Just Breath

Group B for Brilliant.
From left to right Mafalda (my carpool buddy), Carla, Jessica, Dawn, Me (the three in the tree), Jennifer, Mark and Angie.

We had woken up at 4:00 am for two days in a row and had just finished our last day of clinical for the first semester yesterday and couldn't be happier! I enjoy working with all of the ladies...and Mark.

I am sad though because next semester I don't have ANY of them in my group-sniffle. So I will have to make 9 new friends with the classmates below and find a new carpool buddy...:(

Class of 2010

On afternoon after clinical.

Our instructor Joni is like the paparazzi always wanting to take pictures and I appreciate that she did because she made us a slide show, put to music of the entire semester, it was very thoughtful and neat to see our confidence grow. She is also a tough instructor but because of her expectations I know that I will be a better nurse and am more prepared for next semester than those from other groups.

Sneaking pictures near the Omni Cell

Hard at work

The Lab

Dawn and I practicing for our injection competency exam, she is in her 50's can you believe it!! I hope I look half that good at that age.

Preparing to insert my first catheter of Mr. or Mrs. dummy

The lady in the middle wearing black with her eyes closed in Adette. She helped us prepare for our skills tests and she helped instill confidence and give us pointers-Thanks!

Looking back at the last four months I can finally breath because it has come to an end-almost. We have two more days of class. At times, I was overwhelmed and honestly thought I would not be able to endure. My confidence faltered and I almost gave up. I am a perfectionist and I had to learn that I am not going to be "perfect" at everything the first time and that I might not get "perfect" grades but that I am learning for a reason.

I am happy that I stuck with it and to say that overall it wasn't that bad and I am grateful to my classmates for being built in cheerleaders. Now that I know what to expect, because I am a planner and don't handle well with the unexpected. With this knowledge, I know that next semester is going to be tough-much worse than the last four months but I know that I can do it.

Mafalda has been an unexpected friend but being in a car with someone for more than 10 hours a week, you get to know them very well. I am happy to say that she is my friend.