MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 5000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Hoosier Student Nurse' source. Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:42:49 +0100 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2008/01/hoosier-registered-nurse.html It's amazing how a random series of numbers/letters can change everything. The boulder on my back is gone. I desperately wanted to share this with my husband and of course, he is not in town. Poor guy was wakened at an unacceptably early hour, but he understood and I could hear the smile when I didn't even say hello, just "I passed." Right this very second, life could not be better! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1130976 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1130976 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2008/01/boards-blow.html I did it. I took my boards today. May I add that I didn't definitively know the answer to more than five questions on the whole damn test? I would get through one "check all that apply" to be greeted with "first priority". Then would come "what would indicate immediate attention to patient who had XYZ" and all of the possible answers were things I didn't have a clue about. Because of Big Brother, and the agreement that I won't share a single horrible question of that test, this is as specific as I intend to get, but know that I guessed my way through the whole thing. I had a ton of med questions (of which at least two were check all that apply) and I suck more at that than anything. Those bullshit study guides didn't help me one bit. The thousands of practice questions I did didn't help me one bit. When I was getting to 60-65 questions, I was praying that I was one of the people who would have to answer everything so that I would at least have the advantage of volume. When that computer shut off at 75 questions, I was numb. If feeling confident in my ability to critically think my way through that is an indicator of whether I passed or not, I'd be seriously leaning toward failure. $250.00 down the drain is all that is running through my head right now along with the dread that I may very well have to go through that again. Shit. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1128674 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1128674 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2008/01/whirlwind.html I've been on my floor orientation for a week. Some days I've just followed, some I've taken a patient or two, just whatever the preceptor wanted. Since I'm not an RN, I can't do IV pushes or hang chemo yet, but everyone has been so good about running in and saying, "I've got a patient about to -fill in the blank- so do you want to watch/do it?" Thanks to them, because yesterday (my first full 12 hour shift), we had a very full house. Every bed occupied with one poor man in the hallway for two and a half hours while we scrambled to discharge someone to find him a spot. One nurse called in and there were no floats available. An hour and a half into the shift, my preceptors child got sick and she had to leave PDQ. The charge nurse asked what I wanted to do since there were now four patients who needed a nurse and everyone else had four or five. I gulped and said, "What the heck, I'll take them all." I did it. All the meds got passed, charting got done and on time to boot, beds and baths done, and one got discharged with all paper work done and one got transferred with all reports and charts with her. I have never been so tired in my life. I have never had so much fun in my life. I love these patients and the nurses who work on this floor. Despite any awful things they say amongst themselves, when they are in the rooms or within earshot of patients or families, they are pros of the highest order. You have never seen such a caring group of women. I am so lucky. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1124227 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1124227 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/12/full-panic-mode.html The test that will complete this journey is scheduled to be taken on Thursday. This weekend I pulled out the review book just to brush up on things I haven't seen in a while. The list of stuff I don't know is a mile long, and it is unreasonable that I'll learn them in the next three days. I did a practice test and instead of the usual 70-75% right, I scored a 60. I'm going to be in deep shit. Bummer. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1122523 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1122523 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/12/i-hope-this-isnt-sign.html Is it a bad sign that the first patient I cared for as a nurse died 12 hours later, especially since I said a quiet prayer that she would? Cancer is a mean, hard, cold, heartless bitch. Godspeed. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1115332 Tue, 25 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1115332 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/12/authorization-to-test.html Got that today. Went online and scheduled my test date for January 3 @ 10:15am. Now I'm pretty nervous. I should do OK. Gotta keep my confidence up! I'm through with hospital orientation and will start my floor orientation tomorrow. I'll be working 8hr days for the first week, and then go to 12 hour days after that. After a while, they'll put me on nights which is what I was hired to work. I'm cool with nights, but I hope I get used to it pretty quick. I get tired by 10:00, so this is going to be a real adjustment. I get so amazed by the various jobs all of the people I've been blogging with all this time have decided on. We're doing PICU, school nursing, telemetry, ICU, Peds, ER, Med Surg, and of course, oncology. I felt funny yesterday, because the NCM from L&D came down yesterday, and she asked what I'd be doing. She'd asked me to come see her when I graduated, but I never considered it. I like the sick patients, and though seeing a baby being born is pretty much a miracle, I don't want to care for healthy patients. I want to take care of people who might want to just have someone hold their hand and listen to them when they tell you they're scared. I want the patient to know that when their bodies are racked with nausea from some shitty chemo, I'll keep bringing them bags to throw up in and antiemetics to try to help, plus maybe find a tasty snack to try to keep them nourished. I want to celebrate with them when they find out their screens and scans are clear, and help someone die with some respect and dignity when the scans aren't good, and we're at the end of the line for treatment options. i want their families to know there is someone who they can come to when their parent/spouse/sibling needs something and they don't know how to provide it. In other words, I CAN'T WAIT TO BE A NURSE!!!!! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1113306 Sat, 22 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1113306 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/11/whos-getting-pinned-tonight.html SO VERY TIRED..... I took my last regular test on Wednesday. Only made an 88, but that's ok. I can make a 26 on the final and still pass the class, so I'm not sweating it. We had clinical evals yesterday and I made an A. Pinning is tonight and since I have no family here, only my husband and a couple we hang out with are coming. I don't even care. When they hand me the packet that I can send into the state to schedule my boards is when I'll truly feel like a nurse.My kid had what is supposed to be a blood clot in his heart near the prosthetic heart valve. He was in the hospital for several days getting massive bolus's of Heparin and clot buster drugs. It dissolved and all is well, but that wasted five days that I could have been getting ready for the final. I don't regret it though since I would have been a basket case if I hadn't gone to Nashville to be with him. He seems better but I still have a lot of uneasy feelings about him both physically and emotionally. I have to learn to let that go since it is out of my control. Easier said than done. For my morning rant. I went to pinning practice yesterday and was asking everyone where they are going to work. There are some who just haven't started looking since they want to be off for the holidays, but there are lots who just plain haven't been offered a job though they've applied for several positions. We are somewhat unique in this area in that the nursing shortage is not severe here. Sure, there are some less than stellar hospitals in Indianapolis who are trying desperately to get their staffing increased, but for the most part, decent hospitals can be fairly picky about who they hire. You won't see hiring bonuses or be guaranteed that you'll walk into your first choice of jobs or first hospital choice (I was very, very lucky). The actual shortages in the nicer hospitals in Indy is about 3% (we're close enough to Indy to be able to commute) and it is even less here. Nevertheless, there are those who are insistent on applying for positions they don't have very little chance of getting. About the only almost guaranteed jobs are PRN float positions and these deluded students keep applying for jobs they will never get. I think when you've got your heart set on Peds or OB or whatever, and you've interviewed for a couple of jobs at the large children's hospital, and they've never called you back, you may want to rethink your goals and start at a job you can get and then try again later. A friend said she tried to advise one of these women about making a good impression, and the woman totally blew her off and said she was sure all would be good since there is such a big nursing shortage. Since the hospital she wants to work in offered her nothing, maybe she should have listened. Another girl told me yesterday she wants to commute to Indy for weekend options days. I KNOW they have waiting lists for these jobs for both the day and night options (work 24 hours weekends only and get paid full time) from those within the hospital, so there is no way she will be getting one of these jobs straight out of school. I really don't know what is wrong with people. Maybe it's because they've never been out in the "real" working world and fail to understand that sometimes you start below where you want to be to get your foot in the door, then work your way up. There are those who will say that it's easy for me to comment since I got my choice job, and I am not the only one by any means, but I would have been perfectly willing to take a float position until an oncology job opened up at my hospital of choice (I wasn't willing to compromise on where I work). One of my classmates also wants only oncology, and he took a med/surg job until there is an opening. One other wants OB, and she took a float until there is an opening. Yes, it's possible to get what you want, but it's also possible that you won't, so have plan B in place or plan on sitting at home. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1076214 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1076214 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/11/much-to-be-thankful-for.html Happy Thanksgiving!!! There is much to be thankful for this year. My RN program is winding down. Because I'm not continuing the BSN track that I planned, I'll have a six month reprieve from school which excites me beyond all reason. I got the job I wanted. My son is semi OK, my husband is great, and all my babies (kitties and doggies) are the best. I just got a letter three weeks before the end of the semester that I received a $2000.00 scholarship I applied for. I'm doing very, very well in school. Unless ATI is a big fat liar, I'm ready to pass the boards. All in all, a pretty good year. Now if my car will carry me to work and school for one more year, things will be pretty perfect. I'm pretty sure this is where we are going to stay. I always thought this was just a way stop until I graduated and we could get back to Texas, but we've grown to like it here. I love the hospital here, and my husband likes there being four real seasons (a bit too cold and humid for me). I'm within a very reasonable drive from my son. The bad is that our parents aren't getting any younger and we are a considerable distance from them (especially the in-laws). That means we also don't get to see our nieces and nephews as often as we'd like, nor our best friends and god-children in Texas, but that is the price we have to pay. It is just as affordable here as it is in Fort Worth. You can live in a perfectly nice house here for under $150,000 and a really nice one if you're willing to spend a little more. All in all, the benefits outweigh the negatives, so I think the decision is made. Now...if a great job happened to open up in Texas that my husband is drooling for, all bets are off, but he's already turned down the chance to go back for a lateral move. Yep, I think this is our home town now. Everyone have a great holiday and take a nap after dinner! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1045071 Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1045071 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/11/missy-has-job.html I haven't blogged or talked to anyone about it because I didn't want to jinx it, but I was offered my 1st choice position today!!! It's funny that when I started this whole nursing thing, I thought I'll go in the ER and live on the adrenalin. As my nursing education has progressed, I have become more attracted to the patient and less to the "fly by the seat of my pants" need for thrills. I love the patients and their families. I love taking care of the same patients for several days and seeing their faces when I show up in the morning because they know I remember what they like and don't like. When their husbands, wives, children welcome me or are so stressed out and just need a little hand holding or someone to listen to them. That being said, I'd already decided that a medical floor would be for me. When applying at the hospital I want to work in, the HR person was going through openings. Surgery? No, the patients are asleep all of the time. ER? No, they're in and out. ICU? That is a real possibility and I would not be upset about that. Oncology? My eyes lit up and I beamed. I said, "Oh...I would LOVE that!" It has everything I wanted in my nursing career. They never have any openings because the manager is so great and no one ever leaves. They hadn't even posted it yet, but I knew a student in my class who has been an LPN on the oncology floor of another hospital for several years had already applied for a job and had an interview set up for next week, so I wasn't counting on it, but still wanted it. I interviewed this morning, and I just got a call that the manager loved me and was offering me the job! I'm so excited!! I'll have my last final on the 12th and start the next week. I know I'll be sad a lot of times, but I'll be able to comfort those most affected. I'll also be thrilled when things are working out, and be able to celebrate with the patient and those they love. Best of all, I'll know I had a hand in it. I know that some day I'll be strolling through Kroger, and I'll see someone healthy and vital and know that I was part of that. I'll also see a family member and know that I had a part in ensuring their loved one died on their terms and with dignity. This day is the best! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1017628 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1017628 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/11/blog-post.html I did it. I applied for my first job. Actually, for now, it's the only application I'll be submitting since I have my heart set on a specific hospital. The pay is pretty good for a small town, and I'm not willing to drive 75 miles one-way for a couple of dollars more an hour. The benefits are really good, and the patient to nurse ratio is doable. I hope they jump at me, because I'm one of the very few who doesn't care what days, or what hours. Heck, I don't even care what floor. That's why I applied for a float position. That way I won't get stuck somewhere and find out down the line that I made a mistake. It will also give me time to become a competent nurse with a lot of experience doing a lot of different things. I'm so excited. It really feels real now.As for school, all is well. I have done well on all tests so far and only have three more to take. I only have a care plan and nutrition paper to do and all the assignments will be completed. I'm doing a lot of practice questions for the boards, and am FINALLY seeing a light at the end of the tunnel for this RN journey. The only fly in the ointment, is that I'm leaving the BSN program I'm scheduled to begin in January, and transferring to a different school. It doesn't affect my eligibility to sit for the boards. This will delay things about 6 months, but is a lot more organized than the one I'm currently in. I've seen one too many people think they've gotten everything done for graduation (because their advisor's told them so), and then come back with, "oops!, my bad, you have to take one more class." I also can get out of statistics and a foreign language this way. I'm good with that!I hope my next post says I'm an EMPLOYED nurse!!!!!! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1000971 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 04:00:00 +0100 1000971 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-motivation-is-slip-slidin-away.html School is a big, fat booger. Seriously. I made a 90% for my final clinical grade in Psych. I've NEVER made a B in clinicals before...EVER!!! Theory, yes...clinical, no. The rationale is that no one is perfect, so an outstanding is unattainable. WTF?? How could I not even get a 10 on attendance since I was never late and never missed a day? Huh??? I really like the clinical instructor, and I know she means well, but whatever.On to Med Surg. I'm glad to be back and I definitely am glad to be back on a regular hospital floor. The recruitment is in full force, so everyone except for some of the bitch nurses on the floor are super nice. People who aren't interested in what they are doing need to find another job. That's ok when you're the stocker at WalMart, but totally unacceptable when you are a nurse. There is nothing that pisses me off more than to answer a call light and a patient (HELLO..can anyone say customer) has a problem and when I report it to their nurse, just get the eye roll. Really pisses me off... bad...really bad. Please don't ever let me get like that. I know some patients are bigger pains than others, but I hope I never get to the point when I won't listen to them just because they aren't my favorite. Most of the time, they probably are just whiny, but what if it's that one in a thousand time that someone is crashing and the nurse just does the eye roll and says she'll get to it and then continues to sit on her ass. Like they're an imposition. Please...Also, since I am a shameless celebrity whore, what is up with that nutball, Britney Spears? Can anyone say, "All wheels off!" Do you think she is an addict, self absorbed, or crazy? I just can't stop reading about the train wreck of her life. Holy shit!Anyway, all is well at school, even if I meant it about the big, fat booger. Classes are going fine and I only have 69 days left. For those wondering, the boy is still clean but is flaking out around the edges a little bit. He left the sober living house and has been searching for a job and sleeping in a friends basement. He wondered if the fact that his clothes haven't been washed has anything to do with the not having any luck getting hired thing. He refuses to go back to the house, so I found a place for him to stay this week and gave him enough money to ride the bus and wash clothes until a bed opens up in a different place. He is still at therapy and AA meetings and still in touch with his sponsor most days. Baby steps I guess. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=927850 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 927850 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/09/my-son-with-whom-i-am-well-pleased.html My son has been so on my mind of late. I read blogs and blogs of perfect children, and a little lump forms in my throat. I'm not AT ALL lacking in happiness in the achievements of these kids, but sometimes, I feel I was a little cheated. Even if no one reads this, my boy gets his day.I was not prepared to be pregnant. I'd only been married for three months, and knew I'd made a mistake. My new husband who seemed so edgy and exciting as a boyfriend was a drug addict. How could I have not known it? We didn't live together, and frankly, I wasn't above using this or that in those days. I didn't spend the rent money, but hey, I liked a good party. Pregnancy put a damper on those times, and in the sober light of day, I was grossed out by the behavior of the people I'd spent most of my free time with. Well, at the birth of the boy, the husband got the message fast that his lifestyle was coming at the price of his wife and child, and the price was too high for him. He straightened out and never used again the entire length of our marriage. I wish the genes my boy inherited had straightened out too, but that was not to be. He said he was an addict before he ever drank a drop, or took a drug. He said he couldn't wait until the moment came when someone finally offered him drugs. That happened when he was 14 or 15. He loved the first time, and for a long time, all the times that came after it. As if the constant skipping school and barely getting by wasn't enough, he got smacked in the face with Bipolar at 17. When he was up, he was invincible. When down, he was in hell. We begged, we pleaded, we did "tough love", went through hospitalization, psychiatrists, antidepressants, and nothing changed. He was in jail twice before he even graduated from high school, and again six months after that. He wasn't manic or depressed enough for detention or commitment, but when you mixed it up with plenty of drug, it was enough to not function. When he finally graduated from high school, a year behind his class, they should have put my name on the diploma. He wouldn't work and no punishment made a bit of difference. He could be grounded for a year, and he just sat in his room reading, writing journals of how inspired and depraved and wonderful he was, and listening to music. He told me once that he loved the musicians and writers so much, that the line blurred between loving them and living their lives. At 20, he finally moved out. He lasted 6 months in one town and managed to be arrested again while still on probation. His solution to that was to pack up and move 2000 miles away. That's when he developed a real taste for alcohol. It's as if all the drug use was just practicing for the big finale. Liquor. He loved it all...beer, wine, whiskey, scotch...all of it. Watching him drink was alarming. He was like a thirsty man on a hot day. He would buy a six pack and guzzle it. He could kill a beer in one minute and be on to the next. He was like a man with an allergy, and there was not enough in the world to stop the itch. This era lasted about 8 months, and then on to the next city. There he moved on to his true love. Alcohol and Xanax. This was the combo he had been searching for. His personal heaven. He bounced from job to job, and manipulated me out of so much money, I can't bear to think about it. I moved him from apartment to apartment, because this time would be different. This time he'd get his shit together. This time he would be straight, if I'd just give him $200.00 more...again, and again, and again. The problem is, Xanax isn't always available, but guess what is? Heroin. He loved the whole experience. He said he was as addicted to scoring as the drug. He said he could feel his heart beat faster just looking at a needle. This went on for about a year when he finally got scared. He was about to be homeless, and didn't know how to get out of this one. He called me and we found a program for him to go into. He said he did stop the needles, but he never stopped using. He finally got booted out for drinking, but he was a little more stable and was able to move in with a friend, and he'd kept a job for several months. Of course, the lifestyle was too expensive to pay rent, so he needed somewhere to go. I didn't know that when he called and said he wanted to go back to school and could he move in with us. I, being the deluded enabler that I am, said that would be wonderful. He did enroll and transferred to a restaurant here in town, and all seemed ok. I think he was really trying, and thought if he relocated, he would be able to change. Two months later, he was sick. Reusing needles had caused an infection, and he had a bad, bad case of infective endocarditis. By this time, his aortic valve was destroyed and he has emboli floating all over his body. Luckily, it landed in his spleen and that pain required a trip to the ED. After a valve replacement, three weeks in two different hospitals, and six weeks at home with a PIC line and Vancomycin, he was better. He even finished out the semester with a 4.0 by keeping up at home. I thought I could exhale. Wrong. You get the idea of the next couple of years. He went back to Nashville, and on and on. I kept waiting on "the call" because he was completely non compliant with his coumadin regimen. He got drunk and fell on his face breaking his nose and chipping both of his front teeth. He passed out on the porch and he and his dog spent hours out there. He said he woke to Ti licking him. She never left his side. The icing on the cake was meth. Nothing like a manic guy on meth. Especially a manic guy shooting up meth. This time there was no problem in emergency detention. He was psychotic. He was spewing so much crazy crap. He thought the CIA has kidnapped him and taken him to Langley because of "what he knew". After a couple of weeks, when he was finally semi rational and detoxed, we found another program. He hasn't looked back since. Only forward...I don't want to make any assumptions. He has been clean for over 75 days. He is a daily attendee of AA and goes to IOP four days a week. He is living in a sober living house with a lot of other additcts. I got the help I need and now no longer give him the benefit of the doubt. I have learned how to say no. It was strained at first, but as he becomes more and more himself, he doesn't really ask anymore. I went to Nashville last weekend for a family seminar, and it was so nice. The boy got permission to go with me, and it was a real treat for him. A nice hotel room, lots of good food in good restaurants, and I even brought his dog whom I'd had to go down and bring home with me when things were at there worst (BTW, even at his worst, when I went to get her, there was no human food...just hundreds of empty and partially empty beer bottles...but there was dog food and treats, and she was healthy and well fed). The best part, was no weirdness and no anger. He was settled and at peace with himself. He was like a little kid. He was just so pleased with everything. When the patients joined the families on the last day, I could tell how proud he was that I was there. It was one of the best weekends I've ever had.I know this is too long, and such a common tale, but my boy got his day. I'm starting to see the person he was before all of this started. His mom is very proud of him. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=888547 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 888547 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/09/im-psychd-out.html Psych is done. All done. No, I didn't care for it. The patients were ok. Not nearly as hard to handle as I thought, but not for me. I have never studied less for a final in my life. So much of this is common sense. I've made a 94 on every test so far, so I could pretty much have not shown up and still done fine in the class. Less than 12 weeks, and I'll be eligible to sit for the NCLEX. My ATI's say that I'll pass and I'm doing the practice tests. I don't know what else I can do. On to Advanced Med/Surg and Nursing Issues. I can't wait until this semester is OVER!!! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=885345 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 885345 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/08/on-to-future.html Rambling because I'm too tired to do anything else. Made an A on my first test of the semester. Got both homework assignments and the group presentation done today for my classes tomorrow.I think I've ALMOST decided that John Edwards is the candidate I'll be supporting. He's saying a lot of things I like, and I loved the article that just came out in Vanity Fair (or was it Rolling Stone...I forgot and I'm too tired to look).Speaking of Rolling Stone, and if you detest Bush as badly as I do, read the article on how badly this administration has let the civilian contractors in Iraq (also known as Republican cronies) rape our financial future. It's a doozy. YES...I am a yellow dog Democrat and proud of it! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=830919 Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 830919 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/08/can-i-remember-all-of-this.html Ok. Been in school for one week. Taking Advanced Med/Surg and Psych, and nursing issues. Have already had one roll play for MS/Psych. First test in Psych tomorrow (we do it first). Have two homework assignments and another group roll play for issues on Thursday. Have to do three 100 NCLEX question tests with 75%, 8 simulations assignments, two papers, two huge nursing care plans with weekly regular care plans. Another paper on nutrition and one on abuse (APA format of course) and drug cards out the ying/yang. This is on top of 3 eight hour clinicals a week. Plus, when are we supposed to study for boards that I'll be expected to pass after all of this? Oh, I forgot, ATI testing for both Med Surg and Psych and a "pass it or you fail" math test. I hate my life. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=828025 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 828025 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/08/from-bad-to-worse.html I am finding it difficult to find the words when speaking to my sister. As bad as the news was about her husband, it got worse. The cancer in his lungs is metastatic from the kidney. I should say kidneys since they've found cancer on the adrenal gland in his other kidney also. This is a really nasty bastard that doesn't respond to chemo or radiation, so the doctor sort of told my sister he is basically screwed. I just couldn't believe that he said that. I don't think a responsible physician, without even attempting treatment can just dump that on them. She just has the words 80% mortality ringing in her head now. Her husband is actually trying to comfort her! He keeps apologizing. He is having the really bad kidney removed today, and then on to the oncologist. I hope this new doctor is a little more practical and lets them know that until they've seen how he responds to the treatment, it's a little premature to be throwing numbers out there. He has 3 living sibs, and I told her to have them all tested for compatibility, and if someone is appropriate, yank that lobe and both kidneys out and get a good one in there. There is no lymph spread, and as far as they can tell from the CT and PET scan, all the cancer is limited to the organs. Time to fight right now, not bury. Hell, I'll give the guy a kidney. I've got one to spare.On to school. Jumped in with a vengeance. Aleady have a test next Wednesday and 3 days a week of clinicals. At least I made it to the gym today. There is so much busy work to do this semester, that it boggles my mind, but I always feel this way at the beginning of every semester, and I always make it through. This will be no exception. If you have a minute, please keep family in your prayers. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=817573 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 817573 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/08/not-good-at-all.html For BIL, things are going from bad to worse. They've found two dime sized spots on his lungs. PET scan confirms it's cancer, and he's having a biopsy today to find out if it's from the kidney or just what kind it is. He acts like this is all fine and dandy (one of those good old boys stiff upper lip types). His mom has no idea, my sister is crying all of the time, and I can't stop thinking and praying about it. His income is very important to this family, and he has no disability insurance. My sister was horrified at the suggestion he may have to take time off (he drives a truck). I reminded her he can't be treated and be in California at the same time. I felt badly for even saying anything, because they don't need MORE to stress about. Yes, he is a heavy smoker, but that doesn't mean he asked for it. When he started smoking, no one was telling the smokers that they would develop these horrible diseases, and quitting is a hard assed bitch. Been there and done that, and I have to tell you, I tried a million times before I finally did it. Despite knowing what smoking was doing to me and would eventually kill me, I kept buying them. I'd go a few days, and relent and buy some hating myself for being so stupid. I'm going to cut him a little slack. On the school front, I hate the financial aid people. I really do. I went to check out my status and NOW they are telling me that I will have to appeal to get financial aid. I've taken too many hours to qualify. The program that I am in lets you get your ASN at a community college and then just slip those hours over to the local university to finish up the last 60 there. I've been to college before and have a lot of hours of gen eds done. I've also taken a few here and there in the meantime to shorten the amount of time until graduation and save the tuition of taking these classes at the university which has double the tuition costs. Now they are saying to qualify, I have to have less than 98 credit hours and this semester will put me at 106, so no financial aid. School starts MONDAY!!! I'll probably get it when the appeal is finally done, but don't spring this on me three days before school starts! I went ahead and paid what I had to, but this should have been done months ago when I went to the aid office and sat down with a councilor to make sure everything was in order. If I don't get it, it's going to be tight at Casa Hoosier. If I get the scholarships I applied for, no problem, but they don't tell you for a couple of months (well after the semester starts) if you got them. It seems like it's a battle every semester with problems about financial aid. HSN is in a foul mood. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=801364 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 801364 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/08/keeping-open-mind.html Well, Marisapan and Jenna both say they loved Psych nursing, so I'm going to try to keep an open mind. My ex husband is an RN in a state psychiatric hospital, and he said he sometimes feels guilty for going to school and then not doing any skilled nursing (foleys, ivs, you know...medical stuff) since they do nothing but deal with the psychiatric aspect of their patients. If they have a fever, they go to the medical center across the road. He also works as a weekend supervisor, and maybe if he were working weekdays when the actual therapy is going on, he may feel differently, but since he's a butthead anyway, maybe not. I've always thought it very strange that someone I can't relate to at all and I will share the same career. Takes all kinds I guess.My vacation was very, very hectic and very fun. I've driven about 3000 miles in two weeks. I got to see everyone. All of my sisters, my mom and step dad, my wonderful adorable nephews and my nephews' partner, my son, my husbands' family and my cute nieces, and our best friends for life and their kids. Their kids are like family, and the two girls stayed at the hotel with us and had a great time. I've spent at least one night in Nashville TN, Little Rock AR, Perryville AR, Oklahoma City OK, El Reno OK, Fort Worth TX, and Tunica MS in the past couple of weeks. We got home yesterday, and picked up the babies from the boarding place and they were ecstatic!! I missed all of my babies. We have a pet sitter for the kitties, but the doggies have to go to the boarding kennel. Poor doggies. The bad news is that my brother in law has kidney cancer. We don't know how bad it is yet. It's at least stage III since it extends into the adrenal gland, but they didn't see anything else in the follow up CT scans. He'll have a PET scan on Monday to look for stray cells in other places, so if you are the praying kind, please remember him and pray for the scan to be clean. His Dad died in February, and I don't think his Mom will be able to tolerate anything happening to her boy. She still isn't coping will with her husbands death. Needless to say, my sister would be devastated. I've stayed very upbeat reminding them that if it hasn't spread anywhere, he can probably just get the kidney out and that's it, so they seem at peace with that. I suspect they aren't asking that many questions and if that's how they want it, then I have to respect that. I would have 10,000 questions, but not everyone wants to know all the gory details like I would. School starts in a week, and I am ready freddy! I'll be a "real" nurse in 16 weeks. The year after that will be a breeze compared to the last two, and I'll be earning actual money at the same time. HOORAY!!!!! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=793696 Sat, 11 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 793696 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/07/taken-break.html Done. This summer from hell is finally DONE!! I made a B in OB and an A in Peds, but since they average, it's going to be a B. Good enough. An A in clinicals still keeps my GPA respectable. It's been study, study, study and then stress, stress, stress. I'll have to go to another day in clincals tomorrow, but just to sign my evaluation. We got our clinical and class assignments for next semester, and with one exception, I like everyone in our group. I'm not looking forward to Psych. Weird (and I completely accept that they are disturbed and ill) people make me uncomfortable, but if I can fake it at the nursing home, I can handle this. Since I have no intention of ever doing psych nursing, it's just a blip. I can finally take a deep breath and enjoy my vacation. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=760436 Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 760436 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/07/racing-for-finish-line.html Summer school is almost over. I take my last regular test in OB today. Had my last regular test in Peds yesterday. I've done all my papers and only have an oral report left for clinicals. I'll end up with a B in theory and an A in clinicals. I'm happy with that. Finals next week, and then free for three weeks. I'm leaving after my last final for a week in Arkansas at the lake house with my family. Then to Nashville to see my son. Then to Oklahoma where I'll pick my husband up at the airport and we'll spend a couple of days with the in-laws and have our dental work done (my FIL is our dentist). Then to Texas to spend a couple of days with our best friends and their kids. Then home with a stop off in Tunica (gambling)/Memphis. That will give me a week to do nothing but lay around the house and do nothing before fall semester. At that point, it will be 16 weeks until my RN program is OVER!!! I will still have 30 hours of nursing theory to do before my "real" graduation, but since we get all of the state mandated class and clinical time up front, I can sit for the NCLEX and be working as a nurse that last year. I can also do the theory classes online, but I don't know if I will since I tend to put things off until the last minute, and really need to be in a classroom to discipline myself. We're going to lose a few people. OB was a hard ass bitch and you have to pass both classes in order to go on. You can't just average a good grade in Peds into the OB part to get the 75% required to go on to Advanced Med/Surg. This is in addition to the 2 people already gone. They can retake these classes once, so all is not lost for them, but thank God that isn't me. I don't know what I would do if I had to retake something. I'm starting to actually let myself get a little bit excited. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=743299 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 743299 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/07/its-really-early.html So what am I doing up at 4:19 in the morning? Do you mean what was I doing up at 3:00 in the morning? The paper said there would be fireworks in a local park last night. I knew I had a few things left to do for the care plan (that is worth 25% of my clinical grade), but decided to see fireworks anyway and get up early and finish up (but not THIS early). It was a scam and the fireworks are actually tonight, but we met some friends and ate dinner and went to find out fireworks weren't there. That means I didn't get through eating until about 9:00. I know better than that. I have reflux really badly, and I know not to eat late and then go to bed, but I did it anyway. At 2:45 this morning I was throwing up like crazy. Gross. On the good side, I am doing a bang up job on the care plan since I have so much time before clinical today. I took my ATI tests yesterday. The great part is that I don't have to remediate (take them again at home and score a minimum of 90%). My scores were high enough to avoid that. The test also said that I exceed the minimum standard to pass the NCLEX and that someone with my score would be expected to pass it with 93% certainty. So far I've done well on the ATI every semester, so maybe with only Advanced Med Surg/Psych to go, I may actually be a REGISTERED nurse someday! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=711640 Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 711640 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/06/week-ended-up-on-positive-note.html Well, for the week of hell, it turned out OK. I think my papers on Preeclampsia and Childhood Obesity were a work of art. Done in APA format, and put in their own lovely folders, I was proud to hand them in. I made an A on both Peds and OB tests, and the oral presentation went smoothly. I knew the answers to all of the post questions, so that is done. The homework got done and the clinicals are finished for the week. I've still got a few things to do for my care plan due on Tuesday, but most of that is done too. I've got to take the ATI tests on Monday, but I'm not worried about that. I'm not doing a damn thing today. We're going to a Texas Hold 'Em party tonight and drinking beer and eating bad food. I already went to the gym and sweated my ass off (still plenty of ass to go around though). Well, I guess I'm not one more dog or cat away from divorce, because we now have a new dog to hang with the other two. Her name is Ti, and she used to be my son's dog. She is a small terrier mix who is as cute as a button. She has a really bad ear that gets infected a lot. To control it takes a lot of medicine and a lot of care, both at the vet and at home. Son loves her to death, and has had her for two years, but it has come to the point where he can't afford the vet bills and the medicine. He called and though he was crushed, he finally did what was best for her and asked us if we would take her. I asked husband what he thought, and he said to go ahead and get her and bring her home. I got her fixed up at the vet and tidied up at the groomer and she just fits in this house like a glove. The other dogs love her to pieces, and she doesn't bother the cats at all. The sad part is that whenever she has been here, we had Yoda and Sammy. She hasn't been here since they were put to sleep. She ran in the house looking for them, and when she got upstairs, she just stopped and looked at me all confused because she did not know the dogs that were in their crates. She whined for a minute and then went to meet them. It made me cry over my babies again for the first time in months. This has been a pretty good week. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=706551 Sat, 30 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 706551 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/06/summer-school-blows.html This week.....two research papers, two tests, oral presentation for clinicals, HUGE homework assignment, 22 hours of clinicals, and our massive case study/plan for a postpartum patient. I still have a B in both OB and Peds and clinicals are going really well. I don't enjoy the pediatric patients because they scream and cry every time I walk in the room, but I really like the moms and babies. Because of a lack of peds patients, I did spend a day in critical care and I really like that too. I've never seen a kinder bunch of nurses. My new mantra...four more weeks, four more weeks, four more weeks. Nope, didn't help. I've still got to hit the books for the OB test tomorrow. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=700685 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 700685 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/06/wild-critters.html So grossed out. We have two dove that snuggle in our flowerbed. I love getting up in the morning and see them entwined in their corner of the bed. I love listening to the coo. We don't use pesticides or fertilizers because of the birds. We've watched all spring as the Mom took care of her eggs, and watched as her babies grew and finally left the nest. This morning, they were hanging out in the backyard, and one of our dogs grabbed one of them and pulled a bunch of feathers out before my husband could think to yell, "drop it!!" The dogs have been to obediance classes, and she knows the command, so she did drop it, but I think it was too late. Now he/she can't fly. Husband picked her/him up and put it in out of the fence area, but he said it didn't fly. Her/his mate was flying around it. I hope it's ok. I can't find it anywhere, so maybe it was just shocked at what happened, but I don't think so. I only found four feathers, so maybe he/she can stay alive long enough to recover, but since we live in a rural setting, it's more likely that some critter will get it. Poor bird. Friday, at the crack of dawn, I was going out to get the paper. I had clinicals that morning, so I have to get up extra early. One of our dogs isn't crated, so she always goes out with me to get the paper, and pee. After peeing, she took off like a rocket, and I saw that she was nose to nose with a skunk. I quietly (but urgently) said her name over and over, and she ran back across the street to me. The skunk was just lifting it's tail and turning around. When Ti came to me, the skunk started chasing her. We hauled ass in the house, both of us. Boy, did she dodge a bullet. Dummy got sprayed last year so you would think she'd know better. That burnt hair smell hung around for weeks, even though I got to her with tomato juice and bathed her, and got her to the groomer that morning to get the hydrogen peroxide/baking soda treatment. I am so not a wildlife person. I am a city girl and it freaks me out to see all this crap. I told someone that until I moved here, I'd never seen a deer outside a zoo. Now they just dart out in front of my car all the time. Sometimes, this place scares the crap out of me. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682589 Sun, 17 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 682589 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/06/covering-my-ass.html I've deleted a ton of blogs because even though I have been very, very careful to not identify my school or hometown, I'm nervous that someone will be lurking and put two and two together. I also would be crushed if anyone recognized anything about any of my patients. I really believe that everyone has a right to privacy, and I've decided to not say anything about my patients that would possibly identify them. Obviously, school (though not the name of it) is fair game. I passed my first OB test with an 82. I can't remember the last time I made an 82 on a test. I just felt sick. That's a C!!!! I've really tried to let go of the grade obsession, but a C? Please... I've got to hit the books a lot harder than I have been. Redeemed myself somewhat with a 90 in Peds. Next...is circumcision the grossest thing or what. I watched a poor baby get the knife without a local. When the doctor was done, that baby looked like he'd been boiled alive, he turned so red from crying. Then the doctor tries to sell us that the sugar water on the pacifier soothes them, and it doesn't bother them a bit. Bullshit. I wanted to call my son and apologize to him for letting someone do that to him. I don't think the nursery is for me. I loved NICU, but the nursery seemed kind of boring. The babies are cute, but not much to do. Most of the time, it was pretty empty since the babies are with their moms. Nope, not for me. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=675138 Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 675138 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/06/uh-oh.html We had our first test in OB. We took it on Thursday, and the grades were supposed to be posted that afternoon or Friday morning. When they hadn't shown up after clinicals on Friday, I drove to school to find out what the deal is. The program director (who also teaches the class) was just leaving. I asked about the test and she told me that "they aren't pretty." The high was 89 and the low was 50. She was taking them home to make sure something wasn't keyed wrong. I seriously thought I didn't miss that many. Shit. Please don't let mine be the 50! I luckily had to make a quick trip to Nashville yesterday to help my son out with moving, so I didn't obsess then, but of course, I am today. Nice start to the new semester. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=655450 Sun, 03 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 655450 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/05/this-creature-is-stirringalot.html Lazy days and vacations are a thing of memories only. We had a great time. Milwaukee was a surprise. It's big, and clean, and really pretty. Marquette University is right next to downtown which is VERY vital and active, and there are a bunch of cute neighborhoods that border the area. The new stadium where the Brewers play is nice, and the fans enthusiastic. We had a good time. Chicago was a blast. Three days wasn't even close to enough time to see everything. We're going back in a couple of months to try to see a little more. We should have carved out more time to just hang out at the sidewalk restaurants and shopping, and less time on planned activities. Of course, it's back to school time. We started last Monday with clinical orientations. Then a Ped class and OB class, and back to clinicals. I was supposed to be on a Ped floor Friday, but there weren't many kids there, so I asked the director if I could go to the NICU. A lady who works out at my gym the same time and I do is a nurse there, and I knew she'd be cool with my following her around even though I'm totally ignorant. My instructor and the director OK'd it, and it was a blast. There were some really sick babies there, but there were several who were pretty healthy and just gaining a little more weight before they get to go home, and I got to do plenty of diaper changes, feeding, and rocking. I LOVED IT!!!! It never occurred to me that I might love the babies. I think if this is what I did, I would not be bored with it. I loved the aspect of caring for the babies (and yes, I know they don't all make it), and the large amount of education the nurses do with the parents. I've been so confused about where my interests lie. I know how easily bored I get, so I always thought ER would be a good fit for me. Critical care always looked so boring to me, but the NICU nurses were busy all the time. They were also so awesome with the parents. Some of these people were very tense, and the nurses were so giving and caring, and knew just the right things to do and say to make this experience as comfortable as it can be for them. They really helped them form a bond with babies who are too tiny to hold. I've also been drawn to Hospice. The mixture of nursing and social work is very, very attractive to me. Social work is my dream job, but since the pay sucks, I just couldn't do it. I can't imagine that kind of stress in a job that pays less than waiting tables. I don't know what to do, and now I only have six months to figure it out! I'm sure I'll do a thousand more things that fascinate me before graduation, and I'll be even more confused. I try to remember that everything right now is new and fresh, and it's normal that I would find it fun to do and that I may feel differently six months down the line. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=637874 Sat, 26 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 637874 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/05/vacation-days.html Welp, it's vacation time. I'm spiraling in shame because I just dropped my dogs at the vet for a week of boarding. I will worry about them all week. They look at me with their trusting eyes, and I just left them there. I've got a pet sitter coming every days to tend to the kitties, so we're all set to go. We will all have to get over it. Tomorrow, it's off to Milwaukee. We're seeing a Brewer's game and whatever else Milwaukee has to offer (beer, I guess). After three days there, it's off to Chicago. We're meeting friends, and my sister and her boyfriend for three days. We'll see the Broadway show "Wicked", go to a Cubs game (my husband is a baseball fanatic), and then see the "Blue Man Group". I think this is just what we need before the hell of summer school starts. As soon as we get back, my in laws are coming here, and we've got stuff planned for the week with them. Most of it will be my father in law and husband playing golf, but it will still be fun. I'm pretty excited. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=590944 Sat, 05 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 590944 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/04/its-all-good.html Semester is all but done. I've gotten an A in clinicals and though I haven't taken my final in med/surg, I should have a B in that class. So...big exhale of relief!! Just to brag on my class. 30 of us started this, and 30 are still there. There has never been a class that everyone passed and stayed together. I am blessed with a lot of really smart, able fellow students. I know this summer may cause some to falter, but they are really a good bunch, and the nice thing is, there is no one in the class I will be disappointed to find in my clinical group. Sure I like some better than others, but there is no one I actively dislike. On to OB/Peds. Now I can start obsessing on that. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=571010 Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 571010 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/04/cheering-from-cheap-seats.html Boy, someone must have gotten good and pissed, because we had our summer schedules today. The only things I have left to take are Advanced Med Surg and OB/Peds. I was hoping for Med Surg in the summer because it's harder than OB/Peds and I wanted to get the worst out of the way so I can have an easier semester and focus on NCLEX. It makes for a really crappy summer, but if I can take my ex husband for 10 years, I can surely handle a brutal 10 weeks. Nope. Didn't happen. I am in the 1/3 of the class who got OB/Peds. I was disappointed at first, but then, since I'm helpless to do anything else about it, I'm looking on the bright side. We'll have 10 students in my clinical group. I don't live in a large city, and there is an excellent childrens' hospital 70 miles away. If we're lucky, they'll be 2-3 pediatric patients for all of us to work with. We do have lots of babies though. When you live in a low income, poorly educated area, there are always lots of babies. I guess since none of them work, and using meth doesn't take up all of their time, they have babies. I may be a little bitter because (through my volunteer stuff) I just attended a termination hearing where the rights of a parent, for the 3rd time, were terminated. Her justification for keeping THIS one was because she is now clean. She got arrested for possession of shit to make meth, and she has to stay clean to avoid jail. That is the incentive she needed to stay clean. 3 kids didn't make the cut, but God forbid she spends another night in jail!! Plus, in my little corner of Paradise, with a population of less than 60,000, we have had 8 battered babies since the 1st of the year. Folks, that is a shitload. I'm not talking bruises here. These are critically injured kids. Enough of that. I could go on all day about this.Anyway, I am now officially enrolled, and my financial aid is a done deal. A big shout out to whoever had the hissy fit and made this happen. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=537971 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 537971 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/04/rant-o-rama.html I take my final on the 4th of May. That is less than 4 weeks away. I will be enrolled full time in summer school. This isn't voluntary. I have to have student loans. I've applied for student loans. My program still has not enrolled us for summer school, so my loans are being denied, since I'm not enrolled. What kind of shit is that? 3/4 of my class receive financial aid, and we'll all in the same boat. When asked why this is happening, we get a bunch of crap answers. How hard would it be to just enroll us? They don't even have to tell us what we're taking or what hours. Heaven knows they've never had a problem putting TBA in the past on our classes. That would take care of all of these problems, but NOOOOOO. Just too inconvenient for them regardless of the hardships it is going to place on the students. I'm in the minority that I don't have to work, or have small children at home. Others are having to make child care arrangements and job schedules, and they won't give us a hint as to when we'll find out where we're going to be. That's bullshit. They keep whining they have to hire staff. Who's problem is that? It won't affect us. They have X number of students for X number of clinical spots. They don't have to announce who the instructors are. Just enroll us. I know there are more students than spots so I suppose that makes them feel we'll suck up whatever they dish out (and they are right...we will), but cut us some slack. This is ridiculous. Rant over.Spring break was really fun. My two nephews came up and we went to "only big city in Indiana" and stayed downtown and spent a few days there. I made sure we had stuff to do morning, noon, and night. They really had fun. Plus, if anyone wants to laugh their heads off, go see "Blades of Glory". Yes, it's stupid, but so funny. Really, really, really funny. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=530859 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 530859 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/03/im-too-lazy-to-blog.html I'm not antisocial, or clinically depressed. I'm just lazy. I can't believe I've only posted two blogs this month. It's so weird that so many of us are graduating and becoming real nurses. Getting real jobs and doing real nurse stuff. We've all spent the last year or two propping each other up through this whole thing, and now there is a light at the end of the tunnel. When I start thinking I'm an idiot, I make a good grade on a test, or do well on a clinical assignment, and then I breath again. Someone asked me today if I was tired of school because I want to earn money, and I said that I haven't worked for a salary in several years, so that wasn't really the incentive. I'm just tired of the worry all of the time. The constant second guessing of am I going to make it. Am I doing a good job. Did I forget something, or some homework assignment, or are we going to have a quiz, or am I going to be late for clinical. That's what I'm tired of. I want to feel competent. I don't want to feel uneasy. I want to feel capable. I don't want to think about this anymore. I think at this point, that is as meaningful to me as actual nursing. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=498573 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 498573 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/03/spring-is-springing.html There is a song in my heart. I just went outside to play with the dogs. I looked at one of the trees, and there are LEAVES!!! It's 75 degrees and perfect. Yes, I have Seasonal Anxiety Disorder. I wither in the winter, and don't feel alive until it's warm outside. My two favorite nephews are coming in a couple of weeks, and a month after that, we have a baseball vacation planned. We've gotten tickets to a Milwaukee Brewers game, and then a Chicago Cubs game. We're spending 3 days in each city. My sister and her boyfriend/life partner are meeting us. I'm so excited! School is going well, and all is right with the world. We just bought new patio furniture, and I've pruned the roses. I should start seeing the tulip and daffodils coming up any day now. I'm itching to go to the nursery to buy new flowers, but it's supposed to get cold again in a few days, so I'll hold out, but I know it's coming soon. It's my favorite time of the year, and I'm finally happy again! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=470201 Tue, 13 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 470201 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/03/im-drowning.html Clinicals were good last week. I'm taking care of multiple patients now. I'm becoming a legend for my IVs. I'm still at 100% on first stick. I had a 93yo with no veins at all last week, and thought my record would end, but nope, got it. I'm starting to feel kind of nursey like, but the assignments are killing me. I've got a case plan to do, an oral presentation, homework, a test, 100 NCLEX questions, and everything else all within the next week. My midterm evals went great, but we're losing out clinical instructor. The new one seems nice, but I'll miss the original. I was really excited to be in her group, and now she's leaving. I've also got a termination hearing for a CASA case that needs a court report from me by tomorrow, and my kid is having a meltdown, so instead of getting anything done this weekend, I drove to Nashville to try to prop him up for a while. We're doing our service project for Leadership Academy and graduation crap to do for Student Government. I want this over so I can have a normal life again. I feel like my volunteer cases are getting screwed because of school, but I have to prioritize. The director understands, but I still feel guilty. Oh well, I'll get over it. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465068 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 05:00:00 +0100 465068 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/02/fing-up-in-clinicals.html I had the worst week in clinicals ever this week. The patient was nice and fairly easy to take care of, but I got written up for forgetting to ask a patients name when passing meds and have to do a whole day more of med pass to make up for it. Then, starting an IV, I didn't get the tubing in quickly enough and the poor guy was bleeding all over the place. What a mess! The instructor told me to stop beating myself up. The patient was old, had really fragile skin, was dehydrated, and said he was a hard stick with rolling veins. I got him on the first try, so she said it was a great job and stop stressing. I know I touched the edge of the port with my glove and now I'm obsessing that the guy is going to get some massive infection even though again, the instructor told me to lay off myself, and that I did a good job. She also told me to stop worrying about the med pass, and that it was just going to go away as soon as I redid it, and that I was not the only one. Good luck with that. I think my care plan sucked, but I haven't gotten it back yet. This is the first time I've ever felt that it is possible I may not be able to hack it. Part of me knows I'm making this a bigger issue than it is, and I know I'm harder on myself than anyone else could ever be. How do I stop making myself nuts? (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465069 Sat, 17 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0100 465069 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/02/things-im-tired-of.html I'm tired of snow.I'm tired of ice.I'm tired of driving on snow and ice.I'm tired of being stuck in the house because of snow and ice.I'm tired of walking dogs in the snow.I'm tired of wet snow boots.I'm tired of the foyer of my house being wet and cold from wet snow boots and wet dogs.I'm tired of doing drug cards.I'm tired of doing care plans.I'm tired of tests.I'm tired of studying for tests.I'm tired of having my stomach hurt all of the time because I stress out about school.I'm tired of being tired all the time.On a happier note, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!! My Valentine got a pair of diamond earings for me. I just broke my other pair, but they were tiny, and these are not quite as tiny. They're a half carat total weight. Not too big and not too small. Just right for clinicals! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465070 Wed, 14 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0100 465070 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/02/boobs-patients-and-snow.html Buffy asked how my boobs are. They're still here. I really don't think anything is wrong, because all of the women in my family have lumpy breasts, but there was an asymetrical area on my left breast that has to be compressed and ultrasounded. The imaging center didn't call me breathless and freaked out, and the appt was scheduled for 3 weeks later, so it doesn't sound like they are unduly alarmed. Frankly, if there is something wrong, I'll have that bad boy (and his little twin if insurance will pay for it) sliced off so fast, they won't know what hit them. I'm just not that attached to risk my life over them. I know others feel differently, and I don't fault or blame them for trying everything they can to keep them, but mine never were that big anyway. I wouldn't bother with reconstruction either. I'd buy those gel falsies, and get on with it. What I would be devastated about, is if they told me I couldn't take hormones. I tried to do without. Six solid months of worsening, miserable hot flashes and night sweats that would ensure I averaged about 5 hours of sleep per night, and I caved. I tried every homeopathic remedy known to man or the internet, and just continued to sweat. Well, I'm not going to borrow trouble. We'll see what they say, and unless it's cancer, I'm keeping the hormones. They can just kiss my ass.On to nursing. She wasn't my patient, but I was doing the med passes that day, and a lady who was found in her home after a fall, was just admitted through the ER. She was the color of an orange, and her abdoman sounded like a watermelon when it is percussed. She is in end stage liver failure from cirrhosis. I don't know when she bathed the last time. Apparently she'd had a liquid BM after falling which was crusted all over her legs and feet. Her hair was matted because she hadn't brushed it in so long. All in all, very sad shape. I thought she was homeless, but family were there and they said just a lifetime of drinking. They were all nice middle class senior citizens, and said this is how she'd been forever. I'll bet they drain two gallons of fluid out of her middle from the ascites. Anyhoo, I was giving her protonix IV push. She only had a lock on, so I couldn't adminster with the pump. You have to do it over a long period, so I pulled up a chair knowing I was going to spend the next 10-15 minutes bedside. She was on so much Ativan, she was out like a light. She was snoring with her mouth open, and, HOLY SHIT, she turned her head in my direction. OMG, I thought I would vomit. To say she'd been somewhat lax in oral care, would be putting it mildly. The smell was like the foulest garbage had gone to live in her mouth. Plus, she'd bitten her tongue when she fell, so there was old dried blood smell there too. I was freaking, and told the aide to do some oral swabs NOW. That breath could have peeled paint. Otherwise, this week clinicals were really good. I was with patients on isolation precautions because all were Hep C+, but all in all, a good week. Every week, I feel a little less scared. Next week, we are working on a more difficult floor with a lot of telemitry, so I'm looking forward to that.We are expecting some really nasty weather tomorrow. We've still got about 4" of snow left from last week, and now are expecting about a foot more with some possible freezing rain and sleet with it. Since I'm from Texas, I know what freezing rain is like. Here, they are only used to a bunch of pussy snow. Let's see how they like this. Regardless, nothing shuts down. Classes will go on as usual, and there are no weather related excuses. You just suck it up. Guess I'll be slip sliding to school. Maybe it will just be snow and everything will be ok. They really get it off the main roads fast here. Plus, they'll spray with deicer before it even starts. The side roads will be clear within 24 hours. They're used to this crap here. Not like in Ft. Worth where the world shut down after half an inch of snow. I'd still rather be there. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465071 Sun, 11 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0100 465071 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/02/im-never-eating-roast-again.html OK, to continue my wound conversation. Today, on the surgical floor, an older lady had a bowel resection. She developed an abcess so they opened the incision up, and were letting it heal from the inside out. Nothing unusual in that. The icky part, was, she was pretty heavy, and when we took the dressing off, the healing tissue looked just like a chuck roast. After watching that poor woman have a couple of feet of gauze packed in that thing, I decided I'm off roast for the rest of my life. It wasn't as gross as the hamburger diabetic foot, but it just looked so freaking painful, I wanted to go over and hug her through the whole thing. She was a trooper. When I looked at her face, and the pain she was obviously in, on only two vicoden, I wanted to scream at my other patient. She also had a resection (sorry if my spelling sucks), and two days post op, she wouldn't even walk 20ft. I wanted to walk her lucky ass in that lady's room and show her what real pain is. She burped up something, and was so freaked out, she was "saving" it because she knew the doctor wanted to see it. Please...... (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465072 Fri, 02 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0100 465072 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/01/baby-its-cold-outside.html I can't even think about anything except IT'S FREAKING FREEZING OUTSIDE!!! I'm a girl from the south. My blood is too thin for this. It's only 8 degrees outside. That's ridiculous. I'm so cold, I can't focus on reading my book on the riveting topic of NG feeding. That means we'll have a quiz today since I don't really know the material. I can't even stand the thought of getting in my car to warm it up. Plus, I have a mamogram scheduled for today. They'd better warm up that glass before they stick it on my boob, that's for sure. What to expect for the rest of the week? Cold and snow, and then more cold and snow. This sucks. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465073 Wed, 31 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0100 465073 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/01/that-was-nasty.html I thought smells were the worst thing ever, but I may have to amend that. I had a patient today who is a noncompliant diabetic. He had one of his toes amputated around Thanksgiving, and now half of his foot is just hamburger. I went with him to debride/whirlpool it today, and sort of felt like throwing up without any expression on my face but concern. The grossest part was sticking a Qtip halfway into his foot (big ol' crater in there), and he doesn't even feel it. It's ulcerated all the way to his tendons, and HE DOESN'T EVEN FEEL IT! Boy, that popped out some sweat on my forehead. I've really got to get a grip on this. Nursing is not wiping moisture off some sweet old ladies brow, and I've got to toughen up. Seriously. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465074 Thu, 25 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0100 465074 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/01/same-thing-different-day.html I don't know why I was suprised. Last semester, the hospital I did clinicals in didn't have the greatest rep, but there are so many nursing programs competing for clinical space in a town that isn't very large, that you go where there is room. This was a small community hospital that doesn't pay very well, so as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. I thought the aides did a terrible job and the patients were gross a lot of the time. I was so excited to be in the hospital I'm assigned to this semester. My husband and son have both been hospitalized there, and they did a great job. Well, hello eye opener. Since I was in the room with both of the above every day, all day, no wonder they did a great job. I took care of an elderly woman. She had a BM the day before, and when I was bathing her, she mentioned that no one had cleaned her up after she went. Her perineal area was covered with dried poop. I used four huge wipes to clean her up. Is it a big shock that she has no family in the immediate area? I don't think it was the totally the nurses fault, because since she was getting out that day, she asked if we could wait until closer to time to leave to bathe her since she'd be getting her foley out. When I went to check on her, a nurse was in the room and I heard them discussing that she'd asked us to wait on a bath, blah blah blah. The nurse told me that she was checking because there had been an "issue" with a nursing student the day before from another program at a local university. She told me she appreciated that we were going to get her cleaned up well, and that I was sensitive to her desire to have the foley out first. I wasn't so disapointed in the hospital after that, but if they KNEW the student didn't bathe her, they should have followed up, but they didn't, and the patient spent 24 hours with poop between her legs. How gross is that? Other new is, my baby is home. We'll get pictures this weekend. The funny thing is, Bearded Collies were bred as herding dogs. She is SO busy trying to round up my herd of cats. She is failing badly. They just will not cooperate! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465075 Sat, 20 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0100 465075 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/01/i-found-dog.html Yes, the choirs are singing! I found my dog. When I stopped crying over my babies, I knew I needed another dog. My Yoda was a bearded collie (mostly). They are so beautiful. They look kind of like the "shaggy dog" in the movie, but they have beautiful long hair like an afghan hound. Puppies are $800-1000 from a decent breeder, so people are always looking for rescues. I'm on the waiting list of all the rescue groups for both mixed and purebreeds, but from all the years of volunteering for animal rescue, I will NEVER buy a purebred dog. We have millions of unwanted dogs in this country who make incredible pets, and I'm not going to contribute to an industry that consists of beauty contests for dogs (my mother is a show dog person/breeder/kennel owner, so I DO know what I'm talking about and don't want to hear any bullshit about preserving the breed). Wanting a very popular dog, and refusing to buy one from a breeder means I'm dependant on rescue groups and shelters. I've applied for four dogs so far, and all but one was placed with other families. Good families I'm sure, but I knew that my dog was out there, and those just weren't my dog. I applied for this dog (God bless Petfinder.com), and knew that the foster mother had recieved over a dozen applications. I went to "only big city in Indiana" and met her Saturday. She is so incredible, I almost cried. She was a stray in a pound two weeks ago, and was still scared. She was shaking like a leaf. When I pet her, she calmed down and crawled in my lap. Everytime someone came up to her, and everyone did, she would start shaking again. She never left my lap. There were other families that came to visit her, but she would always come back and lay down on my lap. I knew this was my dog. I hoped the foster mom did too, but it was her call to make. I told her that I hoped I was selected as her new mom, but that I prayed for my dog, and if she was the one, then she would be my dog and I went home. I got an email tonight offering to let us adopt her. I'm so excited that I can hardly stand it. We've also adopted a "pure D" mutt, and she'll be here soon. Our house will feel like a home again. If I knew how to post pictures, I would, but anyone can go to images in Google or whatever and put in bearded collie. They are just the best!! They can cut their eyes at you when they're doing something wrong, and you just have to laugh 'cause they're so cute. I can't wait until Saturday when she finally comes home!!! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465076 Sun, 14 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0100 465076 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2007/01/around-world-in-8-days.html Boy, the old southern saying "road hard and put up wet" would be apt. The hub and I took off on the 29th and drove 14 hours to Oklahoma to see the in laws and nieces. We had something planned for the entire four days we were there. The big fun thing was going to see someone I'd never heard of. This comediane named Rodney Carrington was playing at a casino, and we took the parents there for part of their Christmas. That guy was seriously funny. Nasty, but really funny. I broke even on blackjack, and got good mexican food, so a great night. In laws got me an 18k gold bracelet in Italy with some matching earings, and a Venetian glass vase, so great gifts. Then, to Texas. Our best friends of many, many years live there, and we got a hotel room in a place with an indoor pool. Their two girls (6 and 8) stayed at the hotel with us and swam a lot. We ate mexican food at least 8 times in 3.5 days, and saw "Night at the Museum" with the girls at the local Imax. It was cute. Went to the science and history museum with the kids. Then took off for a lovely 14 hour drive home. We thought we would be able to veg the next day (yesterday), but the guy who took care of our cats for us asked us over for a big football extravaganza and then we took them out to dinner for a thank you, so no sleep. Today, I had to get ready for school tomorrow, so I'm dead. It was worth it though. We had a great time, and it was the first time since the dogs died that I actually had fun. Now the next year starts. It's all nursing for the next 12 months!!! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465077 Sun, 07 Jan 2007 05:00:00 +0100 465077 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2006/12/my-heart-hurts.html We had to have our old girl put to sleep today. She developed a terrible vaginal infection, and her sinus cavity was so filled with infection, pus was flowing out one of her eyes. Christmas will be in an empty house this year. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465079 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 05:00:00 +0100 465079 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2006/12/gimme-break.html Everything has been so sad for my husband and I for the last couple of weeks, that I need to talk about the good news too. I ended the semester with two A's and two B's. One of the B's was in Pharmacology which is only a two hour class, so I'll keep my GPA up. It's so hard going from a 4.0 student to getting B's, but I'm going to have to let that go. Everyone in my class will continue on next semester, and that's awesome, but a few failed Pharm. The only reason they'll get to continue, is because the schedule worked out so that they can take it again next semester. These are the same students who barely made it in the other classes by the skin of their teeth. I don't know how they'll handle it next semester when things are going to get a lot harder and faster paced. Some of these are kids who are newly married, working full time, and trying to take some prereqs they didn't get done. I don't know how they do it at all. Everyone in the class would do anything we could to help them, but the weird thing is, they don't ask. Maybe they're just too overwhelmed, but I think finals were a big wake up call. I'm excited to start the new semester, and hope I do really well. I love the clinical instructor I got, and the Med/Surg instructor is really good. I think it's going to be a fun year. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465078 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 05:00:00 +0100 465078 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2006/12/ode-to-yoda.html This isn't anything about nursing (though I did make an A in clinicals). This is the story of my Yoda. If you want nursing, come back another day. He was such a great guy, and had such a time of it, and I miss him more than I'm able to express. He was what my Mom calls your "heart dog". She said in every life, if you have pets, there is one that gets really deep in your heart. We all love our pets, but this is the special one who is more friend than pet, and you just don't ever get over him/her. He was that to me. I found Yoda while walking at a local middle school. He was drinking out of the sprinkler heads. I mentioned to my husband how cute he was, and that no one was paying any attention to him. I saw a tag hanging off his neck, so went to find out if I could track down his owner. It wasn't a tag, it was 6" long matted hair, and he had matching matted fur earings. In fact, his whole body was covered in ticks, burrs, and deep knotted matted up hair. He was adorable, even in that state. I looked at him and asked, "Are you a nice dog?". He raised one paw up, and waved to me. I asked him if he would follow me to the car, and he stood up and walked right beside me. I looked at my husband, and he was just shaking his head from side to side. I told him to be quiet and give me the car keys. He did, and when we got to the car, I opened the door, and he hopped right up. We would perform this action for the next four years. He was such a mess, that he had to be shaved to his skin. The burrs had burrowed down into his skin, and the groomer said he never even moved when she opened his skin up to dig them out. There were scabs everywhere. He was also heartworm positive and he went through the treatment without complaining one iota. He was so sick, but he still would wag his tail everytime he saw me. He had skin cancer, and endured a really extensive surgery. He never touch his sutures, and would always have a wag for the vet. He never had an accident in the house, and he loved his walks. He lived to hang out with me. That's all he required to be happy. He went on vacations with us, and trips to the post office. He was ok with the cats, but in reality, he didn't like them that much. If they left him alone, he did the same, but if they came to his area, he would lunge them and they would run away. He never commited one single violent act on anything or anyone. He had cancer all over his body, and never uttered a peep until the very, very end. I don't ever want to know how badly he hurt, but there was always a wag in his tail and a head for me to pet. He walked his last minute in the vets office the same way. He was a mensch. He really was, and I'll miss him as long as I live. Coming home is painful without his little head peering out the door for me waiting for my car to pull in the garage so that I could come in the house and give him a kiss. He cannot be replaced. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465080 Fri, 08 Dec 2006 05:00:00 +0100 465080 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2006/12/worst-day-ever.html Right now, I'm pretty much destroyed. I have an old dog who is 15 years old, and have prepared myself for her death. I never, never expected that my beloved Yoda would be the one to die. He's only 6 years old and just Saturday, went on a quick trip with us to Nashville. Yesterday, he couldn't pee. He would try and try and nothing would come out. He also screamed a couple of times and once acted like he was having a seizure. He had a grooming appt today at the vet, so I asked them to look at him. When I came to pick him up, the vet said his prostate was huge, and since he's a neutered dog, it was almost certainly cancer. Xrays showed the tell-tell signs. This is a very aggresive cancer, and by the time the symptoms show up, it has almost always metastisized. The vet said the stuff yesterday may have been from pain, or it was in his brain. It was the saddest thing I've been through outside of my Grandmothers death. My husband, the vet, and I were all crying over his lifeless body. I am inconsolable. I don't know how this hole in my heart will ever be filled up. I'm not a big dog person. I like cats, but this goofy, sweet dog had my heart wrapped around his paw and I don't think I'll ever stop crying. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465081 Mon, 04 Dec 2006 05:00:00 +0100 465081 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2006/11/clinicals-over-for-this-semester.html Happy days. I did my last clinical today for this semester, and we really didn't do anything. We actually brought a ton of food for the staff we've worked with this semester and did very little patient care. Turns out the other clinical groups have been having "field trips" while we've been wiping rear ends and putting in catheters, so we got a day to do whatever. We wandered the floor, and spent the morning just hanging with the patients who seemed to want someone to talk to. Then we left early. It was a really fun day, and the staff pounced on all of the food and really seemed to appreciate it. Next week are some oral presentations and reports we haven't gotten around to finishing and evaluations, so no more butt wipe unil January. Woohoo!!!!! (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465082 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 05:00:00 +0100 465082 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2006/11/can-dignity-and-illness-coexist.html I was taking care of a patient this week. She was very elderly (98) and incontinent. While I was cleaning her up, I was telling her what I was doing. I explained I was now going to clean up her private area, and she said, "Since I got old, I don't have any private areas anymore. Everything I used to think was private is now seen by everyone who comes by my room. My room isn't private, and my body sure isn't private. There isn't any dignity in getting old. Sometimes, it's just embarrassing." That 98 year old woman, who barely has any hair, or muscle tone, and can't get out of bed without a Hoyer lift summed up the healthcare experience for the elderly as well as anyone could. I know there aren't any other options, but how bad does that suck? It's so odd how sexless and faceless the very old become. If it wasn't for clothing and hairstyle (when they still have hair), you couldn't even determine gender. I try to always remember that these were wives, husbands, children, parents, working and productive people. They were homeowners and PTA mothers and doting Grandparents. They weren't born like this and they (like me) NEVER imagined that one day, someone they don't know from Adam is wiping their butts. I know there is no good answer or behavior that will make them feel they have some control over what happens to them, but I really feel shitty for them. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465083 Sat, 18 Nov 2006 05:00:00 +0100 465083 http://hoosierstudentnurse.blogspot.com/2006/11/show-ebay-some-love.html Can I just say that I love ebay? I mean, really love it. You can find ANYTHING on ebay. I got a certain pattern of plates while married to the low life piece of shit. That was 25 years ago, and lots of them have gotten broken or whatever, and I put the remaining 6 place settings I had left in a box because they were really nice, and expensive, Lenox stoneware, and I just couldn't stand the thought of getting rid of them. I still love the way they look. So cute. Kind of impressionist daisies on an off white plate with a band of blue around the edge. Yellow and blue are my favorite kitchen colors. Anyhoo, the pattern has been discontinued for a million years, and I looked a few years ago at the china replacement places, and they wanted like $150.00 for a place setting! Couldn't go there. I got a wild hair about two weeks ago to look on ebay. SCORE!!! Who would think there was that much of a discontinued dish pattern still around? I went from 6 dinner plates, 6 bread plates, 3 coffee cups/saucers, 2 bowls, and one gravy boat to 12 dinner plates, 12 bread plates, 12 salad plates, 6 cereal bowls (can't find those very easily), 12 desert plates, 10 coffee cups/saucers, and a covered casserole dish, and of course, the gravy boat. All of the extra pieces cost less than $200.00. While I was at it, I bought all of the serving pieces to the formal flatware that goes with my china. Got all of those for practically nothing...just a few dollars apiece. I'm sending out a buncha love to ebay. (Source: Hoosier Student Nurse) Hoosier Student Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=465084 Sun, 12 Nov 2006 05:00:00 +0100 465084