Nursing Update

I am starting to really feel the effect of nursing school as as a result I have been a terrible blogger but honestly besides studying and spending a few precious moments with my family I have had NO, none, zilch, zero TIME! In the past, I have tried to keep my blog somewhat upbeat but for the sake of "keeping it real" I'm not going to sugar coat two years of nursing school. I am stressed to the max and I know that it is only going to get worse. Some days I feel like banging my head on the sign above but I restrain myself and just go for a run instead and I have found running to be a sanity saver.

Mixed in with the days that I wish I was home with Carson and wondering why I am choosing to go to school are days that feel pretty good. For example: the day we were getting checked off on blood pressures (bp) we were practicing on a fake arm to prepare for our test with the instructor. Our teacher had us line up single file and wait to take the bp. Well, I was almost at the end of the line and my classmates would go to read the bp and come back to the end of the line! So naturally after four or five classmates failed, I got more nervous thinking that I wasn't going to pass the first time either. Well, let me tell you not only did I pass the first time but I read the bp exactly! My teacher even gave me a high five! I felt like a champ that day! It is times like that that make me think, hey maybe this isn't so bad.

I am starting my fifth week and I have mixed feelings about school. I really stress because I know that I will have peoples lives in my hands so I am taking school serioulsy trying to do all I can. I think that is is working because some classmates have commented on how confident I am (I told them that I was a good actress) and a few of them have even asked for me to help them get organized or how to do an assignment, etc.

With that said, I am really having a hard time transitioning to not being home with Carson. I am also struggling to "do it all." The other day I was complaining to Andrew about something non-school related that I didn't want to do to do and his comment to me was, "All I know is that the OLD Tiffani would do it." His comment pretty much sums it up, I really can't do it all anymore and that is hard for me to handle because I like to be "super" mom, friend, child, etc. So something has got to give, when I figure out what it is, I'll let you know.

random old school nursing picture, but what's a post without some pictures?!

Back to school, to say that I am learning a ton would be an understatement. Every day blurrs together with never ending reading just to get by in addition to watching ancient videos, take home assignments and written reports. I Next week especially is going to be rough because we have to prep. for our first patient Wednesday and write a patho. on their nursing diagnosis, a care plan, research ALL of their current medications including why they are taking them, what they are for and what the expected effect of the drug should be on our patient. Then first thing Thursday morning at 6:00am we have our first patient-yikes! After trying not to kill our patients Thursday we get to come home and write a huge clinical report to turn in first thing Friday morning. Friday is also our medical dosage calculation test that if we don't pass with a 90% we get exited out of the program...don't be envious, sounds fun doesn't it?

So far we have learned how to chart both on paper and in the computer, to administer medication, we got certified to do blood glucose screenings, and checked of on (bp) as well as apical pulses. It is getting late and I know I have learned more skills than that but I can't think of them right now.

I am grateful that I am able to go to school and finish my education. I am also so grateful for Andrew for his support as well as our families who have been so concerned and helpful. When I survive this week, I'll have to let you know how it goes.