Four Exams Down ~ Four To Go!

It's hard to believe that more than month has passed since my last post. I don't know how I managed to work full time while going to school and still stay on top of all the things I was doing. It seems each week I feel further behind. I have some how managed to stay afloat though. I am passing both courses at this point with two more exams in the next two weeks. Counting down days to Spring Break! No, I do not have plans, I'll be spending one day in an all day 'Career Planning Workshop' at the local unemployment office (mandatory as part of the tiny benefits I am getting.) I'm working two days that week and have a couple other things on the calendar but will use every spare minute to try and get the rest of this semester under my belt.

Just to give you a little bit of what I have been doing. I finished up the first med-surg rotation getting to work with several interesting patients. My one patient had suffered with COPD for years and wanted me to tell others that smoking was what did this person in. This patient had quit quite a few years ago yet was suffering to stay healthy to continue working. I was learning more about medications and labs during this rotation and was able to educate one of my patients on the need to take their medication with their dinner and NOT on an empty stomach in the morning. It is surprising when a patient tells you they have been taking a medication for a long time and they have been taking it incorrectly. Sadly some do not read the labels or the long print outs thinking they 'know' the drug. 

After our fast four weeks in med-surg it was back for our second psych rotation. I had the opportunity to be on the unit for those with addiction problems combined with mental health problems. Sadly for many this was not their first visit to this facility. This past week I had the chance to visit the children's unit. It was so heartbreaking these small children at an in-patient facility for mental illness. I just wanted to hug some of them.

I honestly had no desire to work with psych patients prior to this semester and not even after the first rotation here but now, I truly can say that I would strongly consider a position working with these patients. So many are just like you and me, just one step away.

I am now preparing for a community clinical visit to a rehab facility which I will be doing a group project on. I am also preparing for our next psych exam. I have two more lectures to watch and a lot of reading to do before Thursday. Wish me well and say a prayer that all this information stays in my brain and comes out when I need it!

Oh, I forgot one bit of exciting news, our daughter, Aubre, started in the CNA course for the nursing program at my school. The nursing program I am involved in has just be completely reconfigured and lots of changes for those who started this past January. Aubre has taken all the pre-reqs and has applied for admission and now just is waiting for word. Praying that she gets accepted into the upcoming fall semester for the nursing program.

There has also been lots of talk about the MAJOR hospital in the area will NOT be hiring ADN's (I'll be an ADN; Associate Degree Nursing with my RN after passing my boards); they are being told they have to hire those with BSN's. This is disheartening to many in the program I am in and I am praying and hoping that the job I am currently working will be a stepping stone to get my foot in the door when I graduate.

So that's it for now. I'll be sure to update after the next set of exams.