The Cadavers

I just wanted to share a little about my trip to Detroit. There was no picture taking and the book of pictures cost $20 so I didn't buy one. So I had to just use the ones off the pamphlets. The bodies were from China and they weren't exactly what I was expecting. I thought they would be laid out on tables but the had one playing basketball, one playing baseball and one riding a bike, among others. It was really neat though! The picture with the map in the way was one who had all his muscles taken away from his body, its hard to tell in this picture. I didn't actually get to see the soccer playing one but I did the other sports I mentioned. They had one with only blood vessels and nothing else, so you could see the outline of the body in blood vessels. The also had one cross-sectioned in 1 inch sections. It was really neat and if you get the chance to go I would definitely recommend it!

Well clinical went a little better than I had anticipated. I really had no idea of what to expect going in. And from what I have gathered, it's a more common thing than I realize. It's really sad. On Thursday we started charting and today, we were supposed to chart our assessment on our own. Well I didn't tell my nurse that, I thought she new and she charted on my patient. So I got my first butt-chewin'. But she wasn't in the greatest mood today, so I wasn't the only one who ended the day with a butt- chewin' :) I can definitely say I won't make the same mistake again! I passed my medications today too, of course I only had one, so it went good. A couple girls in my group got to watch a c-section and a couple more got to watch a donation of body tissues. I was so jealous!! Tomorrow should be fun, but I'm ready to watch so really interesting things!

Week # 12

It's getting closer and closer to the end of the semester, but I am SO excited for Thanksgiving break! This week in lab we learned about post-op care, it was pretty interesting. Two weeks from now, we get to do dressing changes. (We don't have lab or clinical next week) I had a HUGE test today, I think I did pretty good on it, she still hasn't gotten grades up yet. We also had assessment today in the hospital, I found out the patient I was going to be caring for this week. I was less than enthusiastic. It wasn't the kind of patient I had in mind for my first 'real' patient. If I had one word to say about it...it would be Alcoholism. Enough said. I guess I'm going to have to deal with it sooner or later, I was just hoping it would be later. So tomorrow will be an adventure!

In the Hospital...

Well I started in the hospital yesterday. I was really nervous. It wasn't at all what I had expected. As we were getting the tour and told about everything, I felt like I didn't know anything, and I shouldn't be there. Well today was better than I expected. I was dreading going there today, but actually it was an enjoyable day. It's not as big and scary as it had seemed yesterday. We followed an RN around and watched her do her morning assessments and medications. It was stuff we already knew how to do! I don't know what I was so worried about. We were partnered up and I was with the 'nice' Emily :) We did a bed bath and I made my 1st bed with a patient in it. (Not as easy as it had looked!) We also were asked to check one lady's vitals and another patient's temperature. Well we can't use the machines to take the BP so I took it manually. At first I couldn't hear anything, so I waited and listened again. What I heard was way off from what we had gotten earlier. So I wanted to double check and I used the machine. I was only off by 2 in the bottom number. I was really impressed that I was so close. That boosted my self confidence. It's really nerve wracking that everything is so dependant on you and your actions, in the nursing home it didn't really matter, now it does. I'll be a little more sure of myself now that I know, I know what I am doing! :)

Week # 11

Today was a fulfilling day. I got a 94 on my Pharmacology test and a 100 on my lab quiz. We did pre- op and lung sounds in lab. Now I just have to study for my fundamentals test on next Wednesday...its going to be a real hard one- a lot of information.
Well last Friday was my last day in the nursing home. It was really hard to say good-bye without getting all choked up. I'm going to miss them all! This Thursday we will start in the hospital, just following the LPN's around. I'm a little nervous because I've never really been in a hospital before. Next weekend I'll be going with a bunch of students to Detroit where they will have a bunch of cadavers on display, I think it will be really neat!