Skillz

It's looking like it's going to be a very long semester. While I've really enjoyed every day of nursing school so far, there is just so much to keep up with. At this point I've got seven (7) chapters to read. Some of these chapters make a Stephen King novel look like Dick and Jane. I've also got online modules, videos and tests to try and push through. On average I'd say I've been spending 7 hrs a day (outside of class) studying. I have to admit that I enjoy it. It is so refreshing to be doing something different in my life.

This week we've learned how to take vital signs and give a head to toe assessment. I figured all those years of going into the Dr.'s office that those nurses were just goofing around with all that stuff. My wife has been a pretty good sport about letting me practice on her. However, she did get a little perturbed when I started fondling her breast when I was trying to listen to heart sounds. :) DISCLAIMER: Fondling is NOT proper nursing procedure! I had no idea it was that difficult to monitor blood pressure. You've got to really listen and pay attention. You can't kill somebody with an overinflated cuff can you?

My clinical calculations math is going very well. I actually get it! Yea for me and any future patients I may have. I have a clinical math test that I have to take in a couple of weeks. The requirement for passing is 90%. Hopefully I won't have any problems. Remember all those years of teachers saying that you weren't allowed to use a calculator? Well, as it turns out in real life...YOU CAN!!!!!!! I don't know what all the fuss was about. I'm pretty sure all of those no-calculator-using-fire-breathing math teachers were just out to give everyone a hard time.

I have one more day of clinicals this week and then it's off to work I go for the rest of the weekend. The good thing is that I'll be able to study most of tomorrow in my hotel room. I am also trying to get a study group together. I'm not sure how easy that's going to be, or how effective. I've never had a study group, but I think it could turn out to be a good thing if everyone is in the right mindset. After this weekend I'll have one more clinical day on campus and then it's off to my hospital orientation. Very exciting!

Time to get a move on to class. We've got three hours of video to watch this morning. I wonder if anyone would say anything if I brought popcorn.

-DV

Coming Up for Air

I made it! One week down and 15 more to go for this semester. My first week of nursing school was filled with excitement, doubt, anxiety, wonder and just a touch of external genitalia.

I started the week going to my clinicals. Of course we're not in a real clinical setting right now, but we go to the hospitals in about 2 more weeks. Our instructors walked us through the syllabus and going through some of the things we can expect out of our experiences. Some of the major assignments were discussed as well as the grading procedures. Later in the week we had our library orientation which included signing up for all of the websites we will need to access for the semester. One of the really exciting things about my school is that there is a lot of computer based testing and online facilities that will help us learn the skills we need to learn. In addition the faculty seem to really be a dynamic group of people who are working together to assist us in becoming the best nurses we can be.

I have to admit that all of the introduction stuff can make you want to crawl up in one of those comfy looking hospital beds at the side of the room, but I think each week will prove to be more interesting and fun. We did get into a couple skill however. I can now wash my hands effectively as well as make your bed (with you in it of course), and I can give you a bed bath while remaining completely professional when I find your tattoo that says, "Easy Lovin'"

There was a lot of reading this week and there remains a lot of reading and preparation for next week, but I'm looking forward to it. I am really glad that I made a detailed schedule for myself. It not only includes my class schedule, but my work schedule, study schedule, dinner schedule and play schedule. The instructors tell us that about 30 - 35 hour of preparation out side of all of our classes should be expected. At first I thought that might be a little extreme, but after my first week I'm beginning to think that that is pretty accurate.

Time to go read some more......

-DV

Day One...

Ughhhhh, didn't hardly know there was a 5 AM.

Gonna be a very long first day starting with clinicals followed by lab. That's the first nine hours. Then it's off to study for a couple hours and (wouldn't you know it) a rehearsal tonight. I haven't quit my "day job" yet.

Time to go run, eat breakfast, get dinner in the crock pot for the family, shower, dress and move the herd......

On your mark,
Get set,
GO!

-DV

Christmas in January

This post is about all of the cool stuff you get as a first semester nursing student. It's a little like Christmas, except you have to pay for it all yourself. But still....

As it turns out, there are approximately three feet of books that one needs to own in order to be a first semester nursing student. That's a lot of reading! I am so fortunate that I have a very good friend who is a nurse educator at a local university and she has provided me with the bulk of what is required. I have been able to get about $1200.00 worth of books for about $300.00. WOOT!

I also had to purchase a "Nurse Pack" from the nursing office. It contains all kinds of stuff that really scares me. I'm sure that eventually I'll be comfortable with touching all of that stuff, but right now it all just seems out of place. You have to realize that I'm the guy that used to not like to touch the paper that covered band-aids. It just feels weird. I'm over that now, lest you think I'm insane for choosing this career.

I've ordered my stethoscope and a cool light pen as well. They should be here in a couple of days. I can only imagine that every new nursing student gets their first stethoscope in the mail and give it a good workout for about 30 minutes. It's fun just to listen to stuff; you know, your heart your families hearts, the refrigerator, the wall, the wall of your neighbors apartment, etc...

With all of this new stuff, you need something to carry it in right? Right. I looked around yesterday for the perfect travel-book-bag-rolly-cart-briefcase for all of my stuff. Do you know how expensive some of those things are? The most expensive one I saw yesterday was $300 bucks! Besides that most of those things aren't practical for for all the books I'll have with me. You see, I'll be headed to the library after most classes so I can't just leave my text books at home. I'll have to bring several of them with me. So, the all $300.00 all leather pouch with silver lined pen case just ain't gonna work for me. I ended up getting a backpack with wheels made by "Jeep" at Wally-World for $34.00. It fits all of my books, won't kill my back, and the price was right. I just hope it doesn't crap out after day one.

I bought scrubs just before Christmas. You know, if you've never worn scrubs before, I would suggest to purchase them at a local store until you know your size. I bought large scrub pants at first, got them home and was amazed at how big they were. I ended up returning them and getting the medium size that fit just right. Makes me feel better about my weight though. :) I also ordered my name badges. For the first time in my life, I have letters after my name...."SN". Student Nurse - Lowest of the low I know, but still...letters.

Looks like I'm ready with all of my junk. Now it's time to get busy. With less than a week before my first class, I've got just a bit more reading to do, some "medical math" to start working on, and review of past reading to get done. Today, I'm off to the library for some quality study time.

-DV

I Swept the Porch

When I clean the house and get everything in its place, I feel a great sense of accomplishment. When I go through and get the house clean, one of the last things I like to do is sweep the porch. For some reason that puts closure on things. I can look back and say, "Okay, time to move on now." Yesterday, I "swept the porch" so to speak. All of the Christmas is put away, the house is ready, my last couple of books are on their way, etc. I am finally ready to start studying for nursing school.

After attending orientation I was given reading assignments for the first couple days of classes. There is a lot of reading just for the first two days. During the Christmas break I was able to get started and I've finished about half of the required reading. I can now set aside time to finish up. I am also going to begin working on some "medical math" as well. I don't want anything to sneak up on me during those first couple of weeks.

Already I can see that it would behoove me to brush up on some A&P. I'll begin reviewing that subject as well. Hopefully, I'll find time to spend a few minutes each week reading my A&P book as well as my current nursing texts.

I am very excited and just a bit nervous to get started. Time to get busy!

-DV

You gotta start somewhere...

Well, here we are and here's my story.

It all started back in high school. There were two things I really enjoyed: Band and Biology. I had been in honors science classes until my sophomore year in high school. After I completed my honors biology class, my guidance counselor told me that I would not be allowed to continue in honors science because my math grades were not good enough. (I was making B's in standard algebra classes) Hindsight being 20/20, that conversation really stuck with me in later years. I continued to excel in music and did extremely well in competitions and performances. When it came time to decide what to do with the rest of my life I had things narrowed down pretty well; either go into music education or pre-med. I knew that I really enjoyed biology and that I might enjoy going into medicine, but my math skills would "hold me back". I also loved music and knew that I would do well in that area no matter what. I chose music.

I went to school and after a year and a half decided that I didn't want to teach music but wanted to perform instead. I completed a bachelor's degree majoring in music education (as a fall back) and music performance. I was at the top of my class for five years. I received several scholarships, won performance competitions, etc. I practiced 3-8 hours a day. By the end of five years I was exhausted. I didn't want to practice anymore and was ready to move on. I ended up getting accepted to a well known conservatory for my master's work. I went there for one semester and dropped out. After getting married, a couple years later I finished my master's degree in music performance thinking that I would rekindle my love for practicing and performing. It didn't work. I took many auditions for orchestras around the country while forcing myself to practice. I came close to winning some small positions and actually won some local auditions in the process. Eleven years later and barely making a living the economy went downhill and the little work that I did get went with it.

By now my wife and I had a family and I was constantly complaining about the music business. My wife was behind me 100% when I told her that I wanted to change careers. I looked into other careers in the arts, but was just not interested. There is too much at steak to go into another "subjective" field. I remembered that I had once been interested in medicine, but didn't think I had what it took to make it through at the time. With the practice skills and determination I learned from music I decided to go into health care. I looked into medical school and decided that I wasn't willing to put my family through 7 - 8 years of medical school. I was overjoyed to find out that you could become a RN in only two years.

I started taking A&P just to get me feet wet and see if I would still be interested in biology. I LOVED IT! It was so refreshing and I couldn't wait to take on more science classes. In one year I finished all of my prerequisites for nursing school. I took only one or two classes at a time and made A's in everything. I knew that I was on the right track.

I applied for admission to nursing school for Spring 2010 and was accepted. I start in two weeks. Wish me luck....

-DV