I don't know!!! And we started to laugh hysterically, one reason is because we were both exausted and delerious, which made us giddy as all get out, another was because we truly didn't know the answer to this and we got a mental picture of this happening and what would she do if it did? SO I tell her...you'd better look that up on the internet because you definately don't want to ask Nurse Instructor Intimidator, she'll think you're crazy. So we finally caught our breath enough to say goodbye and get off the phone. My husband comes upstairs and asks me what in the world is so funny because I was crying at this point. I told him, he didn't get it and off he went. About that time , still in my delerious, don't even know what I'm even laughing at at this point but just can't stop state, someone knocks on my door. I answer it and there stands a lady all decked out in her blue scrubs with a name badge on from the hospital where I do my clinical rotation. Her name says Christy...RN. Funny thing is, my name is Christy too. My first thought at seeing her is ....who told you? I'm so glad you're here..I need your help. LMAO! I have no idea who she is, but she's looking for her son, who happened to be at the neighbors house. I introduce myself, tell her my name is also Christy and I'm in nursing school. (She also says she's my neighbor and we exchange pleasentries.) I thought it was ironic, judging by the look on her face, it wasn't and I'd done lost my mind, because I was giggling for no reason at all. Now that I think of it, she probably thought I was laughing at her or something. SO she leaves to go to the neighbors in search of her kid and in the meantime my husband comes upstairs and askd who it was, I explain and he says...well why don't you go ask her that question, she's a nurse, she'll know. I say...great idea. Bad mistake....bad, bad mistake. So I trot outside, for some reason I had my cell phone in my hand, and I yell at Christy to come over and that I had a "nursing" question. I know what you're all thinking...what an idiot...and you're right!! We had just had our trach skill that day and when my teacher asked me why I was even doing it, I told her to keep the airway patent. Meaning....clear and free of secretions, bacteria and not to mention FOOD!!! This was a serious DER moment and I don't know what in the hell either of us was thinking. SO there we stood on the sidewalk and I was about to ask her when my cell phone rang. I looked down and low and behold it was my friend who happened to have the patient I was going to ask her a question about. I answer and tell her to hang on a sec. So I ask nurse Christy if someone has a stoma that hasn't yet healed and you feed them, will the food come out of their stoma? I hear my friend on the phone yelling wildly but think nothing of it. Nurse Christy looks at me and says in a strange voice with a strange look in her eye. "Well....it shouldn't." So I thank Nurse Christy and she turns to leave and when I turned back she was gone....gone as fast as speed could take a person on foot. How peculiar. I get back on the phone with my friend and she's laughing so hard I can't understand her and then she explains to me that she realized that a stoma from a trach isn't anywhere near where they eat..it's in their airway! Of course you don't have food in your airway. I told my friend who I was talking to and the irony of her coming to the house. It all dawned on me and I laughed so hard I about peed my pants!
I laughed because I knew that but wasn't putting two and two together. I laughed because we'd just passed the skill. I laughed because my friend was laughing so hard that I couldn't hear sound come out of her anymore, I laughed because of the nurse coming to my doorstep with the same name as me, I laughed because of what I'd asked the poor woman. I laughed because it's good to laugh at yourself then we laughed some more. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life! Of course I had to call up my other nursing school buddies and tell them and I laughed so hard I could barely get the story out and they laughed just as hard. It was all a very hilarious, stupid moment I'll definately never forget and oh did I forget to mention that my buddies made me recite this story to nurse instructor intimidator the next day, before I gave my speech mind you, and believe it or not...for the first time we actually heard nurse instructor intimidator laugh and smile. I've now renamed her Nurse Instructor Sense of Humor. That was a great clinical day. I told you it was going down in the books. I can't wait to read about all of these funny happenings at around graduation. What a hoot. Oh and by the way...the lady had her applesauce with no obstruction and no problems. Ain't life grand?

Until next time people.....

Nursing Student Mess Ups and Other Funny Stuff

How does one get organized at clinical? I always strive for it, but it never seems to work out the way I planned. The night before clinical we are emailed our assignments. I look up all my drugs and do a little research on my pt like a good little nursing student. I get my clinical bag together, make sure my uniform is nice and neat, I even go so far as to write down all the things I need to do for my pt in the morning. I also have a whole page to write down the report from the nurse, but by the end of the day I have little notes chicken scratched all throughout my note pad. I feel like I'm on a scavenger hunt skimming through my note pad searching for whatever I wrote in haste. Sigh! I really need a system, a plan. I feel like I'm running in and out of the room, doing this and that all day while the regular, real nurses sit at the nurses station chatting about their kids and having coffee. They're all really great nurses, and they probably are able to have coffee because they, unlike me, have a system. They do all of the same things I do, but they just have it all together. I guess that comes with experience.

Me and my nursing student cohorts have done some of the stupidest things ever during clinical. Really hilarious sh*t. Really stupid stuff actually, but all you can do is laugh....and write it all down so we can all laugh at it later. Yes, that's right...I'm writing all the little stupid things we've said and done down so we can all look back at graduation and laugh at ourselves and our inexperienced ways. Here are some examples: 1st day of clinical (2nd semester) I was told to empty a pt's catheter bag & record her output. Fine, no problem. I go into the room, look at the bag and realized I've never emptied one before and have no idea how to do it. Of course I'm not going to get my instructor...are you kidding? She would have looked at me like I was an alien...a really stupid alien. I actually know how to insert a catheter, I passed that skill, but couldn't empty the bag...boy did I feel like an idiot. I did figure it out, but it was still one of tose "Der" moments.
Stupid moment # 2 a friend/classmate was told to hang a piggyback bag and she was with the instructor and said..."Oh, I forgot the hanger thing." Instructor said "Why? You don't need it." Student "Why not?" Instructor: "Because it's on a pump." I about died laughing, but kept my reserve until I could write it down. They all know I'm doing this by the way and think it's a great idea. The reason this was so funny was because we never practiced IV piggybacks with a pump at school, we always calulated our own drips and hung it because it was running on gravity. Obviously you don't need to hang it higher than the primary bag when it's on a pump. We all got a good laugh out of that. Nursing student # 3...was about to prepare med ( injection ) in front of instructor. She got out her syringe, had her vial of medicine, took off the needle and threw it in the sharps container....before she drew the med. LOL Instructor was like...where'd that needle go? She was just so focused on throwing that needle in the sharps container...bless her. I have to admit, nurse intimidator has become nurse patience. She has to have some to deal with the likes of us. Ha ha.

Well, that's enough clinical horror stories for now ...I'm sure there will be plenty to come later.
Until next time....