Nursing Ups and Downs

I had my second clinical in the hospital yesterday. And, let me tell you, this week's clinical was much much more challenging than last week's.

My patient was a 64-year-old woman with encephalopathy (general brain dysfunction), aphasia (impairment of ability to communicate), schizophrenia and a number of other medical problems (obesity, hypertension, use of feeding tube). She's lived in an extended care facility for several years. The reason she was admitted to the hospital, however, was for a dislodged nephrostomy tube (which are tubes going into her kidneys to relieve her hydronephrosis and urosepsis). Somehow her left nephrostomy tube was dislodged the night before so it needed to be replaced.

Our responsibility was to change her bed linens and to give a full bed bath. The tube in her back, in addition to the pressure ulcers on her coccyx, caused her a lot of pain whenever we turned her. So she would moan, scream and mumble incomprehensibly whenever moved. It was extremely difficult to turn her due to her weight, as well. We managed to get everything done successfully but I couldn't help feeling sympathy for this woman's condition. It was a very depressing case but still one that I needed to witness and experience.

Today was way better. I went to an informational meeting for the Project Lazarus New Orleans trip I'm going on in December. I got to meet the five other participants (the sixth is one of my sorority sisters), our two group leaders and our advisor. All of them seem so enthusiastic and easy to get along with. A member of the Columbus AIDS Task Force came to speak to us since we will be working with HIV/AIDS patients at the hospice. He was extremely blunt about HIV/AIDS and we had open discussions about the difference between HIV and AIDS, what the illness looks like, sex, sexuality, misconceptions, contraception, prevention, etc. It was a very interesting dialogue and I'm looking forward to working with and learning more from the people living at the facility. I'm also really excited to explore the city of New Orleans! I couldn't stop smiling after the meeting because I can't wait to go--I know it's going to be an unforgettable trip. Who knows, maybe it will spur me to do something with HIV/AIDS in nursing in the future...

I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!

In my scrubs

This is my awesome clinical group! As you can see, we were practicing shaving on Pat.

New Orleans-Bound

A few weeks ago, I applied to go on an alternative winter break trip offered through Ohio State. For a week, students are sent to volunteer in areas throughout the United States for various organizations and causes. This year, there are ten different destinations and ten students are accepted to each trip (50 accepted to the Habitat for Humanity trip).

Today, I found out that I got accepted to my first choice!

The location I'll go to is Project Lazarus in New Orleans. Project Lazarus is a residential facility for people suffering with AIDS in the Gulf Coast region. The trip will only cost $185, which includes transportation and housing.

I'm so excited! I've always wanted to visit New Orleans and this will definitely be good experience for nursing. And good experience in general.

First Day as a Student Nurse

I had my first clinical in the hospital today...

My patient was a 55-year-old woman with pulmonary MAC (Mycobacterium avium complex) and pancolitis caused by C. diff . She also had COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). My partner and I helped her with her bed bath, changed her linens and learned from the Patient Care Assistant (PSA) in charge (I never actually met the RN). Due to the C. diff, our patient was in contact isolation which meant we had to wear gowns and gloves. She showed us pictures of her granddaughters and told us about her daughters and how she was excited to go home today.

I learned about filling out patient charts and how to use the computers to look up labs and other data.

I had a low blood sugar at one point during the day, I think because I was sort of nervous. But it was really exciting to finally be in the hospital, even doing the most menial tasks, and I'm looking forward to next week.

We survived...

Went camping with Tess, Allie, Natalie, and Katie last night in Delaware State Park. Elizabeth, Kylie and Megan came to visit for a little bit. I love my atypical sorority girls.

It was cold (I think the average was 47 degrees) but the park was absolutely gorgeous with the autumn colors and blue skies. We also went to a Haunted Forest and got the shit scared out of us, ate caramel apples and roasted hotdogs over the campfire.

A very fun weekend. I needed the getaway.

I enjoyed reading Katydid's stream-of-consciousness recount of her evening. So I'm going to do the same for my Saturday night...

I'm in sweatpants, sprawled on the floor of my room with Lauren, Mary, Nat and Katie. We're planning to watch He's Just Not That Into You. I would rather watch Harry Potter. I have every intention of staying in tonight--I had gotten really drunk the night before and game day's are always tiring. It's just going to be a chill night with the girls. We're talking about Katie's ex-boyfriend. My phone lights up so I reach for it. It's a text from Adam; he's in Columbus. I haven't seen him since June and I've hardly spoken to him. But I have a strong desire to see him and find out how his life is going. He's at a party near my house so he meets me halfway. I see him; he has longer hair and he's much thinner. I comment on this and tug his hair. My phone lights up again. It's Trevor. I told him I was going to see Adam and he said okay, but now he is insistent that he come get me. He's drunk; the worst I've ever seen him. I want to stay with Adam because I feel like we haven't talked enough. The party is in the courtyard of an apartment building; it's getting cold out which I love. I know Trevor needs me so I tell Adam that I have to leave. He walks me to the street and we face each other. I tell him I'm dating someone and he is happy for me but he still offers his services if ever I need him to beat up a guy. I thank him. We say that we've missed each other, hug and he kisses me on the lips. I say goodbye and walk to Trevor. When I see him he picks me up. He wants to take me to another house party. He's upset that the Buckeyes beat his beloved Wisconsin Badgers so he yells "Go Badgers!" to everyone who passes. He tells me that he has gotten in a lot of trouble tonight for his drunken stupidity--he was kicked out of a party earlier. You're an idiot. He keeps giving me sloppy kisses. When we get to the party, Trevor will hardly let go of me but when he goes to get another beer--even after I protest--a freshman approaches me about the necklace I'm wearing. We start talking for a few seconds when Trevor pushes him out of the way, wraps an arm around my waist and leads me away. I apologize profusely to the poor freshman. I'm becoming more and more disgusted. This happens a second time when a guy starts casually talking to me. I want to leave. But Trevor wants me to come with him. I'll make sure you get to bed without hurting yourself but then I have to leave, I say. But when we get home, he begs me to stay with him and I know it's too late and too dark for me to walk home alone. He lays on the futon and I can see tears in his eyes. He misses his friends from Wisconsin so much, he tells me. He hates Ohio State; I'm the only good thing here. I rub his back and tell him everything will be okay. I put him to bed and cover him with the blanket I made for him. Then I realize I don't want him to puke on it so I grab another one. I Google "alcohol poisoning" on his iPhone. I listen to make sure he is breathing evenly. I keep the door to his room open and curl up on the futon across the room, making sure I can see him in case something goes wrong. It's fucking cold in this apartment; I can hear the AC running. I don't even know the exact address of his place, what would I do if I had to call 911? I go over the night in my head. What. the. fuck. I text my sister and Kelly. I finally fall asleep at four in the morning. At 8, I wake up, write a note on his door and leave.

Kidney Punch

Last night, the boyfriend drove me to Urgent Care for a UTI/kidney infection. It was really cute (not the infection, but the fact that he was taking care of me when I was too stressed to take care of myself). He's also bugging me about checking my blood sugars more often which I actually appreciate. Because my blood sugar numbers have been crap lately. So things are going well on the relationship front and improving on the health front.

The reason I was so incredibly stressed was because I had a big exam and a quiz this week. But I survived my first exam in the School of Nursing! For Nursing 385: Integrated Sciences for Nursing Practice--a class that had only 5 or 6 A's last year out of 166. I got a B+ and I was only one question away from getting an A!

The midterm covered pathophysiology and pharmacology which are subjects that I find really interesting. We learned about the Therapeutic Index (it determines whether a drug is more therapeutic or more toxic to the population), IV fluids, fluid and electrolyte imbalances (like hyperkalemia which is too much potassium in the body), pharmacokinetics, etc.

My next big midterm is Wednesday in Nursing 301: Foundational Nursing Concepts. I think it's going to be more challenging because we've covered a lot of extremely broad material regarding hygiene, mobility, and safety.

Although this week was long and busy and stressful--studying, sorority recruitment, Triathlon Club, kidney infection and all--I'm really happy with the way things are going. Yay, sophomore year.

...Now let the weekend finally begin!

October...

...my second favorite month (behind May).

I love ripping the old month from my calendar to reveal a brand new month.