Shadowing

Shadowing....the word to describe the action of following an RN around like you are glued to them. You become the observer, the questioner, the learner, and yes on occasion....the annoyance. I'm always afraid to start clinicals up every term because the first day is always a shadowing day. Before I get in the hospital, "God please please please may I have a good nurse." I go to my floor and the charge nurse orients the new shift nurses and says; "Alright, Tracey, Kristin, and Kathryn get student nurses today. I instantly see it on their faces. It makes me laugh!! I'm prepared for the worst...

Of course you introduce yourself, tell them it's your first day, tell them you are shadowing, on and on. Then the craziness begins. First of all, there are three kinds of nurses. One where you watch everything, and I mean everything; One where you get to help out and learn some; and one where you will DO all sorts of things with a ton of education (you would be lucky to get this one). Now this doesn't mean that any of these nurses have great attitudes or poor attitudes. It's the luck of the draw.

So I get paired up with TC. She is great! She's a little on the "I wish I didn't have a student" mind set, but I don't blame her. I'm just extra weight to carry. So I follow, observe, research, and that's about it. What a long day of that!!

Day 2 comes along with JB. What an incredible blessing she was!!! She let me do so much and yet she was there if I needed her!

One thing I learned, is how the RN you shadow soon becomes your shadow. Instead of you following them around, they tend to follow you around making sure you are doing everything right. I'm going on day 3 next week and I will have a patient all to myself. I'm so thankful I have my RN watching my every move. I'm still afraid I will miss something. I guess this is the learning experience.....you shadow them, they follow you....slowly slowly letting you on your own until you take your big exam.....then BAM your a nurse!

Thank God for those incredible RNs that are willing to take a student. I know when I'm a nurse I'm going to say, "bring on the students! They can shadow me all they want!"

Ohhh I can't wait to get there!!!!.......Until next week....

Wound Care

I have always been interested in blood and guts. I know that sounds weird and disturbing, but the human body is absolutely amazing. What's not to like about God's greatest creation??! I enjoy looking at cadavers and dissecting organs. In AP Biology I had both my hands in a dead cat observing the kidneys, digestive organs, the heart, lungs, etc. Anatomy & Physiology is one of my greatest passions. I can't tell you how many times someone has showed me an injury or a wound expecting me to turn away. And I do the exact opposite. One of my friends asked me if I wanted to go hunting with him, and my response was can I help cut it apart. I'm gruesome I know.

I have been thinking about what department I want to be in. I have changed my mind so many times; OB, Peds, Surgery, ICU, OB again, etc. At my last clinical, I learned that there was a wound care nurse that goes around to different departments and bandages up patient's wounds whether they are children or adults. I have been told that wound care nursing is an art. Oh how I would love to dive deeper in this department! I want to learn about wounds and healing!

The cool thing about this department is that I could use it at home, with my friends, and even other countries if I get the opportunity. I would love to be able to travel to trauma centers in other countries and apply my nursing skills. So many opportunities out there!!!

Where ever God leads me . . . . .

Drugs & Advice

I am just about done with summer. Sadly, school will be back with more homework and less time with friends. It was great while it lasted. I am excited to get back into the hospital to be in contact with people. This term will be mental health. I am really nervous about this division of Nursing. I have heard horror stories, but I am going into it with a positive attitude and I know I will have Jesus to get me through it. Who knows? I may like it.

I finished my summer term of Pharmacology just about 6 weeks ago. So I had about half a summer. There are so many drugs it is so overwhelming. I passed the class nearly 100% but still feel unprepared with drug compatibilities and adverse effects. It's so much information. Luckily, they tell you that you won't have to know everything because you will learn most of it on the job. Makes me feel a little better knowing I will have resources at the nursing station to help me :)

One thing that I have noticed this summer is the attraction of people needing advice from me as a student nurse. Because I am still in training, I am afraid I will give away false information. I want to be licensed before I give advice. The little things I feel more confident about like the use of over-the-counter medications, hot and cold compresses, simple wound care, and nutrition. Especially the drugs; my dad has been having back pain and has been taking "drug cocktails" as he calls it. Oxycodone (Percocet), Ibuprofen (Advil), and Valium. Talk about put you to sleep. My dad is a pretty big guy so he can handle higher dosages. I have been closely monitoring that according to his Doctor's orders. Every now and then I tell him to ease off the drugs to see if the pain level has gone down. He is just on 4 Advil a day now. Thank the Lord! :) My friends all come to me for drugs too. Because I get Migraines, I have pills in my purse all the time. I'm like a walking medicine cabinet and drug book. I love it!! I got to tell you, it does make me feel good inside that my friends come to me for advice. :) It's like I have already begun my nursing practice! Yay for knowledge! :)

Now off to Mental Health term :) Until then.....