I'll squeeze a few things into this post....
I cut my hair last about 2 years ago - there were two wedding scheduled and so I was told in no amount of words that I was NOT allowed to cut my hair - one wedding was my BFF's and I was her maid of honour and she wanted us to get updo's and I love her so of course I gave into her desires. The other wedding was my BIL whom I detest (loathe actually) and my MIL told me that I was not allowed to cut it and threatened to disown me (essentially) if I cut it - BOY was THAT tempting!!! But hubby begged me and so for HIM and him alone I didn't cut it. Then I entered clinical time and it's usually preferred that the hair be tied back - so I delayed and delayed and delayed... so that takes me to my next point...
I passed clinical!!! Now some may say that that isn't much of an achievement, but this is the course in which I was failed for. THIS course is the bane of my existence! My preceptor said that I did great, and that I'll make an excellent nurse (already am one btw - wasn't about to say that to her though!)
So I went and chopped all my hair off (from the middle of my back to JUST below my ears) as a present - came home and hubby was awake (surprising since he worked nights yesterday) and he was shocked but loved it. MIL started complaining (in Urdu of course) about my haircut - oh well she's not the one I'm with so that doesn't matter much. Now today I'm going to dye it (a shocking color)...
and that leads to my third point - my BFF flies in today! YAY!!!!!!!! I'm super uber excited. Her and her 5 month old daughter are coming for 5 days. I can't wait to see them! i miss BFF like crazy - we haven't been talking much since the birth of her daughter cuz she's not working and because her daughter is a morning person (yuck!) and so she now goes to bed uber early - which means when I get off work and want to chat she's not available and when she wants to talk, I'm usually sleeping so I'm not available - it's like 2 ships passing in the night. We talk now about twice a month whereas we WERE talking about 2+ times a week. I miss it and I miss her. So I'm stoked that they're coming here. I'm also going to get her to dye my hair - easy to get her to do it than for me to struggle to make sure I get everything covered properly. I'll try to post a pic...
Showing posts with label clinical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clinical. Show all posts
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Almost back to work
Talked to Oc health today, about the same 'ol stuff. It's like they don't listen. Go figure.
I'm supposed to start back to work next week - very excited about this. I didn't think I would miss it as much as I do.
Spoke to my charge nurse as well to let her know that I was going to be coming back next week for my expected shifts.
Clinical is coming up as well. It'll be nice to follow up with my little old lady about how her social event this past week that she contracted with me for. I'll be surprised if she actually enjoyed it but there's always a chance at her surprising me.
Valentine's day is tomorrow.... little tyke is UBER excited about it. We got her special ones this year since it's her first time. We were also going to make cup cakes but her teacher told me that no outside food was allowed in the classroom - MAJOR disappointment! Hopefully all the kids will be happy with what we got. We'll see though.
I'm supposed to start back to work next week - very excited about this. I didn't think I would miss it as much as I do.
Spoke to my charge nurse as well to let her know that I was going to be coming back next week for my expected shifts.
Clinical is coming up as well. It'll be nice to follow up with my little old lady about how her social event this past week that she contracted with me for. I'll be surprised if she actually enjoyed it but there's always a chance at her surprising me.
Valentine's day is tomorrow.... little tyke is UBER excited about it. We got her special ones this year since it's her first time. We were also going to make cup cakes but her teacher told me that no outside food was allowed in the classroom - MAJOR disappointment! Hopefully all the kids will be happy with what we got. We'll see though.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Actually enjoying clinical
I've gone to clinical twice now and was really, really worried that I would hate it or that my clinical preceptor would hate me. Turns out we click BIG TIME!
Terry (not her real name) is a gorgeous outgoing black african american woman who is wonderful. I get to her house an hour before we leave, just to speak about how our day is expected to go, the type of patients we'll be seeing and what she expects of me. I like this because then I know what to expect and I can try to make sure I meet them.
One of the patient's we have is a 90+ woman who lives several states over from her only surviving child, who is a boy and he acts like one. My pt complains that they don't have a good relationship and that she has hinted that she would prefer to live closer but doesn't say it exactly like that so it's not like he recognizes it and so as time keeps going on she just gets more and more bitter. (my mom is the same way with one of my brothers so it was ironic that I could totally see it in this exchange) She is depressed and anxious and has openly admitted that she wants to die but won't commit suicide (as per her religious beliefs). She isolates herself because all of her exchanges with the people in her retirement home alienate her. I found it difficult trying to counsel her on changing her behavior. I just don't have the knack for these things. What I DID do was talk to her about her self isolating behavior and to make a verbal agreement to go to a social event at least once this week and she was required to sit by someone she hadn't previously communicated with and when we meet this week we would talk about it and how it went. I hope it goes well!
Then after our day we go back to her house and debrief how our day went. She complemented me (YAY!!!) about how well I'm doing and that I met her expectations for our day.
I will be VERY excited when this rotation is done and over with - just hope it's successful!!!
Terry (not her real name) is a gorgeous outgoing black african american woman who is wonderful. I get to her house an hour before we leave, just to speak about how our day is expected to go, the type of patients we'll be seeing and what she expects of me. I like this because then I know what to expect and I can try to make sure I meet them.
One of the patient's we have is a 90+ woman who lives several states over from her only surviving child, who is a boy and he acts like one. My pt complains that they don't have a good relationship and that she has hinted that she would prefer to live closer but doesn't say it exactly like that so it's not like he recognizes it and so as time keeps going on she just gets more and more bitter. (my mom is the same way with one of my brothers so it was ironic that I could totally see it in this exchange) She is depressed and anxious and has openly admitted that she wants to die but won't commit suicide (as per her religious beliefs). She isolates herself because all of her exchanges with the people in her retirement home alienate her. I found it difficult trying to counsel her on changing her behavior. I just don't have the knack for these things. What I DID do was talk to her about her self isolating behavior and to make a verbal agreement to go to a social event at least once this week and she was required to sit by someone she hadn't previously communicated with and when we meet this week we would talk about it and how it went. I hope it goes well!
Then after our day we go back to her house and debrief how our day went. She complemented me (YAY!!!) about how well I'm doing and that I met her expectations for our day.
I will be VERY excited when this rotation is done and over with - just hope it's successful!!!
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Verdict completely over the top
So the verdict is in - 10 work day suspension.
My union rep agrees that it's over the top and excessive so we're appealing their decision.
Because of my schedule and the fact that I'm part time and I can ONLY work weekends due to my medical stuff, I don't work now until the middle of February.
Their reasons are retarded such as me not telling them I was going to school - well it's not like they said ANYWHERE or ANYTIME that I had to! IMO it wasn't their business. I still feel that way.
I only went to "clinical" when I was feeling ok medically and I only went twice - that doesn't mean that I could perform my "usual duties" as would be expected if I returned back to work. Even modified duties wouldn't be appropriate. What if I needed to completely get off my butt, it's not like I would be able to find a couch somewhere or crawl onto a stretcher to get off my butt.
The only good thing that comes out of this situation is that it gives hubby another month to find a vehicle that we are both happy with. I thought he had already settled on something then he turns around and changes his mind so we're back at square one.
A bummers is that the appeal process is going to take a long time - union rep told me not to expect a meeting for at least 6 months. I guess I'll be focused on school then.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
head in the sand
This union thing is really stressing me out. Unfortunately the way I cope is by putting my head in the sand (more my bed actually) - not sure it's healthy - wanna weigh in?!
My meeting is thursday at 1430 - goodness I hope I don't get ransacked again, it really sucked the first time. I don't want to break down in tears again. Did so because I was so frustrated and irritated with the continuous questioning.... over and over about clinical. They couldn't understand how I had to complete 40hrs of clinical but that it didn't have to be on pts and that I could prove my assessment skills by answering questions. Does that make any sense to you peeps?! My union rep seemed to understand the FIRST time I explained it but the FOUR other inqizitionors couldn't seem to understand it - over and over - around and around. Goodness gracious. I felt so foolish for crying but I couldn't help it. Any suggestions on how in the world I can stop from crying in front of these people - they seem to hold the key to my employment.
My meeting is thursday at 1430 - goodness I hope I don't get ransacked again, it really sucked the first time. I don't want to break down in tears again. Did so because I was so frustrated and irritated with the continuous questioning.... over and over about clinical. They couldn't understand how I had to complete 40hrs of clinical but that it didn't have to be on pts and that I could prove my assessment skills by answering questions. Does that make any sense to you peeps?! My union rep seemed to understand the FIRST time I explained it but the FOUR other inqizitionors couldn't seem to understand it - over and over - around and around. Goodness gracious. I felt so foolish for crying but I couldn't help it. Any suggestions on how in the world I can stop from crying in front of these people - they seem to hold the key to my employment.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
My hospital hates me
Life just got a bit crazier (or shitty which ever term you choose to use)
I went for a return to work meeting today (finally feeling well enough to go back - tho I've been ready since the beginning of Dec)... and was bombarded with the fact that I since I was going to clinical (which I went to twice in the semester to prove my skills) that that was against my being off for medical reasons.
The only bright spot is at least my union rep sees it the way I do - that I was going by my medical which does not indicate that I couldn't attend clinical or drive - but that I couldn't work. They couldn't understand how you could be required to fulfill 40 hrs of clinical time but that you didn't have to do it in a clinical setting.
So they suspended me.... which means not returning to work. I don't know how I'm expected to pay for school if I don't have an income coming into the house.... I have to pay absurdly high rates - like $5,000 per semester (seriously). I started crying during the meeting - couldn't quite help it - bit of frustration and because I was sideswiped with this crap. I mean, it's not like I put it on facebook or anything.
Sure I put it up on my blog - but that tells me where in the world someone visits my blog (I love when someone visits!) and no one from my province has visited my blog. So I don't know how in the world they even found out that I was doing "clinicals". Unforunately my union rep said that I had to be completely open and honest and deal with the repercussions and then grieve the entire mess.
Don't know what I'm going to do about this all. Don't know what I can other than grin and bear it - lean apon friends and family, etc...
Next week we have another meeting - giving them time enough to "investigate" this entire mess. I gave them the number to contact my clinical preceptor to "back up" my information indicating that I was simply observing her during pt times and answering questions to prove my own ability to assess. We'll see how this works out.
I went for a return to work meeting today (finally feeling well enough to go back - tho I've been ready since the beginning of Dec)... and was bombarded with the fact that I since I was going to clinical (which I went to twice in the semester to prove my skills) that that was against my being off for medical reasons.
The only bright spot is at least my union rep sees it the way I do - that I was going by my medical which does not indicate that I couldn't attend clinical or drive - but that I couldn't work. They couldn't understand how you could be required to fulfill 40 hrs of clinical time but that you didn't have to do it in a clinical setting.
So they suspended me.... which means not returning to work. I don't know how I'm expected to pay for school if I don't have an income coming into the house.... I have to pay absurdly high rates - like $5,000 per semester (seriously). I started crying during the meeting - couldn't quite help it - bit of frustration and because I was sideswiped with this crap. I mean, it's not like I put it on facebook or anything.
Sure I put it up on my blog - but that tells me where in the world someone visits my blog (I love when someone visits!) and no one from my province has visited my blog. So I don't know how in the world they even found out that I was doing "clinicals". Unforunately my union rep said that I had to be completely open and honest and deal with the repercussions and then grieve the entire mess.
Don't know what I'm going to do about this all. Don't know what I can other than grin and bear it - lean apon friends and family, etc...
Next week we have another meeting - giving them time enough to "investigate" this entire mess. I gave them the number to contact my clinical preceptor to "back up" my information indicating that I was simply observing her during pt times and answering questions to prove my own ability to assess. We'll see how this works out.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Almost finished this term
4:30 am and I'm just contemplating going to sleep. Seems I do most of my work at night. I prefer it this way, no one in the house awake to bother me (interrupt or such) and so I believe I've finished one of my requirements for next week for one of my courses.
I have a couple of more weeks left in this term. Holy smokes has it gone quickly! I've done fabulously (so far) in the one course - mainly pharm with a bit of "other" stuff thrown in (kinda hard to articulate just what but it involves discussion boards). I've gotten excellent marks but the feedback kinda stinks. It doesn't really leave me with much to go on, good or bad. There's no critique, just marking. This is not something I'm used to, when I was in the BSN program previously, I got a LOT of feedback on my papers and assignments. It helped me get better with my writing and such but I'm just not getting it this time around. Is that a good sign or not I have NOOOOO idea. I hope it's a good one!
My other course has the clinical component and the theory part but they are separate entities. In order to pass the course you must pass both. But let me tell you, this teacher does NOT make it easy! So far I've been above the 75% critical point except for one but let me tell you, holy crap did I shit my pants when I didn't get that mark. There's only so many quizzes and such to bring your mark above 75% and when you don't hit that mark you really start to worry!
I wish I knew where I was in relation to the rest of the group. I always feel better when I know where I am in relation to others. Am I above, just at or below others? No idea in this instance. Causes me more worrying to be honest.
My ADHD is getting the better of me these days. Hubby has noticed it as well. I'm trying to be better at being motivated but I just feel sapped. I don't know if it's because of what's been going on with me health-wise or something else but I wish I could just nip it in the butt! I have a LOT of shit that needs to get done pronto and procrastinating is NOT helping matters!
Somehow I have to find an ottoscope and a tuning fork - any ideas?! It's not like I know of anyone who owns these things and has them in a drawer for handy moments. I suppose I will have to approach my physician to see if he'll let me borrow. Ya we'll see how well that goes! I need it in order to do assessment DVD worth a MAJOR portion of marks in my one course. WISH ME LUCK!
I have a couple of more weeks left in this term. Holy smokes has it gone quickly! I've done fabulously (so far) in the one course - mainly pharm with a bit of "other" stuff thrown in (kinda hard to articulate just what but it involves discussion boards). I've gotten excellent marks but the feedback kinda stinks. It doesn't really leave me with much to go on, good or bad. There's no critique, just marking. This is not something I'm used to, when I was in the BSN program previously, I got a LOT of feedback on my papers and assignments. It helped me get better with my writing and such but I'm just not getting it this time around. Is that a good sign or not I have NOOOOO idea. I hope it's a good one!
My other course has the clinical component and the theory part but they are separate entities. In order to pass the course you must pass both. But let me tell you, this teacher does NOT make it easy! So far I've been above the 75% critical point except for one but let me tell you, holy crap did I shit my pants when I didn't get that mark. There's only so many quizzes and such to bring your mark above 75% and when you don't hit that mark you really start to worry!
I wish I knew where I was in relation to the rest of the group. I always feel better when I know where I am in relation to others. Am I above, just at or below others? No idea in this instance. Causes me more worrying to be honest.
My ADHD is getting the better of me these days. Hubby has noticed it as well. I'm trying to be better at being motivated but I just feel sapped. I don't know if it's because of what's been going on with me health-wise or something else but I wish I could just nip it in the butt! I have a LOT of shit that needs to get done pronto and procrastinating is NOT helping matters!
Somehow I have to find an ottoscope and a tuning fork - any ideas?! It's not like I know of anyone who owns these things and has them in a drawer for handy moments. I suppose I will have to approach my physician to see if he'll let me borrow. Ya we'll see how well that goes! I need it in order to do assessment DVD worth a MAJOR portion of marks in my one course. WISH ME LUCK!
Friday, October 11, 2013
Fever seizures
Had placement today, it was my last - at least I think so. I've enjoyed it and today was no different.
My preceptor seemed to have enough trust in me to attend to one of the physicals today, and I nailed it.
We saw a little one who had bilateral ear infections - boy did they look painful!!! OUCHIE
Then we had a dad who brought his 5 month-ish daughter in for a check up cause his wife thought her cold had gone into her chest and was sounding congested - NP said nope but dad had also brought his approx. 2 yr old. And boy did HE look sick!!! He certainly looked MUCH worse than the one he came in for in the first place!
Dad indicated that kiddo had been fighting this "thing" for almost 3 weeks - had gone to an urgent care and the docs there had prescribed amoxicillin - which he had just recently finished. His nose was draining but not purulent - it was clear. When the NP touched him though, immediately she asked for a temp and it turned out that he had spiked one - 102.4 F (39.1 celcius) - and his poor eyes just told u everything about how sick he felt. We went out to get him tylenol and I went back in to give it to him - and take it he did. Then went back out. The NP was unsure what she was going to do plan wise because aside from the temp, his sinuses didn't look infected, no nasal drip indicating infection, chest clear - so what to do? And while we were discussing this amongest ourselves, the dad brought the kiddo out to the main area and exclaimed "he's having a seizure".
Sure enough, tonic clonic seizure (really rigid then the convulsions - and loss of consciousness - and his eyes rolled back in his head)- NP instructs the dad to put him down on the ground and she ensured that he didn't aspirate - tells the clerk to call 911 and stayed with him. Unfortunately there was no suction machine so I grabbed a kleenex so that she could wipe out his mouth - the seizure lasted approx. 2 minutes. When he started to have secretions in his mouth she turned him on his side and wiped his mouth again. Thankfully no vomitting, which meant that he kept down the tylenol. He also lost control of his bowels during this time. But that was the least of our concerns!
Once the fire fighters arrived, he had just completed the seizure and was in the "post ictal" phase of the seizure which is where they are no longer seizing but have not regained consciousness. Or if they do regain it, it may only be for a second. Our little guy went from the tonic clonic to post ictal then back to tonic clonic. Before he started to seize again the NP was able to get him to respond and open his eyes and his pupils were equal and reactive (good sign) - then he started to seize again, but it didn't last long before he went back to the post ictal phase. The guys arrived and put oxygen on him (didn't realize that there was oxygen in the office - don't know where anything is pretty much in that office!) and a pulse ox on him. His oxygen saturation was 94% without the oxygen and with blow-by oxygen it went to 100%. I tried to put the oxygen mask on him but he swiped that away so I just held it next to his face. You just felt for the little guy and his daddy who was standing near by just staring and trying to get a hold of his wife who was at work.
I got his little girl's stuff all together and got her in her car seat and brought her to him. Then once the paramedics showed up, they took the little one and away they all went with dad and baby in tow.
Wasn't expecting that for the last day of clinical - tho that's sorta how one of my last days of clinical placements went when I was doing placement on my unit at my hospital - so maybe it's a good omen for me???
My preceptor seemed to have enough trust in me to attend to one of the physicals today, and I nailed it.
We saw a little one who had bilateral ear infections - boy did they look painful!!! OUCHIE
Then we had a dad who brought his 5 month-ish daughter in for a check up cause his wife thought her cold had gone into her chest and was sounding congested - NP said nope but dad had also brought his approx. 2 yr old. And boy did HE look sick!!! He certainly looked MUCH worse than the one he came in for in the first place!
Dad indicated that kiddo had been fighting this "thing" for almost 3 weeks - had gone to an urgent care and the docs there had prescribed amoxicillin - which he had just recently finished. His nose was draining but not purulent - it was clear. When the NP touched him though, immediately she asked for a temp and it turned out that he had spiked one - 102.4 F (39.1 celcius) - and his poor eyes just told u everything about how sick he felt. We went out to get him tylenol and I went back in to give it to him - and take it he did. Then went back out. The NP was unsure what she was going to do plan wise because aside from the temp, his sinuses didn't look infected, no nasal drip indicating infection, chest clear - so what to do? And while we were discussing this amongest ourselves, the dad brought the kiddo out to the main area and exclaimed "he's having a seizure".
Sure enough, tonic clonic seizure (really rigid then the convulsions - and loss of consciousness - and his eyes rolled back in his head)- NP instructs the dad to put him down on the ground and she ensured that he didn't aspirate - tells the clerk to call 911 and stayed with him. Unfortunately there was no suction machine so I grabbed a kleenex so that she could wipe out his mouth - the seizure lasted approx. 2 minutes. When he started to have secretions in his mouth she turned him on his side and wiped his mouth again. Thankfully no vomitting, which meant that he kept down the tylenol. He also lost control of his bowels during this time. But that was the least of our concerns!
Once the fire fighters arrived, he had just completed the seizure and was in the "post ictal" phase of the seizure which is where they are no longer seizing but have not regained consciousness. Or if they do regain it, it may only be for a second. Our little guy went from the tonic clonic to post ictal then back to tonic clonic. Before he started to seize again the NP was able to get him to respond and open his eyes and his pupils were equal and reactive (good sign) - then he started to seize again, but it didn't last long before he went back to the post ictal phase. The guys arrived and put oxygen on him (didn't realize that there was oxygen in the office - don't know where anything is pretty much in that office!) and a pulse ox on him. His oxygen saturation was 94% without the oxygen and with blow-by oxygen it went to 100%. I tried to put the oxygen mask on him but he swiped that away so I just held it next to his face. You just felt for the little guy and his daddy who was standing near by just staring and trying to get a hold of his wife who was at work.
I got his little girl's stuff all together and got her in her car seat and brought her to him. Then once the paramedics showed up, they took the little one and away they all went with dad and baby in tow.
Wasn't expecting that for the last day of clinical - tho that's sorta how one of my last days of clinical placements went when I was doing placement on my unit at my hospital - so maybe it's a good omen for me???
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