I have experienced the joys of gunky empyema tubes, the smell of leaking tube feed, spilled j-tube meds, and stomach contents all over my bare hand. Oh let me count the ways I love being a nurse!
I finally got my test date- July 11th! I'm going to be the happiest NCLEX taker they've ever seen!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
they're turning me into a nurse
My days on the floor have been good, but I get impatient with having a preceptor. I especially hate having to wait for her to get meds. I only have one preceptor who won't even let me give oral meds. This is bad news for me, because the state STILL hasn't received the correction from my school and I'm still waiting for my authorization to test. I'm dying of jealousy of the other new grads who are testing next week. I want my damn license already.
I have taken a lot of classes as part of my orientation, too. Mostly med surg, but now I have started my EKG series, and there will be a big test at the end on reading strips.
I hope that I can do this job well, that I can become someone who is respected on my unit, someone who can make a difference not just with patients, but with my co-workers. I do want to be involved with the unit, I want to be a leader (eventually) and someone people think of as hard-working and contributing. I really care about our floor and our patients, and I don't think of it as 'just a job'. I feel like someone who really contributes to society. Maybe it's a puffed-up image of nurses that I have, but when people stand up and take off their hats when I enter the room and say 'I'm your nurse', I don't know... it's a good feeling.
My world has been infiltrated by chest tubes, wound drainage, monitor strips, and multiple choice questions.
I have taken a lot of classes as part of my orientation, too. Mostly med surg, but now I have started my EKG series, and there will be a big test at the end on reading strips.
I hope that I can do this job well, that I can become someone who is respected on my unit, someone who can make a difference not just with patients, but with my co-workers. I do want to be involved with the unit, I want to be a leader (eventually) and someone people think of as hard-working and contributing. I really care about our floor and our patients, and I don't think of it as 'just a job'. I feel like someone who really contributes to society. Maybe it's a puffed-up image of nurses that I have, but when people stand up and take off their hats when I enter the room and say 'I'm your nurse', I don't know... it's a good feeling.
My world has been infiltrated by chest tubes, wound drainage, monitor strips, and multiple choice questions.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
news from the front
I survived my second and third day on the floor with minimal damage to my fragile self-esteem as a new nurse. I was finally with one of my regular preceptors, a nurse about my age, and we had a couple of very laid-back days together. I took a CHF patient waiting for an LVAD work-up, a THE patient suffering from complications of her surgery, and even squeezed in a final admit with a lobectomy right before the end of the shift. I felt like I had more of a routine going on, and I'm getting a little bit more comfortable with the documentation systems and my assessments.
I heard some crazy adventitious lung sounds, and a heart murmur, and I was really proud of myself for *finally* hearing something out of the norm!
This week was my med-surg series. More lectures and demonstrations on IV therapy, drains, ostomies, chest tubes, and trachs. Friday I have an all-day class just on using our brand spankin' new online MAR.
Today I received my first 'real' paycheck. WOW! I can pay all of my bills with one paycheck!
I heard some crazy adventitious lung sounds, and a heart murmur, and I was really proud of myself for *finally* hearing something out of the norm!
This week was my med-surg series. More lectures and demonstrations on IV therapy, drains, ostomies, chest tubes, and trachs. Friday I have an all-day class just on using our brand spankin' new online MAR.
Today I received my first 'real' paycheck. WOW! I can pay all of my bills with one paycheck!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
survivor mode
Well, I survived the long and boring central nurse orientation and happily looked forward to this week: my first week on the unit as a nurse, not a tech. The first day was more orientation. But yesterday was my first day on the floor with patients. I was scared to death. I felt like I had no idea what I was doing, I was way, way, WAY outside of my comfort zone, and the title 'nurse'? Yeah, I felt like a poser. What do I know about being a nurse???
My regular preceptor couldn't be there, so I was handed off to another relatively new nurse. She is a great nurse, excellent at everything, except maybe... precepting. She flew threw everything so fast in the morning that I got incredibly frustrated, just trying to figure out what was going on. Later in the day I got a handle on things, though, and did better. I'm not used to working for twelve hours, and until about 5:30, when my circadian rhythm kicks in, I was exhausted. My eyes were burning, my feet were aching, all I wanted to do was go lie down somewhere. But I kept plugging on. This was no joke... now it was up to me (well, me and the other nurse) to take care of these people!
The patient I was primarily responsible for was mitral and tricuspid valve repair, post-op day 8, with a chest tube, a dophoff, an NG, glucose checks, and basically everything else you could think of. Getting her to eat was the hardest part. I helped out with the other patients as well, and I'd have to say the highlight of my day was getting to remove staples from an abdominal incision.
I definitely figured out how to organize my notes and my day a little better, and got a minimum idea of the charting systems and routines... but if nothing else, now I know that I really have a long, long way to go before I feel like a 'real nurse'.
My regular preceptor couldn't be there, so I was handed off to another relatively new nurse. She is a great nurse, excellent at everything, except maybe... precepting. She flew threw everything so fast in the morning that I got incredibly frustrated, just trying to figure out what was going on. Later in the day I got a handle on things, though, and did better. I'm not used to working for twelve hours, and until about 5:30, when my circadian rhythm kicks in, I was exhausted. My eyes were burning, my feet were aching, all I wanted to do was go lie down somewhere. But I kept plugging on. This was no joke... now it was up to me (well, me and the other nurse) to take care of these people!
The patient I was primarily responsible for was mitral and tricuspid valve repair, post-op day 8, with a chest tube, a dophoff, an NG, glucose checks, and basically everything else you could think of. Getting her to eat was the hardest part. I helped out with the other patients as well, and I'd have to say the highlight of my day was getting to remove staples from an abdominal incision.
I definitely figured out how to organize my notes and my day a little better, and got a minimum idea of the charting systems and routines... but if nothing else, now I know that I really have a long, long way to go before I feel like a 'real nurse'.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
it's under my belt
So I did it, I graduated! I am now a graduate nurse with a bachelor's of science in nursing. But I'm not getting too excited yet... the NCLEX and getting through my first six months as a nurse looms on the horizon. Scary changes. I'm not sure if my education has prepared me for most of it, but I have to keep in mind that I'm as prepared as anyone else ever was.
I found out who two of my preceptors on the floor will be, and I'm pretty happy. One is a more experienced nurse, V, who has always been very friendly and helpful to me on the floor. I told her she would be precepting me and she said she was really glad, that she likes me. The other is a younger, newer nurse who is gaining experience as a preceptor. She is pretty cool and seemed happy that I'll be her preceptee.
Graduation was a good time. I felt proud of myself and glad that my parents and grandma can finally feel like all of their support has paid off. Three of my fellow nursing students will be working with me on my floor, but I'm the only one starting in May. I'm especially glad that I'll be with my nursing buddy C, we have fun together. Ok, we complain together, but it's fun!
I got an A in statistics, an A in community health clinical, and a B in lecture. I graduated cum laude.
And I start nursing orientation a week from Monday... so, welcome to a new blog, the title is changing to: "The Life and Times of a New Grad Nurse!"
I found out who two of my preceptors on the floor will be, and I'm pretty happy. One is a more experienced nurse, V, who has always been very friendly and helpful to me on the floor. I told her she would be precepting me and she said she was really glad, that she likes me. The other is a younger, newer nurse who is gaining experience as a preceptor. She is pretty cool and seemed happy that I'll be her preceptee.
Graduation was a good time. I felt proud of myself and glad that my parents and grandma can finally feel like all of their support has paid off. Three of my fellow nursing students will be working with me on my floor, but I'm the only one starting in May. I'm especially glad that I'll be with my nursing buddy C, we have fun together. Ok, we complain together, but it's fun!
I got an A in statistics, an A in community health clinical, and a B in lecture. I graduated cum laude.
And I start nursing orientation a week from Monday... so, welcome to a new blog, the title is changing to: "The Life and Times of a New Grad Nurse!"
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
falling behind
I have neglected this blog pretty badly. But I haven't exactly been immersed in nursing school the way I was last semester. I never went to my community health lecture, except to take the tests, and I missed four of my clinicals due to traveling. But I did get to make that up with a two hour presentation on community health care in developing countries. It was awesome and I rocked. The instructor told me I should become a teacher, I should apply for a fullbright, I should present to all these groups... etc etc. Nice to be so complimented on my academic strengths!
Today I took my student loan exit interview. I am $35,072 in debt, and I will be making payments of about $250 per month. Doesn't sound too bad... except that it's going to take 20 years to pay it off! But I accepted that responsibility a long time ago. I'm just eager to get started. A real job, a real income, and finally able to pay all of my own bills. I mean, my dad is still paying off his college loans! I only plan to defer my loans or whatever if I'm in grad school. Because I'll have to work a little less.
Today is my very last final of my undergrad education. It's for statistics and I'm confident I'll do ok.
I graduate on the 27th and I start nursing orientation on my unit on the 19th of May. I barely work at all until then, because hours have been severely slashed for temps. But I will be studying like crazy for my boards.
In hospital work related news- nothing. I got to suction a trach for the first time with the help of M, another graduating nursing student working just down the hall from me. She has all the trach care, I have all the heart monitors. We should be able to help each other out. I'm also exciting that my friend C from nursing school is starting on my unit one month after me. It's so great that I'll be around familiar faces, especially since I was given a days/eves rotating position. Now I'll know everyone and that will make being a new nurse just a little easier. Easier to ask for help, anyway, and less shy about sounding like a moron.
And thank GOD I don't have to work nights... I'm disoriented enough during the day!
Today I took my student loan exit interview. I am $35,072 in debt, and I will be making payments of about $250 per month. Doesn't sound too bad... except that it's going to take 20 years to pay it off! But I accepted that responsibility a long time ago. I'm just eager to get started. A real job, a real income, and finally able to pay all of my own bills. I mean, my dad is still paying off his college loans! I only plan to defer my loans or whatever if I'm in grad school. Because I'll have to work a little less.
Today is my very last final of my undergrad education. It's for statistics and I'm confident I'll do ok.
I graduate on the 27th and I start nursing orientation on my unit on the 19th of May. I barely work at all until then, because hours have been severely slashed for temps. But I will be studying like crazy for my boards.
In hospital work related news- nothing. I got to suction a trach for the first time with the help of M, another graduating nursing student working just down the hall from me. She has all the trach care, I have all the heart monitors. We should be able to help each other out. I'm also exciting that my friend C from nursing school is starting on my unit one month after me. It's so great that I'll be around familiar faces, especially since I was given a days/eves rotating position. Now I'll know everyone and that will make being a new nurse just a little easier. Easier to ask for help, anyway, and less shy about sounding like a moron.
And thank GOD I don't have to work nights... I'm disoriented enough during the day!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
muddling through the last semester
I have been very lazy about updating here, for those of you following my career. Community health is very disorganized, and for the most part a big waste of my time. Everyone is complaining about it, but I guess there's nothing we can do but slog through it. I work at headstart for the morning preschool class once a week. I basically... hang out with the kids. I measure how tall they are, how much they weigh. But it's not like I can do that every time. I guess things could be worse.
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