From the Operating Room to Public Speaking

Well we are really getting down to the wire here. Only two more weeks of school left. Two more nights of clinical and then two exams and one group project.  Hard to believe we are almost at the end of the semester.  This will be the first year I am not taking a summer course since starting this journey three years ago.

So this week started with my OR (operating room) observation. I was hoping for some 'good' surgery to observe but unfortunately my 'day' I was assigned was 'joint' day at the hospital. I arrived just before our designated time (I am always early for school and clinical and was freaking out that I was going to be late) and found that another student was already there and shortly after I arrived the third student assigned to this same day arrived. We were met by an OR nurse who then took us to the locker rooms where we changed into hospital scrubs and 'geared' up for the OR. We were each in separate OR's watching 'similar' surgeries. I was with Speedy Gonzales. This surgeon was already on his second surgery at 8:30 am. I arrived in the room where surgery number three would take place. I watched as the scrub nurse prepared a LOT of equipment. I was going to see a left knee replacement. It was amazing all the tools needed. Soon they brought the patient in and I found out quickly that they are not put under general anesthesia for this but more of a spinal block and then a twilight or light sedation. Was a little creepy when the patient was coughing and gagging. (Too much TV surgeries where everyone is out cold, haha). So I watched as the cut into the knee and the sawed and pulled and hammered and I started to get 'hot'. I didn't feel sick but got worried I might have an issue so I was able to sit and watch and then I was fine. I certainly did NOT want to pass out and contaminate the entire sterile field (or hurt myself, haha). As soon as the surgeon was done with this patient, the Physicians Assistant stepped in to close the surgical site while the surgeon moved to the next surgery. After this patient was done we wheeled them off to the recovery area and it was back to the same operating room where it was already being prepared for the next surgery. It was amazing to see how much of a TEAM these group of medical professional are. The next surgery I was able to observe about 3/4 of it was a total hip replacement, but soon it was the OR nurse calling for us to prepare to leave.  Our 'shift' was over. It was truly an amazing experience and I hope to get to do it again (only a 'cooler' surgery would be good)!

After I finished at the hospital it was off to the school where I needed to finish up some mandatory lab hours. Shortly thereafter I get a call from one of my fellow students from my clinical group telling me that they were sent home from clinical this day due to a virus going through the nursing home. Wow, I certainly don't want to catch whatever is going around, so I am very happy that the school takes our health into consideration at times too.

On Tuesday since we were still unable to return to the nursing home, we had our clinical time in the lab at school. We had several simulations set up where we had to assess our patient or provide care for another patient, we practiced would care, diabetic testing and insulin shots and 'comfort' care for an elderly 'patient' who suffering from Alzheimer's. After I did this simulation, my instructor told me she felt my 'calling' was possibly for hospice or nursing home area. I told her I wasn't so sure, as I get 'attached' to my patients (in a matter of minutes)! We did get to work on SimMan again. It's crazy how 'life like' he can be. His eyes react to the light when you are checking PERRAL (pupils, equal, round, react to light and accommodation). He also had various lung sounds, pulse rates, blood pressure, you name he can probably do it.

We had a good afternoon of clinical and it was good to go over some things we learned much earlier in the semester. Always good to review.  

Well, today was a luncheon I had been invited too. It was in coordination with the scholarship I received a few weeks ago. The school likes to bring the donors and recipients together to see how the donors money is making a difference.  I was looking forward to this luncheon UNTIL I got a call earlier in the week asking if I would speak at the luncheon. I was told, just something short to give my 'story'; why I chose this school and how this scholarship will help me.  SURE, I said, no problem. And then I started to freak! I am not one who like to speak in front of people. I love to talk, but 'having' to talk is not the same thing. 

I had stressed about this 'speech'. I initially thought, I'll just 'read' my thank you letter that I wrote to the organization that awarded me my scholarship. Then a friend said 'don't read' just put bullets down and go from there so I tried that but found I was adding to much to my bullets. So today about an hour before leaving when a co-worker asked if I was 'ready or nervous' and thought oh no, I don't really have anything 'ready'. So I grabbed my note card and looked at my thank you letter and threw it all away. I put three one line notes on a 3x5 card.  

So I arrived about 10 minutes before the start time, got my name tag and was told what table I seated at. I then went into the conference center and found my 'place' at the table (there was a card with MY name on it!). I looked at the program that was laid at each place setting and FREAKED OUT!

My name was right there, I really was going to be speaking to this group (thankfully a smaller group of about 50 people). I got very nervous, my hands were shaking, my insides were shaking. Little by little everyone arrived and we started the luncheon. It was nice to just have 'normal' conversation while eating and getting to know the other people at my table. There were two other students at my table along with one donor and three faculty members.  We shared a little about who we were, what we were doing and enjoyed not thinking about that speech. So then it was time. The VP was up first. He recognized all the donors in attendance and the students. It was then time for the other student to get up and talk (thank goodness he was before me)!  He seemed all confident but was nervous too. He pretty much read his speech and told the audience he was doing that to make sure he didn't forget anything. Then it was my turn. Oh my gosh, deep breath, again, breathe!!!!

I walked up to the podium. I introduced myself and pretty much let it roll. I told them that I love to talk, but I don't love to 'have' to talk and that I was truly shaking! I explained how I worked in a small Christian school for many years and got to 'play nurse' since we didn't have one. I finally decided when I 'grew up' what I wanted to do. I explained that I chose this college due to the wonderful things I'd heard about the program I am involved in. I made people laugh when I mentioned how I attended an 'Nursing Information Session' roughly three years ago and thought NO WAY could I do that, it will take forever to get into the program. But I registered in May of 2010 for my very first college course. I tackled each one and just this past January I started the clinical portion of the program!

I went on to tell them that this scholarship meant so much to me. I actually cried when I received the call that I was awarded this scholarship. I teared up at this point and so did a few of the ladies there. I explained that my husband works two jobs and I work almost full time and we truly live paycheck to paycheck (like so many others). I told them how I had to take a student loan this semester. I hated the fact that I had to do that, but $1200 in book store charges alone this semester were far greater than the financial aid I had received. I told them that I hoped this scholarship would enable me to attend the fall semester without having to take another loan. I thanked the donors who have made so much possible for so many students and I think I looked down at my 3x5 card and said 'out loud' 'Well I guess I covered everything'!!  

I was told over and over by many in attendance that I should never underestimate myself, I am a wonderful public speaker. The Dean came over to congratulate me along with several other 'high up there' school officials, each saying how well I did, how my 'story' was touching.  The student who spoke before me asked 'Hey, I thought you couldn't talk in front of people, did you practice that?' to which I replied, NOPE!  I just let it roll. I was able to finish my lunch and then it was time to head back to work. I don't think I actually stopped shaking until I was back at my office!

I will have  just a few more updates before taking a little break for the summer. I pray that these last few weeks go smoothly and that all the information I am learning stays up in my brain where I need it!