The curtain is rising.............

Well....for my fellow friends, I just realized that a LOT has happened over the last few weeks...So, in no particular order comes the following:
Lorenzo's List of Lasts:
1. Had my LAST theory test! (ok, so I wound up with a 78%, but hey, let me revel in that glory for a minute) We spent our last day taking that test, and filling out NCLEX applications. It was kinda nice to say "I now have been taught everything that the school wants to teach me!"
2. Went through my Capstone days....ugh. 36 hrs of working with a staff nurse on a tele floor. First, I'm not a days person. I like having clients asleep for the 2nd half of my shift. I also don't like waking up at 3:30am just to get ready. And my new name for tele? Med-surg for hearts. It was not boring per se, but I didn't feel like I could do a whole lot besides assess and pass meds.....also, during my 2nd day 2nd semester students showed up for most of the day so I only had 2 real patients that were all ours....I did learn about how to deal with patients, and how to try to be the "nurse". Did also pick up some info about heart strips.
3. Took my HESI exit exam....well, i did the best I could..... AND I PASSED!!!! I scored a 922, and passing is a 850. The exam is supposed to weigh questions based on the basic skills of being a RN vs harder questions...like NCLEX. it was 160 questions, took me 2 hours, and most of my friends passed. We got together at the bar for "lunch"....although more drinks were flowing than tears. Some people didn't pass, but they have another chance friday. So need some good wishes towards those friends.
4. Got a job offer from the hospital where I work at now. And it's my shift, and my floor! So, I look forward to changing my job role from tech to RN....and know that I quite honestly couldn't have a better group of people to work with. I believe that I will be trained effectively, and am comfortable with the patients we generally get. Plus, as a confidence booster, I was having break with a nurse the other night and she goes "I wouldn't mind training you, you understand how we are, and you pick things up really fast. However, that other girl(the one I go to school with) gets too stressed, too easy. You gotta be flexible up here." So, I feel better about it. The thing that stinks is that I have to train on days 2-4 weeks....so I'll be dead for a while.

And, for my friend Dawn, pinning is May 16th!!! Can't wait to see what's in the slideshow! Keep the faith!

It's (un)offical!

I will be offered a job TOMORROW!!!!! I am planning to work on my home floor that I work on as a tech now....figured that I would get the best training being with people that I understand, staff I can trust, knowing who to watch out for, and knowing roughly the procedures/protcols for the general cases we get.....I feel relieved, knowing that I am finally on the way with the first job!!!
Now all I need to do is get through the capstone this week, pass exit on Friday and get ready to graduate!!!!

Last week upcoming..............

Well, it's offical.....this is the last week of class! I still have assorted finals, NCLEX application day, and capstone to do...but I no longer have to do the theory notes and study powerpoints! It's been a while folks, it's just been busy......
So, what's going on? Well, I had my last week of clinical.....and I was the "charge" student for 2 others.....and I just don't get it....this dude was taking forever to give meds, and I ended up having to give one of his patients meds....when he had 2 hours to give all 5(yeah, only 5) patients meds.....I had 3 of my own, and done with 15 mins to spare.......then the instructor came to find me, because he put heel protectors on wrong....oh, and he's a CNA...should you know what you're doing, or know you need help by the last week?
I had my interview at the hospital I work at....and it went really well....I had to go back to work 2 hours after the interview, so when I went in, my manager told me that it went really well and I gave really "professional" answers....and looked good....So I think that if they offer me my "home" floor, I'll take it. I enjoy the nurses I work with, I feel comfortable with the patients, and I think I'll learn quickly. And I know who I can trust with the other CNAs.....
Hmmmm...what else? Oh yeah, Pinning! I have a TON of family coming in for pinning, which I was not expecting....but it'll be good to see everyone. also, I need ideas on what a guy can wear for pinning that's all white? it's tough to think of the bottom parts!
Overall, school and work....that's life at the moment. But I'm blessed, knowing that I don't have to afford another semester of school.....my fellow blogger Dawn at Overactive Imagination needs some help to afford another semester before aid kicks in....give what you can, and karma comes around.

Save the date....seriously!!!

Ok, folks....like life wasn't stressful enough with work, projects, tests.....now I have about oh....17 out of 30 dates to remember.....I wouldn't dream of listing them all here, but things such as the following are now in NEON flashing in my brain...(I wouldn't be suprised if the arteries rearrange themselves into letters to be a subconcious reminder...)
Capstone work dates (22,23,24 on 12 hr day shifts on a tele floor at the hospital I work at.), exit testing (25th....hopefully the only date for that I need to remember), psych test (21st), m/s theory test and nclex application filling out(15th....and I need 286 bucks for that day....ouch.) , etc.....and of course pinning (May 16th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....not like I'm excited or anything!)
Also, knowing that I have few readers at the moment, it's good to see those of you that comment.....please know I appreciate it...even if I don't have time to comment back.

Do not stand at my grave and weep........

That line comes from a song I used to sing in High school."In Memoriam"..and it comes to mind every so often when I'm doing what I do.

Just a reflection....I spent today taking care of a resident who is approaching end of life. And upon my arrival to assess her, I found myself encountering a hospice aide. Wow...I thought I was a good CNA. this aide was there for about 2 hours in a shift, cruising through, did AM care, helped me think of ways to break her 102 degree fever(aside from the g-tube tylenol)...we did cold compressess, mouthcare, fan on back....the aide helped me turn her, helped me find another pressure sore developing on a foot, helped me assess areas that I would have had a tough time doing by myself.
She also talked to the family, helped me finish things up. Then the hospice nurse arrived....wow, she was focused....when we started talking, I mentioned that she already had a order for meds to help congestion, meds for pain sublingual, and was on top of each thing the nurse asked....
Then the family and I talked while I helped turn her, and gave her mouthcare, etc. I'm reminded that, when I'm in the situation at the end of my life, give me my dignity. A drop of water, medication to keep me comfortable, treat my symptoms, but let me die gracefully.

Like a flower slow to open,
this life will soon be done.
my spirit will be soaring,
for the race I finally have won.

I'm headed home to eden,
No pain can find me now.
Sunshine always upon me,
without a single dark cloud.

I will be with you in the dew,
the life I've left behind.
Never forget who I am,
and I'll always be alive in your mind.

Hug your loved ones tighter today....and give kind care to whoever you encounter....and to my fellow student nurses(never forget that the care you give is watched by EVERYONE related to the patient!)

The care you get.....

Sometimes I'm reminded of the old beatles song....the care you get is equal to the care you give. I think that even though patients are sick, in pain, having to deal with dx's, etc....most are willing to treat the staff well, and understand that if they need something that is not pressing...they follow up with "when you have time."
I personally have a issue with taking that to mean "when you get around to it." I provide EXCELLENT service, (as far as I know), and would rather go get what someone needs right away, versus having to remember to come back in 20 mins....besides, I'm a little slow to begin with.
Remember the reason that we are there, folks. We nurse because we care. If we didn't, why are we here? I will rue the day that I'm a patient, and I know the kind of service that I would expect....however, if I can still get up with a walker and go get some water....I'll probably do that myself, to relieve the burden.
off to work.....and spend the night listening to moonbeam conversations, and women who want breakfast at 2AM....

Days counting down....

So with two tests left in psych and theory....3 clinicals left for med/surg and psych, and 2 weeks of capstone to go.....It's REALLY starting to hit home that I'm almost done with school, and will be expected to be taking care of patients nursing wise in about 3 months....WOW. The most telling factor was today, when I was working on finishing my demos in the skills lab(which are NOW all done.), and my clinical instructor also gave me back my careplan.....the big 14 page one, that I had been dreading for 2 weeks, worried I was going to get it back, and have to revise over a week....nope. Got it back with comments, but overall it was good...and she didn't even mark on the last 4 pages! Sweet!
So, then on to the job hunt. I've got an interview at my hospital on the 2nd, and follow-ups on friday down at urbana....so we'll see what happens.