Entry 4.5

Thankfully, Ms. Damelio threw out question 17 (thanks!) and I ended up making a 90! I'm pretty satisfied with that grade butttt it sucks because in nursing school the grading scale is tougher and an A is a 93% or higher! Ugh. Regardless, I can't complain.

This week, waking up for the clinical experience was not nearly as difficult as my first one. We went to TMH rehab center and I was assigned a patient (shared with Victoria) who had issues with her right knee. She needed assisting in almost all her ADLs although she had a very independent spirit. Victoria and I assisted her with toileting and a bed bath. Although it followed the structure of what was practiced in lab, a real bed bath on a patient is much different than practicing on a young healthy fellow nursing student. It definitely caught me off guard and I felt out of my element although I didn't let it show.

Victoria and I observed our patient in occupational and physical therapy and I can confidently say I do NOT want to be a nurse on that floor. Something about it I just didn't like although I can't specifically put my finger on it. Perhaps it was a discouraged patient that broke down crying or maybe it was the fact that I was having to watch adults of all ages basically relearn such basic things like walking? More power to the people that enjoyed it and have the patience to handle work in that field.

I crave excitement and action which I am hoping to find in the military being a combat nurse. I'm talking gun shot wounds and people who have had their legs blown off. (I don't hope people get their legs blown off but I want to HELP people who find themselves in situations like that).

I thoroughly enjoyed lab this week learning about wound dressings. I definitely want a real life experience on that to see if it's just as cool and interesting as I thought it was in lab.

I am still shocked about the severeness a pressure wound can build up to basically by just sitting in one position for an extended period of time. It blows my mind that if someone is just sitting there they can get an open wound. It sort of makes me paranoid of myself, (I tossed and turned in bed all night that night) but also about my patients. How terrible that would be to have one of your patients receive a pressure wound as a result of you (or me) forgetting to move and reposition someone. I am grateful I am learning these things now though.

I had a pretty good weekend and definitely let loose, Friday night down town get down was so much fun. The band was awesome and I made a good amount of cash working beer tub. I think I am going to reward myself with a massage? Nursing school is pretty stressful and the last thing I need is knots building up in my muscles...I think I'll get Audra to do it! :) ...this is the first weekend I really don't have school on my mind since we just finished the midterm and clinicals. I am also overall pleased with my elder reminiscence paper...hopefully Ms. Damelio will be too.

Tomorrow it's back to reality...although I'm not complaining. I LOVE nursing school :) Yay! I can't wait to be an RN!