To Be or Not to Be Professional?

Well, this being the third clinical day of the month, I was feeling like I was going to make it just fine. Went through the day, I got to give two, count them, two injections. That was so exciting! Anyway, we are not allowed to sit, we are on the floor for eight hours. . . . responsible for every aspect of patient care, are you getting the picture? I don't have a problem with the total responsibility, that's what I signed up for when I decided to go to nursing school. For the most part, I like my clinical instructor, she is just brutal. Totally about being professional, refining skills, painting a complete picture. . . all things I know that I am going to benefit from. It is that I pride myself on being professional, unlike some members of the schools PN program. I was completely taken aback when I was told my hair was not professional. So, I suppose that a funky hair color, stringy dirty hair is professional. Well, I am sorry, but. . . . not too me! I am standing my ground and NOT cutting my hair. So, until, I sit in front of "Professional Hair for Nursing" Board, my hair stays as is! It has now become a matter of principle. My rebellion if you like.

Thinking that I only have one more clinical with this instructor, I was feeling optimistic. Next month is a new month, right? Well, kinda. I have this instructor once again. I do not dislike this instructor, in fact, I find this instructor very willing to help, answer questions. . . .I just don't think that our clinical class should have to be there for 12 hours, when the other half of the class is lucky to put in 8 hours at a clinical site. I have done all the rationales, I know, I will benefit in the long run, I know I am gaining the better education, but tell my knees, hips and feet that. They are the ones that hold up my large frame for those hours. Now I have seen how the LPNs at these facilities work. Most of them are NOT on their feet for 8 straight hours.

All I am looking forward to at this point is spring break! I need it, want it and feel like I deserve it. I am so thankful to my benefactor! Who is giving me this much needed vacation!

One for the Money, Two for the Show, Three to Get Ready,

Okay. I accept the fact that Jane can kick my butt! Her first tests are usually whoppers which just pull the rug out from under your feet. She did it to me again, yes, she did. Just when you think you know her and what to expect. . . . You just don't! Grades still haven't been posted and to be truthful, I am greatful. I can still live in my little pretend I am a perfect 4.0 student and have remained such. Enough!

I have written paper after paper this week. The three for Theory are done, finito, handed in! I just finished the Resident Profile about 45 minutes ago and I can't even pull it off the printer. This was so much harder than I had anticipated. The realization I have come to is this, It really doesn't matter what monkey wrench gets thrown in, what homework, how much homework, why the homework, whatever the homework, I LOVE, love, LOVE, going to school!!!!! I wasn't even really all that upset when we had to go to three different clinical sites on Monday. Call me crazy! I just enjoy what I am learning, that I am learning and what ever it takes I WILL do!!! I am so glad at this point, that I do not have a job. It would be totally murderous if I did. I just can't figure out how these others go to school and work! It amazes me and my hat is definitely off to them.

I am trying to stay away from the drama and so far so good. I have found a BBF, (best buddy forever). We are alike, scary I know, but we are each other's cheering section, boosting up section and slap you in the face section when you are out of control!!!! Thanks is all I can say. We will be buddies forever. Thanks for helping me make through some of the roughest spots! I guess I better pull out the old book and packet and really concentrate. I can promise you I will get my butt kicked on the quiz tomorrow! Take that to the bank, put it in your pipe and smoke it or ignore it, it's all up to you!!!!!

Week Two Clinical

What a day I've had. First of all we arrive at our clinical site this morning at about 6:50 am and head the nurses station to take report and they freak because State is there doing an inspection. They didn't have it posted, so we had to "stand down", which meant leave the building!

We were told to go to the college, we did. They put us in a room where a class started at 8:30 am and since they had no class room available for us in the morning or the afternoon, we had to drive to Plymouth for our clinical. That drive is ONLY 45 minutes away from the college. There was already a clinical class there, so we got stuck in the "activities" area, with no table to write on. We had to do a mini worksheet on our resident, a bladder and bowel assessment, plus interview them for our Resident Profile paper which is due next Monday. Lucky for some of us, we got to have the patient we had all last month. Things went really well for me today, except I am totally exhausted. We are supposed to be doing 12 hour clinicals, which our instructor holds strictly to, but the two others, don't. They are usually out of there between 1 & 2, us on the other hand are there from 7-7. Rrrggggg.

I do enjoy clinicals for the most part, but this month is hard. We are not allowed to sit down except on our break and lunch. We cannot even leave the building to go to our cars to get our lunch so you better make sure you bring in EVERYTHING you need or you are SOL.

Clinical Day One, Month Nine

Do you ever wonder how some people make it through life? Well, after yesterday, this is a question I have asked myself yet again! Clinicals was l.....o.....n.......g yesterday. I have definately made one decision about my career as a nurse. NO 12 HOUR Shifts for me!!!! Don't like 'em at all. I just can't handle it.

This month, I feel like a real nurse. I have about a million assessments to do, a paper which is a "biography" of a patient at my clinical site, monitor an elopement patient for 12 hours every hour on the hour, give complete care to my assigned patient, change bed linens, briefs, wipe fanny's, butts, noses, feed, dress, shower, . . . . . . well, you get the drift. If I don't break this month, I know I will make it! Funny, I don't see the nurses on the unit doing all this stuff, they sit behind the nurses station and the CNA's disappear into the abyss of the facility, never to be found until they punch out at the end of their shift!

This month's theory class is going to have about 40 people in it. This causes me some concern because, I don't like change, or being around tons of people and if the people I met in clinicals yesterday is any indication at all, I am going to be frustrated, stressed and pissed off allot this month.

Questions I am pondering at this point: Since I have NO patience, will I make a good nurse? This one I actually have an answer for. Yes, why, you ask? Well, I like to think that I have empathy and compassion and I care. It is a fact that I have no patience for annoying, irritating and basically stupid people. Questions #2: Will this be my make it or break it month? Will I be able to keep my mouth shut this month and maintain my 50 points for professionalism? This one is definitely iffy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On this first morning after my clinical for the month of February, I have hope. I have determination and I am going to make the best of this situation, because, I want to be a nurse. I must keep my eye steady on the goal! Yes, I will survive!!!!!!