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Mini-update
Dec. 2nd, 2006 11:07 pmI don't know how those who work a standard 5 day/40 hour work week manage. This week's consisted of 4 days of 8-4 classroom time and a 7-3 shift in the hospital and I'm still tired as all hell. Got in at 5PM yesterday, showered, then fell on my bed for a "nap"...only to wake up around 10ish. I found the motivation to brush my teeth, wash my face, and clear a small space on my floor (oh, the clutter! I need house elves for damn sure) then it was lights out until 10 this morning. I've spent the bulk of the day lounging on my bed with the NCLEX review book on my lap. I did head out to the mall with the mom unit, intending to pick up a DS for the oldest youngest bro. After getting the price in BestBuy, however, I decided to hold out and see if I could find it for less on Amazon (I checked - it's $129.99 in both places), got distracted by the Guitar Hero they had on diplay, then picked up two "Best of" CDs (Kansas and Megadeth; I became tired of borrowing the Megadeth CD from the library) along with S1 of "Due South". I really should ration my cash, but I've never brought in such money before so I figure I can allow myself a *tiny* bit of indulgement for at least the first check; I *did* pay my bills.
On the work front - I had two patients solo again. According to the training template I should have had 2-3, with the emphasis on *3*, but my coach and I figured the classroom time screwed me over and I needed more time with a smaller load. My patients were super-nice, and I got the chance to start my first IV lock. The gentleman I did it on was such a great sport about being hovered over by three nurses, two of whom were novices. I hope he's out of the hospital by the time I get back Monday. I can already tell one of my problems will be telling patients to STFU, and I don't mean that in a rude way. I like talking with the patients I'm working with, but I've found that there's something about being stuck in a hospital while you're ill that makes people prone to being overly chatty. Normally that'd be great, but when you have six/seven/eight/*nine* other patients to tend to, and a med schedule to adhere to, along with assessments, lab work, full report to give at rounds, and orders to take in, well...problems arise. I hope my inability to move faster has more to do with inexperience than anything else.
On the work front - I had two patients solo again. According to the training template I should have had 2-3, with the emphasis on *3*, but my coach and I figured the classroom time screwed me over and I needed more time with a smaller load. My patients were super-nice, and I got the chance to start my first IV lock. The gentleman I did it on was such a great sport about being hovered over by three nurses, two of whom were novices. I hope he's out of the hospital by the time I get back Monday. I can already tell one of my problems will be telling patients to STFU, and I don't mean that in a rude way. I like talking with the patients I'm working with, but I've found that there's something about being stuck in a hospital while you're ill that makes people prone to being overly chatty. Normally that'd be great, but when you have six/seven/eight/*nine* other patients to tend to, and a med schedule to adhere to, along with assessments, lab work, full report to give at rounds, and orders to take in, well...problems arise. I hope my inability to move faster has more to do with inexperience than anything else.
