study study study!

Since we didn't have a clinical last week, I took advantage and studied my heart out! Trying to catch up on the Unit 2 study guide, just so when October gets here, I won't stress too much. Its hard to manage other things besides nursing, when I feel like its all I need to think about. My parents were here for the football game this week, need to figure out financial stuff, need to get an oil change, clean my room. : ) just little things that aren't priority that I still need to finish. Here's to a new week!

midterm already?!?

Today was our midterm exam, this four weeks has really flown by!! I did alright on the exam, but as always I think I can do better. As Mrs. Demelio said in class today, success is being better today than you were yesterday. My study technique was over-using my highlighter, I highlighted the chaper, the course objectives, and my notes, which really helped key points stick in my mind. But I also used our Fundamentals Critical Thinking book, it was on the book list, I'm pretty sure. Talking to some of my classmates, they didn't realize what that book had. I would say it helped me the most, which sections of critical thinking type questions (like on the test) and reasons why each answer was wrong and why each answer was correct. Definitely going to be a main source of my studying for the final exam! As for this week, my clinical is on Friday, and I am a little more nervous than last week just because we are doing more care with the patient. Hopefully all will go well!

first day of clinicals!

Today was the opposite of what I was expecting! I came in really nervous for the unknown and stressed for the 8 hour task ahead of us. I even decided that my goal was going to be getting over my fear of talking and responding to a patient. But getting there and meeting my patient changed my mind immediately! I know this will never always be the case, but I found it really easy to talk and start a conversation and ask questions to someone I've never met. We spent breakfast together, went to the hair salon, and attended an exercise class. My patient was very independent but also very willing to share with me her stories! The one thing I found difficult was to initiate taking the vital signs. I was reluctant to get in my patient's personal space, and afraid of hurting her frail arm with the blood pressure cuff. All was well in the end, but getting over this fear was something I hadn't expected. I plan on practicing taking vital signs with more and more people, so next week, this won't be a problem.

2nd Week

I almost feel like this is too good to be true, and I don't want to jinx anything. But these first couple of weeks have been really easy! It scares me because I've always expected to be thrown into nursing school with immediate 50 hour study weeks. Because of this, I've been reading and re-reading everything, taking everyone's blood pressure, and trying to find things to study!! I dont want to be caught off guard for when lectures and labs start to pick up the pace. But I definitely can't wait : )