I promise I'm still alive!

I realize it's been 4 months since my last post and I'm ready to come back!

School has been keeping me way busy lately and have so much to tell you.

In the past 4 months this has happened:

Got a new car

My birthday

Started my second semester of Nursing school.

Completed clinical rotations in the Psychiatric Unit.

Shopped way too much.

Started clinicals at the Hospital (my first time ever).

Have watched too many movies (remember, I'm a sucker for movies.)

Went to Wendover and "played" on the quarter machines for my first time. 

Sorry guys, but Wendover, Utah has gotta be the getto-est place ever.

No offense to anybody that may live there.

And I'm sure a ton of more other things happened that aren't worth mentioning, since I can't even remember.

Oh yeah, and one last thing: I BECAME ADDICTED TO PINTEREST. So if you have Pinterest, follow me here: http://pinterest.com/gbaques/
 
Now I'll leave you with this Hunk of a man:

Image Here

  

Until the next post!

The Value of Nurses

I recently found this graphic and wanted to share it with you guys- whethere you're a nurse or not. These are definitely some interesting stats. And it shows how valuable nurses really are and how much they are needed.

Image provided by Nursing School.org

It's the little things...

Last night as I sat in the living room at 11:30 pm, I fell in love with my boyfriend all over again for the 1 kazzillion time. Because it's the little things he does- like suffering through a movie such as The Notebook just to please me and holding me after laughing at me first as I weep for Allie's and Noah's love, that reminds me why I love HIM so much. 

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They didn't agree on much.

In fact, they rarely agreed on anything.

They fought all the time and they challenged 

each other  everyday, but despite their

differences they had one important thing in common,

they were crazy about each other. 

- The Notebook 

Yep, I'd say that sounds like us.

   

Worst Pick Up Line Ever

Randomest thing just happened to me! 


Some dude knocks at my door wondering if I wanted to get the newspaper, after telling him no, a couple minutes later he comes over and knocks again and says "So I was wondering if you could fix my phone for me..." At this point I'm thinking, what do I look like some cellphone fixer? next thought that comes up, oh this kid might be trying to kidnap me or something. 
Me: "Um, I don't know how to fix phones sorry." 
Paperboy: "Well, it's broken because it doesn't have your phone number in it." 
I'm in shock, and probably gave him a weird look... 
He goes on to say "So maybe if you give me your number it will fix it." 
I say, "oh sorry I can't give you my number." 
He says, "No?" 
I'm like "No, I can't, I don't even know you." 
He goes on, "Well, if you go out on a date with me we could get to know each other." 
I'm like "No sorry, how old are you anyway?"
He says, "19." 
I say, "Oh see, I'm too old for you either way." He asks how old I am. 
I say, "21." 
He says "Oh you are! Oh well, thanks anyway." And walks on. Hahaha! 


Now I want YOU to share funny pick up  lines you've heard out there, or that have been used on you! READY, SET, GO!

Anxiety r/t finals week

Definitely experiencing some anxiety over here! Ah, it's finals week! Just took an exam today, got a 93%, and have 2 more to go. I have been studying all day long, and I really have no motivation but I must study some more for my Health Assessment final tomorrow. I can't believe the semester is pretty much over. It went by super speedy! Anyway, I don't know how many of you love magazines but I love to read http://scrubsmag.com, which is a magazine for nurses and student nurses too. It has some good stuff and found this list of Top 10 Nursing diagnosis for nursing students. I can tell you for sure that I'm currently experiencing 4, 5, and 6! Take a look below and let me know which diagnosis you think you might have. 
10. Fluid volume deficit r/t dehydrating effects of caffeine

9. Impaired social interactions r/t inappropriate topics of conversation discussing bodily functions

8. Anxiety r/t time constraints, threatened loss of social activities and anticipation of constant clinical quizzing

7. Functional constipation r/t lack of time to go to the bathroom associated with moving at speed of light and still not getting everything done

6. Impaired skin integrity r/t decubitus ulcer formation from sitting for long periods of time while studying

5. Ineffective breathing pattern r/t anxiety attacks before exams

4. Risk for self-injury r/t excessive carrying of 2,000-lb. textbooks

3. Sleep pattern disturbance r/t waking up at 4 a.m. for clinical after getting to sleep at 2 a.m. from working on care plans

2. Altered thought process: caffeine-induced psychosis r/t increased coffee consumption

1. Self-care deficit r/t being a nursing student

List from: http://scrubsmag.com/top-10-nursing-student-diagnoses/

Good Luck on all your finals friends!!!!

How I did

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement yesterday. I seriously was almost going to have a hard attack. I'm just so happy this is over with and now I can relax. I have my health assessment pass off next week, but I'm not so worried about that one. It's just a head-to-toe and feel super confident about it. These past few weeks have been hectic, and I know it will get worse as finals start to approach. 


As for now, I'm done with clinicals, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I loved being in the nursing home. The residents couldn't be any nicer and cuter. I wish I would have had time to blog about my experiences but like I said, nursing school has kept me busy.  I will share some stories as soon as the semester is over and have more time for blogging though.


By the way, do you guys know any more SN blogs? I may not blog as often on mine but trust me, I do love to read Nursing blogs. Any blogs you'd like to suggest write them below, I would love to check them out! 


Good Luck to you all as you prepare for finals! You'll rock it! 

Pass or Fail

Yes people, I AM ALIVE. But may not be after tomorrow depending on if I PASS or NOT my lab final pass off for Nursing interventions tomorrow.  I am seriously freaking out about this so bad!!!! Most of you 2^nd, and so on semester students are probably familiar with this. I will be given 30 minutes to complete a scenario which will consist of an administration of a med, either a central line dressing change or insertion of a foley catheter, and a position change. And if I pass, I will have to document all of what I did plus any patient teaching. I have been having nightmares and anxiety over this like you cannot imagine (or well you probably can since you’ve most likely have experienced this before). I’m scared that I will not know how to calculate the med dosage, or that I will forget to lock the med cart, or that I will forget to do my 3 med checks, or that I will forget to ask my mannequin pt for his/her name and birth date.  I’m stressing that I will break sterile field or that I will mix up the steps in the procedure. I’m scared that I will forget to do any significant patient teaching or that I will somehow mess up my position change even though I don’t know how that is possible but you never know. Anyway, please do keep me in mind and in your prayers. It would be very much appreciated. Any suggestions you guys? Tips? My pass of is tomorrow at 0900. Wish me luck!

Heiii

Lots of random thoughts:


My friend found this Nursing infographic and I wanted to share it with all of you as well. :) You'll actually have to click here to view it since it doesn't fit on the post...


I had my first clinical on Tuesday and it was AWESOME! I loved it, minus the having to wake up at 0400!!! 


I started my Spring break on the wrong foot. I had another Pharmacology test and absolutely bombed it. I don't understand how because I studied for 10 hrs (no joke). But the test just didn't follow the study guide, and had a whole lot of extra stuff and meds that were never mentioned that we were supposed to know. I hate it when teachers do that.... I'm really bummed out and I'm just trying to think positive. 


Spring break really isn't much of a spring break because it's from Wednesday-Friday, but I only go to school Monday-Wednesday, so in reality I only had one day off. :(


I can't wait for this weekend. We're having a work party tomorrow. We only have to work half day and we get to party for the other half and still get paid for the whole day. Also, saturday evening I'm going dancing with my boyfriend, and I'm super excited. :)

The victim: Oranges

So remember how bad I was freakin’ out over my Pharmacology test the other day? Well, I did ok. I didn’t rock it like my last test, but I did decent. In my language, decent is within the 80’s. Last week was just horrible. I had 3 tests to take plus a 5 paged paper due. Let’s just say that I’m so glad it’s the start of a new week.

Tomorrow we will be practicing injecting.  On oranges.  Yep, on oranges. I wish we could practice on human beings because it’s just not the same you know.  For you nurses out there or nursing students, how did you guys practice? Did your school allow you to practice on each other? Or did a fruit have to be your victim?

Cures and Causes

I got my lab coat in the mail yesterday and received Scrubs Magazine along with it. I found this on their website that I think most who have already taken Pharmacology or are currently taking it (me), can relate to. I'm tempted to print it off and give it to my Pharm Nursing Professor. What do you think?

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Gotta love meds!

Rocking it

Last week I had my first nursing exam for “Nursing Interventions”. I was freaking out really bad because our professor told us that it’s common for students to not get very high scores on their first test. So I studied for hours, skimmed the chapters, and finally got the courage to go to the testing center. Let me tell you, I’ve never felt more calm in my life while taking a test than I did that day. It was a 50 question exam. After I was done I was scared to look at the screen that would reveal my score. I found my test sheet number on the screen and to my big surprise I see a 98%. Oh my goodness gracious! I had a hard time believing it! I only missed one question and after I figured out which question I had missed I was mad for several hours because it was a very simple question. I could have totally gotten a 100% if I only hadn’t changed my answer. Oh well. If I keep getting scores like this one I’m totally going to rock my first semester of Nursing. I’m really really  worried for my pharm exam coming up next week, and I’m not making any promises that I’m going to get a 98%. I’ll be lucky if I get in the 80’s. We’ll see.

All over the place

School has started and it has been amazing BUT hectic. I’m overwhelmed with all the things that I have to learn. I’m very excited though and the labs are way fun! We learned charting and how to take vital signs last week. I had never taken blood pressures before, and I kept forgetting to loosen up the cuff when I was done reading the measurement. My poor partner had to keep reminding me “Grecia, you’re going to cut off my circulation!” Hahahaha! I’m totally stoked for all the adventures that are to come. Tomorrow will be my first day wearing my scrubs. It’s going to be memorable (I’ll make sure to take pictures). Did I mention that my stethoscope is PINK also? Well it is. It’s cute and I love it!

Pharmacology is going to be the end of me. I can’t believe the hundreds, thousands of drugs out there. I just learned how to do dosage calculations and when I’m a nurse I’m going to have to be carrying paper, pencil, and a calculator around ‘cause I’ll never be able to do those in my head!

We were also handed a sheet of unapproved and approved abbreviations that we have to memorize and wow, I’m going to be mixing those up. I just know it.

Trivia for the day: BRP= Bathroom Privileges. In case you needed to know? Oh and PR= Per Rectum.