Update- Rambling

It's been nearly 9 months since my last post. What I have learned early on from going to nursing school straight to the Operating Room as a RN is to basically forget everything learn in nursing school because working in the OR to me felt like I was on another planet because barely from the OR is taught in school.

As a new nurse in the beginning it was very difficult for me to grasp onto everything. Some days I felt like I was on top of the world and other days I was ready to change specialties which might happen one day in the future but I really appreciate having one patient at a time. It's been a year since I graduated from nursing school. This time last year I actually spent a couple weeks for myself to enjoy the company of others before I started work as a Nurse Tech and preparing for the NCLEX.

When entering the workforce my advice is build rapport with co-workers, build trust, depend on each other and work as a team, no one can do it all alone especially in the healthcare environment. At the facility I work there aren't official preceptors. My orientation felt merely a month or two as a nurse since I first arrived as a student nurse, then a nurse tech. During orientation I rotated through the specialties and learned from all the nurses on the unit. I picked up some good habits and some not so good habits that are hard to break. Each specialty at work is divided into teams. There is a team of staff who mostly work with hearts, team that works mostly with general surgery, other team with gyn and urology, ortho/neuro team, and a eyes, ears, nose, throat and plastic surgery (which I am a part of). What helps me the most as I am still working to be a strong circulator is my team leader who gets stuff done and loves teaching (not everyone can be this lucky) and my surgical technologist on my team who are all very seasoned and can practically do my job for me. They are there to cheer me on and help me correct mistakes and misunderstandings.

NCLEX/ Nursing School Success Tips

So you have finally finished nursing school or you're currently in nursing school and looking for a head start.

Everyone learns and takes test differently, so you need to stay calm, take a deep breath and reflect, what works for you? what doesn't work for you? 

Think about what subjects are your strengths and weakness because it is a waste of energy if you are strong and comfortable in maternity and only study maternity because it is easy and you enjoy it. Instead take the time to identify and dissect your toughest subjects. You may ask, how?

In my opinion, the best way to tackle the tough subjects is to first identify your learning style. One way to help you identify your learning style (if you don't know already) through Google search for surveys to help you identify a style. Here is one free website I found: http://www.2learn.org/learningstyles.html

Then try to apply your style for example if you're auditory or visual learner try tune into class lectures or go to Youtube and find reliable sources. For example, you simply cannot understand Hemophilia, search on youtube and you can find stories from parents of children who have hemophilia, doctors from universities and news clips. If you're kinetic learner try imagining  a patient in front of you with hemophilia. What do you see? How would you care for the patient?

Just as I thought

I started this blog between Spring and Summer semester. I would find blogs with only a few posts. So I thought to create my own blog for others to follow yet I came to realize I am one of those who with a few random posts..

This summer I had Nursing of the Family. My school administers the ATI at the end of each semester. For my school Level 2 or better you can progress to the next semester (granted that the test average is above 75%).

This semester I made Level 3s.

This is what I did differently which I think helped me achieve Level 3.

1) Read ATI book/sections incongruence with the semester (don't wait until the week before the ATI test to read everything. Example: If you're learning about Endocrine in class, find and read the Endocrine section in your ATI book.

2) Take the practice tests as many times you are allowed. Read the rationales even if you got the question right.

3) At the end of the ATI practice questions they have a list of content that were missed during the practice test. After you take the practice test at least once,  look at what you need to review and find/read the topics to review in your ATI book. (Highlight, underline and summarize what you learn).

Senior year begun about a month ago and it's kicking my behind. But I'll try to update the blog a little more often. Email me if you have any specific questions/concerns.

"You're a nurse? That's cool. How much do you make?"

(An email sent to me)

Somebody asked:

"You're a nurse? That's cool, I wanted to do that when I was a kid. How much do you make?"

The nurse replied: "HOW MUCH DO I MAKE?" ...

I can make holding your hand seem like the most important thing in the world when you're scared. ...
I can make your child breathe when they stop. ...
I can help your father survive a heart attack. ...
I can make myself get up at 5 a.m. to make sure your mother has the medicine she needs to live. ...
I work all day to save the lives of strangers. ...
I make my family wait for dinner until I know your family member is taken care of. ...
I make myself skip lunch so that I can make sure that everything I did for your wife today is charted. ...
I make myself work weekends and holidays because people don't just get sick Monday thru Friday. ...
Today, I might save your life. ...

How much do I make? All I know is, I make a difference.

Taking Two-Step Blood Pressure

One of the first skills I was expected to master in my Fundamentals course was to take two step blood pressure. Whether it's baking a cake, riding a bike or taking a blood pressure, it's not an easy task and requires practice and patience. However, once you learn it's a skill that you'll never forget.
I recommend practicing as much as possible.

I am a visual and auditory learner so I try to find as many online videos as possible that agree with the content from my professors.

This website helps with giving a visual for the general procedure with what to do and what to avoid.
http://www.viddler.com/v/65ffcb8d

Once you get comfortable with the general steps for the procedure I also recommend this video that helps the learner differentiate between the Korotokoff sounds.
http://vimeo.com/8068713

Drug Calculations

For my program, every semester after Fundamentals, students are required to take a Drug Dosage and Calculation test before the first day of classes. We have 3 attempts to score 100%. After the third unsuccessful attempt the student is dropped from all classes and required to remediate until the following semester and in some cases students are required to reapply to the program. If you have a similar situation I've compiled a few websites I use as a refresher in addition to using the drug dosage textbook I purchased for my Fundamentals course.

Drug Calculations Quiz Page

Drug Calculation Tutorial from Southern Illinois Uni.

Drug Calculation Practices

Practice from University of North Carolina

This Should Have been my first Post

Hey Everyone,

You may notice that my posts jump around. I graduated with my first Bachelor's Degree in Public Health. Soon after I decided to return to school for a Bachelor's in Nursing. Just two days ago I just finished my first semester as a nursing student. All I can say it has been a roller coaster ride already. Instead of writing one big post of what I have learned so far I've decided to break the posts into individual posts for a few reasons. First, I feel it may easier in keeping topics organized and  in finding specific topics. Second, I am not sure if I can sit up all day and night writing everything down. I am hesitant to think that millions of people will view my blog but it's worth a shot and if anything the blog allows a place for debriefing and reviewing later in life.