The Dreaded Guillotine

The biggest thing I was dreading when I started nursing school was the infamous dosage calculations test. Every school approaches it differently, but at mine? You have to get 100% in three tries, otherwise you fail, your clinical and have to start all over again. I took my first one on monday. I made some seriously stupid mistakes. A couple I completely understood, if I had actually made that mistake, I could've killed someone. Today I took my second try. I made one mistake.

Now, I understand why I got it wrong, but it was one of those situations where you have to assume something you'd never assume on the floor. If this was my final chance, I would seriously raise some hell, but it wasn't. Tomorrow is.

I'm trying my hardest to be calm about this, but given what I could lose, I feel like I'm just sitting around waiting for the blade to drop. I've never been in a situation like this before, and I most certainly hope to never be here again. I guess the best thing to do now is to look back on why I wanted to put myself through all this in the first place:

        I love helping people and being there for others. I want to be on the front lines helping those that can't help themselves. The greatest thing in the world as a nurse is not necessarily saving lives, although that is a great bonus, but having the knowledge that you made even the smallest difference in someone else's life.

        I love learning this stuff. Anatomy and physiology was probably my favorite class, next to chemistry. Once I was in nursing school, though, that topped it all. It's amazing the amount of skill and knowledge a nurse needs to know. I always tell people, once I graduate, they better hand me my PhD! ;)

       Easton Friedel and all suffering children/babies out there. They always say, when looking at death, its easier to see an older adult suffer and die then a child, mainly because of the idea of fair and justice. When an 80 year old man dies, we justify it by saying he'd lived a good long life. When a 2 year old child dies, everyone is outraged and demands to know why, because the child had barely started their journey in life. I see it that way, and yet I don't. I see this more as heartbreaking to watch someone suffer and die who doesn't even know what's going on. Whether they are a baby, or an 80 year old dementia patient, they all suffer more, because they can't rationalize what's going on in their heads. For me, that's why it's so hard to watch a child suffer and die. I want, more then anything, to one day work in the NICU. I want to be on that front line and help someone who truly can't help themselves in any manner, nor understands what's going on.

No matter what happens tomorrow, no matter the turnout, I tried my hardest, and God knows I will not go down without a fight!

My first unconscious break down!

I had my first real stress breakdown last night. This morning we had our first real big nursing exam. It was our third exam, but this one covered urinary and bowel elimination as well as nutrition. All of these topics were fairly heavy and we also had our first prioritize question. Well, last night I had been up studying, but my son was having a bit of a rough night, so I figured I should get some sleep just in case he decided to wake up. 

Well, I ended up having a horrid nightmare. I was in clinicals and I was in my patients room by myself. I couldn't really see my patient because they had a book they were reading from, which turned out to be my fundamentals text. She started asking me all these really strange, what I assume were supposed to be, test questions. I mean REALLY weird. One that I remember was you walk in and your patient is covered head to toe in diarrhea, which janitor do you call? Yeah, that weird...

So I'm stressing over these questions, trying to get them right and all of a sudden people start trickling in from no where. They're all people I know, from class, instructors, even family members were coming in until the room was nearly full with bodies. My mom came up next to me and asked me if I was taking it well. I turned to ask her what she was talking about, when all of a sudden my patient started coding. I turned back to find that my patient was my grandma who had passed away from cancer some years ago.

I attempt to jump up on the bed to start CPR, but a couple of the students and my instructor are holding me back. Across the bed is Dr. Cox from scrubs (yeah, I'm a scrubs nerd) and he's holding a sign with the letters DNR. That was about the time I fell out of bed...

I'm telling you this story more for my own sake. For the most part I can deal with death, or so I think so far. We'll see what happens when I'm really faced with it, but what will be really hard for me to deal with is getting a patient with a DNR order and being forced to just walk away when something could be done to save them. Knowing they lived a good long life won't necessarily make it any easier, but it would sure help...I guess it's just nice to know I'm still just a human being dealing with things most of the world donesn't have to face on a daily basis. 

We'll just continue to go one day at a time. I don't look forward to this situation, but I know the day I'm faced with it will be a big learning day for me, as well as something to grow on as a nurse, and as a human being.

~THE Future Nurse Moudry

Going to College with Kids

As always guys, if you have any suggestions for videos/blogs or comments you want to add as well as questions, feel free to comment below!

My first week!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

Remembering To Live...

I started watching Scrubs for the first time the other day. I don’t usually watch medical shows like that, just on the basis that most portray doctors and nurses in a bad light. This one certainly does on occasion, but I stumbled upon one of the best episodes I’ve seen in a long time for a TV show. In the first season is an episode titled “My Old Lady.” If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend you jump on youtube, Netflix, or find somewhere to rent it. It follows the three main doctors as they make their own life discoveries on death in their own unique way. I won’t go through all three, but I do want to hit on J.D.’s experience.

                For those of you who aren’t familiar with the show, J.D. is the central character you follow in the series. He’s an intern at a teaching hospital and quickly finds that being a doctor is not what he thought it would be. In this specific episode, J.D. finds himself with a 74 year old woman whose family immediately starts to berate him for his age and seems to be very domineering in the woman’s care. The old lady tells him he needs to be assertive and tell them to leave, which he manages to and finds he really likes her company. He finds out that her kidneys are bad enough that to keep her alive, she’d have to go on dialysis. When he goes to tell her, he finds that she’s left a note informing him that she went to the park.

                Arriving at the park, J.D. is welcomed by a large party for the old lady’s 5 year old granddaughter. She convinces J.D. to let her stay until the candles are blown out. When they get back, J.D. informs her of her situation, at which point she tells him she doesn’t want dialysis. She’s simply just ready to die. He’s completely taken aback by her answer and insists there’s something he can do. He looks at it legally, ethically, and eventually finds himself in her room reading off a list of things he believes everyone should do before they die. Making it to the end of the list without a single thing left for this woman to do, he begins grasping for anything to make her change her mind. Then this transpires:

Woman: Listen, Dr Dorian, there is not one thing I regret as I lay here right now. I'm ready. I really am.

J.D.: You have had an amazing life. Good.

Woman: Now we agree. Aren't there other patients you need to be seeing?

J.D.: Me? No, I've been off for two hours.

Woman: So with your precious free time, you've been talking to an old lady. What about your list? How many have you done? For that matter, how many times have you sat on the grass and done nothing? You need to start taking some time for yourself. Promise me you'll do that.

J.D.: I will.

Woman: Good. Now, get outta here. Go on.

J.D.: I just wanna check out a few things before I get going.

Woman: Are you OK?

J.D.: I'm scared.

I believe that this is the heart of nursing right here. You hear so much about the nurses that take care of their patients, the ones that meet their every need. We counsel them, educate them, and even hold their hand when they’re scared, but it isn't always like that. As a nurse, I believe that as much as we will teach and comfort our patients, our patients can teach and comfort us. In that brief moment, J.D. let down his guard and admitted being scared of this woman’s death, and death in general. It’s not an easy concept for anyone to come to terms with for anyone. It’s one thing to read about it, but it’s a whole other ball game to come face to face with it, even in a woman who is fully ready to say goodbye.

                I personally have not faced death. I’ve lost relatives and friends, which has been hard to deal with, but I’ve never met it face to face. The best thing we can do is evaluate our own lives. We should consider ourselves lucky. It’s not every profession that gets a reminder to get out and live!

What are your thoughts on death? Have you faced it yet? What was your experience like and what knowledge did you gain from it?

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

Surviving Anatomy and Physiology

I've already done a post on Anatomy and Physiology, but I wanted to show you guys my notes and books to give you a more visual look at what I did to get through.

If you have a topic you want me to address, let me know in the comments below! I'll do my best to get any topic up in a timely manner!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

Orientation and Supplies!

I made it through Orientation last week and caught my experience on video! In my car even! I have to say, I don't think I'll ever get used to talking to myself in public places...

Part 2! Which goes through the rest of my supplies!

Hope you enjoyed! Good luck to those going into nursing school this semester, those who have been in nursing school and those trying to get in and going through prereq's!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

Great Advice!

I discovered a wonderful youtube resource! A woman, who is older and has a family, has a channel walking through people through her nursing journey. She has some AMAZING advice! There are 3 videos with her going through what you can do to prepare before starting nursing school as well as what to expect when you get there. She also is nearly done with a 4 part series on how to prepare for clinicals and what to expect there. Her videos are very thorough and she always seems to think of EVERYTHING! Check her out if you're nearly there, and I'll do some updates later on and let you know how her advice has worked for me, since everyone learns differently.

 http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5_t5CWfXFZ38IKqav1RFzw

Make sure you take notes! She gives you a lot of really useful information!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

My first Vlog in a Blog!

Just going through some of my supplies and books. I am sorry about the background noise from the kids, but really, anyone following my blog will likely have kids and understand, right?

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

End of the year update, and new year ahead!

So, I just realized that I never really went into how the year ended. I did manage to get the lowest score on the test and still get an incentive. I got a 63% on the HAPS, which gave me an automatic B+ in the class, which is good, since I would've flunked it with the professor I had. She was good, but very tough. Overall I did really well and ended with a 3.8 gpa for the semester.

Now it's just a waiting game. I worked as a tutor over the summer and now have a little time off before nursing school starts. My orientation is August 15th and I start on the 19th. I will hopefully have a video up for you guys either today or tomorrow going over the books and supplies I have so far, as well as introducing you to my wonderful children! :) There will also be a follow up video detailing the rest of my books and supplies as well as orientation. 

I'm super excited guys and I can't wait to finally start this long journey. I really hope someone finds this helpful in some way or another. 

Keep on going guys! We're almost through the calm before the storm! Let's be ready!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

End of year 1

I'm wrapping up my first year of college. Tomorrow is the start of finals week, and I'll begin it with a bang. I'll be taking the HAPS exam, for anatomy and physiology. For those that haven't heard of the exam, it's a nationwide exam given to students who have finished both semesters of anatomy and physiology. It's fully cumulative, so it covers every last detail you learned in 1&2. Because of this, it shouldn't be surprising that the national average is 50%. My instructor is not using this as the final. The actual final will take place on friday and will only cover a&p 2. Instead, she's offered us a bit of an incentive to do well, since this determines her funding. If we manage to get better than a 63, we get a B on the final. If we somehow manage to not miss more than 29 questions, she'll give us an A in the class. Needless to say, I want that A, but I'll take the B as well. It's tough, since there's nothing I cam do to prepare, except read over notes and just refresh my memory. To make matters worse, I also have an algebra test tomorrow just before my HAPS. Nothing like good 'ol math to mix up your thoughts.

Once this is over, I'll be taking the summer off in order to take a breath and relax before diving into nursing school. I'll let you know when the time comes whether that was a smart decision or not. I'm taking a speech class alongside nursing. I'm not too worried about it. I've already had speech, but it didn't transfer, so I have to retake it. My nursing course is just Fundamentals of Nursing. It's 8 credit hours and includes a clinical block, two lecture blocks, and a lab block. I have some of my books and supplies, but I'll do a full blog once I get all of my supplies.

Well, wish me luck tomorrow. Hopefully, if I drown in this test, perhaps I'll be able to give you some basic swimming lessons! ;)

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

Guess what guys...

I DID IT! WOOT! I was told it could take as late as May to find out if I made it into the nursing program, but a surprise showed up in my email a bit ago! That's right! I am officially a nursing student! I still have a lot of hoops to jump through between now and this coming fall, but I'm going to sit back and enjoy my accomplishment!

More to come after I've finished partying and celebrating!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

How I survived Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy and physiology. I searched for months around the internet before going into college for nursing, and the biggest challenge that everyone spoke about? This single class. Yes, they complained about clinicals and the nightmarish pharmacology tests, but this was the single piece of nursing school that stuck out. When I finally went to my first day of A&P I, I honestly half expected a meaner, nastier Trunchbull to be standing at the head of the class. You know, the disgusting principal from Matilda...

I remember having nightmares with her in them. Instead, I was greeted with a wonderful professor who seemed a tad timid, at first, but certainly was passionate about her subject. I'd like to share with you some things that I wish I had known going into this class the first time around:

1. It's only a nightmare if you make it one. This class is really just like any other. You get what you put out. If you don't come to class, or if you decide not to study too much or at all, then you are going to have much to show at the end. It's basic logic. You put in the work, and you get rewarded with a good grade in the end.
2. Use all available resources! By resources, I'm talking about more than you textbook and lab book. I'm talking, using the lab any chance you get. There will be a lot of models to know and not enough time IN CLASS to know them. Therefore, you will need to put in more effort outside of class to really be familiar with them.
3. Find out how you learn best NOW. Everyone has SOMETHING that helps them learn. For some people it can be as simple as reading the textbook and reviewing the notes. For others, it can be flash cards, or a simple game. For me it's music. This semester I used a song to help me learn the bones of the body as well as the muscles. I couldn't use a song to really point out the muscles to me, but it at least gave me a word bank on the test itself. Find your method BEFORE you enter those doors. You want to find a good study plan and stick with it!
4. Study Groups! These can be hit or miss. Some people find they get off topic too much and do more talking than studying, but if you can get your group focused, this can be the absolute BEST way to study! If you don't know something, you have a wealth of knowledge surrounding you, and if they don't know? You have something to find out together, and I guarantee you, by the end of it, you'll know it by heart. It's also nice to have someone there that can quiz you. You can look at terms all you want, but it's wonderful to have someone there who can come up with questions you may not have thought about.
5. Get your sleep! This is one that you should already know, but I will reinforce it because it's important. Cramming for a test the night before, all night, is a sure way to fail. Don't believe me? Ask anyone who's done it. Even if they've never failed, they probably don't have an A or B in the class and, trying to get into nursing school, you can't afford to having anything less. So if you find you forgot about a test until last minute, don't be tempted. Review your notes, let me repeat that, REVIEW your notes, then get a good nights rest! Get up a little earlier if you need to and go over them again and I know you'll do better on the test than if you had given into that temptation.
6. Keep your study sessions SHORT! I watched a study skills lecture online once that put to words something I already knew. When you sit down to study, you're really attentive the first bit, then you start to get that brain fog. EVERYONE knows what I'm talking about, that fog that makes it hard for you to focus and comprehend the information. That, my friends, should be your cue to take a 15 minute break. No more no less, but that break MUST be taken. I like to review my notes before a big exam, but I always make sure that I time it so I have 15 minutes before the exam to take a quick break. The worst thing you can do to yourself is go into the exam with that fog looming over you. I did it once this year, psychology, and failed that exam. I was frustrated that I couldn't comprehend the questions, and stressed because of the timer that wouldn't stop so I could clear my head. Not a good feeling!
7. Finally, Don't freak yourself out! Everyone should have a bit of stress going into an exam. This is normal and actually helps you. Keep your goal in mind and work your butt off for it, but don't over do it. This is easier said than done. The beginning of the semester, I literally cried and started tallying points on my lab reports in chemistry scared I wasn't going to pass. I nearly cried during the first exam. Needlessly. I had myself worked up over nothing. You can do anything you believe you can do. If you freak and constantly tell yourself you're stupid or that there's no way you'll pass a test, then you're right. You are stupid and there is no way you'll pass that test. STOP THAT! Break the cycle and put forth your best effort. Remember, your best effort is whatever you believe it to be. I believe I am capable of A's. Did I come close to straight A's in high school? HA! My first two years of college? HAHA! I got overwhelmed and settled myself in to the fact that I am a C student and can't get straight A's. So what did I get? Mostly C's. Hmmm... My first semester here I had something I wanted more that anything, a nursing acceptance letter. I knew I needed good grades to get in. If I really was a C student, then I should've even bothered trying. No one will take someone who can't get above a C in their generals. I finally had something to work for, and I went into the semester telling myself that I will get there, no matter what. I CAN get the grades needed. I'm a smart person. Before you think it, no, you're not dumb. If you were dumb, then you wouldn't have a high school degree, the college wouldn't have accepted you, and you wouldn't even be trying. If you're dumb then why are you in college? Because you know you can do this, you just need the confidence to accept that thought. You aren't bragging, you aren't showing off, you're accepting yourself for who you are, and you are a very intelligent individual who is capable of getting the grade you go after. You still have to put the work in, of course, but I imagine you'll find test taking and studying a TON easier.

These are my secrets. Nothing special, nothing fancy. Just an order of self confidence and a great support group. You can do this. You can do ANYTHING. This is a challenge, and that's what it's suppose to be. Embrace that and love it! If you go into nursing for the right intentions, then this class should be an amazing journey! Not an insurmountable nightmare. Just take a deep breath and jump in head first. As long as you're prepared mentally and physically, then there's no reason why you'd drown.

Keep working hard and NEVER give up!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

Finals and full schedule

As of today, I have finished 3 out of my 4 finals. I still have to take my anatomy and physiology final tomorrow, then I'll finally be finished with this semester! I was finally able to get my last couple classes. I'm taking medical terminology. My adviser said it would be a huge help in nursing, and every nursing student will testify that you should take every leg up you can get! I'm also taking study skill online. I'll wait and see if it's worth adding to the load, but I'm told it's a fairly easy class, and could potentially help me.

I will go off and do what everyone has been looking for, my guide to anatomy and physiology. I will also be doing one for chemistry, but I feel A&P is more important right now.

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

Paperwork, an end in sight, and a new schedule!

So, my school is officially the absolute worst school ever when it comes to paperwork. Every single thing I've handed them has gotten screwed up one way or another except my nursing application (knock on wood!). The worst of all has been my immunization records. The campus I'm on is a satellite of a larger campus. This site doesn't require immunizations unless the program itself does. Well, the nursing program does and I didn't realize this. I ended up getting a letter in the mail telling me that if I didn't get my records turned in I wouldn't be able to register for classes. Luckily I happened to have the paperwork with me, so I turned them into the school the following day. A week later, I went in and sat down to register for classes. Guess what! The hold was still there. I explained all this to my adviser who said it should've gone through. She opened up my file and gee! They were sitting right on top!

 "Oh! These aren't suppose to be here!"

Great! Well, she took down the list of classes I had ready, which wasn't my whole list, but good enough, then said she'd send them over and register me once the hold was lifted. Another week goes by and the hold never lifts. 1st call I made to her she said something about them never returning her emails. Second call I made to her she said they're faxing them into the computer system. 3rd call I made to her, she said they're going to just override the hold and register me for classes. All well and good, but here I sit with 2 more classes to sign up for and I still have that stupid hold! I finally got the direct number for the health services on the main campus, so hopefully I can get all of this sorted out...UGH!

Anyways, so this semester is slowly coming to an end. All in all I have to say it went pretty well. I'm still not doing the best in psychology, but it really could be a lot worse. I'll do another post on advice for getting through Anatomy and Physiology since it really warrants it, but all of this really just comes down to having a good focus. I really really really want into this nursing program, so I'm more willing to work my butt off to get there. I do have to say, though, it will be a relief to get that acceptance letter and not have the weight of the world on me next semester! I'm literally daydreaming of the day I can post my letter on here for you guys to see! :)

So, my next set of classes? Much of the same. I'm going on to Anatomy and Physiology 2, which I've been told is a bit easier, but we'll see about that. I'll also be going into Organic and Biochemistry, which actually sounds like fun and I'll have my favorite instructor! Ok, so I really do like all of my instructors (except psychology), but my chemistry instructor is awesome because he actually understands how much a person can learn at once, the pointlessness of needless memorization, and how stupid it is to expect a perfect lab report for full points. Yeah, he's the bomb! :P I'll be going onto College Algebra as well, which is the final math class I'll have to take, thankfully!

Those are the classes I have so far. I also want to sign up for medical terminology, which isn't required for my major, but a lot of people have said it's really helpful once you get into the program. In order to get both of my grants, I'll have to add on one more class, so I'll probably do something dumb like study skills online. Or maybe lifetime fitness and wellness. We'll see. I first want to dig my adviser's brain and see what she thinks would be a nice simple online class. I say online because my schedule's full. I can't fit another class anywhere. I do have the option of driving 45 min. and taking an evening course of English Composition 2. I'll have to think on that...

All in all this semester has had it's ups and downs, but I'm already starting to miss it. (Pretty sadistic when final exams are on the horizon!) Oh well.

Stay safe and keep studying!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

**Update: Called the Health Dept. this morning and found out the hold never should've been there in the first place. She removed it and everything is back to normal! :)

The Nurse's Cap

I've been doing quite a bit of research on the nurse's cap. It's not part of the uniform for the actual job, but it still holds a symbol to many nursing students and graduates. Something interesting I found out was that, since some of the first nurses were actually nuns, the nurse's cap actually first served as sort of a habit for them. One thing's for certain, though, you almost can't find a story book, or Halloween costume, or even nurse doll that doesn't don the nurse's cap. I don't know why I care so much about it, but it is a part of the history of nursing, which I will be very much a part of soon, so I guess it will be a part of my life. I was looking at pictures from the pinning ceremony in 2010 and saw that only the older generation were wearing the caps. I guess I may have to make a splash and keep it alive! Besides, they really don't look half bad! ;)

BTW, anyone have any thoughts on the capes? They would be AWESOME to wear in the workplace!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

Application Process

I got my papers in order for the application process and thought I would walk through what goes into it, at least for my school. I'm applying for the Associates RN, so it's a 2 year program that only starts in the fall. On October 1st they start accepting the packets, which include your high school transcripts, your ACT/SAT scores, any other college transcripts, and scores from the entrance exam for the college if needed. From what I've heard from other people, the program is more of a first come first served rather than GPA based, although that's used if it comes down to one person or another. All we need to do is fill out the application, which has nothing more that your name, address, phone number, email, and what program you are applying for, then send that with your transcript packet to the main campus...and wait. I'll be sending mine out tomorrow, so I've got my fingers crossed. They said I should know by about the end of December, early January.

To anyone else out there sending in their applications, GOOD LUCK! See you in nursing school! ;)

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

Top 5 Ipad apps for Nursing Students!

 So I received my brand new Ipad 2 the other day! Totally excited to see all I can do with this baby through nursing school! I already have utilized it a ton in Anatomy! I grabbed a couple of really cool apps that I think EVERYONE should have through nursing school and the science pre-reqs.

1. Cell and Cell Structure. This app may not be useful for too long, but for $3, it's great for students who may not have had any life science before going into Anatomy and Physiology. It has a couple games you can play to help you reinforce the information as well as amazing videos that give you a realistic inside look of a Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cell.

2. Drawing Book. This one is almost indispensable. For $2 you now have the ability to draw and save pictures on your Ipad. So far, I have utilized this one for Anatomy by making flash cards by drawing the molecular formulas for the different sugars and proteins for my up coming test. It would be great in class, if you're allowed, to make diagrams or quick notes on it.

3. Netter's Anatomy Atlas for Ipad. This app has the steepest price tag of them all, but anyone going into a medical field will find that this app's usefulness with essentially pay for itself and then some. It's price tag is a whopping $89.99, but it comes with 531 main anatomy plates, 40 bonus plates (If you register the app) and if you find the hidden skulls in the main plates, you unlock 10 more plates. You can also spend an additional $8.99 (why not, right! ;) ) and get 30 more extremely useful plates which include basics like body planes, terms of movement, body cavities, and more. This is the greatest anatomy app I have ever seen, on computer or book or any medium, really. This would be my top priority if I could only get one app.

4. NCLEX-RN Question Bank. Yes, I know. I still have another 3 years before I will be taking the NCLEX, but even before you start to study for that test, why not use it in your nursing courses? This app as a group of categories that you can choose from, like Management and Leadership, Critical Care, Pharmocology, Adult Health, and more. These exams will give you a wonderful chance to apply the skills you just learned to realistic situations you will be thrown into later in your career, or in questions once you DO take the NCLEX.

5. Lab Values Pro. Another $3 app, but it houses quite a bit of information that will come in handy later on in nursing school. It has medical abbreviations and medical prefix/suffix dictionaries, but the one that will come in handy the most is the lab reference values. A great (and cheap) reference for all medical students!

I'm sure there are a ton more useful apps out there, and I'm sure there are more I'll find and use later once I'm in nursing school, but for now, these are the best I've found. If you've found some good ones, let me know! Hoping to get a ton of use out of my Ipad!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

What is a nurse?

I had to take my son to the urgent care center a little while ago for a throat infection and something we encountered there really made me stop and think. Everyone on the staff there was very warm and welcoming except for one woman, the nurse that checked us in and out. Procedure wise she did nothing wrong, she asked all the questions she was suppose to and gathered all the information the doctor  needed. The thing that struck me was her almost robotic attitude. I remember she asked me if my son had ever had an ear infection. I told her no, then said something like "yet" and kind of laughed it off. This woman didn't so much as glance in my direction, she just kept right on moving.

Now, had it been a very busy day, I would understand. Nurses unfortunately don't always have the time for any social protocol, especially in either the ER and the Urgent Care. We were the only ones there. When we left, we were still the only ones there, no one else had signed in. It almost made me cry for that woman. I was reminded of those instructors in grade school who were awful to students. It was either because they hated their job, in which case they should've thought twice about their decision to enter the education sector, or they had forgotten the drive or purpose of being a teacher. This woman was going through one of those two pathways. Given how old she looked, I'd guess she'd been a nurse for awhile and has forgotten the purpose of a nurse.

A nurse's job consists of many things: Dispensing medication, writing up care plans, delivering messages to and from the doctors, and more. Everything a nurse does can be taught in school or on the floor, except the most important point: How to CARE for a patient. You can fill them with meds, start their IV, even bring them a glass of water, but you will still be considered a poor nurse without any kind of emotional treatment.

How many times have you heard about a patient who has gone into the hospital with the doctors telling the family that they only have a few months to live, only to pull through and be here still years later? What is it that kept him going, while someone else might go in and not make it? I would be willing to bet there is either a strong supportive family behind him, or an excellent nurse, or both! When I say an excellent nurse, I don't mean one that dutifully made sure he had all of his meds at exactly the time he needed them, or had all of his procedures go smoothly, I mean on that fought with him. The human will can be an amazing thing, but when we're under serious strain or stress from an illness of some sort, we sometimes need a little reminder to kick it in gear. We need a cheering section. Our priority to the patient should be to be that cheering section. Even if they have a wonderful family, we should still be there to fight along side them. This alone, could be the difference between life or death for the patient.

What does this matter with my son, though? Sure, whether or not the nurses were supportive and caring there wouldn't have made a difference in whether or not my son lived. He got his antibiotics and feels much better now. It still makes all the difference in the world. I had no clue what was happening to my son and I was scared to death. It turned out to be nothing, but I wanted so bad to have a nurse that was happy and upbeat, one who would lift me out of my "I don't know what's going to happen" stage. If she had just offered me a bit of that, I would've handled my son's ear piercing screams that much better. Our patient's condition doesn't just affect them, it also affects their friends and family. Sometimes they need someone to laugh with, or cry with, or just someone to remind them that today is just one more day they have.

"Being a nurse isn't about grades, it's about being who we are. No book can teach you how to cry with a patient. No class can teach you how to tell their family that their parents have died, or are dying. No professor can teach how to find dignity in giving someone a bed bath. A nurse is not about the pills or charting. It's about being able to love people when they're at their weakest moments."

-Miss Katrina Rose

Being a nurse is love above all else. Don't forget this important lesson and carry it with you through the years. Always be an excellent nurse, never a poor nurse!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey

End of Week 2!

So, week 2 has come to a close today. I have a test next Wednesday in Anatomy and Physiology, but the class itself is turning out to not be the nightmare everyone says it is. I don't know if I have an easier professor or if it just comes naturally to me, but it really is turning out to be my easiest class of them all. Chemistry is my second easiest. This is hilarious considering my counselor was afraid I wouldn't be able to handle chemistry and A&P together, since they're such "tough classes". I also got some awesome news that I'll pass on here. The first school I went to was a large university in Minnesota. The likelihood of me getting into nursing school there was slim to none. They were saying you needed a 3.8 or 3.9 G.P.A. just to get onto the waiting lists. It was beyond disgusting. Here? 3.0. I know, my heart just about leaped with joy. I will certainly still be trying to get as high a G.P.A. as I can, but knowing that I don't have to cry over the 1 point that I missed on my lab report for chemistry makes me want to cry. (I'm sure there are people out there who know what I mean.)

I can seriously see myself opening up my acceptance letter in just a few short months...man I need to keep grounded! :P

Keep studying and work tough!

~THE Future Nurse Chelsey