For You Mrs. D

Rare to see such science brilliance coupled with extraordinary communication-teaching skills. What a gift you are; Not only to me, but everyone in Fundamentals this semester. I felt if I bombed the final, it would really hurt your feelings...THANK YOU!!!

Re: The Course in particular

Loved the twists and Mrs. D flair in trying to make Fundamentals fun! The mock assessment illness
exercise was tremendous. It allowed for a little breathing and practice for the upcoming clinical.
The Culture project was a terrific way to couple two units in a fun and unifying demo. I feel truly blessed by the initial "break in" at WMO...easy and so sweet.

Making It Better for Us: a separate calendar, or pacing schedule for lecture, assessment and lab (apart from clinical schedule) responsibilities might help. I found I read the wrong things at the wrong time and couldn't conjure up the material as you were lecturing. It might just be me, though; I know things had to change in the schedule as the semester progressed.

Overall, I would give it an A. If this was your first time out of the box, you killed it!

Down to The Wire

Enjoyed Jeopardy today! Helped me prioritize some of my study approach.
I want to wish everyone great-good luck on the upcoming exam. I am honored
to be part of such a smart group of people!

Final Week Clinicals

I cannot believe this quarter if coming to a close! Clinicals just get
more fun ( You can have fun when you aren't a wreck) and interesting
because of general understanding of what is going on.

Lost a dear family member my dog-Zipper) at 2:00 PM 10/7/10. I didn't think
I could hold up (thought I might need my own transfusion I cried so much
the last two days), however in retrospect, going to clinicals was the
best thing that could have happened. I took the instructors advice:
I went home and ate my very own bag of Doritos to replace the salt I
had lost( Nursing Diagnosis-Imbalanced Nutrition). Zipper would have appreciated
the remedy. Sleep with the angels, my dear old friend!

Grief and Loss Lecture

I dropped my Basset Hound off at the veterinarian this morning. He has Cushings disease
and I am afraid it is his time. Dr. Linda said she would give him 48 hours to try and get better, but indicated she was not optimistic. I get into class and what are we discussing? Hard to hold it together. Upon further reflection I think God intended this day just that way. Please pray that I if I have to, I get my old "judge"(If he were a person I think he would be dressed in a smoking jacket with a pipe and slippers - and he always has an opinion) to the rainbow bridge without a lot of pain. Yes, there will be grief and loss, but what a friend I have from the shelter!

The Good Thing has been school. I made great headway in studying for the final. Class, lab and assessment has been exciting, fun and I learned some nifty "connect the dots" information. Good
Studying and Good "Head to Toe"!

Reading and More Reading

I feel like I have settled into a good routine with expectations somewhat nailed down. The week has been very busy with reading and studying, Tally children's needs, American Cancer commitment, husband's commitments that bleed over and a daughter that lives in Jacksonville getting married. Both dogs got washed, the linens changed, laundry done, no dusting, though. Oh well, the people in the house are more important than the house anyway.

Again, clinical was enlightening. I learn so much more each week. The better way to say that is you goof more each week and learn from the mistakes. The goal this week: Don't forget APETOMAN
after mentally geeking out over an apical pulse. I think I stuck in the same position smiling
for close to 2 minutes. Luckily the patient just smiled back.

What a Week

Big 1st Test, Big 1st Paper, Wet To Dry Dressings, some stressful moments along with some really good belly laughs. I survived!

Exercise has just become a must along with vitamins. I felt a cold coming on yesterday.
Feel better today, but realize sitting on my backside with a book nonstop is probably
not very healthy. The goal is to be a nurse...not grow a second backside. Back to Zumba.

Nutrition, Culture, Medications and Drug Math, next. I'm strapped in and ready to go
(I think).

First Clinical Day

Fright turned to fright-excitement this week as clinicals drew near. I stayed
up way to late on Wednesday evening pressing my uniform, buying supplies, reviewing
vitals along with the reminiscence paper parameters.

Thursday finally came. I will never forget all the details of my first clinical day. The whole experience was amazing and I found myself sad when we were told it was time to go.

While I have much improvement to make, I can't wait for the next clinical experience.

Week Two

Oh my gosh, I can actually do a blood pressure and pulse without whacking my new
"sistahs" in the head with my stethoscope (Thanks for your love and patience group 6)!
My goal for next week: count respirations while taking a full minute pulse...baby steps.

What a week...so much new, detailed and exciting information. Can I remember it all
and then be able to connect the dots (critical thinking)? Clinicals and Test time are right around
the corner. I can her my mom saying to me right this very minute-"stop anticipating
and start participating-it will all fall into place, Patti Jo".

A funny: while reciting infection control facts out loud this week, my husband grabbed a
guitar and started singing " MRSA-MRSA me, staph bacteria ain't what it used to be" to the
tune of the late-great Marvin Gaye song tilted Mercy Mercy Me. Thank God for levity
and supportive family.

Nursing School…The Beginning

Nursing has always been my “dream job”.  I guess it is in the blood. My mom ran a six doctor medical practice and my sister is the director of surgical theatres as well as a new heart surgery center in central Florida.  Listening to their stories and hearing their flat-out passion for their work made its mark on me in a big way.  

The nurses I have met through the years have all had the qualities I most admire in others: Brilliance, a “Whatever it takes work ethic”, positive attitude, desire to make life as good as it can be for others, excellent communication skills, and a wicked-good wit. I feel honored and excited to be beginning a journey of joining up with “my favorite kind of people”.

Now, later in life, I finally have the chance to pursue my nursing dream. While I thought I knew what type of nursing I wanted to practice, I feel less sure every moment.  I believe that more knowledge and experience will help me in determining the type of nursing for which I am best suited.

If I had to list the strongest qualities that I feel I bring to the profession they would include:

Empathy. While I have always been a very empathetic person, my life experience helps me to not only understand a patient’s feelings and apprehensions, but to use that understanding to facilitate their care and the healing process.

Humor. I think people who can laugh about things are the kind that most of us want to be around. I also believe that humor helps build trust. Gaining a patient’s trust will be important to the quality of care they experience.

Knowledge. While I’m just beginning to receive the knowledge I need, I know that this is the cornerstone of everything. But I believe that there are many kinds of knowledge that are required in nursing. First there’s the clinical knowledge that a nurse must have. But there is also the knowledge and understanding of the environment, such as the hospital, the staff and the doctors that complete the picture.

Dedication. I would say that what distinguishes nursing (and medicine in general) from other professions is the expectation that you will do whatever it takes to provide solutions. If that means time and personal sacrifice, then as a nurse, I am expected, and prepared, to work beyond the workplace limits of other professions.

Focus. In addition to the other qualities above, there is a need to be focused. I know there will be many opportunities to make serious mistakes and the only way to avoid them is to be focused on the task at hand.

If I can use the knowledge I’m taught to get the job done by understanding and appreciating the needs of the patient; if I can do this in an atmosphere of trust and be empathetic to the patient’s concerns; if I can remain focused in the midst of distracting and chaotic surroundings; and if I can do this for more hours in a day than I ever thought possible; then I will feel like I am living up to the challenge of being a nurse.