Good Bye Clinical!

Today was our last day of clinical. HOOOOOOOOOOORAAAAAAAAAAAAAY. :-) I thought this day would never come. Today was odd because I felt like I wasn't nervous giving IV meds or hanging fluids. I knew what to do, when to do it. I don't know if that was because I had adrenaline and took chances from being so excited today had finally come, or if things are finally beginning to make sense. Either way, I really kind of enjoyed my critical care experience. I like trying to solve puzzles and figure out what's wrong with the patient. Meanwhile, I got another B on my second critical care exam; I've done better in this class then I have done in the previous medical surgical classes.... interesting. 

I have one more lecture for critical care and then Oct 12th is the final. We have the HESI (an exam similar to the state boards we'll take in Feb to see how we'd do) the following Friday and then that next week we begin our preceptorship (where I'll be shadowing a nurse 24 hours a week on OB!). I'm excited but also a bit scared on how I'm going to manage my work schedule (will already have to switch my weekend for the 6 weeks) and this preceptorship schedule. I keep saying 'it's only 6 weeks' so it's a temporary change. 

Meanwhile, last Saturday I sprained my ankle at work (long story short; a pt wasn't breathing and had no HR so I ran to get the crash cart and twisted myself somehow, landing on the floor on my ankle). What I learned? I hate being the patient. I've been off all week anyway as part of my schedule and go back tomorrow. People are work have been so sweet, emailing and calling <3

All in all, a good week though. It's crazy to see that light at the end of the dark tunnel become much brighter!

The best news!

One of my good friends is coming to visit in October <3 I am SO EXCITED. *jumping up and down* It could not be a more perfect time as my final is the morning of the day she arrives. PERFECTION.

The week of the 88%

So last weekend I studied by butt off for the critical car exam we had on Wednesday. I was determined to get a good grade so that in the end of the 8 weeks, I am not struggling and praying for the bare minimum of passing. It worked. I got an 88% (B) on my first exam. I truly cannot even describe the joy I felt when I saw the grade and almost doubted it at first. LOL My studying paid off. I almost cried. :) 

Now I'm focused on completing my final holistic assessment (aka long ass care plan) and trying to simplify arterial lines and intra-aortic balloon pumps in wiki form. I also need to revamp my professional resume and start reading for critical care. Thankfully I don't work this weekend so I'm catching up on everything I can. 4th semester is a whole lot of paperwork. It's crazy. Week 4 starts Monday... 50% done! Only 6 more clinical of med surg (blah)!

I have had these ridiculous allergies for the past week and I'm soooo over it. At first I couldn't breathe out of my nose, then it felt like my sinuses had 500 lb men sitting on them. Then I was draining so much, I could have bought stock in Kleenex and now it's a cough. I WISH it was a cold because then I'd feel better. Claritin and FloNase is not helping. This poses a problem because next week for clinical, I'm in the oncology unit both days and even though this is allergies, I do not want to put these patients at risk. So, PLEASE CLEAR UP. :-| 

Week 3!

5 more weeks of critical care to go and then on to counting down the final 8 weeks. 

Tomorrow is clinical (ugh) but I think I'm in the ER so hopefully that'll be interesting. :-) Wed is our first critical care exam... studied all weekend and I am hoping it pays off :-\ I feel like everyone except me and Angel have been out partying and living it up on Labor Day weekend. We spent all morning Saturday, Sunday and basically all day today studying. After clinical tomorrow, we'll be going over everything so I'm praying it pays off. It would be so nice to do well on the first exam. 

Thursday instead of clinical, we have a simulation. I haven't even had the time to fret about it because of everything else going on. The good thing is, it's a partner sim and I'm going with Angel (CRAZY!!!) I am so happy! We'll probably get together Wed after the exam to go through the sim facesheet so we know what we're expecting. Until then, it's all about the test. After sim, I'll meet with one of my first semester mentee's and go through oral medication administration for an hour. Wish it was Sept 29th and clinical was over! :-\

Here's to another smooth sailing week....