Back into the game

We had a break. A LOOONG break. Almost 6 weeks. I visited family and was gone for most of it which was lovely. I enjoyed my last non-working holiday. We are now back in session. I have been for three weeks now. We are having precepted clinicals. Which means... no professors breathing down your back. I am paired up with an RN. I LOVE her!

I am on a med/surg floor at the hospital that I want to work at once I graduate. I'm so excited. I had my first of clinical this past week. It felt so nice to be on my own in a way. My RN followed me for part of the day to make sure I did everything correct, she watched me do my assessment, questioned me on things to watch for when administering a certain medication, observed me while I administered them, checked over my charting, and checked in at times. I chose to only have one patient on the first day so I could learn the computer system, and the floor and not feel overwhelmed. My patient was a sweetheart. She had cellulitis of her leg and was very low maintenance. She was also very understanding of me being a student and patient.

I was pleased with my work. My patient told me several times she thought I'd be a good nurse. To me that is the best compliment I can receive.

I was also given the opportunity to start a catheter on another patient! A male one this time. It was my second catheter ever. It was an 80 year old man and I couldn't get the first catheter past his prostate. My nurse also tried and couldn't do it. I felt a little better that she couldn't do it either. She decided to get a coude tip catheter and try later. The patient was very nice and understanding, he had actually asked for the catheter. lol

After some calls and waiting a while we got the coude catheter and went to town. I prepped him again and got it in without any problems at all. It was beautiful. He was so happy to have it in too. And such a nice man, completely in love with his wife and very sweet to the staff. I helped him later on with his dinner and talked to him for a long time.

It was a great day. I gave report to the night nurse and went over my evaluation sheet with my nurse. She was happy with me and we decided I'd take two patients the following clinical. I'm thinking I'll get to three and four the third and fourth time. It'll be good to work on my time management skills and prioritizing between patients and charting on all of them!!

Graduation will come soon enough.