davidjokes-blog

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We visited Weston yesterday, and I was reminded of the strides made in nursing over the years. This wasn’t my first tour at the old asylum, but I learn something new with each visit. In it’s time, with the good and the bad, this hospital was a shelter of sorts for those with cognitive disorders, and it got many of the patients off the streets or out of basements. It operated from 1864-1994. Many of the nurses lived within the walls of the massive facility, and were paid just enough to buy basic supplies. They worked long shifts (typically 16 hours), and rarely had respite. The environment ranged from controlled milieu (still used today) floors to areas that appeared bleak and dungeon-like. This facility was fully self-sustaining, and had many different areas where patients and staff worked. It had its own food supply (crop/water), supplied its own energy and heat, and at one point housed 2,400 patients in the 1950s (it was designed to House 250).

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Still Making Gains

I’m almost to the end of my clinicals for this semester. When I get to the floor, my first thought is head-to-toe.

A personal goal of mine has been to develop the skills and habits for a good/timely head-to-toe assessment. I think I’ve made a lot of progress, and it’s probably something that I’ll keep working on for a while.

I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to learn so much. I really can’t express it with just that, but I’ll just keep doing my best.

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Energy

I’ve been working night shift (7P-7A) for a year and a half now, and my body always feels stressed out after I’ve been off for a day or two. Some people make it look so easy. I need what they’re taking. Around this time (5:30 AM), I get so tired, and this is an every shift type of thing. The caffiene doesn’t seem to last long enough, but soon I’ll be in my bed again. I will sleep just long enough to meet my minimum required (5-6 hours), and then I’m back at it again the next night.

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Valentine’s Day Affair

Love is in their air. The birds are outside chirping, people are frantically rushing to buy their last minute gifts, and the trees will follow suit sooner than later. Then you have me, on the couch.. with my drug cards (the closest thing to a stable relationship I have), and getting my stuff ready for work tonight. So, here’s one to the busy students out there who are doing the me, myself, and I bit -this year.

Salute

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So.. my coworker gave me a new stethoscope (better than my other one), and tells me I’m going to be a great nurse. PRESSURE! Nursing school comes with pressure to succeed not just from yourself, but also everyone else in your life. I’m just like, “I’m doing my best, and I will continue to do so”. 💯

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I try to have a positive attitude everyday. You really need one to make it through most days with your sanity in tact. Just breathe in, take one step forward, and exhale. Now you’re that much further than before.

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Eating the Young

I really thought they were joking..🙃 when they said, “some nurses will eat their young”.. so to speak. Yeah. They weren’t.

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Christmas 🎄 Homework

As a student studying to become a prudent nurse. I’ve got stacks of homework 24/7. If you think you’ve got it rough, try me. 😂 Sorry to those who don’t really see or hear from me anymore. I sometimes don’t realize that we haven’t talked in over a month. 🤪 “I’m in nursing school”, should be printed on my forehead by now. If you need me, you’ll find me in my medsurg book.🙏😅

Happy Holidays!

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I’m sure that times were easier in the mid-1900s.. (Sarcasm) .. I had an interesting tour at the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum today. Look at how medicine has progressed in comparison to today’s practices. One important thing I’ve learned is that nurses have always been underpaid and overworked.

You just have to love what you do.

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Code

When you see a code in action and you’re just a nursing student (practically a bystander). You learn some things:

1) Organization is key

2) Stay out of the way

3) EMTs are kind of like rockstars

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Out rotation and Missed Opportunity

A couple of weeks ago.. my clinical group ended up doing vaccinations at the LTC, and it was my day for out rotation. I ended up donating my time babysitting kids, and they got to give injections.

#ICan’tDealWithLife

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The Nurse-CNA Relationship

What I’ve learned today: Sometimes, your CNA knows best, and they definitely know the ADL performance of the patient like that back of their hand. I couldn’t find anything about sleep quality for my new pt. in my chart or anything, so I asked one of the CNAs and she helped me get an answer almost right away. I’ve never seen this aspect of nursing before, I’ve been a CNA for a while as well. Now I know what the CNA looks like from the other side of the looking glass. They’re valuable resources of knowledge. 

Summary: CNAs are awesome. Treat them well. 

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Clinical objective?

Class has been going pretty well so far and this semester is flying by. We’re starting our first clinicals this week in long term care. I work as a cna (granted I work in palliative care) and I feel like this shouldn’t be too difficult Vs. the clinical objective sheet. When I read my clinical objectives it looks like this..

Clinical objective: SURVIVE

Anyway, wish me luck guys. 😭😁

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R/t and AEB

Everything in my life will now be either one of two things, "Relating to" or "As evidenced by". If I don't have that, then I probably have nothing. 🤔

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Sterile Field

So, if I turn my back on the sterile field.. it's no longer considered sterile. I just don't get some things but I'll keep my eyes on it!

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Virtual Clinicals?

Okay, so this week I've been working on my virtual clinical software, along with my nursing foundations book, and Hesi scenarios. This program is really awesome, and it mimics a clinical area very well. With that being said, HOWEVER .. the in depth assignments require a lot of work, and many aspects of the nursing scope at only a few weeks into class.

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Class on Saturday..?

My alarm went off this morning, and I jumped out of bed to start making coffee/get ready for class. It was 5:30 AM, and I almost made it out the door before I looked at my phone again.. only to realize that it's Saturday, and I don't have class today. I CAN'T DEAL WITH MYSELF SOMETIMES!