my week in review

So Monday was St. Patrick's day and the 10:00 lecturer, being Irish, asked the professor who had previously preformed the "Irish Jig" to come back and dance for us again. Thankfully she did not dance on the table this time, but on the floor. She also brought her 12 yo daughter to dance too, since she was on spring break. They did three different dances and even included some clogging. It was interesting. Had absolutely nothing to do with the lecture for the day at all. Everyone at school was excited to go out and drink green beer that night.

So on Tuesday, we were provided with a free pizza lunch at the cost of listening to a man speak during our hour lunch break from a company called Kaplan. Kaplan is a testing center which helps people to focus on their test taking skills. In August, we all have to take the NCLEX exam in ordered to be registered nurses (this is what some people call their "boards"). In fact, if we do not pass this exam, then we will have to go part time in our second year, making our second year turn into 2 years. So, it is very important that we pass this test. The Kaplan guy explained to us how the test works, how the test is administered, tips to passing, etc. He, of course, also encouraged us to take the Kaplan class on how to pass the NCLEX exam. I probably will, as it is in my best interest.

On Wednesday I started a new rotation at St. Thomas hospital in Nashville. It has already been very eventful in the 2 short days that I have been there. In many ways I suppose I felt like I was on a medical hiatus while at the psyche hospital because we merely focused on therapeutic communication and did not do any physical assessments, medication administrations, etc. I'm looking forward to the next few weeks while I'm there and hope to take advantage of all the opportunities that are presented.

Things worked out in such a way that I did not have a pt this week, I was a floater. Even still I was able to hang IV (intravenous) iron, administer an IM (intramuscular) injection, check numerous blood sugars, empty catheter bags, change a man's diaper, see a scrotum the size of a football (this is in no way an exaggeration), and follow an acute care nurse practitioner for the day. I enjoyed following the nurse practitioner. She gave me a great deal of advice about her professionalism and the way that she conducts herself. It was appreciated. It helped in some ways to reaffirm my choice of acute care as opposed to another specialty, though I wish I had had more time with her in order to have a better understanding of what she does in a typical day.

Friday is my community health day. We spent the morning at the Nashville Humane Association (yes dogs and cats), and then spent the rest of the morning at the Nashville Red Cross discussing a project that we will be working on until July. The project will focus on volunteers and everything that encompasses that. It should be intersting. I have always wanted to work with the red cross and so it's kind of nice that things worked out the way they did.

For now, it's Saturday and I am so so so so happy. Yesterday, we all went to the park (we means everyone except Dewayne). It was fun! We played outside and put the babies in the swing. Haydn and I ran all over the ginormous playground. We took a walk. It was a truly beautiful day. Last night everyone (including Dewayne) was at the house and we dyed easter eggs and just enjoyed being together. Chara and Josh will go back to Oklahoma today and Laura and John will go home. Life is made up of such beautiful brief moments.